Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Is Tory monarchist and arch-loyalist Murdo Fraser MSP resiling from his past remarks praising the qualities of the late queen, Elizabeth?

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stewartb In an increasingly desperate pursuit of his political agenda, to rile up certain Unionists, is Tory monarchist and arch-loyalist Murdo Fraser MSP resiling from his past remarks praising the qualities of the late queen, Elizabeth? In The Scotsman (September 13, 2022): ‘King Charles needs no better role model than the late Queen Elizabeth – Murdo Fraser MSP’. ‘The tremendous outpouring of national grief and emotion we have seen over the past few days has been a recognition from a generally unemotional nation of the lengthy and enduring service provided by Queen Elizabeth over the 70 years of her reign.’ (my emphasis) Who … Continue reading Is Tory monarchist and arch-loyalist Murdo Fraser MSP resiling from his past remarks praising the qualities of the late queen, Elizabeth?

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Not one SNP member has called for Swinney to go or to refund the money so ‘pressure not even starting never mind mounting’

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The Herald has today: John Swinney is facing mounting pressure over his leadership, to compensate SNP supporters and to answer “difficult questions” after Peter Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period. Opposition politicians, former SNP figures and campaigners said the guilty plea had raised fresh questions for the First Minister and renewed calls for donors whose money was misused to be refunded. Grok – ‘Has any current member of the SNP been reported calling for John Swinney to resign or for the money referred to in the Murrell case to be refunded?‘ Easy, John, I only thought for 5 seconds: No, … Continue reading Not one SNP member has called for Swinney to go or to refund the money so ‘pressure not even starting never mind mounting’

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Morrell case – BBC Reporting Scotland show contempt for ‘public’ trust

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for the high public trust placed in him. BBC Reporting Scotland today suggesting contempt for ‘public‘ trust. Morrell was not a public official as in someone working for a tax-payer-funded local authority, a health board, the armed forces, the BBC or even a charity funded by government grants, but an employee of a private company funded by its members. He did betray the trust of SNP members but cannot be accurately accused of betraying ‘public’ trust because he did not work for the ‘public.’ We then see an unidentified police officer suggesting the same: but then crucially: Today, we hear … Continue reading Morrell case – BBC Reporting Scotland show contempt for ‘public’ trust

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Swinney and Sinn Fein – The staggering hypocrisy of Murdo Fraser and the media operating in Scotland

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See her smile at the former IRA leader – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18607911 There’s Con List MSP Murdo Fraser outside Holyrood three days ago to groom the relatives of Scottish soldiers killed in the Troubles in Northern Ireland and damn the First Minister for meeting with the Sinn Fein leadership. He writes: It was good to meet a group of our veterans and representatives of bereaved families from the Troubles outside Parliament today, protesting about the comments of Scotland’s First Minister on Sinn Fein. John Swinney’s comments last week that we should “move on” from concerns about him working with Sinn Fein show … Continue reading Swinney and Sinn Fein – The staggering hypocrisy of Murdo Fraser and the media operating in Scotland

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Green datacentres seem a no-brainer for energy and water-rich Scotland

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In the Guardian today: A Scottish government policy designed to encourage datacentres to build in Scotland could lead to a massive volume of carbon emissions being ignored, according to an analysis by a Scottish charity. “Green datacentres” are at the heart of Scotland’s ambitions to develop economically. Enshrined in national policy, they are part of a larger, UK-wide effort to attract big AI investment to Scotland. But Scotland appears to have no clear definition of what a “green datacentre” is. This means that current AI developments might call themselves “green” while their impact on the climate are ignored, according to Action to Protect … Continue reading Green datacentres seem a no-brainer for energy and water-rich Scotland

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NHS Scotland – only half the diagnostic scans outsourcing and building capability rather than just relying on private sector

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In the Guardian today: The NHS [England] is paying private firms record sums to analyse diagnostic scans because hospitals are too busy and understaffed to do the work themselves, research has revealed. The amount being spent on outsourced the interpretation of CT and MRI scans is “spiralling out of control” and reflects a short-sighted failure to train enough doctors, ministers are being told. Scans are vital for diagnosing diseases such as cancer and for monitoring patients’ responses to treatment, so they need to be done quickly. Many hospitals, however, rely on non-NHS health companies reading some scans to ensure they get the … Continue reading NHS Scotland – only half the diagnostic scans outsourcing and building capability rather than just relying on private sector

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Massive news missed by all of MSM – Older men in Scotland just as violent as they ever were but violence by young men numbers ‘fall off a cliff’

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There is a clear positive trend revealed in the ‘total offenders’ column data above from Re-conviction statistics for male offenders: FOI release published in March 2026. Violent crimes over the eight year period from 2012/13 to 2020/21, among under 21s fell from 181 to 44, more than three-quartered! For 21 to 30 year-olds from 492 to 231, it more than halved! Then, however, for all of the over 30 years groups, there were much more modest improvements. 51 to 60 year-olds? Just one fewer. What might explain this? On 1 January 2000, lead in petrol was banned in the UK, when Scotland’s … Continue reading Massive news missed by all of MSM – Older men in Scotland just as violent as they ever were but violence by young men numbers ‘fall off a cliff’

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A Tale of Two Peters – Despite computerised systems, DNA evidence from Nicola’s hairbrushes, mobile phone records and a big blue tent, the police investigation into an ‘SNP fraud’ which cost the taxpayer nothing will soon cost them more than £2 million and take longer than the bungled Yorkshire Ripper case

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Today, the not-even-vaguely Scottish Daily Express, reminds us that Peter Murrell is in court tomorrow and that the cost of the police investigation is £2 million and counting, for a case of fraud which cost the taxpayer £0. In August 2025, as Nicola Sturgeon spoke of the ordeal of being arrested and as MSM Monitor‘s question above waited to be answered, the trial of the SNP CE looks suspiciously likely to be set for the days just before the Holyrood election in May 2026 but then was postponed. The Yorkshire Ripper investigation ran from August 1975 to January 1981, 5 years and six months, before Peter … Continue reading A Tale of Two Peters – Despite computerised systems, DNA evidence from Nicola’s hairbrushes, mobile phone records and a big blue tent, the police investigation into an ‘SNP fraud’ which cost the taxpayer nothing will soon cost them more than £2 million and take longer than the bungled Yorkshire Ripper case

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The Islay Whisky Festival 2025 was the ‘most successful’ to date contrary to ferry ‘fiasco’ fake news then so it must be even more successful this time?

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The Islay Whisky Festival 2026 started in Friday. I’ve seen no media talk of a ferry fiasco though the 7am next Tuesday sailing has been cancelled. Surely that will cause terrible disruption for travellers going home? In June 2025, stewartb surprised us all when he found out this: The Islay Whisky Festival 2025 is the ‘most successful’ to date contrary to ferry ‘fiasco’ fake news You may recall from TuS on May 22, 2025 this headline: ‘Stricken!! The Herald and local haulier conspire to hide the deep satisfaction of Islay folk with their ferry service.’ The blog post included this extract from … Continue reading The Islay Whisky Festival 2025 was the ‘most successful’ to date contrary to ferry ‘fiasco’ fake news then so it must be even more successful this time?

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Drug deaths in England being seriously under-counted

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Opioid deaths in England 50% higher than recorded In September 2025 (most recent data for this purpose) , BBC UK reported: More than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off official statistics in England and Wales, raising concerns about the impact on the government’s approach to tackling addiction. Research from King’s College London, shared exclusively with BBC News, found that there were 39,232 opioid-related deaths between 2011 and 2022, more than 50% higher than previously known. The error has been blamed on the government’s official statistics body not having access to correct data and it is understood ministers are … Continue reading Drug deaths in England being seriously under-counted