Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….

Professor John Robertson OBA Children being referred to Prevent, the anti-terror scheme, naturally interests journalists. The National headlines responsibly and informatively but the SDM (Short for SaDoMasichism?) finds something titillating for its readers. Here’s something informative, to help the vulnerable and anxious elderly (older than me of course): So, quickly, 11 times the population, if Scotland was just as troubled by this as England & Wales, and they’d have 1 782 referrals but they had 8 778, MORE THAN FOUR times as many, 98% of the total. Sources: Why so few in Scotland? Some ideas I posted tentatively in 2019: … Continue reading Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….

Prisoners released in error this year, nearly THREE times more frequent per capita and surging in England and Wales than in Scotland because….

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dorothy for suggesting this. According to the Herald yesterday, there were 9 releases in error of prisoners in Scotland, with 3 more in 2025 so far.1 The Herald, of course, has added up the figures, 8, 7 and 9 over the last 3 year to make a worryingly, for them, flat trend. All things being equal, pro rata, you’d expect the figure for England and Wales to be 11 times higher, 99 but, in the same period, it was 262, nearly THREE times more common and increasing by 128% from 115 the previous year.2 … Continue reading Prisoners released in error this year, nearly THREE times more frequent per capita and surging in England and Wales than in Scotland because….

NHS England health trusts have more than TWICE as much debt as Scottish health boards and it’s to ‘sharks!’

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to France McKie for presenting me with this opportunity. From Every Doctor, the above and: The NHS is haemorrhaging billions to private companies through Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts at a time when the health service desperately needs investment in staff and infrastructure. An EveryDoctor investigation has uncovered that 69 NHS trusts in England are locked into paying more than £21.1bn to private companies over the next two decades – money that could be spent on doctors, healthcare staff, patients, and critical repairs. The total spent on PFI debt and interest payments (£3.1bn) would have … Continue reading NHS England health trusts have more than TWICE as much debt as Scottish health boards and it’s to ‘sharks!’

NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board may be in considerable debt but is performing well above the 90% targets and above the national average on four important targets

BBC Scotland, other Scottish media and opposition politicians have been making hay with NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s level of debt, revealed in a recent Audit Scotland report. They’ve had nothing to say about the above record of achievement on page 11 of the document. Makes you wonder why? Source: https://audit.scot/publications/the-202425-audit-of-nhs-ayrshire-and-arran More on this health board: Continue reading NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board may be in considerable debt but is performing well above the 90% targets and above the national average on four important targets

Casual dishonesty about lower violent crime for all and lower taxation for most in Scotland goes uncorrected

Professor John Robertson OBA I don’t think I’ve commented on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night before. I’m guessing it is not much watched. However, last night I was taken by the astonishing lies by the two Unionists, Pauline McNeill (Labour), Justice Committee Convenor (Remember that) and Brian Whittle (Con). First the Justice Committee Convenor’s simple comment in passing above – surely she has seen the figures? From Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-251 published in June 2025: There is, in these figures, a sharp decrease in non-sexual extreme violence and an apparent increase in sex offences but there is a great deal … Continue reading Casual dishonesty about lower violent crime for all and lower taxation for most in Scotland goes uncorrected

From one Robertson to another – your Isle of Wight return crossing costs THREE TIMES as much as my same distance Isle of Mull one does and it’ll be on an older ferry

Professor John Robertson OBA In Isle of Wight County Press today, the above and: Isle of Wight East MP, Joe Robertson, has introduced a proposed new law in Parliament aimed at improving ferry services – including the Island’s vital cross-Solent routes. Mr Robertson today (Wednesday, November 5) tabled the Ferry Services (Integration and Regulation) Bill in the House of Commons, under the ’10-minute rule motion’, following Prime Minister’s Questions. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/politics/government/iw-east-mp-slams-rip-off-ferry-prices-and-proposes-new-law-in-parliament/ar-AA1PS2kI?ocid=BingNewsVerp Joe doesn’t quantify these ‘rip-off’ prices. I will: In July 2025, a medium size car with four passengers, Portsmouth to Fishbourne with Wightlink Ferries, would cost you between £210 and … Continue reading From one Robertson to another – your Isle of Wight return crossing costs THREE TIMES as much as my same distance Isle of Mull one does and it’ll be on an older ferry