Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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FACTCHECK – The SIX key NHS waiting lists which are shorter, sometimes only half as long, in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson Important note for some readers – England has 10 times the population so to be fair to them, where they are not already in the form of percentages, I’ve divided their waiting lists by 10. All sources below. In April 2024, the waiting list for cardiac (heart) surgery in England [i] was almost twice as long as in Scotland.[ii] In April 2024, the overall waiting list for all procedures in England [iii] was almost twice as long as in Scotland.[iv] In March 2024, 8% of patients waited more than 12 hours in A&E. In England it … Continue reading FACTCHECK – The SIX key NHS waiting lists which are shorter, sometimes only half as long, in Scotland

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The largely untold story of how Labour failed to protect Scots haemophiliacs from infected blood!

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By Professor John Robertson On May 17th, the head of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) apologised to the thousands of victims in Scotland who were infected by HIV or Hepatitis C through NHS blood products. While I understand why he made that apology on behalf of the SNBTS and the victims fully deserve an apology, even if it’s nearly 50 years late, it’s not really those working for the blood transfusion service, 50 years ago or now, who should be apologising. According to the Guardian, the commercial blood product Koate, given to haemophiliacs across the UK in the … Continue reading The largely untold story of how Labour failed to protect Scots haemophiliacs from infected blood!

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How YouGov make sure they get a NO lead and stronger opposition to the SNP

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In their most recent poll, in January 2024, Ipsos Scotland got: Yes 50% No 44% For Westminster SNP 39% and Labour 32% Yesterday and being trumpeted as bad news for John Swinney, YouGov got: Yes 38% No 45% SNP 39% Labour 39% YouGov had this sample ratio weighted according to the 2014 referendum, 10 years ago: Of those who voted in 2014, Yes 44% and No 55% with 22% of the poll those who had not voted. Ipsos had this sample ratio weighted according to the 2014 referendum, 10 years ago: Of those who voted in 2014, Yes 48% and … Continue reading How YouGov make sure they get a NO lead and stronger opposition to the SNP

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‘The thing Labour and the Conservatives don’t want you to know’ by the Herald’s token one good journalist 

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I’ve mentioned Ian McConnell before. I suspect he helps the Herald owners pretend they’re fair to both sides. Today, behind their pay wall unfortunately but perhaps not after a day or two, he writes, in part: Continue reading ‘The thing Labour and the Conservatives don’t want you to know’ by the Herald’s token one good journalist 

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Another ‘big’ Labour election promise worth titchy amount as Scotland’s share and might improve only 2 or 3 harbours

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By Professor John Robertson They did something comparably thick when they promised to increase GP appointments and, when you worked out Scotland’s 8% share, it was a less than a half of 1% increase. Here it’s a whopping £1.8 billion ‘Scotland’s facilities will benefit from‘ so, 8% for us, £144 million. The new Stornoway harbour alone, just completed and paid for by the Scottish Government, cost £60 million. Gee I wonder how much the Scottish Government has already committed to in its Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26 : Energy and Manufacturing? Heat Network Fund – £300 million Low Carbon … Continue reading Another ‘big’ Labour election promise worth titchy amount as Scotland’s share and might improve only 2 or 3 harbours

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Scottish Labour and the Glasgow Yorkhill infected blood scandal

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According to the Guardian in April 2024, cheap infected blood products based on blood from Arkansas prisoners began to be used across the UK after the Labour Government, in 1976, signed the deal, despite warnings from experts. Today, BBC Scotland repeats: One area where Scotland differed from the rest of the UK is that the vast majority of infections came from its own blood donations. In the 1970s and 80s, the country was largely self-sufficient in blood products. and you have to read on to find: Although most of the blood used in Scotland was from Scottish donations, the exception … Continue reading Scottish Labour and the Glasgow Yorkhill infected blood scandal

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Blood scandal – SNP inquiry in 2007, first in UK, led to better support system than in rest of UK

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By Professor John Robertson The broadcasts today don’t mention this and you have to read down to the bottom of this BBC Scotland report to find this: Scotland was the first part of the UK to commission a public inquiry into infected blood. It had been a key election pledge of the SNP government when it came to power in 2007, and was carried out by Scottish judge Lord Penrose. But the Penrose inquiry lacked the full statutory powers to compel witnesses from outside of Scotland to give evidence, and until 1999 health policy had been controlled by Westminster. Campaigner … Continue reading Blood scandal – SNP inquiry in 2007, first in UK, led to better support system than in rest of UK

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Isle of Wight engine failure cancellations after year of massive profits and paying millions to shareholders

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From the Southern Daily Echo yesterday: More cross-Solent ferry sailings have been cancelled today (Sunday), due to ongoing work on Red Funnel’s Red Eagle vehicle ferry. The vessel has engine problems, which have forced cancellations since last night. From the Island Echo in August 2023: Prior to this the accounts from 2017-2019 showed WL made net profits of over £50 million. So why would a company that made £50 million pure profit over the previous 3 years need to take the public’s money? Looking into those years revealed that over 90% of that profit was payout as dividends apportioned between Arca Shipping … Continue reading Isle of Wight engine failure cancellations after year of massive profits and paying millions to shareholders