Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Factcheck: Labour did NOT put an end to paying for Higher Education in Scotland, the SNP did

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In 2001, the Labour/Lib Dem coalition government in the newly devolved Scottish Parliament, replaced tuition fees with a ‘graduate endowment’ payment to be made after completing a course. They did not abolish the cost of higher education tuition, they merely delayed it as a compromise to avoid clashing with the UK Labour Government which first introduced the fees. In 2008, the first SNP Government abolished the graduate endowment and in effect abolished paying for higher education tuition. Source: https://spice-spotlight.scot/2019/12/18/the-price-of-free-tuition-in-scotland/#:~:text=On%20coming%20to%20power%2C%20the,onward%20not%20required%20to%20pay. Continue reading Factcheck: Labour did NOT put an end to paying for Higher Education in Scotland, the SNP did

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Fireworks Night a ‘damp squib’ as offences plummet except in Pacific Quay

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The BBC Scotland report on last night’s fireworks events is one of the simplest best examples of media bias and you could use it with 11 year-olds. It’s so naked and simple, you might force a wee ironic snigger. It opens with Firefighters attacked on Bonfire Night as crews take 1,000 calls and goes on with 32 (count them) paragraphs describing incidents, interspersed with images, including those of masked hooded youths with big fireworks. Then and only then from paragraphs 33 to 36, we hear: Overall, the force said the incidents of serious disorder had fallen this … Continue reading Fireworks Night a ‘damp squib’ as offences plummet except in Pacific Quay

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Current Arran ferry service doing 10 to 12 crossings a day at 99% reliability and with a new ferry imminent, has no need for the side-lined MV Caledonian Isles, but the Herald must make up fake news to put tourists off

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By Professor John Robertson, Genuine Ferry Correspondent The Herald has this today: Fresh problems could sideline MV Caledonian Isles ’till March’. Fresh problems have been uncovered on one of CalMac’s largest ferries which could see it out of action for the rest of the winter.  The ageing MV Caledonian Isles was due to return to service later in November after more than eight months on the sidelines.   and this rubbish: The MV Caledonian Isles was taken off the Arran/Ayrshire (Ardrossan or Troon) service and replaced by the MV Alfred to partner the MV Isle of Arran. There has been … Continue reading Current Arran ferry service doing 10 to 12 crossings a day at 99% reliability and with a new ferry imminent, has no need for the side-lined MV Caledonian Isles, but the Herald must make up fake news to put tourists off

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The Scotch Whisky Association is really, really unhappy with the British Labour government – how did BBC Scotland report its budget response?

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By stewartb The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) usually has little trouble in having its press statements amplified by BBC Scotland. And the SWA typically has something to say about the budgets of Westminster governments. Anyone seen references to the SWA’s response to the Labour Party government’s budget in a BBC news item: any analysis yet from a BBC business and economy editor? As far as I can see there is still nothing in the Scotland sections of the BBC News website days after the budget. Wonder why? Now it’s a struggle to avoid displaying a little schadenfreude when it comes … Continue reading The Scotch Whisky Association is really, really unhappy with the British Labour government – how did BBC Scotland report its budget response?

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Just a complaint, no charges but Alex Salmond has been the top story on the Politics page of BBC Scotland website since 3 November while the Labour council leader actually charges fades within hours

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By Anonymous Another BBC ‘Blink and you miss it’ headline at the top of their Scottish pages of their website when it is considered to be too #BAD a story connected to another political party who are in opposition to the SNP. While many headlines concocted by the BBC and so promoted as being connected to, as in linked to a #SNPBAD story, well as articles they stay (high) up on the BBC website for days on end, sometimes with different versions of the same story via a variety of articles in the Scottish pages of their BBC website. For example on their Scottish Politics page the top story is still a story connected to a … Continue reading Just a complaint, no charges but Alex Salmond has been the top story on the Politics page of BBC Scotland website since 3 November while the Labour council leader actually charges fades within hours

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Contrary to media scare stories, 220 new police officers in the last quarter and 193 more than when Labour left office in 2007 for less crime and with more staff

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The cringe ‘Scottish’ media is full of fake news on police officer numbers at the moment. The true facts are, from open, transparent, official, checkable statistics, in Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 September 2024, published today is: Police officer numbers increased by 220 FTE officers (+1.4%) in the last quarter from 30 June 2024 This is an increase of 193 FTE police officers (+1.2%) from the 16,234 FTE police officers recorded at 31 March 2007 https://www.gov.scot/publications/police-officer-quarterly-strength-statistics-30-september-2024/ From indeed, the Scottish average salary is £40 926 and the English average is £34 807 making the average Scottish … Continue reading Contrary to media scare stories, 220 new police officers in the last quarter and 193 more than when Labour left office in 2007 for less crime and with more staff

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Scotland’s emergency departments at least 10% better than in NHS England in September 2024 and probably more than that if the latter’s trickery is exposed

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today, 65.9% of those attending full Emergency Departments, in September 2024 were seen within 4 hours.1 From NHS England, the equivalent figure was 59.8%.2 NHS Scotland’s ED’s are thus 10.4% more efficient. Sources: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/interactive-charts/how-long-people-spend-in-ae/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ The gap is probably greater: NHS Scotland performance likely to be even further ahead as five examples of cover-up and distortion by NHS England managers is revealed We already know that, based on trusting the current published NHS England data, NHS Scotland’s A&E service is around 3 times better on the crucial 12 hour waits1 and twice as effective … Continue reading Scotland’s emergency departments at least 10% better than in NHS England in September 2024 and probably more than that if the latter’s trickery is exposed

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UK gender pay gap is more than THREE times greater than in Scotland – Herald ignores true facts of Scotland’s tiny and plummeting gender pay gap and headlines an unreliable non-transparent trade union figure

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Annual survey of hours and earnings: 2024, published only 6 days ago by the Scottish Government statisticians: The gender pay gap in Scotland has been narrower than in the UK since 2003. In 2024, the gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland widened from 1.4 per cent in 2023 to 2.2 per cent in 2024. This is due to men’s hourly earnings (excluding overtime) increasing at a faster rate than women’s hourly earnings (excluding overtime). In 2024, the gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland was 2.2 per cent and in the UK was 7.0 … Continue reading UK gender pay gap is more than THREE times greater than in Scotland – Herald ignores true facts of Scotland’s tiny and plummeting gender pay gap and headlines an unreliable non-transparent trade union figure

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Labour councillor charged with domestic abuse disappears after only hours but abusive rugby player is still in the public interest apparently

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After one day on the BBC Scotland website, Labour council leader, Steven McCabe has disappeared but rugby player Stuart Hogg is still there, three times (above). Maybe STV are not protecting Labour in this obvious and shameful way? Nope, gone without a trace but Hogg is still big and, of course, Salmond is in there. Continue reading Labour councillor charged with domestic abuse disappears after only hours but abusive rugby player is still in the public interest apparently

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44% more homeless children in England than in Scotland and increasing at THREE times the rate

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No exploitative, insensitive images here. By Professor John Robertson OBA From Shelter Scotland: As of March 2024, 10,110 children were living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, which is the highest number ever recorded. This is a 5% increase from March 2023, when 9,595 children were in temporary accommodation. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_policy/homelessness_in_scotland#:~:text=Key&text=In%202023/24%20there%20were,we%20plan%20to%20achieve%20this. So, unless the SNP Government is doing a better job in fighting poverty, England might be expected to have around 101 000. Does it? From Shelter England: As of April 30, 2024, 145,800 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation in England, which is the highest number on record. This is a 15% increase from the previous … Continue reading 44% more homeless children in England than in Scotland and increasing at THREE times the rate