Category: Uncategorized

7 Comments

The sacrifice of the 51st Highlanders – where I got the evidence for my lyrics

johnrobertson834

Quickly, should the word ‘sacrifice’ seem to be prejudging what follows, I did not use the word in my questions of the AI. It did, five times in answers including: ‘The decision to leave the 51st (Highland) Division behind as a rearguard — effectively sacrificing it so the rest of the British Expeditionary Force could escape at Dunkirk.’ John Robertson, father in the KOSBs, all before that coalminers who stayed at ‘home’ in the pits I’ve had a bit of stick for: It was the winter of nineteen thirty-nine When we arrived at France’s Maginot Line We were more than … Continue reading The sacrifice of the 51st Highlanders – where I got the evidence for my lyrics

Leave a comment

How the media hide the fact that SNP-run Glasgow’s miles better

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today is on the case of an imaginary Glasgow as part of the help-Anas campaign for the May 2026 Scottish Election. It’s one of a set such as ferries, baby and drug deaths, that they use repeatedly to make Scotland seem less, much less, than it is. Here are just few reasons why SNP-run Glasgow is miles better than they wish and how it compares very well with any English city: Continue reading How the media hide the fact that SNP-run Glasgow’s miles better

8 Comments

From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery

johnrobertson834

John Robertson (not a prof of music) For those of you who refuse to xtwitter, fly bluesky or even facebook, click here: https://suno.com/s/NNGdtEiMzMfIpp7A From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery It was the winter of nineteen thirty-nine When we arrived at France’s Maginot Line We were more than fifteen thousand strong Ready to stand our ground against the hun From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery The panzers dashing to the coast were soon upon us We paid a bloody price on Winston Churchill’s say Marched ten thousand strong to years behind the wire … Continue reading From the Maginot Line we came late to Saint Valery

6 Comments

UK water scientists do not look next door at a country with 5.5 million litres of drinkable water per person, 40 times that where they are in London and nearly 4 000 times that globally

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA The Guardian today has the above and: Vast swathes of Europe’s water reserves are drying up, a new analysis using two decades of satellite data reveals, with freshwater storage shrinking across southern and central Europe, from Spain and Italy to Poland and parts of the UK. Scientists at University College London (UCL), working with Watershed Investigations and the Guardian, analysed 2002–24 data from satellites, which track changes in Earth’s gravitational field. As per usual, UCL scientists, despite often vacationing, here did not think to look at Scotland’s water supplies. Before comparing with the world, how much more fresh … Continue reading UK water scientists do not look next door at a country with 5.5 million litres of drinkable water per person, 40 times that where they are in London and nearly 4 000 times that globally

5 Comments

Youth suicides in Scotland fall after Scottish Government’s ‘stand-out’ initiatives and have nothing to do with Daily Record’s campaign

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA The Daily Record is getting right into making money from youth suicides but, of course, not telling you the whole story. They don’t even define ‘youth’ so I have the stats for the 15-24 and 5-24 groups and both are falling. For the 15-24 group, overall suicides are down 12% from 2023 and the average age at suicide – 47.5 years suggests a shift toward older adults with youth data likely stable/low). We won’t get an age breakdown until 2026, so I have to doubt the Record’s story. For the 5-14 group, overall suicides are down … Continue reading Youth suicides in Scotland fall after Scottish Government’s ‘stand-out’ initiatives and have nothing to do with Daily Record’s campaign

Leave a comment

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

johnrobertson834

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

6 Comments

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

johnrobertson834

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

1 Comment

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

johnrobertson834

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

5 Comments

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

johnrobertson834

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

3 Comments

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

johnrobertson834

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