Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Child poverty – Loughborough researchers being used by Scottish media to misinform audiences

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In the Guardian today: 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 heap pressure on Labour over the party’s refusal to abolish the cap, which limits universal credit and child tax credit to a family’s first two children, if they come into power. The limit can cost families more than £3,000 a year for each additional child, with … Continue reading Child poverty – Loughborough researchers being used by Scottish media to misinform audiences

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How independence adds up, simply

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According to the London Economic in March 2024, Scotland contributes £73.3 billion per year to the UK Treasury, a 24% increase in the last ten years of SNP leadership. Scotland now accounts to 8% of the total UK contributions, the same percentage as our population share. So, that looks like we pay our way, contrary to what some commentators say about Scotland being subsidised by England. Unfortunately for us, we don’t get anything like that 8% back. According to research by the House of Commons Library, we only get 3.5% of the UK Government’s spending, back. Where does the rest … Continue reading How independence adds up, simply

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Real democracy as one party only is not beholden to any rich donors

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As Labour wallow in donations from Israel-supporters and private health operators, adjusting its manifesto to suit, and as the Conservatives drown in cash from misogynists and racists who already like what they see, only one major party is utterly free to do politics on behalf on the people – the SNP. The corporate media are today gloating over the news that the SNP has received not one donation over £500 in 2024, thinking it demonstrates disillusion with the party’s track record and forgetting that it has the largest membership by some way in Scotland, paying what it can in membership … Continue reading Real democracy as one party only is not beholden to any rich donors

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Sir Keir Starmer u-turns on his mum’s love of freedom

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In 2023, Starmer wrote: This year, I braved the British summer and holidayed at home in the Lake District. I’ve always felt it’s the perfect place for a family holiday and so it proved. From boating on Windermere to scrambling up the crags of the Langdale Pikes, lakeside fish and chips or simply drinks in the beer garden — soggy or sunny, there really is something there for everyone. Taking my kids to the Lakes provided a special rush of nostalgia, because I went there every summer as a child. My mum adored it, she thrived in the open air … Continue reading Sir Keir Starmer u-turns on his mum’s love of freedom

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Herald misrepresents stillbirth research to scare in country with lowest rate in UK?

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I could wrong here but isn’t the above claim by the Herald back to front? Are they saying that ICU admission makes any mother more likely to have a stillbirth? Could it be that those most likely to have a stillbirth are then more likely to be admitted to ICU to save the baby and them? Well, down the page: So, the headline and opening statements by the Herald are misleading at best? Missing, of course, from the Herald report, the stillbirth rate in Northern Ireland is 4.5 per 1 000 live births, 3.7 in England & Wales, 3.5 in … Continue reading Herald misrepresents stillbirth research to scare in country with lowest rate in UK?

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Scots Wha Hae a’ the evidence?

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By Bill Warrin, to the same tune but with new words for these times and hot links to the evidence for each line at http://scotswhahae.online/. ScotsWhaHae.OnlineBest viewed in LandscapeSing to same tune as Scots Wha HaeThat celebrated an Indy battle won in 1314This is for the Indy battle to win on 4th of July THE SNP CARES FOR YOU BETTER THAN WESTMINSTERFree Prescriptions, Personal & Nursing Care,         SFree Uni Fees, Child Payment and many more.      V   Westminster chooses not to provide them.           BUnionists don’t like SNP showing them up,PTso If SNP lose their Westminster majority,FMwill Westminster cut Holyrood’s money,NUto stop the SNP providing … Continue reading Scots Wha Hae a’ the evidence?

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A Tale of Two Westminster Warriors on D Day – how the SNP and the Tories treat their wounded

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David Duguid, Banff and Buchan MP from June 2017 and, he thought until today, Conservative Candidate for a new seat, similar to the one he won for the second time in 2019, with an increased majority, and just over 50% of the vote. Duguid has been unwell but fully intended to stand again. He was adopted by the local Aberdeenshire North and Moray East branch for that purpose. Last night, he discovered that ‘the Party’ had de-selected him, as supposedly ‘unwell’, to replace him with the current Holyrood leader, Douglas Ross. This is despite Ross previously promising to stand down from … Continue reading A Tale of Two Westminster Warriors on D Day – how the SNP and the Tories treat their wounded

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‘Stranded and dying’: Canadian cancer patient’s family calls for improvements to ferry service

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From CTV News, Vancouver, yesterday: Gracie MacDonald snapped a photo of her brother on a sailing boat a Good Samaritan was using to take them from Denman Island to the closest hospital on Vancouver Island never suspecting it would be the last image of his life. He died hours later at North Island Hospital Comox Valley. Andy MacDonald was terminally ill with cancer but hadn’t expected to succumb within months of his surprise diagnosis, and none of the family had anticipated it would be a scramble to get him to the hospital after the cable ferry broke down yet again … Continue reading ‘Stranded and dying’: Canadian cancer patient’s family calls for improvements to ferry service

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Ferry service – ‘bad as it’s ever been, only going to get worse’ in affluent USA state of Washington

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From the Orcasonian, yesterday: There have been a number of overview stories recently about Washington State Ferries, including Tom Banse’s good one May 31 in Salish Current. They seem to have been occasioned by WSF finally issuing bid documents for the first new hybrid-electric ferries, the first of which may join WSF’s aging and depleted fleet in 2028. For those of us in San Juan County, dependent on ferries to connect us to one another and to the mainland, this announcement did nothing but underscore that the reality that our ferry service — bad as it’s ever been — is only … Continue reading Ferry service – ‘bad as it’s ever been, only going to get worse’ in affluent USA state of Washington

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Can Modern Studies be taught by an International Court of Justice denier?

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Seeing the Labour candidate for Rutherglen & Hamilton West on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night tonight, I was reminded: S5 Modern Studies pupil, Tommy, seeing the above, in September 2024, asks newly returned and miserable Mr Shanks, after losing his Rutherglen seat in the 4 July Westminster General Election, can I do: Question 19 International organisations have had both success and failure in tackling international conflicts and issues. Describe, in detail, two successes or failures of an international organisation in tackling the international conflict or issue you have studied. In your answer you must state the world conflict or issue you … Continue reading Can Modern Studies be taught by an International Court of Justice denier?