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Hard evidence of Fiona Bruce bias

johnrobertson834

I’m grateful to the above Hound for doing the content analysis for me. In last night’s Question Time in Aberdeen, Fiona Bruce interrupted the SNP’s Stephen Flynn almost twice as often as the interrupted the other panellists altogether. Stephen Flynn was interrupted altogether many more time than all the other panellists put together. Perhaps someone else will have counted how many in the audience spoke against as opposed to for the SNP; how many times naked lies about Scottish health or education services were shouted in the interruptions? Continue reading Hard evidence of Fiona Bruce bias

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US ferry system in ‘severe turmoil’ as 38 lawmakers write to Congress ‘urgently’ requesting extra funds

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From the Seattle Medium today: The Washington State Ferry system (WSF) is currently facing severe turmoil, prompting 38 elected leaders to send a letter to Congress urgently requesting funding “at the highest level possible” to aid WSF in its operations. The agency is currently operating with just over half the number of boats it needs to effectively serve the region. Despite receiving over $140 million in federal grants over the past two years, WSF requires additional funding and time to address staffing and vessel availability crises. In an effort to restore full service as quickly as possible, lawmakers from seven … Continue reading US ferry system in ‘severe turmoil’ as 38 lawmakers write to Congress ‘urgently’ requesting extra funds

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Ferries out of service? 29% out of service in affluent Washington State and only 9% out of service in Scotland as Calmac continues at 99% on time

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By Professor John Robertson, Scotland’s only Ferry Correspondent who looks at other ferry services too. From King 5 Seattle today: Washington State Ferries (WSF) is preparing to see more than 300,000 passengers for Memorial Day Weekend, enough people to fill T-Mobile Park six times. This is the start of the busy summer season when the ferries see double the number of passengers as they do in the winter. This influx of people comes as the system struggles with a shortage of boats. Washington State Ferries has 21 boats in its fleet, but only 15 are in service currently. They need … Continue reading Ferries out of service? 29% out of service in affluent Washington State and only 9% out of service in Scotland as Calmac continues at 99% on time

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The power and influence of ‘facts’

johnrobertson834

By stewartb I don’t watch BBC Question Time anymore. I do occasionally watch clips posted on social media when there is something specifically about Scotland – usually regretting my decision! Just watched a clip of Stephen Flynn on the latest episode striving hard to communicate facts and provide perspective in a discussion about the NHS in Scotland. Multiple individuals sitting at the ‘top table’ were intent on rubbishing his claims and I lost count of the number of times he was interrupted. Can’t permit a BBC audience to hear a coherent, reasoned rebuttal from an SNP MP! My wider point … Continue reading The power and influence of ‘facts’

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A shining example of negativity and playing the Blame Game

johnrobertson834

By iusedtobeenglish A shining example of negativity and playing the Blame Game. Reading an article in the National on John Swinney is to “declare Scottish Government is ‘firmly pro-business’” I found this little gem: “It is an attempt to bring businesses back on side after the lengthy administration of his predecessor but [sic] one Nicola Sturgeon, who alienated many businesses with lengthy Covid lockdowns and policies such as the deposit return scheme.“ D**n the woman, trying to save lives and even the planet when businesses wanted to make a profit. Let me make clear that I really do sympathise with the very real struggle that small … Continue reading A shining example of negativity and playing the Blame Game

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As BBC Scotland try to locate blame for the infected blood scandal IN Scotland, the facts speak of Labour’s incompetence and guilt

johnrobertson834

Headlining on BBC Scotland today: The head of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has apologised to the thousands of victims in Scotland who were infected by HIV or Hepatitis C through NHS blood products. Though apologising, he claims, astonishingly: In Scotland, the vast majority of infections came from Scottish blood donations. In the 1970s and 80s, the country was largely self-sufficient in blood products. In addition to having adequate local donations for the populations needs, the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh had the capacity to process blood plasma to manufacture treatments for haemophilia or certain forms of immune … Continue reading As BBC Scotland try to locate blame for the infected blood scandal IN Scotland, the facts speak of Labour’s incompetence and guilt

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80% of Scots don’t agree with Herald complaints about Scot Gov reply delays

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By Professor John Robertson Without, of course, telling us jus how many FoI requests they’ve put in to try and dredge up some dirt on the SNP and ferries, the Herald has been moaning about not getting an answer. The TuS quick twitterpoll above suggests that few agree with them. Here are some likely reasons: From a Freedom of Information request published in April 2024 by the Scottish Government, we can see a major, 42%, surge in the number of such requests responded to: 2020 – 31212021 – 41602022 – 41312023 – 4454 How much do these cost on average? … Continue reading 80% of Scots don’t agree with Herald complaints about Scot Gov reply delays

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CalMac at almost 99% reliability for May

johnrobertson834

Below, the % on time and the number of sailings from 1st to 14th May 2024: 98.4 50689.3 50698.5 52199.6 508100 360100 517100 51899.2 50098.4 50699.6 521100 502100 36099.6 502100 501 A total of 6 828 sailings with 98.75% on time and an average of 488 sailings per day. What happened on the 2nd May? 36 of the cancellations were for the tiny Colintraive to Rhubodach (population unknown) crossing, shortest in Scotland, but 28 sailings were still made to keep a link open that day. https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=02%2F05%2F2024 Continue reading CalMac at almost 99% reliability for May

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SNP Child Payment pulls poverty way below that in all parts of England other than affluent South-East

johnrobertson834

Thanks to Dotty for alerting me to this. On Channel 4 News tonight, on children in relative poverty: The picture is indeed stark. UK child poverty has climbed from 3.6m in 2013, to 4.3m, in 2023. The level of poverty in parts of England, other than in the affluent South-East, ranges from around 20% higher in the North-East to 60% higher in the West Midlands and is 25% higher on average. In Scotland, the lower rate has been attributed, in the main, to the introduction by the SNP Government, of the transformational Child Payment. Sources: https://www.channel4.com/news/the-reality-of-uk-child-poverty-explained https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400398127/ Continue reading SNP Child Payment pulls poverty way below that in all parts of England other than affluent South-East