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Which party has been responsible for the longest bin strike in history, almost no new affordable housing, fewer teachers and no free school meals – It’s Birmingham Labour but there’s a media silence on that

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Professor John Robertson OBA The bin strike in Birmingham is one-year long on January 6th 2026. A year?! It’s unheard of but it’s not the BBC headline today on the 3rd. Indeed, it hasn’t been reported on since the 18th December 2025. Which party run Birmingham? It’s Labour and has been for decades. The BBC reporting above does mention ‘Labour’ but Imagine this was in Scotland, say Glasgow, a whole year of ‘SNP bin strikes?’ There would not, of course, be a look back in history because, in Scotland, is mostly Labour history like this: The Glasgow binmen (refuse collectors) … Continue reading Which party has been responsible for the longest bin strike in history, almost no new affordable housing, fewer teachers and no free school meals – It’s Birmingham Labour but there’s a media silence on that

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The Herald is recycling the unmet ‘scrap unfair Council Tax‘ promise. Nothing could be easier than scrapping it – could it?

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stewartb I see The Herald is recycling the unmet ‘scrap unfair Council Tax‘ promise. Nothing could be easier than scrapping it – could it? Dear ChatGPT: ‘why, despite promises, has council tax not been scrapped in Scotland? Response (unedited except for my added emphasis): ‘Scotland has not scrapped council tax despite repeated promises (particularly from the SNP) for several key, fairly practical reasons — not simply because politicians changed their minds on a whim. Here’s the core of the issue: Initial 2007 Promise Fell Apart QuicklyWhen the SNP first came to power at Holyrood in 2007, their manifesto pledged to scrap council … Continue reading The Herald is recycling the unmet ‘scrap unfair Council Tax‘ promise. Nothing could be easier than scrapping it – could it?

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Scotland has far far fewer homes at risk of flooding after 19 years of SNP leadership

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From John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: In the Guardian today; Labour’s “build, baby, build” housing policy means more homes are being built on green belt land, meaning less natural flood defences, more runoff and increased flood risk for existing homes. Even worse, Guardian analysis has predicted that more than 100,000 of these new homes could be built on the highest-risk flood zones in England. At the same time, extreme weather is increasing because of climate breakdown and the Environment Agency data says 6.3m properties, residential homes and businesses are in areas at risk of flooding, rising to 8m by 2050. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/02/flood-home-unsellable-britain Predictably … Continue reading Scotland has far far fewer homes at risk of flooding after 19 years of SNP leadership

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As adolescents in London increasingly attack their parents serious youth crime in Scotland plummets

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Guardian on 31 December 2025: The number of violent offences involving an adolescent attacking their parents or step-parents has increased by more than 60% in the past decade, according to figures recorded by the UK’s biggest police force. Data released by Scotland Yard reveals that there were 1,886 such offences recorded in 2015 but this increased to 3,091 in the first 10 months of 2025 alone. The offences involved a suspect aged between 10, the age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 17 who had been recorded as being the … Continue reading As adolescents in London increasingly attack their parents serious youth crime in Scotland plummets

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Why does only NHS England need to declare an amber cold warning when its far colder here? Is it because our NHS is more resilient generally and because Swinney launched the flu vaccine programme two weeks earlier?

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian on 31 December 2025: The NHS is under “extraordinary pressure” and braced for a new year surge in sick patients as amber cold health alerts were issued for the whole of England. While the number of patients in hospital with flu is levelling off, according to data published on Wednesday, health leaders said the NHS was “not out of danger yet” with temperatures expected to plummet. On Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber warnings for every region of England, which will be in place between 8pm on Wednesday until 10am next Tuesday. Previously, only north-east and … Continue reading Why does only NHS England need to declare an amber cold warning when its far colder here? Is it because our NHS is more resilient generally and because Swinney launched the flu vaccine programme two weeks earlier?

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BBC Scotland now hiding that all English Albanian drug gangs are based in English Cities

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Albanian Daily News nearly a year ago, but to this day never covered by BBC Scotland: Are these gangs based in Scotland? Nope: Albanian organized crime groups involved in cannabis cultivation and distribution, including those with operations in Fife, Scotland (such as a reported farm in St Andrews), are typically part of broader networks with key bases and leadership in England. Based on reports from police operations, investigations, and media coverage, these include: These England-based groups often recruit illegal immigrants via Channel crossings or lorries, forcing them into debt repayment through work on Scottish farms … Continue reading BBC Scotland now hiding that all English Albanian drug gangs are based in English Cities

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£80 million in illegal drugs trafficked into Scotland from English cities or grown here by Albanians but ssshhhh!!!! pretend it was us, our daft wee selves

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Last post of 2025 and it looks a bit of a downer but not if you now decide to double your efforts for a border – Best wishes for the new year everyone! John Professor John Robertson OBA In the Edinburgh Reporter today: Police seized almost £80million worth of drugs across the country in 2025 as officers continue to act to tackle organised crime. The report makes no reference to how these drugs got into Scotland other than to attribute the cannabis share (£`15m) to ‘farms’ in Fife. While the Edinburgh Reporter and presumably Police Scotland do not tell us, … Continue reading £80 million in illegal drugs trafficked into Scotland from English cities or grown here by Albanians but ssshhhh!!!! pretend it was us, our daft wee selves

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BBC Scotland conceals disability charity chief’s comment in letter rejecting MBE that ‘Scotland is doing better than UK’ – Here’s why it matters so much -suicide prevention – and why it CAN be afforded

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Guardian today has: Campaigner turned down MBE over ‘scapegoating’ of people with disabilities – Exclusive: In letter declining proposed award, Tressa Burke, CEO of Glasgow Disability Alliance, accused government of ‘fuelling hatred’ and While she argues that “Scotland is doing better than the UK for sure”, Burke says her members will be watching carefully for the practical implementation of the Scottish government’s new disability equality plan, as well as what manifesto commitments are made before May’s Holyrood elections. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/30/campaigner-turned-down-mbe-over-scapegoating-of-people-with-disabilities BBC Scotland’s report is careful to avoid her comments on Scotland: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gvdz4y6dgo What did she mean? … Continue reading BBC Scotland conceals disability charity chief’s comment in letter rejecting MBE that ‘Scotland is doing better than UK’ – Here’s why it matters so much -suicide prevention – and why it CAN be afforded

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The Nuclear Regulated Asset Base Levy means Scots will pay ‘nuclear tax’ for nuclear energy consumed in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA You’ll have seen headlines like – ‘SNP has slammed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar for his silence on Westminster’s “nuclear tax”, which could see Scottish households paying out a total of £300 million over the next decade to fund nuclear projects in England.’ Labour MPs and MSPs are already programmed to deny it and to demonise any who suggest it is true. It is true. The UK Government explicitly plans to fund new nuclear power station building, such as Sizewell C in Suffolk, via the RAB levy.1 What is the RAB levy? It’s a UK-wide charge … Continue reading The Nuclear Regulated Asset Base Levy means Scots will pay ‘nuclear tax’ for nuclear energy consumed in England

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As UK Labour begin to claim falling knife crime in England & Wales, why their headlines and their figures are less reliable than those in Scotland which are – ‘being on firmer ground in terms of official trustworthiness’

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Mirror today, a deceitful headline suggesting a wider reduction in knife crime when the figures only relate to robberies where a knife was present. While applauding this, I suspect most readers were more interested to hear of a decline in violence where a knife was used. More generally, I’ve been wondering how reliable these new data are. You’ll remember, I hope, how various NHS England waiting time and drug death data have been exposed here. Lazily perhaps, I asked AI. Have a look a this and if you spot any weaknesses/flaws, let me know … Continue reading As UK Labour begin to claim falling knife crime in England & Wales, why their headlines and their figures are less reliable than those in Scotland which are – ‘being on firmer ground in terms of official trustworthiness’