Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Sunday Sun reveals SNP policy spreading to England – Child Payment next?

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This was posted by Gordon Macdonald MSP (SNP) for Edinburgh Pentlands. Here’s the detail: The Sun report grudgingly mentions Scotland, just across the border and prioritises the influence of Finland, over 1 000 miles way and using a language very difficult for Northumbrians to read. 283 00 baby boxes have now been given out in Scotland. No accidental fires have been reported despite the story from that daft academic at the time and Labour MSP Mary McFee pompously demanding the SNP make sure they were safe: They even hand them out now in US fire stations: https://wibc.com/217972/baby-box-installed-for-newborn-safety-at-lawrence-fire-department/ However, there’s an … Continue reading Sunday Sun reveals SNP policy spreading to England – Child Payment next?

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Herald ignores polls to hide Yousaf recovery

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The Herald headlines: ‘Beleaguered Yousaf attempts to win back independence supporters ahead of election.’ Beleaguered? What are the facts on this in the polls rather in the minds of Herald editors? In the most recent full poll, by Ipsos MORI on 26 November 2023, support for the SNP was up at 41% from 34% in the previous poll by Redfield & Winton. 35% were satisfied with how he was doing his job. In the Redfield & Winton poll on 25 October, the figure was only 22%. 41%, even in that poll had him as the better next First Minister as … Continue reading Herald ignores polls to hide Yousaf recovery

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More admirals than warships but none good enough for new post so retired admirals asked to apply

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Thanks to Cap’n Dottie for alerting me to this: The MOD has said there 34 serving Admirals, Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals and 75 ships – but only 19 of these are operational warships. https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/royal-navy-now-more-admirals-2605063 From Navy Lookout, yesterday: Makes you wonder how Scotland might survive without the Royal Navy, don’t it, Master Bates? Footnote: from 10-14, I obsessively built Airfix models and to this day could recognise in silhouette, the Hood, the Prince of Wales and the Bismarck. What more does the Director of Submarines need? Continue reading More admirals than warships but none good enough for new post so retired admirals asked to apply

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BBC UK reveal that Matheson has been responsible for ambulances responding 4 TIMES faster on average than in England

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Thanks to an inadvertent slip by BBC UK via their How long do patients wait for an ambulance? app today, we can confirm that the average waiting time for a Scottish ambulance is 8 min and 46 secs: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59549800 Also, from BBC UK on 14 December 2023: Average response times of more than 38 minutes for category two emergency calls such as heart attacks and strokes – above the target time of 18 minutes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67714151 Yes, I know the English figures are only for Category 2 emergency calls such as heart attacks and strokes and we can’t see if the … Continue reading BBC UK reveal that Matheson has been responsible for ambulances responding 4 TIMES faster on average than in England

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Central Ayrshire Labour candidate shocked as local ambulance times plummet to just over a quarter of those in imminently Labour England

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From BBC UK’s How are your local NHS services coping this winter? app, today: In just one year, NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s ambulances have reduced their average response times by a potentially life-saving 2 minutes, by 17%, from just over 12 minutes to just under 10 minutes. In England: Average response times of more than 38 minutes for category two emergency calls such as heart attacks and strokes – above the target time of 18 minuteshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67714151 Maybe Alan Gemmell’s GMB supporters will help? Ah, they work on behalf of the nuclear fuels industry and the risks of that, which could put even more pressure on … Continue reading Central Ayrshire Labour candidate shocked as local ambulance times plummet to just over a quarter of those in imminently Labour England

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Ayr Conservatives embarrassed as ambulance waiting times plummet to just over a quarter of those in Conservative-run England

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Our ambulances are far faster than in England and getting even faster? Can’t we do something about that? From BBC UK’s How are your local NHS services coping this winter? app, today: In just one year, NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s ambulances have reduced their average response times by a potentially life-saving 2 minutes, by 17%, from just over 12 minutes to just under 10 minutes. In England: Average response times of more than 38 minutes for category two emergency calls such as heart attacks and strokes – above the target time of 18 minutes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67714151 Continue reading Ayr Conservatives embarrassed as ambulance waiting times plummet to just over a quarter of those in Conservative-run England

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Glasgow ambulance average waiting times plummet to just a quarter of England’s

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Not for the first time BBC England release figures that contradict BBC Scotland’s messaging aimed at undermining the SNP and protecting Labour. I did expect to find the above app would not accept Scottish postcodes. In England: Average response times of more than 38 minutes for category two emergency calls such as heart attacks and strokes – above the target time of 18 minutes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67714151 In Wales and Northern Ireland: ‘Please enter a valid postcode.’ Continue reading Glasgow ambulance average waiting times plummet to just a quarter of England’s

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Cancer – Claims by leading English medics mean SNP could save hundreds from early death

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In the Guardian today: Thousands of cancer patients could die early if ministers and junior doctors do not urgently resolve their bitter pay row, health officials have warned. Oncologists and cancer leaders are becoming increasingly alarmed and frustrated at the devastating impact of NHS strikes on care and treatment. Tens of thousands of patients have had cancer appointments, treatments and operations cancelled since the strikes began about 13 months ago. The current six-day strike is the ninth time junior doctors have stopped working in the last year and the longest to hit the health service since it was founded in 1948. More … Continue reading Cancer – Claims by leading English medics mean SNP could save hundreds from early death

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£30 thousand? Labour received £14 million in secret loans before an election

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Today BBC Scotland, with images of the former SNP Chief Executive and, of course, his wife Nicola Sturgeon, has: The SNP could face another probe into its finances after taking five years to declare thousands of pounds in loans from its former chief executive. The Electoral Commission said the party received two payments totalling £15,000 from Peter Murrell in 2018, but did not notify the watchdog until last year. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67896063 Only at the very end, on the other probe, launched 54 months ago, re £600 000 of the SNP’s own money apparently vired from one heading to another, as many … Continue reading £30 thousand? Labour received £14 million in secret loans before an election

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England – 307 flood warnings and 500 flood defences delayed and no Labour promise to help

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Imagine this was in Scotland. According to BBC Politics, but not headlined anywhere else: Rishi Sunak is being urged by opposition parties to do more to help areas in England affected by flooding. Hundreds of homes have been evacuated following heavy rainfall, with flooded roads and railway tracks causing travel disruption. Labour said the PM should set up a “taskforce” to manage the response, and set out what support will be available. He is also coming under pressure to visit flood-hit areas. The Liberal Democrats said he should go to affected areas to “see for himself the devastation caused by … Continue reading England – 307 flood warnings and 500 flood defences delayed and no Labour promise to help