Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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SNP to be first in Europe to eradicate child poverty as it surges under Cons and Labour

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As the SNP’s much lauded, revolutionary Child Payment begins to widen the gap between levels in Scotland and the rest of the UK, the First Minister, John Swinney has announced £16 million for childcare services to help deliver his vision of a Scotland free from child poverty: In a statement to Parliament, the First Minister set out the four priorities that will underpin the work of his government. He said eradicating child poverty would be his government’s single most important objective. Over the next two years, the Scottish Government will provide additional funding to expand access to childcare services within … Continue reading SNP to be first in Europe to eradicate child poverty as it surges under Cons and Labour

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Nearly three times as many employee owned businesses per head in Scotland than in England or in Labour Wales

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By Professor John Robertson Across the board, from health, through education and crime, Labour has made an asyn of running Wales, generally blaming the UK for all its ills. Today, Scottish Enterprise was able to announce: Latest figures show there are currently 286 EOBs operating in Scotland – up from 195 in 2022 – comprised of 177 Scottish-registered EOBs, 25 Scottish-registered workers’ cooperatives and 84 EOBs. At the last published count, in June 2023, there were 63 EOBs in Wales. Wales has 58% of Scotland’s population, so all things being equal, might be expected to have around 58% of Scotland’s … Continue reading Nearly three times as many employee owned businesses per head in Scotland than in England or in Labour Wales

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CalMac averaging 99% on time, throughout May 2024

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By Professor John Robertson The Herald today is leading on historical fines for delays and cancellations yet throughout May 2024, so far, this is the daily reliability for upwards of 500 sailings per day: 98.4% on time – 1st May 202489.398.599.610010010099.298.499.610010099.610099.698.499.298.497.810099.2 21st May 202498.8 Average Source: https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=15%2F05%2F2024 Continue reading CalMac averaging 99% on time, throughout May 2024

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Labour’s Gordon Brown thinktank aims to increase anti-poverty spending by piddling 0.038%

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Labour keep doing this, offering a few millions for something that already has a budget in billions. Either they’re thick (possible) or they think you’re thick (not me pal). Yesterday, we read: SCOTLAND’S former chief constable Iain Livingstone has been appointed to head up a drive to deliver donations of millions of pounds worth of household goods to Scottish families in need. Livingstone will act as chair of the Multibank project, which has set an ambitious target to provide £25 million worth of goods to households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. He will be joined by new chief executive Kirsty Thomson, who is … Continue reading Labour’s Gordon Brown thinktank aims to increase anti-poverty spending by piddling 0.038%

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Whooping cough medicine shortages – Pharmacists in Scotland, already routinely alter prescriptions for the benefit of patients

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today with not a reference to Scotland or anywhere in Scotland: UK pharmacists demand powers to change whooping cough prescriptions. Exclusive: Some pharmacies have turned away families because they have run out of the drug clarithromycin. Pharmacists are calling for fresh powers to provide patients with alternative prescriptions as they warned that drugs shortages are hampering their ability to tackle whooping cough. More than 2,700 cases have been reported across England so far in 2024 – more than three times the number recorded in the whole of last year. But some pharmacies have … Continue reading Whooping cough medicine shortages – Pharmacists in Scotland, already routinely alter prescriptions for the benefit of patients

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FACTCHECK – The SIX key NHS waiting lists which are shorter, sometimes only half as long, in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson Important note for some readers – England has 10 times the population so to be fair to them, where they are not already in the form of percentages, I’ve divided their waiting lists by 10. All sources below. Yes, I know, drug deaths. [i] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/11/number-waiting-for-nhs-care-for-serious-heart-problems-in-england-rises-fivefold [ii] https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24091977.cardiology-waiting-lists-at-highest-level-record [iii] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/03/almost-10-million-people-in-england-could-be-on-nhs-waiting-list [iv] https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times-inpatients-day-cases-and-new-outpatients-quarter-ending-31-december-2023/ [v] https://rcem.ac.uk/data-statistics/ [vi] https://publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-work/acute-and-emergency-services/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/#section-3-2 [vii] https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2024-25/ [viii] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63573718 [ix] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59549800 [x] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67714151 Continue reading FACTCHECK – The SIX key NHS waiting lists which are shorter, sometimes only half as long, in Scotland

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The largely untold story of how Labour failed to protect Scots haemophiliacs from infected blood!

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By Professor John Robertson On May 17th, the head of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) apologised to the thousands of victims in Scotland who were infected by HIV or Hepatitis C through NHS blood products. While I understand why he made that apology on behalf of the SNBTS and the victims fully deserve an apology, even if it’s nearly 50 years late, it’s not really those working for the blood transfusion service, 50 years ago or now, who should be apologising. According to the Guardian, the commercial blood product Koate, given to haemophiliacs across the UK in the … Continue reading The largely untold story of how Labour failed to protect Scots haemophiliacs from infected blood!

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How YouGov make sure they get a NO lead and stronger opposition to the SNP

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In their most recent poll, in January 2024, Ipsos Scotland got: Yesterday and being trumpeted as bad news for John Swinney, YouGov got: YouGov had this sample ratio weighted according to the 2014 referendum, 10 years ago: Ipsos had this sample ratio weighted according to the 2014 referendum, 10 years ago: Ipsos is a multinational market research company based in France with no ‘horse in the race’ when it comes to Scottish independence. YouGov is a UK-based pollster set up by former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and employed Boris Johnson to write about its polls. Continue reading How YouGov make sure they get a NO lead and stronger opposition to the SNP