How NHS Scotland will not be ‘decimated’ by private equity because the SNP oversight ‘of devolved, generous funding enables a “collectivist” approach with less private penetration.’
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks once more to Dottie for alerting us to this. From The Lowdown, 2 September 2025, the above and: In late August the release of a report by US senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn) on the destruction of hospitals in his home state of Connecticut, and across the US by private equity companies highlights once again the negative effect of this form of investment. The report documented what happened when three Connecticut hospitals—Waterbury Hospital, Rockville General, and Manchester Memorial—were bought by Prospect Medical Holdings, a company that since 2010 had been owned by private equity firm Leonard Green & … Continue reading How NHS Scotland will not be ‘decimated’ by private equity because the SNP oversight ‘of devolved, generous funding enables a “collectivist” approach with less private penetration.’
Private rent in England now swallows nearly 60% more of the average wage than it does in Scotland on top of far higher council tax too
Professor John Robertson OBA According to data from HomeLet (a major UK tenancy deposit scheme provider), as of January 2025, households in Scotland spent less than 28% of their gross income on private rent, making it one of the most affordable regions in the UK. For context, the UK average was 32.5% at that time, with Scotland and Yorkshire & Humber tied for the lowest ratios. More detail with sources at: https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1982798348303130874 So, the 16% gap between 28% and 44% is in real terms, 57%. Not only that, council tax is lower in Scotland: After 18 years, might these two … Continue reading Private rent in England now swallows nearly 60% more of the average wage than it does in Scotland on top of far higher council tax too
Scottish Labour will not get far on Further Education cuts when, after 18 years of SNP leadership, it’s funded 25% better, has more staff per learner and a stunning 95% student satisfaction rating
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Julie and Jacob for alerting us to this: Scottish Labour clearly think that they can make hay with Further Education funding in Scotland as they languish in third place, according to the polls for the 2026 Scottish Election in May. They’ve wheeled out their Westminster MPs to fight the cause in constituencies where even those who voted for them won’t recognise them. The Ayrshire, Carrick and Cumnock MP, Elaine Stewart, famous as a lifetime campaigner against poverty until Sir Keir’s whip ordered her to vote for his child poverty policies. She did. Here she … Continue reading Scottish Labour will not get far on Further Education cuts when, after 18 years of SNP leadership, it’s funded 25% better, has more staff per learner and a stunning 95% student satisfaction rating
NHS England threaten longer waiting lists, already quarter of million longer than in Scotland and to ration care – Imagine that was in Scotland?
Professor John Robertson OBA From the Guardian today, the above and: NHS bosses are seeking an emergency injection of £3bn to cover unexpected costs and have warned ministers that without it patients will wait longer for treatment and hospitals will start rationing care. That rationing threat is not a good look for Anas Sarwar’s Labour as we run up to Holyrood 2026. I have heard him or Jackie Baillie claim, however, that the waiting lists are shrinking in England and are shorter per head than in Scotland. Is that true. Don’t be daft: NHS waiting list in England is longer per head … Continue reading NHS England threaten longer waiting lists, already quarter of million longer than in Scotland and to ration care – Imagine that was in Scotland?
Leading dentist and Scottish Labour Leader is betrayed by British Dental Association revealing truth of Scotland funding dentistry at twice the level of Labour England and 20% higher than Labour Wales
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to stewartb for sending me this. I must admit I thought it was a spoof and made sure to get it from the source: https://x.com/TheBDA/status/1982718945137250434 I am of course joking about the ‘leading dentist’ but it’s a notion that the MSM love to punt, that prominent figures like Dr Iain Barry Ferguson Kennedy of the BMA Scotland branch, are ‘leading’ in their field despite have little time away from the media to do that. Clearly, Anas Sarwar and Sandesh Gulhane [NHS England] are not leading anything at all. There’s this too: You can still support … Continue reading Leading dentist and Scottish Labour Leader is betrayed by British Dental Association revealing truth of Scotland funding dentistry at twice the level of Labour England and 20% higher than Labour Wales
Evidence that Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has been bullied by MoD and is too weak to protect Scots from increases in dangerous radiation emission levels in Clyde from nuclear submarines and from decommissioning old ones at Rosyth
Professor John Robertson OBA We’ve had numerous reports here on increased levels of radioactive emissions, including the deadly tritium which ‘smashes’ into your DNA, approved by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for the sites in Coulport, Argyll and in Rosyth, Fife. Prompted by reader Alex Montrose and long-term friend of TuS, ArtyHetty, I asked Grok AI: Is there any evidence of SEPA being pressurised by UK bodies such as the MOD to comply with their wishes on eg nuclear submarine-related pollution? Showing no sign of filtering, on behalf of Government, to conceal the facts, it responded with chilling directness and … Continue reading Evidence that Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has been bullied by MoD and is too weak to protect Scots from increases in dangerous radiation emission levels in Clyde from nuclear submarines and from decommissioning old ones at Rosyth
Why have there been so many mistaken prisoner releases in England and none in Scotland? Twice as many staff per prisoner and only half the level of attacks on them?
Professor John Robertson OBA Globally media have been fascinated with this one sex offender mistakenly released in England. The contrast with Scotland is sharp. Click on this to read our earlier factcheck: What might explain this enormous contrast? Prison assaults were pro rata more than TWICE as common in England & Wales than in Scotland Click on this for the details: Finally and perhaps most important, the prisoner-to-prison officer ratio in England, is approximately 3.7:1 as of mid-2025: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/performance-tracker-2023/prisons In Scotland, it’s 1.7:1, thus more than twice as well-staffed: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7rv9yx0x9o You can still support Talking-up Scotland at any time at: … Continue reading Why have there been so many mistaken prisoner releases in England and none in Scotland? Twice as many staff per prisoner and only half the level of attacks on them?
Credible research, ie not from Jack McConnell’s ‘think-tank’, also suggests NHS Scotland has highest satisfaction levels in UK and they’re not falling significantly
now than it was 10 years ago. Think-tank Enlighten has released findings ahead of a major doctors conference today. Professor John Robertson OBA We have good reason to doubt the above ‘research‘ given what we know about this think tank and their badly under-qualified research director. Enlighten are of course the formerly named Reform Scotland, changed now for obvious reasons and headed up by these two. They seem to be hiding details of their staff now but you may remember their research director, Alison Payne, was a Conservative Party activist and spad, Guide leader and just a mum for BBC … Continue reading Credible research, ie not from Jack McConnell’s ‘think-tank’, also suggests NHS Scotland has highest satisfaction levels in UK and they’re not falling significantly
Scottish Government’s one-year 26% increase in funding for affordable (70% social) housing is not dramatic enough to mention it seems
political parties to commit to urgent housing justice ahead of next years Holyrood election. A joint manifesto from the Everyone Home group will be launched at Scotland’s Annual Homelessness conference, which begins in Pert today…….calling for a dramatic increase in social housing. Professor John Robertson OBA Not mentioned, in the above BBC Scotland broadcast today: The Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) budget will increase by 26% in real terms to £768 million in 2025-26. This will support the delivery of at least 8,000 new affordable homes including for social rent, mid-market rent and low-cost home ownership. nor This will support … Continue reading Scottish Government’s one-year 26% increase in funding for affordable (70% social) housing is not dramatic enough to mention it seems
Contrary to another BBC Scotland lie, Scotland’s prisons may be near to full capacity but still have room for another 45
by the size of another prison.’ Professor John Robertson OBA According to Reporting Scotland, tonight there are 8 430 inmates in Scottish prisons and the system was ‘designed‘ to hold only 7 800, thus suggesting ‘the system is in overcapacity by the size of another prison,‘ From Audit Scotland in 2023: SPS has advised that as at November 2023 the extended operating capacity that the prison estate can accommodate is 8,475. This is the level at which prisons go above their target operating capacity but can still provide a ‘restricted regime’. The target operating capacity, currently 8,007, is agreed between … Continue reading Contrary to another BBC Scotland lie, Scotland’s prisons may be near to full capacity but still have room for another 45
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 