Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Alex Cole-Hamilton lies about baby drug addiction rates to conceal falling numbers

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The leader of Scotland’s fifth biggest party is everywhere in the media today with his latest freedom of information scoop – babies born addicted to drugs. He tries to shock with More than 1,500 babies in Scotland born dependent on drugs since 2017 but does not reveal the annual data, to hide a reducing trend. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/over-1500-babies-scotland-born-34398819 How do I know it’s a reducing trend? His report in 2022, in the Express showed a total in the 4 years from 2017/18 to 2020/2021 of 800, falling from 249 to 173. https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/hundreds-babies-born-addicted-drugs-25865690 Take that 800 from his 8 year total of 1 501 … Continue reading Alex Cole-Hamilton lies about baby drug addiction rates to conceal falling numbers

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All you can do is keep talking, keep posting, keep sharing and, like water on stone, we will wear down the support for the Union

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The polls are clear, regardless of supposed SNP scandals, the people of Scotland are moving steadily to a peaceful democratic event – independence. I know it can be really demoralising at times, but it will come, one day. The young are already in position and once they turn out, they will push us over the line. Naturally we all want it yesterday. Many of us want it dearly before it is too late for us but there is no short cut. When we are ready, we’ll be ready. Amnesty International have for decades accepted the wisdom of Lao Tzu and … Continue reading All you can do is keep talking, keep posting, keep sharing and, like water on stone, we will wear down the support for the Union

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Factcheck – 90% satisfied with SNP nationalised sleeper train service, complaints and cancellations plummet but media pochle the figures and turn the news on its head to keep you down

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Only after 13 paragraphs in the Telegraph report, headed Caledonian Sleeper receives nearly 1,000 complaints since SNP took over, and with 5 full paragraphs of a Scottish Conservatives tirade, the facts, missed by 90% of readers: But Transport Scotland, the SNP Government’s transport agency, said: “The latest ORR passenger satisfaction results show that almost 90 per cent of Caledonian Sleeper guests were satisfied with their overall experience, with complaints (934) representing just 0.2 per cent of the almost 400,000 journeys made since the Caledonian Sleeper came into public sector control. “Indeed, the latest ORR figures also show that complaints were … Continue reading Factcheck – 90% satisfied with SNP nationalised sleeper train service, complaints and cancellations plummet but media pochle the figures and turn the news on its head to keep you down

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FACTCHECK – The MV Glenn Sannox HAS a smaller carbon footprint than the old ferry taking 41% more cars for only 34% more emissions* on the second greenest form of transport in the world

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PA MEDIA By Johann Von Robberstein, TuS International Transport Correspondent, O-Grade Mathematics, Grangemouth High School, 1967. Many thanks to JB for alerting me to this. Only yesterday, BBC Scotland were so delighted to tell us: The carbon footprint of a long-delayed new “green” ferry will be far larger than the 31-year-old diesel ship that usually serves the route between the Scottish mainland and the island of Arran. An emissions analysis by CalMac has calculated MV Glen Sannox will emit 10,391 equivalent tonnes of CO2 a year compared with 7,732 for MV Caledonian Isles. *Even if we accept the above figures, … Continue reading FACTCHECK – The MV Glenn Sannox HAS a smaller carbon footprint than the old ferry taking 41% more cars for only 34% more emissions* on the second greenest form of transport in the world

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In Scotland no actual ambulance crisis as in Wales but still even the possibility of delays has the BBC inviting Scottish Cons and Labour round to finish 2024 off with one more SNP-bad session

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By Professor John Robertson OBA You have to laugh as BBC Wales use the image on the left above for Ambulance chief says ‘drink sensibly’ over New Year after critical incident but BBC Scotland can only find the one parked outside a corner shop in Forfar as the paramedics nip in for bridies, for Ambulance crews put on highest level of emergency. BBC Wales have this staggering report: Welsh ambulance service chiefs have urged the public to “drink sensibly” at New Year to help reduce demand on emergency services that suffered a 340-call backlog on Monday. Jason Killens, chief executive of Welsh … Continue reading In Scotland no actual ambulance crisis as in Wales but still even the possibility of delays has the BBC inviting Scottish Cons and Labour round to finish 2024 off with one more SNP-bad session

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Women victims of homicide – selective reporting to exaggerate the phenomenon in Scotland and hide it in England & Wales

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In the Guardian today: Killed women count – 80 women allegedly killed by men in UK in 2024 – Throughout the year, the Guardian aimed to report on every woman whose death has led to a man being charged. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2024/dec/31/killed-women-count-a-project-highlighting-the-toll-and-tragedy-of-violence-against-women-in-the-uk There, then follow 80 tragic accounts. I can’t imagine many would want to read all the way. I started to read and something jumped out at me but before I discuss that, some important facts about women victims of homicide across the ‘UK.’ According to the ONS, there were 174 females victims of homicide in England and Wales, in 2023.1 … Continue reading Women victims of homicide – selective reporting to exaggerate the phenomenon in Scotland and hide it in England & Wales

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I could walk 140 000 miles or repaint the Sistine Chapel ceiling before Operation Branchform admits defeat

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From the ever-excellent Wee Ginger Dug in the National today, 15 things that took less time to resolve than Operation Branchform: I’m guessing Ukraine and Russia do a deal before a Scottish court, the second it sees the charges against Peter Murrell and/or Nicola Sturgeon, chucks them out. All things must end. The Ukraine war will end this year and Operation Branchform, soon after. Branchform was clearly set up, on orders from the UK Government, to milk this ridiculous case as long as possible, ignoring the scornful laughter, to weaken the SNP, as it has, as soon as we saw … Continue reading I could walk 140 000 miles or repaint the Sistine Chapel ceiling before Operation Branchform admits defeat

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Scottish AI physio breakthrough you won’t hear of in Scottish media

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Thanks to AR for alerting me to this. Today, in the Times but getting no attention from Scottish media, the above and: The launch of the trial in Scotland was noted, in July 2024, by NHS Lothian at: https://news.nhslothian.scot/2024/07/12/uks-first-ai-physio-clinic-trialled-by-nhs-lothian/ and by the journal Pulse at: https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/musculoskeletal-rheumatology-sports-medicine/ai-physiotherapy-clinic-to-roll-out-on-nhs-this-year-makers-say/ but, again, ignored by ‘Scottish’ media. BBC Scotland prefers today to report an ambulance crashing with a car in Aberdeen while travelling to an emergency, rather than informing the public of this important development, its proudly proclaimed and royally chartered purpose, presumably because it might make Scotland not look sh…………. Continue reading Scottish AI physio breakthrough you won’t hear of in Scottish media

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As religious hate crime falls to lowest level for 20 years in Scotland, we are picked out for a campaign to fight it ‘across the UK’

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Many thanks once more to Dottie for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today, by Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondent, an image of a hate crime billboard in Glasgow and: Some of the UK’s largest police forces have reported increases in religious hate crimes in the past 18 months, figures reveal, with the number of incidents rising after the start of the Hamas-Israel conflict in autumn 2023 and again after the Southport attacks in England this summer. Forces including Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the Metropolitan police recorded sharp increases in antisemitic offences in the weeks … Continue reading As religious hate crime falls to lowest level for 20 years in Scotland, we are picked out for a campaign to fight it ‘across the UK’

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First pupils who don’t sit maths fail it, now bigger ferry to help with summer demand emits more than smaller one which islanders moaned about – BBC Scotland News goes full steam up a creek

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Two days ago BBC Scotland had ‘Worrying’ 40% of Scottish pupils passed maths’ (Now removed from web!) then we discovered elsewhere that 68% of those who actually sat it, had passed. Today, we hear: CalMac’s new Arran ferry has a bigger [one third] carbon footprint than the diesel vessel that usually serves the route. At the end of the report we hear that ‘it’s wrong to compare them because Glenn Sannox is a bigger vessel! How much bigger is the MV Glen Sannox than the MV Caledonian Isles? It takes more than a third extra vehicles, 127 to 90, to … Continue reading First pupils who don’t sit maths fail it, now bigger ferry to help with summer demand emits more than smaller one which islanders moaned about – BBC Scotland News goes full steam up a creek