Tag: economy

2 Comments

So much worse together as Brexit hurt Scotland’s trade surplus economy and benefitted the UK’s deficit economy

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA With only a 1969 SCE Higher in Economics, bare C pass, I’m deferring entirely to Grok AI on this one. If you’re capable, please enlighten me on any problems with his (Grok) analysis. Grok – Was Brexit even more damaging for Scotland with its trade surplus than rest of UK? Conclusion Yes, Brexit was more damaging to Scotland’s trade surplus than to the rest of the UK’s deficit. The UK’s import-heavy profile turned barriers into a partial “benefit” (narrower deficit), while Scotland’s export reliance amplified losses—eroding potential surplus growth by £3-4bn annually and hitting GDP harder … Continue reading So much worse together as Brexit hurt Scotland’s trade surplus economy and benefitted the UK’s deficit economy

5 Comments

Correcting the BBC – UK Government is not paying to build warships on the Clyde, Norway is

johnrobertson834

By Liz S MSM Monitor posted this on ‘X’ on 12/10/25 in respect to a Laura Kuenssberg interview with John Swinney on her Sunday Politics programme……. “Laura Kuenssberg twice claimed the UK Govt was supplying £10bn to build warships on the Clyde. This is false. The £10bn will come from Norway after it signed a deal with BAE systems. The UK Govt isn’t supplying any cash” . Meanwhile the same BBC in August 2025 on their website wrote…. “UK secures £10bn deal to supply Norway with warships” So let’s break that BBC website headline down. “UK secures £10bn” not as Kuenssberg was stating “ UK Govt was supplying £10bn”. Big difference is there not in both statements…….as in both cannot be … Continue reading Correcting the BBC – UK Government is not paying to build warships on the Clyde, Norway is

4 Comments

Why is Reporting Scotland still headlining the three-day-old news of ‘hundreds’ of operations cancelled in one NHS board when it never tells us of the month after month 98% of thousands completed across the country?

johnrobertson834

with faulty sterilising equipment that’s led to the cancellation of hundreds of operations, is fixed. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland‘s insert in BBC Breakfast this morning opens with the above story. The BBC Scotland website and STV last mentioned it three days ago. They’re desperately milking a rare NHS Scotland ‘failure’ that they hope you will connect with the SNP Government in some way. They never report this good news based on figures that appear month after month: NHS Scotland was ready to complete 98% of operations in August 2025 despite steadily increasing demand From Public Health Scotland 7 October 2025: … Continue reading Why is Reporting Scotland still headlining the three-day-old news of ‘hundreds’ of operations cancelled in one NHS board when it never tells us of the month after month 98% of thousands completed across the country?

2 Comments

Only couples earning £76 000 or more would be better off under Labour according to Anas Sarwar

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Record yesterday: Anas Sarwar has insisted many households are £5000 better off since Labour came to power and demanded Keir Starmer “tell that positive story”. “So if you are a full time working couple on the average income with a mortgage you could be £5000 better off under a Labour government.” So, you need a mortgage to deserve help from Labour? That’s around 29% only with a mortgage, 63% whose parents already own their home.1 In the old days, the other 27% were core Labour voters. Average income in Scotland? The median is £38k2, £76k … Continue reading Only couples earning £76 000 or more would be better off under Labour according to Anas Sarwar

1 Comment

Not one of the 150 000 UK graduates with student loan debts of £100 000-plus is from Scotland

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – John Robertson, Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: More than 150,000 UK graduates have student loan debts of £100,000-plus ‘Debt sentences’ rose by a third in six months, finds Royal London after FoI request to Student Loans Company. More than 150,000 people in the UK now have student loan debts of more than £100,000, with one borrower owing £298,000, data shows. The company that obtained the figures … Continue reading Not one of the 150 000 UK graduates with student loan debts of £100 000-plus is from Scotland

9 Comments

Are GERS figures for Scotland a measure of its economy after say 20 years of independence? No and here’s why, says AI analysis in support of an angry Pict

johnrobertson834

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA From Grok with the above question in the headline: No, the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures are not a measure of Scotland’s economy after 20 years of independence. GERS provides an annual snapshot of Scotland’s public finances under the current constitutional arrangement as part of the UK, estimating revenue raised and public spending allocated to Scotland. It reflects the existing fiscal framework, where Westminster controls significant portions of revenue (around 70%) and spending (around 40%), including items like … Continue reading Are GERS figures for Scotland a measure of its economy after say 20 years of independence? No and here’s why, says AI analysis in support of an angry Pict

9 Comments

The dark Brian Wilson allowed to challenge SNP universalism on winter fuel allowance in a typically under-educated manner

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA Brian ‘Bad Vibrations’ Wilson, former Minister under Tony Blair, is in the Herald today to claim: Winter fuel payment u-turn exposes flaws in SNP’s universalism Have I read it? No way? Do I need to read it? No way. I have the oven-ready, fully-researched, response from a think tank set up by that real socialist, the late Jimmy Reid. The facts, from the Jimmy Reid Foundation: In 2012, I read and was much impressed by their The Case for Universalism An assessment of the evidence on the effectiveness and efficiency of the universal welfare state which made these telling … Continue reading The dark Brian Wilson allowed to challenge SNP universalism on winter fuel allowance in a typically under-educated manner

17 Comments

‘Millionaire ‘Sir’ Tom Hunter gets it wrong by urging Scotland to emulate Singapore!

johnrobertson834

By JB So Tom hunter, the businessmen, has urged the Scottish Government to emulate Singapore by cutting tax and red tape in an effort to reverse what he described as “managed decline”. He also said that “If we can get better wealth creators to Scotland, they will create the jobs, they will pay more tax, not because of the rate, because of the take.” Millionaire urges Scotland to emulate Singapore to reverse ‘managed decline’ | STV News  Managed decline? On the former according to the database numbeo.com comparing Singapore to Glasgow ( it doesn’t let you put in Scotland) we … Continue reading ‘Millionaire ‘Sir’ Tom Hunter gets it wrong by urging Scotland to emulate Singapore!

6 Comments

Revealing how BBC Scotland skewed the response of the Institute for Fiscal Studies to a Scottish Fiscal Commission report: – but why, is there a legitimate, public service reason?

johnrobertson834

By stewartb The Scottish Fiscal Commission published April 8 a report entitled ‘Fiscal Sustainability Report – April 2025’. An article in the Scotland section of the BBC News website covered this under the headline: ‘Significant challenges’ for health funding, warns report.’ (See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgxyegeelyo ) As will become apparent, two things about the BBC article are significant: (See https://ifs.org.uk/articles/scottish-fiscal-sustainability-report-immediate-response) By avoiding any mention of the UK or of Westminster, the BBC misses important context- and perspective-giving references prominent in the IFS’ commentary. The IFS response states right up front: ‘Today’s Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) report highlights the fiscal challenges facing the … Continue reading Revealing how BBC Scotland skewed the response of the Institute for Fiscal Studies to a Scottish Fiscal Commission report: – but why, is there a legitimate, public service reason?

4 Comments

A BBC Political Editor’s cri de coeur for the North in response to Labour’s investment focus on SE England contrasts with BBC Scotland’s response …..what was it, anyone?

johnrobertson834

By stewartb The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s recent announcement of major infrastructure investments to catalyse UK growth seems to have received little attention from the mainstream media that supposedly ‘serves’ Scotland. However, what’s been lacking here is in contrast to commentary elsewhere, notably in the north of England. An article in Bella Caledonia (February 3) by Neil Blain reflects on the news coverage in Scotland of the Chancellor’s big speech, or rather its near absence from most of the mainstream media in Scotland: ‘Reactions to the Silicon Valley and Heathrow announcements were more evident in England than Scotland, in the … Continue reading A BBC Political Editor’s cri de coeur for the North in response to Labour’s investment focus on SE England contrasts with BBC Scotland’s response …..what was it, anyone?