Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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The poor Millionaire Keir Starmer’s wife is lucky he isn’t just Lord Provost of Glasgow

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Anonymous Listen I remember when, in 2019, a female SNP Glasgow Lord Provost was reported by The Daily Record for claiming for 23 pairs of shoes on expenses and it was a very big story on the BBC Website for Scotland. In defence it was stated on the BBC website that: “Her role incurs personal expenses as she is required to represent the city at hundreds of events” and it was also stated that “there was no accusation of impropriety against the Lord Provost of Glasgow Eva Bolander”. “The money spent was within the civic allowance allocated to the council by the Scottish government” However the BBC article also stated that : “The issue here … Continue reading The poor Millionaire Keir Starmer’s wife is lucky he isn’t just Lord Provost of Glasgow

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The Titanic – Scotland’s part in its sinking

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Anonymous Here we go again. This may be considered too petty of me by some people but for me it seems a tad suspicious, strange and also knowing how the BBC works in Scotland, in them often misinforming us in Scotland, then this also seems deliberate as an action by them. So what am I referring to? Well I noted this on the BBC website. BBC website has the exact same article on their UK main page, NI main page and Scotland main page but not on the England main page. Headline “Titanic shipyard to go into administration” So why on NI main page ? Well the Titanic was built in Belfast, NI. So why on UK page ? Well NI part of the UK. So why on Scotland main page ? … Continue reading The Titanic – Scotland’s part in its sinking

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Labour attempts to scare Scots with fake news about the Shetland subsea cable cut in 2022 but fails to mention how many of the Royal Navy’s subs to defend us are currently stuck in dock

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In a report reminiscent of George Robertson’s ‘dark forces’ that would circle an undefended independent Scotland after 2014, Luke Pollard ‘armed forces minister’ and MP for Devonport, son of a submariner: Scotland’s coastline has become a terrifying new front on the West’s conflict with Russia. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has warned Vladimir Putin is likely operating fleets of unmanned submarines designed to sabotage sub-sea internet cables which could cripple the UK. Military intelligence experts have said communications lines severed off the coast of Shetland two years ago was almost certainly the work of Russia, which has also been accused of operating “spy ships” … Continue reading Labour attempts to scare Scots with fake news about the Shetland subsea cable cut in 2022 but fails to mention how many of the Royal Navy’s subs to defend us are currently stuck in dock

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Labour peer paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer

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Anonymous On Sky News: “Sir Keir Starmer is facing an investigation over a possible breach of parliamentary rules after failing to declare that some of his wife’s high-end clothes were bought for her by his biggest personal donor, Lord Alli”. “The Labour peer paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer, reportedly both before and after the Labour leader became prime minister in July, according to The Sunday Times” “This year Sir Keir has received – and disclosed – nearly £19,000 worth of work clothes and several pairs of glasses from Lord Alli, the former chairman of online fashion retailer Asos, The Times reports” “In addition, the peer, whose personal wealth … Continue reading Labour peer paid for a personal shopper, clothes and alterations for Lady Victoria Starmer

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8% of the population but 25% of the top universities and all of the safest campuses*

johnrobertson834

From the Guardian’s The best UK universities 2025 list – rankings, published today, pro rata, per head, Scotland might be expected to have 2 of the top 20 universities in the UK but has 5. In 2019*, we had: Scotland’s university cities the safest in the UK by a very long way From the Complete University Guide 2019, we can see that the overall fall in crime in Scotland in the last ten, or so, years is reflected in the relative safety of university campuses. Of particular interest is the level of crime (incidents per 1 000 residents) reported in Glasgow, … Continue reading 8% of the population but 25% of the top universities and all of the safest campuses*

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Scottish Labour MP suggests following England’s failed strategies

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In the Scotsman today, above, Dr Zubir Ahmed, Labour, notes the crisis in A&E and and cancer care in England, then suggests Scotland might learn from there. He clearly does not know or does not want to know this: First, on A&E longer waiting times, by stewartb, from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine data: On the longest times spent in A&E i.e. 12 hours or more, the equivalent percentages during January 2024 are: England = 13.2%; Wales = 15.5%; Scotland = 8%. On more than 8 hour waits, the equivalent percentages during January 2024 are: Wales = 24%; Scotland = 16%. (NHS … Continue reading Scottish Labour MP suggests following England’s failed strategies

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Starmer’s heartless, immoral, reliance on the lack of a legal need for an impact assessment of removing winter fuel allowance

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Anonymous Tweet from Kate McCann Times radio Political Editor on 12 September. “NEW: Keir Starmer confirmed to me that there is no impact assessment of removing winter fuel allowance from all pensioners. Pushed on why, he said there is no legal need for one adding: “I know you think there’s a report on my desk but there isn’t one”. “No legal need for one” ? Yes but what about the moral need for one ? George Eaton tweeted yesterday. “The DWP has just published its Equality Analysis of winter fuel payment cuts (yes, on Friday night). Around 71% of pensioners with a disability and 83% … Continue reading Starmer’s heartless, immoral, reliance on the lack of a legal need for an impact assessment of removing winter fuel allowance

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CalMac’s supposedly ageing ferry is younger than 27 operating in affluent North-west America and half the age of one

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In the Herald today: One of Caledonian MacBrayne’s oldest and largest ferries is due to return to service eight months after it was drydocked for repairs.  The ageing MV Caledonian Isles is expected to begin sailing routes to Arran next week once sea trials are completed.   The ‘oldest, ‘ageing’ MV Caledonian Isles was launched in 1993 and is now 31 years old. The privatised Washington State Ferries, USA, in a far more affluent place than Scotland, has 11 ferries older than the MV Caledonian Isles, 6 of them launched before 1970, 54 years ago. The privatised BC Ferries in … Continue reading CalMac’s supposedly ageing ferry is younger than 27 operating in affluent North-west America and half the age of one

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Sarwar stumped as Westminster sub-poll has SNP pulling ahead of Labour

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I know, a sub-poll and based on Westminster voting intentions but still reasonable evidence that the Labour tide is already ebbing and may not deliver in the Holyrood context by 2026. From More in Common, based on polling for 10-12 September 2024, a sub-poll of 120 weighted according to the GE 2024 vote (so not favourable to SNP?): https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/media/w50noqnp/mic-first-vi.xlsx BMG on 29 August had: Again, all the usual health warnings for a small sub-poll but the Scottish Cons may recover quicker than their more toxic, crazy even, English cousins and Reform, it seems, do have a constituency in Scotland, like … Continue reading Sarwar stumped as Westminster sub-poll has SNP pulling ahead of Labour

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More than half a million tucked away but little spent – an unusual homeless charity?

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From BBC Scotland today: Homelessness campaigners have staged a protest against the closure of a shelter in Glasgow city centre after the council ordered it should be shut down. Glasgow City Council’s enforcement notice gives the Homeless Project Scotland based at 67 Glassford Street up to 18 October to appeal its decision. The volunteer-run shelter has been taking in around 35 people a night since December. The council said it had to take action due to unauthorised change of use of the building, complaints from residents and businesses, as well as reports from police.1 Homeless Project Scotland attracts some pretty … Continue reading More than half a million tucked away but little spent – an unusual homeless charity?