Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
Leave a comment

Major Canadian privatised ferry company persisting with far older fleet because it needs to pay bonuses and dividends, had to spend far more on maintenance than CalMac

johnrobertson834

Thanks to JB for this link. From BC Ferries (Canada) January 31st 2024, the above aging fleet. CalMac has no large ferries over 50, only the about to be retired MV Isle of Arran at 41. All of the others are less than 40 and only five are over 25. There are six new larger ferries, built on the Clyde and in Turkey, due in service within the next year or so. BC Ferries will have none before 2030. BC Ferries has spent more than $130m on maintenance in the last 5 years, so perhaps $260m in the 10 years … Continue reading Major Canadian privatised ferry company persisting with far older fleet because it needs to pay bonuses and dividends, had to spend far more on maintenance than CalMac

3 Comments

NHS Scotland had 27% fewer delayed hospital discharges than NHS Wales after decades of Labour control there but Scottish Labour conveniently ignore that

johnrobertson834

By stewartb More numbers designed to shock from the British Labour Party’s spokesperson on talking down Scotland’s health and social care services! Any context offered? The numbers on delayed discharge are to be deplored but are they really big by comparison to those incurred by Scotland’s peers? From the BBC News website, Wales section (November 11, 2024): ‘Staff burnout warning over plan to free NHS beds’ (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5lqn19275o ) ‘At any one time, there are about 1,600 patients, mostly elderly, in hospital beds in Wales who are otherwise fit to be discharged. In some hospitals, this is 20% of all beds. ‘But delays around … Continue reading NHS Scotland had 27% fewer delayed hospital discharges than NHS Wales after decades of Labour control there but Scottish Labour conveniently ignore that

2 Comments

‘The UK’s worst economic performance in post war economic history.’ Devolved government and economic management: the case of Labour governing Wales

johnrobertson834

By stewartb – a long read When the UK economy is in a poor state, can governments in Scotland or Wales with devolved powers counter UK economic performance in a substantive way given that key policy levers are ONLY available to Westminster and the UK’s central bank? Proponents of the Union point to Scotland’s economic performance and allege: (i) it’s failing due to the political party that has governed in Edinburgh since 2007; and (ii) to have a successful economy, Scotland needs ‘change’, it needs to have the Labour Party (or the Tories) become the government in Edinburgh. Of course … Continue reading ‘The UK’s worst economic performance in post war economic history.’ Devolved government and economic management: the case of Labour governing Wales

5 Comments

Jackie Baillie trying to fool you by exploiting the less than 4% delayed hospital discharges in Scotland while hiding from you our 50 times better care at home figures

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to AR for another of his regular alerts. From STV today: The cost of delays to the discharge of patients from hospitals in Scotland has reached nearly £1.5bn over the last 10 years, according to analysis by Scottish Labour. then after 8 paragraphs, this: Health secretary Neil Gray said: “Most people are able to leave hospital with no delays – currently over 96% of all hospital discharges happen without delay – but reducing delayed discharges further is a priority for the Scottish Government. Far more important but being ignored by all of ‘our’ MSM, this from … Continue reading Jackie Baillie trying to fool you by exploiting the less than 4% delayed hospital discharges in Scotland while hiding from you our 50 times better care at home figures

10 Comments

Herald headline front page news is completely fake as FACTS reveal SNP ensured more, £6k better paid, police officers than when Labour was in power and cut crime by massive 53% in same period

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald, today, with the above, a strange reference to Celtic only, and this opening text: Officers public safety concern over ScotGov police commitment ‘fail’ as crimes rise. Ministers have been warned about a risk to public safety as a past SNP commitment to have at least 17,236 police officers in post has been ‘reneged’ upon while the number of recorded crimes has started to rise. It’s nonsense, all of it. The true facts are, from open, transparent, official, checkable statistics, in Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 September 2024, is: Police officer numbers increased by 220 FTE officers (+1.4%) … Continue reading Herald headline front page news is completely fake as FACTS reveal SNP ensured more, £6k better paid, police officers than when Labour was in power and cut crime by massive 53% in same period

10 Comments

Ford Fiasco as Guardian reveals Scotland’s ferries cost ‘eye wateringly’ less to maintain than the average family car

johnrobertson834

I know, I’ve done this already but seeing it in the Guardian, the newspaper of academics and professionals, is a further example of their jaundiced and/or ill-informed coverage when it comes to Scotland but, usefully, prompts me to check if that is actually a lot to spend on maintenance. So, here we go, more sums, stay with me, Primary 5-level sums. The average family car: Annual maintenance costs – £800 Annual average annual family car mileage – 8 000 miles. Thus maintenance cost per mile – 10p and per passenger (5), 2p per mile. The average large ferry: Annual maintenance … Continue reading Ford Fiasco as Guardian reveals Scotland’s ferries cost ‘eye wateringly’ less to maintain than the average family car

11 Comments

CalMac ferries don’t cost ‘ferry much’ to keep in service!!!!

johnrobertson834

Mr Robertson, Primary 7, Room 12 The Herald’s Craig Paton (14?) wrote the above. Nope, me neither. Other media are having a slavering, low-intellect, feast on that huge £100 million figure that he’s built up. The average 11 year-old would be shocked at the idiocy and mendacity. Note, it’s ‘repair’ not ‘maintenance?’ Drip, drip, drip…. Anyhow, class: If it costs £100 million to maintain 8 ferries for 10 years, how much did it cost to maintain 1 ferry, on average each year? Bobby – Easy! Easy! 2 minutes later, Bobby has it, £0.125 million or 125 000. Sounds a lot, … Continue reading CalMac ferries don’t cost ‘ferry much’ to keep in service!!!!

3 Comments

Isle of Wight ferry firm Red Funnel does ‘one day diddle’ to conceal ‘everyone taking a large cut out of the dividend’

johnrobertson834

From Isle of Wight County Press today: Questions continue to be asked about the finances of Red Funnel after the Isle of Wight ferry firm shortened its accounting reference period for 2022/2023, by one day. It is the third time in two years the company has filed for what is colloquially known as a ‘one day diddle’. It means the cross-Solent operator has yet to publish its financial results for the 2022/2023 financial year. Red Funnel failed to respond to the County Press’s questions, asking why it had shortened the date. https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/24833333.isle-wight-ferry-firm-red-funnel-questioned-accounting-change/ Why might they do that? The Press offers: According to data intelligence company Red Flag Alert, … Continue reading Isle of Wight ferry firm Red Funnel does ‘one day diddle’ to conceal ‘everyone taking a large cut out of the dividend’

2 Comments

Canadian Government has to buy wee Norwegian ferry second-hand for private company operating only 3 and losing 2, at last minute, and sail it round the warmer, calmer edges of the Atlantic for a month and 10 000 miles

johnrobertson834

From CBC, today: New ferry for beleaguered P.E.I.-N.S. service making its way across Atlantic Ocean – The much-anticipated ferry slated for service between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S., is crossing the Atlantic Ocean on its way to the Maritimes, Transport Canada says. The ferry, which has been renamed MV Northumberland from MV Fanafjord, was acquired by Transport Canada on Dec. 12. It began its voyage from Norway to Canada on Dec. 23. The federal government paid about $40 million for the vessel. To avoid risks posed by winter conditions in the North Atlantic, the ferry moved south toward Cape Verde, off … Continue reading Canadian Government has to buy wee Norwegian ferry second-hand for private company operating only 3 and losing 2, at last minute, and sail it round the warmer, calmer edges of the Atlantic for a month and 10 000 miles

4 Comments

Flu outbreak ebbs across Scotland

johnrobertson834

On Saturday 4th January 2025, the ‘Scottish’ Daily Mail, the ‘Scottish’ Daily Mail and ‘The Scotsman’ are still front-paging a flu ‘surge across Scotland, based on last week’s figures. Yesterday, Public Health Scotland published the above figures showing, for the week-ending 29th December 2025, showing a massive reduction, from 1 262 to 310, in those being tested for Influenza virus A and in the number of positive test results, from 595 to 148. All of the other respiratory pathogens, with far smaller numbers, show significant decline in the last week reported. We won’t see evidence of a continuing trend until … Continue reading Flu outbreak ebbs across Scotland