Professor John Robertson OBA Remember Sir Ian Wood back in 2014, doing his best to get a No vote in the referendum by telling us, with only days to go, that the oil would soon run out? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28867487 Sir Ian is back again, on the P&J front page today with wind turbines behind him: Has he gone green because the oil has run out like he said it would? Will it be more difficult to tell us that the wind only has a few years left when BBC Scotland consult him days before the next referendum? Don’t count him out … Continue reading Please tell us Sir Ian will there be any oil left next year?

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government today, by email to every news agency in Scotland but largely ignored: Scotland’s carers getting more financial support through Social Security Scotland. Around 118,000 unpaid carers who were receiving Carer’s Allowance have had their benefit awards safely and securely transferred to Social Security Scotland’s Carer Support Payment.  Carer Support Payment began rolling out across Scotland in November 2023 to replace Carer’s Allowance delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).  Since the formation of Social Security Scotland in 2018, the Scottish Government has delivered more financial support for unpaid carers in … Continue reading News you won’t hear – Only in Scotland thousands of carers to get additional payment

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to one of the TuS Anons for alerting me to this. In the Guardian today, the above and: At the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we should remember that the number of tragedies remains heartbreaking. Including stillbirths, there are 4870 baby deaths every year in the UK [sic]– around 13 every day. Some of these would have happened with the best of care, but many more could have been avoided. And every single one leaves behind devastated parents who must do what no human being should ever have to do – bury their own child. If … Continue reading Infant and neo-natal mortality significantly lower in Scotland to save hundreds every year

in trust in the Scottish Government since the start of devolution, with less than half of respondents saying it acts in the country’s best interests. Professor John Robertson OBA What were the actual numbers and is there a figure for the UK Government? There are, and even Lord Ashcroft’s Holyrood mag has them: Just 47 per cent of respondents said they trust the SNP administration to work in the country’s best interests. That compares with a pre-pandemic score of 61 per cent, which was recorded in 2019, and 81 per cent at the onset of devolution in 1999. It is also … Continue reading SHOCK – More than TWICE as many Scots trust the SNP Government in Edinburgh as trust the UK (Con or Lab) Government!