Tag: england

10 Comments

Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

johnrobertson834

From On the Wight, today: Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has this week released an in-depth study into cross-Solent ferry services. My research has led me to believe that, using a web of offshore companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel’s owners and lenders have taken large profits out of the firms for years. To drive efficiency and take even more profits, directors have cut timetables; introduced surge pricing, which penalises Islanders for making essential journeys at peak times; and limited investment in ferries, some of which are now 34 years old. Islanders are tired of ‘technical’ and ‘mechanical’ issues. The … Continue reading Even a Tory MP can see what privatised ferry services become – think carefully Scottish islanders

5 Comments

The comedy time lag on Scotland’s violent past

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Here’s an English comedian recently working the hard Scots stereotype. Comedians, Scottish ones too, have lived of this trope for decades. As recently as 2005, not quite 20 years ago, it was based on a degree of reality: In 2005, a United Nations report named Scotland as the most violent country in the developed world. You were 3x more likely to be a victim of assault in Glasgow than you were in America. Glasgow … Continue reading The comedy time lag on Scotland’s violent past

Leave a comment

Cancer patients ‘at risk’ in England, with far longer waiting times despite less demand than Scotland, is not politicised

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ In the Guardian and on the BBC Health website: Cancer patients may be at risk due to overstretched NHS staff, ombudsman warns Cancer patients at risk from stretched NHS, says NHS complaints chief No statistics are offered about actual waiting times. No politician is named or blamed and there is nothing like this which BBC Health did offer last year, much to the reported horror at BBC Scotland: Not only does Scotland have far … Continue reading Cancer patients ‘at risk’ in England, with far longer waiting times despite less demand than Scotland, is not politicised

2 Comments

The Guardian casually distorts the lower level of homicide against women in Scotland

johnrobertson834

In the above Guardian piece today, 3 (33%) of the 9 murders described took place in Scotland. The authors chose these 9 examples from 174 murders of women in England & Wales last year. Read the above, on its own, and Scotland looks a more dangerous place for women, by some way. That’s not just untrue, it’s the reverse. The facts: From National Statistics for Scotland, today: In 2022-2023, there were 13 female homicide victims in Scotland. In England & Wales, in 2021-2022 (latest figures) there were 198 female homicide victims. England & Wales have 11 times the population and so, … Continue reading The Guardian casually distorts the lower level of homicide against women in Scotland

1 Comment

Isle of Wight ferry fiasco putting people’s health and well-being at risk says councillor but government not to blame

johnrobertson834

This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ From Alliance Party Councillor, Karl Love, in the Isle of Wight Country Press today: The situation with Red Funnel, Cross Solent transportation operators, and its cancellations and service disruptions to the Isle of Wight, after many months of negative service impacts, is intolerable and could be putting people’s health and well-being at risk from life threatening illness after residents are missing appointments and treatments, because of cancelled services. Red Funnel service cancellations are worsening and our whole Island economy, our invest-ability and potential tourist offer is being diminished.  … Continue reading Isle of Wight ferry fiasco putting people’s health and well-being at risk says councillor but government not to blame

8 Comments

SNP competence check – ‘England may wish to follow Scotland’s lead on preventive healthcare for under 5s’

johnrobertson834

This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ From an article in the British Medical Journal, a remarkable report of the impact of the Scottish Government’s unique investment in health visitors, across a range of outcomes including infant survival, vaccination rates, breastfeeding, obesity, GP workload, A&E attendance levels and dental treatment. The full article is behind a paywall so unless you have access to an institutional (university, health board etc) account you may not be able to read the whole thing. It’s stunning. Here is an extract: Urgent action is needed to tackle worsening health … Continue reading SNP competence check – ‘England may wish to follow Scotland’s lead on preventive healthcare for under 5s’

1 Comment

VERIFIED by Office for National Statistics: NHS Scotland performs best in Britain on A&E waits – and has done so for over a decade!

johnrobertson834

This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ By stewartb So it’s true – the ONS has confirmed that NHS Scotland has the best performing A&E services in Britain in terms of waiting times. What’s more, it has been a top performer for over a decade. This may come as a shock to many voters in Scotland given it runs counter to BBC Scotland’s framing and to the ‘outraged’ media performances by a Labour Party dame and a Tory in scrubs with a ‘cool’ hairdo. Source: ONS (28 February 2024) Accident and Emergency wait times … Continue reading VERIFIED by Office for National Statistics: NHS Scotland performs best in Britain on A&E waits – and has done so for over a decade!

2 Comments

Saturday Night Misery as Isle of Wight Ferries leave motorists stranded

johnrobertson834

This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ From BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight today: Passengers were left stranded after a ferry company cancelled its late-night crossings. Wightlink, which runs services between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, suspended car ferries on Saturday night, blaming “technical issues” in an email to customers. In a message on X, posted 25 minutes after the 22:00 crossing had been due to depart, Wightlink said there would be an additional FastCat sailing for foot passengers at 00:15 on Sunday. One passenger told the BBC he had to leave … Continue reading Saturday Night Misery as Isle of Wight Ferries leave motorists stranded

2 Comments

Isle of Wight ferry company has no plans to replace Catamaran which is running on only 3 out of 4 engines

johnrobertson834

From BBC Hampshire and Isle of Wight yesterday: Unreliable cross-Solent ferry services are causing “huge stress”, passengers have said. Both the Red Jet passenger vessels and car ferries operated by Red Funnel have suffered cancellations and delays in recent months. Islanders have complained about disrupted commutes and journeys to hospital appointments. High-speed passenger ferry RedJet 6 is only running on three of its four engines. The company said supply chain issues had led to problems obtaining spare parts to mend its fourth engine. On 13 February it suffered an interceptor seal failure and the following day tidal conditions meant it … Continue reading Isle of Wight ferry company has no plans to replace Catamaran which is running on only 3 out of 4 engines

8 Comments

Scotland’s large natural resources yet the poverty and austerity that much of its population endures 

johnrobertson834

By Jim Stamper With Scotland’s population just over 8% of the UK’s, Scotland effectively gives over 90% of the income from our oil and gas to the rest of the UK.  With the Scottish Stock Exchange amalgamated into the London Stock Exchange in 1973 conveniently no income is allocated as coming from Scotland.  Also, according to National Grid statistics, up to 3.5 Gigawatts of electricity can be transferred between Scotland and England, 90% going from Scotland to England.   Also a proposal exists to construct a link enabling the transport of up to 2GW of energy from Scotland’s renewable energy reserves … Continue reading Scotland’s large natural resources yet the poverty and austerity that much of its population endures