Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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NHS England almost 10 times more privatised per head than NHS Scotland after 16 years of SNP protection

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 recent years, NHS Scotland typically undertakes around 1 million procedures (operations) over the 12 months. As you might expect with 10 times the population, NHS England does around 10 million. Today in the Guardian, we can read: Private hospitals ‘cannibalising’ NHS in England by doing 10% of elective operations. Campaigners say health service cannot provide care quickly because of underinvestment, which is allowing firms to ‘make a killing’. Private hospitals performed 442,925 trauma … Continue reading NHS England almost 10 times more privatised per head than NHS Scotland after 16 years of SNP protection

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MPs on UK defence – increasingly reliant on allies to protect UK national interests whilst equipment budget for its nuclear weapons soars by 62% (that’s £38.2 billion)

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/ … and the ONLY Royal Navy ship able to fully replenish the UK’s aircraft carriers will be unavailable for a year because of a refit! By stewartb It’s always relevant to amplify new information about the actual state of this UK nation-state, the one within which we in Scotland are supposedly ‘better together’. Is the UK all that it’s cracked up to be in Unionist messaging? Notwithstanding the fact that in the Union the … Continue reading MPs on UK defence – increasingly reliant on allies to protect UK national interests whilst equipment budget for its nuclear weapons soars by 62% (that’s £38.2 billion)

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The Guardian casually distorts the lower level of homicide against women in Scotland

johnrobertson834

In the above Guardian piece today, 3 (33%) of the 9 murders described took place in Scotland. The authors chose these 9 examples from 174 murders of women in England & Wales last year. Read the above, on its own, and Scotland looks a more dangerous place for women, by some way. That’s not just untrue, it’s the reverse. The facts: From National Statistics for Scotland, today: In 2022-2023, there were 13 female homicide victims in Scotland. In England & Wales, in 2021-2022 (latest figures) there were 198 female homicide victims. England & Wales have 11 times the population and so, … Continue reading The Guardian casually distorts the lower level of homicide against women in Scotland

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Channel 4’s Ciaran Jenkins on NHS Scotland cancer waiting times fails to mention referrals (demand) soaring by 24%

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/ He asks, How much better or worse is the NHS in Scotland compared with ten years ago? and claims it is: x3 worse cancer treatment within 31 days x7 worse cancer treatment within 62 days Here are the data: So, from 100% of patients seen on time in 2012 to 94.9% and 72% by the end of 2023. You can clearly say 5.1% and 28% worse but how do you come up with 3 … Continue reading Channel 4’s Ciaran Jenkins on NHS Scotland cancer waiting times fails to mention referrals (demand) soaring by 24%

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The real and the opportunity costs of Union – how much more will Scotland’s electorate accept?

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 stewartb – a long read Amongst the political noise generated by the UK Chancellor’s budget, one remark hit home. On the Radio 4 Today programme (7 March), Jeremy Hunt when asked about the ‘losers’ from his budget, remarked in reply: ‘I’ve asked the Scottish oil & gas industry to make an additional contribution …’. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001wymc – at c. 2:17 in – with my emphasis) This is referring to an extension of the period … Continue reading The real and the opportunity costs of Union – how much more will Scotland’s electorate accept?

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Former Labour candidate back in the Scotsman with fake news on Scottish schools which are actually funded 18% higher

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the monthly Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Today, in the Scotsman, Barry Black, with no mention of who or what he might be, is allowed to suggest the Scottish Government is underfunding schools. Black was on BBC Scotland’s The Nine, last November, to tell a few viewers that the Scottish Government was failing to close attainment gaps. you can read the response here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2023/11/24/scotsman-and-bbc-let-labour-candidate-and-just-a-student-pretend-to-be-an-independent-researcher-and-to-make-big-mistakes-on-attainment/ Who is he? Introduced as a ‘researcher’ on BBC Scotland’s The Nine and in the Scotsman the next day … Continue reading Former Labour candidate back in the Scotsman with fake news on Scottish schools which are actually funded 18% higher

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A&E patient spends 5 days in a chair in a ‘warzone’ hospital but the Welsh Labour Health Secretary is not responsible in any way

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to my favourite, nearly 100 year-old, paper-based, to your door, Scots Independent newspaper, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ From BBC Wales today: Man spends five days in chairs at ‘warzone’ hospital. A patient who said he was left waiting in a hospital chair for five days has described his “nightmare” experience. Nicky Morgan, 42, went to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, on Saturday night with severe headaches and was told he had a potentially serious condition.But he said he was told there were no beds and has slept on a chair in a … Continue reading A&E patient spends 5 days in a chair in a ‘warzone’ hospital but the Welsh Labour Health Secretary is not responsible in any way

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Mainland towns cannot have a ‘lifeline’ ferry service

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to my favourite, nearly 100 year-old, paper-based, to your door, Scots Independent newspaper, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ The above is from Martin Williams, one of the Herald’s several ferry correspondents. This ‘lifeline’ ferry only operates only in the summer season, once a day, for a very good reason. I doubt it’s cancellation is ‘angering’ anyone seriously. For any geographically challenged out there, Campbelltown is not on an island it’s on the mainland at the end of a long peninsula known as the Mull of Kintyre. Here’s what the Herald is … Continue reading Mainland towns cannot have a ‘lifeline’ ferry service

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Remember when he was the one who appointed Donald Trump as ‘Ambassador for Scotland?’ 

johnrobertson834

By NMRN “Based on the media coverage [of the Emma Caldwell case], leaders and viewers could well think this buck stops at the door of Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Government, the SNP”. …….and that is the objective is it not……we also saw it with the Post office scandal….where the Horizon system was not a system agreed to and then rolled out by the SNP as when that system was first implemented they, the SNP, were not even the Scottish government at the time (but where like everything else instigated by other political parties the SNP ,as Scottish government, gets dragged into yet another mess … Continue reading Remember when he was the one who appointed Donald Trump as ‘Ambassador for Scotland?’ 

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Better-performing NHS in Scotland meant fewer excess deaths than in other 3 nations

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to my favourite, nearly 100 year-old, paper-based, to your door, Scots Independent newspaper, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ The above, from a Freedom of Information request, to the Scottish Government, published today, reveals that, for the most part, the relative level of excess deaths in Scotland (black line) was significantly lower than in the other three nations and, especially so, in Conservative-run England and Labour-run Wales. Given that Scotland often has lower background health outcomes and an older population, this can only be attributed to SNP Government management of and effectiveness … Continue reading Better-performing NHS in Scotland meant fewer excess deaths than in other 3 nations