Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Emma Caldwell – How Labour failed to scrutinise police complacency over 300 rapes and assaults in 2005

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By Professor John Robertson From BBC Scotland, today: Nearly 300 rapes and sexual assaults reported by sex workers during the Emma Caldwell murder investigation were not dealt with by police at the time, a senior officer has confirmed. Police Scotland’s deputy chief constable said an operation had been launched to examine sex offences which were reported around 2005. She said a number of the offences were now being dealt with by the courts. A former detective told the BBC he had received multiple reports of rape when he worked on the murder inquiry. But he said they were “boxed” – … Continue reading Emma Caldwell – How Labour failed to scrutinise police complacency over 300 rapes and assaults in 2005

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Will these Labour candidates in Ayrshire admit that they plan to support £18 billion in cuts to vital public services and to make child poverty even worse?

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Both of the above have been happy recently to accuse the SNP of a failure to eradicate child poverty in Ayrshire, regardless of the unique Child Payment in Scotland and the significantly lower rate of child poverty in Scotland than in England or Wales. In February 2024, The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reported: The Autumn Statement forecasts were predicated on a fresh round of spending cuts. Public sector investment is planned to be frozen in cash terms, whereas maintaining investment (net of depreciation) at its current share of national income in 2028–29 would require an additional £20 billion of spending. … Continue reading Will these Labour candidates in Ayrshire admit that they plan to support £18 billion in cuts to vital public services and to make child poverty even worse?

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Will Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Reform candidate condemn his deputy leader’s liking and sharing of holocaust denial, Hitler admiration and the Royal Family are lizards theory?

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Andrew Russell, Reform candidate for the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency. Today, the Ferret factchecker has revealed: This is not a spoof. Continue reading Will Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Reform candidate condemn his deputy leader’s liking and sharing of holocaust denial, Hitler admiration and the Royal Family are lizards theory?

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Welsh Labour to increase student fees to £9 250 a year and oversee massive job cuts

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From BBC Wales in April: Almost 200 jobs are being cut at Swansea University as a result of “financial challenges” in higher education. The institution confirmed 189 employees had volunteered for redundancy since a scheme opened in September. The cuts come as an academic called on the Welsh government to review higher education funding. Prof Dylan Jones-Evans said there was an over-reliance on recruiting foreign students, who pay higher fees. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68745978 Earlier in February, we saw: The cap on university tuition fees in Wales is rising from £9,000 to £9,250 a year from September. Education Minister Jeremy Miles says he … Continue reading Welsh Labour to increase student fees to £9 250 a year and oversee massive job cuts

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Scottish Labour virus in YouTube!

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By NMRN BBC Website Scotland page: There is now only one story in the top section of this page re the nasty political episode we recently witnessed with Dross U turning on his former decision on standing as an MP and choosing the seat of a sick colleague who himself stated he wanted to still stand as the chosen Tory candidate for that seat…..this story is the fifth story in their top section of stories (Soon I am sure to descend even lower as a story before it disappears completely)……..compare and contrast with the multitude of stories on Michael Mathieson which lasted for days/weeks which as headlines were all ‘attacks’ on Mr Mathieson and not as a story one that very quickly became a story via his colleagues defending him that was headlined as such by the BBC … Continue reading Scottish Labour virus in YouTube!

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Polly Toynbee tries to include Scotland in the UK’s climbing infant deaths as they fall here

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian on Friday, that supposedly leftist, denier of Scotland’s right to independence, Polly Toynbee, had: The long-term trend in infant deaths has been downwards, as you would expect. But not recently in the UK. The Nuffield Foundation reported in 2021 that Britain’s rate of infant deaths was 30% above the median across EU countries. According to OECD data, the UK ranks 30th out of 48 countries for infant deaths.  The facts for England: There were 3.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, and 10 child deaths per 100,000 population; higher than in 2021 (3.7 and 8, respectively). The … Continue reading Polly Toynbee tries to include Scotland in the UK’s climbing infant deaths as they fall here

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As social rent homes in England fall by more than quarter of a million in a decade, Scotland builds 6 times as many

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By Professor John Robertson ‘Affordable’ rent can, be at a rate up to 80% of the market rent for the same property and so, in some places, is far from affordable. ‘Social rent’ is linked to local incomes and thus is truly affordable. In the Guardian, today: More than a quarter of a million social rent homes in England have been lost in the last decade, according to analysis of government statistics. Between April 2013 and April 2023, the number of social housing homes owned by local authorities and housing associations in England fell by 260,464 units, according to the … Continue reading As social rent homes in England fall by more than quarter of a million in a decade, Scotland builds 6 times as many

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Bradford drugs gang ‘recruited an 11 year-old to deal’ in Ayrshire town

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The Metro today is reporting a survey of all UK police forces to find out how many under 16’s have been recruited to deal drugs by the County Lines gangs operating out of large cities in England and, in several cases, in small Scottish towns. They also asked about the age of the youngest child being exploited in this way and identified three 10 year-olds and numerous 11 year-olds – Primary School pupils. 1 Police Scotland did not respond to the Metro survey, but from social media comments by locals in Auchinleck and Cumnock (East Ayrshire) last November, it was … Continue reading Bradford drugs gang ‘recruited an 11 year-old to deal’ in Ayrshire town

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Labour in Starmer’s various speeches morph from the country being England…to Britain….to Wales….to Scotland….

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By NMRN So today I just got some election bumf through my door , in an envelope, addressed to me from the Labour party…..this is about the 5th piece of propaganda I have had from them. My area is the SNP Tommy Sheppard’s constituency Edinburgh East & Musselburgh and this is one of the seats that I think Labour are targeting really hard to win…..also I have had three sets of Labour canvassers at my door……so far……… that is…….. At the top of the letter was their empty slogan “Change” with a red background but neither a Union jack border nor … Continue reading Labour in Starmer’s various speeches morph from the country being England…to Britain….to Wales….to Scotland….

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Scottish Government invests to reap benefits of Hospital at Home for older people

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From the Scottish Government, today: The Scottish Government is continuing to invest in Hospital at Home for Older People with £3.6 million allocated for 2024/25, bringing total funding allocation for the initiative to over £15 million since 2020. Recent statistics released by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) show that last year the Hospital at Home service for Older People, which provides a safe, alternative to being admitted to an acute hospital, exceeded targets in several key areas between April 2023 and March 2024, including: Why is this being done? From research by the British Geriatric Society in 2023: The research found … Continue reading Scottish Government invests to reap benefits of Hospital at Home for older people