Why we should not get carried away with the latest Times MRP poll predicting a ‘stunning’ majority for the SNP
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON As soon as I saw this Times piece above, I’m sorry to say, I immediately had serious reservations. I hope I’m wrong but, straight off, I thought: However, let’s concentrate on the scientific, objective, reservation based on sampling. Here’s a thorough AI response to: You note – ‘Accuracy depends heavily on sample quality and size.’ Might this be a particular concern regarding this latest poll on the Scottish Holyrood election coming up Yes, sample quality and size can … Continue reading Why we should not get carried away with the latest Times MRP poll predicting a ‘stunning’ majority for the SNP
NHS Grampian had its first case of measles for 12 years after 80% of Scotland’s cases in 2025 were imported
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland today: NHS Grampian is urging people to get vaccinated against measles after its first confirmed case of the illness in more than a decade. Measles is a highly contagious disease which is spread by coughs and sneezes. The virus can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and death. The last case in the Grampian area was in 2014, and the health board said all adults and children should ensure they are vaccinated. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24xk1d68lo No indication of … Continue reading NHS Grampian had its first case of measles for 12 years after 80% of Scotland’s cases in 2025 were imported
Scotland’s first Reform UK defecator must be hoping his own bill fails
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland Politics today: MSPs are to decide whether to give voters the power to effectively sack them. Holyrood parliamentarians automatically lose their seat if they are given a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. But unlike at Westminster, where MPs can be removed by local voters, there is no recall mechanism in the Scottish Parliament. Under a members’ bill tabled by Reform’s Graham Simpson, MSPs could be recalled if they are either suspended from Holyrood … Continue reading Scotland’s first Reform UK defecator must be hoping his own bill fails
Total hours waiting for care at home package following an assessment falls from peak for third month in a row
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services Management information, published 24 February 2026 (Latest release) Of those people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) waiting for care at home following an assessment of their needs, the total estimated number of weekly hours of care that they were waiting to receive was 27,038 as of 2 February 2026. This represents a decrease of just over 5% from the estimated number of hours at this time last … Continue reading Total hours waiting for care at home package following an assessment falls from peak for third month in a row
Top Science research journal reports 115 000, especially middle-aged women living near nuclear power stations are most at risk of cancer mortality and reinforces findings from UK research
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Even the Telegraph has reported this shocking new research suggesting serious concerns for those living near nuclear power stations. The Telegraph has a strong editorial policy to support new nuclear energy proposals1, so this is remarkable. Their report is based on these comments in several high-status US news outlets including in Nature and Harvard: Cancer mortality is higher across multiple age groups in both males and females, with the strongest associations among older adults, males aged 65–74 and … Continue reading Top Science research journal reports 115 000, especially middle-aged women living near nuclear power stations are most at risk of cancer mortality and reinforces findings from UK research
As opposition parties claim ‘mismanagement’ of prisons in Scotland how Lammy released 4 times as many prisoners by error, per head, than in Scotland and at least 12 times as many in November
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Alerted by the above from MSM Monitor, I thought I’d find out the answer to those in Scotland who will insist – “Aye it’s just as f*****g bad here, pal!” It’s not, by no means. First, England, with sources: MoJ Partial Data (April 1–October 31, 2025): 91 releases in error, equivalent to ~3 per week. Disclosed by Justice Secretary David Lammy in parliamentary statements and published via MoJ. Recent Updates (November 1–December 2, 2025): 12 additional releases, with 2 still at … Continue reading As opposition parties claim ‘mismanagement’ of prisons in Scotland how Lammy released 4 times as many prisoners by error, per head, than in Scotland and at least 12 times as many in November
More than ten times as many, per head, early release prisoners being recalled in England & Wales due to half the staffing in Scotland
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From the Guardian: Record numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison. Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone – more than a third of the total number released in the year to June 2025. The Guardian does not offer an annual total and one … Continue reading More than ten times as many, per head, early release prisoners being recalled in England & Wales due to half the staffing in Scotland
Washington State’s ferry fiasco is so bad politician wants to return to the 1930s for a solution
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Washington State and the cluster of islands around Seattle, with a GDP double that in Scotland, has been served by Washington State Ferries in a manner that would shock ferry users in Scotland. From KIRO Seattle, four days ago: With the Washington State Ferry system continuing to struggle to stay at full capacity and no new boats expected until 2030, at the earliest, is it time to bring back the Mosquito Fleet? One lawmaker is pushing the idea, … Continue reading Washington State’s ferry fiasco is so bad politician wants to return to the 1930s for a solution
Council tax in Labour-run Birmingham to rise by 50% more than in SNP-run Glasgow where for it you actually get your bins emptied and only half the level of violent crime to worry about when you bring them in, in the dark!
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland today: Council tax in Glasgow is set to rise by between 5% and 6%, after the SNP and Greens agreed a deal to pass a budget. Free school meals are expected to be extended to all children in primary seven and the council also plans to invest in cleansing, including more gully cleaning to prevent flooding.1 The average in Scotland, looks like being around 7-9%, well above that in Glasgow. In Birmingham City, now more … Continue reading Council tax in Labour-run Birmingham to rise by 50% more than in SNP-run Glasgow where for it you actually get your bins emptied and only half the level of violent crime to worry about when you bring them in, in the dark!
Maternity negligence in NHS Scotland falls dramatically in last three years to only one seventh, per head, of that in NHS England but the Herald desperately tries to suggest a crisis here
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON The Herald front page today is frankly disgusting. That’s a five year total added-up in an infantile attempt to get a big number. It was actually just 96.2m and far more important, they won’t share with us the real news, it’s falling. In their own report, para 7, we see: So three years ago, in one year, £38m out of £96m was paid out, leaving £58m to be shared out over the other 4 years, three of them … Continue reading Maternity negligence in NHS Scotland falls dramatically in last three years to only one seventh, per head, of that in NHS England but the Herald desperately tries to suggest a crisis here
Talking-up Scotland 