London calling: How the BBC stole the Election

By NMRN Remember ‘London calling: How the BBC stole the Referendum‘. Well they, the BBC, are trying to do it all over again but this time they are trying to steal this General election for the Labour party to gain them seats in Scotland. Cue……BBC Clarifications & Corrections latest addition….. “Radio News Bulletins 19 April 2024 In some brief news items we said that the former Chief Executive of the Scottish National Party Peter Murrell had been charged with the embezzlement of “public funds”. We should have said “SNP funds”. 23/05/24“ “Public funds” v “SNP Funds”……big difference …….and someone somewhere was on the ball and highlighted this to the BBC as an ‘error’ (another one…..that just … Continue reading London calling: How the BBC stole the Election

‘The Canary in the Coalmine’ – Abortions shocking 36% more common in England & Wales

By Professor John Robertson From the Guardian today: There were 251,377 abortions for women resident in the two nations in 2022, official figures from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) show. With 9% of the population of England & Wales, all things being equal, you might expect, Scotland to have had around 22 600 abortions in the same year. According to Abortion Rights in May 2023, it had 16 584, around 6 000 fewer. The abortion rate in England & Wales is a shocking 36% higher than in Scotland, after 17 years of SNP rule and 14 years … Continue reading ‘The Canary in the Coalmine’ – Abortions shocking 36% more common in England & Wales

I was complicit in ’embezzling’ public funds in Paisley

Paisley – City of Dreaming Spires for C2DE’s? Back in the day, I had an awful experience – management in a ‘new’ university. We had a dilemma. Nearly all of our income came from the Scottish Government, explicitly for teaching students but, at the same time, we were under pressure to get research published, to be a ‘real’ Uni, but struggled to get funding to to that because we had little previous experience or track record. So, we quietly moved quite a lot of the money from the teaching budget into research budgets, to ‘prime the pump‘ you might say. … Continue reading I was complicit in ’embezzling’ public funds in Paisley

88% think Murrell case would not stand up in court! Will I get in bother for reporting this?

In a damning indictment of the English police officer specialists who came up to run this one, 88% of the followers of one of the last-standing pro-independence, really, it’s not about me, me, me, blogs, do not believe that the ’embezzlement’ case against former SNP CE (Did you know he’s Nicola Sturgeon’s husband? I was shocked to hear that), has any legs and that the proc fisc will chuck it out, on July 5th. As well as voting in this scientifically controversial methods survey, they had more to say below: Just so. Footnote – Is it safe for 73 year-old … Continue reading 88% think Murrell case would not stand up in court! Will I get in bother for reporting this?

Why is type 2 diabetes among under 40s far less common and increasing less steeply in Scotland?

Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this; In the Guardian today, the above graph and: The number of people under 40 being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK has risen 39% in six years, fuelled by soaring obesity levels and cheap junk food. Look at the dark bar for Scotland and imagine it 10 times thicker, for comparison with a country ten times more populous, and it’s barely half as thick. Does that suggest type 2 diabetes is only half as common in Scotland than it is in England? There are no separate data on the under … Continue reading Why is type 2 diabetes among under 40s far less common and increasing less steeply in Scotland?

Covid – top UK Civil Servant and Boris adviser – ‘Nicola Sturgeon showing them how to do it’

Dr Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service under Boris Johnson PM at the Covid Inquiry today. By Professor John Robertson An extract from an exchange between Case and Helen Macnamara, his Depute, in 2020: Are we surprised? From May 2020 While Scotland’s 35% lower fatality rate will be explained by multiple factors, the decision in 2008, to axe outsourced cleaning and to increase the number of cleaners, by Nicola Sturgeon, then Health Secretary, seems likely to have been a major factor. What happened: (May 2011) In the 1980s, the Thatcher government in the UK introduced compulsory … Continue reading Covid – top UK Civil Servant and Boris adviser – ‘Nicola Sturgeon showing them how to do it’

Can Modern Studies be taught by an International Court of Justice denier?

S5 Modern Studies pupil, Tommy, seeing the above, in September 2024, asks newly returned and miserable Mr Shanks, after losing his Rutherglen seat in the 4 July Westminster General Election, can I do: Question 19 International organisations have had both success and failure in tackling international conflicts and issues. Describe, in detail, two successes or failures of an international organisation in tackling the international conflict or issue you have studied. In your answer you must state the world conflict or issue you have studied. on how the UN and the International Court of Justice failed to stop the genocide in … Continue reading Can Modern Studies be taught by an International Court of Justice denier?

SNP to be first in Europe to eradicate child poverty as it surges under Cons and Labour

As the SNP’s much lauded, revolutionary Child Payment begins to widen the gap between levels in Scotland and the rest of the UK, the First Minister, John Swinney has announced £16 million for childcare services to help deliver his vision of a Scotland free from child poverty: In a statement to Parliament, the First Minister set out the four priorities that will underpin the work of his government. He said eradicating child poverty would be his government’s single most important objective. Over the next two years, the Scottish Government will provide additional funding to expand access to childcare services within … Continue reading SNP to be first in Europe to eradicate child poverty as it surges under Cons and Labour

Nearly three times as many employee owned businesses per head in Scotland than in England or in Labour Wales

By Professor John Robertson Across the board, from health, through education and crime, Labour has made an asyn of running Wales, generally blaming the UK for all its ills. Today, Scottish Enterprise was able to announce: Latest figures show there are currently 286 EOBs operating in Scotland – up from 195 in 2022 – comprised of 177 Scottish-registered EOBs, 25 Scottish-registered workers’ cooperatives and 84 EOBs. At the last published count, in June 2023, there were 63 EOBs in Wales. Wales has 58% of Scotland’s population, so all things being equal, might be expected to have around 58% of Scotland’s … Continue reading Nearly three times as many employee owned businesses per head in Scotland than in England or in Labour Wales

CalMac averaging 99% on time, throughout May 2024

By Professor John Robertson The Herald today is leading on historical fines for delays and cancellations yet throughout May 2024, so far, this is the daily reliability for upwards of 500 sailings per day: 98.4% on time – 1st May 202489.398.599.610010010099.298.499.610010099.610099.698.499.298.497.810099.2 21st May 202498.8 Average Source: https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=15%2F05%2F2024 Continue reading CalMac averaging 99% on time, throughout May 2024