As 47 families complain about maternity care in another NHS England health trust, why Scottish media struggle to compare
Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Health today: Dozens more parents demand maternity care inquiry – When Tassie Weaver went into labour at full term, she thought she was hours away from holding her first child. But, by the time she was giving birth, she knew her son had died. Doctors had previously told Tassie to call her local maternity unit immediately when she went into labour, she says, because her high blood pressure and concerns about the baby’s growth meant she needed monitoring. But when she first phoned, despite being considered high risk, a midwife told her to stay … Continue reading As 47 families complain about maternity care in another NHS England health trust, why Scottish media struggle to compare
The last word on the damaging misrepresentation of Scotland’s ferries – cheaper, safer, more inclusive and more popular than any other public service
This first appeared in the June edition of Scots Independent Professor John Robertson OBA I’ve written on ferry services, globally, more times than I can remember in vain attempt to get the Herald and other media to stop publishing downright lies about CalMac which inevitably must be seeping into the public consciousness and, I feel sure, damaging the confidence of travellers from all over the UK and beyond with negative economic consequences for the islands. I’ve tried to put CalMac’s relatively minor problems into a global context, revealing the very real crises in affluent societies from British Columbia, through Washington … Continue reading The last word on the damaging misrepresentation of Scotland’s ferries – cheaper, safer, more inclusive and more popular than any other public service
Starmer v Saville – As head of the Crown Prosecution Service how did Starmer avoid scrutiny on the decision not to prosecute Saville on the grounds of “insufficient evidence?”
By JB Answer: He passed the blame onto the police and a prosecuting lawyer who was actually working for Starmer, him obviously being the lawyer’s boss at the time. Our not then Prime Minister, but head of the CPS said: “These were errors of judgement by experienced and committed police officers and a prosecuting lawyer acting in good faith and attempting to apply the correct principles.” Oh! Nearly forgot A spokesperson for the CPS said: “in line with the established data retention policy”, none of the records for the decision not to charge Savile in 2009 were kept.” Keir Starmer … Continue reading Starmer v Saville – As head of the Crown Prosecution Service how did Starmer avoid scrutiny on the decision not to prosecute Saville on the grounds of “insufficient evidence?”
The history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs
By JB Independent Inquiry Child Sex Abuse From the 2012 investigation ‘Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse Linked to Westminster’. “This investigation concerns institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse and exploitation involving persons of public prominence who were associated with Westminster. Westminster is defined in this report as the centre of the United Kingdom’s government, government ministers and officials, as well as Parliament, its members and the political parties represented there. Seven topics were covered in evidence. These were: police misconduct, political parties, whips’ offices, the Paedophile Information Exchange, prosecutorial decisions, the honours system, and current safeguarding policies in … Continue reading The history of the Tories, Liberals and Labour in covering-up systematic child abuse by MPs that underlies the more recent inaction by government and by police on grooming gangs
Increase in school leavers finding positive destination after school to more than 93% and far better than in England at only 79%*
Professor John Robertson OBA From Summary statistics for follow-up leaver destinations, no. 7: 2025 edition published today: This statistical publication provides information on the follow-up destinations, nine months after the end of the school year, of 2023-24 school leavers from publicly funded secondary schools in Scotland. Key points *There will no doubt be problems in comparing with England but the latest figures (2022/2023) published in February 2025 for Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment was only 79.6% https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/16-18-destination-measures/2022-23 *Regardless of details of data collection and classification which may be there, imagine this was the other way round? Continue reading Increase in school leavers finding positive destination after school to more than 93% and far better than in England at only 79%*
Child abuse – Labour and Conservative history of neglect, even sickening collusion – As ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs now attempt to help Starmer by calling for a pointless grooming inquiry here how the SNP’s Named Person Scheme which they u-turned on could have saved thousands in England
Professor John Robertson OBA From Sky News, 11 years ago: The former head of a paedophile group said Harriet Harman “didn’t even try” to stop his organisation’s involvement with the civil liberties council she worked for. Tom O’Carroll, who was chairman of the now defunct Paedophile Information Exchange, said neither Ms Harman or her Labour colleagues wanted to “rock the boat” for fear it might damage their careers.1 Many younger readers will wonder what on earth can this be. The Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) was a British pro-paedophile activist group, founded in October 1974 and officially disbanded in 1984. The group campaigned for the abolition … Continue reading Child abuse – Labour and Conservative history of neglect, even sickening collusion – As ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs now attempt to help Starmer by calling for a pointless grooming inquiry here how the SNP’s Named Person Scheme which they u-turned on could have saved thousands in England
England facing the ‘Jaws of Death’ as water runs out in only 20 years now and Scotland’s 30 000 freshwater lochs replace oil, gas and renewables in the struggle for independence
Professor John Robertson OBA Today, England’s water deficit is exciting headlines across the UK media but we saw similar warnings more than five years ago: In 2019, I wrote: From @ArchbishopStua1 (Who could he be teasing there?) today, this: Without significant action, the National Audit Office (NAO) forecasts that the total water demand will start to exceed supply in England no later than 2034. Be under no illusion English Privatised Water Companies need access to the water in Scotland. https://x.com/ArchbishopStua1/status/1846584824129298790 and from the Guardian in June 2023: Drought is on the verge of becoming the next pandemic https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/jun/15/drought-is-on-the-verge-of-becoming-the-next-pandemic#:~:text=Without%20significant%20action%2C%20the%20National,England%20no%20later%20than%202034 In the … Continue reading England facing the ‘Jaws of Death’ as water runs out in only 20 years now and Scotland’s 30 000 freshwater lochs replace oil, gas and renewables in the struggle for independence
BBC Scotland’s Environment Correspondent misleads or misunderstands on the relative dangers of two greenhouse gases
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Bob Lamont for alerting me to this, today Up to 100 truckloads of Scotland’s waste will be moved each day to England once a landfill ban comes in at the end of the year, the BBC’s Disclosure has been told. The Scottish government is banning “black bag” waste from being buried in landfill from 31 December but acknowledges that there are not currently enough incinerators to meet the extra demand. Such biodegradable waste breaks down to produce methane, a greenhouse gas that is around 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. You see what … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s Environment Correspondent misleads or misunderstands on the relative dangers of two greenhouse gases
For the US party requesting the data on campus safety from Police Scotland – University students at far lower risk of violence in Scotland than in EVERY other campus in the UK
Professor John Robertson OBA Police Scotland today, report: I refer to your recent request for crime data, made in accordance with the Clery Act. Unfortunately, Police Scotland is unable to assist with your request. Having reviewed the ‘Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting’ from the US Department of Education, it is noted that the Act has strict recording and counting criteria and we are unable to compile data that would be directly comparable or applicable to the requirements of the Act. https://www.scotland.police.uk/access-to-information/freedom-of-information/disclosure-log/disclosure-log-2025/april/25-0906-clery-act-request-usa-university/ This response is understandable but those making the request can, I feel sure, use this data to make the … Continue reading For the US party requesting the data on campus safety from Police Scotland – University students at far lower risk of violence in Scotland than in EVERY other campus in the UK
Paul Hutcheon and Labour lie in Daily Record about ambulance performance (best) and hospital bed supplies (most) in Scotland
Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Record today, from Paul Hutcheon: More than half of ambulances have been stuck at hospitals this yea. The SNP Government have been criticised over a problems Labour say is caused by a shortage of beds. First, on ambulances: Second, on beds: Continue reading Paul Hutcheon and Labour lie in Daily Record about ambulance performance (best) and hospital bed supplies (most) in Scotland
Talking-up Scotland 