Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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How SNP-subsidised frequent reliable ferries are keeping tourism alive in Scotland

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I reported yesterday on Isle of Wight, high-season charges of £440 for a return crossing with a car and contrasted that with the longer Arran crossing at £64.80 for the same request: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/08/11/english-islanders-shocked-to-find-snp-government-subsidised-and-even-longer-ferry-crossing-costs-a-fraction-one-seventh-of-their-regular-to-the-isle-of-wight-thousands-plan-to-move/ Today, above, we see evidence of both the extreme high fairs to this English island. Meanwhile in Scotland, so many folk turned up for the cheap-as-chips (£15.20 return with a car, £4 on foot, bikes FREE), 46 crossings a day 100% on time on Sunday, Largs to Greater Cumbrae island, that they had to wait a bit. The Herald, of course, completely ignored the bigger story for … Continue reading How SNP-subsidised frequent reliable ferries are keeping tourism alive in Scotland

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Only 8% of the population but 20% of the medals and 21% of the golds

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Spotted by Davy Gow, above, but all-too-predictably, grudged and down-played by the BBC, below: However, the 36-strong contingent of Scots returns home with three gold, four silver, six bronze. Specifically on gold, with 3, Scotland won nearly three times as many, per head, than the just over 1 of the 14 UK total, their 8% population share should have meant. Continue reading Only 8% of the population but 20% of the medals and 21% of the golds

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No more windless day anxiety – Scotland to have guaranteed stored renewables electricity back up for every home and more in one location

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Today in the Herald: Never mind doubling the UK’s electricity storage capacity. There are around 2.7 million homes in Scotland. Perhaps, after independence, we might sell the extra supply to homes in the North of England? Sources: https://www.gov.scot/news/housing-statistics-for-scotland-2022-23/#:~:text=As%20of%2031st%20March%202022,million%20dwellings%20estimated%20in%20Scotland. Continue reading No more windless day anxiety – Scotland to have guaranteed stored renewables electricity back up for every home and more in one location

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Do you have to identify as British to only then be regarded as a racist and so only then are you seen as having this racist ‘problem’ ?

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By Anonymous  “I think the Scottish are just as racist as the English, same goes for the Northern Irish and Welsh. It’s a British problem“: UK’s first professor of Black studies, Kehinde Andrews (University of Birmingham), on “what’s wrong with the conversation around racist riots”, August 8th 2024: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/far-right-riots-black-history-kehinde-andrews/ So , going by that above statement, do you then have to identify as to being British to only then be regarded as a racist and so only then are you seen as having this racist ‘problem’ ? Sweeping generalisations here by this Professor who I would suggest should perhaps “think” again to make such an observation … Continue reading Do you have to identify as British to only then be regarded as a racist and so only then are you seen as having this racist ‘problem’ ?

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BBC Scotland milk the maybe bin strikes for more than 40 days and 40 nights as we head for the unions accepting the SNP-funded offer

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Above, one of the earliest reports drooling over the possibility of bin strikes to cast the SNP in a poor light. Since then: Yesterday 40 plus days later, still headlining the same images: When they settle, how many reports will we get? Continue reading BBC Scotland milk the maybe bin strikes for more than 40 days and 40 nights as we head for the unions accepting the SNP-funded offer

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UK’s first professor of Black Studies seems just as happy to malign Scots, evidence-free, as any ancient Oxbridge English History don

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In his otherwise useful piece Racist riots are nothing new – they’re part of the fabric of British society, Professor Kehinde Andrews, a bit ironically given his surname, offers these views: Some of our readers have commented in the past week that we’ve been calling these riots across the UK, when in fact they are a uniquely English thing, a uniquely English nationalism, not taking place in Scotland or Wales. What would you say to that? But, honestly, I would push back a bit. I think the Scottish are just as racist as the English, same goes for the Northern … Continue reading UK’s first professor of Black Studies seems just as happy to malign Scots, evidence-free, as any ancient Oxbridge English History don

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Why should Scottish Government pay for new disabled-friendly ferries after long neglect by a separatist island authority holding ‘large’ reserves?

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From BBC Scotland, today: For some Orcadians, taking a ferry can be more like tackling an assault course. That was certainly my experience as a blind person travelling between the islands. Last year, the Scottish government agreed with Orkney Islands Council’s request to look at the financial case to start replacing the inter-island ferries, which are vital lifelines for communities. There’s no doubt that these ferries are outdated and unsuitable for the 21st Century. The big question remains: where will the money come from to replace them, and how long will it take? Orkney Islands Council, the smallest local authority … Continue reading Why should Scottish Government pay for new disabled-friendly ferries after long neglect by a separatist island authority holding ‘large’ reserves?

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English islanders must pay hundreds in ferry crossings for dental care

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By stewartb I noted this in the above article about the Isle of Wight: ‘‘The island has limited health services, including no dentists’. The population of the Isle of Wight is c.144,000. From a very quick Google search, so treat with care, but the findings, the contrasts, do look to be ‘significant’: Isle of Arran: Arran Dental Care, Brodick – the population of Arran is c.4,600. Isle of Islay: Islay and Jura Dental Practice, Bowmore – the population of Islay is c. 3,200. Isle of Mull: PDS Dental Clinic, Tobermoray – the population of Mull is c.3,000 Isle of Skye: PDS Dental Clinic and also … Continue reading English islanders must pay hundreds in ferry crossings for dental care

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English islanders shocked to find SNP Government-subsidised and even longer ferry crossing costs a fraction – one seventh – of their regular to the Isle of Wight. Thousands plan to move.

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In the Daily Mail today: Furious Isle of Wight locals have accused ferry companies of holding them to ransom and say they can’t wait to move after being charged £440 for a return ticket to the mainland.  Islanders say they cannot afford to cross the Channel due to soaring costs and unreliable services. ‘Ridiculous’ ferry prices, cancellations, and delays are blighting their lives with some now wishing they had never moved to the island who say it is making them feel ‘completely cut off from society’.   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13722747/I-wish-never-moved-Furious-Isle-Wight-locals-held-ransom-ferry-companies-say-wait-charged-440-return-ticket-mainland.html The longest Isle of Wight crossing is 10 miles. Ardrossan to Arran is 17.3 … Continue reading English islanders shocked to find SNP Government-subsidised and even longer ferry crossing costs a fraction – one seventh – of their regular to the Isle of Wight. Thousands plan to move.

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Why Scotland HAS avoided far-right unrest – Sir Prof Curtice fails to understand who Scotland’s Muslims are and even misunderstands his own percentages

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By Professor John Robertson I’ll start with the numbers. In BBC Scotland, Andrew Kerr’s grudging/riot-hopeful – Why Scotland may have avoided far-right unrest, today: Sir John says population plays a part too, with the proportion of people identifying as Muslim in Scotland much smaller than in England. The latest Scottish census shows 7% of the population is from an ethnic minority, compared to 18% overall in the UK. That would only make sense if the ethnic minority/Muslim population was spread evenly across Scotland and rest of the UK. It’s not. Ethnic minorities have clustered for decades in urban areas of … Continue reading Why Scotland HAS avoided far-right unrest – Sir Prof Curtice fails to understand who Scotland’s Muslims are and even misunderstands his own percentages