Could there be a simple positive reason for the reduction in the number of people accessing specialist alcohol and drugs treatment in Scotland – years of success in treatment programmes and Scot Gov success in initiatives on minimum pricing and opioid reversal kits?
Professor John Robertson OBA, former opioid painkiller addict and ‘steady drinker‘ to this day From Public Health Scotland today: In Phase One of this investigation PHS conducted internal exploratory analysis to validate and describe changes in the numbers and characteristics of people accessing Tier 3 and 4 services between 2011/12 and 2021/22, using data from the Drug and Alcohol Information System (DAISy) and its predecessor, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times (DATWT) database. In Phase Two of this investigation, Public Health Scotland presents a national-level examination of the same data sources. This quantitative analysis presents national data shared with … Continue reading Could there be a simple positive reason for the reduction in the number of people accessing specialist alcohol and drugs treatment in Scotland – years of success in treatment programmes and Scot Gov success in initiatives on minimum pricing and opioid reversal kits?
More school leavers taking part in assessment and more getting the qualifications they need to progress than 10 years ago
Professor John Robertson OBA, former Associate Dean (QA) Faculty of Education UWS From Attainment of school leavers by SCQF level and stage of leaving published today, the above graph and: Once you get past your surprise at the unusual labelling of the years, eg 1415 for 2014/2015, you can see several things here. First, around 3 500 more school leavers, 18%, are taking part in the certificated assessment of their attainment – good news for their employability, progression and self esteem. Second, at three of the levels, there has been recovery to pre-pandemic levels or better, significantly at levels 7 … Continue reading More school leavers taking part in assessment and more getting the qualifications they need to progress than 10 years ago
Not one Scottish town named as likely to be abandoned due to floods though one of my six home towns might be the only candidate
Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above maps showing only two wee bits of Scotland with a 25% risk and the Highland and Borders moving up to 15%, of serious flooding by 2080. You’ll see that a huge part of England will be in deep water by then. Nevertheless, the Guardian manages to claim: Towns may have to be abandoned due to floods with millions more homes in Great Britain at risk Every constituency projected to be at greater risk, with many areas likely to be uninsurable, Guardian investigation finds Millions more homes in England, Scotland and … Continue reading Not one Scottish town named as likely to be abandoned due to floods though one of my six home towns might be the only candidate
As Labour MPs call on Rachel Reeves to scrap council tax in England how the lowest Band D council tax rate in British Labour Wales is higher than the highest in SNP Scotland
Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: More than a dozen Labour MPs have written to Rachel Reeves calling on her to scrap council tax, as the chancellor faces mounting pressure to overhaul Great Britain’s property taxes in next month’s budget. Thirteen MPs, mainly from seats in northern England, wrote to Reeves last month asking her to abolish the tax and replace it with another system that better accounts for the steep rise in house prices in London and the south-east over the last 35 years. The chancellor is looking for ways to close what could be a £30bn shortfall in the … Continue reading As Labour MPs call on Rachel Reeves to scrap council tax in England how the lowest Band D council tax rate in British Labour Wales is higher than the highest in SNP Scotland
Latest figures further highlight the shocking contrast between levels of domestic abuse of children and adults in England and Scotland
Professor John Robertson OBA Back around 2014, Frankie Boyle joked that if Scotland was to become an Islamic republic, it would have to start treating its women better. It was already a joke well past its time then and would be plain daft today. By several measures, even 20 years ago, under the last Labour/Lib Dem administration, Scotland was the most violent part of the UK and especially so for women. Things have changed. The Guardian today has: Nearly 90% of cases before the family courts in England and Wales show evidence of domestic abuse, a watchdog has disclosed. Physical, … Continue reading Latest figures further highlight the shocking contrast between levels of domestic abuse of children and adults in England and Scotland
If only the Chinese are prepared to help us actually manufacture the wind turbines all over our land and in our seas, I have little problem with that
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to rtpscott for this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2zjmk586lo and comment: This link is about the Chinese company wanting to invest in Scotland but according to Fraser of BBC Scotland it could be blocked by the UK Gov. Now here is the thing if the Super Chinese Embassy in London gets the go ahead and the one in Scotland is blocked would we be surprised and what would we Dougie’s excuse be. Just a thought. In the BBC report: But a Conservative MP has previously questioned the wisdom of letting the company invest in the UK. Last November, … Continue reading If only the Chinese are prepared to help us actually manufacture the wind turbines all over our land and in our seas, I have little problem with that
The Herald is all at sea on ferry contracts
Professor John Robertson OBA So, in March 2025, the Herald says give Ferguson Marine work without the need for competitive tender. Two days later another Herald writer agrees. By July, they’re still on that side but by October, below, they flip: Wait, two days later, they flip back again! I’m getting ferry sick. You can support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Bernadette/John Robertson, Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Continue reading The Herald is all at sea on ferry contracts
Shocking contrast between customer satisfaction with CalMac and British Columbia Ferries with latter often screamed at, spat on or threatened due to poor performance
Professor John Robertson OBA From the Times Colonist on 10 October 2025: The union representing B.C. Ferries workers says its members are facing “disturbing” levels of abuse from passengers. A survey of B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union members indicated that more than 80 per cent of respondents said they have been threatened with violence on the job, and 92 per cent said they have witnessed it. The union released the results of its survey as the Thanksgiving weekend got underway in what is expected to be one of the year’s busiest for ferry travellers. Behind every sailing is a crew doing … Continue reading Shocking contrast between customer satisfaction with CalMac and British Columbia Ferries with latter often screamed at, spat on or threatened due to poor performance
In April 2025 Swinney wrote back to the Herald to commit to eradicating child poverty but they chose instead to misrepresent him.
Professor John Robertson OBA On 30 April 2025, the First Minister wrote back, under FOI rules, to say the above and that below: If you read it, you’ll see it represents a strong commitment to eventually eradicate child poverty in Scotland, a spirited defence of what has been achieved already and clear identification of the factors beyond his control, limiting progress. In the following days, the Herald did publish the FM’s letter in full but then choose to mislead its readers and aid the Scottish Labour party campaign for May 226, with: In the first of the above, they chose … Continue reading In April 2025 Swinney wrote back to the Herald to commit to eradicating child poverty but they chose instead to misrepresent him.
After 11 years, the Labour Party is finally confirmed as ‘fatally corrupt’ as leading academic withdraws his regret in light of Gaza genocide complicity, McSweeney funding scandal, several sex offences and Neil Bibby’s poor arithmetic
Professor John Robertson OBA In my interview above, 11 March 2014, to defend my research revealing a quantitative 3 to 1 bias in BBC Scotland coverage of the referendum campaign, 36 min in: Neil Bibby (Labour): Is it your belief, stated publicly, that the Labour Party is ‘fatally corrupt?’ There’s a quote from an interview you gave to Open Democracy, where you said ‘There are good people in the BBC. Mindless loyalty to a now fatally corrupt Labour Party is not uniform.’ Me: ‘I don’t think I should have said that last bit. I think the first bit I should … Continue reading After 11 years, the Labour Party is finally confirmed as ‘fatally corrupt’ as leading academic withdraws his regret in light of Gaza genocide complicity, McSweeney funding scandal, several sex offences and Neil Bibby’s poor arithmetic
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