Category: Uncategorized

2 Comments

Literacy and Numeracy at record highs in Scotland’s schools

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland -In this election year in Scotland, the 90% pro-Union media and their sponsors in the opposition parties will do everything they can to undermine the pro-independence parties. Thought vastly outnumbered, we will do our very best to counter their lies and get you, every day, the true stories and the sources of evidence to prove them. Help us if you can at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-get-the-facts-for-you From the National Standardised Assessments for Scotland National Report for Academic Year 2024-2025, published today, we can see the one year results but no trends. This is a classic example of a task where … Continue reading Literacy and Numeracy at record highs in Scotland’s schools

1 Comment

Babies in Scotland get more than twice as many home health visits and have twice the carer continuity that mums and dads want, than those in England

johnrobertson834

In the Guardian today: There’s no mention of Scotland in the above nor is there in the full NCT report. The latter has a ‘methodology’ section but that does not feature the word ‘sample.’ Remarkably, the above report seems unaware of State of Health Visiting, UK Survey Report – From disparity to opportunity: The case for rebuilding health visiting” (11th annual edition, based on 2024 data and published January 2025.1 What’s in there we wonder? What percentage of of health visitors are able to provide continuity of carer to families ‘all or most of the time?’ This: There’s more: “I … Continue reading Babies in Scotland get more than twice as many home health visits and have twice the carer continuity that mums and dads want, than those in England

1 Comment

BBC Scotland repeating the lie that hospital infections ‘led to deaths in patients’ in reporting that exploits tragedy for political purposes

johnrobertson834

For the second day running, BBC Scotland seeks to misrepresent the findings of an official inquiry into a hospital-acquired infections inquiry. They tell us: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) had consistently denied bacteria in the water was responsible for causing some infections which led to the deaths of patients. But in closing submissions to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, external it has now admitted “on the balance of probabilities”, that there was a “causal connection” between some infections and the hospital environment. That’s correct, true, but you need to have your wits about you for for their next sneaky move. The above is … Continue reading BBC Scotland repeating the lie that hospital infections ‘led to deaths in patients’ in reporting that exploits tragedy for political purposes

2 Comments

How a London-based think-tank is more trustworthy than a Glasgow one with a bias against the SNP

johnrobertson834

By stewartb It’s been interesting to compare and contrast how two economic think tanks chose to comment upon the Scottish Government’s recent budget statement and Spending Review. Let’s take the Glasgow-based Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) on the Budget first: FAI (January 13) ‘A Budget where the silences were loudest.’ The up front framing made a good start! And on what the Cabinet Secretary did say, it’s tough to find anything remotely positive in the commentary. The FAI offers this further characterisation of the Budget: ‘Another case of delaying adjustment into the future’. Such a remark emphasises where the FAI ‘s own … Continue reading How a London-based think-tank is more trustworthy than a Glasgow one with a bias against the SNP

Leave a comment

Scottish think-tank – ‘Value judgements’ over analysis-based conclusions.

johnrobertson834

By stewartb: As a regular reader of the output of the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI), I’m becoming increasingly disappointed in how it’s opting to express and emphasise what are ‘value judgements’ over analysis-based conclusions. Does it intend to become a quasi-political organisation? On January 15 this headline appeared above an FAI article: ‘Budget – day 3 reaction – Council tax & the Spending Review. Incoherent reforms to council tax: could have been worse, but not good enough.’ Within the piece we read (with my emphasis): ‘Scotland will follow the UK Government’s example and introduce higher taxes on higher value properties. Whereas … Continue reading Scottish think-tank – ‘Value judgements’ over analysis-based conclusions.

8 Comments

‘Scottish’ Labour are not recognised by the Electoral Commission so can’t have a bank account – the billionaire bros six-figure gift will have to go into the UK Labour account but even if Anas gets some cash poll suggests it’ll just make things even worse for him

johnrobertson834

After hearing of the above two bros giving lots of dosh to the Labour party branch in Scotland, I wondered two things, First, given that they don’t actually exist as a party on the Electoral Commission accounts, will the money have to go into the UK Labour account in England. Second, if Anas does get some of the cash, with too few supporters and even less vision, will he just make more of those YouTube videos that are pissing everyone off. You just want to see that video of your favourite band or singer and you have to watch Anas, … Continue reading ‘Scottish’ Labour are not recognised by the Electoral Commission so can’t have a bank account – the billionaire bros six-figure gift will have to go into the UK Labour account but even if Anas gets some cash poll suggests it’ll just make things even worse for him

1 Comment

Graffiti on Edinburgh Mosque confirms Scotland’s far less hostile environment to disappoint ‘our’ media once more

johnrobertson834

Readers may remember Theresa May’s hostile environment posters in 2013, were explicitly aimed to create a hostile environment for immigrants and their families already living here. The media in Scotland have clearly struggled to find equivalent phenomena here. Today BBC Scotland have found only: Police are investigating after racist graffiti was sprayed on the side of Edinburgh Central Mosque. The building, on Potterrow in the city centre, is thought to have been targeted with hate messages at about 21:30 on Friday. A spokesperson for the mosque said it was “deeply saddened and concerned” by the incident. They have been careful … Continue reading Graffiti on Edinburgh Mosque confirms Scotland’s far less hostile environment to disappoint ‘our’ media once more

5 Comments

BBC Scotland deliberately misleads on hospital-acquired infections – there was no ‘fatal infection’ nor did ‘infection lead to death’

johnrobertson834

BBC Scotland returns once more to the tragic death of a child cancer patient. This case has run for nine years now, during which Anas Sarwar has cynically appeared with the parents, platformed widely by MSM, to support their understandable need to explain the worst thing that can happen to parents. In one televised election debate, Anas even shouted ‘What about Millie!?’ at Nicola Sturgeon. That led to a vomiting attack nationally. The man has no shame. Misleading the general public has been regular and frequent. The headline above is simply wrong. The infection was not fatal in itself but … Continue reading BBC Scotland deliberately misleads on hospital-acquired infections – there was no ‘fatal infection’ nor did ‘infection lead to death’

11 Comments

This Ayr SNP MSP candidate makes ex-Labour minister look tired and visionless but most of all ignorant of the reasons why ‘visionary’ budgets are simply denied us

johnrobertson834

Above right, Siobhian Brown SNP candidate for the Ayr constituency, out leafleting, responds to the accusations from Scottish Labour that the SNP, after 19 years, is ‘tired & visionless.’ Full video at: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17tX9kcQs6/ I feel sure they know how much the devolution settlements firmly denies the Scottish Government the ability to be visionary and their attack, for that reason, is visionless. If Scotland was independent what could the Scottish Government’s budget feature that it cannot at the moment If Scotland were independent, its government’s budget could include a range of powers, policies, and fiscal tools that are currently unavailable or … Continue reading This Ayr SNP MSP candidate makes ex-Labour minister look tired and visionless but most of all ignorant of the reasons why ‘visionary’ budgets are simply denied us