Internationally acclaimed Scottish writer’s latest on Scotland’s Radicals will open your eyes and even surprise you
Professor John Robertson OBA Ron Culley needs no introduction from me because AI can do it so much more fully it seems: Ron Culley is a Scottish author and former public sector executive, best known for his work as a novelist specializing in historical fiction, political thrillers, and biographical works with a focus on Scottish and Irish history.Literary CareerCulley has published over a dozen books, often blending fact and fiction to explore themes like Scottish independence, Irish republicanism, and social justice. His notable titles include: His writing has garnered international acclaim, with readers from all seven continents (including Antarctica) praising … Continue reading Internationally acclaimed Scottish writer’s latest on Scotland’s Radicals will open your eyes and even surprise you
NHS Scotland’s greater resilience and Scottish Government actions paying off as flu hospital admissions surge to FOUR times England with no reports of being overwhelmed
Professor John Robertson OBA You may remember in 2020, Boris Johnson saying that NHS Scotland had resilience problems which would harm its Covid response. In the end, the excess death rate in England was twice that in Scotland. Recently, we had Jackie Baillie making a similar morbid wish fulfilment prediction suggesting that the ‘SNP’ was not ready for winter. It’s not working out well for Baillie. Public Health Scotland (PHS) figures, external show that in the week of 24-30 November, lab-confirmed cases rose sharply to 1,759 compared with 845 the previous week. Hospital admissions as a result of the illness also rose … Continue reading NHS Scotland’s greater resilience and Scottish Government actions paying off as flu hospital admissions surge to FOUR times England with no reports of being overwhelmed
As Turkish yard delays small, simple-design, ferry again and again, here’s Clyde-based Ferguson Marine’s long track record of delivering them on-time and often commended in Parliament
Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today: Scottish ferry built in Turkey delayed [again] with Christmas delivery ‘a challenge’ The contract for the MV Isle of Islay was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in Turkey in March 2022. She was expected to be delivered by the end of 2024 but has been delayed several times and seems most unlikely to make it in 2025, more than 1 year late. She is a smaller (107 cars), simpler vessel, just diesel-powered than the larger (117 car) new dual fuel-powered MV Glen Sannox. Has Ferguson Marine had to delay any simple diesel ferry … Continue reading As Turkish yard delays small, simple-design, ferry again and again, here’s Clyde-based Ferguson Marine’s long track record of delivering them on-time and often commended in Parliament
No CalMac ferry has ever killed a fishing boat crew member, while privatised Condor ferries has killed three in one year despite making barely 5% of the crossings and in calmer seas
Professor John Robertson OBA From ITV yesterday: A Condor Ferry worker who endangered lives after his vessel collided with a fishing trawler has been handed a 20-month prison sentence. Lewis Peter Carr, from Sunderland, appeared at Jersey‘s Royal Court on Thursday 4 December to receive his sentence. He was found guilty in a trial this September of endangering ships, structures, or individuals – contrary to Jersey’s Shipping Law. The charge related to the collision of the Condor Commodore Goodwill Ferry and L’Ecume II on 9 December 2022, which resulted in the deaths of three fishermen aboard L’Ecume. https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-12-04/20-month-prison-sentence-for-ferry-worker-regarding-fatal-boat-collision Condor Ferries makes around 10 000 … Continue reading No CalMac ferry has ever killed a fishing boat crew member, while privatised Condor ferries has killed three in one year despite making barely 5% of the crossings and in calmer seas
‘Grooming gangs’ – As Herald platforms Tories to reveal their squalid purpose, Scottish Government appoints a real expert
Professor John Robertson OBA The abovementioned calls are from a expected quarter: You see that first line in the second paragraph? They already know that there are grooming gangs in Scotland like the ones in Rochdale and other midland towns, which have raped thousands of young white girls from badly -run care homes. There’s no point having an inquiry if you already know the answer. I know a different answer and mine is based on Police Scotland advice to the First Minister – there are none like the ones in England. In different times the Police Scotland verdict might have … Continue reading ‘Grooming gangs’ – As Herald platforms Tories to reveal their squalid purpose, Scottish Government appoints a real expert
Why do Scotland’s deprived areas NOT have the most troubled hospitals?
Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian yesterday, the above and: Blackpool report: why do England’s deprived areas have the most troubled hospitals? The findings of the report into Blackpool Victoria hospital are as shocking as they are damning: a culture of bullying, racial discrimination and harassment that has contributed to a staff exodus with a direct impact on patients. The treatment of chronic disease, including Parkinson’s, were just some of the areas blighted by what appears to be a toxic culture. But the Royal College of Physicians report, leaked to the Guardian, exposes much broader challenges for the NHS – and … Continue reading Why do Scotland’s deprived areas NOT have the most troubled hospitals?
Patient sexually assaulted and killed in her bed, six staff jailed including surgeon jailed for sexually assaulting five colleagues and a culture of systemic bullying and harassment in Blackpool hospital but neither health secretary nor government blamed and BBC ignore it – imagine that had been in Inverness?
Professor John Robertson OBA Seeing the Guardian report today on the massive shocking scandal at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, I was reminded of the media-saturated story in 2018 – 2022, when Doctor Iain Kennedy made his name exposing bullying at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. The contrast in the media/opposition party treatment could not be sharper. First, Blackpool: In the Guardian yesterday following on from the above LancsLive piece in September 2025: The report, leaked to the Guardian, follows a series of devastating incidents at the Blackpool Victoria hospital that have resulted in multiple arrests and six members of staff being imprisoned … Continue reading Patient sexually assaulted and killed in her bed, six staff jailed including surgeon jailed for sexually assaulting five colleagues and a culture of systemic bullying and harassment in Blackpool hospital but neither health secretary nor government blamed and BBC ignore it – imagine that had been in Inverness?
12 Nottingham drug gang members who targeted Aberdeenshire jailed
Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC East Midlands yesterday, the above and: A drug addict who allowed a Nottingham-based county lines gang to use her home to store and deal class-A drugs has been sentenced. Police said Jeanette Talbot, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was given free heroin and cocaine as payment from the ringleaders, who ran an “industrial” supply network. The 12 drug dealers were jailed in June, while Talbot had her sentencing deferred to allow her to demonstrate further progress in tackling her drug habit. Nottinghamshire Police said an investigation into the drug network – which was spread across the East Midlands … Continue reading 12 Nottingham drug gang members who targeted Aberdeenshire jailed
They so want Rutherglen to be like Rochdale but from Police Scotland – ‘No current investigations in Scotland involving offences against children which would mirror the investigations [in England] described in Baroness Casey’s audit as being perpetrated by “grooming gangs”
Professor John Robertson OBA They will not give up. They smell blood and tears and with Joani Reid’s help they will make sure enough Scots think we have rape grooming gangs too and so are no different. Why do they want this? To keep SNP supporters at home. Readers will be aware no doubt of new Labour MP Joani Reid’s shameless u-turn on national inquiries into grooming gangs – no in England where they are many, to save her boss a red face, but yes in Scotland, where there are none, proving that as Jimmy Reid’s granddaughter, the apple can fall pretty … Continue reading They so want Rutherglen to be like Rochdale but from Police Scotland – ‘No current investigations in Scotland involving offences against children which would mirror the investigations [in England] described in Baroness Casey’s audit as being perpetrated by “grooming gangs”
Any Scottish stand-up – “Honestly, at this rate the only thing Great British Energy is powering is my material for the next five years.”
I’m using AI increasingly. I trust it more than most journalists or thinktanks to tell me the truth. Grok AI time after time reveals no agenda on Scottish independence. Professor John Robertson OBA Only BBC Scotland is going with this ridiculous line: Great British Energy (GBE) says its investments aim to support at least 10,000 jobs over the next five years, with a focus on areas historically dependent on oil and gas. See that ‘support’? I seem to remember the word ‘creation’ was in their aims only a few months ago. Let’s ask AI: Yes, job creation was explicitly one … Continue reading Any Scottish stand-up – “Honestly, at this rate the only thing Great British Energy is powering is my material for the next five years.”
Talking-up Scotland 