Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Scotsman blames SNP for balancing books on teacher numbers but still keeping best conditions in world and best staffing level in the UK as pupils numbers plummet

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA Every year, the Scottish Government monitors the number of teachers and pupils in the system, predicts future demand and adjusts teacher training place numbers to take account of this, with a view to not having too many teachers or overspending in one area of its fixed budget. Sensible? Last year, they were able to say: In Scotland, the number of primary school pupils peaked in 2017 at around 400,000 pupils before decreasing to around 390,000 in 2021. Estimates using 2018-based population projections show a continued decrease each year to around 355,000 in 2027. 1 and have … Continue reading Scotsman blames SNP for balancing books on teacher numbers but still keeping best conditions in world and best staffing level in the UK as pupils numbers plummet

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BBC Highland opens up – ‘Drug gangs now targeting Inverness originate in English cities’

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The above statement is from the comments of a local policeman in Episode 2, Series 2 of Highland Cops, produced by a private company for BBC Scotland, at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024s8q/highland-cops-series-2-episode-2 BBC Reporting Scotland, BBC Scotland News of any form, last mentioned these gangs in 2021, only once before in 2019, but has never mentioned where they originate and has never used the word ‘English.’ You can watch this episode at 9pm tonight. Unlike a BBC Scotland Disclosure episode, a Highland Cops episode has never been used as a story in Reporting Scotland. This episode, and the series as a whole, is … Continue reading BBC Highland opens up – ‘Drug gangs now targeting Inverness originate in English cities’

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Scotland’s slowing drug death rate fall linked to flood of cross-border low-cost, high strength drugs and inadequate police resources in England and Wales

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In the run-up to the July General Election, Labour promised to add 3 000 new officers1 to the current 240 000 in England and Wales2 – a 01.25% increase. This promise was, in part, in response to steadily climbing drug deaths: The rate of drug-poisoning deaths in 2023 (93.0 deaths per million) was double the rate in 2012 (46.5 deaths per million). The rate has increased every year since 2012.3 Why are drug deaths climbing steadily and even accelerating in England & Wales since around 2017? The National Crime Agency first reported on County Lines Drug gangs in 2015 and … Continue reading Scotland’s slowing drug death rate fall linked to flood of cross-border low-cost, high strength drugs and inadequate police resources in England and Wales

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County Lines gangs from cities in England ‘swamping’ police forces and linked to Scotland’s high drug death rates 

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From the Press & Journal, three days ago: Cops say Inverness flooded with ‘endless supply of drug foot soldiers’ from Birmingham, Liverpool and London – Police are battling with drug gangs “every week” – and that trying to chase them is like a game of “whack-a-mole”. Detective Constable Duncan Birse laid out the extent of the problem. He said: “Being born and bred in the Highlands I assume most folk associate Inverness with the Loch Ness Monster and whisky. “Probably most folk are unaware that actually we have a massive issue here with county lines drug dealing gangs. “We are … Continue reading County Lines gangs from cities in England ‘swamping’ police forces and linked to Scotland’s high drug death rates 

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UK Labour Health Secretary’s callous incompetence responsible for Scottish nurse death linked to weight loss drug

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA BBC Scotland today has been making much of the tragic story of one Scottish Nurse, whose death may have been linked to the drug Mounjaro, which she bought online, in the wake of Wes Streeting’s widely reported enthusing about it and NHS England’s approval of it to be sold online and without, I think, any requirement for a GP to sign for it. On the 15th October, the UK Government announced a 5 year trial of the safety and efficacy of the drug1 yet on the 4th September, the nurse, had been able to buy it … Continue reading UK Labour Health Secretary’s callous incompetence responsible for Scottish nurse death linked to weight loss drug

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U-turning on Trump – Why was John Swinney singled out by the BBC in this manner?

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By Anonymous Yesterday MSM Monitor tweeted this observation that he saw on the BBC website via various headlines by the BBC upon Labour & also on the FM John Swinney in response to Trump winning. MSM Monitor Tweeted this: “Why was John Swinney singled out by the BBC in this manner”? “Welsh FM Eluned Morgan once described Trump as “off the wall crazy”. Not mentioned in her headline” “Keir Starmer once called Trump’s comments “absolutely repugnant”. Not mentioned in his headline” “Starmer and Morgan are also referred to by their title. Our FM is referred to by his surname” Then … Continue reading U-turning on Trump – Why was John Swinney singled out by the BBC in this manner?

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Winter Fuel Allowance – Unite Union legal action against UK Government is kept on BBC Scotland website to misinform

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By Anonymous BBC Website Scotland Business page. Headline article on this page “Unite union may bring legal action over winter fuel payments” it is 6th article on this Scotland Business page. Click on the article then it shows it to be in UK Politics page ? But not on the Scotland Politics page but the UK Politics page. However if you click on UK Politics page this story is not on there ????? The article’s content is clearly relating to the UK government as it refers to Rachel Reeves and Labour , however the first paragraph is ambiguous as to which government it is that Unite Union are considering legal action against at it … Continue reading Winter Fuel Allowance – Unite Union legal action against UK Government is kept on BBC Scotland website to misinform

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Rachel Reeves’ barefaced lie about NHS Scotland and the Daily Record’s campaign to make Anas Sarwar your First Minister

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As the Daily Record amplifies the British Labour Party Chancellor’s lie about NHS Scotland, how often will it leave readers misinformed in order to support the Party? By stewartb The campaigning strategy of the British Labour Party to win the 2026 Holyrood election is becoming clearer. The performance of NHS Scotland will figure prominently. Politicisation and negative messaging about healthcare in Scotland has been pursued relentlessly by the Labour leadership for years: meanwhile the greater woes of NHS Wales under a Labour government in Cardiff are never acknowledged by Labour politicians whether in Holyrood or Westminster. It remains important to … Continue reading Rachel Reeves’ barefaced lie about NHS Scotland and the Daily Record’s campaign to make Anas Sarwar your First Minister

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British Labour Party is well advanced in inserting its attack lines for the 2026 Holyrood election in public consciousness via our, sorry their, media

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By stewartb ‘Neither Dr Kennedy nor the Guardian writer wished to put their comments into perspective’. Context and perspective when it comes to matters concerning the Scottish Government/NHS Scotland are no go areas also for BBC Scotland, STV, The Herald, The Scotsman, the Daily Record, even Channel 4 News etc. and that’s before we look at the sources these media outlets rely on in the British Labour Party. the Tories and the Lib Dems in Holyrood. No context, no perspective, endless, repeated negativity and bias by omission – a rich and powerful brew! Amongst all this, the British Labour Party … Continue reading British Labour Party is well advanced in inserting its attack lines for the 2026 Holyrood election in public consciousness via our, sorry their, media

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Radioactive tritium emissions around Clyde nuclear sub base which ‘smash into’ your DNA, DOUBLE as cancer cases surge yet smoking rates plummet

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA From the CND, yesterday: Radioactive air emissions have been increasing year-on-year at Coulport one of Britain’s nuclear submarine bases in Scotland. This development is of some concern as it would lead to increased health risks wherever the emissions were inhaled.  Investigations by The Ferret and The National newspaper found that emissions of radioactive tritiated water vapour had doubled at the Royal Navy’s nuclear weapons storage depot at Coulport on Loch Long between 2018 and 2023. According to the Scottish Pollution Release Inventory, tritiated water vapour emissions at Coulport were 1.7 billion becquerels (units of radioactivity) in 2018, rising steadily to … Continue reading Radioactive tritium emissions around Clyde nuclear sub base which ‘smash into’ your DNA, DOUBLE as cancer cases surge yet smoking rates plummet