Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Scotland’s poverty policies – The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence ‘new think tank’

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BBC Scotland today are delighted to be able to headline: No evidence Scotland’s poverty policies are working – report They know that some, perhaps many, will read that to mean these policies are not working at all when all the new think tank was saying is that more data is required to prove they are. Read deeper to see the sneaky nature of the headline confirmed: The Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (Sheru) highlighted a “critical gap” in data on the effectiveness of programmes such as the Scottish Child Payment. The organisation – run by the Fraser of Allander Institute … Continue reading Scotland’s poverty policies – The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence ‘new think tank’

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As BBC Scotland go on child poverty in Scotland, the many facts they and Labour do not want you to know

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For the full facts and the properly sourced evidence, click here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=poverty For the full facts and the properly sourced evidence, click here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=poverty For the full facts and the properly sourced evidence, click here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=poverty Continue reading As BBC Scotland go on child poverty in Scotland, the many facts they and Labour do not want you to know

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20% of ferries cancelled, no new builds till 2028 in a place 3 times richer than Scotland

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From the Salish Current in Washington State USA (GDP $672 billion compared to Scotland’s $217 billion), today: Commentary: San Juan County interisland ferry had 110 cancellations out of 502 scheduled sailings in the first 20 days last month It’s been almost a year since The Seattle Times offered the stark (and, to many of us, belated) view that Gov. Jay Inslee “has one year to right (Washington State Ferries) before cementing a legacy as the governor who sailed the system into decrepitude.” It’s safe to say that ignominious legacy now is well cemented. It’s now likely that the first new ferry won’t … Continue reading 20% of ferries cancelled, no new builds till 2028 in a place 3 times richer than Scotland

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Six month disruption for Vancouver travellers as propeller drops off 60-year old Canadian ferry.

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60 year-old BC Ferries Queen of New Westminster, with those doors or lack of doors, which can give drivers a bit of added fun in high seas judging by this shot from a similar neighbouring Washington State ferry: From Marine Log today: BC Ferries says that its 60-year old Queen of New Westminster ferry will be out of service for six months after an incident that occurred September 3 near the Tawwassen Terminal. It was discovered that the vessel’s starboard propeller had sheared off from the propeller shaft, with some 800 liters of light hydraulic oil spilling into surrounding waters. The Queen of … Continue reading Six month disruption for Vancouver travellers as propeller drops off 60-year old Canadian ferry.

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Party first and constituents second (if at all)

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Anonymous Any Labour MP who thinks that they can just abstain in the vote on cutting the winter fuel payment in the HOC are then, as a constituency MP, making a conscious decision to not support the pensioners in their respective constituencies but instead they have decided to not vote against the party. Party first and constituents second (if at all). They think in not voting with the party but instead in them abstaining that then somehow makes them appear better and so, they may assume, lets them off the hook with the constituents in their areas who are effected by this if it passes in the HOC. It does not. It shows them as spineless , without principles and those who are more driven by a desire to progress their own political careers than … Continue reading Party first and constituents second (if at all)

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Lord Ashcroft – why did he decide to acquire the Holyrood magazine ?

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Anonymous It appears though that Labour in Scotland’s leader (of sorts) Anas Sarwar is the bees knees as in yet another trolling (or comedy) exercise by media (of sorts) who dislike the SNP so much, that we now find out that, Anas Sarwar has been named as the “MSP of the year”, by the Holyrood Magazine (now owned by Tory Lord Ashcroft) in their yearly magazine political (of sorts) awards (of sorts) ceremony. Anas Sarwar tweeted in response to ‘winning’ this award (of sorts): “Thanks @HolyroodDaily for the MSP of the year award”. “Over 3 years, we’ve changed Scottish Labour so we can deliver the change our country needs”. “Economic … Continue reading Lord Ashcroft – why did he decide to acquire the Holyrood magazine ?

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2 000 mental health deaths in Essex not linked to Tory government but 1 in Scotland connects to the SNP government twice and earns the minister an photo

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In May 2024, BBC Scotland connected a single death in a mental health institution to the minister above and included in the report: The Scottish government said the commission’s recommendations would be “fully implemented” at the unit, which was anonymised in the report. (para 4) and at the end: The Scottish government’s Mental Wellbeing minister Maree Todd said she extended her “heartfelt sympathies” to the family of Mrs F. She added: “The relevant health and social care services have been issued with specific recommendations and learning points and we expect these to be fully implemented.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c25rgzl55edo Yesterday BBC Essex had: … Continue reading 2 000 mental health deaths in Essex not linked to Tory government but 1 in Scotland connects to the SNP government twice and earns the minister an photo

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Scottish alcohol deaths stabilise, after years of Tory austerity and pandemic lockdowns, as Scottish Government treatment programmes repeatedly beat 95% target, just in time for Labour to drive folk to drink again

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland, typically thick in the junior ranks but sneaky at the top, have this today: Scottish alcohol deaths at 15-year high. The number of people in Scotland whose death was caused by alcohol remains at a high level, with the largest number of deaths in 15 years. The latest figures from National Records of Scotland, (NRS) show 1,277 people died from conditions caused by alcohol in 2023. This was one death more than the previous year, which was the highest number since 2008. As always, from BBC Scotland, a more meaningful look at longer trends … Continue reading Scottish alcohol deaths stabilise, after years of Tory austerity and pandemic lockdowns, as Scottish Government treatment programmes repeatedly beat 95% target, just in time for Labour to drive folk to drink again

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Scotland’s drug deaths – the trend is the news, the news that matters, and it’s DOWN, by 20% in only 3 years

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Don’t be deceived. Reporting today’s 2% fall in suspected drug deaths, the Scottish media will tell you: This is insignificant, the reduction has stalled’ or recent figures are higher than they were in 2022 or 2023. Those interpretations are either stupid or deliberately misleading. A one year variation when looking at data such as these is not important but a trend over 4 or 5 years is. The trend is down and down significantly by around 20% in 4 years. The dramatic dip in the annual variation from the end of 2020 until the second half … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths – the trend is the news, the news that matters, and it’s DOWN, by 20% in only 3 years

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Factcheck 2 on useless Scottish Labour MPs – Labour’s own research proves their winter fuel allowance cut will kill many more in Scotland

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Kinbrace in Scotland in August 2024 -1.2 °C, Manston in Kent – 16.6 °C By Professor John Robertson OBA Skwawkbox today: The Labour party’s cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance will kill around 4,000 pensioners this winter – according to the party’s own research. Labour’s analysis, published during the 2017 general election campaign, warned that the Tories’ plans under then-PM Theresa May to cut the allowance for millions of pensioners would be deadly, leading directly to the deaths of around 4,000 people. Called ‘the single biggest attack on pensioners in a generation’, it combined with the Tories’ ‘dementia tax’ plans and Corbyn-led Labour’s … Continue reading Factcheck 2 on useless Scottish Labour MPs – Labour’s own research proves their winter fuel allowance cut will kill many more in Scotland