Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
5 Comments

Scots Unison leader betrays her members, who benefit most from the SNP’s progressive policies, for political gain

johnrobertson834

Christine McAnea, UK Labour Party member and current General Secretary of UNISON, has just written to members to say: A new dawn for public services – Investing in public services is more than just a budgetary choice; it’s a moral duty. High-quality public services are the foundation of a fair and just society. With Labour in charge, we have the chance to build a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone in the UK. McAnea, former Communist Party Member, earns £119,513 with benefits of £12,756, plus pension contributions and employer’s national insurance contributions that are not publicly available. With Labour … Continue reading Scots Unison leader betrays her members, who benefit most from the SNP’s progressive policies, for political gain

1 Comment

New Zealand ferry runs aground after button is ‘inadvertently pressed’ by crew member denying he had left the bridge for coffee

johnrobertson834

From 1News today: Interislander ferry Aratere ran aground after a button was “inadvertently pressed”, sending the vessel off-course, according to an internal safety bulletin obtained by 1News. According to the bulletin, dated July 5, the bridge crew had switched the Aratere from hand steering to autopilot as it passed Mabel Island when an “execute button was inadvertently pressed” at 9.26pm. This led the vessel to “commence an alteration of course” by around 1 nautical mile earlier than planned. The bridge team attempted to switch back to hand steering mode but was unable to override the autopilot in time. Hewlett denied … Continue reading New Zealand ferry runs aground after button is ‘inadvertently pressed’ by crew member denying he had left the bridge for coffee

2 Comments

Police Chiefs launch three-year plan to disrupt violent English drug gangs operating in England, Scotland & Wales, to a media silence

johnrobertson834

The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) brings together and is funded by police forces in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the armed services and some British Overseas Territories. Yesterday, the NPCC announced: The NPCC alongside the NCLCC have today (9 July) launched the Disrupting County Lines Policing Strategy. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) County Lines and Gangs alongside the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) have today (9 July) launched the Disrupting County Lines Policing Strategy 2024 to 2027. The strategy aims to: Building on the success since the launch of the Home Office County Lines programme in 2019, … Continue reading Police Chiefs launch three-year plan to disrupt violent English drug gangs operating in England, Scotland & Wales, to a media silence

7 Comments

CalMac ferries don’t drift toward rocks, hit harbour wall or run aground – what’s a senior news reporter to do?

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson, International Ferry Correspondent of the Year In the Herald, above, yesterday. The same story by STV this morning: And the Business Insider had just – Ferry operator extends ‘invaluable’ vessel’s charter for six months How media with an agenda try to create a reality for you to suit their purpose. It’s not really a fiasco is it? Here’s a fiasco: Drifts nearly onto the rocks, hits the harbour wall and now runs aground – New Zealand’s real ferry crisis By our International Ferry Correspondent In January 2023: Stricken Cook Strait ferry the Kaitaki drifted more than a … Continue reading CalMac ferries don’t drift toward rocks, hit harbour wall or run aground – what’s a senior news reporter to do?

12 Comments

As political leaders in Wales and NI join Labour’s Chancellor in condemning 14 years of Tory damage, BBC Scotland reveals Labour’s plan to persuade voters here to blame the Scottish Government instead.

johnrobertson834

By stewartb It’s been instructive to compare and contrast the reporting of the Labour PM’s initial visits to Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. Northern Ireland The BBC News website (July 8) on its NI page has this headline: ‘What does the Labour government mean for NI?’ The BBC’s NI economics and business editor provides context: ‘The single most important influence on Stormont’s budget is the spending policy of the Westminster government. Most of what Stormont spends is the ‘block grant’ which comes from Westminster.’ (my emphasis) And adds: ‘For years the Stormont parties have complained about the negative impacts of “Tory … Continue reading As political leaders in Wales and NI join Labour’s Chancellor in condemning 14 years of Tory damage, BBC Scotland reveals Labour’s plan to persuade voters here to blame the Scottish Government instead.

3 Comments

BBC Scotland maintain silence on English drug gangs feeding Scotland’s drug deaths problem

johnrobertson834

Today, in the Daily Record: A press operator who brought nearly 40 kilos of cannabis to Scotland has been jailed for 18 months. Lukas Losinski was responsible for bringing drugs worth nearly £400,000 north of the border during a series of runs from Blackburn in England. The Dundee Courier covered the story but BBC Scotland, BBC Edinburgh, Fife & East and BBC NE are ignoring it as they have done now for more than three years since their only mention in 2021, of this dark newsworthy tale of English ‘County Lines’ gangs bringing cheap drugs, extreme violence, child abuse and people-trafficking to an estimated … Continue reading BBC Scotland maintain silence on English drug gangs feeding Scotland’s drug deaths problem

Leave a comment

The Letby baby deaths and the UK Conservative / Lib Dem Government cuts beginning 5 years earlier to nurse-staffing levels far below those in NHS Scotland

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson In June 2024, researchers at The Kings Fund revealed the above collapse in funding for the NHS in England, after the last Labour Government in 2009. Above, from the House of Commons Library in March 2024, revealing the 100% plus increase in the waiting lists in the same period of suppressed funding. Above from the Kings Fund in May 2024, evidence of significant increases in some NHS England staffing but, crucially, not in nurses and those who support them – a 25% increase to deal with doubled waiting lists. In the Guardian‘s Lucy Letby: killer or … Continue reading The Letby baby deaths and the UK Conservative / Lib Dem Government cuts beginning 5 years earlier to nurse-staffing levels far below those in NHS Scotland

4 Comments

Prisons in Scotland ‘orderly, safe, well-managed’ and only non-violent prisoners to be released early

johnrobertson834

severe pressure but they are certainly not broken. They are all orderly. They are still safe. They are still well-managed. The Chief Executive of Scottish Prison Service said the above and on Reporting Scotland, to be fair. Media coverage more widely, of course, is working up a scare over ‘SNP soft touch’ early release and carefully hiding the key fact that violent and sexual abuse cases will not be released early. Indeed, BBC Scotland’s full report on the website takes 8 paragraphs before mentioning quietly this: The proposals, if implemented, would not apply to those who are serving an extended … Continue reading Prisons in Scotland ‘orderly, safe, well-managed’ and only non-violent prisoners to be released early

2 Comments

Patient safety – NHS Scotland has ‘top pillar’ safety programme and all of our hospitals are safe unlike in some other places

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson The Herald today has a scare story about Glasgow Royal but with, of course, little informative value. First, from the Westminster (UK Parliament) Health Committee, in January 2022: The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP), introduced by the SNP Scottish Government in 2007, has been praised by a leading European expert on patient safety. In Westminster’s Health Committee, Dr Pelle Gustafson, CMO at Swedish Patient Insurer, responded with “Scotland”, when he was asked which country he would hold at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety.  Dr Gustfason said: “If you take all preventative work in regard … Continue reading Patient safety – NHS Scotland has ‘top pillar’ safety programme and all of our hospitals are safe unlike in some other places

4 Comments

Oxford research proves Jackie Baillie’s support for UK Labour’s privatised health strategy will lead to ‘worse patient care’

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson In the National today: Jackie Baillie has suggested the Scottish Government should follow Wes Streeting’s plans for heavier involvement of the private sector in the NHS. It comes after Streeting promised to go further than Tony Blair in making use of the private sector to ease NHS pressures. https://x.com/ScotNational/status/1810259280970268917 From Oxford University researchers reported in The Lancet, on 29 February 2024: A new review has concluded that hospitals that are privatised typically deliver worse quality care after converting from public ownership. The study, led by University of Oxford researchers, has been published in The Lancet Public Health. … Continue reading Oxford research proves Jackie Baillie’s support for UK Labour’s privatised health strategy will lead to ‘worse patient care’