Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Rachel Reeves allowed to say ‘Frankly the performance of the NHS in Scotland under the SNP is worse than in any part of the United Kingdom’ unchecked by facts that it’s the exact opposite

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Thanks to stewartb for alerting me to this: Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor for the Exchequer in a BBC Radio Scotland interview with Gary Robertson, October 31: “… frankly the performance of the NHS in Scotland under the SNP is worse than in any part of the United Kingdom”. Source: https://x.com/i/status/1851917541041430825 How LOW is the leadership of the British Labour Party willing to sink in its lies and deceit? And can BBC Scotland get anymore useless – any more biased – as it fails again to hold a Westminster government minister to account regarding their dealings towards Scotland, even on such … Continue reading Rachel Reeves allowed to say ‘Frankly the performance of the NHS in Scotland under the SNP is worse than in any part of the United Kingdom’ unchecked by facts that it’s the exact opposite

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The A9 funding – regardless, deaths plummet, dualed sections no more safe and Scotland’s roads are safest in UK but BBC Scotland try to deceive you with out-of-date statistics

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland all day today: A group of MSPs say they are concerned not enough money will be available to complete a £3bn project to dual the A9 between Inverness and Perth by 2035. In a new report, a Holyrood committee said wrangles over funding had already “significantly” contributed to the original 2025 target being missed. Convener and Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw said there was “no conspiracy to frustrate” the road but there been a lack of scrutiny and focus. and Single carriageway sections are being dualled to improve journey times and safety. In 2022, … Continue reading The A9 funding – regardless, deaths plummet, dualed sections no more safe and Scotland’s roads are safest in UK but BBC Scotland try to deceive you with out-of-date statistics

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Channel 4 News vaguely locates an organised crime plague entirely from England, in Glasgow and links it to Scottish Government responsibility

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Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this. Channel 4 News tonight had a special on County Lines gangs. From Police Scotland in 2019: The charity Crime-stoppers is today 14th January 2019 launching a campaign to highlight the pain and suffering that criminals from English cities are inflicting on vulnerable people in Scotland’s rural and coastal towns. The campaign aims to raise awareness of County Lines, which is when criminals from major cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, London and Birmingham are expanding their drug networks to other areas, bringing with it serious criminal behaviour such as violence, exploitation and abuse. The … Continue reading Channel 4 News vaguely locates an organised crime plague entirely from England, in Glasgow and links it to Scottish Government responsibility

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Scotland’s law courts speeding up

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report : October 2024 A summary of justice and safer communities statistics, released today: Median journey times decreased for all court types in 2023-24 when compared to 2022-23 with the exception of sheriff solemn. There were falls of 4% for high court (from 1,076 to 1,032 days), 18% for sheriff summary (from 306 to 252 days) and 6% for justice of the peace (JP) (from 303 to 286 days). Sheriff solemn journey times increased by 7% (from 529 to 564 days). Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-october-2024-summary-justice-safer-communities-statistics/pages/7/ Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper … Continue reading Scotland’s law courts speeding up

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Latest research suggests Scots feel safer as assaults leading to hospital admission and fire-raising, plummet in last 17 years

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Many of us, understandably are skeptical about the picture of falling crime painted by statistics based on police recording. Correctly, we point to the fact that much crime is known to be unreported and unrecorded. However, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS), carried out by independent University-based researchers interviews around 5 000 Scots asking them to speak of ‘their experiences of, and attitudes to, a range of issues related to crime, policing and the justice system, including crime not reported to the police.‘ This is gold standard research and can be trusted to reveal the world as … Continue reading Latest research suggests Scots feel safer as assaults leading to hospital admission and fire-raising, plummet in last 17 years

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Latest survey update of how Scots actually experience crime levels confirms huge falls including in violent crime and improved clear-up rates in last 17 years to lowest levels in the UK

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA Many of us, understandably are skeptical about the picture of falling crime painted by statistics based on police recording. Correctly, we point to the fact that much crime is known to be unreported and unrecorded. However, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS), carried out by independent University-based researchers interviews around 5 000 Scots asking them to speak of ‘their experiences of, and attitudes to, a range of issues related to crime, policing and the justice system, including crime not reported to the police.‘ This is gold standard research and can be trusted to reveal the world as … Continue reading Latest survey update of how Scots actually experience crime levels confirms huge falls including in violent crime and improved clear-up rates in last 17 years to lowest levels in the UK

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Level of TB in England TWICE as high as that in Scotland

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Announced minutes ago (10am), Public Health Scotland data indicated that there were 283 cases of Tuberculosis in Scotland in 2023.1 All things being equal, we might expect the figure for England would be 2 830 but it was 4 8502 approaching twice as many. This reminds of the far higher measles outbreak rates in England and the far higher violent crime rates. Yes, I know, ferries and drug deaths. Sources: Continue reading Level of TB in England TWICE as high as that in Scotland

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Herald mentions ‘County Lines’ drug gangs for first time in nearly 6 years, avoids saying ‘from England’ and leaves direction of flow unclear

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The Herald yesterday, to everyone here’s surprise, has the above image and Pair jailed in ‘County Lines’ drug operation in Aberdeen – Two men have been jailed after being caught with £10,000 worth of drugs in Aberdeen. Jahvid Frith, 28, and Tyrone Sealey were arrested in February 2023 when police recovered cocaine, heroin and cannabis from a flat in Marischal Court, as well as £2,000 in cash, multiple mobile phones and other items used to co-ordinate drug supply. This is their first time since, in January 2019: Whatever happened to Tony Diver? You’d have thought this narrative with 11 year-old drug … Continue reading Herald mentions ‘County Lines’ drug gangs for first time in nearly 6 years, avoids saying ‘from England’ and leaves direction of flow unclear

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Scotland’s police officers ‘undervalued’ yet paid on average 15%, £6 000 pa more than in rest of UK for less crime with far more staff

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BBC Scotland is today reporting: Police officers in Scotland will withdraw goodwill in protest at a pay offer they said shows “contempt” for their work. Police officers feel totally undervalued by the service, and that has been apparent from the surveys that have taken place in the last six months from both Police Scotland and the SPF The BBC Scotland report does not, of course, compare average or starting salaries across the UK. From indeed, the Scottish average is £40 926 and the English average is £34 807 making the average Scottish police officer £6 000, 15%, better off.1, 2 … Continue reading Scotland’s police officers ‘undervalued’ yet paid on average 15%, £6 000 pa more than in rest of UK for less crime with far more staff

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Privatised Greek ferries described as ‘like being on a cross between the back of a floating lorry and a building site’ as another runs aground only three years after another sank with 530 onboard and one year after late arrival was pushed off to his death

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From Tornos News yesterday: The passenger ferry “Aghia Theodora,” which ran aground earlier on Tuesday in waters about four nautical miles northwest of the port of Igoumenitsa was pulled free with the assistance of tugboats and has arrived safely at Igoumenitsa port, ANA reports.1 Only three years before, the MV Express Samina inter-island ferry sank with 530 on board In September 2023, highlighting ‘fears about the safety of some of the ageing vessels that ply Aegean waters.‘2 One year ago: A video that went viral showed 36-year-old Antonis Kargiotis running on to the loading ramp of the ferry in Athens … Continue reading Privatised Greek ferries described as ‘like being on a cross between the back of a floating lorry and a building site’ as another runs aground only three years after another sank with 530 onboard and one year after late arrival was pushed off to his death