Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Do the national branch offices of campaigning charities not understand devolution

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By stewartb Do third sector organisations with missions that extend across the UK feel unable to make statements that (in terms) state the following truth and if so WHY? ‘The situation in (a UK nation with a government with only limited, devolved powers) may be bad but – based on statistical analysis – not nearly so bad as in England, the nation with a government with EVERY power to have avoided this bad in the first place and with EVERY power now to deliver the necessary solution. ‘It is the government of England in Westminster – the one with ALL … Continue reading Do the national branch offices of campaigning charities not understand devolution

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Despite lowest reported anti-semitism, only Scotland must be warned about it

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By Anonymous BBC Website On the Scottish Politics page 7th story “Big rise in antisemitic incidents in UK – charity” Click on story and it comes up as part of the ‘UK’ page. Go to UK page to see article and I cannot see this story as an article on there. Story also not on UK politics page Story also not on Welsh politics page. So if the headline is “Big rise in antisemitic incidents in UK – charity” then why is this story only currently showing as a main article on the Scottish politics page ? So I checked the content of this article to see where they noted these incidents were happening within the UK as … Continue reading Despite lowest reported anti-semitism, only Scotland must be warned about it

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English County lines gangs far outnumber and totally out-gun far-right in Scotland

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The Ferret ‘fact-checker’ is punting another scare story to try to convince Scots that right-wing terror groups are active here and might trigger the same kind of riots seen in England and Northern Ireland. Reading through their report, I see evidence of around 20 individuals, a few knives and no guns. None of these individuals or wee groups has ever actually done anything. Police Scotland estimate at least 55 County Lines drug gangs from English cities operating in Scotland, with typically 4 enforcers each and an array of weapons including guns. So, English County Lines gangs – 200 plus enforcers, … Continue reading English County lines gangs far outnumber and totally out-gun far-right in Scotland

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BBC North East ignore another County Lines gang arrest to focus on rubbish

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From AberdeenLive last night but nowhere on BBC Scotland’s North East website where possible bin strikes dominate: A county lines drugs duo were snared after one of them spoke to police while smoking cannabis. Jahvid Frith and Tyrone Sealey had based themselves at a flat in Aberdeen having travelled from England. Prosecutor Paul Kearney KC said officers were on patrol at the high-rise block in the city’s Marischal Court early on February 22 2023. Prosecutor Paul Kearney KC said officers were on patrol at the high-rise block in the city’s Marischal Court early on February 22 2023. The advocate depute said police believed it had “all the hallmarks” … Continue reading BBC North East ignore another County Lines gang arrest to focus on rubbish

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Child homelessness now staggering 58% higher in England than in Scotland after 17 years of SNP government

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No cheap exploitative images of sad weans here In the Guardian today: Record homeless figures in England prompt calls to tackle ‘national scandal’. Latest housing data show 151,630 children in temporary accommodation – the most since records began. Shelter, the housing charity, said the government must “tackle the housing emergency head-on”.  From Shelter Scotland in a submission to the Scottish Parliament, January 2024: We are in a housing emergency, and that requires an emergency response from government. A record 9,595 children trapped in temporary accommodation – up 130% since 2014. All things being equal, England with 10 times the population … Continue reading Child homelessness now staggering 58% higher in England than in Scotland after 17 years of SNP government

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Labour ‘intensely relaxed’ with corrupt cronyism

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By Anonymous “Labour donor bags plum UK Treasury job . Banker Ian Corfield is appointed to a top role in the civil service just months after donating thousands of pounds to Chancellor Rachel Reeves” So where’s the “Change” here then. As in that “Change” which we were promised from the Labour party if they were elected as the next new UK government . How is this a “Change” to the corrupt cronyism behaviour that we all witnessed with the Tory party. Is this appointment by Labour not reminiscent of what we regularly saw happening with the Tory party ? In … Continue reading Labour ‘intensely relaxed’ with corrupt cronyism

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Exclusive Ferry Factcheck – Arran islanders ‘have never had it so good!’

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By Golfnut, Ferry Correspondent I’m not sure what fond memories Neil Arthur [in the Herald letters page yesterday] has of the ‘ service ‘ in bygone days, but I can assure you they’ve never had it so good. They’ve lost the service to the Isle of Man and Ireland but they were provided by different companies and presumably we’re discontinued in the modern era as financially unviable. The current 2 ship service dates back to 2004 and that service provision would have quickly disappeared had the Scottish government not introduced subsidies which 1, kept the service provision viable and 2, … Continue reading Exclusive Ferry Factcheck – Arran islanders ‘have never had it so good!’

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BBC Scotland leak reveals only Scotland has the lower crime levels, the complete absence of riots and the police staffing levels to be able to help other countries…..after 17 years of the SNP in charge

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By Professor John Robertson From BBC Scotland, in what must be an unauthorised ‘Scotland is the best‘ report by a junior reporter not yet ‘inducted‘: Police Scotland is considering a request to send 120 officers to Northern Ireland following several nights of anti-immigration riots in Belfast and other parts of the UK. Jon Boutcher, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said his officers were exhausted and could not “stand alone to deal with disorder like this any more”. Mr Boutcher said the PSNI needed support as it had been allowed to “decay” in recent years. The … Continue reading BBC Scotland leak reveals only Scotland has the lower crime levels, the complete absence of riots and the police staffing levels to be able to help other countries…..after 17 years of the SNP in charge

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Why the people of Arran should be delighted with the best ferry service in the world

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In the Herald today, regular contributor, Neil Arthur (78), well-known Arran Ferry Committee member and strangely blind to the far better service than the one he seems to remember as a boy, is allowed to suggest: It’s clear that Scotland’s ferries system is broken beyond repair I’ll say it again, CalMac is running the world’s best ferry service for cost, reliability and safety. Proof – read these: For the fully-sourced facts, see: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=CalMac For the fully-sourced facts, see: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=CalMac For the fully-sourced facts, see: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=CalMac Arran specifically? In August 2023, CalMac has typically made between 14 and 16 crossings per day between Ardrossan … Continue reading Why the people of Arran should be delighted with the best ferry service in the world

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Same New Zealand ferry runs aground and then only weeks later hits a harbour wall due to ‘strong winds’ – cue CalMac Ardrossan video?

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From New Zealand Radio today: Troubled Interislander ferry Aratere was damaged berthing into Wellington Harbour about 3.30pm on Thursday, Wellington’s harbourmaster confirmed to RNZ. There is a hole in the hull but it is high on the ship, and no injuries are reported. KiwiRail said in a statement that while docking in strong winds, the ferry made contact with the link span, the dock ramp which allowed vehicles to access the vessel. Docking in high winds? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1kY_COMeXc Only one month ago, the same ferry ran aground: From 1News 10th July 2024: Interislander ferry Aratere ran aground after a button was “inadvertently pressed”, sending … Continue reading Same New Zealand ferry runs aground and then only weeks later hits a harbour wall due to ‘strong winds’ – cue CalMac Ardrossan video?