How new Scottish Labour leader lied in a rant on the best NHS in the UK but is easily corrected
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 I could not sleep waiting for this result. 😉 Yes, yes but: Indeed but sadly, I do, quite a bit having, sadly again, written about him a few times here. Here’s the latest from February 2026, to give you a flavour of the man, sour of course. I know it has a tiny audience, but Michael Marra of ‘Scottish’ Labour had a rant on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night, 19 February 2026, of such hysterical dishonesty and fear for the near extinction event they face in May , I felt … Continue reading How new Scottish Labour leader lied in a rant on the best NHS in the UK but is easily corrected
Scotland performs better than ‘European education powerhouses rocked by falling scores in global study’
Scotland, second top in Maths, top in Reading and second-top in Science. England? Faked their sample again. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the Guardian today: France’s were its worst ever. Germany’s, too. In the Netherlands, results also tumbled to all-time lows. Even in Finland, Europe’s much-vaunted schools champion and a global leader for decades, scores plummeted. The 2025 Pisa scores, which assess how effectively 15-year-olds apply school-learned knowledge and skills in reading, mathematics and science to real-life situations, have rocked some of western Europe’s education powerhouses. While the UK bucked the trend [sic], … Continue reading Scotland performs better than ‘European education powerhouses rocked by falling scores in global study’
Why abuse victims calling for help are far less likely to be arrested in Scotland – better law
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From OpenDemocracy, three days ago, the above headline and: Domestic abuse victims in England and Wales are facing arrest when calling the emergency services for help, according to new data published by Women in Prison. The charity asked more than 500 women in the criminal justice system about their experiences of domestic abuse, with nearly a third (29%) saying they were arrested when the police or emergency services were called to a domestic incident, even when they were the victim of abuse. The offence of assaulting an emergency worker, … Continue reading Why abuse victims calling for help are far less likely to be arrested in Scotland – better law
The problem with BBC Scotland’s lack of research before reporting on ‘ageing’ ferries
The 67 year-old, still in-service MV Tillikum in Washington State USA, 23 years older than CalMac’s oldest The 62 year-old, still in-service MV Queen of New Westminster in Canada 18 years older than CalMac’s oldest Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Back in 2022, BBC Scotland offered the above, under the heading – The problem with CalMac’s ageing ferries. Even after you add 4 years, you’ll hopefully be surprised to see that that even the oldest above, are not at all ‘ageing‘, in parts of the world far wealthier than Scotland. How about BC Ferries … Continue reading The problem with BBC Scotland’s lack of research before reporting on ‘ageing’ ferries
Islanders’ fury and tourists put off visiting as Channel Islands winter schedule publication lags months behind Scotland
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From BBC UK today, the above, and: Passengers say they feel like nothing is being done as they face an “extremely frustrating” wait for winter ferry timetables to be published. People in the Channel Islands said they had been unable to book any journeys to and from Jersey after December, while others were unable to get times for a slower service between Guernsey and Portsmouth. One tourist said the delays had put him off visiting and other passengers had called for clarity on the situation. Brittany Ferries and DFDS, … Continue reading Islanders’ fury and tourists put off visiting as Channel Islands winter schedule publication lags months behind Scotland
‘Shameful’ – Labour’s GB Energy to allocate only 6% of £30m community fund to Scotland
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 By stewartb From the Aberdeen-based Energy Voice news website (September 18): ‘‘Shameful’: GB Energy to allocate 6% of £30m community fund to Scotland’. ‘The announcement that as little as 6% of GB Energy’s recently revealed £30 million community energy scheme (sic) has been branded “shameful” by one Aberdeen MSP. ‘Under-secretary of state in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Martin McCluskey, revealed that only £1.8m from the new initiative would be allocated north of the border. ‘ To this, Donside MSP Jackie Dunbar (SNP) said: “Scotland is home … Continue reading ‘Shameful’ – Labour’s GB Energy to allocate only 6% of £30m community fund to Scotland
Who exactly are those 37 ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs really working for ?
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 By Liz S So Sky News reported today that: “British Steel losing £1.3m a day – and there is no ‘credible‘ survival plan yet, MPs warn”. In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warns that the government has not yet set out concrete plans for how the company will become financially sustainable. It continues to cost £1.3m a day of UK taxpayers’ money“. (So I say that basically it seems then that no expense is spared when it is an industry that is based in England). The article continued in stating that: “The government intervened to prevent the closure of its blast furnaces in April 2025“. “More … Continue reading Who exactly are those 37 ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs really working for ?
I hope you see the value in funding Talking-up Scotland today
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON, Sort Code – 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Very many thanks to the 184 supporters so far, inc bank transfers not listed in crowdfunder. You are very much appreciated. Today’s posts: Continue reading I hope you see the value in funding Talking-up Scotland today
Latest increase – Scots taxpayers to pay first £120 million instalment to keep old English steelworks in business and another £100m to save old English oil refinery so that it can replace Scottish oil refinery to refine oil almost entirely from Scottish waters
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Labour has been urged to lay out a credible plan for the future of British Steel, as the government spending watchdog warned of the “startling” costs of keeping the struggling manufacturer in business with no end in sight. British Steel was taken into public ownership in July to protect “the future of steel production”, 15 months after the government stepped in to prevent the closure of its steelworks in Scunthorpe and the loss of 4,000 jobs. But it is costing £1.3m a day to keep … Continue reading Latest increase – Scots taxpayers to pay first £120 million instalment to keep old English steelworks in business and another £100m to save old English oil refinery so that it can replace Scottish oil refinery to refine oil almost entirely from Scottish waters
Àird nan Saor – Recycling England’s imperial forts in Scotland
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 This x discussion yesterday drew my attention at https://x.com/IainRWhite/status/2100667566557458939?s=20: Absolutely! I like An Gearasdan Dubh. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 I was reminded instantly of something I posted last year but based on an earlier piece in 2021: Fort George, Scotland’s very own Fort Apache is apparently at risk again. It was under threat four years ago: In the Times 17 October 2021: Up to 1,700 soldiers could be axed in Scotland as the Ministry of … Continue reading Àird nan Saor – Recycling England’s imperial forts in Scotland
