Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Why are so few, if any, homes flooding in Scotland after Storm Darragh’s massive rainfall?

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Professor John Robertson OBA I know, Storm Darragh’s winds hit Wales and South-West England hardest but Scotland had a similar massive downpour of between 30 and 45mm in different parts. Reports of flooded homes and infrastructure are everywhere in the media except in Scotland. Why might that be? Maybe I’m tempting fate, but we’ve been here before, in 2016, as major flooding of homes in England was desperately linked by ‘our’ media to a few cases in Scotland and supposed SNP failures. Why are homes in Scotland not flooding despite massive rainfall? As far back as 2006, researchers at the English College … Continue reading Why are so few, if any, homes flooding in Scotland after Storm Darragh’s massive rainfall?

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Latest full Holyrood poll confirms SNP surge and Labour collapse as Sarwar fails to inspire

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From the full Holyrood Norstat poll for the Sunday Times, on 7 December, only days after two Westminster sub-polls suggesting an SNP recovery. and only 4 months after the Labour surge in the July General Election: Constituency Regional Based on the above, the seat projection is: This gives the SNP/Greens a 66 to 63 majority. I’d have thought that 5% might give Alba 1 MSP. Interestingly, putting an end the 2 child benefit cap did not seem to be a big vote winner whereas restoring the winter fuel allowance, extra for the NHS and raising tax thresholds were – there’s … Continue reading Latest full Holyrood poll confirms SNP surge and Labour collapse as Sarwar fails to inspire

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As the fight for Scotland in May 2026 looms where are Wings Off Scotland and Scot Goes Poop?

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Back in 2014, the Wings Over Scotland and Scot Goes Pop blogs played a big part in the campaign that, in the end, pushed the Union to the brink. I often praised and shared their work. Only 10 years later, all seems lost. Wings today has a cartoon of John Swinney in a dress, some poll analysis more interested in Reform than anything else, two anxious wee pieces on what it means to be a woman and a swipe at Kezia Dugdale who, you may remember years ago, accused the author of homophobia. That’s quite a long grudge there though, … Continue reading As the fight for Scotland in May 2026 looms where are Wings Off Scotland and Scot Goes Poop?

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Two sub-polls in December now saying same thing – SNP pulling away from Labour with 18% and 15% leads

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Two days ago, I noted: From Find Out Now on 4 December 2024, the UK figures put Labour in third place with 23%, behind Reform at 24% and the Cons at 26%. The Scottish sub-set of only 118, has SNPv39%, Labour 21%, Cons 13%, Reform, Greens and Lib Dems at 8%. If repeated in May 2026, this could give SNP an overall majority. Early days I know but still good to get this kind of wee boost. https://findoutnow.co.uk/blog/voting-intention-4th-dec-2024/ The above 18% lead is much larger than previous sub-polls and, more so, than in ‘full’ Scottish polls. However, the latter, while having … Continue reading Two sub-polls in December now saying same thing – SNP pulling away from Labour with 18% and 15% leads

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Contrary to the Guardian view there IS certified water testing ‘in the UK post Brexit’ but it’s ‘so far away’ from England…….in Edinburgh

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Professor John Robertson OBA Today, in the Guardian, this shocking report for readers, in England and probably Scotland too because no one will tell them otherwise: The safety of tap water in the UK could be at risk because water companies are unable to use products to clean it, industry insiders have said, as all the laboratories that test and certify the chemicals have shut down. People in the industry have called it a “Brexit problem” because EU countries will share laboratory capacity from 2026, meaning that if the UK was still in the EU, water companies would be able to use … Continue reading Contrary to the Guardian view there IS certified water testing ‘in the UK post Brexit’ but it’s ‘so far away’ from England…….in Edinburgh

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Glenn Campbell and the ‘significant underperformance in key public services like the NHS’ that does not survive a collision with the evidence

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Professor John Robertson OBA Glenn Campbell’s opinion piece on the SNP, after its budget, is the lead story on its website today, titled: SNP rediscovers its political confidence with wily Budget Hah! We know what to expect and, within one line, we get: In the last couple of years its independence strategy has hit a brick wall, the party has tied itself in knots over gender reform, and it has fallen in and out of love with the Scottish Greens. There have been three first ministers during that period and one of those remains under police investigation as the Branchform … Continue reading Glenn Campbell and the ‘significant underperformance in key public services like the NHS’ that does not survive a collision with the evidence

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‘The most heinous if not criminal failure of the media in general and public broadcasters in particular to inform the public in Scotland of the dangers these gangs represent

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The BBC‘s Mission, from Copy of Royal Charter for the continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by Command of Her Majesty December 2016: The BBC’s Mission The Mission of the BBC is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain. https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/governance/charter This is a royal charter, approved by Parliament giving the BBC, including BBC Scotland, a clear requirement to inform the public on matters affecting their lives, such as drug … Continue reading ‘The most heinous if not criminal failure of the media in general and public broadcasters in particular to inform the public in Scotland of the dangers these gangs represent

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As ‘Quademic’ looms NHS Scotland has 37% more beds, 33% more nurses, 27% more GPs and cleaner hospitals

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Professor John Robertson OBA On BBC Breakfast, this morning, we hear that a ‘Quademic‘ is looming in England’s hospitals as cases of Flu, Covid, Norovirus and RSV and that out of 100 000 beds, 95 000 are already occupied. BBC Scotland does not have this story. Perhaps that’s because: First, there are 13 695 hospital beds in Scotland, 3 695 more than you’d expect, per head, more than a third more.1 Second, there are 12 nurses per 1 000 people in Scotland but only 9 in the UK.2 Third, Scotland has 27.3% more GPs than England.3,4 Fourth, cleaner hospitals as … Continue reading As ‘Quademic’ looms NHS Scotland has 37% more beds, 33% more nurses, 27% more GPs and cleaner hospitals

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‘County Lines crackdown after cops smash English gang moving drugs to Aberdeen’

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That’s the Express headline above. BBC Scotland‘s website has no coverage, concentrating on whether police officers can be bearded but in the BBC Breakfast insert this morning they did say ‘County Lines‘ for the first time. That’s progress I suppose. The Express also has: Separately, six groups involved in county lines drugs and organised crime in Aberdeen have been targeted by police since June in a joint operation with the Met Police in London. Class A drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin, were being moved between London, Liverpool and Hertfordshire to addresses in Aberdeen, prompting 63 arrests in connection with … Continue reading ‘County Lines crackdown after cops smash English gang moving drugs to Aberdeen’

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Only a sub-poll but latest confirms six-poll trend as SNP open up massive 18 point lead over Labour

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Four days ago, I could write: Six sub-polls suggest modest SNP recovery, growing Reform threat and ongoing crisis for the others leading to good result in the constituencies for the SNP at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/12/01/six-sub-polls-suggest-modest-snp-recovery-growing-reform-threat-and-ongoing-crisis-for-the-others-leading-to-good-result-in-the-constituencies-for-the-snp/ Today, from Find Out Now, the UK figures put Labour in third place with 23%, behind Reform at 24% and the Cons at 26%. The Scottish sub-set of only 118, has SNP39%, Labour 21%, Cons 13%, Reform, Greens and Lib Dems at 8%. If repeated in May 2026, this could give SNP an overall majority. Early days I know but still good to get this kind of … Continue reading Only a sub-poll but latest confirms six-poll trend as SNP open up massive 18 point lead over Labour