Tag: europe

1 Comment

After 14 years of the SNP lower drink-drive limit Scotland has by far the safest roads and drivers in the UK

johnrobertson834

From the Guardian today: Tougher rules on drink-driving, eye tests for older motorists and automatic emergency braking in new cars will be mandated by the government in an attempt to significantly reduce casualties on Britain’s roads. The first road safety strategy in more than a decade aims to save thousands of lives with a range of measures, from training and technology to stiffer penalties for offenders. The proposals, to be announced on Wednesday, seek to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035. The number of deaths has declined since the 1970s but that improvement slowed … Continue reading After 14 years of the SNP lower drink-drive limit Scotland has by far the safest roads and drivers in the UK

6 Comments

Manchester to Leeds more than TWICE Glasgow to Edinburgh at any time and overall cheapest rail fares in UK but BBC Scotland headline an advertising error

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA At lease some of the staff at Pacific Quay must be thinking, red-faced, this morning – ‘Is this all we’ve got for the top story?’ ScotRail has been ordered to withdraw claims that it offers the “cheapest tickets” on its website after a watchdog ruled this was misleading. In August, adverts on its journey planner claimed it was “unbeatable on price” and customers should “book direct for the best price”. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint finding that ScotRail had no evidence to back up those claims. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7lkdzg3gzo Only in the third last paragraph, … Continue reading Manchester to Leeds more than TWICE Glasgow to Edinburgh at any time and overall cheapest rail fares in UK but BBC Scotland headline an advertising error

Leave a comment

Isle of Wight Tory MP calls again for ferry pricing regulation introduced by SNP in 2008 to transform Scottish island economies and then be forgotten by the ungrateful among them

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA Four days ago, Joe Robertson, Tory MP for the Isle of Wight has called again for measures to end the ‘ferry rip-off punishing coastal Britain’ [sic].1 We’ve highlighted these disparities and the generosity of CalMac prices several times but just last month we had: In July 2025, a medium size car with four passengers, Portsmouth to Fishbourne with Wightlink Ferries, would cost you between £210 and £300, depending time of sailing. From Southampton to East Cowes with Red Funnel would be between £200 and £288. It’s a 12 mile, 45 minute journey.2, 3 The Oban to Mull crossing is similar at 15 miles and … Continue reading Isle of Wight Tory MP calls again for ferry pricing regulation introduced by SNP in 2008 to transform Scottish island economies and then be forgotten by the ungrateful among them

1 Comment

CalMac, youngest ferries, best funding and most staff

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA The Scotsman today has – CalMac hit by ‘challenging’ year from increased severe weather and ageing fleet. The ‘ageing fleet‘ line is a well-worn suggestion that the SNP in government has not funded enough new ferry-building. It’s rubbish. The best comparisons are with Washington State Ferries and BC Ferries, on the North-West coast of North America. They each serve one big city as does CalMac – Seattle, Vancouver and Glasgow – and a large island archipelago of 30 to 50 destinations with 20 to 40 vessels. CalMac has the biggest fleet and largest set of destinations … Continue reading CalMac, youngest ferries, best funding and most staff

3 Comments

Scottish Government’s one-year 26% increase in funding for affordable (70% social) housing is not dramatic enough to mention it seems

johnrobertson834

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

2 Comments

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!

johnrobertson834

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!

3 Comments

What kind of cereal crop harvest contrast between England and Scotland would interest Scottish media?

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA This morning, the Scottish Government announced: The Chief Statistician has released predictions for the 2025 Scottish harvest. These industry predictions anticipate overall cereal production could reach a high of over 3.2 million tonnes. This could bring total production in at well above the average over the past five years, despite dry spring and summer conditions. Winter crops, including winter barley, oilseed rape and wheat, are predicted to perform well, with some very good yields being reported. https://www.gov.scot/news/a-good-cereal-harvest-predicted-for-2025/ There are no MSM reports on this. Three days ago, the Scottish Farmer had: England has suffered its second … Continue reading What kind of cereal crop harvest contrast between England and Scotland would interest Scottish media?

4 Comments

I repeat, how can a half-empty ferry be a ‘lifeline’ to a mainland town when there’s a road that’s more than one hour quicker than the ferry?

johnrobertson834

to Campbelltown next summer. Local businesses had hoped the company would be able to restore the seasonal service next year. The route was suspended because of the problems the company was facing maintaining lifeline services. Local businesses [only one really in the online report] and councillors [none quoted in the report below] want Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government to intervene Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland today merely repeats the 30 July 2025 story in The Express which had merely repeated the February 26th 2025 news of the cancellation of the Campbelltown to Ardrossan ferry. This is still not … Continue reading I repeat, how can a half-empty ferry be a ‘lifeline’ to a mainland town when there’s a road that’s more than one hour quicker than the ferry?

3 Comments

Contrast in treatment by politicians and media of 2024-25 examination results in Scotland and in the rest of the UK was stark

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 By stewartb The contrast in treatment by politicians and the mainstream media of the 2024-25 examination results in Scotland and in the rest of the UK was stark. I listened to extensive news coverage by the BBC of the results for England, NI and Wales. Journalists, politicians and various ‘stakeholders’ commented on the nature, persistence and intractability of the attainment gap in England. Candidly, the coverage was informative: contributions were made in a ‘grown-up’ kind of way. Partisan politicking was at most minor. Meanwhile … Continue reading Contrast in treatment by politicians and media of 2024-25 examination results in Scotland and in the rest of the UK was stark

2 Comments

A million more tourists in one year, outperforming the UK, as people head north away from the burning to make Scotland the new Monaco, but BBC Scotland miss this real trend too

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 the Observer, yesterday: It may not offer a reliable tan, but Scotland has become the place to be this summer – midges and all. The most recent figures on Scottish tourism are from 2023, when almost 4 million international visitors set a new record. And Jill Walker, director of marketing and digital at VisitScotland, says early 2024 figures surpassed this by almost half a million, with anecdotal reports from this summer suggesting no slowdown. https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/manic-in-the-glen-why-the-world-has-gone-wild-for-scotland-this-year From Daily Business in October 2024: There were 1,975,000 … Continue reading A million more tourists in one year, outperforming the UK, as people head north away from the burning to make Scotland the new Monaco, but BBC Scotland miss this real trend too