Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Women in West Dunbartonshire must wonder what difference having a leading Labour in Scotland politician’s ‘support’ makes?

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BY stewartb Labour’s Jackie Baillie has made much of her support for the WASPI women. The official website of Labour in Scotland’s Deputy Leader still has this from 7 November 2018: ‘MP AND MSP CALL FOR WOMEN AFFECTED BY STATE PENSION CHANGES TO GET INVOLVED IN WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE WASPI GROUP’. ‘Jackie said: “I am delighted that local women are willing to take the WASPI campaign forward, to raise awareness and gather more support locally. WASPI women have been badly affected by the DWP’s State Pension Changes, they have been given little or no notice and no time to plan for … Continue reading Women in West Dunbartonshire must wonder what difference having a leading Labour in Scotland politician’s ‘support’ makes?

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The WASPI women will not be so easily taken in as some in Scotland were in 2014

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BY NMRN Well if you, like Jackie Baillie, were pictured standing beside WASPI women and a banner that says ‘WASPI West Dunbartonshire’…..then you as a politician representing that area had better be prepared to follow through and continue to promote their WASPI cause…..more so when or if Labour are elected as the next UK Government……because the WASPI women will not go away, will never give up their fight and irrespective of who holds the public purse as the UK Government …well WASPI women will look to them for compensation and to redress the injustice that has happened because of a … Continue reading The WASPI women will not be so easily taken in as some in Scotland were in 2014

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Someone pass the sick bucket

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By NMRN 28 March Sir keir Starmer’s speech at launch of campaign for English local elections (snippets) Podium stated “Britain’s Future” speech launched in Dudley, England (also known as Britain…start of Labour’s campaign in English local elections) Starmer “A changed Labour Party ready to serve the interests of working people, or a Conservative Party that has forgotten how to serve anything other than itself”. So…… (Indeed the Labour party has ‘Changed’ so much tis bearably recognisable from the Labour party which were once assumed to be a left wing party) Starmer “Their (Tories) failure is visible in every community in Britain. The sewage in our rivers. The ambulances that don’t … Continue reading Someone pass the sick bucket

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No more a mean city as Glasgow’s murder rate plummets 80% under SNP

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From a Freedom of Information request, by a disappointed opposition MSP I’m guessing, there were only 7 homicide victims in Glasgow City last year (2022/2023), down from 34 in the last year of the Labour Government in Scotland (2006/2007), a 79.4% drop in only 16 years. A more meaningful comparison, based on the five-year average is 36.2 for the last 5 years of Labour rule down to 10 for the last five years, 71.8% down. Can the SNP claim credit for this? I’ve no doubt it’s more complex than that but imagine it was the other way round and homicide … Continue reading No more a mean city as Glasgow’s murder rate plummets 80% under SNP

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If it wasn’t the Aberdeenshire school it was the Tory council that instructed or allowed the photographers to offer parents ‘selective’ class photos

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The Aboyne school where class photos could be had selected for with or without children with ‘complex needs’ is all over media including wider UK media today. There’s not a word from the council leader (above) nor any mention of which parties run Aberdeenshire. From the council in June 2023: Cllr Gillian Owen has been appointed as the Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, by her fellow councillors. The Council Administration comprises Scottish Conservatives & Unionists, Liberal Democrats and Independent councillors who adopt a collective approach to leadership. An amendment by the SNP, seconded by the Democratic Independent Group, to appoint Cllr Gwyneth … Continue reading If it wasn’t the Aberdeenshire school it was the Tory council that instructed or allowed the photographers to offer parents ‘selective’ class photos

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Betraying WASPI women – BBC Reporting Scotland protecting Scottish Labour from scrutiny

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Thanks to Andrew for alerting me to this: A UK minister has refused to confirm whether the government will pay compensation to women hit by the rise in the state pension age. An ombudsman has recommended that those affected receive an apology and pay-outs between one nearly three thousand pounds. What does Scottish Labour have to say, we wonder: Two weeks ago, they were right behind compensation and turning up at WASPI events. Labour Leader, Anas Sarwar, has removed all traces of his earlier support from his social media. Why? Anas Sarwar’s party have received instructions from the UK leadership … Continue reading Betraying WASPI women – BBC Reporting Scotland protecting Scottish Labour from scrutiny

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The politicised campaign against one of the safest hospitals in the UK

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Glasgow’s supposedly ‘troubled‘ super-hospital, the QEUH, has been a steady supplier of stories based on one or two statistically insignificant cases, Scottish Labour ‘ambulance-chasing’ of these few cases and infections ‘linked to‘ deaths there. Try googling ‘QEUH deaths‘ and you’ll see how obsessive the media interest has been. Today, Reporting Scotland is headlining a story of a complaint by some staff based on possible risks with no actual figures to prove any consequences in terms of deaths in the hospital. For years, now, I’ve been trying to counter this shameless demonising of an institution in a proxy war against SNP … Continue reading The politicised campaign against one of the safest hospitals in the UK

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Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze.

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All the rebel authorities have backed down to allow all of their constituents to benefit. While Labour, Tory and LibDem councils tried to impose big council tax hikes, it was an SNP government which has protected family budgets during this cost-of-living crisis. As well as showing a clear difference between the SNP and the Westminster parties, it also stands as an example to show voters how decisions made in Scotland prove better for the people of Scotland. It was the SNP that delivered a policy to protect people during a cost-of-living crisis. The above is from SNP Media. Progressive? Surely not? In December … Continue reading Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze.

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Scotland’s still far better care for those with breathing problems

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In the Observer today: Lung disease patients waiting up to 10 years for diagnosis in poorer areas of England Coincidently in the sister paper, the Guardian, in September 2023, we had this report on the same concerns. It seem little has happened in the years of Johnson, Truss and Sunak. Today in the Guardian: Overlooked lung conditions could create ‘deluge of hospital admissions this winter’ in England, with GPs unable to offer basic lung function testing, report findshttps://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/26/thousands-with-breathing-problems-going-undiagnosed-due-to-lack-of-tests When I read this, I was reminded of this in September 2019: In Nursing Standard yesterday this horrific news: Asthma patients are putting their lives … Continue reading Scotland’s still far better care for those with breathing problems

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Is the Labour-supporting GMB the dirtiest and most dangerous trade union in Scotland?

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Only last week, the GMB union leader was exposed as a bully and misogynist, after having campaigned to become leader, promising to eradicate the bullying and misogyny at the heart of the union. Today, in the Herald: The GMB has warned MSPs against the planned hike in minimum unit pricing (MUP) saying it will hurt lowest earning Scots hardest. The trade union, representing many drink industry workers, said ministers had “been too quick to accept the untested assurances of advisors and lobby groups.” So that’s a culture of bullying and misogyny plus promoting alcohol consumption? There’s a dangerous cocktail. Might we call it … Continue reading Is the Labour-supporting GMB the dirtiest and most dangerous trade union in Scotland?