Category: Uncategorized

7 Comments

Only a sub-poll but latest confirms six-poll trend as SNP open up massive 18 point lead over Labour

johnrobertson834

Four days ago, I could write: Six sub-polls suggest modest SNP recovery, growing Reform threat and ongoing crisis for the others leading to good result in the constituencies for the SNP at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/12/01/six-sub-polls-suggest-modest-snp-recovery-growing-reform-threat-and-ongoing-crisis-for-the-others-leading-to-good-result-in-the-constituencies-for-the-snp/ Today, from Find Out Now, the UK figures put Labour in third place with 23%, behind Reform at 24% and the Cons at 26%. The Scottish sub-set of only 118, has SNP39%, Labour 21%, Cons 13%, Reform, Greens and Lib Dems at 8%. If repeated in May 2026, this could give SNP an overall majority. Early days I know but still good to get this kind of … Continue reading Only a sub-poll but latest confirms six-poll trend as SNP open up massive 18 point lead over Labour

7 Comments

Potentially fatal hypothyroidism far more common in Scotland, on the prevailing sea currents from Sellafield than in England, especially London

johnrobertson834

Many thanks to reader Alan Gordon for alerting me to this. From the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, in October 2024, Hypothyroidism:How common is it?: A review article notes that the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism in Europe varies between 0.2–5.3%, depending on the definition of hypothyroidism used. A retrospective analysis of General Practice data in the North East of England (n = 66,843) found the overall single-point prevalence of treated hypothyroidism was 4.5% in 2016. A review of UK national databases found the prevalence of treated hypothyroidism increased from 2.3% (1.4 million) to 3.5% (2.2 million) of the total … Continue reading Potentially fatal hypothyroidism far more common in Scotland, on the prevailing sea currents from Sellafield than in England, especially London

22 Comments

SNP to reverse Labour’s cruel two child benefit cap and push on to eradicate child poverty for all of us

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA From the National minutes ago: 2:40pm BREAKING: The SNP will axe the UK Government’s controversial two-child benefit cap for thousands of Scots. Finance Secretary Shona Robison will make the announcement in her Holyrood Budget speech in just a matter of minutes, according to The Scottish Sun.  This would be a big move, and one that will put Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour in a tricky position …https://www.thenational.scot/news/24770245.scottish-budget-live-snp-set-tax-spending-plans/?ref=ebbn&nid=1457&u=373de6c7573215d01eab2a2993b269b0&date=041224 At 15:25 she did it! Why is this a major moment in history? From the London School of Economics in September 2023 Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host … Continue reading SNP to reverse Labour’s cruel two child benefit cap and push on to eradicate child poverty for all of us

2 Comments

Welsh students punished again by tuition fee hike, to leave them in debt more than twice that in Scotland

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to AR for alerting me to this: Today from BBC Wales: University fees in Wales are set to rise to £9,535 a year – nearly a £300 increase – from September 2025. The Welsh government announcement brings tuition costs in Wales in line with a hike in fees already announced by the UK government for universities in England. It is the second increase in charges for Welsh courses within a year, after the maximum charge went up from £9000 to £9250 from September 2024. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yw97y9xnwo?s=03 Things were already bad for students in Wales, under Labour: Average student debt … Continue reading Welsh students punished again by tuition fee hike, to leave them in debt more than twice that in Scotland

2 Comments

Scotland’s prison population surged under Labour as they built too few new spaces but has stabilised since SNP took charge

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA From Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2023-24, published today, we can see that there were only 5 868 prisoners in 2000 but by 2008, as the SNP minority government took over, there were 7827, a 34% increase in only 8 years. 17 years later in 2024, there 7 856.1 In 2005, the Guardian could report: A new report claims Scotland has a higher murder rate than America. The UN says it’s the ‘most violent place in the developed world’.2 By 2024, Scotland has the lowest violent crime levels in the UK3. Sounds like new prisons are not the … Continue reading Scotland’s prison population surged under Labour as they built too few new spaces but has stabilised since SNP took charge

3 Comments

Just as Labour Government announces extension of 46 crack Torness nuclear power station to keep lights in London on, new research suggests cancer mortality risk is greater and quicker to develop than current estimates

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA As a response to evidence that the UK [England] will need nuclear to meet its ‘Clean power by 2030‘ target1, the Torness plant in Scotland, where 46 cracks have recently been identified in the ageing reactor2, is to be kept in service until 2030. Coincidentally, my alert on this topic today revealed, from the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (originally published 2 September 2024): The scientists estimated that the mortality rate due to leukaemia increased by more than 250% per gray (Gy) of exposure (excess relative rate [ERR] per Gy, 2.68; 90% confidence … Continue reading Just as Labour Government announces extension of 46 crack Torness nuclear power station to keep lights in London on, new research suggests cancer mortality risk is greater and quicker to develop than current estimates

2 Comments

Homicide by firearm 44% more common in England and Wales

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today, the leader of the police officer’s trade union, responding to the recent Skye murders, says there were 17 homicides by firearm in the last 10 years and that this is a consequence of ‘weak’ police leadership and ‘political cowardice.’ He also notes ‘precious few’ of those involved legally held guns. The Skye killer was licensed. All things being equal, per head, England & Wales might be expected to have had around 190 such killings. From the ONS, from 2013 to 2023, there were 273 homicides by firearm but only 41 involved licensed firearms. … Continue reading Homicide by firearm 44% more common in England and Wales

4 Comments

UK Government to risk lives in Scotland by extending life of cracked power station against wishes of Scottish Government

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland, today: The lifespan of Scotland’s last remaining nuclear power station and three other plants in England are to be extended. EDF Energy says Torness, in East Lothian, and its sister site Heysham 2, in Lancashire, will continue generating for an extra two years until 2030. Two other sites – Hartlepool and Heysham 1 – will continue for an extra year until 2027. The French state-owned company says it will now invest £1.3bn across its operational nuclear estate over the next three years.1 This decision has been taken to help with UK Labour’s allegedly ‘clean … Continue reading UK Government to risk lives in Scotland by extending life of cracked power station against wishes of Scottish Government