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How can future of GP services in Scotland be ‘hanging in the balance’ when on average a GP in England has 560 more patients on his books and the BMA in England says UK Government should ‘simply follow the example of the government in Scotland?’

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Professor John Robertson OBA The BMA Scotland really needs to think about their relationship with the Scottish Government before they start making claims like the above. Specifically on GP supply and access, a useful exercise might be to look south. From LBC News yesterday: Wes Streeting hits out at BMA for ‘misleading’ claims amid GP access row The Health Secretary and the union are locked in a dispute over changes to how patients can contact their family doctors. Before looking at the relationship between the Scottish Government and doctors as seen from the BMA UK, let’s have a look at … Continue reading How can future of GP services in Scotland be ‘hanging in the balance’ when on average a GP in England has 560 more patients on his books and the BMA in England says UK Government should ‘simply follow the example of the government in Scotland?’

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Ajax armoured vehicles, 12 years late, way over budget at £10 million each, twice the cost of the US equivalent, 30 sick soldiers – Yes but what about the ferries? No, what about swarms of £20k drones

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to rtpscott for alerting me to this. Andrew, above is hanging on to his title just in case his Ajax armoured vehicle soon becomes less useful than a horse. I predict AI drones will refuse to kill horses. I think he’s wearing his beret low to cover a suspicious swelling he’s had since testing out his Ajax and which might make his prompted claim on Sky News that the Russians should now be afraid Britain’s new tank, even more incredible. So, leaving aside the astonishing 12 year delay since the contract was announced in 2017 … Continue reading Ajax armoured vehicles, 12 years late, way over budget at £10 million each, twice the cost of the US equivalent, 30 sick soldiers – Yes but what about the ferries? No, what about swarms of £20k drones

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320 000 THANK YOUs to SNP as their policies benefit 16 times as many children as Labour today – luckily 99% of Scots are not buying it

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Professor John Robertson OBA Have a look at the Daily Record news website. It’s quite a shock. Endless utterly naked propaganda trying to claim far more for Labour achievements than they effect and to laughably credit Anas for influencing the London Party. The above front page is only going to work on someone who has no idea that SNP policies have taken 100 000 children out of poverty, 5 times the Labour claim today or that the Child Payment has benefited 320 000, those in poverty AND those living uncomfortably close to it, 16 times the Labour claim. Does the … Continue reading 320 000 THANK YOUs to SNP as their policies benefit 16 times as many children as Labour today – luckily 99% of Scots are not buying it

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SNP buy Prestwick Airport for just £1, make £10 million profit and create 4 500 jobs in only 4 years while its sister airport in Kent goes out of business in only 6 months to become just a lorry park

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The Ayrshire Daily New’s Doug Maclean, has a fine piece of journalism serving the information needs of the community. Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Robert Martin for alerting me to this. Both Prestwick airport and its sister airport at Manston in Kent were available for sale in 2013. Both were losing money and the company that owned them were not able or prepared to invest in their long term future. Prestwick was sold to the Scottish Government for £1 as it was not only an airport but the site for multiple aerospace companies and considered too valuable to shut. … Continue reading SNP buy Prestwick Airport for just £1, make £10 million profit and create 4 500 jobs in only 4 years while its sister airport in Kent goes out of business in only 6 months to become just a lorry park

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As BBC Scotland pounce on one ‘alleged’ stabbing what they don’t want you to know – murder by knife and possession of knives have plummeted but only in Scotland

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No exploitative image here Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland today have – Mother of alleged stabbing victim hands out kits to stop bleeding It’s a heart-breaking but inspiring story of a mother’s courage. However, BBC Scotland is allegedly a news agency with a royal charter obliging it to inform us and part of that informing requires context. Is this common, is it less or more common here, is there a trend? First year journalism students would fail if their work had no context. Here it is: First, Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the … Continue reading As BBC Scotland pounce on one ‘alleged’ stabbing what they don’t want you to know – murder by knife and possession of knives have plummeted but only in Scotland

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A more upbeat song for Scotland than the wilting flower?

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Professor John Robertson OBA For decades, I’ve wanted to write the lyrics for songs but could never find a collaborator. Recently I’ve turned to AI for the tunes and the performance – what else can I do? I’ve written this song with a view to persuading reluctant Yes voters that independence is not exile. We’d still be good friends to the many good folk, not just their relatives and friends, when Scotland is free to run its own affairs. We’re not going away in any physical sense and if the going got tough, we’d still be there with them, barring … Continue reading A more upbeat song for Scotland than the wilting flower?

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Scotsman lies barefaced about pandemic lockdown effects on developmental delays in toddlers and fails to ask if UK Government austerity was a major factor

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Professor John Robertson OBA Above how BBC Scotland reported on developmental delays in toddlers during the pandemic. The Scotsman however, had: That’s a clear lie and it’s not qualified, and at that only very very slightly until the 7th paragraph when we see ‘associated with’ as opposed to ’caused: Unless the reporter is thick-as-a-brick, what is the Scotsman’s agenda here? To join the pile-on demonising of Nicola Sturgeon in the Covid inquiry process? Was it hard to understand the University of Edinburgh news release? Covid lockdown linked to child development issues – Lockdown and social distancing measures during the Covid-19 … Continue reading Scotsman lies barefaced about pandemic lockdown effects on developmental delays in toddlers and fails to ask if UK Government austerity was a major factor

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Private rents in UK surge by twice as much as in Scotland on top of already being nearly 40% higher

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Private Sector Rent Statistics, 2010 to 2025, published yesterday: The changes in average rents across Scotland in the latest year by different property size categories were: +4.0% or +£28 per month for 1-bedroom properties, reaching £738 per month +3.1% or +£28 per month for 2-bedroom properties, reaching £921 per month +1.6% or +£18 per month for 3-bedroom properties, reaching £1,154 per month -1.5% or -£26 per month for 4-bedroom properties, falling to £1,767 per month +5.5% or +£29 per month for 1-bedroom shared properties, reaching £560 per month https://www.gov.scot/news/private-sector-rent-statistics-2010-to-2025/ No overall average is quoted but … Continue reading Private rents in UK surge by twice as much as in Scotland on top of already being nearly 40% higher

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As 1 in 7 English bathing spots is not recommended for swimming it’s only 1 in 30 in Scotland, 87% Excellent!

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Guardian today, the above and: One in seven (13%) of England’s bathing waters are rated as polluted, and one in 14 so polluted they are not recommended for swimming. Famous beaches including Bognor Regis, Scarborough’s South Bay and Littlehaven Beach in South Shields were all rated “poor” in the latest classifications from the Environment Agency, which means they are not recommended for swimming. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/25/one-in-seven-english-bathing-spots-rated-as-polluted-in-latest-testing From SEPA in November 2025: Record number of Excellent Bathing Waters in Scotland for 2025 – In 2025 the highest number of Scotland’s bathing waters on record will meet the best environmental … Continue reading As 1 in 7 English bathing spots is not recommended for swimming it’s only 1 in 30 in Scotland, 87% Excellent!

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3.5 MILLION children could be lifted out of poverty if the Labour Party in England and Wales copied the Scottish Child Payment unique in Europe and in the long-term really costing nothing

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government yesterday: More than 300,000 children supported by Scottish Child Payment Social Security Scotland’s Scottish Child Payment is supporting 322,230 children across the country, newly published figures show.  Launched in February 2021, the Scotland-only benefit gives families with low incomes crucial financial support to help with the cost of raising children. The weekly payment of £27.15 is paid every four weeks for every eligible child under the age of 16 within a household.  https://www.gov.scot/news/more-than-300-000-children-supported-by-scottish-child-payment/ If Labour in England and Wales did the same, they’d lift around 3.5 million children out of poverty. Why … Continue reading 3.5 MILLION children could be lifted out of poverty if the Labour Party in England and Wales copied the Scottish Child Payment unique in Europe and in the long-term really costing nothing