Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Freedom of Information attempt and edited photies to put Sturgeon in police car

johnrobertson834

I don’t know if the above fake image is any better or worse than the one Princess Kate did of her own family but Nicola in a polis car clearly floats a few boats. Just last week, Police Scotland responded to this daftie: Your recent request for information is replicated below, together with our response. Under the Freedom of Information Scotland Act, I am interested to know if it was a Police Car that was used to take Nicola Sturgeon to the Covid Enquiry in Edinburgh this morning.   If so, why was this and also what was the cost involved … Continue reading Freedom of Information attempt and edited photies to put Sturgeon in police car

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New SNP hate crime law – Tory prof and trade unionists have not a scooby

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Both the Scotsman and the Herald are running with the notion that the implementation of the SNP’s new Hate Crime law will make extra work for, and confuse, already hard-pressed officers, leading to possible wrongful arrests. Says who? First, the SPF, the police officers trade union has concerns because of ‘cutbacks’. They’re a trade union, I understand. When management tries to make you do something new, you resist. I felt just the same at … Continue reading New SNP hate crime law – Tory prof and trade unionists have not a scooby

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Third tower block fire in Scotland contained on one floor with no casualties proves no Grenfell risk here

johnrobertson834

The Scottish media is full of accusations that the SNP Government is failing to spend the ‘almost £100m from the UK government‘ on fireproof cladding to avert a Grenfell ‘towering inferno‘ here. From BBC Scotland this morning: Residents have been evacuated after a fire broke out at flats in Edinburgh in the early hours of the morning. Around 45 firefighters have been tackling the blaze in Breadalbane Street, Leith, with Police Scotland also in attendance. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it sent nine fire engines and a height appliance to the scene after the alarm was raised … Continue reading Third tower block fire in Scotland contained on one floor with no casualties proves no Grenfell risk here

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Redfield & Wilton always predict SNP leads at barely half that of other pollsters

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ 8 of the last 20 Holyrood polls since the beginning of July 2023, have been by Redfield & Wilton. That in itself and their common arrival just after another pollster giving the SNP a larger lead over Labour, is notable. The average lead for the SNP over Labour in these polls has been 4.6%. The average in the other 12 polls by different pollsters has been 7.75%. That’s a big, statistically significant difference given … Continue reading Redfield & Wilton always predict SNP leads at barely half that of other pollsters

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‘Absurd’ level of punctuality, 8 times the cost but, to be fair, no extreme crew violence or fires, so far, in Greek ferry φιάσκο 2024

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ The good news is that no Greek ferry crew have pushed a late-coming passenger to his death…..this year so far. The first bad news is that fares will soar this summer. For example, Milos (4 977) to Mykonos (10 134), 68 miles, will cost E108 (£92) per foot passenger (no car ferry). Ullapool (1 500) to Stornoway (6 953), 121 miles, is frozen at £11.15 for one foot passenger, or with a car £71.80. … Continue reading ‘Absurd’ level of punctuality, 8 times the cost but, to be fair, no extreme crew violence or fires, so far, in Greek ferry φιάσκο 2024

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13 in a row! Pollster maintains record for never finding a Yes majority

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Pollster Redcoat & Wilton have had 13 polls since January 2023, all have found a No majority. Their last Yes majority was in November 2022 in the middle of a run of 7 Yes majorities by other pollsters with leads of up to 11%. They got 4%. Among their 13, they had the biggest No leads. No other pollster compares. Political Betting seem not interested in only one major pollster, the one that pops … Continue reading 13 in a row! Pollster maintains record for never finding a Yes majority

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Young carers may be missing out on help because the public service broadcaster won’t tell them about it

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ From the Scottish Government today: On Young Carers Action Day (13 March) teenagers who look after others are being urged find out if they’re eligible for a grant available only in Scotland.  Since being introduced in 2019 by the Scottish Government, Young Carer Grant has delivered over £3 million to over 6,600 teenage carers.     However a leading carers charity says many young people who look after others do not recognise themselves as carers, … Continue reading Young carers may be missing out on help because the public service broadcaster won’t tell them about it

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Central Ayrshire Labour Candidate would not commit to helping 1 560 children out of poverty

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Central Ayrshire Labour Candidate, Alan Gemmell OBE, if elected, will do what Sir Keir Starmer tells him to do. Any suggestion of disloyalty and he’d be dumped quicker that guy in Rochdale for daring to criticise Israel. Yesterday, in the Ardrossan Herald, Gemmell is urging action on poverty. Last year End Child Poverty made clear the role of the Two Child Benefit Cap in pushing 1.5 million UK children into poverty. There are 1 … Continue reading Central Ayrshire Labour Candidate would not commit to helping 1 560 children out of poverty

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The huge gap between Scottish Labour and the world of food banks

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ I’m sure the photographer was just trying get in all the food brought to an Irvine food bank by local rich guy, the former Director of the British Council in India, the former Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner and British Deputy High Commissioner for South Asia, Allan Gemmell, Order of the British Empire 2016 (when Boris Johnson was Foreign Secretary) and now Labour (Starmerite) candidate for Central Ayrshire, but it doesn’t half tell a story. … Continue reading The huge gap between Scottish Labour and the world of food banks

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How Scottish Labour would have dragged Scotland into the UK’s unaffordable housing nightmare

johnrobertson834

From the ONS in July 2023, the average cost of a house in Scotland was 5.29 times the average household income. In Labour Wales, it was 6.38 times and in England, a shocking 8.44 times. Note how the Scottish trend [bottom] was climbing to follow that of the rUK then turned around in 2008? What could have caused that? More council-house building and affordable building under the SNP. Continue reading How Scottish Labour would have dragged Scotland into the UK’s unaffordable housing nightmare