Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Shocking contrast as nearly twice as many Scots have access to an NHS dentist as those in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA The above table from Public Health Scotland today, reveals a very high level of access to free NHS dental treatment in Scotland – 90% of children and 97% of adults with 100% access for some age groups. Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-dental-data-monitoring-report/nhs-dental-data-monitoring-report-quarter-ending-september-2025/ When I searched for equivalent data for England, what I found shocked me. From the ONS in September 2024: Overall, 52.1% of adults reported having an NHS dentist, 34.2% have a private dentist, 13.5% did not have a dentist and 0.2% used a dental hospital. Females were more likely (54.1%) than males (50.0%) to have an NHS … Continue reading Shocking contrast as nearly twice as many Scots have access to an NHS dentist as those in England

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Community owned assets surge in Scotland up to 14% higher than in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Community Ownership in Scotland 2024, published today, the above and: This publication reports the number of assets in community ownership which are recorded by the Scottish Government. There are several initiatives which have been put in place to enable community ownership.  There are several initiatives which have been put in place to enable community ownership. The Scottish Land Fund, as it is now known, was founded in 2001. It now supports both rural and urban communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of assets. Legislation concerning land reform commencing in 2004 (Land … Continue reading Community owned assets surge in Scotland up to 14% higher than in England

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Number of properties for private rent in Scotland increases for second month in a row to reach 99.7% of April 2025 figure, 64% more than under Labour in 2007 and cast doubt on crisis narrative

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Housing statistics: Scottish Landlord Register data published today, the above data reveal an increase in the number of private properties for rent in Scotland by around 700 in October 2025, on top of around 900 in August 2025: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-landlord-register-data/ The total of 349 817 has now returned to 99.7% of the April 2025 figure. How are the Scottish media covering this? That’s 64% more than 213 000 under Labour: https://www.gov.scot/publications/private-sector-rent-statistics-scotland-2010-to-2023/pages/trends-in-the-size-of-the-private-rented-sector-in-scotland/ Continue reading Number of properties for private rent in Scotland increases for second month in a row to reach 99.7% of April 2025 figure, 64% more than under Labour in 2007 and cast doubt on crisis narrative

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Scotland sees major falls in violent crime, housebreaking and drug possession but the Herald only sees the dark side

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald has an agenda and it’s so clear above – Crime is rising and the SNP is to blame. I have an agenda too but unlike the MSM I’ve never sought to hide it – some things are improving and we need media balance so that people can correctly assess the quality of their lives under the SNP. They’re selective to paint a dark picture. I’m selective to try and balance that. They are correct about sexual crimes though there is research suggesting the increase is at least in part about a greater willingness to … Continue reading Scotland sees major falls in violent crime, housebreaking and drug possession but the Herald only sees the dark side

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An new Scots Wha Hae by Bill Warren with a fantastic catalogue of TuS links at the end

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Bill Warren sent me this today. I’m stunned, deeply impressed. I was further stunned when I found the above by another Warren whom I cannot trace – any connection Bill? The same theme was allegedly played in 1429 by the Franco-Scots army at the siege of Orléans in front of Joan of Arc. ScotsWhaHae.OnlineBest viewed in Landscape on your mobileLinks to evidence at end of line with a ctrl click WHY VOTE FOR SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE? SCOTS WHA HAE WI’ WALLACE BLEDScots wham Bruce has aften ledFREE YOURSELVES FROM WESTMINSTER LED  BREXIT AND AUSTERITYNow’s the day and Now’s the hourScotland again a Sovereign PowerIf you … Continue reading An new Scots Wha Hae by Bill Warren with a fantastic catalogue of TuS links at the end

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There is NO evidence that NHS Scotland directed pregnant women to controversial Free Birth Society via a charity nor is there credible evidence that a single Scot was influenced by them

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above and: The NHS has been directing pregnant women to a website that connected them to the Free Birth Society, an organisation that has been linked to baby deaths around the world after promoting labour without medical support. A number of NHS trusts are directing women who are contemplating a “free birth” to a charity website that until Monday referred to FBS podcasts as a source of “empowering stories” that can help British women “preparing for their own birth”. I’ve searched manually the Guardian’s four recent reports on the Free Birth Society and … Continue reading There is NO evidence that NHS Scotland directed pregnant women to controversial Free Birth Society via a charity nor is there credible evidence that a single Scot was influenced by them

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Nothing in Scotland looks anything like the mass child grooming rape gangs in England but Paul Hutcheon and Jimmy Reid’s granddaughter seem to think it’d be great for Scottish Labour’s campaign

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Record‘s Paul Hutcheon and Labour‘s Joani Reid are at it again today desperate to have rape grooming gangs here too in the hope that the SNP can be blamed for them and just in time to save Anas for the May 2026 Holyrood elections. I’ll repeat the evidence that totally refutes the notion but first, look at that frontpage from October 2025 on the right. Why would you want a photo of yourself smiling in that context and use the phrase ‘we need?‘ I’m no psychologist but is the smile not a bit sociopathic and … Continue reading Nothing in Scotland looks anything like the mass child grooming rape gangs in England but Paul Hutcheon and Jimmy Reid’s granddaughter seem to think it’d be great for Scottish Labour’s campaign

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Dangerous weight-loss drug being pushed by Jackie Baillie and Wes Streeting ‘to get the obese back to work’ and prescribed carefully by health boards associated with 100 hospitalisations and 10 deaths

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purchased weight loss jabs (sic), according to new data. That’s five times the number accessing them via the NHS. The figures come form Glasgow-based Simple Online Pharmacy, one of the UK’s largest providers. Regulators have stressed prescribers must check patient details. The Scottish Government say health boards decide access. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland has already attempted, last year (see below), to pin one possible weight-loss drug death onto the Scottish Government despite the victim’s awareness of the drug resulting from UK Labour Government’s attempt to use it to drive the obese back to work. Today they’re back at … Continue reading Dangerous weight-loss drug being pushed by Jackie Baillie and Wes Streeting ‘to get the obese back to work’ and prescribed carefully by health boards associated with 100 hospitalisations and 10 deaths

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Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults – Scotland leads in and other countries could benefit from dedicated, accessible funding for preventative community work

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults – Year 4 – Monitoring and reporting summary published today: Key Findings – Reach of Funded Projects: Number of awards: 1,462 grants have been awarded in Year 4 which has resulted in funding for 1,446 organisations. This means 6,192 awards have been made across the first four years of the Fund. Balance of new and existing projects: Of the project data returned, 41% were new projects, 56% were existing projects, and data was not available for 3% of projects. Small grants: Overall, most grants (56%) were for £10,000 or … Continue reading Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults – Scotland leads in and other countries could benefit from dedicated, accessible funding for preventative community work