Tag: finance

3 Comments

As another private care home is exposed how we disclosed Anas Sarwar backing a ‘care home cash cow’ milking the tax-payer

johnrobertson834

From BBC Scotland yesterday, the above and: A care home in North Ayrshire could be forced to close unless it drastically improves by the end of November. Shalom Nursing Home in Irvine has been issued with an improvement notice by the Care Inspectorate watchdog, which said there were significant concerns over the quality of care at the home. A report in August rated the care home, which looks after up to 46 people, as being weak in wellbeing support, leadership and care planning. The Care Inspectorate stated in a letter to owner ZAAM CARE (Irvine) Limited that unless “there is … Continue reading As another private care home is exposed how we disclosed Anas Sarwar backing a ‘care home cash cow’ milking the tax-payer

2 Comments

Has any country ever becoming independent of the UK or British Empire ever needed to explain how it would be able to pay pensions?

johnrobertson834

Has any country ever becoming independent of the UK or British Empire ever needed to explain how it would be able to pay pensions? No. There is no historical precedent of a country becoming independent from the UK or British Empire being required to publicly explain, in detail, how it would fund pensions for its own population as a condition of independence. What actually happened in practice Public officers / colonial service pensions: Independence negotiations routinely included Public Officers Agreements (or equivalent). The new government typically assumed liability for the pensions of British and local civil servants who had worked … Continue reading Has any country ever becoming independent of the UK or British Empire ever needed to explain how it would be able to pay pensions?

2 Comments

History tells us that Burnham’s first-time buyers scheme will be funded by robbing from the poor

johnrobertson834

With only 3 days left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 From BBC Politics today, the above and: Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to introduce a new scheme to try to help people “who have given up hope of ever having a home to call their own” get on the property ladder. The “Your First Home” scheme would be open to first-time buyers in England with a deposit of 2.5%. It would provide them with a loan worth 20% of their … Continue reading History tells us that Burnham’s first-time buyers scheme will be funded by robbing from the poor

9 Comments

GERS does not even claim an independent Scotland would have faced a deficit last year but BBC Scotland still pretend it does

johnrobertson834

Scotland would have faced last year. You decide – BBC Scotland staff are thick as mince or institutionally corrupt? Is this claim today by BBC Scotland, true? No. It’s a dirty big lie. The GERS (Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland) figures published on 12 August 2026 for 2025-26 report a notional net fiscal balance (deficit) of £25.3 billion, or −10.9% of GDP, for Scotland as part of the UK. This is an estimate of the gap between revenue raised in Scotland and public spending for/on behalf of Scotland under existing UK arrangements; it is not a figure for the deficit … Continue reading GERS does not even claim an independent Scotland would have faced a deficit last year but BBC Scotland still pretend it does

13 Comments

UK Government is now dishonestly claiming a ‘central’ and ‘instrumental’ role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.

johnrobertson834

By stewartb The UK government and especially the Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander have been commenting on their role in having the Commonwealth Games come to Glasgow: ‘a central role’; ‘instrumental’; ‘huge supporters of the Games’ etc. From the UK government in a press release dated July 24, 2026: ‘Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow with UK Government backing’: ‘The UK Government is proud to have played a central role in bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow and securing the future of the competition.’ (my emphasis) Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander is quoted in the press statement: “I am … Continue reading UK Government is now dishonestly claiming a ‘central’ and ‘instrumental’ role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.

1 Comment

Over 55% of Scots to pay less income tax than if they lived in England – Confirmed

johnrobertson834

From Scottish tax payers comparison to English counterparts: FOI release, published last Friday: On Tuesday 13th January 2026, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government whilst addressing Holyrood stated that: “As a result, even more people in Scotland can expect to pay less tax than if they lived in England, Northern Ireland or Wales. That’s over 55 per cent of Scots set to pay less income tax because they live in Scotland.” Please can you supply the following information. 1. What was the specific median income figure used in the production of this data? 2. What was the income … Continue reading Over 55% of Scots to pay less income tax than if they lived in England – Confirmed

1 Comment

As another private care home is exposed how we disclosed Anas Sarwar backing a care home cash cow milking the tax-payer

johnrobertson834

Today BBC Scotland has this below, reminding us of the above: BBC Scotland, in June 2023 exposed a Care Home owner who seems not to be a Tory or Labour donor. It’s taken them three years to find one. Three years ago, we had this: By stewartb So the care home visited by Anas Sarwar MSP is being used to justify his claim of care homes at ‘breaking point’? If so, this company’s situation must have changed radically since 22 December 2022. This is the date Applecross Nursing Home Limited submitted its Annual Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March … Continue reading As another private care home is exposed how we disclosed Anas Sarwar backing a care home cash cow milking the tax-payer

7 Comments

£11bn Lower Thames Crossing – Put simply, in the end, Scotland still pays for another capital project it does not benefit from

johnrobertson834

Yesterday, I wrote a post: Never mind Barnett, the Lower Thames Crossing to cost Scots taxpayers between £300m and £1bn! The full AI-assisted argument is at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/07/12/never-mind-barnett-the-lower-thames-crossing-to-cost-scots-taxpayers-between-300m-and-1bn/ In a comment, rogercolkett wrote While it’s clear that the UK government tends to spend more on big projects in the south of England than elsewhere, it’s not true that Scots are paying for it through their taxes. UK government expenditure is not funded by taxes or anything else. UK government expenditure works by instructing the Bank of England to create the money required and credit it to the relevant payee, just as … Continue reading £11bn Lower Thames Crossing – Put simply, in the end, Scotland still pays for another capital project it does not benefit from

8 Comments

Never mind Barnett, the Lower Thames Crossing to cost Scots taxpayers between £300m and £1bn!

johnrobertson834

In the Guardian today: The UK’s public spending watchdog has said it plans to investigate the Lower Thames Crossing, as campaigners voice concerns over the rising costs of one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects. The head of the National Audit Office (NAO) said he anticipated the agency would “examine and report” on the planned £11bn road tunnel between Kent and Essex, and that work to monitor the project had already started. It emerged last month that £174m of additional public money was being made available for the scheme, which is estimated to cost more per mile than the HS2 high-speed rail link from … Continue reading Never mind Barnett, the Lower Thames Crossing to cost Scots taxpayers between £300m and £1bn!

4 Comments

SNP’s ‘Mansion Tax’ will be popular, raise revenue and have no effect on inward migration

johnrobertson834

From the Scottish Government today: Views are being sought on plans to introduce two new council tax bands for properties worth more than £1 million and £2 million respectively to help fund local public services across Scotland. A public consultation seeks responses on possible increases of around £720 and £3,600 above the current highest Band H council tax charges. The final proposed rates for new Band I and Band J properties – expected to apply to fewer than 1% of properties – will be laid in Parliament for MSPs’ consideration following analysis of consultation responses and engagement with local government. Existing … Continue reading SNP’s ‘Mansion Tax’ will be popular, raise revenue and have no effect on inward migration