Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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GMB – Scottish Labour’s favourite union is institutionally sexist

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By NMRN “Staff at one of Britain’s biggest trade unions, the GMB, have voted to strike over claims the organisation has failed to act on a report which branded it “institutionally sexist”. “Karon Monaghan KC was called in to investigate sexual harassment in the GMB in 2020”. “Employees in the North East say promised reforms have not materialised”. “The Monaghan investigation began after the abrupt resignation of the then-General Secretary Tim Roache”. “She concluded that “bullying, misogyny, cronyism, and sexual harassment were endemic” in the union. Her report found there was a “bully-boy atmosphere”, describing the union as a “hostile environment” … Continue reading GMB – Scottish Labour’s favourite union is institutionally sexist

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Former head teacher says ‘PISA has very little statistical rigour and offers nothing in the way of improving educational practice’

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By Alasdair Macdonald The issue is with PISA. It has very little statistical rigour and offers nothing in the way of improving educational practice. I was a secondary school head teacher at the time it and other ‘measures’ were introduced in education in Scotland in other places. I and my colleagues argued against it. Educational provision, like everything else, ought to be continuously evaluated, partly to get evidence on whether it is achieving the aims set out for it and partly to get information on areas which require attention. However, there are, literally, hundreds of aspects to be measured and … Continue reading Former head teacher says ‘PISA has very little statistical rigour and offers nothing in the way of improving educational practice’

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Worse than England – Pisa scores fiasco leads to NINTH Welsh Education minister since devolution

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By stewartb I’m not one to consider that an education system should be judged on just the OECD’s PISA scoring but there is something to be said for comparing reactions by politicians to such scores for different parts of the UK. When the last set of PISA results for Scotland were reported on the BBC News website on 5 December 2023, we learned that ‘Performance in Scotland’s high schools has slipped according to new international research on education.’ With countries across the world receiving scores that were better or indeed more often worse than before, there are likely to be … Continue reading Worse than England – Pisa scores fiasco leads to NINTH Welsh Education minister since devolution

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How SNP minister tried to show minister the way to reduced child poverty

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By stewartb On 4 March 2024 the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP wrote to the Secretary of State for Work, the Rt Hon Mel Stride MP on the subject of child poverty and support for the most vulnerable. What follows are extracts from her letter. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/child-poverty-support-vulnerable-letter-uk-government/ ‘Ahead of the Spring Budget, I am writing to set out key actions which we are calling on the UK Government to take to tackle child poverty and support the most vulnerable in our society. In Scotland, we are doing everything within the scope of our powers and limited … Continue reading How SNP minister tried to show minister the way to reduced child poverty

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New SNP, Green rates relief cut is fair and yet another progressive move to the left of Labour

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You have to laugh at these two Herald headlines (above and below) today: SNP, Green government rates grab will ‘penalise’ Scots and this opening text: Owners of historic and business properties and even vacant land are facing a new rates bombshell with relief on empty buildings and development land about to be axed overnight. The first many will know about it will be the “heavy sound of the rates invoice on the mat” and the move threatens growth and investment as business owners with empty buildings and vacant land who currently don’t pay anything will face a bill of many thousands of … Continue reading New SNP, Green rates relief cut is fair and yet another progressive move to the left of Labour

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SNP policies continue to push worst form of poverty downward despite UK trends

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From the Scottish Government yesterday, but getting no MSM coverage: Between 2018 and 2022, 10% of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs. These rates have changed very little over time. Persistent poverty identifies individuals who live in relative poverty for three or more of the last survey periods. It therefore identifies people who have been living in poverty for a significant period of time, which is more damaging than brief periods spent with a low income. The impacts can affect an individual throughout their lifetime. Persistent poverty in both Wales, after forever Labour control, and in England, … Continue reading SNP policies continue to push worst form of poverty downward despite UK trends

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Violent Wolverhampton drugs gang arrests in Edinburgh not in public interest here apparently

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From PA Scotland yesterday (the above is a Wolverhampton-based gang; perhaps the same one but there are several): Six men have been arrested as part of a day of action targeting “county lines” drug supplies into Edinburgh. Detectives said the men, aged 38, 30, 29, 24, 22 and 21, were arrested in Edinburgh and Wolverhampton on Wednesday and charged in connection with various drug offences. Police said small quantities of crack cocaine, heroin and cannabis, along with a four-figure sum of cash, were recovered during the operation. Detectives from Edinburgh have made a number of arrests in a day of action aimed … Continue reading Violent Wolverhampton drugs gang arrests in Edinburgh not in public interest here apparently

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Two new Romania-built ferries still not in service more than two years after delivery

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In yet another example of the false economy of having ferries built in countries with lower labour costs and more relaxed regulations, Ontario’s transport minister has further delayed the use of two ferries built in Romania’s Damen shipyards which arrived in late 2021. The reasons are not being revealed but are to do with safety after the Wolfe Islander IV ran aground. Readers remember one of the Vietnam-built Orkney catamaran, the only 15 year-old MV Pentalina, running aground last April, only weeks after some time in dry-dock. Returning to the two Romanian ferries, last November we wrote: Amherst and Wolfe … Continue reading Two new Romania-built ferries still not in service more than two years after delivery

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Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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From On the Wight, today: Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has this week released an in-depth study into cross-Solent ferry services. My research has led me to believe that, using a web of offshore companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel’s owners and lenders have taken large profits out of the firms for years. To drive efficiency and take even more profits, directors have cut timetables; introduced surge pricing, which penalises Islanders for making essential journeys at peak times; and limited investment in ferries, some of which are now 34 years old. Islanders are tired of ‘technical’ and ‘mechanical’ issues. The … Continue reading Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

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‘Scotland is no longer a free country’ admits former Labour minister and Tory adviser

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One of a clutch of unloved and embittered old gammons employed by the Times, Telegraph and Spectator, to malign the old country for English readers, ‘Uncle’ Tom Harris, former  Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Transport in 2006, then in 2021, adviser to the Conservative government on Scottish issues, trots out the above tabloid rubbish for Telegraph readers and to thus inform Fiona Bruce for her next QT interruptions of the SNP panellist. The facts, not leaks, from Police Scotland, issued a day before the Harris report: Harris used to be a journalist. Daily Mail? Continue reading ‘Scotland is no longer a free country’ admits former Labour minister and Tory adviser