Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Massive fall in A9 road deaths

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From a Freedom of Information request – A9 incidents, accidents and fatalities between January 2020 – 2024, published today, we can report that overall deaths fell dramatically from 12 in 2022 to 4 in 2023. 2 of the deaths took place on non-dual carriage-ways and 2 on the supposedly safer dualled sections. The FOI result was, I suspect a big disappointment to the opposition MSP or opposition journalist who wasted more than £300 of taxpayer money rooting for it. https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/04/10/1-4-million-of-public-funds-and-32-000-staff-hours-used-to-meet-freedom-of-information-requests-such-as-those-by-bbc-scotland-labour-cons-and-lib-dems-trawling-for-snp-bad-news/ Continue reading Massive fall in A9 road deaths

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Diarrhoea in the Thames again, £18 billion in debt, £150 million to shareholders just before investors withdraw a pledge to pay for a clean-up and Labour are not interested

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Thanks to Dottie’s Phone for alerting me to this. In May 2024, the Guardian told us: Thames Water has sent samples of water for lab testing after dozens of people reported becoming unwell with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea in south-east London.  Today, they have: Thames Water has been urged to show greater transparency over its finances and accused of “financial chicanery” after it emerged its board had approved a £150m dividend hours before its shareholders U-turned on providing emergency funding. The Guardian revealed last week that the board of the struggling water supplier agreed to the payout at a meeting on … Continue reading Diarrhoea in the Thames again, £18 billion in debt, £150 million to shareholders just before investors withdraw a pledge to pay for a clean-up and Labour are not interested

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Why is this British state, tax-payer-funded public service broadcaster only telling you how to get free voter-ID when it’s too late?

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registration certificate, as long as you are registered to vote. You can see those details on the BBC website on the Electoral Commission website. Presenter says ‘Good advice!’ At the website: Conspiracy or c***up? Those less likely to have bank cards, driving licences etc, the poor, are also more likely to vote for leftist parties. The SNP is clearly the only larger left-of-centre party known to be working to reduce poverty. Evidence from Alan Dorans, SNP candidate for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, in the National, January 2024: This matters for all of us but matters more for the SNP than … Continue reading Why is this British state, tax-payer-funded public service broadcaster only telling you how to get free voter-ID when it’s too late?

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THREE times as many wait more than 12 hours in England’s A&E departments

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NHS England, Type one A&E, for May 2024, 138 770 waiting more than 4 hours and 42 555 waiting more than 12. 59.7% seen within 4 hours. NHS Scotland, Type ED full A&E, for May 2024, 9 252 waiting more than 4 hours and 1 350 waiting more than 12. 66.7% seen within 4 hours So: All things being equal NHS England with 10 times the population might have been expected to have 92 520 waiting more than 4 hours, but had 138 770, 50% more. And 13 500 waiting more than 12 hours but had 42 555, more than … Continue reading THREE times as many wait more than 12 hours in England’s A&E departments

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No publishable evidence of patients left in pain and to die alone in Scotland, survey finds

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian, today, days before an election: NHS patients are being left unseen in pain and in some cases to die alone because shifts do not have enough registered nurses, a survey shows. The Royal College of Nursing said analysis of a survey it carried out showed that only a third of shifts had enough registered nurses on duty. The union has also gathered testimonies from nurses who talk of always “rushing” and being asked to do more; working in “completely unsafe” levels of care; and having to make “heartbreaking” decisions on who does or doesn’t get … Continue reading No publishable evidence of patients left in pain and to die alone in Scotland, survey finds

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Now that’s what I call a f****** ferry fiasco as New Zealand’s Tories ‘rat-f***’ their own ferry company

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Regular readers may remember that New Zealand’s state-owned lifeline Cook Strait Ferries have been drifting toward rocks with hundreds on board, running into harbours and stranding passengers on the wrong harbour with their elderly vessels, on average 10 years older than out CalMac boats.. The outgoing Labour government oversaw a contract for two new ferries ballooning to $2 billion and the incoming National (conservative) government completely cancelled the deal with a $3 million penalty to the Korean builders, putting the Ferguson Marine delays and over-runs into perspective. Tomorrow in the NZ Daily blog: Let’s get this completely straight. KiwiRail negotiates … Continue reading Now that’s what I call a f****** ferry fiasco as New Zealand’s Tories ‘rat-f***’ their own ferry company

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Lib Dem-assisted Conservative Council risks child exploitation for the Union

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Aberdeenshire Council is run by a Conservative & Unionist/Lib Dem coalition. Former Berkshire Constituency agent for the Maidenhead Conservatives, Gillian Owen is the council leader whom was responsible for the education committee letting a school photographer take selective photographs to exclude children with complex needs. See: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/03/29/if-it-wasnt-the-aberdeenshire-school-it-was-the-tory-council-that-instructed-or-allowed-the-photographers-to-offer-parents-selective-class-photos/ Today, I see in the Dorset Echo: A safeguarding evening will be held in a primary school in Weymouth where parents will be informed how to keep children safe from modern dangers. Chickerell Primary Academy will be holding a free discussion evening from 6pm to 7.30pm at Willowbed Hall. The Escapeline charity, which … Continue reading Lib Dem-assisted Conservative Council risks child exploitation for the Union

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Labour’s passivity on child poverty – ‘the country ‘can’t afford’ to end it

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By stewartb In the news article referenced below on the increasing rates of child poverty in NE England, we learn of the Labour Party’s considered position – essentially the ‘country’, the UK can’t afford to end the child poverty associated with the Tories’ two child benefit cap! Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/labours-promise-reverse-north-east-190000891.html – ‘‘Labour’s promise to reverse North East child poverty rise and cut life expectancy gap’ In the article we learn: ‘New analysis published today [Friday] by the TUC has revealed a 44 per cent increase in child poverty among working households in the region – with more than one in four children in working households … Continue reading Labour’s passivity on child poverty – ‘the country ‘can’t afford’ to end it

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Vote for KEEPING child poverty with Labour

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By Professor John Robertson Astonishing! FFS Labour voted against the Scottish Child Payment, plan no reversal of the two-child benefit cap, have voted against free school meals and in Labour Wales, child poverty is far higher, yet the Daily Record allow Brown to lie shamefaced. In the Guardian on June 7th 2024: Local child poverty rates across the UK correlate very strongly with the percentage of families affected by the two-child benefit cap, research has found, indicating that the controversial policy is a key factor behind children growing up in deprivation. The study, carried out by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, will … Continue reading Vote for KEEPING child poverty with Labour

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CalMac ferry cancellations due to technical faults at only 2% to confirm status as best, 98% reliable, safest and cheapest for passengers, ferry service in the world

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The Herald today is platforming a Conservatives freedom of information figure of 3 215 CalMac ferry crossings cancelled due to technical problems in the first nine months of 2023, under the headline – CalMac ferry cancellations a ‘shocking betrayal’ of islanders. WTF just the first nine months? CalMac makes around 400 to 500 crossings every day of the year. Let’s go with the lower figure. That’s around 150 000 per year. The 3 215 make up only 2.14%. Any other cancellations are due to dangerous weather. CalMac has never lost a passenger, never mind a ferry, due to mistakes of … Continue reading CalMac ferry cancellations due to technical faults at only 2% to confirm status as best, 98% reliable, safest and cheapest for passengers, ferry service in the world