Tag: history

1 Comment

ONS reveals NHS waiting lists for planned care are twice as long in Wales and 40% longer in England, than in Scotland

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson OBA Many thanks to Linda at Broadcasting Scotland for alerting me to this: From NHS planned care waiting times across the UK, as of March 2024, 8.9 patients per 100 were waiting under 52 weeks and 0.9 were waiting over 52 weeks in Scotland. In England, the figures were 12.4 and 0.5 and in Wales, shockingly, 17.1 and 4.5. The ONS reminds us: Each UK country has different healthcare policies, commissioning processes and patient data systems for planned care because of the devolved healthcare system; these affect the data coverage available on referral to treatment (RTT) or … Continue reading ONS reveals NHS waiting lists for planned care are twice as long in Wales and 40% longer in England, than in Scotland

3 Comments

More than THREE TIMES as many Scots would prefer US statehood to staying as a UK colony

johnrobertson834

US President Elect, Donald Trump’s recent comments on the importance of controlling Panama, Greenland and even Canada, for US national security, prompted the often insightful Professor Richard Murphy to wonder if Scotland might be next. Watch his explanation (6 min 21 secs only) at: I found it hard to take the notion seriously but thought then, why not see how a sample of Scots would respond to it. I feel sure Murphy would expect we’d all be horrified. I would but, for some reason, felt sure some Scots might prefer it to continuing the current colonial situation. Is Scotland currently … Continue reading More than THREE TIMES as many Scots would prefer US statehood to staying as a UK colony

5 Comments

English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’

johnrobertson834

I missed this back in October 2024: Households in Scotland are paying higher energy bills than they ought to keep prices down south of the Border, according to experts at the Fuller Treacy Money investment strategy firm. In a newsletter arguing against zonal pricing, the firm’s owner Eoin Treacy [above] says it is better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital. Zonal pricing, which has been considered by the UK Government in the past, would see places like Scotland – where lots of energy is produced but there is lower demand – pay cheaper … Continue reading English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’

2 Comments

Valuing ‘culture’ and public funding – how Wales with a Labour government in Cardiff fares!

johnrobertson834

By stewartb There will be a Scottish Government debate in Holyrood on January 14 on ‘Valuing Culture: Scotland’s Support to the Culture Sector’. Will it generate heat or light? It will be worth observing how British Labour Party politicians in Scotland approach this debate. Will they acknowledge longstanding stresses and strains on Scottish Government finances due to Westminster austerity and inflation? Or will we hear the usual carping? And how will BBC Scotland and the rest of the mainstream media ‘serving’ Scotland report: devoid of context and perspective as usual? As we assess the various contributions, it will be worth … Continue reading Valuing ‘culture’ and public funding – how Wales with a Labour government in Cardiff fares!

2 Comments

Update – The sinking of the Solway Harvester – BBC Scotland fails to explore, even mention, the several unexplained factors including the nuclear submarine with the ‘distracted’ crew

johnrobertson834

On the BBC Scotland website today but written by BBC News Isle of Man: Solway Harvester tragedy ‘still felt’ 25 years on – The loss of seven fishermen in Manx waters “is still keenly felt” a quarter of a century after the Solway Harvester tragedy, the chief minister has said. The crewmen, from the Isle of Whithorn area of Dumfries and Galloway, died when the the scallop dredger sank off the coast of Douglas on 11 January 2000. Skipper Andrew Mills (known as Craig), 29, his brother Robin Mills, 33, their cousin David Mills, 17, Martin Milligan, 26, John Murphy, … Continue reading Update – The sinking of the Solway Harvester – BBC Scotland fails to explore, even mention, the several unexplained factors including the nuclear submarine with the ‘distracted’ crew

1 Comment

Financial Ferry Fiasco in Tasmania as local funds are spent in Finland and Government ‘spruiks’ to cover up its bungles

johnrobertson834

It’s a bit like BBC Question Time, filmed mostly in England and with Nigel Farage on the panel, counted as part of the BBC Scotland budget [It is! See below1] but the above much-delayed and inflated-cost ferry, built in Finland and stored at the cost of millions in Leith, over the winter, was supposed to benefit the local Tasmanian economy by using ‘local content’ but, from ABC Business, two days ago: Finnish-built ship engines have been included in the so-called “local content” in the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries. The delivery of the new ferries has dominated public discourse in … Continue reading Financial Ferry Fiasco in Tasmania as local funds are spent in Finland and Government ‘spruiks’ to cover up its bungles

8 Comments

Farage divides the Scottish opposition vote to help the SNP win

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson, Oliver Brown Award 2022, (Just after Sean Connery in 2012!) From my January 2025 column in Scots Independent, 99 years old this year (The paper not me!), non-party-aligned, on old-fashioned paper, to your door. The Story So Far November 1926 saw the launch, under the auspices of the Scots National League, of a new monthly Nationalist newspaper entitled The Scots Independent. Father and son, William and Ian Gillies, along with Tom H Gibson as Business Manager, set in motion what has proved to be, the longest surviving political newspaper in Scotland in the Twentieth Century — into … Continue reading Farage divides the Scottish opposition vote to help the SNP win

4 Comments

Shock figures show ambulance crews are assaulted more than FOUR TIMES as frequently in Labour’s ‘lawless England’

johnrobertson834

Thanks to one of our Anonymouses for this: From the ‘Scottish’ Daily Express yesterday: Shock figures show ambulance crews are assaulted EVERY DAY in the SNP’s lawless Scotland. Ambulance staff in Scotland were verbally or physically assaulted almost every day on average last year, with the abuse against the nation’s mercy crews up by 11%. The Scottish Ambulance Service recorded 346 shocking incidents in 2023/24 including cases of spitting, punching and threatening staff with bottles or other weapons. 1 All things being equal, with 12 times the population, the UK might be expect to be having around 12 cases per day? From Sky News, … Continue reading Shock figures show ambulance crews are assaulted more than FOUR TIMES as frequently in Labour’s ‘lawless England’

2 Comments

Sky News try to push the child grooming scandal north of the border with one Scot* out of thousands of victims

johnrobertson834

Amazingly, Sky News and, I hear, Channel 4 News find a woman in Glasgow to talk about her experience of being groomed and raped. *That this took place in Glasgow, ten years ago or so, is not confirmed. It’s an amazing find. Until the recent (2002) abuse of 4 children of primary school age in Glasgow by 7 men, there is no report of anything like a ‘grooming’ gang with multiple victims in Scotland. Channel 4’s FACTCHECK in August 2014, makes no mention of Scotland or Glasgow, only: By date of conviction, we have evidence of such exploitation taking place … Continue reading Sky News try to push the child grooming scandal north of the border with one Scot* out of thousands of victims

2 Comments

‘The UK’s worst economic performance in post war economic history.’ Devolved government and economic management: the case of Labour governing Wales

johnrobertson834

By stewartb – a long read When the UK economy is in a poor state, can governments in Scotland or Wales with devolved powers counter UK economic performance in a substantive way given that key policy levers are ONLY available to Westminster and the UK’s central bank? Proponents of the Union point to Scotland’s economic performance and allege: (i) it’s failing due to the political party that has governed in Edinburgh since 2007; and (ii) to have a successful economy, Scotland needs ‘change’, it needs to have the Labour Party (or the Tories) become the government in Edinburgh. Of course … Continue reading ‘The UK’s worst economic performance in post war economic history.’ Devolved government and economic management: the case of Labour governing Wales