Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s ‘doublethinktank’ reveals high failure rate amongst pupils not actually sitting exams

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I had to pinch myself when I read today from BBC Scotland: Pass rates for Scottish pupils in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) subjects are “very worrying”, according to a report by education experts. The Commission on School Reform analysed exam pass rates for secondary pupils taking National 5 subjects with data going back to 2015. Only 40.1% of fourth year pupils – typically aged 14-16 years old – achieved a pass rate for National 5 mathematics in 2024, while 75.2% passed English. Just over 25% passed the most popular science subject, biology. The Scottish government said that not … Continue reading Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s ‘doublethinktank’ reveals high failure rate amongst pupils not actually sitting exams

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Despite rumoured Reform membership surge across the UK, they are far less strong in Scotland, the SNP is still 12 times greater and Scottish Labour are keeping quiet

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According to the Herald today, Reform membership across the UK has reached 131 680, just ahead of the UK Conservative Party. In Scotland, however, pro rata, they seem top have only 5 844 whereas, all things being equal, they’d have around 12 000. The SNP membership though down, is, according to BBC Scotland, still 12 times stronger, at 64 525. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceq5yqq91ppo Scottish Labour membership? Who knows. Continue reading Despite rumoured Reform membership surge across the UK, they are far less strong in Scotland, the SNP is still 12 times greater and Scottish Labour are keeping quiet

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Scottish rep for global group responsible for wage theft from low-paid and the erosion of public services is in Scotsman to suggest Scotland has ‘poor public services’

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The above is in the Scotsman today to tell us: How Scotland can escape vicious circle of ill-health, unemployment and poor public services Newcastle is not far away but, typically, he knows nothing about public services in Scotland. He clearly is ignorant of the facts on public services in Scotland, as opposed to in Newcastle. How about? More GPs, doctors, nurses, midwives, beds, home health visitors, fewer strikes, shortest NHS waiting lists, with consequent lowest stillbirth in UK, lowest Covid deaths in UK, lowest Covid care home deaths in UK, fewest (zero) hospitals in special measures…… More police officers per … Continue reading Scottish rep for global group responsible for wage theft from low-paid and the erosion of public services is in Scotsman to suggest Scotland has ‘poor public services’

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Scottish Government-funded affordable homes bring Christmas Cheer to Leith and Queensferry

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Christmas Cheers also to JB for alerting me to this. Completely missed by BBC Scotland, the Herald and the Scotsman, two very Christmassy tales from Scottish Construction Now, which I feel sure all Scots (English Scots, Ukrainian Scots, Syrian Scots etc) would have liked to hear of: and For the full stories: https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/work-starts-on-23-affordable-homes-at-queensferry-site https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/articles/tenants-settle-into-new-affordable-homes-in-leith I’m betting readers know of other similar good deeds not getting much interest from BBC Scotland, the Herald and the Scotsman – tell us below. Ah but, Santa, what about all the other folk? Hasn’t the Santa National Party let them down over the years? Nope, … Continue reading Scottish Government-funded affordable homes bring Christmas Cheer to Leith and Queensferry

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Find a new future for Fort George? Aye, as recycled stone

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No doubt, some other members of the Robertson clan, like my late dad but unlike me, take pride in their part in the history of the Black Watch and its many battle honours. I’ve since read too much about the regiment’s dark history ‘policing’ the English Empire, from India to Ireland. Their base, Fort George, is to be sold by the MoD in 2031 and some locals want to find a new role for it. BBC Scotland today has: A fortress originally built to supress Highland clans and enforce rules preventing clansmen from wearing tartan could become a hub for … Continue reading Find a new future for Fort George? Aye, as recycled stone

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New £34m SNP Gov-funded multi-disciplinary GP and health centre opening in Glasgow, ignored by BBC Scotland and credited by STV to Conservative pressure on SNP council yet they have only 2 out of 85 councillors

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Image LDRS From STV yesterday: A huge GP surgery and health centre, which will combine services located at nine different sites, is due to open within weeks in Glasgow’s East End. There will be three GP practices based at the new building in Duke Street – Forge Medical Practice, Drs McKenzie and Burns and Meadowpark Surgery – as well as other services. The health and social care building is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, and it is hoped that patients will be able to access treatment by the end of January. When open, the Hub … Continue reading New £34m SNP Gov-funded multi-disciplinary GP and health centre opening in Glasgow, ignored by BBC Scotland and credited by STV to Conservative pressure on SNP council yet they have only 2 out of 85 councillors

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The use of imagined cancer deaths to attack SNP health secretaries

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Two days ago, I noticed this research report from the USA casting doubt on the effectiveness of cancer treatment to avert a spike in deaths: At the peak of the shortage, about 15% of patients probably had trouble accessing a platinum chemotherapy drug, the study found. But there was good news, too: Despite the shortages, the study team could find no difference in death rates for patients with solid tumor cancers in 2023 versus the year before. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-12-24/last-years-platinum-based-drugs-shortage-didnt-raise-cancer-deaths-study-found#:~:text=At%20the%20peak%20of%20the,2023%20versus%20the%20year%20before. I was then reminded of two previous times when opposition parties and their pals in the ‘Scottish’ media had used … Continue reading The use of imagined cancer deaths to attack SNP health secretaries

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Will this Labour MP praise her local hospitals as they treat 99% of drug and alcohol patients well within the target time?

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By Professor John Robertson OBA As we try to settle our stomachs after the recent Jackie Baillie/ Herald/ BBC Scotland attack on a Clydebank hospital, it occurred to me that my new local MP is very quiet. Her office is largely ignoring constituent enquiries so the above hope is no doubt in vain. In October 2024, Jackie Baillie, in the Scotsman, ‘accused [SNP] ministers of failing to get a grip on the crisis‘ on drug deaths. Would 99% of drug abuse patients being seen in the target time of 3 weeks do for a grip? Would the MP for Ayr, Carrick and … Continue reading Will this Labour MP praise her local hospitals as they treat 99% of drug and alcohol patients well within the target time?

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Leading European expert says Scotland is ‘at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety’ since 2007, but on Boxing Day, BBC Scotland tries to compare us unfavourably with England

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By By Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland, this morning, after their ignorant and tasteless Christmas Eve attack, with the Scottish Cons and Labour’s Jackie Baillie, on the reputation of the staff at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank, they’re back at it again today with more inaccurate reporting, this time on patient safety, with: A recruitment drive for Scotland’s first ever Patient Safety Commissioner has failed for a second time. MSPs passed a law creating the new independent public advocate for NHS patients in September last year. The first round of interviews for the £89,685-a-year role in April failed to produce … Continue reading Leading European expert says Scotland is ‘at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety’ since 2007, but on Boxing Day, BBC Scotland tries to compare us unfavourably with England

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Christmas Factcheck – Jackie Baillie’s local hospital cancels fewer operations than most yet she betrays the staff for cheap ill-informed point-scoring

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By Professor John Robertson OBA I know, get a life, but I’ve had a drink and rest of the family are watching Gavin an Stacey. I can’t concentrate, still furious and nauseated by the Jackie Baillie / Herald, Christmas Eve attack on the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank. Using their own data, ‘modelled’ in some way, they suggest that this hospital is doing less operations and that SNP failures lie behind that. So, at 01.10am, I access the actual, raw not ‘modelled’, data and, lo and behold, the Golden Jubilee, month after month for the last six (ringed in purple below) has … Continue reading Christmas Factcheck – Jackie Baillie’s local hospital cancels fewer operations than most yet she betrays the staff for cheap ill-informed point-scoring