Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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I was complicit in ’embezzling’ public funds in Paisley

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Paisley – City of Dreaming Spires for C2DE’s? Back in the day, I had an awful experience – management in a ‘new’ university. We had a dilemma. Nearly all of our income came from the Scottish Government, explicitly for teaching students but, at the same time, we were under pressure to get research published, to be a ‘real’ Uni, but struggled to get funding to to that because we had little previous experience or track record. So, we quietly moved quite a lot of the money from the teaching budget into research budgets, to ‘prime the pump‘ you might say. … Continue reading I was complicit in ’embezzling’ public funds in Paisley

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88% think Murrell case would not stand up in court! Will I get in bother for reporting this?

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In a damning indictment of the English police officer specialists who came up to run this one, 88% of the followers of one of the last-standing pro-independence, really, it’s not about me, me, me, blogs, do not believe that the ’embezzlement’ case against former SNP CE (Did you know he’s Nicola Sturgeon’s husband? I was shocked to hear that), has any legs and that the proc fisc will chuck it out, on July 5th. As well as voting in this scientifically controversial methods survey, they had more to say below: Just so. Footnote – Is it safe for 73 year-old … Continue reading 88% think Murrell case would not stand up in court! Will I get in bother for reporting this?

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Why is type 2 diabetes among under 40s far less common and increasing less steeply in Scotland?

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Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this; In the Guardian today, the above graph and: The number of people under 40 being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK has risen 39% in six years, fuelled by soaring obesity levels and cheap junk food. Look at the dark bar for Scotland and imagine it 10 times thicker, for comparison with a country ten times more populous, and it’s barely half as thick. Does that suggest type 2 diabetes is only half as common in Scotland than it is in England? There are no separate data on the under … Continue reading Why is type 2 diabetes among under 40s far less common and increasing less steeply in Scotland?

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Covid – top UK Civil Servant and Boris adviser – ‘Nicola Sturgeon showing them how to do it’

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Dr Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service under Boris Johnson PM at the Covid Inquiry today. By Professor John Robertson An extract from an exchange between Case and Helen Macnamara, his Depute, in 2020: Are we surprised? From May 2020 While Scotland’s 35% lower fatality rate will be explained by multiple factors, the decision in 2008, to axe outsourced cleaning and to increase the number of cleaners, by Nicola Sturgeon, then Health Secretary, seems likely to have been a major factor. What happened: (May 2011) In the 1980s, the Thatcher government in the UK introduced compulsory … Continue reading Covid – top UK Civil Servant and Boris adviser – ‘Nicola Sturgeon showing them how to do it’

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Can Modern Studies be taught by an International Court of Justice denier?

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S5 Modern Studies pupil, Tommy, seeing the above, in September 2024, asks newly returned and miserable Mr Shanks, after losing his Rutherglen seat in the 4 July Westminster General Election, can I do: Question 19 International organisations have had both success and failure in tackling international conflicts and issues. Describe, in detail, two successes or failures of an international organisation in tackling the international conflict or issue you have studied. In your answer you must state the world conflict or issue you have studied. on how the UN and the International Court of Justice failed to stop the genocide in … Continue reading Can Modern Studies be taught by an International Court of Justice denier?

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SNP to be first in Europe to eradicate child poverty as it surges under Cons and Labour

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As the SNP’s much lauded, revolutionary Child Payment begins to widen the gap between levels in Scotland and the rest of the UK, the First Minister, John Swinney has announced £16 million for childcare services to help deliver his vision of a Scotland free from child poverty: In a statement to Parliament, the First Minister set out the four priorities that will underpin the work of his government. He said eradicating child poverty would be his government’s single most important objective. Over the next two years, the Scottish Government will provide additional funding to expand access to childcare services within … Continue reading SNP to be first in Europe to eradicate child poverty as it surges under Cons and Labour

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Nearly three times as many employee owned businesses per head in Scotland than in England or in Labour Wales

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By Professor John Robertson Across the board, from health, through education and crime, Labour has made an asyn of running Wales, generally blaming the UK for all its ills. Today, Scottish Enterprise was able to announce: Latest figures show there are currently 286 EOBs operating in Scotland – up from 195 in 2022 – comprised of 177 Scottish-registered EOBs, 25 Scottish-registered workers’ cooperatives and 84 EOBs. At the last published count, in June 2023, there were 63 EOBs in Wales. Wales has 58% of Scotland’s population, so all things being equal, might be expected to have around 58% of Scotland’s … Continue reading Nearly three times as many employee owned businesses per head in Scotland than in England or in Labour Wales

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CalMac averaging 99% on time, throughout May 2024

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By Professor John Robertson The Herald today is leading on historical fines for delays and cancellations yet throughout May 2024, so far, this is the daily reliability for upwards of 500 sailings per day: 98.4% on time – 1st May 202489.398.599.610010010099.298.499.610010099.610099.698.499.298.497.810099.2 21st May 202498.8 Average Source: https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=15%2F05%2F2024 Continue reading CalMac averaging 99% on time, throughout May 2024

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Labour’s Gordon Brown thinktank aims to increase anti-poverty spending by piddling 0.038%

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Labour keep doing this, offering a few millions for something that already has a budget in billions. Either they’re thick (possible) or they think you’re thick (not me pal). Yesterday, we read: SCOTLAND’S former chief constable Iain Livingstone has been appointed to head up a drive to deliver donations of millions of pounds worth of household goods to Scottish families in need. Livingstone will act as chair of the Multibank project, which has set an ambitious target to provide £25 million worth of goods to households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. He will be joined by new chief executive Kirsty Thomson, who is … Continue reading Labour’s Gordon Brown thinktank aims to increase anti-poverty spending by piddling 0.038%

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Whooping cough medicine shortages – Pharmacists in Scotland, already routinely alter prescriptions for the benefit of patients

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today with not a reference to Scotland or anywhere in Scotland: UK pharmacists demand powers to change whooping cough prescriptions. Exclusive: Some pharmacies have turned away families because they have run out of the drug clarithromycin. Pharmacists are calling for fresh powers to provide patients with alternative prescriptions as they warned that drugs shortages are hampering their ability to tackle whooping cough. More than 2,700 cases have been reported across England so far in 2024 – more than three times the number recorded in the whole of last year. But some pharmacies have … Continue reading Whooping cough medicine shortages – Pharmacists in Scotland, already routinely alter prescriptions for the benefit of patients