Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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The UK ‘council mountain of debt’ is per head 8 times greater than Scotland’s revealing SNP competence again

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Professor John Robertson OBA Today, the Herald’s Martin Williams has: Exclusive – Scotland’s £1.5bn council debt mountain reveals (sic) exposes SNP promises Wow! more than a billion. That’d be like £18bn in a country with around 12 times the population, say the UK. From GOV.UK’s Live tables on local government finance on 18 December 2025, the outstanding local authority borrowing of the UK’s local councils, was £147bn.1 So, debt under the Cons and the New Cons is now 8 times higher than in Scotland under the SNP? Martin does seem to be doing everything so I guess he has no … Continue reading The UK ‘council mountain of debt’ is per head 8 times greater than Scotland’s revealing SNP competence again

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As adolescents in London increasingly attack their parents serious youth crime in Scotland plummets

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Guardian on 31 December 2025: The number of violent offences involving an adolescent attacking their parents or step-parents has increased by more than 60% in the past decade, according to figures recorded by the UK’s biggest police force. Data released by Scotland Yard reveals that there were 1,886 such offences recorded in 2015 but this increased to 3,091 in the first 10 months of 2025 alone. The offences involved a suspect aged between 10, the age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 17 who had been recorded as being the … Continue reading As adolescents in London increasingly attack their parents serious youth crime in Scotland plummets

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Why does only NHS England need to declare an amber cold warning when its far colder here? Is it because our NHS is more resilient generally and because Swinney launched the flu vaccine programme two weeks earlier?

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian on 31 December 2025: The NHS is under “extraordinary pressure” and braced for a new year surge in sick patients as amber cold health alerts were issued for the whole of England. While the number of patients in hospital with flu is levelling off, according to data published on Wednesday, health leaders said the NHS was “not out of danger yet” with temperatures expected to plummet. On Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber warnings for every region of England, which will be in place between 8pm on Wednesday until 10am next Tuesday. Previously, only north-east and … Continue reading Why does only NHS England need to declare an amber cold warning when its far colder here? Is it because our NHS is more resilient generally and because Swinney launched the flu vaccine programme two weeks earlier?

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BBC Scotland now hiding that all English Albanian drug gangs are based in English Cities

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Albanian Daily News nearly a year ago, but to this day never covered by BBC Scotland: Are these gangs based in Scotland? Nope: Albanian organized crime groups involved in cannabis cultivation and distribution, including those with operations in Fife, Scotland (such as a reported farm in St Andrews), are typically part of broader networks with key bases and leadership in England. Based on reports from police operations, investigations, and media coverage, these include: These England-based groups often recruit illegal immigrants via Channel crossings or lorries, forcing them into debt repayment through work on Scottish farms … Continue reading BBC Scotland now hiding that all English Albanian drug gangs are based in English Cities

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£80 million in illegal drugs trafficked into Scotland from English cities or grown here by Albanians but ssshhhh!!!! pretend it was us, our daft wee selves

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Last post of 2025 and it looks a bit of a downer but not if you now decide to double your efforts for a border – Best wishes for the new year everyone! John Professor John Robertson OBA In the Edinburgh Reporter today: Police seized almost £80million worth of drugs across the country in 2025 as officers continue to act to tackle organised crime. The report makes no reference to how these drugs got into Scotland other than to attribute the cannabis share (£`15m) to ‘farms’ in Fife. While the Edinburgh Reporter and presumably Police Scotland do not tell us, … Continue reading £80 million in illegal drugs trafficked into Scotland from English cities or grown here by Albanians but ssshhhh!!!! pretend it was us, our daft wee selves

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Did you know that ‘For Women Scotland’ are now far more angry with Sarwar’s boss and with Labour than with the SNP, as we approach Holyrood 2026 election?

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On 16 April 2025, the Herald was delighted to report: The First Minister is facing increasing pressure from opposition parties and women’s groups to update guidance for public bodies following a landmark ruling on the legal definition of a woman.   The calls come after a long-running legal battle between For Women Scotland (FWS) [above] and the Scottish Government reached its conclusion on Wednesday morning, with the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the women’s group .  https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25096078.women-scotland-calls-new-guidance-historic-ruling/ Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, who had of course voted with the SNP on the gender recognition act, quickly shifted to welcome the Supreme Court decision as providing clarity, … Continue reading Did you know that ‘For Women Scotland’ are now far more angry with Sarwar’s boss and with Labour than with the SNP, as we approach Holyrood 2026 election?

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BBC Scotland conceals disability charity chief’s comment in letter rejecting MBE that ‘Scotland is doing better than UK’ – Here’s why it matters so much -suicide prevention – and why it CAN be afforded

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Guardian today has: Campaigner turned down MBE over ‘scapegoating’ of people with disabilities – Exclusive: In letter declining proposed award, Tressa Burke, CEO of Glasgow Disability Alliance, accused government of ‘fuelling hatred’ and While she argues that “Scotland is doing better than the UK for sure”, Burke says her members will be watching carefully for the practical implementation of the Scottish government’s new disability equality plan, as well as what manifesto commitments are made before May’s Holyrood elections. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/30/campaigner-turned-down-mbe-over-scapegoating-of-people-with-disabilities BBC Scotland’s report is careful to avoid her comments on Scotland: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gvdz4y6dgo What did she mean? … Continue reading BBC Scotland conceals disability charity chief’s comment in letter rejecting MBE that ‘Scotland is doing better than UK’ – Here’s why it matters so much -suicide prevention – and why it CAN be afforded

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Why have NHS England A&E departments had to deal with 1 million sore throats but there are no comparable reports in Scotland? Scottish GPs have nearly 600 fewer patients to care for

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Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Breakfast this morning: Accident and emergency departments in England have dealt with more than 4 000 cases of hiccups in the past five years and well over a million sore throats. How do they explain the above and a tenfold increase in folk with minor ailments gong to A&E? They don’t, just leaving viewers with a plea to go elsewhere for treatment and confuse us with an only loosely connected Labour Government announcement that 500 new ambulances will be delivered three months early. Are folk calling for an ambulance with hiccups or a sore throat? … Continue reading Why have NHS England A&E departments had to deal with 1 million sore throats but there are no comparable reports in Scotland? Scottish GPs have nearly 600 fewer patients to care for

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Absolutely no frightening surge in ketamine cases in Scotland unless you don’t understand percentages

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Guardian today has the above chart and: ‘Absolutely frightening’: surge in ketamine cases hits UK urology wards – Young adults and teenagers prevalent in ‘skyrocketing’ admissions linked to class B drug, say doctors in northern England. 252%? OMG! Lisa Summers will tell you it’s even more frightening in Scotland. In 2007, there was 1 death due to the abuse of ketamine and by 2024, there were 21.1 1 000%! OMG times 10! What is the Scottish Government doing about this? Here comes Jackie Baillie. Wait, on face value, a massive percentage increase but given that … Continue reading Absolutely no frightening surge in ketamine cases in Scotland unless you don’t understand percentages

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The Nuclear Regulated Asset Base Levy means Scots will pay ‘nuclear tax’ for nuclear energy consumed in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA You’ll have seen headlines like – ‘SNP has slammed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar for his silence on Westminster’s “nuclear tax”, which could see Scottish households paying out a total of £300 million over the next decade to fund nuclear projects in England.’ Labour MPs and MSPs are already programmed to deny it and to demonise any who suggest it is true. It is true. The UK Government explicitly plans to fund new nuclear power station building, such as Sizewell C in Suffolk, via the RAB levy.1 What is the RAB levy? It’s a UK-wide charge … Continue reading The Nuclear Regulated Asset Base Levy means Scots will pay ‘nuclear tax’ for nuclear energy consumed in England