Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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As BBC Scotland suggest Scottish Government is treating police with contempt as pay deal goes through usual channels, the bigger picture – lower crime levels, the complete absence of riots and the police staffing levels to be able to help other countries…..after 17 years of the SNP in charge

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By Professor John Robertson Today, BBC Reporting Scotland has an unnamed source claiming that the Scottish Government is treating police officers with ‘contempt’, because they’re taking a bit of time to settle their pay claim. In truth, the deal is just going through the usual channels and the Scottish Government is not involved at this stage. The report, of course has no context. Here’s some: First: Officers in Scotland are immediately better off than other forces, and exceed the UK average salary within just 2 years of service. https://www.ranksuccess.co.uk/officersalary.html Second: https://policepromotion.blog/2024/03/07/2024-police-officer-numbers-across-uk-and-beyond/ Significantly more officers per head of population in Scotland despite as … Continue reading As BBC Scotland suggest Scottish Government is treating police with contempt as pay deal goes through usual channels, the bigger picture – lower crime levels, the complete absence of riots and the police staffing levels to be able to help other countries…..after 17 years of the SNP in charge

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BBC Scotland go to Cornwall to suggest an energy powerhouse like Scotland is subject to global events like every other country

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As the energy companies announce a 10% hike, BBC Scotland went to visit locals who will struggle, then tried to explain it all way as due to ‘global events’ that cannot be avoided, using in a surreal manner, a woman from Cornwall Insight for evidence. You can be sure that Norwegian news broadcasters are not telling their viewers that Norway is helpless in the face of global events. Why? Because they have the oil, gas and wind power to be able to protect their population from exploitation. Is Norway unique? Well, I know a country with the same population (c5 … Continue reading BBC Scotland go to Cornwall to suggest an energy powerhouse like Scotland is subject to global events like every other country

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As Lebanese teachers’ union leader is murdered by British weapons will former Scottish GMB leader agree the factories should shut?

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In April 2020, Scottish GMB leader at the time, Gary Smith, joined with private care home owner Robert Kilgour to try to shift the blame for care home Covid infections and subsequent deaths onto the SNP Government. Today, we read: Lebanese teachers’ union head Fateh al-Sharif has been murdered, along with his wife and his two children, by an Israeli missile strike targeted at their home in a refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The attack almost certainly used weapons made in, or using components made in, the UK – either fighter jets or Elbit Systems attack drones.  GMB boss Gary … Continue reading As Lebanese teachers’ union leader is murdered by British weapons will former Scottish GMB leader agree the factories should shut?

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The Cruachan scheme demonstrated the feasibility of reversible pumped-storage systems nearly 60 years ago

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By Alasdair Macdonald It is a long time since the Cruachan scheme was built which demonstrated the feasibility of such projects at a time when UK Government policy was about oil, gas and nuclear, with some continuing coal use. Such schemes were for ‘remote areas’, like Scotland. The main drawback is higher start up costs – the Cruachan scheme entails hollowing out a mountain. This kind of expenditure is often too much for governments which usually think only in terms of 4/5 year election cycles and, for many investors, this kind of time frame is too long to make a … Continue reading The Cruachan scheme demonstrated the feasibility of reversible pumped-storage systems nearly 60 years ago

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WONDER WALL Massive £1.5bn dam correctly named Scotland’s ‘biggest battery’ is too big already!

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Yes, I do have an alert that allows reports in the Sun. It’s important as even more folk read it than watch BBC Scotland News. In the Sun, two days ago: A HUGE dam nicknamed ‘Britain’s biggest battery’ is due to be built on the shores of a Scottish loch and is expected to provide power for millions of homes. Coire Glas is the name of the huge energy storage facility that will harness power from water as it falls 1,640 feet in the Scottish Highlands. Wait, 3 million homes? As of 2023, there were an estimated 2.54 million households in Scotland, which is a 14% increase from 2003. … Continue reading WONDER WALL Massive £1.5bn dam correctly named Scotland’s ‘biggest battery’ is too big already!

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SHOCK LATEST – Scotland’s flu deaths among over 65’s at HALF the level in England – why?

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today: At least 18,000 deaths in England were associated with flu over the past two winters, figures have revealed, as health experts urge those eligible to take up a free vaccination on the NHS. 1 There’s no breakdown of the two years so, roughly, 9 000 per year, on average. The Daily Record today, repeated the above shocking headline figures for England, then without any sign of surprise, had: In Scotland in 2023, 447 people died from flu and so far this year another 345 have succumbed to the illness.2 Regulars and those stats lovers … Continue reading SHOCK LATEST – Scotland’s flu deaths among over 65’s at HALF the level in England – why?

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Historic achievement after Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s HPV vaccine programme in 2008 results in Scotland having now completely eradicated cervical cancer in women born 1988 to 1996 who were vaccinated by age 13

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From STAT in January 2024 but trending in social media today: An historic new study out of Scotland shows the real-world impact of vaccines against the human papillomavirus: The country has detected no cases of cervical cancer in women born between 1988-1996 who were fully vaccinated against HPV between the ages of 12 and 13. Many previous studies have shown that HPV vaccines are extremely effective in preventing cervical cancer. But the study, published on Monday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, is the first to monitor a national cohort of women over such a long time period and find no … Continue reading Historic achievement after Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s HPV vaccine programme in 2008 results in Scotland having now completely eradicated cervical cancer in women born 1988 to 1996 who were vaccinated by age 13

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Is Keir Starmer “not genetically programmed” to make political decisions”

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By Anonymous I wonder whether Johann Lamont is at the stage of concluding that Keir Starmer is “not genetically programmed” to make political decisions” as the new PM. Yesterday it was reported that Labour are considering raising tuition fees to what may be £10,500 per year for English Universities. In 2020 Keir Starmer promised to support scrapping fees – during his Labour leadership campaign- but he later abandoned this pledge. (Indeed all of the pledges he, Starmer, made in 2020 in his bid to be the new Labour leader after Jeremy Corbyn have all now fallen by the wayside as in they were “abandoned” also). Which makes one wonder why then some voters in Scotland decided to vote Labour in the 2024 UK GE- … Continue reading Is Keir Starmer “not genetically programmed” to make political decisions”

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Work begins on huge transfer of another of Scotland’s energy resources to power 8 million homes in the rest of the UK for no return whatsoever

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In Energy News Live, three days ago but getting little MSM coverage, the above headline suggesting energy might flow from the UK to Scotland and this: Construction has started on the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), a £4.3bn electricity transmission project. The 2GW subsea cable will connect Peterhead in Scotland to Drax in Yorkshire and will be the UK’s largest electricity transmission project to date. Offshore Delivery Director for National Grid Zac Richardson said: “EGL2 is the first of four currently proposed 2GW projects between Scotland and England to begin construction and in total these projects, delivered in partnership by National Grid, could provide enough renewable … Continue reading Work begins on huge transfer of another of Scotland’s energy resources to power 8 million homes in the rest of the UK for no return whatsoever

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Genetically-challenged Johann Lamont rejects the undeniable truth that universal benefits are good for the economy proved by Jimmie Reid’s research foundation 12 years ago

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By Professor John Robertson Thanks to AR for alerting me to this. Johann Lamont, who in the run-up to the 2014 referendum infamously said ‘We’re not genetically programmed in Scotland to make political decisions’, is in the Scotsman today clearly thinking Scots are not up to reading research on the economy. She argues – ‘Why universal offers such as free bus travel and tuition may not be in the public’s interest.’ That’s just wrong. It’s not a matter of opinion. The research is in. It’s unambiguous and it comes from Johann’s Glasgow, where she went to school and university before … Continue reading Genetically-challenged Johann Lamont rejects the undeniable truth that universal benefits are good for the economy proved by Jimmie Reid’s research foundation 12 years ago