The case for developing a shipbuilding industry on the Clyde learning valuable skills from the two hybrids – as four cheap-build island ‘lifeline’, Turkey-built ferries are delayed again and again despite cheap and dangerous practice
By Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scotsman in March 2025: A fleet of ferries being built in Turkey have been hit by a further setback, with their completion date pushed back by at least another three months due to labour shortages. The Isle of Islay – the first of four vessels being built at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard at Yalova – will now not be completed until at least June. The delay, which was blamed on the impact of “global geopolitical events”, was confirmed in a letter from Scottish Government ferry-buying firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal), sent to a key Scottish Parliament committee … Continue reading The case for developing a shipbuilding industry on the Clyde learning valuable skills from the two hybrids – as four cheap-build island ‘lifeline’, Turkey-built ferries are delayed again and again despite cheap and dangerous practice
Second major research study finds ‘much higher’ rates of common cancers in nuclear plant workers to further undermine Labour’s energy strategy
Professor John Robertson OBA From earth.com, tow days ago: Nuclear power plants run tight radiation monitoring programs, yet the question keeps coming up. Do many years of small workplace radiation doses still raise cancer risk? In a new study, researchers followed 75,350 nuclear power plant workers and linked their individual dose histories to national cancer registries. They found more cases of melanoma and prostate cancer than expected when compared with incidences in the general population. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that starts in pigment-producing cells. The researchers also found suggestive dose response patterns within the cohort. The analysis reported … Continue reading Second major research study finds ‘much higher’ rates of common cancers in nuclear plant workers to further undermine Labour’s energy strategy
Nats call for Ed ‘Not that Tussenuff’ Miliband’s promise of border guards to be implemented to protect Scots from multiple threats
Professor John Robertson OBA Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s recent attempts at looking tough and threatening us with new nuclear power stations even if we don’t want them and to presumably just ‘suck up‘ the cancer spikes, reminds of his previous attempt to bully us, in 2014. The threat of guards on the border if we voted Yes in 2014 may well have worried some Scots and, I suspect, probably helped to turn out the half million born in England to reverse the Yes majority of those born in Scotland. Fifteen years later, it should look a very different prospect, to … Continue reading Nats call for Ed ‘Not that Tussenuff’ Miliband’s promise of border guards to be implemented to protect Scots from multiple threats
400-600 English patients have been sent to Scotland for treatment
Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today has: The revelation that children in Glasgow have been taken to England for vital heart surgery due to staff shortages at the Royal Hospital for Children has been branded an ‘appalling indictment’ of the management of NHS Scotland. It’s understood that due to a number of anaesthetists leaving the health centre, as well as some shorter notice absences in the wider staff, heart surgery has been suspended. Who says it’s an appalling indictment? You know: How many children? A ‘small number’ with no media outlet offering a figure so 2? Is there much of a flow the other … Continue reading 400-600 English patients have been sent to Scotland for treatment
Four times as many, per head, waiting for a social care assessment or package in England than in Scotland yet the latter is ‘struggling?’
the amount of funding for struggling social care services. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland in their BBC Breakfast insert this morning has the above, essentially just councils doing what they do, ask for more money from central government. Context? Nope and certainly not this: From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services published today by Public Health Scotland: The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was 6,461 on 7 April 2025. The estimated number of people assessed … Continue reading Four times as many, per head, waiting for a social care assessment or package in England than in Scotland yet the latter is ‘struggling?’
BBC Scotland desperately predict firework violence again calling the 2023 events ‘last year’ because last year (2024), only one police officer was injured, down from 62 the year before
the skies across Scotland, emergency services are outlining their plans for coping with disorder on bonfire night. Last year, 61 arrests were made and several police officers and firefighters were injured. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland in their BBC Breakfast insert seem to be using the 2023 figures for ‘last year‘, rather than those for 2024, the actual last year. Wonder why? Here’s what they had to report on 6 November 2024: Overall, the force said the incidents of serious disorder had fallen this year. As part of Operation Moonbeam, a police operation launched in 2020 to deal with … Continue reading BBC Scotland desperately predict firework violence again calling the 2023 events ‘last year’ because last year (2024), only one police officer was injured, down from 62 the year before
Health Secretary need not apologise over Glasgow drug room briefing
Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today, the above and: Health Secretary Neil Gray is under pressure to apologise after an official briefing prepared for him included claims that residents in Glasgow’s East End have spread misinformation about the city’s drug consumption room. The internal paper — released under Freedom of Information laws to the Scottish Conservatives — was drawn up by Scottish Government officials ahead of Mr Gray’s appearance before the Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee in June, as part of its inquiry into “Problem Drug Use in Scotland” and the Thistle pilot facility in Calton. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25566391.neil-gray-urged-apologise-glasgow-drug-room-briefing/ Who is urging the apology? You won’t be surprised: What … Continue reading Health Secretary need not apologise over Glasgow drug room briefing
A ferry service funded by all of us to run even at only 20% capacity, cannot stand a 7% reduction in service without risking its ‘lifeline’ status? Bollards!
Professor John Robertson OBA, Island Cycling Correspondent of the Year In the Herald today: Residents of Cumbrae have reacted to plans by state-owned operator CalMac which they say will “further damage fragile island communities”. The Cumbrae Ferry Committee, which represents residents in Millport – the only town on Cumbrae – say CalMac’s proposal to introduce scheduled maintenance windows during normal working hours of the Cumbrae ferry — either six hours each week or a full 24-hour period each month – would reduce vital lifeline services that the island depends on. CalMac‘s Largs to Cumbrae (pop 1 500) and back service, 52 crossings, peak, and 33 off peak, … Continue reading A ferry service funded by all of us to run even at only 20% capacity, cannot stand a 7% reduction in service without risking its ‘lifeline’ status? Bollards!
There is now no distracting from Labour’s record
By Liz S Talking of Labour….and another scandal and disgrace……re their HQ’s unfair, undignified and undemocratic position relating to Scotland. Keir Starmer was recently quoted as saying that: “We’re not having an independence referendum. It is a distraction. It won’t happen. It is a distraction from the record of the SNP.” The context of this statement from Starmer was in relation to the SNP achieving a majority in next years Scottish elections, that would then be seen as a a mandate for a second independence referendum. “It is a distraction from the record of the SNP.”….. Ironic when there exists so many “distractions” from much of the … Continue reading There is now no distracting from Labour’s record
Nuclear energy in Ayrshire – How many more avoidable cases of childhood leukaemia do the Monstrous Ed Milliband and Anas Sarwar think is acceptable for us?
Professor John Robertson OBA UK Labour‘s electricity-demanding creature Ed Milliband has clearly seen this: Roughly half of the SNP’s voters believe nuclear power should be part of Scotland’s mix of clean energy generation, a poll suggests, despite the party’s longstanding opposition to it. Polling for the campaign group Britain Remade, founded by a former energy and climate adviser to Boris Johnson, found 52% of those who voted for the party in 2021 believe nuclear power should be included in Scotland’s energy mix to meet the 2045 net zero target. Meanwhile, 57% of those who voted for the party in last year’s general election felt the same way, … Continue reading Nuclear energy in Ayrshire – How many more avoidable cases of childhood leukaemia do the Monstrous Ed Milliband and Anas Sarwar think is acceptable for us?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 