Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Ferguson Marine boss hits out at ‘ill-informed’ criticism from ‘spurious sources’ damaging the future of Clydeside shipbuilding

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From Insider, yesterday: Miller [CEO Ferguson Marine] was also critical of the extensive media coverage of the yard since it was taken into public ownership in 2019 and the discovery of major issues with the two ferries, claiming the “constant drip-feed of criticism” was “one of the most damaging things to the future of Ferguson Marine”. He claimed some reporting was “totally ill-informed and comes from spurious sources”, though he did not specify which. Later in the committee, Miller appeared to compare press reporting of the saga to child abuse. “It’s like raising a child and abusing it, physically abusing … Continue reading Ferguson Marine boss hits out at ‘ill-informed’ criticism from ‘spurious sources’ damaging the future of Clydeside shipbuilding

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A year later after they had queued round the block for a dentist, Labour has no plan but the SNP has managed 95% registered with an NHS dentist

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA Today lawyer Peter Stefanovic re-posted the above video to makes these points: The Labour Party went into the 2024 election promising to reform the discredited NHS contract fuelling the current crisis. According to @TheBDA there has … Continue reading A year later after they had queued round the block for a dentist, Labour has no plan but the SNP has managed 95% registered with an NHS dentist

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Massive surge in patients waiting more than 12 hours in NHS England A&E after 6 months of Labour-rule

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA In December 2024, 54 207 people waited more than 12 hours [after triage and decision to admit] in NHS England A&E departments, up from 36 806 in July when Labour won the General Election promising change but … Continue reading Massive surge in patients waiting more than 12 hours in NHS England A&E after 6 months of Labour-rule

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Research from USA reveals ‘eye-popping’ new costs for small nuclear reactors favoured by Labour

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to JB for alerting me to this: From the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial analysis in January 2023, based on a US (Utah) energy company’s updated projections, the above chart and: As recently as mid-2021, the target price for power was pegged at $58 per megawatt-hour (MWh); it’s risen to $89/MWh, a 53% increase. The price would be much higher without $4 billion federal tax subsidies that include a $1.4 billion U.S. Department of Energy contribution and a $30/MWh break from the Inflation Reduction Act. The higher target price is due to a 75% increase … Continue reading Research from USA reveals ‘eye-popping’ new costs for small nuclear reactors favoured by Labour

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People of Scotland call on Sarwar to drop brainless support for ‘small’ nuclear power – more costly, less efficient, more polluting, more cancers-triggering and terrorism vulnerable

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA From STV News / PA Media today: Anas Sarwar has called on John Swinney to drop his “ideological” opposition to nuclear power in Scotland. The Scottish Labour leader told the First Minister his refusal to allow new … Continue reading People of Scotland call on Sarwar to drop brainless support for ‘small’ nuclear power – more costly, less efficient, more polluting, more cancers-triggering and terrorism vulnerable

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How the SNP Government kept your health data out the hands of an NHS England contractor who openly boasts about killing people in Gaza for profit

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From the Skwawkbox, today, the above video (link below) and this: Alex Karp, the chief executive of software company Palantir – which supplies military software and services to the Israeli occupation that has murdered and maimed hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank and also has a huge contract from the UK government to manage NHS data – has told shareholders he’s sure they’re having as much fun as he is and approves of the company ‘scar[ing] enemies and on occasion kill[ing] them’. Palantir has also been linked, in a parliamentary enquiry and … Continue reading How the SNP Government kept your health data out the hands of an NHS England contractor who openly boasts about killing people in Gaza for profit

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Contrary to the London-based IFS, the second homes tax is ‘One of Scotland’s best-conceived & rewarding policies’

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In the Herald, February 2025: Second homes tax is ‘Scotland’s most ill-conceived & damaging policy’ – What does Scotland’s tax system for purchases of second properties mean for taxpayers, landlords, tenants and the economy? That is one of the key questions the independent think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) examined in the first in a series of briefings from its third annual Scottish Budget Report published today. Should I check out the report by the IFS, that London-based, right-of-centre thinktank and do them the honour of responding to them point-by-point? I’m not. On the Second Homes Tax, I know, based on … Continue reading Contrary to the London-based IFS, the second homes tax is ‘One of Scotland’s best-conceived & rewarding policies’

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Labour to ‘push past nimbyism’ to build small modular reactors less likely to melt down but as Stanford University research shows more leaky, causing more cancer, and producing 9 times more radioactive waste

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In the Guardian today: The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA Keir Starmer will unveil plans for a historic expansion in nuclear power across England and Wales, pledging to use Labour’s large majority to make new sites across the country available for new power … Continue reading Labour to ‘push past nimbyism’ to build small modular reactors less likely to melt down but as Stanford University research shows more leaky, causing more cancer, and producing 9 times more radioactive waste

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Glen Sannox sailing from Troon means the same bus/car, shorter train, journey times from Glasgow and fewer bad weather cancellations

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The Herald today has this from a letter to the editor: The excitement of the MV Glen Sannox’s arrival will rightly continue for some time for visitors and infrequent travellers as they explore the ferry’s thoughtfully designed passenger accommodation, but it has passed too quickly for those of us dependent on the ferry service. The MV Glen Sannox is too large to fit into Ardrossan Harbour (islanders had suggested two smaller ferries would be better suited at time of design), so all sailings are via Troon Harbour. This means longer journey times and fewer sailings, making same-day journeys from Arran … Continue reading Glen Sannox sailing from Troon means the same bus/car, shorter train, journey times from Glasgow and fewer bad weather cancellations

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Scotsman and STV fail to understand as cardiac deaths align with aging population and as England’s waiting list climbs to nearly twice as long as Scotland’s

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA The Scotsman, the Morning Star and STV all have misleading reports of cardiac deaths and waiting lists today along the lines of: Waits for heart appointments in Scotland soar to a record high and suggest that reductions … Continue reading Scotsman and STV fail to understand as cardiac deaths align with aging population and as England’s waiting list climbs to nearly twice as long as Scotland’s