Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Good News Today 2 – Eviction and repossession remain far below 2014 levels

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By Professor John Robertson From Scot Gov today: While overall civil justice statistics are climbing steadily since the pandemic year, the increase curve is flattening (a smaller increase in the last year than in the year before and just after the pandemic low point), suggesting we may not return to the high point of 2017/2018. Also and very encouraging, family-related incidents which can traumatise and harm children longer -term, and repossession of household goods which can do similar damage, remain at a far lower levels than before. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23/ I can find no media coverage. Continue reading Good News Today 2 – Eviction and repossession remain far below 2014 levels

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Good News Today 1 – number of children needing care plummets in Scotland

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No insensitive tabloid photos here By Professor John Robertson From Scot Gov today: Looked after children are defined as those in the care of their local authority (Children Scotland Act 1995). There are many reasons children may become looked after including: facing abuse or neglect at home; having disabilities that require special care; unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, or illegally trafficked into the UK; or involvement in the youth justice system.  and: On 31 July 2023, 12,206 children were looked after – down 2% since 31 July 2022 (12,447) and down 24% since 2012-13 (16,032). During 2022-23, 3,004 children started to … Continue reading Good News Today 1 – number of children needing care plummets in Scotland

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‘He said – ‘Who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland?’ CUT!!!

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BBC UK included the above emotional words from Humza Yousaf yesterday. BBC Scotland only offered us the last few seconds after he said ‘Thank you very much’ and walked out of the door: They will claim lack of time but they had time for that – just an apprently defeated man and absolutely nothing that might stir support for the movement. BBC UK also let us hear this snippet of hope for the SNP: BBC Scotland, of course, did not. There are already tentative signs that the abandonment of the power sharing and a change of leader will work. See: … Continue reading ‘He said – ‘Who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland?’ CUT!!!

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First poll since SNP/Green split suggests first tentative signs of SNP recovery

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By Professor John Robertson A YouGov poll of 1 034, 16+, with fieldwork on 26-29 April, has: For Westminster, Labour up 1 at 34%, from 33 in March; SNP up 2 from 31 to 33 and the Greens down one from 5 to 4. For Holyrood Constituency Vote, Labour stalled at 32; SNP up 2 from 31 to 33 and Greens down 1 from 5 to 4. For the regional/list vote, Labour stalled on 24; SNP up 1 from 22 to 23 and Greens down from 4 to 3. On whether the SNP was right to end the power sharing … Continue reading First poll since SNP/Green split suggests first tentative signs of SNP recovery

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Six ferries ‘down’ YET state-owned CalMac at 100% where it matters and not one island cut-off

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By Professor John Robertson, Talking-up Scotland’s International Ferry Correspondent and Factchecker In the Herald today: Six of CalMac’s ageing ferry fleet were placed out of action at the weekend as a new breakdown ‘calamity’ has deepened. Thirty-three-year-old MV Loch Buie, the 11-year-old pioneering diesel electric hybrid ferry MV Lochinvar and CalMac’s oldest ferry 48-year-old MV Isle of Cumbrae, joined MV Caledonian Isles, MV Loch Shira and MV Isle of Lewis on the sidelines since Friday as a new wave of problems hit the state-owned ferry company’s fleet. Here’s the thing. State-owned and because it is, CalMac has the resources to … Continue reading Six ferries ‘down’ YET state-owned CalMac at 100% where it matters and not one island cut-off

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Ardrossan to Arran ferry – Manchester billionaire tax exile’s company is to blame for reduced services and safety risks

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In ukdj today: “The facilities at Ardrossan have not been maintained to an acceptable standard,” stated Duncan Mackison, Interim Chief Executive of CalMac, in the submission. He detailed the “continuing deterioration” of the Ardrossan berths, emphasising that the lack of investment has significantly impacted the operation and safety of ferry services. Over the past decade, CalMac has paid a staggering £15,480,000 in fees for the use of the berths, split into berthing and traffic dues. Despite this substantial outlay, the necessary reinvestment in harbour maintenance appears lacking argue the ferry firm. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/calmac-criticise-peel-ports-harbour-maintenance/ Where does that money go? Peel Ports Group Ltd are the … Continue reading Ardrossan to Arran ferry – Manchester billionaire tax exile’s company is to blame for reduced services and safety risks

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Prescription charges up to nearly £10 per item in England and Scottish Labour will not protect Scots from that

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By Professor John Robertson Thanks again to Dottie for alerting me to this. in the Manchester Evening News tonight, the above table and: Millions of NHS patients in England will face higher medicinal costs from next week. The cost of a single NHS prescription will go up to almost £10, following an increase of 25p this year to £9.90. This is an increase of around 2.5 per cent, which is below the rate of inflation, but the increase could still make life more difficult for people on low fixed incomes. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/full-list-new-nhs-prescription-29064519 Never mind Labour will sort this out and protect the vulnerable … Continue reading Prescription charges up to nearly £10 per item in England and Scottish Labour will not protect Scots from that

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Janitor strikes can close schools in Scotland but not in England

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Thanks to Dottie again for alerting me to this, from the Observer today: Headteachers are being forced to mend desks and unblock toilets themselves after sacking school caretakers in the wake of budget cuts, the Guardian has been told. School leaders in England said they could not afford to employ caretakers, and were having to change lightbulbs and clear playgrounds of dead rats themselves. Amanda Richards, the headteacher of Sytchampton primary in Worcestershire, said her school “literally can’t afford” a permanent caretaker, leaving her and other staff to move heavy equipment and make emergency repairs to keep the school running. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/apr/28/headteachers-schools-england-caretakers-budget-cuts The … Continue reading Janitor strikes can close schools in Scotland but not in England

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Another Clyde fishing boat sunk but no MSM coverage

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Two days ago: AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a fishing boat sank following a collision with a tanker in the Firth of Clyde. Three people were rescued by the coastguard after the crash, involving a tanker and a fishing vessel, between Ardrossan and Arran. The incident happened at around 3pm on Thursday, April 25. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which investigates marine accidents involving UK vessels worldwide and all vessels in UK territorial water, confirmed on Friday that it had launched a probe into the collision. The MAIB also confirmed that the two ships involved were the Greek-registered crude oil tanker … Continue reading Another Clyde fishing boat sunk but no MSM coverage

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A Labour government in 1976 approved the dirty blood from US prisons that killed around 300 Scots and this man couldn’t stop it or did what he was told – want more of this treatment?

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The Right Honourable The Lord Ross of Marnock MBE PC Secretary of State for Scotland in the Labour Government of 1974 to 1979. By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today: A commercial blood product at the centre of the biggest treatment scandal in the history of the NHS was approved for use after government officials were told convicts were among the paid donors and virus contamination “should be assumed”, corporate filings reveal. The product, given to ­haemophiliacs to enable their blood to clot, was injected into thousands of patients in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s, ­including young children, who were infected … Continue reading A Labour government in 1976 approved the dirty blood from US prisons that killed around 300 Scots and this man couldn’t stop it or did what he was told – want more of this treatment?