Author: johnrobertson834
Retired Professor of Media Politics
Not-for-profit independent political analysis
Edinburgh Labour minority Lib Dem-assisted government repeats handing back housing money to government and failing constituents
From BBC Scotland on 19 December 2024, the above and: Labour has retained control of City of Edinburgh Council under a minority administration propped up by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Jane Meagher has been appointed as the council’s new leader. Former leader Cammy Day resigned over claims he sent sexually explicit messages to Ukrainian refugees. SNP and Green councillors had launched an attempt to take over running the council but their bid was voted down by 32 votes to 28. Labour only has 10 of the 63 councillors that make up the city’s administration. Councillor Meagher, who represents the Portobello … Continue reading Edinburgh Labour minority Lib Dem-assisted government repeats handing back housing money to government and failing constituents
The truth about the Glasgow hospital infections in a short video
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Detail at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/01/20/latest-in-final-statement-glasgow-hospital-correctly-and-based-on-repeated-research-denies-evidence-of-definite-link-between-the-hospital-environment-and-specific-individual-cases-of-infection/ My daughter filmed this primarily for TikTok but it might be useful here. John Continue reading The truth about the Glasgow hospital infections in a short video
As Tory MSP tries to dig dirt in the Daily Record today, what she doesn’t want you to know – NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board is performing well above the 90% targets and above the national average on four important targets
“Insulted”, “patronised”, “betrayed”, ‘profoundly unjust’, shown ‘complete indifference’ – Scotland’s fishing industry and Westminster
“Insulted”, “patronised”, “betrayed”, ‘profoundly unjust’, shown ‘complete indifference’ – judgements by Scotland’s fishing industry on actions of Labour in Westminster. By stewartb Despite the above descriptions of Labour’s actions towards Scotland’s wild capture fisheries, in the House of Commons debate on the ‘Fishing Industry’ held on January 22, the SNP’s Seamus Logan was moved to comment: ‘I regret that the right hon. Gentleman (referring to Alastair Carmichael, the Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland) and the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton, Labour) used so much of their time to attack the SNP Scottish Government.’ That … Continue reading “Insulted”, “patronised”, “betrayed”, ‘profoundly unjust’, shown ‘complete indifference’ – Scotland’s fishing industry and Westminster
Crime clear-up in Scotland around 12 times better per head than in England – will Home Secretary ask how we do it as she launches review in England?
US ferry company to consider making up for shortages by bringing a near 70 year-old retired boat back into service – Imagine that idea in Scotland where our oldest boat is 43?
You may remember previous reports here of the troubles at Washington State Ferries, based in one of the most affluent states in the USA. A third of the fleet out of service, missed doctor appointments, hours-long delays, students unable to get to school and flooded car decks look like continuing as Washington State Ferries delays new electric ferries and now they may bring aging old diesels back into service. From the Kitsap Sun today: Washington State Ferries is taking a hard look at a pitch from a shipyard owner to refurbish two of the state’s deteriorated retired ferries and return … Continue reading US ferry company to consider making up for shortages by bringing a near 70 year-old retired boat back into service – Imagine that idea in Scotland where our oldest boat is 43?
Significant fall in domestic abuse-related homicides
From Freedom of Information Response regarding domestic abuse-related homicides, Our reference: FOI 25-3594 – Responded to: 22 December 2025 and published yesterday: Please supply the numbers of women who were killed by a partner//ex partner /relative, (including parent/child/sibling/other family by blood, marriage or adoption). Provide an annual breakdown from 2018- 2025 to date. The data: All female victims: Year Number of females 2018 9 2019 6 2020 3 2021 10 2022 5 2023 6 2024 9 2025 6 Familial related homicides Year Number of females 2018 1 2019 1 2020 3 2021 3 2022 2 2023 4 2024 1 … Continue reading Significant fall in domestic abuse-related homicides
In Scotland even anti-immigration groups will have nothing to do with racist Nazis
From STV on 20th January 2026: A Falkirk anti-immigration protest group has announced it will disband because of the attendance of neo-Nazis at demonstrations. Campaign group Save Our Future and Our Kids Future organised protests outside the Cladhan Hotel, which houses asylum seekers, consistently over the last year. The demonstrations have attracted far-right groups, including Patriotic Alternative (PA) and the Homeland Party. PA is a white nationalist group founded by former BNP youth leader Mark Collett. In a documentary, released by Channel 4 in 2002, Collett was caught on camera referring to Africans and homosexuals who died due to HIV-AIDS … Continue reading In Scotland even anti-immigration groups will have nothing to do with racist Nazis
As one student nurse in England faces £77 thousand in debt Scotland’s free training and bursary means TWICE as many train to then give us 50% more nurses in hospitals and lower mortality rates
In the Guardian today: Helen Lambert borrowed £57,000 to go to university and began repaying her student loan in 2021 after starting work as an NHS nurse. Since then she has repaid more than £5,000, typically having about £145 a month taken from her pay packet. But everything she hands over is dwarfed by the £400-plus of interest that is added to her debt every month, thanks to rates that have been as high as 8%. Her total outstanding debt had ballooned to more than £77,000 by the end of November, and it is set to get a lot bigger as there … Continue reading As one student nurse in England faces £77 thousand in debt Scotland’s free training and bursary means TWICE as many train to then give us 50% more nurses in hospitals and lower mortality rates
Talking-up Scotland 