Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Scotland to take no lessons from Labour on saving lives by cutting smoking

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA In the Herald, today: The Secretary of State for Scotland has said UK Government proposals to gradually increase the age at which people can buy tobacco “will save lives” in Scotland.  Speaking ahead of the Tobacco and Vapes bill being debated at Westminster tomorrow, Ian Murray said the plans offer a chance to show how a “reset in relationships” between the UK and Scottish Governments can make a difference to peoples lives in Scotland.  https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24746978.tobacco-restriction-plans-will-save-lives-scotland/ Not being mentioned, of course: From The Scottish Health Survey 2023 – volume 1: main report, published today, the above graph reveals a marked … Continue reading Scotland to take no lessons from Labour on saving lives by cutting smoking

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First the Tory Brexit betrayal, now Labour try to push Ayrshire farmers under a tractor with a boycott, surely they know to vote SNP now?

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Today in the Express: Outrage as Labour councillor calls for boycott of Scottish farms amid budget backlash. A Labour councillor has been branded “arrogant” after suggesting Scots farms should be boycotted amid growing anger at Rachel Reeves’ budget within the sector. Brian McGinley, who sits on South Ayrshire Council, made the call in response to suggestions of a farmers’ strike. Only two weeks ago they were using their grizzled media attack dog, John McTernan, to undermine farmers with similar threats. Scottish farmers are known to be Tory voters. Even the Depute First Ministers husband is a keen one. This support is illogical given the … Continue reading First the Tory Brexit betrayal, now Labour try to push Ayrshire farmers under a tractor with a boycott, surely they know to vote SNP now?

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Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t.” Neil Mackay on Stephen Flynn

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In the Herald last week but only noticed by me after a retweet: Stephen Flynn – the SNP’s Macbeth, a man of ambition unfit to lead by Neil Mackay (above), then nailed by John Nicolson MP: Almost comically personal & vindictive in tone. Worse, unbriefed. SNP MPs at Westminster wanted Ian to stand down. There was a vacancy. Then an election which Stephen comfortably won. His leadership media & PMQ performances thereafter were impressive. A year ago, I could write this, below, and it stands: It’s been some time since I’ve read Neil Mackay, ‘Large Writer’ at the Herald. Clearly … Continue reading Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t.” Neil Mackay on Stephen Flynn

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Prisoner reconviction rates plummet in last 17 years

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Prisoner reconviction rates, like suicide, abortion, stillbirth, infant mortality and drug deaths represent a window into the wider success of a government over the longer term. In Scotland, all have been falling since the SNP came to power. The partial exception, drug deaths, have stalled as the country faces a spreading plague of English County Lines drug gangs bringing violence and more frequent overdoses resulting from cheaper and more deadly drug supplies. In 2008/2009, there were 0.6 reconvictions per offender, on average. By 2020/2021 (latest figures) there were 0.44, a 27% reduction. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400437050/ Continue reading Prisoner reconviction rates plummet in last 17 years

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What’s been happening to the performance of A&E waiting times in NHS Wales after decades of Labour?

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By stewartb November 24, 2024 at 10:18 pm Edit THIS is the British Labour Party – here are more insights into its track record in government and into how low it will stoop nowadays to win power. It seems reasonable before ‘buying’ what the British Labour Party is likely to offer the Scottish electorate in 2026 to ask: ‘what’s been happening to the performance of A&E waiting times in NHS Wales?’ And what’s happening now that the long time British Labour Party government in Cardiff has been joined by colleagues in power in Westminster? The analysis of official statistics by the Royal … Continue reading What’s been happening to the performance of A&E waiting times in NHS Wales after decades of Labour?

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Gary Smith and the GMB, Scottish Labour’s biggest supporters exposed again as bullies

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The head of Sir Keir Starmer’s union is embroiled in allegations of harassing and bullying women. Former senior officials claim the GMB – one of Labour’s biggest backers which boasts the Prime Minister among its 500,000-plus members – is a ‘vipers’ nest’, and workers’ subs are ‘used like confetti’ to fight complaints. General secretary Gary Smith, who endorsed Sir Keir for PM, was allowed to run for the role despite four counts of bullying and harassment against a female union rep being upheld in their entirety by an internal GMB investigation in 2020. This is not new. In April I wrote: In the … Continue reading Gary Smith and the GMB, Scottish Labour’s biggest supporters exposed again as bullies

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Labour Government leaves Wales ‘at mercy’ of storm and it seems not to care that much

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From the Guardian today: Communities ‘left at mercy’ of Storm Bert owing to poor readiness Welsh leaders say warnings and defences were inadequate – but government says it cannot protect ‘every single home and business’ Imagine the Scottish Government said ‘it cannot protect ‘every single home and business?’ Based on the evidence, the Scottish Government has been able to protect almost every home and business after 17 years. Here’s the evidence, apologies to regulars, from even two years ago: Despite 30 flood warnings and 7 severe flood warning on November 19 2022, Scotland’s media had no images or reports of … Continue reading Labour Government leaves Wales ‘at mercy’ of storm and it seems not to care that much

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Desperately seeking a Scottish flood BBC Scotland end up in Burnley or Birmingham but definitely not in Brough of Birsay

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BBC Scotland today, as anger and despair flood England and Wales, have nothing to remind Scots it’s no better here, so insert a story on high winds in Orkney and Shetland (not exactly news there), imply that’s Scotland more widely and then use a Reuters image of flooding (not happening anywhere in Scotland) somewhere in the English North or Midlands where the ANW personalised number plate will be a popular choice. Continue reading Desperately seeking a Scottish flood BBC Scotland end up in Burnley or Birmingham but definitely not in Brough of Birsay

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BBC Scotland inadvertently reveal SNP success in new flood defences by not finding any ‘anger’ or ‘despair’ here

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC 1 today is headlining ‘anger’ and ‘despair’ across England and Wales as flood defences in areas long run by the Conservatives and Labour, fail to protect. Readers will remember how enthusiastically Reporting Scotland teams have visited flood victims in the past to get them to blame the Scottish Government for their problems. That sort of thing has really ebbed in recent years and today, BBC Scotland has nothing. They clearly can’t even one local to complain. SEPA has put flood warnings in place but nobody is reporting any bad news. You can be sure BBC Scotland … Continue reading BBC Scotland inadvertently reveal SNP success in new flood defences by not finding any ‘anger’ or ‘despair’ here

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Sarwar pulls wee boy huffy face when confronted with uncomfortable facts on housing

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By Professor John Robertson OBA That face! It’s the one a wee boy pulls when he’s caught out telling a porky. At First Minister’s Questions on 21 November 2024, Anas Sarwar theatrically suggested a crisis in housing and didn’t much like being told the truth. Here it is: Year after year, Scotland builds far more, 370 000 per head, affordable (really) housing than England Today, the Scottish Government published Affordable Housing Supply Programme: quarterly updates on approvals, site starts and completions for the year 2023/2024. I thought I’d compare this with the most recent data for England. There are doubts about just how affordable … Continue reading Sarwar pulls wee boy huffy face when confronted with uncomfortable facts on housing