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Crime in Scotland falls 37% from 2007 to barely half the level in England and Wales

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: November 2025 published on 27 November 2025: Police recorded crime changed little between year ending June 2024 and year ending June 2025, increasing by 1%. The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending June 2025 was 303,343. This was 3,265 crimes (or 1%) higher than the level recorded in the year ending June 2024. The recording of crime remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic (2019-20) and is down 51% from its peak in 1991. Property and violent crime has … Continue reading Crime in Scotland falls 37% from 2007 to barely half the level in England and Wales

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Despite flu surge NHS Scotland’s greater resilience is preventing hospitals being overwhelmed

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report published 27 November 2025 (Latest release): Influenza levels continued to rise in Scotland in week 47, with a sharp rise in laboratory-confirmed cases (from 555 to 805) and hospital admissions (279 to 391), and higher test positivity (from 11.0% to 15.8%). All age groups are now affected at levels not previously seen this time of year.  https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/viral-respiratory-diseases-in-scotland-surveillance-report/viral-respiratory-diseases-in-scotland-surveillance-report-27-november-2025/ How are hospitals coping in Scotland and across the UK? However, while admissions are elevated and systems are under strain, widespread declarations of “overwhelming” (e.g., critical incidents) are more prominent in England … Continue reading Despite flu surge NHS Scotland’s greater resilience is preventing hospitals being overwhelmed

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Scots taxpayers to pay £200 million for new nuclear power stations in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dorothy for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today, the above and: UK energy bill payers will hand over £2bn a year in subsidies to EDF, the French company building two nuclear power stations, according to government figures. EDF, owned by the French government, will be entitled to £1bn in annual payments as soon as Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, comes on to the grid in 2030. The sum is due under the contracts-for-difference system that guarantees low-carbon energy companies a fixed price for the electricity they generate. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/28/uk-energy-bill-payers-edf-hinkley-point-c-sizewell-c Will Scottish Taxpayers Share the … Continue reading Scots taxpayers to pay £200 million for new nuclear power stations in England

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News you won’t hear – Scottish Government’s ‘world-leading’ legislation on NHS staffing levels is already working as staffing ratios in Scotland are already significantly better

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government yesterday: The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 (“the Act”) is the UK’s first multidisciplinary staffing legislation and Scotland became world leading by enshrining such legislation which applies across our entire health and care system. This legislative step reflected our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality care and improving outcomes for service users. The core aim of the Act, to enable better care through appropriate staffing, has been the subject of much focus in its first year of implementation. Early evidence indicates that the Act is fostering greater transparency in staffing decisions and … Continue reading News you won’t hear – Scottish Government’s ‘world-leading’ legislation on NHS staffing levels is already working as staffing ratios in Scotland are already significantly better

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How can this be a matter for government comment when that isn’t? BBC Scotland continues be far more likely than BBC Wales to seek government comment on matters that are first and foremost the responsibility of the GP and the health board/trust

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Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland today had the above, left, story: People suffering from the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia are being failed by the NHS, according to new research which found patients were waiting years for diagnosis, undergoing unnecessary tests and being prescribed harmful drugs. Researchers at Aberdeen University said some doctors were even refusing to refer patients and dismissing them as “lazy”. The senior consultant who led the UK-wide research is now calling on the NHS to overhaul its care of fibromyalgia patients. The Scottish government said it would continue to work closely with the NHS to improve … Continue reading How can this be a matter for government comment when that isn’t? BBC Scotland continues be far more likely than BBC Wales to seek government comment on matters that are first and foremost the responsibility of the GP and the health board/trust

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How can future of GP services in Scotland be ‘hanging in the balance’ when on average a GP in England has 560 more patients on his books and the BMA in England says UK Government should ‘simply follow the example of the government in Scotland?’

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Professor John Robertson OBA The BMA Scotland really needs to think about their relationship with the Scottish Government before they start making claims like the above. Specifically on GP supply and access, a useful exercise might be to look south. From LBC News yesterday: Wes Streeting hits out at BMA for ‘misleading’ claims amid GP access row The Health Secretary and the union are locked in a dispute over changes to how patients can contact their family doctors. Before looking at the relationship between the Scottish Government and doctors as seen from the BMA UK, let’s have a look at … Continue reading How can future of GP services in Scotland be ‘hanging in the balance’ when on average a GP in England has 560 more patients on his books and the BMA in England says UK Government should ‘simply follow the example of the government in Scotland?’

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Ajax armoured vehicles, 12 years late, way over budget at £10 million each, twice the cost of the US equivalent, 30 sick soldiers – Yes but what about the ferries? No, what about swarms of £20k drones

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to rtpscott for alerting me to this. Andrew, above is hanging on to his title just in case his Ajax armoured vehicle soon becomes less useful than a horse. I predict AI drones will refuse to kill horses. I think he’s wearing his beret low to cover a suspicious swelling he’s had since testing out his Ajax and which might make his prompted claim on Sky News that the Russians should now be afraid Britain’s new tank, even more incredible. So, leaving aside the astonishing 12 year delay since the contract was announced in 2017 … Continue reading Ajax armoured vehicles, 12 years late, way over budget at £10 million each, twice the cost of the US equivalent, 30 sick soldiers – Yes but what about the ferries? No, what about swarms of £20k drones

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320 000 THANK YOUs to SNP as their policies benefit 16 times as many children as Labour today – luckily 99% of Scots are not buying it

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Professor John Robertson OBA Have a look at the Daily Record news website. It’s quite a shock. Endless utterly naked propaganda trying to claim far more for Labour achievements than they effect and to laughably credit Anas for influencing the London Party. The above front page is only going to work on someone who has no idea that SNP policies have taken 100 000 children out of poverty, 5 times the Labour claim today or that the Child Payment has benefited 320 000, those in poverty AND those living uncomfortably close to it, 16 times the Labour claim. Does the … Continue reading 320 000 THANK YOUs to SNP as their policies benefit 16 times as many children as Labour today – luckily 99% of Scots are not buying it

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SNP buy Prestwick Airport for just £1, make £10 million profit and create 4 500 jobs in only 4 years while its sister airport in Kent goes out of business in only 6 months to become just a lorry park

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The Ayrshire Daily New’s Doug Maclean, has a fine piece of journalism serving the information needs of the community. Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Robert Martin for alerting me to this. Both Prestwick airport and its sister airport at Manston in Kent were available for sale in 2013. Both were losing money and the company that owned them were not able or prepared to invest in their long term future. Prestwick was sold to the Scottish Government for £1 as it was not only an airport but the site for multiple aerospace companies and considered too valuable to shut. … Continue reading SNP buy Prestwick Airport for just £1, make £10 million profit and create 4 500 jobs in only 4 years while its sister airport in Kent goes out of business in only 6 months to become just a lorry park

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As BBC Scotland pounce on one ‘alleged’ stabbing what they don’t want you to know – murder by knife and possession of knives have plummeted but only in Scotland

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No exploitative image here Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland today have – Mother of alleged stabbing victim hands out kits to stop bleeding It’s a heart-breaking but inspiring story of a mother’s courage. However, BBC Scotland is allegedly a news agency with a royal charter obliging it to inform us and part of that informing requires context. Is this common, is it less or more common here, is there a trend? First year journalism students would fail if their work had no context. Here it is: First, Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the … Continue reading As BBC Scotland pounce on one ‘alleged’ stabbing what they don’t want you to know – murder by knife and possession of knives have plummeted but only in Scotland