Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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As Herald today misleads with unreliable methods on ‘corridor care’ figures, reliable transparent A&E figures suggest it is reducing

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. This is the second attempt by the Herald, based on unreliable statistical methods by the Daily Record (No surprise there) to misrepresent the level of ‘corridor care‘ in Scotland’s hospitals. Explicit figures are not published anywhere but there’s a good proxy for corridor care and that’s 12 hour waits in A&E. By definition if you’re waiting 12 hours after triage assessment and maybe some treatment before getting a bed, that is ‘corridor care.’ A fuller AI rationale for the use of 12 hour waits, based heavily on the views of the Royal College … Continue reading As Herald today misleads with unreliable methods on ‘corridor care’ figures, reliable transparent A&E figures suggest it is reducing

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As Covid Inquiry reconvenes today, a reminder of how FM, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scottish Government kept excess mortality here at one third lower than the UK average, saving thousands, despite the delay in devolving responsibility and PM Johnson’s callous inertia – saving thousands of lives

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. I’m grateful to @amaccj for reminding me of this and for the link to the source. When the final assessment is made, we need to set the scene with these facts: Two years later, in February 2022, as the pandemic receded, the simple consequences in terms of mortality in different parts of the UK can be see in this table from the September 2023, UK Covid 19 Inquiry report6: Other than the isolated South-west of England, Scotland had the lowest mortality rate of the 4 nations, even lower than Northern Ireland sheltered by … Continue reading As Covid Inquiry reconvenes today, a reminder of how FM, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scottish Government kept excess mortality here at one third lower than the UK average, saving thousands, despite the delay in devolving responsibility and PM Johnson’s callous inertia – saving thousands of lives

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Anas tried to be a real big tough guy – a folk rock song on lament (not) of Labour

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Youtube version – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-hvsbZdngk Lyrics: Anas tried to be a real big tough guy But London Labour gives no more For him than they do for any of us He’s back in his box and it’s shrinking Well, it’s goodbye to Labour now Well, it’s goodbye to Labour now They’ve sold their soul to London Now they’re no bloody use to us Richard Leonard seemed alright And he had a lefty feel to him too But the Woman of Mass Destruction Sitting fast on Dumbarton Rock Had her pals push him … Continue reading Anas tried to be a real big tough guy – a folk rock song on lament (not) of Labour

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The number of women murder victims has fallen dramatically, almost by half, over the SNP period and to 15 last year, but the Sunday Post finds 200 for its front page to help England keep its myth going

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. In 2007/2008, in the the first year of the SNP minority government in Scotland, there were 28 women victims of murder.1 Last year, there were 15, up two from 13 in the previous two years.2 Yet, today, the Sunday Post has nearly 200 victims on its front page. What kind of image of Scotland today does that present? The same one, I suppose that English politicians, some Scottish politicians trying to please them and, of course, most comedians, even today, love to perpetuate. The murder rate with woman victims is the … Continue reading The number of women murder victims has fallen dramatically, almost by half, over the SNP period and to 15 last year, but the Sunday Post finds 200 for its front page to help England keep its myth going

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‘Major leak at Highland nuclear site triggers hunt for mystery bunkers’ reminds us that spikes in childhood leukaemia, breast cancer, thyroid cancer and all cancers around nuclear facilities have been confirmed by German and other independent researchers

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. The National‘s report today with the above headline, reminds me. Of what? First, increased child leukaemia: I asked the Elicit AI for scientific research which claims to help researchers be 10x more evidence-based: How dangerous is it to live 5km from a nuclear power station? After more than 5 minutes, it responded: Studies show mixed results on living within 5km of nuclear power plants, with some European research finding roughly doubled childhood leukemia risk while studies from other regions generally show no significant overall cancer risk. Which regions? This is stark. Why do 5 German … Continue reading ‘Major leak at Highland nuclear site triggers hunt for mystery bunkers’ reminds us that spikes in childhood leukaemia, breast cancer, thyroid cancer and all cancers around nuclear facilities have been confirmed by German and other independent researchers

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‘Major leak at Highland nuclear site triggers hunt for mystery bunkers’ is just latest in years of reported leaks at Dounreay

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. The National today has as story titled “Major leak at Highland nuclear site triggers hunt for mystery bunkers” (with the subtitle or lead referring to a 1960s bunker at Scotland’s Dounreay nuclear site leaking radioactive water). This is an exclusive/special report by the newspaper. The key source underpinning the article is a new internal investigation report from the site operators (Nuclear Restoration Services, or NRS, responsible for Dounreay’s decommissioning and clean-up). This report was obtained and released to The National (specifically the Sunday National) via a freedom of information (FOI) request. … Continue reading ‘Major leak at Highland nuclear site triggers hunt for mystery bunkers’ is just latest in years of reported leaks at Dounreay

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Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level of 6 years ago but the Herald seeks to scare you

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. I am not, in any way, disputing the case for police officers confronted with a knife-wielding attacker to be able to protect themselves fully and quickly, and use a gun, if it’s deemed necessary. However, the above Herald front page, based on trade union data, like its even more melodramatic cousin in the Record yesterday, is in danger of unnecessarily panicking the wider population. Why? Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level 6 years ago – From Knife crime statistics: FOI release, published today, … Continue reading Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level of 6 years ago but the Herald seeks to scare you

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Gender pay gap in England TWICE than in Scotland having fallen faster and further in SNP years

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Being broadcast widely today, the above TUC claim is not yet confirmed by official data. The most recent data from the ONS in October 2025, reveals this: The gender pay gap varied substantially between regions in April 2025. It was lower in Northern Ireland (1.1%), Wales (1.9%) and Scotland (3.5%) than in every region of England. This is a different pattern from April 1997, when the gender pay gap was lowest in London, as shown in Figure 8. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2025#the-gender-pay-gap-by-region The average for England is 8.8%, more than twice that in Scotland. … Continue reading Gender pay gap in England TWICE than in Scotland having fallen faster and further in SNP years

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Talking-up Scotland yesterday attracted more than eight thousand discrete visitors and more than ten thousand views yet…..

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Yesterday, in one day alone, Talking-up Scotland performed like this: The 6 posts, like those on almost every other day in the year took hours to research and write. I’m not complaining about the work. It’s good for me at 74 but I cannot help seeing this below as a sobering assessment of how the value of it is really perceived by almost everyone of those thousands. Tell me why I’m wrong? Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Continue reading Talking-up Scotland yesterday attracted more than eight thousand discrete visitors and more than ten thousand views yet…..

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NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board may be in debt but is performing well above 90% and above the national average on four important targets but local Tory MSP attempts to shame local staff

johnrobertson834

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. The ‘Scottish’ Daily Express, today, has: SNP accused of ‘gross mismanagement’ as NHS Ayrshire placed in special measures and down the page, this major inaccuracy: Mr Whittle [Tory list MSP] said: “The escalation of NHS Ayrshire and Arran is deeply alarming, and the buck stops with the SNP. Their gross mismanagement of the health service over the last two decades means health boards have been pushed beyond breaking point. “Waiting lists are through the roof and A&E waiting times at hospitals such as Ayr and Crosshouse have skyrocketed on the SNP’s … Continue reading NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board may be in debt but is performing well above 90% and above the national average on four important targets but local Tory MSP attempts to shame local staff