Tag: history

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Children’s care homes in places like Rochdale could not just rely on ‘committed people.’ They needed regulation and inspection of the kind Alex Salmond brought to Scotland nearly 20 years ago

johnrobertson834

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the Guardian yesterday: Children’s care homes rely on committed people – While there are good private children’s homes (I’ve worked with some), they are defined by personal and family commitment, not profit. The same relationships are required whoever runs a children’s home, whether a charitable organisation or local authority. Without the personal, unflinching commitment of councillors, managers, social workers and, crucially, the grownups who work in the home, it can’t be a loving home. We have been led to believe that regulation and inspection ensure good care. Do … Continue reading Children’s care homes in places like Rochdale could not just rely on ‘committed people.’ They needed regulation and inspection of the kind Alex Salmond brought to Scotland nearly 20 years ago

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‘Cost of housing crunch in England looms for low-income families, warns Resolution Foundation’ but it does not mention Scotland because…..

johnrobertson834

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the Guardian today: More than 1.1 million low-income families in rented homes face a “cost of housing” crunch without action from John Healey in next month’s budget, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has warned. Local housing allowance (LHA) has been frozen in cash terms since autumn 2024. In a new report, Saving Private Renters, the thinktank found that rising rents since then have led to a widening gap between what families claiming LHA can afford, and the realities of the market. It said a low-income family renting a typical … Continue reading ‘Cost of housing crunch in England looms for low-income families, warns Resolution Foundation’ but it does not mention Scotland because…..

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There are 54% [66% in Borders] fewer road traffic accidents but only 33% fewer officers on the roads in Scotland

johnrobertson834

.…so that is bound to have an impact on visibility, and impact on road safety and an impact on travelling criminality. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Neither in the short BBC Scotland insert in BBC Breakfast nor in the longer website report, do we hear any useful context to the above news of cuts. How do the levels of road accidents in 2013 and in 2025 compare? Sources: https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/scottish-transport-statistics-no-33-2014-edition/j357783-09/ https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/key-reported-road-casualties-scotland-2025/key-findings/ Why are the seriously injured figures not comparable? How it used to work (including 2013)An officer judged severity using … Continue reading There are 54% [66% in Borders] fewer road traffic accidents but only 33% fewer officers on the roads in Scotland

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Drawing a Line in the Constitutional Sand – Should SNP MPs withdraw from Westminster?

johnrobertson834

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 “It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom alone, which no good man gives up but with his life.” — The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320 Is the moment fast approaching when Scotland needs to stand up — by sitting out? At the very moment Scotland returned the largest independence-supporting majority in the history of the devolution settlement, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom chose to ignore the democratic significance … Continue reading Drawing a Line in the Constitutional Sand – Should SNP MPs withdraw from Westminster?

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Near-Shore Underwater Data Centres with Waste Heat Recovery – A Distinctly Scottish Opportunity with 3 thousand billion litres of water in our 31 thousand lochs

johnrobertson834

I sense danger here for the Scottish Government, the SNP and the wider movement as the media operating in Scotland increasingly focus on the debate over large data centres and see opportunities to divide it within itself. A growing grass roots opposition and Scottish Greens campaigning for a ‘pause’ is get increasing attention and putting the SNP Government on the back foot. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 I’m torn. If, IF, an independent Scotland can properly tax the corporations that need these facilities, get the revenue for the surplus … Continue reading Near-Shore Underwater Data Centres with Waste Heat Recovery – A Distinctly Scottish Opportunity with 3 thousand billion litres of water in our 31 thousand lochs

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Tell me Grok my AI familiar – Why is Talking-up Scotland little referenced in the MSM or by politicians, on both sides in Scotland, and struggling to fundraise? ‘You’re too partisan, do too much and are not glamorous…awk!’

johnrobertson834

Tell me Grok my AI familiar – Why is Talking-up Scotland little referenced in MSM or by politicians on both sides in Scotland? Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 Talking-up Scotland is a long-running, data-heavy pro-independence blog written mainly by retired University of the West of Scotland media politics professor John Robertson. It specialises in daily statistical rebuttals of BBC Scotland, the Herald, Scotsman and similar outlets, arguing they systematically omit positive Scottish Government figures (crime, NHS waits, child poverty, energy, etc.) or frame stories to damage the SNP and … Continue reading Tell me Grok my AI familiar – Why is Talking-up Scotland little referenced in the MSM or by politicians, on both sides in Scotland, and struggling to fundraise? ‘You’re too partisan, do too much and are not glamorous…awk!’

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Revealed – Prof Paterson’s failed ‘Circuits and efficiency in incomplete block designs’ class for Primary 2, was left out of BBC Scotland decision to make him a ‘Leading Educationalist!’

johnrobertson834

Oh, OK, I admit it, I only got a C2 for the infant stage in West Quarter Primary School (1980?) after the class accused me of cheating on caterpillar/butterfly metamorphosis, but I then got a B+ with the ‘big yins’ (11 year-olds) in Bantaskine, before going on to great success in Stirling, corrupting young minds in the school football team with the cynical Italian ‘Catennacio’ defensive system. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 By Liz S That is he, who is a much favoured guest of the BBC Scotland news … Continue reading Revealed – Prof Paterson’s failed ‘Circuits and efficiency in incomplete block designs’ class for Primary 2, was left out of BBC Scotland decision to make him a ‘Leading Educationalist!’

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Legal aid for abuse women – Yet another example of the value of TuS

johnrobertson834

By stewartb I too have noticed this contention about Legal Aid being made here btl multiple times and over a prolonged period. I can’t recall any links to source documents ever being supplied. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 I’ve never quite had enough motivation to research the claim tho’ it has occurred to me to do so too in the past. I’m glad you’ve now done this: it’s an important matter. Yet another example of the value of TuS! I hope the persistent ‘campaigner’/btl contributor offers a response to what you’ve … Continue reading Legal aid for abuse women – Yet another example of the value of TuS

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Contrary to poorly/if-at-all researched Tory report – Glasgow SNP leader is correct – It is ‘a safe city’ far safer than any in England run for decades by them and their near-equivalents in New Labour

johnrobertson834

According to the Daily Express today: The departing SNP leader of Glasgow City Council has insisted that the city is “safe.” This is despite rising reports of rape and violence within the city centre. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 the Sun in October 2025 –  DANGER ZONES Map shows the top 10 UK crime hotspots – do YOU live in the most dangerous area? Newcastle has the lowest crime rate of the ‘UK’ Top Ten at 116 per 1 000 people:  https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/36904645/map-top-10-uk-crime-hotspots/ Westminster in central London had the highest current annual crime rate … Continue reading Contrary to poorly/if-at-all researched Tory report – Glasgow SNP leader is correct – It is ‘a safe city’ far safer than any in England run for decades by them and their near-equivalents in New Labour

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Thousands of cancer patients not treated on time after nearly two decades of right-wing government cuts and neglect in England

johnrobertson834

Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Health today and on BBC Breakfast this morning, the above story and: Alan was diagnosed with lung cancer after a nodule was found in June last year. The 70-year-old was meant to be operated on within weeks but ended up waiting nearly five months, by which time the cancer had spread, making his surgery more complex. “I was so frustrated and angry and couldn’t understand why they would leave me like that,” says Alan. On two occasions, scans were cancelled because machines … Continue reading Thousands of cancer patients not treated on time after nearly two decades of right-wing government cuts and neglect in England