Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Why is Scotland’s cancer rate significantly higher than that in England – nuclear waste, nuclear power and nuclear weapons placed as far from London as possible?

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By Professor John Robertson In Scotland: In 2021, the rate, or risk, of new cancers also increased to 644 per 100,000 [around 700 for men and 600 for women (an increase of 3.1% compared with 2019). In England, in 2020, the rate for men was 590 and for women, 487. These are significant differences. There are several explanatory factors including smoking (England lowest 13%, Scotland next at 13.9%, N Ireland at 14% and Wales at 14.1%) and better NHS detection services but you have to wonder about the Sellafield reprocessing plant, the most toxic nuclear plant in Europe, seeping pollutants … Continue reading Why is Scotland’s cancer rate significantly higher than that in England – nuclear waste, nuclear power and nuclear weapons placed as far from London as possible?

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CalMac ferries are youngest in major survey!

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linked to the aging vessels it currently it currently has to use. By Professor John Robertson BBC Scotland today, opening with the ferries construction being ‘delayed and over budget‘, a ‘running sore‘, then ‘delayed and over budget‘ again, all in less than 60 seconds, in case you didn’t get that, before repeating the idea that the fleet is ‘aging.’ Well, we’re all aging, but CalMac ferries are, objectively, younger than average, for a ferry fleet. From a September 2022, Ernst and Young LLP survey for the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland department, CalMac ferries are, on average, newer (22) than those … Continue reading CalMac ferries are youngest in major survey!

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“Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women”

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with West Yorkshire Police have been killed in domestic abuse incidents since 2018. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001y5k7/newsnight-police-unprotection By stewartb In the light of the above BBC Newsnight report of failures by two English police forces, to protect women, from ‘Misogyny – A Human Rights Issue’ (8 March 2022), the independent report from the Scottish Government’s Working Group on Misogyny and Criminal Justice led by Dame Helena Kennedy (https://www.gov.scot/publications/misogyny-human-rights-issue/ ) Helena Kennedy writes: “Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women; the zero tolerance campaign on domestic abuse, for example, was initiated here. Scotland was at the … Continue reading “Scotland has proudly led the way in many areas concerning women’s rights and violence against women”

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Another step toward life ‘in the early days of a better nation’ – Human rights centred benefits approach for disabled children in Scotland that BBC Scotland is predicted to ignore

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By Professor John Robertson I’ve written many times now how the SNP in government, hamstrung by the limits of the devolution settlement, is working hard toward Alasdair Gray’s famous line – “Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation.” We see it clearly, as long as we don’t rely on Scotland’s self-hating media, in the compensation for the bedroom tax and two child benefit cap, in the free prescriptions, the bus passes for youngsters to get them to college or apprenticeships, the progressive taxation and the world-leading child benefit which even the IFS had to … Continue reading Another step toward life ‘in the early days of a better nation’ – Human rights centred benefits approach for disabled children in Scotland that BBC Scotland is predicted to ignore

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Elderly and frail TWICE as likely to wait more than 24 hours in A&E in England than in Scotland

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No pictures of old folk required here By Professor John Robertson From the Guardian today: More than 150,000 patients had to wait a day in A&E before getting a hospital bed last year, according to new data. Freedom of information data compiled by the Liberal Democrats from 73 hospital trusts – about half the total – found that the number of patients forced to wait more than 24 hours in A&E before a bed could be found for them has increased by tenfold since 2019. The majority of those forced to wait were elderly or frail, with two-thirds of the … Continue reading Elderly and frail TWICE as likely to wait more than 24 hours in A&E in England than in Scotland

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Elderly Canadian ferries major maintenance woes and climate change failures after severe government cuts to funding

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By Professor John Robertson After years of crew shortages and breakdowns in elderly ferries (average age 37 compared to 24 in Scotland) BC Ferries customers faced new disappointments at the end of 2023. From CTV News in August 2023: BC Ferries says it will be more than a month before its Coastal Renaissance ferry returns to service. The vessel has been docked for days now, after an issue with its motor took it out of service on Aug. 17. In an update Tuesday, the provincial ferry provider said the Coastal Renaissance will not be back in service until October. and … Continue reading Elderly Canadian ferries major maintenance woes and climate change failures after severe government cuts to funding

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From crew murdering a passenger to dangerous overcrowding – Greece’s really troubled ferry services

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By Professor John Robertson From the Daily Mail today: A tourist has issued a warning after being caught off-guard when visiting the Greek Islands for the first time.  Audrey, from Canada, went on a birthday trip with her sister last May to the picturesque destination but didn’t expect the ferry rides between islands to be so chaotic. ‘Once you get on, you have to take about an hour to recover from the chaos,’ one commented. ‘This is the part they don’t tell you about,’ another said. ‘I’m really nervous about the suitcase situation,’ a third added. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/travel/article-13282419/TikTok-traveller-grim-reality-Greek-islands.html From the Guardian in … Continue reading From crew murdering a passenger to dangerous overcrowding – Greece’s really troubled ferry services

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Prison activity time – Lib Dumbs cannot count as trend is upward but assaults remain at half the level of England & Wales

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By Professor John Robertson Headlining on the Herald website today, another Lib Dem (5th biggest party) ‘investigation’: Overcrowding in Scotland’s prisons has led to a significant drop in the number of “purposeful activity” hours being offered to inmates, new figures have revealed. The Scottish Liberal Democrats have warned of a “vicious cycle” with prisoners reoffending because they have been deprived of education and training while inside that would help them rehabilitate. The evidence? This: So, once more, selective, inaccurate, use of stats from the Lib Dumbs. First the fall of 3, from 16 to 13 hours, is not 25%, but 18.75%. Did … Continue reading Prison activity time – Lib Dumbs cannot count as trend is upward but assaults remain at half the level of England & Wales

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ASLEF don’t have a problem in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson Thanks to Jimmock for alerting me to this. Justin of Radio 4’s Today programme just before 8am: Putting money to one side what more are these strikes about? What is it that is not happening that you say should be happening? Mick Whelan of ASLEF: Well basically nobody talking to us at all in any way shape or form. We haven’t seen the Transport Minister since 2022. We haven’t seen the Railways Minister since January of 2023. We haven’t seen the employers since April of last year, some twelve months ago. When people say ‘Why aren’t … Continue reading ASLEF don’t have a problem in Scotland

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Train drivers, doctors and teachers all expected to work but only in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson From the Guardian today: Rail passengers across England will face significant disruption on Friday as train drivers at five operating companies carry out industrial action. The 24-hour strike will be the first of three days of rolling strike action being taken by the train drivers’ union Aslef, with services on Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway all affected. Yesterday, from the Guardian: Teachers in England and Wales could strike again as early as September, according to the head of the UK’s largest education union, who warned of “growing frustration” within the profession … Continue reading Train drivers, doctors and teachers all expected to work but only in Scotland