Hidden from view by our media three Scottish energy firms reveal how changing the UK transmission system could save billpayers £16 billion

Professor John Robertson OBA Entirely ignored by BBC Scotland, even their Business page, nowhere of any MSM front page and nowhere prominent in the Herald but deep in one of their newsletters, as mere ‘opinion‘ and behind a paywall: The original, free-to-read, report: https://www.scottishrenewables.com/publications/1929-consumer-savings-under-tnuos-reform-proposals-report Evidence that this is a one-way drain of energy from Scotland to England? This: From the UK Government in March 2025: Net electricity transfers from Scotland to England increased 15 per cent to 6.0 TWh year-on-year, with transfers from Scotland to England increasing by 14 per cent to 6.1 TWh while transfers from England to Scotland decreased to 0.1 TWh. … Continue reading Hidden from view by our media three Scottish energy firms reveal how changing the UK transmission system could save billpayers £16 billion

Reform UK are a threat at Westmonster but will be a strange marginal presence at Holyrood

Professor John Robertson OBA Polls for the Scottish elections from as far back as August 2024 with a simple message – SNP with a growing dominance and Reform UK growing but only a the expense of Labour. Polls for UK Elections going back April [far more frequent] – with a simple message – Reform UK with a growing lead over Labour and support 2 times greater than in Scotland. So, they’ll get some regional MSPs but probably zero constituency seats. Watch out for them. They have some real weirdos to entertain us darkly. Sources: Continue reading Reform UK are a threat at Westmonster but will be a strange marginal presence at Holyrood

Telegraph – Economics of Labour’s Small Modular [Nuclear] Reactors could prove hard to justify

stewartb ‘Reforms to planning rules will clear a path for smaller, and easier to build nuclear reactors – known as Small Modular Reactors –to be built for the first time ever in the UK.’ Just how many SMRs will be built in the UK…. and why? What will determine the number? From Nuclear Engineering International magazine (NEI, May 15, 2025): ‘Is the UK ready to give the SMR go-ahead?’ (https://www.neimagazine.com/analysis/is-the-uk-ready-to-give-the-go-ahead/ ) ‘The UK government wants to open the door to fleets of small modular reactors across the country. To achieve that, it has to sweep away some longstanding barriers created by electricity network rules … Continue reading Telegraph – Economics of Labour’s Small Modular [Nuclear] Reactors could prove hard to justify

Trump to ape Starmer in scrapping ‘red tape’ for new nuclear power and put all our lives at risk

Professor John Robertson OBA From The Hill two days ago: President Trump on Friday signed executive orders that seek to quadruple the nation’s nuclear power, including by cutbacks to health and environmental considerations.  In one such executive order, Trump laments that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) radiation safety standards are too stringent. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5316211-trump-executive-orders-nuclear-power/ From From PM Starmer via GOV.UK on 6 February 2025: More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales as the Prime Minister slashes red tape to get Britain building – as part of his Plan for Change. Reforms to planning rules will clear a … Continue reading Trump to ape Starmer in scrapping ‘red tape’ for new nuclear power and put all our lives at risk

Falling violent crime by minors and young people strongly linked to Scotland’s success in reducing school exclusion since 2007 in sharp contrast to shocking surge of both in England

Homicide by minors has plummeted since the first SNP Government in 2007.1 Violent crime experienced by 16-24 year-olds has also fallen dramatically from 12% in 2008/2009 to 5.8% in 2017/2018.2 Temporary and full school exclusions have plummeted from nearly 40 000 and 87 respectively to less than 12 000 and 1 respectively.3 This is a major achievement by Scotland ‘s schools. Had things gone the other way with more exclusions under the SNP and increasing crime by school-age children, the SNP Government would be blamed so, in these circumstances, must get some credit for the leadership role and for shaping … Continue reading Falling violent crime by minors and young people strongly linked to Scotland’s success in reducing school exclusion since 2007 in sharp contrast to shocking surge of both in England

Suspensions 25 times higher and Permanent Exclusions 3 000 times higher in English Schools than in Scottish Schools

By JB According to the most up to date Gov.UK education statistics for England, in the 2023/24 spring term they ‘shockingly’ had 295,559 suspensions from schools, which is actually a decrease from the 2023/24 autumn term when the figure was a ‘controversial’ 346,300 suspensions. This newest figure calculates as 35 suspensions for every 1000 students in England. There were also 3,107 students permanently excluded from schools in England. Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Spring term 2023/24 – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK In Scotland for the term year 2022/23 (Scottish statistics are calculated biennially) we had 11 676 suspensions, … Continue reading Suspensions 25 times higher and Permanent Exclusions 3 000 times higher in English Schools than in Scottish Schools

New poll suggests Scots massively and most sympathetic to eradicating child poverty

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to stewartb for alerting me to this: The above data come in response to the question: Do you agree or disagree with the following?: No child in the UK should be born into poverty, gathered by Public First between 11th and 14th March 2025. Notably Scots by 84% are the group most likely to support this notion. These results seem perhaps, at first sight, contrary to earlier polls suggesting that Scots (In this, only 181 sample out of UK 2 008) like others across the UK, only really care, in terms of voting preferences about … Continue reading New poll suggests Scots massively and most sympathetic to eradicating child poverty

Scotland in Union means Poverty in Union?

stewartb Scotland in Union means Poverty in Union? The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has this on its web site: ‘Poverty: facts and figures’. It notes: ‘Poverty risk also varies across UK nations and regions, with the highest rates in the West Midlands, inner London and North West England, and considerably lower rates in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eastern England.’ On May 21, responding to the UK Work and Pensions Secretary’s speech that day, the Chief Executive of CPAG said: ‘The elephant in the room today was the two-child limit which is pushing child poverty to a new high on this government’s watch and leaving … Continue reading Scotland in Union means Poverty in Union?

Baronesses Mone and Harding – the Tory PPE ‘fast and loose lane’ scandal

Liz S BBC Scotland and BBC2 are broadcasting a two part documentary on Michelle Mone that was made by Rogan Scotland production. The first part is on Monday 26 May and the second part is on Wednesday 28 May. These programmes are being shown on two separate channels , the 1st on Channel Scotland (channel 9) and the second is being broadcast on BBC2. The programme is called “The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone”. Looking at the online written preview of this programme on the BBC’s Media Centre it states: “This two-part documentary series tells the extraordinary story of … Continue reading Baronesses Mone and Harding – the Tory PPE ‘fast and loose lane’ scandal