Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Suspected drug deaths stable at well below peak but STV cannot read data

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/ STV is presenting this as: The number of suspected drug deaths in Scotland surged by 10% last year, police believe. There were 1,197 suspected drug deaths between January and December 2023. This was 10% (105) more than during the same period of 2022 (1,092). https://news.stv.tv/scotland/suspected-drug-deaths-surge-by-10-in-scotland The facts: First, the figure between January and December 2023 was 297 up only 2 on the same period in 2022, 295. Those which STV use above are the … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths stable at well below peak but STV cannot read data

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Has anyone told these ‘journalists’ about the “Covid WhatsApp scandals” connected to both the Tory UK and Labour Welsh governments?

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/ By NMRN Not so great minds who think alike: Tom Gordon The Herald tweeted “He knew the drill Jason Leitch quits as National Clinical Director following Covid WhatsApp scandal“ Paul Hutcheon The Daily Record tweeted “BREAKING: Jason Leitch to leave Scottish Government as national clinical adviser after covid WhatsApp scandal“ Andrew Learmonth The Herald tweeted ” Jason Leitch quits as National Clinical Director following Covid Whatsapp scandal“ Scottish (INO) Express Tweeted “Jason Leitch leaving role as National Clinical Director after … Continue reading Has anyone told these ‘journalists’ about the “Covid WhatsApp scandals” connected to both the Tory UK and Labour Welsh governments?

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England’s railways pay out nearly SEVEN times more than ScotRail in compensation for cancellations and delays to flummox Graham Simpson

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/ Not for the first time, helpfully thick, the Scottish Conservative’s Graham Simpson announces gleefully, after another freedom of information request we all paid for: ScotRail has paid out a staggering £1.5 million in compensation for cancelled and delayed trains since the SNP took over the rail service. Taxpayers are footing an enormous bill as a result of the SNP overpromising and underdelivering. https://twitter.com/ScotTories/status/1767528542101799226 In the Insider, Simpson, describes this as ‘absolutely staggering.’ Remember those … Continue reading England’s railways pay out nearly SEVEN times more than ScotRail in compensation for cancellations and delays to flummox Graham Simpson

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Inverness – best small airport in Europe is not reported

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/ Thanks to Brian McGowan for alerting me to this. In the National yesterday: Inverness Airport won the Best Airport Under Two Million Passengers award in Europe for the fourth year running at the 2023 Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. In addition to securing the Best Airport title, it also earned Airport With The Most Dedicated Staff in Europe. https://www.thenational.scot/news/24176690.scottish-airport-scoops-best-europe-award/ BBC Scotland Business today? Nope. BBC Highlands and Islands? Nope. Talking-up … Continue reading Inverness – best small airport in Europe is not reported

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NHS Scotland’s improving A&E trend in 2024 revealed

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 https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-work/acute-and-emergency-services/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/#section-3-2 I’ve produced the above graph from the downloaded data to reveal what has been happening in the weekly A&E figures for full emergency departments (ED) since the beginning of 2024. There is a clear trend of improvement here unreported by the Scottish media. Note that at the same time, demand went up significantly from 24 000 to 26 000 attendances per week. Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at … Continue reading NHS Scotland’s improving A&E trend in 2024 revealed

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17.5% more chronic pain patients seen as number returns to pre-pandemic level

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 Public Health Scotland, today: During the quarter ending 31 December 2023, 2,221 patients were seen at a consultant-led chronic pain clinic. This compares to 2,005 patients in the previous quarter, an increase of 10.8% and to 1,890 patients seen a year earlier in the quarter ending 31 December 2022, an increase of 17.5%. Of those seen at a consultant-led clinic, 1,124 (50.6%) had waited 12 weeks or less to be seen, which is … Continue reading 17.5% more chronic pain patients seen as number returns to pre-pandemic level

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Starmer is in trouble

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/ For the umpteenth time, I’m neither a psephologist like Sir Prof Curtice nor even hard-core statistician but, I know a wee bit. So, while the variation from one poll to the next is of limited value, looking at trends based on, for example, the average in blocks of five or so, may be taken to reasonably suggest a trend. The average Labour over Con lead in the last 5 polls is 17 points. In … Continue reading Starmer is in trouble

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The comedy time lag on Scotland’s violent past

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/ Here’s an English comedian recently working the hard Scots stereotype. Comedians, Scottish ones too, have lived of this trope for decades. As recently as 2005, not quite 20 years ago, it was based on a degree of reality: In 2005, a United Nations report named Scotland as the most violent country in the developed world. You were 3x more likely to be a victim of assault in Glasgow than you were in America. Glasgow … Continue reading The comedy time lag on Scotland’s violent past

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Covid Inquiry – BBC Wales protects Labour’s image once more

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 Guardian, above, today, opens with: Bereaved families who lost loved ones to Covid have accused the former Welsh health minister of incompetence and arrogance after he revealed that all his WhatsApp messages from the time had been lost. Then, they have these damning words: Speaking outside the hearing, Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, who leads Covid-19 Bereaved Families Cymru, said: “He makes [the former UK health minister] Matt Hancock look like a strategic planning pandemic genius. He … Continue reading Covid Inquiry – BBC Wales protects Labour’s image once more

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Massive disruption to ferries by strikes is ‘rien’ to do with French government

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/ In The Connexion yesterday: Workers in ports across France start a strike today (March 11) that may last until the end of the week, impacting more than a dozen major entry and exit points.  An inter-union call for a strike over job precarity, high turnover, and increased workload in the profession was filed by the CGT, CFDT, and UNSA unions. Ports affected include: Dunkirk, Le Havre, Rouen, Caen, Lorient, Bastia, Nice, Port la Nouvelle, … Continue reading Massive disruption to ferries by strikes is ‘rien’ to do with French government