Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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GMB – The Generally Male Bullyboy union?

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today: One of Labour’s biggest union backers has been accused of employing “bullyboy tactics” in an alleged attempt to take over a smaller rail union and seize control of its assets. Maryam Eslamdoust, the left-leaning general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), claims that the GMB union is using an in-house agreement to block staff recruitment and take control of the white-collar union to access its buildings. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/04/gmb-accused-of-bullyboy-tactics-in-alleged-attempt-to-take-over-tssa Anyone shocked to hear that the GMB leader is accused of bullying, again? Nope, here’s why: Only last month, the GMB union leader was exposed … Continue reading GMB – The Generally Male Bullyboy union?

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Under Labour, NHS Wales has a waiting list 36% longer than England and 150% longer than Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson As the Guardian reports today a surge in waiting times in England, after a year of strikes, I thought I’d have a look at NHS Wales, led by the Labour Party, to see if that might offer us hope for better performance as the they take over in England next year. England has 18 times the population of Wales. Scotland has 1.7 times the population of Wales. According to the BMJ in March 2023, there were 734 000 on the NHS Wales waiting lists (presumably more now). https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/nhs-under-pressure-wales#:~:text=Waiting%20lists%20remain%20high&text=In%20March%202023%2C%20there%20were,it%20was%20in%20March%202020. All things being equal, you’d then expect England … Continue reading Under Labour, NHS Wales has a waiting list 36% longer than England and 150% longer than Scotland

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After more than 50 days of strikes and more than a million appointments cancelled NHS England’s waiting list swells to proportionally TWICE that in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson More than 50 days of NHS strikes in England, and counting, the Guardian today reports: Almost 10 million people across England could be waiting for an NHS appointment or treatment, 2 million more than previously estimated, according to a survey by the Office for National Statistics. The ONS survey of about 90,000 adults found that 21% of patients were waiting for a hospital appointment or to start receiving treatment on the NHS. When extrapolated, this equates to 9.7 million people. In January, the waiting list stood at 7.6 million, according to official NHS statistics. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/03/almost-10-million-people-in-england-could-be-on-nhs-waiting-list The Guardian report does … Continue reading After more than 50 days of strikes and more than a million appointments cancelled NHS England’s waiting list swells to proportionally TWICE that in Scotland

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New Zealand’s super-ferries will never be late, just never built and yet still cost millions

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By Professor John Robertson From the NZ Herald today: KiwiRail only terminated its mega ferry ship-building contract after receiving a letter from Finance Minister Nicola Willis and two months after the Government pulled the plug on the project. A scheme to replace the current ageing Interislander fleet with two larger ships was left dead in the water in December after costs for the overall project, including new terminals and wharf upgrades, ballooned to almost $3b and the new Government refused to fund the blowout. However, KiwiRail took until February 14 to announce it was terminating the $551m fixed-price contract with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to build … Continue reading New Zealand’s super-ferries will never be late, just never built and yet still cost millions

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BBC reporting of County Lines drug gangs getting closer as BBC Cumbria carries story – When will BBC Scotland face this dark shadow on the Union?

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By Professor John Robertson BBC Cumbria becomes the latest of BBC regions to report on the devastating plague of County Lines gangs spreading drug death, extreme violence, people trafficking and child abuse, across the UK and now from Manchester to small towns in Cumbria. Imagine if these gangs were based in Scottish cities and crossing into England? BBC Scotland’s last and only report on County Lines gangs in Scotland, estimated at 55 groups, from Dumfries to Dingwall, more than three years ago. the report is careful not to mention the word ‘England’ nor even name the all-English cities where the … Continue reading BBC reporting of County Lines drug gangs getting closer as BBC Cumbria carries story – When will BBC Scotland face this dark shadow on the Union?

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Chickens uncaged but your news still trapped in one

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By Professor John Robertson BBC Scotland’s website above still milking the non-story of an attention-seeking celeb and serial whinger about anything the SNP might do to better the circumstances of the rest of us. This morning, BBC UK had an extended piece on Scotland becoming the first part of the UK to ban the caging of laying hens. As you would hope they let the Scottish Government minister have some credit for the actions. Minutes later BBC Reporting Scotland managed to push the story back, behind a tale of a flooded cemetery in Ayr without telling us the council responsible … Continue reading Chickens uncaged but your news still trapped in one

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Soap box serial objectors

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Image PA JUSTIN TALLIS VIA GETTY IMAGES By NMRN the Hate crime and public order (Scotland) Act…. it is being reported that “Rishi Sunak backs JK Rowling in row over Scottish hate crime legislation”…..of course he does as do other like minded people who also oppose everything said and done by the SNP as the Scottish government…..which is a ‘serial’ event…..though considering some of the actions via his government I cannot see his consensus with JKR as being something many would regard as being worthy of noting…..as significant. Indeed I am sure some individuals see this new Act as an … Continue reading Soap box serial objectors

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Abuse, assault, bullying, racism, sexism, misogyny and cover-ups – the Scottish Lib Dems

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By NMRN It has always been an enigma to me why ACH and the Lib Dems, an insignificant presence within Holyrood via the amount of MSP’s and TBH via their weak contributions in any debate, that the BBC and other media often seek out their input and opinions upon Scottish politics and indeed any matters connected to Scotland. (though really I am fully aware of why they are given a media platform…. tis solely down to their eager #SNPBAD rhetoric that is part of a combined political attack together with other opposition parties against the SNP) Thus one has to … Continue reading Abuse, assault, bullying, racism, sexism, misogyny and cover-ups – the Scottish Lib Dems

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NHS Scotland staffed and equipped to do stunning 98% of planned operations on time

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By Professor John Robertson From Public Health Scotland today, for Month Ending 29 February 2024 (the latest data), we can see that only 2% of the 24 268 planned operations, as referrals increased, up 12.7% on the previous year, were cancelled due to Non-Clinical / Capacity reasons such as staff absence or a surge in demand due to, perhaps, a major accident in the area. There other 3% were cancelled, justifiably, where either the doctor or the patient decided against it, often at the last minute and thus too late for the rescheduling of another patient. 98% efficiency in large … Continue reading NHS Scotland staffed and equipped to do stunning 98% of planned operations on time

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Alcohol-related hospital admissions continue to plummet in wake of SNP ‘controversial’ Minimum Unit Pricing policy

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By Professor John Robertson From Public Health Scotland on 26 March 2024: General hospital admissions resulting from conditions wholly attributable to alcohol peaked in 2007/08 (855 per 100,000 population) but have fallen most years since and reduced by 37.5% between 2007/08 and 2022/23 (532 per 100,000). The 2022 Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) reports that 19% of respondents (aged 16 and over) stated that they did not drink any alcohol. This represents a rise on the equivalent 2021 figure which was 16%. There has been a steady increase in the percentage of SHeS respondents aged 16-24 years who report that they … Continue reading Alcohol-related hospital admissions continue to plummet in wake of SNP ‘controversial’ Minimum Unit Pricing policy