Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Do we need nuclear or Brian Wilson? Nope!

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Bob Lamont and Mills James on yesterday’s Sizewell C announcement millsjames1949 With estimates of (up to ) £40 billion as the ( building ) cost of this one Nuclear Station ( with several Small Nuclear stations to follow ) plus the higher cost of electricity to the consumers to access this power …imagine using this money for : a) proper insulation of existing housing stock to reduce energy consumption b) installing solar panels in existing housing stock to offset energy use from the Grid c) installing heat pumps in existing housing stock to reduce energy consumption …. I know , … Continue reading Do we need nuclear or Brian Wilson? Nope!

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Lesson for opponents of nuclear power in Scotland as researchers revisit study of Essex nuclear power station and breast cancer incidence among mature women nearby to find an even greater risk, only a short distance from new Sizewell C, and ‘establishment bias and cover-up’

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Professor John Robertson OBA In March 2001, independent researchers, commissioned by local residents living near Bradwell nuclear power station in Essex, published Cancer Mortality and Proximity to Bradwell Nuclear Power Station in Essex, 1995-99; Preliminary results showing: substantial excess mortality risks, particularly from breast cancer in women who had lived in wards adjacent to the river Blackwater. This finding was similar to the findings of earlier studies on coastal populations near the Irish Sea and near the Hinkley Point nuclear site in Somerset.2 Soon after, local authority researchers criticised the above research and with access to statistics denied to the … Continue reading Lesson for opponents of nuclear power in Scotland as researchers revisit study of Essex nuclear power station and breast cancer incidence among mature women nearby to find an even greater risk, only a short distance from new Sizewell C, and ‘establishment bias and cover-up’

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The last word on Scotland’s ferries wiping the decks with the lies and pushing the liars off the gangplank in Scots Independent, 99 years-old this November

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Professor John Robertson OBA My column in Scots Independent this month pulling together all the evidence to finally prove that we are lucky to have such a ferry service and that most users know it. Get it at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ before it is 100 years old (November 2026). On paper, posted to your door, readable anytime, anywhere, unplugged. Give a years subscription as a birthday gift to some one you know who prefers paper. Go on, go on. Continue reading The last word on Scotland’s ferries wiping the decks with the lies and pushing the liars off the gangplank in Scots Independent, 99 years-old this November

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As Reporting Scotland return to the Labour RAAC controversy a reminder of the facts they won’t tell you

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Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Reporting Scotland return once more to the RAAC story and in so doing attempt to implicate the Scottish Government in responsibility to clear-up a problem not of their doing. Here are the facts they will not report: Aberdeen home-owners buy property which requires maintenance just like any other, in a Thatcherite scheme, at a knock-down price, from a Tory or Labour council, after a professional survey, and the SNP Government has to do something? RAAC!! A classic media scare story as only between 0.3% and 1.6% of Scotland’s social housing has it. Leading academic: ‘RAAC … Continue reading As Reporting Scotland return to the Labour RAAC controversy a reminder of the facts they won’t tell you

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In Edinburgh alone, there are currently 36 dental practices currently taking on new NHS patients

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Professor John Robertson OBA Only two years ago, the Scotsman had the above. But from TuS reader ‘Anonymous’, today: In Edinburgh alone, there are currently 36 dental practices currently taking on new NHS patients. Click to access Lothian-Dental-Practices-Accepting-NHS-Patients.pdf Continue reading In Edinburgh alone, there are currently 36 dental practices currently taking on new NHS patients

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The Islay Whisky Festival 2025 is the ‘most successful’ to date contrary to ferry ‘fiasco’ fake news

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By stewartb You may recall from TuS on May 22, 2025 this headline: ‘Stricken!! The Herald and local haulier conspire to hide the deep satisfaction of Islay folk with their ferry service.’ The blog post included this extract from a news article in The Herald: ‘A new “fiasco” caused by a ferry breakdown has sparked a row over the delivery of vital supplies on an island on the eve of its world famous whisky festival. The key ferry for Islay, MV Finlaggan has been sidelined as problems have emerged during routine planned maintenance of main engines during an annual overhaul period.’ (my emphasis) The Herald … Continue reading The Islay Whisky Festival 2025 is the ‘most successful’ to date contrary to ferry ‘fiasco’ fake news

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Herald shamefully confuses NHS dentistry uptake with access, perhaps deliberately, perhaps stupidly, to suggest a deprivation gap in the country with 96% access, more than 20% higher than in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today, the above, and: Recent figures show there is a 17-21% gap in access to dental care between Scotland’s most and least deprived communities, The Herald can reveal.  The Scottish Conservatives have described the inequality gap as “shameful” and the party says it has been caused by “decades of SNP mismanagement”.  What they are talking about here is clearly uptake and not the access all groups have to NHS dentistry in Scotland. From NHS dental data monitoring report Quarter ending March 2025 published in May 2025: 5,218,597 people were registered with an NHS dentist as of 31 March 2025 … Continue reading Herald shamefully confuses NHS dentistry uptake with access, perhaps deliberately, perhaps stupidly, to suggest a deprivation gap in the country with 96% access, more than 20% higher than in England

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Blood donor level ‘safe’ in Scotland and nearly 20% higher than in England – another wee difference that makes a difference?

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Professor John Robertson OBA Headlining on BBC Breakfast this morning, the above, and on their website: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the body that oversees England’s blood donation system, said the number of regular donors needs to rise from around 800,000 to more than one million to maintain a safe and reliable supply. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98p0pj7dypo What’s the situation in Scotland? BBC Scotland had a worrying (for their elderly and vulnerable viewers) report of a 10% reduction in the number of donors but also that levels were currently safe with 95 000 active donors. You know where I’m going. With 10 times … Continue reading Blood donor level ‘safe’ in Scotland and nearly 20% higher than in England – another wee difference that makes a difference?

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As NHS England faces strikes, Scottish Government enables higher pay deal for already better-paid Scottish nurses to once more prevent the loss of tens of thousands of appointments and to save thousands of lives

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Professor John Robertson OBA Headlining on BBC Breakfast this morning and on their website, the above, and this divisive offer: Almost 350,000 nursing staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be asked to vote from Monday on a 3.6% pay increase [lower than junior doctors [5.4%] or consultants [4%]]. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has already dismissed the award as “grotesque” and says the vote will be crucial in determining the next steps which could include a ballot for strike action. The government says that as a result of the pay rise, nurses will earn more than £30,000 … Continue reading As NHS England faces strikes, Scottish Government enables higher pay deal for already better-paid Scottish nurses to once more prevent the loss of tens of thousands of appointments and to save thousands of lives

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The impact of spending decisions by the British Labour Party government in Westminster on the so called Block Grants to the governments in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh

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By stewartb Cut to funding for nurse training in England – what impact on Westminster’s spend for England on health, or will the ‘saving’ be from the Department of Education’s budget? Is this leading to a reduction in overall departmental spend or more likely, a more limited increase in departmental spend overall than England’s services (and devolved equivalents in NI, Scotland and Wales) need? What impact of this – and the cumulative impact of multiple other – spending decision by the British Labour Party government in Westminster on the so called Block Grants to the governments in Belfast, Cardiff and … Continue reading The impact of spending decisions by the British Labour Party government in Westminster on the so called Block Grants to the governments in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh