Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Latest polling – Anas Sarwar manages to hang on to position as more popular than Douglas Ross but is now unpopular by nearly 2 to 1

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From the latest Ipsos Scotland poll published today, we see that Anas Sarwar, Labour (Scotland) is significantly less popular than either the SNP leader or deputy leader. Notably, after 10 weeks in power at Westminster, his spineless support for Starmer’s austerity cuts and despite BBC Scotland’s attempts to shield him from criticism, the electorate sees him and is turning away from him, becoming since the last poll almost twice as likely to be dissatisfied as satisfied with his performance: So Scots don’t like him but do they think a Scottish Labour government would do better than the SNP? On every … Continue reading Latest polling – Anas Sarwar manages to hang on to position as more popular than Douglas Ross but is now unpopular by nearly 2 to 1

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Pharmacists in England look to Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The Guardian today: Pharmacy closures in England threaten plan to use them instead of GPs for some care There’s no mention of Scotland, of course. The Herald and the Glasgow Times are just repeating the the same story with no mention of Scotland. From May 2023, here’s why: Scotland scheme ‘more patient-focused’ Pharmacists in England look to Scotland, where a scheme called Pharmacy First includes a contract between the sector and the Scottish government setting out what services are expected, with payment for every consultation. These cover minor ailments and illnesses, some of which might once have … Continue reading Pharmacists in England look to Scotland

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Arran – history of remarkable transformation enabled by a ferry service delivered by a publicly-owned company subsidised by tax payers across Scotland.

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stewartb How hard is it for companies operating on Arran – how hard relative to businesses elsewhere? The ‘Auchrannie Resort’ is one of the largest, plushest hotel, spa and leisure offerings to tourists visiting Arran. It must be one of the island’s largest companies and wholly dependent on its customers wanting to – and being able to – get to the island. On the home page of its web site its states: ‘Did you know that 750,000 journeys are made to and from Arran each year?’ The company web site describes its history in the following terms: ‘Auchrannie was acquired by … Continue reading Arran – history of remarkable transformation enabled by a ferry service delivered by a publicly-owned company subsidised by tax payers across Scotland.

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Given the British Labour Party’s approach to power seeking in Scotland, whataboutery is legitimate – ‘what about Wales?’

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By stewartb The logic of the British Labour Party’s messaging for the 2026 Holyrood election – that the SNP is holding Scotland back – would be open to ridicule amongst voters if it wasn’t for the support – the complicity – of pro-Union news media. The latter’s lack of critical assessment of this and other Labour negativity about Scotland is palpable. Context- and perspective-free reporting has long been a characteristic of the mainstream media that supposedly serves Scotland. Labour’s view of the UK Before and since the UK General Election we’ve been told by the British Labour Party’s leadership just … Continue reading Given the British Labour Party’s approach to power seeking in Scotland, whataboutery is legitimate – ‘what about Wales?’

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Police Chiefs celebrate 6 years of disrupting County Lines gang terror and the need for a Scottish Coordinator, ‘recognising the lines from England that impact this part of the UK’

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The National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC), part of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and funded by the Home Office marks six years of disrupting County lines drug gangs, today.  Since 2018, 5 627 lines have been closed, more than 16,500 people arrested and 8,800 individuals safeguarded. Every policing region in England and Wales has a dedicated NCLCC Co-ordinator and analytical resource to measure this threat and access to the Continuous Improvement Team to support with their force response to County Lines. In addition, there is a programme funded Co-ordinator in Scotland, recognising the lines from England that impact … Continue reading Police Chiefs celebrate 6 years of disrupting County Lines gang terror and the need for a Scottish Coordinator, ‘recognising the lines from England that impact this part of the UK’

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Utter chaos and misery for disabled as Irish Ferries have to use four different ferries on the Rosslare-Pembroke route, in just one year

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From Afloat, yesterday: Isle of Inisheer becomes the fourth ferry on the Irish Sea route this year, as aside from the Innisfree, the Wexford-Pembrokeshire’s previous ship was the aforementioned Oscar Wilde/James Joyce. Since the end of January, it was the turn of the chartered in P&O ropax Norbay which proved to be controversial given it did not convey foot passengers and having no lifts affected some passengers. https://afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/irish-ferries/item/64851-isle-of-inisheer-becomes-fourth-ferry-this-year-on-irish-ferries-rosslare-pembroke-route By the Ardrossan Herald’s standards, that’d be a quadruple whammy for the good folk of Pembroke and a fine opportunity to interview at least one wheelchair user. Continue reading Utter chaos and misery for disabled as Irish Ferries have to use four different ferries on the Rosslare-Pembroke route, in just one year

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Good news as CalMac has the capacity to replace one Arran ferry and maintain a service still cheap as chips

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The Ardrossan Herald is keen to dramatize the simple smooth replacement of a replacement ferry by another as a ‘double whammy‘ and to characterise the replacement as ‘ageing.’ There will still be two ferries serving the 5 000 population of Arran, massively subsidised to offer the lowest prices in the western world, by the rest of us, linked to either Ardrossan or Troon, both perfectly convenient for Glasgow. As we move off-season, the vessels will be commonly less than half full. In a year, CalMac makes around 4 000 sailings (not inc cancellations) between Ardrossan and Brodick.1 In 2022, they carried 692 … Continue reading Good news as CalMac has the capacity to replace one Arran ferry and maintain a service still cheap as chips

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UK Labour Transport Secretary does not even mention Isle of Wight’s ferry fiasco

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From Island Echo, yesterday: Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson says that Islanders should be ‘deeply concerned’ that no mention was given to ferries in a keynote speech by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh this week. At the Labour Party Conference on Monday, Louise talked about ‘ripping up the roots of Thatcherism’ across UK transport but made no reference at all to ferries. The Secretary of State for Transport spoke extensively about trains and buses and mentioned flying, cycling and walking. But the lack of any mention of ferries – including cross-Solent ferries – has raised questions as to whether … Continue reading UK Labour Transport Secretary does not even mention Isle of Wight’s ferry fiasco

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NHS Factcheck – Why Scots should not be put off seeking help as it’s not ‘broken.’

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC UK have this today: There is growing unease within the NHS about the government’s “broken” messaging, the BBC has learned. Senior sources in the health service have told the BBC they believe some of the claims have gone too far – and may result in patients being put off seeking help and causing lasting damage to staff morale. I agree and it’s really important that Scottish viewers and readers are not deluded into things are as bad here. Why not? It’s endless. Report after report, evidence after evidence, that while there are pressures and delays, … Continue reading NHS Factcheck – Why Scots should not be put off seeking help as it’s not ‘broken.’

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Welsh Labour’s total incompetence as one school has to teach maths in classes of 60!

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Wales Online, yesterday: A Welsh secondary school has seen class sizes for maths lessons swell to 60 pupils due to a teacher shortage. Governors have been left “begging” for help according to a former top councillor. Pupils in years seven, eight, and nine [11 to 14 year-olds]at Caldicot Comprehensive are being taught maths in classes of 60 students at a time owing to a national shortage of specialist teachers, according to the head teacher. The situation was highlighted by councillor Rachel Garrick who was a member of the ruling Labour cabinet at Monmouthshire County Council until the beginning of … Continue reading Welsh Labour’s total incompetence as one school has to teach maths in classes of 60!