170 supporters of Talking-up Scotland have made donations via the crowdfunder app or by direct bank transfer. Many of these have been, to my mind, particularly generous. I’m very grateful to them all and they can be sure that we will continue for them and for those who I know were not able to donate. The 170 represent 10% of the TuS subscribers who get an email link for every post and around 1% of those who see the headline content across social media. We get get regular positive comment across all platforms. Sometimes it’s very heart-warming. Once more, it’s … Continue reading Talking-up Scotland to continue despite sobering figures

BBC Reporting Scotland in BBC Breakfast today and on their website, below: Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the text, ‘Scot’ appears only once in the 700 plus word report, 17 paragraphs down: Both projects had already been given the go-ahead under the previous Conservative government but were successfully challenged in the Scottish courts on environmental grounds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65ym93p73xmo ‘UK’ appears 19 times. What percentage of UK gas and oil is or could be raised in Scottish waters? 82% Source: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2019/09/oil-and-gas-production-statistics-2018/documents/oil-and-gas-production-statistics-2018-summary/oil-and-gas-production-statistics-2018-summary/govscot%3Adocument/oil-gas-production-2018-summary.pdf So 82% of the oil and gas but only … Continue reading Only 8% of the population but 82% of the oil and gas yet ‘UK’ gets 20 times the mentions in a BBC Scotland report

….violence during a debate in Parliament today. The First minister could personally (sic) finance the £2 million ‘Fund to Leave’ scheme which assists women and children to flee violence and danger in their own homes – as well as piloting GPS monitoring for suspected domestic abusers on bail awaiting court. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 The above is another of those BBC Reporting Scotland team inserts in BBC Breakfast which does not appear on the BBC Scotland website. It’s an editorial decision by the news editor to report it … Continue reading Half the domestic violence, one quarter of the children exposed and better police monitoring but only in Scotland does the BBC headline it

Kev with Reform UK in the streets of the far-right of Lanarkshire (well, East) What on earth is he on about? Isn’t that just work going on to improve Sauchiehall Street? It won’t be forever Kev. And what’s that about the ‘far right?’ Is the contractor on the ‘far right?’ And those ‘artisan radicals?’ Kevin McKenna is such an intellectual, eh? Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 I thought the Red Clydesiders and the Calton Weavers were artisan radicals of the kind Kev admired. Is he sneering about modern-day folk … Continue reading Glasgow is the best large city in the UK regardless of the sneering from Kev McKenna ’boutique conservative’ and friend of the far right

Help Talking-up Scotland keep going at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account 12266421 Very many thanks to the 170 supporters so far, inc bank transfers not listed in crowdfunder. You are very much appreciated. We’re still struggling to even approach our target despite around 8 fully-researched posts per day, read by around 2 000 visitors per day and more than 15 000 social media followers seeing the main points. Sobering. I see the Guardian‘s fund-raiser has adopted this interesting approach. Is that a psychology that will work? Guilt-trip? I’m not so sure. They already … Continue reading Is it fair to say Talking-up Scotland is not a luxury item or that someone else is paying for something you depend on? Regardless we battle the daily lies with rebuttals and revelations? Please support

What is happening to crime in Scotland, these days? It’s surging pal, they shout! How dae ye ken? Ah read in the…I heard it on the….. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Police Scotland Freedom of Information Response reference:  FOI 26-2314 published today, the above answer to Could you please tell me how many civilian staff are employed within Police Scotland as of 30/7/26? – As at 31 July 2026 the police staff headcount was 6,333. Could you please advise the year on year figures of employed civilian staff from … Continue reading Shock (well a bit) as Pisa proves to be correct on declining educational standards in Scotland but ONLY for journalists, mind you, as crime in Scotland falls 0.7% while staffing climbs 7% since SNP Government created unified force

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the National today, the above, and: I see no mention of just who the author is but I think it’s this Lib Dem councillor: I’m not for a minute disagreeing with all of the above but I will insist that Scotland after these last 19 years is well along the path to becoming a better nation and often leaving the RumpUK in its wake. The evidence is there is umpteen posts here. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON … Continue reading Exceptional? Maybe not but different enough to make a difference to be different and vote different