Author: johnrobertson834

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

They’re eating cats and dogs in Trump’s Springfield USA – no really

johnrobertson834

The above is a hoot. Last night, USA time, Donald Trump said: The idea of eating cats and dogs horrifies me. These are our two – the formidable (£80) Indy frae the Milton in Glasgow and the gentle (free) Molly, rehomed, failed gun dog, from Freuchie in Fife: Unlike most allegedly sensible folk in Scotland, I cannot choose between Trump and Harris. Devil and deep-blue sea. Harris would maybe (she’s keeping quiet on details) be a wee bit better for the folk in the USA of course but, as a mainstream US interventionist and foreign policy hawk Democrat, bad for … Continue reading They’re eating cats and dogs in Trump’s Springfield USA – no really

5 Comments

England is primary school class overcrowding capital of the world…except only Chile

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: UK [sic] primary class sizes are among the biggest in the industrialised world, larger than Mexico, Turkey and Colombia, according to an international report. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study, which compares the state of education in about 50 countries, found primary school teachers in the UK face bumper classes of 27 children. Only classes in Chile are bigger with 28 pupils, while in Japan classes at primary level are also 27-strong. Luxembourg and Croatia by comparison have just 15 children a class, while the OECD average is 21. https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/sep/10/uk-primary-class-sizes-among-biggest-in-industrialised-world-report-finds Typically blinkered, … Continue reading England is primary school class overcrowding capital of the world…except only Chile

1 Comment

Scotland’s poverty policies – The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence ‘new think tank’

johnrobertson834

BBC Scotland today are delighted to be able to headline: No evidence Scotland’s poverty policies are working – report They know that some, perhaps many, will read that to mean these policies are not working at all when all the new think tank was saying is that more data is required to prove they are. Read deeper to see the sneaky nature of the headline confirmed: The Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (Sheru) highlighted a “critical gap” in data on the effectiveness of programmes such as the Scottish Child Payment. The organisation – run by the Fraser of Allander Institute … Continue reading Scotland’s poverty policies – The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence ‘new think tank’

Leave a comment

As BBC Scotland go on child poverty in Scotland, the many facts they and Labour do not want you to know

johnrobertson834

For the full facts and the properly sourced evidence, click here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=poverty For the full facts and the properly sourced evidence, click here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=poverty For the full facts and the properly sourced evidence, click here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=poverty Continue reading As BBC Scotland go on child poverty in Scotland, the many facts they and Labour do not want you to know

1 Comment

20% of ferries cancelled, no new builds till 2028 in a place 3 times richer than Scotland

johnrobertson834

From the Salish Current in Washington State USA (GDP $672 billion compared to Scotland’s $217 billion), today: Commentary: San Juan County interisland ferry had 110 cancellations out of 502 scheduled sailings in the first 20 days last month It’s been almost a year since The Seattle Times offered the stark (and, to many of us, belated) view that Gov. Jay Inslee “has one year to right (Washington State Ferries) before cementing a legacy as the governor who sailed the system into decrepitude.” It’s safe to say that ignominious legacy now is well cemented. It’s now likely that the first new ferry won’t … Continue reading 20% of ferries cancelled, no new builds till 2028 in a place 3 times richer than Scotland

3 Comments

Six month disruption for Vancouver travellers as propeller drops off 60-year old Canadian ferry.

johnrobertson834

60 year-old BC Ferries Queen of New Westminster, with those doors or lack of doors, which can give drivers a bit of added fun in high seas judging by this shot from a similar neighbouring Washington State ferry: From Marine Log today: BC Ferries says that its 60-year old Queen of New Westminster ferry will be out of service for six months after an incident that occurred September 3 near the Tawwassen Terminal. It was discovered that the vessel’s starboard propeller had sheared off from the propeller shaft, with some 800 liters of light hydraulic oil spilling into surrounding waters. The Queen of … Continue reading Six month disruption for Vancouver travellers as propeller drops off 60-year old Canadian ferry.

12 Comments

Party first and constituents second (if at all)

johnrobertson834

Anonymous Any Labour MP who thinks that they can just abstain in the vote on cutting the winter fuel payment in the HOC are then, as a constituency MP, making a conscious decision to not support the pensioners in their respective constituencies but instead they have decided to not vote against the party. Party first and constituents second (if at all). They think in not voting with the party but instead in them abstaining that then somehow makes them appear better and so, they may assume, lets them off the hook with the constituents in their areas who are effected by this if it passes in the HOC. It does not. It shows them as spineless , without principles and those who are more driven by a desire to progress their own political careers than … Continue reading Party first and constituents second (if at all)

3 Comments

Lord Ashcroft – why did he decide to acquire the Holyrood magazine ?

johnrobertson834

Anonymous It appears though that Labour in Scotland’s leader (of sorts) Anas Sarwar is the bees knees as in yet another trolling (or comedy) exercise by media (of sorts) who dislike the SNP so much, that we now find out that, Anas Sarwar has been named as the “MSP of the year”, by the Holyrood Magazine (now owned by Tory Lord Ashcroft) in their yearly magazine political (of sorts) awards (of sorts) ceremony. Anas Sarwar tweeted in response to ‘winning’ this award (of sorts): “Thanks @HolyroodDaily for the MSP of the year award”. “Over 3 years, we’ve changed Scottish Labour so we can deliver the change our country needs”. “Economic … Continue reading Lord Ashcroft – why did he decide to acquire the Holyrood magazine ?

5 Comments

2 000 mental health deaths in Essex not linked to Tory government but 1 in Scotland connects to the SNP government twice and earns the minister an photo

johnrobertson834

In May 2024, BBC Scotland connected a single death in a mental health institution to the minister above and included in the report: The Scottish government said the commission’s recommendations would be “fully implemented” at the unit, which was anonymised in the report. (para 4) and at the end: The Scottish government’s Mental Wellbeing minister Maree Todd said she extended her “heartfelt sympathies” to the family of Mrs F. She added: “The relevant health and social care services have been issued with specific recommendations and learning points and we expect these to be fully implemented.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c25rgzl55edo Yesterday BBC Essex had: … Continue reading 2 000 mental health deaths in Essex not linked to Tory government but 1 in Scotland connects to the SNP government twice and earns the minister an photo