Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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The Canary in the Coalmine warning – Teenage pregnancies in Scotland significantly lower than in England

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From Teenage pregnancies Year of conception, ending 31 December 2024 Published 28 July 2026 (Latest release), the above and: The teenage pregnancy rate in Scotland decreased slightly from 25.8 per 1,000 women in 2023 to 25.6 in 2024. This is equivalent to 3,833 teenage pregnancies in 2024. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/teenage-pregnancies/teenage-pregnancies-year-of-conception-ending-31-december-2024/ The equivalent figure for England, in 2023 (2024 not yet posted) is 28 per 1 000. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/conceptionandfertilityrates/bulletins/conceptionstatistics/2023 This 2.2 per 1000 difference refers to around 40 000 teenage pregnancies in England. Why is this statistic important? In short, the statistic is not just a number—it serves as a proxy for how well society … Continue reading The Canary in the Coalmine warning – Teenage pregnancies in Scotland significantly lower than in England

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Shocking 4 times as many waiting for care in England

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Public Health Scotland today has: The number of people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care was 6,600 on 6 July 2026. The number of people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) assessed and waiting for a care at home package was 3,001 on 6 July 2026. This is a decrease of just over 3% compared to the number of people waiting for a care at home package this time last year (3,096 on 7 July 2025). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services-28-july-2026/ This gives a total waiting of 9 601. All things being equal, you’d expect … Continue reading Shocking 4 times as many waiting for care in England

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Scotland’s fairer system means they have less reason to ‘tussle over inheritance’

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In The Economist, this week, the above, and: When there’s a will, there’s a war. Or so they say in the courts of England and Wales, which are growing busier with fights over the dead’s estates. The number of probate claims listed at the High Court has grown by over 400% over the past decade, according to Solomonic, a legal-analytics company. https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/07/23/britons-are-increasingly-tussling-over-inheritance If you’re a regular here, you will have spotted the problem above with ‘Britons’ and ‘England and Wales.’ Not for the first time, Scotland has been disappeared. Reader Derek Scott alerted us yesterday to this and noted: An article … Continue reading Scotland’s fairer system means they have less reason to ‘tussle over inheritance’

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UK Government is now dishonestly claiming a ‘central’ and ‘instrumental’ role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.

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By stewartb The UK government and especially the Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander have been commenting on their role in having the Commonwealth Games come to Glasgow: ‘a central role’; ‘instrumental’; ‘huge supporters of the Games’ etc. From the UK government in a press release dated July 24, 2026: ‘Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow with UK Government backing’: ‘The UK Government is proud to have played a central role in bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow and securing the future of the competition.’ (my emphasis) Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander is quoted in the press statement: “I am … Continue reading UK Government is now dishonestly claiming a ‘central’ and ‘instrumental’ role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.

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As Cairngorm burned and Ireland’s two helicopters ‘pounded’ a wildfire, the RAF’s only two firefighting helicopters were in Cyprus ‘In defence of the UK’s strategic interests’

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Thanks to rtpscott for alerting us to this. From RAF Odiham News on 21 May 2026, the above image and: Across the training period, crews have been practising the full firefighting cycle – dipping the suspended bucket into open water before delivering controlled drops over designated areas. This essential training ensures crews are prepared to support wildfire response efforts as the season begins, protecting lives, infrastructure, and the environment. In July 2025, the Flight played a vital role in supporting Cypriot authorities during the island’s largest wildfires since 1974, operating intensively over two days to help contain the fires. As … Continue reading As Cairngorm burned and Ireland’s two helicopters ‘pounded’ a wildfire, the RAF’s only two firefighting helicopters were in Cyprus ‘In defence of the UK’s strategic interests’

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Burnham needs to copy SNP policies to reduce massive gap in youth unemployment, 55% higher ‘across the UK’ than in Scotland

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BBC Home today reporting on the new PM’s latest announcement: Secondary school pupils in England will be able to study subjects like manufacturing and AI in addition to core academic learning under reforms outlined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The government said the courses, which would be available from Year 10, would be linked to local industries and designed to give children a clearer pathway into work. Data published this year showed more than one million young people across the UK were not in education, employment or training, the highest level in more than 12 years. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4k2djd5qpo This follows on … Continue reading Burnham needs to copy SNP policies to reduce massive gap in youth unemployment, 55% higher ‘across the UK’ than in Scotland

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Scottish Government accused of being too late to plan for soaring house prices after extreme August rainfall in Cairngorms

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Happened upon this forecast for rainfall in August, beginning next week and couldn’t help seeing that dark blue blob and wider dark green area encompassing the Cairngorms and Nethy Bridge which suggests significantly higher-than-average rainfall there. What are the locals, well just three of the 670, the local Tory MP and the media going to do now? Suggestions wanted in the comments section below for the August headlines along the lines of: Scottish Government too slow to ensure adequate supply of gumboots for residents more familiar with weather in Essex! Scottish Government accused of wasting money on a helicopter like … Continue reading Scottish Government accused of being too late to plan for soaring house prices after extreme August rainfall in Cairngorms

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Surely that should read ‘Charities call on Burnham to ‘build like the Scottish Government’ as they built 46 114 to his pathetic 2 368

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I’m guessing that Scotland News Editor Neil Pooran is less informed on this than he should be or he wouldn’t be hurting us this way, informed as we are, in our ribs. He writes, under that rib-tickly headline: Homeless Network Scotland, which is made up of 40 organisations in the sector, wants to see at least 15,700 quality affordable homes completed each year in order to end the housing emergency. It comes after Andy Burnham pledged the “biggest council house building programme since the post-war period”. The coalition of charities is calling on the Scottish Government to commit to matching … Continue reading Surely that should read ‘Charities call on Burnham to ‘build like the Scottish Government’ as they built 46 114 to his pathetic 2 368

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SNP Government accused of not predicting which way the wind blows as local shouts ‘Theatre!!!’

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By Alasdair Macdonald BBC ‘Scotland’, some unionist politicians, most of the ‘Scottish’ newspapers, and other UK media, probably via the Press Association have given the Cairngorms wildfire extensive coverage, but as well as than reporting on tackling the fire they have used vox pops from two people in the Nethy Bridge area to ‘slam’ the Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue. The chair of the local community council is a retired photographer who worked for the P&J in Aberdeen and it is likely that he has used contacts in the media to get his political point across. BBC ‘Scotland’, … Continue reading SNP Government accused of not predicting which way the wind blows as local shouts ‘Theatre!!!’

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Over 55% of Scots to pay less income tax than if they lived in England – Confirmed

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From Scottish tax payers comparison to English counterparts: FOI release, published last Friday: On Tuesday 13th January 2026, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government whilst addressing Holyrood stated that: “As a result, even more people in Scotland can expect to pay less tax than if they lived in England, Northern Ireland or Wales. That’s over 55 per cent of Scots set to pay less income tax because they live in Scotland.” Please can you supply the following information. 1. What was the specific median income figure used in the production of this data? 2. What was the income … Continue reading Over 55% of Scots to pay less income tax than if they lived in England – Confirmed