Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
3 Comments

Good news as CalMac has the capacity to replace one Arran ferry and maintain a service still cheap as chips

johnrobertson834

The Ardrossan Herald is keen to dramatize the simple smooth replacement of a replacement ferry by another as a ‘double whammy‘ and to characterise the replacement as ‘ageing.’ There will still be two ferries serving the 5 000 population of Arran, massively subsidised to offer the lowest prices in the western world, by the rest of us, linked to either Ardrossan or Troon, both perfectly convenient for Glasgow. As we move off-season, the vessels will be commonly less than half full. In a year, CalMac makes around 4 000 sailings (not inc cancellations) between Ardrossan and Brodick.1 In 2022, they carried 692 … Continue reading Good news as CalMac has the capacity to replace one Arran ferry and maintain a service still cheap as chips

2 Comments

UK Labour Transport Secretary does not even mention Isle of Wight’s ferry fiasco

johnrobertson834

From Island Echo, yesterday: Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson says that Islanders should be ‘deeply concerned’ that no mention was given to ferries in a keynote speech by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh this week. At the Labour Party Conference on Monday, Louise talked about ‘ripping up the roots of Thatcherism’ across UK transport but made no reference at all to ferries. The Secretary of State for Transport spoke extensively about trains and buses and mentioned flying, cycling and walking. But the lack of any mention of ferries – including cross-Solent ferries – has raised questions as to whether … Continue reading UK Labour Transport Secretary does not even mention Isle of Wight’s ferry fiasco

3 Comments

NHS Factcheck – Why Scots should not be put off seeking help as it’s not ‘broken.’

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC UK have this today: There is growing unease within the NHS about the government’s “broken” messaging, the BBC has learned. Senior sources in the health service have told the BBC they believe some of the claims have gone too far – and may result in patients being put off seeking help and causing lasting damage to staff morale. I agree and it’s really important that Scottish viewers and readers are not deluded into things are as bad here. Why not? It’s endless. Report after report, evidence after evidence, that while there are pressures and delays, … Continue reading NHS Factcheck – Why Scots should not be put off seeking help as it’s not ‘broken.’

1 Comment

Welsh Labour’s total incompetence as one school has to teach maths in classes of 60!

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA From Wales Online, yesterday: A Welsh secondary school has seen class sizes for maths lessons swell to 60 pupils due to a teacher shortage. Governors have been left “begging” for help according to a former top councillor. Pupils in years seven, eight, and nine [11 to 14 year-olds]at Caldicot Comprehensive are being taught maths in classes of 60 students at a time owing to a national shortage of specialist teachers, according to the head teacher. The situation was highlighted by councillor Rachel Garrick who was a member of the ruling Labour cabinet at Monmouthshire County Council until the beginning of … Continue reading Welsh Labour’s total incompetence as one school has to teach maths in classes of 60!

3 Comments

Scotland’s homeless surge is due to UK Home Office failures and not ‘failed and distracted SNP government’ as it falls among all but very recent immigrants

johnrobertson834

Thanks to AR for alerting me to this. BBC Scotland’s report, Homeless people living in temporary accommodation hits record high, yesterday, on homelessness increases in Scotland, focusses on one case of a mother and child, the statistics indicating ‘the highest since Scottish government records began in 2002‘ and platforming Miles Briggs, Conservative Housing Spokesperson and Scottish Labour’s Mark Griffin, to say: Scottish Conservative housing spokesman Miles Briggs said the “scandalous figures should be a source of shame for SNP ministers”. He added: “After 17 years of this failed and distracted SNP government, it is clear that they are part of … Continue reading Scotland’s homeless surge is due to UK Home Office failures and not ‘failed and distracted SNP government’ as it falls among all but very recent immigrants

4 Comments

Giftgate – Sarwar and Ross get freebies worth 20 times those of any SNP politician!

johnrobertson834

Under the headline What expensive gifts have Scotland’s politicians declared? and the above image, BBC Scotland report: In the wake of a row over gifts received by high-ranking members of the Labour party, people are now scrutinising the freebies accepted by politicians in Scotland. These items, sometimes worth thousands of pounds, have to be declared on a public record. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar declared the highest value of gifts, at £10,117.48, closely followed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross’ £10,028.72. Clearly disappointed, BBC Scotland leave this till well down their report: Health Secretary Neil Gray, whose remit also includes … Continue reading Giftgate – Sarwar and Ross get freebies worth 20 times those of any SNP politician!

8 Comments

#ReleaseTheSausages

johnrobertson834

Anonymous #ReleaseTheSausages Hands up who did not even know that they, the sausages, had been taken. Indeed most of us thought it was Hostages that had been taken and so should be released– but it appears Keir Starmer apparently knows best as he mentioned them (the captured Sausages) in his speech today at the Labour party conference in Liverpool. Next Q is this. Is Keir Starmer Liz Truss in a man’s suit ? (Yes or No). Or is he more similar to Boris Johnson ? (Also Yes or No). Also who in Scotland would now proudly admit that they actually voted Labour in the recent GE in July … Continue reading #ReleaseTheSausages

2 Comments

Hospital where 4 babies were fed contaminated food and one died, had ‘entirely unsafe system’ but Health Secretary not to blame

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dorothy for alerting me to this: In the Guardian today: An NHS trust that gave four newborn babies contaminated feed has admitted that it was operating “an entirely unsafe system” at the time they became infected. The admission came during evidence by a senior doctor at Guy’s and St Thomas’ trust (GSTT), who led its investigation into the outbreak, during an inquest into how one of the very premature babies died. Not in the Guardian report, any mention of the then Conservative Government or the Conservative Health Secretary at the time, or of any comment by … Continue reading Hospital where 4 babies were fed contaminated food and one died, had ‘entirely unsafe system’ but Health Secretary not to blame

7 Comments

Stunning success as NHS Ayrshire & Arran top table for second time and treat more than 99% of drug and alcohol abusers within only 3 weeks

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, the above table, latest data, showing that NHS Ayrshire and Arran saw 99.4% of all referrals for problematic use of drugs and/or alcohol within three weeks. The official target is 90%. There were 649 referrals in that quarter. In the previous quarter, NHS Ayrshire and Arran was also near the top with 99.3% seen within the target. Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-april-2024-to-30-june-2024/ The OBA – https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116 Continue reading Stunning success as NHS Ayrshire & Arran top table for second time and treat more than 99% of drug and alcohol abusers within only 3 weeks

Leave a comment

Despite major increase in referrals, 95% of cancer patients start treatment within 31 days to lead the rest of the UK by some way

johnrobertson834

From Public Health Scotland, today: There were 4,450 eligible referrals for the 62-day standard, an increase of 3.6% from the previous quarter, but an increase of 19.5% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019. 73.2% of patients started treatment within the 62-day standard, compared with 70.5% in the previous quarter. There were 6,981 eligible referrals for the 31-day standard, an increase of 3.5% from the previous quarter, and an increase of 9.3% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019. 95.5% of patients started treatment within the 31-day standard, compared with 94.1% in the previous quarter.1 The situation in other parts … Continue reading Despite major increase in referrals, 95% of cancer patients start treatment within 31 days to lead the rest of the UK by some way