Since 2021, 14 deaths due to circumcision in England and Wales but none in more-tolerant and more-regulated Scotland
Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC London yesterday: A coroner has warned that further babies could die unless the government introduces regulation of non-therapeutic male circumcision following the death of a six-month-old boy in west London. Non-therapeutic circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of male babies and young children for religious or cultural reasons, rather than medical reasons. Mohamed Abdisamad was circumcised on 12 February 2023, by a circumciser who had been recommended to his parents and requested by them to perform the procedure on their son, the West London Coroner’s report said. The baby began showing symptoms of … Continue reading Since 2021, 14 deaths due to circumcision in England and Wales but none in more-tolerant and more-regulated Scotland
Despite a greater challenge Scotland is providing care packages at 3 times the rate in England
Professor John Robertson OBA In the English Daily Express today but not shadowed by its ‘Scottish’ variant: Why might the ‘Scottish’ Daily Express have little to say on this? Nearly three times as many more in England waiting for a social care assessment and care at home services than in Scotland From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services, published yesterday: The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care was 7,806 on 3 November 2025. This is an increase of 30% from the estimated number of people waiting this … Continue reading Despite a greater challenge Scotland is providing care packages at 3 times the rate in England
Which party has been responsible for the longest bin strike in history, almost no new affordable housing, fewer teachers and no free school meals – It’s Birmingham Labour but there’s a media silence on that
Professor John Robertson OBA The bin strike in Birmingham is one-year long on January 6th 2026. A year?! It’s unheard of but it’s not the BBC headline today on the 3rd. Indeed, it hasn’t been reported on since the 18th December 2025. Which party run Birmingham? It’s Labour and has been for decades. The BBC reporting above does mention ‘Labour’ but Imagine this was in Scotland, say Glasgow, a whole year of ‘SNP bin strikes?’ There would not, of course, be a look back in history because, in Scotland, is mostly Labour history like this: The Glasgow binmen (refuse collectors) … Continue reading Which party has been responsible for the longest bin strike in history, almost no new affordable housing, fewer teachers and no free school meals – It’s Birmingham Labour but there’s a media silence on that
As UK media trumpet the ‘UK’s modest renewable energy achievements in 2025, a reminder of Scotland’s far greater one:
The Herald is recycling the unmet ‘scrap unfair Council Tax‘ promise. Nothing could be easier than scrapping it – could it?
stewartb I see The Herald is recycling the unmet ‘scrap unfair Council Tax‘ promise. Nothing could be easier than scrapping it – could it? Dear ChatGPT: ‘why, despite promises, has council tax not been scrapped in Scotland? Response (unedited except for my added emphasis): ‘Scotland has not scrapped council tax despite repeated promises (particularly from the SNP) for several key, fairly practical reasons — not simply because politicians changed their minds on a whim. Here’s the core of the issue: Initial 2007 Promise Fell Apart QuicklyWhen the SNP first came to power at Holyrood in 2007, their manifesto pledged to scrap council … Continue reading The Herald is recycling the unmet ‘scrap unfair Council Tax‘ promise. Nothing could be easier than scrapping it – could it?
Scotland has far far fewer homes at risk of flooding after 19 years of SNP leadership
From John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: In the Guardian today; Labour’s “build, baby, build” housing policy means more homes are being built on green belt land, meaning less natural flood defences, more runoff and increased flood risk for existing homes. Even worse, Guardian analysis has predicted that more than 100,000 of these new homes could be built on the highest-risk flood zones in England. At the same time, extreme weather is increasing because of climate breakdown and the Environment Agency data says 6.3m properties, residential homes and businesses are in areas at risk of flooding, rising to 8m by 2050. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/02/flood-home-unsellable-britain Predictably … Continue reading Scotland has far far fewer homes at risk of flooding after 19 years of SNP leadership
The UK ‘council mountain of debt’ is per head 8 times greater than Scotland’s revealing SNP competence again
Professor John Robertson OBA Today, the Herald’s Martin Williams has: Exclusive – Scotland’s £1.5bn council debt mountain reveals (sic) exposes SNP promises Wow! more than a billion. That’d be like £18bn in a country with around 12 times the population, say the UK. From GOV.UK’s Live tables on local government finance on 18 December 2025, the outstanding local authority borrowing of the UK’s local councils, was £147bn.1 So, debt under the Cons and the New Cons is now 8 times higher than in Scotland under the SNP? Martin does seem to be doing everything so I guess he has no … Continue reading The UK ‘council mountain of debt’ is per head 8 times greater than Scotland’s revealing SNP competence again
As adolescents in London increasingly attack their parents serious youth crime in Scotland plummets
Professor John Robertson OBA From the Guardian on 31 December 2025: The number of violent offences involving an adolescent attacking their parents or step-parents has increased by more than 60% in the past decade, according to figures recorded by the UK’s biggest police force. Data released by Scotland Yard reveals that there were 1,886 such offences recorded in 2015 but this increased to 3,091 in the first 10 months of 2025 alone. The offences involved a suspect aged between 10, the age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 17 who had been recorded as being the … Continue reading As adolescents in London increasingly attack their parents serious youth crime in Scotland plummets
Why does only NHS England need to declare an amber cold warning when its far colder here? Is it because our NHS is more resilient generally and because Swinney launched the flu vaccine programme two weeks earlier?
Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian on 31 December 2025: The NHS is under “extraordinary pressure” and braced for a new year surge in sick patients as amber cold health alerts were issued for the whole of England. While the number of patients in hospital with flu is levelling off, according to data published on Wednesday, health leaders said the NHS was “not out of danger yet” with temperatures expected to plummet. On Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber warnings for every region of England, which will be in place between 8pm on Wednesday until 10am next Tuesday. Previously, only north-east and … Continue reading Why does only NHS England need to declare an amber cold warning when its far colder here? Is it because our NHS is more resilient generally and because Swinney launched the flu vaccine programme two weeks earlier?
BBC Scotland now hiding that all English Albanian drug gangs are based in English Cities
Professor John Robertson OBA From Albanian Daily News nearly a year ago, but to this day never covered by BBC Scotland: Are these gangs based in Scotland? Nope: Albanian organized crime groups involved in cannabis cultivation and distribution, including those with operations in Fife, Scotland (such as a reported farm in St Andrews), are typically part of broader networks with key bases and leadership in England. Based on reports from police operations, investigations, and media coverage, these include: These England-based groups often recruit illegal immigrants via Channel crossings or lorries, forcing them into debt repayment through work on Scottish farms … Continue reading BBC Scotland now hiding that all English Albanian drug gangs are based in English Cities
Talking-up Scotland 