Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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As even BBC Scotland report that cancer deaths ‘fall to lowest rate on record’, only 4 out of 26 types were worsened by pandemic factors but Daily Express and opposition try to politicise and to mislead you

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BBC Scotland on 27th January 2026, telling a different story from that in the Express, two months later The Daily Express today platforming the opposition parties to blame the Scottish Government for falling cancer survival rates, in some cancers, conceals the over-arching truth in the Public Health Scotland report1 that there were clear improvements in other (often more common) cancers. These results should be seen within the context of a longer falling trend to record-low overall cancer mortality risk in Scotland. The risk of dying from cancer fell by 12.1% over the past decade (compared with 2015), reaching 288.9 per … Continue reading As even BBC Scotland report that cancer deaths ‘fall to lowest rate on record’, only 4 out of 26 types were worsened by pandemic factors but Daily Express and opposition try to politicise and to mislead you

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Why does an English hospital ‘indefensibly’ delaying news of a deadly Meningitis outbreak causing loss of limbs, blindness and brain injury NOT lead to calls for a health secretary or anyone to resign when in Scotland keeping details of one patient’s possible non-deadly infection confidential, did?

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Today with a photo of a nurse, BBC Health reports, the above and: The NHS waited two days before raising the alarm about the meningitis outbreak, the BBC has learnt. The UK Health Security Agency was first alerted to a case by the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, in Margate, on the afternoon of Friday 13 March. That patient arrived in hospital two days earlier but there was a delay in reporting to health officials – despite there being a legal requirement for cases to be reported immediately. It meant there was a delay in tracing close contacts of … Continue reading Why does an English hospital ‘indefensibly’ delaying news of a deadly Meningitis outbreak causing loss of limbs, blindness and brain injury NOT lead to calls for a health secretary or anyone to resign when in Scotland keeping details of one patient’s possible non-deadly infection confidential, did?

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Fife Labour-led unionist coalition council agree storage of highly dangerous nuclear waste from rotting subs only one mile away and upwind of houses

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From Dunfermline Press yesterday: Fife Council have given the green light to Babcock for a new warehouse between docks two and three for “decommissioning operations”. The large industrial building – an ‘intermediate waste storage facility’ – will be 27 metres long and up to 20 metres in height with roller doors and security fencing. Work is currently taking place at the dockyard to cut up and dismantle HMS Swiftsure, one of seven old nuclear subs that have been laid up in Rosyth for decades. https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/25961651.fife-council-approve-babcock-plan-waste-storage-building/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawQvmyZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedr4Y86dZqbFLN8ZPRPAHMXVauAhy790Wo8bql86UYN4N6WhsXUMuDezHP-4_aem_cd9jEIv8K7pQaP0WcFlCCQ Who runs Fife Council? 18 Labour, 13 Lib Dems and 7 Cons have colluded to outnumber the SNP, … Continue reading Fife Labour-led unionist coalition council agree storage of highly dangerous nuclear waste from rotting subs only one mile away and upwind of houses

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‘World Health Organization is preparing for possibility of strikes on nuclear facilities like Faslane as conflict in the Middle East intensifies’

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From DAGENS.com yesterday: The World Health Organization is preparing for potential nuclear-related scenarios as conflict in the Middle East intensifies. Officials say contingency plans now include the possibility of strikes on nuclear facilities or even the use of nuclear weapons. According to Politico, the WHO is updating its internal protocols and guidance for governments and health workers. The agency is focusing on how to respond to radiation-related emergencies. More at: https://www.dagens.com/news/who-prepares-for-nuclear-scenario How much damage would a strike on the Faslane base, HMNB Clyde, home of Britain’s nuclear submarines, only 30 miles from Glasgow? From the Telegraph, in December 2016: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/12/17/would-happen-nuclear-weapon-detonated-nearest-city-find-online/ Continue reading ‘World Health Organization is preparing for possibility of strikes on nuclear facilities like Faslane as conflict in the Middle East intensifies’

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SNP hit 42% and 26 point lead in latest YouGov Westmnister sub-poll

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It’s only a sub-poll based on 212 Scots over 18 years-of-age for the next UK election, so limited on its own, but the scale of the SNP lead and the first 40+ figure is notable. Also notable, unlike YouGov Holyrood polls, their Westmnister polls are not weighted (skewed) to mirror the 12 year-old Referendum 55/45 ratio. To illustrate the changing picture in Scotland, in early January and for most of February 2026, YouGov had the SNP at 35% but in March an upward trend has become apparent, heading toward 40% and perhaps now beyond that. In YouGov’s last full Holyrood … Continue reading SNP hit 42% and 26 point lead in latest YouGov Westmnister sub-poll

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Eight prisoners die in cell-fires in England, none in Scotland after SNP implement wider ban on smoking

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Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today: Tens of thousands of prisoners in England and Wales at risk of cell fires – Earlier this week, the Guardian reported on the inquest of Clare Dupree, a woman with severe mental illness who died in a fire in her cell at HMP Eastwood. There have been at least eight other deaths in cell fires in prisons since 2011. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/19/prisoners-england-wales-cell-fires-risk-moj Official Scottish Government statistics on deaths in prison custody from 2012-13 to 2023-24 report a total of 399 deaths, with breakdowns by main causes: probable suicides (115, ~29%), circulatory … Continue reading Eight prisoners die in cell-fires in England, none in Scotland after SNP implement wider ban on smoking

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Tory Lord ‘s less 2014-like poll puts SNP close to 40%, Tories sixth and last and SNP 25% ahead of nearest competitors

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Who owns Lord Ashcroft Polls: Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft, KCMG, PC (born 4 March 1946)[1] is a British-Belizean businessman, pollster and politician. He is a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. Ashcroft founded Michael A. Ashcroft Associates in 1972[2][3] and was the 132nd richest person in the UK, as ranked by the Sunday Times Rich List 2021, with an estimated fortune of £1.257 billion.[4] Developing from work he did for the Conservative Party in his Deputy chairman role, since 2010.[55] Lord Ashcroft has been a major independent public pollster of British political opinion. This has included polling at constituency level, which is rare in British psephology.[56][57] Lord Ashcroft Polls’ results are freely available online[58] and are … Continue reading Tory Lord ‘s less 2014-like poll puts SNP close to 40%, Tories sixth and last and SNP 25% ahead of nearest competitors

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How can there be ‘home care facing catastrophic breakdown’ in a system which actually increased the number of places available last year? 

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Today, the Herald has: Home caring services are heading towards a “catastrophic breakdown”, Scottish ministers have been told as industry leaders warn the funding deficit is becoming uncontrollable. Concerns over the sustainability of social care in Scotland have been growing in recent years, with local government body Cosla warning £750 million is needed just to stabilise the vital industry. Is there hard evidence for this claim? From Care home statistics for Scotland Support and services funded by local authorities in Scotland 2024/2025 published yesterday: During 2024/25 there were an estimated 49,605 people who resided in a care home and were fully or partially … Continue reading How can there be ‘home care facing catastrophic breakdown’ in a system which actually increased the number of places available last year? 

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BBC Reporting Scotland Down, todays latest lie – Prisons inspector did not say ‘urgent’ actions needed in a system already 53% better staffed

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facing people being held in young offender institutions. BBC Reporting Scotland in their BBC Breakfast inserts, today, repeatedly. What are the risks of? Suicide. What is the evidence? Two suicides in 2018. ‘Urgent action‘ still required after 8 years? No, the full BBC Scotland website report does not feature the word ‘urgent‘ at all. The Reporting Scotland Down editor has agreed that for effect – misrepresentation. What does the full BBC Scotland online report head off with? Inspectors find partial progress after young inmate suicides at Polmont – A follow-up inspection of a young offenders institution, ordered after the suicides … Continue reading BBC Reporting Scotland Down, todays latest lie – Prisons inspector did not say ‘urgent’ actions needed in a system already 53% better staffed