Tag: history

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Ferret factchecker’s toxic dialogue suggests dramatically ebbing tide of racially-aggravated hate crime in Scotland threatening to just about disappear here, along with their far-right groups

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Bob Lamont for alerting us to this. The Ferret is in the National today with the above and: At least 20 incidents linked to anti-migrant protests, racism and the far right in the last two months have exposed rising political tensions across Scotland. They included attacks on mosques and asylum hotels, alleged assaults – and the jailing of a neo-Nazi for slashing a student in the face with a knife. The Ferret found there were at least 17 arrests linked to anti-migrant protests, and police are investigating a number of alleged hate crimes. Anti-racism … Continue reading Ferret factchecker’s toxic dialogue suggests dramatically ebbing tide of racially-aggravated hate crime in Scotland threatening to just about disappear here, along with their far-right groups

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‘Gangs of sinister, feral young men’ from England fuelling Scotland’s drug deaths, targeting vulnerable women and causing small town violence surges

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Scotsman last week had: Gangs of sinister, feral young men show why Police Scotland needs extra £140 million – Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell has sounded an alarm that politicians must heed Just who these young men are where they come from is left out so that readers might think they’re Scots but they’re not. As far back as 2018, the Liverpool Echo began a run of reports telling exactly where they’re from, with: How Liverpool’s drug criminals are fuelling Scotland’s gang wars In 2022: Liverpool drug gangs target Scots towns and cities as … Continue reading ‘Gangs of sinister, feral young men’ from England fuelling Scotland’s drug deaths, targeting vulnerable women and causing small town violence surges

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PM Starmer still confuses references to the place over which he governs

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stewartb Labour List published the transcript of Keir Starmer’s speech at the recent British Labour Party conference. (see https://labourlist.org/2025/09/labour-conference-2025-keir-starmer-speech-in-full/ ) Despite the best efforts (?) of his speech writers, PM Starmer still confuses references to the place over which he governs. Here are some extracts from the speech, with my comments. ‘It is a great country… It will always be a great country… ………… That’s the Britain I’m fighting for, conference… A nation of resolve… A land of respect… A Britain built for all.’ – we start here with ‘Britain’ being a single country AND a single nation. ‘That’s the most important aspect of … Continue reading PM Starmer still confuses references to the place over which he governs

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The news that we are no better than English people who riot and who always vote for parties led by Nigel Farage

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By Liz S The dominant English press whose publications stick a ‘Scottish’ label upon their various editions that they distribute within Scotland will always tell us that there is no “Scottish exceptionalism” in respect to anything….or anyone. It is these ‘Scottish’ editions that are the ‘favourite’ newspapers that the BBC in Scotland always refer to and so discuss on BBC GMS Radio programmes as being the ‘News where we are’……as examples of how #ScotlandIsS**** and why it is always only the #SNP who are #BAD. Like for example………as ‘newspapers’………. The Times (supposed ‘Scottish edition) …..**below** are some of it’s various headline articles ….in it’s, so … Continue reading The news that we are no better than English people who riot and who always vote for parties led by Nigel Farage

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As the Herald insists island communities deserve ferry services that are fit for purpose how the Scottish Government transformed their economies in 2020

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Professor John Robertson OBA The above chart from the Evaluation of Road Equivalent Tariff [RET] on the Clyde and Hebridean Network Prepared for Transport Scotland March 2020 reveals a massive increase in ferry usage to the islands with a consequent economic boost, but increasing costs for the taxpayer in lost revenue. The comparison is based on ticket sales only and takes no account of retail revenue, which is likely to have increased as a result of the increased numbers of passengers. What is the RET? In October 2008, Transport Scotland introduced the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) fares policy as a pilot on … Continue reading As the Herald insists island communities deserve ferry services that are fit for purpose how the Scottish Government transformed their economies in 2020

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Justice secretary able to call for emergency prisoner release as released prisoners are now 27% less likely to re-offend than they were when Labour was in power

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA From BBC Scotland today: Around 470 prisoners could be released early from Scottish prisons by the end of the year. Justice secretary Angela Constance has asked parliament to pass emergency legislation that would see short-term prisoners – within 180 days of their release date – to be freed in tranches in November and December. It is the third time early release has been used in this way in Scotland since last summer. Constance said the move was necessary to prevent overcrowding after the prison population “surged” in the last three months. In a statement to MSPs, … Continue reading Justice secretary able to call for emergency prisoner release as released prisoners are now 27% less likely to re-offend than they were when Labour was in power

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Local community activists in a small US state remind us why we must oppose Labour’s nuclear plans for Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA Yesterday, in a report from the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, a grassroots environmentalist group with 7 000 members, in the US state of Iowa alone: Sierra Club Iowa Chapter urges legislators and the public to oppose the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear plant and to support Iowa’s transition to safe, clean, and renewable energy sources. On September 29, 2025, the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club hosted a press conference to address NextEra Energy’s proposal to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear plant, which has been in decommissioning since 2020. Experts in nuclear energy, public health, … Continue reading Local community activists in a small US state remind us why we must oppose Labour’s nuclear plans for Scotland

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Different NHS Scotland rejects England’s hostile healthcare environment for vulnerable migrant women

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Guardian today, the above, and: The UK [sic] has been accused of a “stark injustice” for failing to provide health services and humanitarian support to citizens of British overseas territories after a woman from the Caribbean island of Montserrat was refused free NHS care and left homeless. Council officials found Cherry Brown, 69, sleeping rough in a park in Swanley, Kent, in April. Brown had been funded by the Montserratian government – whose budget is largely subsidised by the UK – to travel to England to receive treatment from the NHS that was not available at home. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/01/uk-montserrat-british-overseas-territory-citizens-injustice-donaldson-romeo The situation … Continue reading Different NHS Scotland rejects England’s hostile healthcare environment for vulnerable migrant women

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Fuel poverty – in Scotland, it need not be this way.

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Will it be food in the house? Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland in their BBC Breakfast insert have the above story minus of course the hugely significant consideration that, in Scotland, it need not be this way. In August 2025, we had the information. As energy price rises loom, a reminder of why Michael Shanks will not protect us and why Scots would pay far less after independence As energy price rises loom, a reminder of why Scots would pay far less once independent. From stewartb in June 2025: I fear that a majority of the electorate in Scotland still have NO IDEA … Continue reading Fuel poverty – in Scotland, it need not be this way.

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How’s the mood there in Liverpool? Well the drug gangs are enjoying the one-way trade making millions and keeping Scotland’s drug deaths up

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With only 2 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 BBC Scotland are in Liverpool today for the Labour Party Conference but they haven’t managed to pin Anas down for some tough questions about his boss or the numerous sex -offenders he hosts. Will their BBC Liverpool colleagues be asking how Glasgow has managed to get such a low crime rate since the SNP took over? Eurovision Decision: Liverpool has nearly twice the … Continue reading How’s the mood there in Liverpool? Well the drug gangs are enjoying the one-way trade making millions and keeping Scotland’s drug deaths up