Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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From On the Wight, today: Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has this week released an in-depth study into cross-Solent ferry services. My research has led me to believe that, using a web of offshore companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel’s owners and lenders have taken large profits out of the firms for years. To drive efficiency and take even more profits, directors have cut timetables; introduced surge pricing, which penalises Islanders for making essential journeys at peak times; and limited investment in ferries, some of which are now 34 years old. Islanders are tired of ‘technical’ and ‘mechanical’ issues. The … Continue reading Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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‘Scotland is no longer a free country’ admits former Labour minister and Tory adviser

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One of a clutch of unloved and embittered old gammons employed by the Times, Telegraph and Spectator, to malign the old country for English readers, ‘Uncle’ Tom Harris, former  Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Transport in 2006, then in 2021, adviser to the Conservative government on Scottish issues, trots out the above tabloid rubbish for Telegraph readers and to thus inform Fiona Bruce for her next QT interruptions of the SNP panellist. The facts, not leaks, from Police Scotland, issued a day before the Harris report: Harris used to be a journalist. Daily Mail? Continue reading ‘Scotland is no longer a free country’ admits former Labour minister and Tory adviser

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Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

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Many thanks to Andrew for spotting this From The London Economic yesterday but largely ignored elsewhere: Scotland’s annual tax contributions to the UK have increased by £14.2 billion over the last decade, with income tax, capital gains tax and taxes on productions such as environmental levies driving this increased contribution. New analysis shows that the Scottish public sector generated an annual revenue of £73.3 billion during the last financial year, a 24 per cent increase versus a decade ago, equating to an increased contribution of £14.2 billion to the UK economy. As a result, Scotland now accounts for 8 per … Continue reading Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

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Hospital waiting time lists in England 12 times longer than in Scotland!

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The Scotsman and the Mail are making much of a Royal Colleges report into waiting time lists for under-18s being more than 100% longer, more than twice as long. I can’t find directly comparable data for England but I can find it for all age groups and it’s large hard-boiled sweet-stopping. From NHS England Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times Data for all age groups: In October 2012, 156 461 waited longer than 18 weeks. In September 2023, 3 222 357 waited longer than 18 weeks, 21 times as long. From Public Health Scotland 18 weeks referral to Treatment (RTT) … Continue reading Hospital waiting time lists in England 12 times longer than in Scotland!

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Here’s why today’s ‘Child NHS wait scandal’ stories omit mental health

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The Scotsman and the Mail are headlining the 114.6%, just over doubling’ of waiting time lists for more than 12 weeks, among under 18 year-olds. Comparisons with other parts of the UK are not always possible, but I’m working on that and will report soon. Just over doubling in 10 years? I suspect there is even worse to be found elsewhere. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health research seems to focus only on Scotland and carefully avoids mention of the crucial area of mental health. You can see why as, in Scotland, performance is steadily improving and, most … Continue reading Here’s why today’s ‘Child NHS wait scandal’ stories omit mental health

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Beauty treatment – BBC ecstatic to report ‘Scotland worst in Europe’ again as Fife woman dies in Türkiye

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beauticians providing customers with cosmetic injections, according to healthcare professionals. Close thing there with that claim. Türkiye is in the Eurovision Song Contest and many go there for cosmetic surgery. BBC Scotland, first thing and throughout the day has another ‘expert’ to damn the Scottish Government for lack of action. Yesterday, it was a London-based climate change rep. The ‘healthcare professionals?’ Frances Turner Traill of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses. The evidence? From the longer website report: Jackie Partridge of the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses said: “Colleagues across the rest of the world are shocked and in disbelief … Continue reading Beauty treatment – BBC ecstatic to report ‘Scotland worst in Europe’ again as Fife woman dies in Türkiye

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Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates continue to plummet after Labour mismanagement ends

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In the years of Labour government at Holyrood, alcohol-related hospital admissions to general acute hospitals, climbed steadily and worryingly, to peak in 2006/2007. From then on as the SNP in government began their push toward a more equal society with enhanced benefits, more progressive taxation, lower rent and rates and more affordable housing than elsewhere in the UK, they have fallen steadily. In addition, the SNP Minimum Unit Pricing scheme has now been running for six years. Some researchers have been keen to suggest it has not been effective but have no other explanation for the continued and accelerating fall since … Continue reading Alcohol-related hospitalisation rates continue to plummet after Labour mismanagement ends

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Climate change – ‘Why don’t they do it as well as the Scots?’

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there is a target that can’t be met, so it is a shame we have to give that message to the Scottish Government but what is behind it is behind it is a lack of progress all round. The above comments follow on from the opening headline claim by BBC Scotland that: Climate experts say a target for a 75% emissions cut by 2030 is out of reach and make much of its ‘legally-binding’ nature. Chris Stark above is the Chief Executive of the CCC, just about to leave them, so must be well-informed of progress or otherwise made by … Continue reading Climate change – ‘Why don’t they do it as well as the Scots?’

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Disenfranchising Scottish Tory voters?

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Leah Gunn Barrett In today’s Scotsman, John McClellan claims that the First Minister’s wish to see all Tory MPs voted out in the general forthcoming general election is tantamount to disenfranchising Scottish voters. Nonsense. First, he doesn’t acknowledge the deep unpopularity of Sunak’s government and the concomitant decline in support for a party that has presided over a recession, falling living standards, rising inequality, increasing poverty and failing public services. Given this abysmal record, who in their right mind would vote Tory?  Second, the Scottish People haven’t voted for Tory since 1959 but have had to endure their execrable policies for half that time.  … Continue reading Disenfranchising Scottish Tory voters?

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Calls for Kaye Adams to apologise for Humza/Hitler analogy

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From https://twitter.com/BronwynChat today, this response to her from BBC Complaints: Bronwyn was referring to this: Bronwyn is not satisfied and has written: @BBCRadioScot Kay Adams show , admitting that she was in the wrong and it should not have been broadcast. I am not accepting that apology. I will send a follow up asking for it to be addressed and retracted on air. All power to her elbow. It’s quite a thing getting them to admit to anything. Continue reading Calls for Kaye Adams to apologise for Humza/Hitler analogy