Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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CalMac should be well praised for investing in fleet with increased maintenance programme as comparable fleets in the US, Canada and New Zealand fall into disrepair

johnrobertson834

On 31 July 2024, BBC Scotland using the figures fed to it by the Lib Dumb’s Alex Cole Hamilton, headlined: CalMac ferries upkeep costs almost triple in five years and suggested: A freedom of information request from the Scottish Liberal Democrats found the annual cost of fixing CalMac-run ferries in 2018-19 was about £15.5m. Between 2022-23 the cost rose to £26.6m and by 2023-24 further increased to £41.2m. CalMac has faced criticism in recent years over the reliability of its vessels but six new ferries are due to come into service in the coming years. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex … Continue reading CalMac should be well praised for investing in fleet with increased maintenance programme as comparable fleets in the US, Canada and New Zealand fall into disrepair

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UK Labour Government to fund 1 000 extra GPs for NHS England leaving Scotland with still 21% more GPs per head of population

johnrobertson834

From the BMJ, yesterday: The government has set out plans to allow general practices in England to hire 1000 more doctors this year through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS). As of June 2024, according to the BMA, there were 27 670 FTE GPs in England. Add the 1 000, a 3.6% increase, and there are 28 670 GPs FTE in England. With one tenth of the population, all things being equal, Scotland might be expected to have 2 867 GPs FTE but had 3 478 FTE, 21% more. Sources: https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1714.full https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/pressures-in-general-practice-data-analysis#:~:text=GP%20growth%20has%20stagnated%20for,full%2Dtime%20fully%20qualified%20GPs. https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/media/v00by43i/2023_gp_workforce_survey_report.html#:~:text=Information%20from%202012%20to%202023,2023%2C%20equivalent%20to%203%2C478.4%20WTE. Continue reading UK Labour Government to fund 1 000 extra GPs for NHS England leaving Scotland with still 21% more GPs per head of population

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Will BBC Scotland start reporting ‘County Lines’ gangs after finding one ‘kind of’ Scottish guy involved?

johnrobertson834

Top row, second left, him! in the Northamptonshire Telegraph yesterday: Corby county lines drug gang member James Carroll convicted for part in crack cocaine and heroin trade in Corby and Kettering. A gang who ran drugs lines supplying heroin and cocaine have been convicted – with their ringleader being found guilty of exploiting children to operate his trade, helped by a man from Corby. James Carroll, aged 46, of Dumble Close, Corby was convicted of facilitating travel for a child for the purpose of exploitation. This is the AB drugs gang running drugs using child carriers as far north as … Continue reading Will BBC Scotland start reporting ‘County Lines’ gangs after finding one ‘kind of’ Scottish guy involved?

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BBC Scotland to launch new board game called ‘Corpse Shortage!’

johnrobertson834

On 30 July 2024, with not a trace of a cheeky grin, BBC Scotland reported: A rise in the number of students studying medicine in Scotland has resulted in a shortage of cadavers, according to a report. Prof Gordon Findlater, who is HM Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland, found that surgical colleges were having to cancel university training courses because the demand for bodies was so high. So, in response to an increase in the number of students studying medicine, previously called for by those Labour figures, Baillie and Sarwar, in BBC Scotland reports, the senior news editor who claims … Continue reading BBC Scotland to launch new board game called ‘Corpse Shortage!’

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Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are experiencing the benefits, the security of privately-owned and commercially-operated ferries…..not

johnrobertson834

By stewartb It looks as if Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are experiencing the benefits, the security of privately-owned and commercially-operated ferries. From Business Cornwall online (July 18, 2024): ‘The new fast ferry which is set to link the Isles of Scilly with Cornwall arrived in Newlyn Harbour yesterday evening (July 17). Following sea trials, the Atlantic Wolff is set to begin service next week. (my emphasis) ‘John Wood, the CEO of Harland & Wolff and Scilly Ferries, said: “We are delighted that Scilly Ferries enters into service tomorrow giving day trippers and Scilly residents alike a fast, friendly and flexible service. … Continue reading Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are experiencing the benefits, the security of privately-owned and commercially-operated ferries…..not

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BBC England reports on brutal County Lines drugs gang travelling into Scotland, Police Scotland News reports on these gangs 17 times in 2024 alone but BBC Scotland? Well you know….

johnrobertson834

In the above BBC England report, the word Scotland does not appear but in every other report by West Midlands news outlets on the same day, they refer to their police teams working with Police Scotland. Why would Police Scotland do that? Because, English County Lines gangs, based on Police Scotland estimates, have for at least five years now, brought a wave of terror into at least 60 Scottish small towns and villages. They bring with them cheap drug supplies, extreme violence, the use of child drug carriers on the rail lines, people trafficking, prostitution, the exploitation (cuckooing) of vulnerable … Continue reading BBC England reports on brutal County Lines drugs gang travelling into Scotland, Police Scotland News reports on these gangs 17 times in 2024 alone but BBC Scotland? Well you know….

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Rural crime up but there’s something we’re not telling you

johnrobertson834

The Reporting Scotland team were clearly delighted to tell you this morning that rural crime in Scotland climbed by an estimated 34.9% to a whopping £1.8 million in 2023, according to an NFU Mutual report. It’s not on their website. I suppose they need the space for those possible future bin collector strikes. £1.8 million, eh? Seems a lot. With 12 times the population, that must be around £22 million for the UK as a whole. It isn’t? BBC Scotland, contemptuous of whatabootery, unless it makes us look bad, don’t mention that it was £52.8 million, more than twice as … Continue reading Rural crime up but there’s something we’re not telling you

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BBC Scotland has never mentioned the English cities from which these gangsters travel to terrorise small towns and villages across Scotland while STV has done so 16 times – they refuse to respond despite the new data offered as proof

johnrobertson834

New complaint today: In an earlier response to me, on the plague of extreme violence, cheap drugs and child abuse perpetrated by exclusively English city-based County Lines gangs, BBC Scotland senior news editors have insisted “there is no substance in your suggestion that BBC Scotland is “Uniquely…hiding this phenomenon.” I have carried out a Google search for ‘BBC Scotland County Lines’ and for ‘STV County Lines.’ The results are that, since 2019 when these gangs were first known of, BBC Scotland has only twice ever mentioned ‘County lines’ in a headline while STV has done so 14 times. In a … Continue reading BBC Scotland has never mentioned the English cities from which these gangsters travel to terrorise small towns and villages across Scotland while STV has done so 16 times – they refuse to respond despite the new data offered as proof

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Unique SNP drug death prevention scheme reduces load on hospitals for 4th quarter in a row and down by one third in only one year

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson Why is the above happening? In major part for this reason: After a pilot phase ending in 2018, the Scottish Government began to embed Naloxone opioid overdose reversal kits across NHS Scotland. Shortly after, the kits which can be administered by anyone, were adopted by Police Scotland, ambulances and prisons, and made available to libraries, community centres, taxi drivers and to the friends and relatives of users. Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce a national naloxone programme, empowering individuals, families, friends and communities to reverse an opiate overdose. Anyone in Scotland can … Continue reading Unique SNP drug death prevention scheme reduces load on hospitals for 4th quarter in a row and down by one third in only one year

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STV is 7 times more likely to report on County Lines from English cities terrorising small-town, Scotland in the public interest.

johnrobertson834

In response to my follow-up complaint showing objectively that BBC Scotland has only ever mentioned the term ‘County Lines’, in the headline to a story, twice, in 2019 and 2021 and never mentions that the flow of drugs is from English cities into Scotland. A BBC UK report in March 2024, mentions Scottish towns but does not use the term nor does it locate the gangs in English cities, as is the case, exclusively. BBC Complaints wrote to me yesterday: We raised your complaint with senior news editors at BBC Scotland. They have little to add to the response you’ve … Continue reading STV is 7 times more likely to report on County Lines from English cities terrorising small-town, Scotland in the public interest.