Category: Uncategorized

3 Comments

Crime confirmed as really continuing to fall, based on three sources, to remain at roughly 1 in 10 experiencing crime directly from 1 in 5 under Labour

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: May 2025, published today: Police recorded crime is down 1% since year ending December 2023, and remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic. The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending December 2024 was 298,308. This was 3,768 crimes (or 1%) lower than the level recorded in the year ending December 2023. Crime has fallen by 53% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) show that around one in ten adults were victims of crime in … Continue reading Crime confirmed as really continuing to fall, based on three sources, to remain at roughly 1 in 10 experiencing crime directly from 1 in 5 under Labour

1 Comment

Farming income increases by 44% to give confidence for Scotland’s sustainability and food exports, 31% of all UK food exports with only 8% of the UK population

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From Total income from farming estimates: 2018-2024, published today: Initial estimates for 2024 predict a strong recovery in total income from farming from its 5-year low in 2023. Total income is estimated to reach around £1.3 billion in 2024, an increase of £0.4 billion (49%). In real terms, adjusted for inflation, this is a 44% increase.1 How is Scotland doing with food exports as farming thrives? Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/total-income-from-farming-estimates-2018-2024/ Continue reading Farming income increases by 44% to give confidence for Scotland’s sustainability and food exports, 31% of all UK food exports with only 8% of the UK population

4 Comments

Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC England today, the above and: Complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are more than five times higher than five years ago, according to the housing watchdog. Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway told the BBC an “imbalance of power” in the tenant-landlord relationship was leading to “simmering anger” among those living in social housing. He warned without change England risked the “managed decline” of social housing. Asbestos, electrical and fire safety issues, pest control and leaks, damp and mould are among the complaints, the watchdog receives. According to the ombudsman’s report, there … Continue reading Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

5 Comments

What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have

johnrobertson834

By Liz S Vote Reform and chances are you are then voting Tory. How many ‘Scottish’ but really ‘UK’ Tory Councillors is that now who have defected to Reform UK ? What is this strange collective epiphany that they, as Tory Councillors, have all had, that as party defections , have far exceeded any other party also having their own politicians similarly defecting in large numbers to Reform UK as well ? Is anyone in the media investigating or speculating why this is ? Is the downward spiral of the Tory party and the reported ascension of Reform UK in … Continue reading What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have

1 Comment

Contrary to Labour claims NHS waiting list in England surges to 17% longer than in Scotland leaving more than 1 million extra waiting longer than they would if they’d had an SNP government these last 18 years

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA On a regular basis we see new ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs in Westmonster, serving up lies about their local NHS to feed the PM at PMQs – ‘Does the Prime Minister agree that my local NHS staff are failing?’ Today, the Herald’s top story has ‘more than 629 000 waiting‘. So, this means at most 630 000? Let’s give them that. For context, to consider how bad or good that headline is, let’s look elsewhere to see if NHS Scotland might learn something. In the Mirror on 15 May 2025: More people have come forward for non-urgent treatments and … Continue reading Contrary to Labour claims NHS waiting list in England surges to 17% longer than in Scotland leaving more than 1 million extra waiting longer than they would if they’d had an SNP government these last 18 years

2 Comments

Herald confirms hospital waiting lists in Scotland far shorter than in Labour Wales with an extra 380 000 waiting longer there

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA Today, despite two authors working on the story, the Herald’s top story has none of the context that young journos are required to have, if they want to pass 1st Year assessments. So, more than 629 000 waiting means at most 630 000? Let’s give them that. For context, to consider how bad or good that headline is, let’s look elsewhere to see if NHS Scotland might learn something. In Wales, it’s just under 620 0001 but there are only 3.1 million people in Wales and 5.44 million in Scotland, 1.75 times as many. For comparability, … Continue reading Herald confirms hospital waiting lists in Scotland far shorter than in Labour Wales with an extra 380 000 waiting longer there

6 Comments

Reporting Scotland Darkly – how research reveals only BBC Scotland’s editors select the nightmares to make you so anxious you fear big changes such as independence

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland’s short inserts in BBC Breakfast would have you not leave the house today. In a quickfire, punchy sequence, the editor had chosen for you – a surge of uncontrolled paedophilia on social media; cuts in social care; the restraining and seclusion of pupils with additional needs and the Scottish Government supposedly failing to manage the NHS [the best in the UK] to tackle long waiting lists. Then quickly, before the weather might cheer you up, a funeral. BBC Wales, always shorter with fewer stories, only had worries over low credit scores; a group evicted … Continue reading Reporting Scotland Darkly – how research reveals only BBC Scotland’s editors select the nightmares to make you so anxious you fear big changes such as independence

9 Comments

Better together with the largest bombing range in Western Europe and the rotting radioactive submarine hulks?

johnrobertson834

stewartb ‘Why Scotland … Well “Scotland’s seas, lochs and coasts are apparently integral to the ‘British’ Royal Navy’s operations, training and trials”.’ – and the rest! From The Independent (May 31, 2018) Cape Wrath: What it’s like to go hiking on the largest bombing range in Western Europe. Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/cape-wrath-trail-walking-holidays-route-durness-bombing-range-uk-travel-a8376936.html ‘Cape Wrath sprawls over 50,000 acres and is home to the largest bombing range in Western Europe. UK and other European forces plus Nato jets and navy ships fire live shells (including, allegedly, uranium-tipped missiles) into the barren landscape as a way of fine-tuning their latest toys and gadgets. When they come out to play, they … Continue reading Better together with the largest bombing range in Western Europe and the rotting radioactive submarine hulks?

1 Comment

Scotland assesses more than THREE times as many for care home packages and provides packages for nearly TWICE as many

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services, published today: The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was 6,639 on 5 May 2025. This is an increase of just under 2% from the estimated number of people waiting this time last year. The estimated number of people assessed and waiting for a care at home package was 2,884 on 5 May 2025. This is a decrease of 8% from … Continue reading Scotland assesses more than THREE times as many for care home packages and provides packages for nearly TWICE as many

3 Comments

They’re never going to tell you about this – 100% seen within the target for years, more than 80% waiting less than half the target time and numbers well above pre-pandemic levels – Scotland’s IVF programme creating and saving live

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA I’ve been reporting this success story, unique to Scotland, for years and BBC Scotland never reports it. From Public Health Scotland today, we can see that of the 353 patients referred for IVF treatment in Scotland, in January to March 2025, 40.2 waited only 0-13 weeks, 40.5% waited 14-26 weeks, 4% waited 27-39 weeks and 15.3% wated 40-52 weeks. None waited over the 90% in 52 weeks target.1 And from Fertility Scotland: Scotland is proud to be the only UK nation to provide up to three full IVF/ICSI cycles on the NHS for eligible couples with some of the highest pregnancy rates and lowest multiple births across … Continue reading They’re never going to tell you about this – 100% seen within the target for years, more than 80% waiting less than half the target time and numbers well above pre-pandemic levels – Scotland’s IVF programme creating and saving live