Tag: news

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UK MoD plan to decommission at least 7 nuclear subs in Fife, with houses less than 1 mile away and downwind by methods 1 000 times more dangerous than US methods

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Brian Goodall, three days ago on Facebook: Babcock’s and MOD asked to think again on nuclear submarine dismantling process at Rosyth Dockyard. This morning at a meeting of the Rosyth Dockyard Local Liaison Committee in the Dockyard I repeated my long held view that the proposed second stage of the nuclear submarine dismantling demonstrator project, that is about to start, is a stage too far, and I ask for a rethink. The next step will see Babcock cutting out the reactor pressure vessel from the reactor compartment of the decommissioned nuclear submarine Swiftsure, in an … Continue reading UK MoD plan to decommission at least 7 nuclear subs in Fife, with houses less than 1 mile away and downwind by methods 1 000 times more dangerous than US methods

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NHS England more than 100 times, 10 times per head, more privatised than NHS Scotland

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in England were delivered by private hospitals and clinics in the last 12 months – that’s almost 500 000 higher than the previous year. The Health Secretary….[was not criticised for the obvious evidence of failures in NHS England.] Professor John Robertson OBA The figure, 6.15 million comes from the private sector – David Hare, Independent Healthcare Providers Network. Scotland, you ask? From Grok AI: NHS Scotland’s policy prioritizes public sector delivery for elective care, with limited reliance on the independent (private) sector compared to other UK nations. Use of private hospitals and clinics is targeted at specific backlogs (e.g., orthopaedics, ophthalmology, endoscopy) … Continue reading NHS England more than 100 times, 10 times per head, more privatised than NHS Scotland

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Four times as many, per head, waiting for a social care assessment or package in England than in Scotland yet the latter is ‘struggling?’

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the amount of funding for struggling social care services. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland in their BBC Breakfast insert this morning has the above, essentially just councils doing what they do, ask for more money from central government. Context? Nope and certainly not this: From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services published today by Public Health Scotland: The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was 6,461 on 7 April 2025. The estimated number of people assessed … Continue reading Four times as many, per head, waiting for a social care assessment or package in England than in Scotland yet the latter is ‘struggling?’

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There is now no distracting from Labour’s record

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By Liz S Talking of Labour….and another scandal and disgrace……re their HQ’s unfair, undignified and undemocratic position relating to Scotland. Keir Starmer was recently quoted as saying that: “We’re not having an independence referendum. It is a distraction. It won’t happen. It is a distraction from the record of the SNP.” The context of this statement from Starmer was in relation to the SNP achieving a majority in next years Scottish elections, that would then be seen as a a mandate for a second independence referendum. “It is a distraction from the record of the SNP.”….. Ironic when there exists so many “distractions” from much of the … Continue reading There is now no distracting from Labour’s record

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As Colin Smyth, Labour MSP comes to court should Anas Sarwar be asked what he thinks of having now at least six known child sex offenders in his ranks?

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Professor John Robertson OBA As he is filmed entering court, there’s not a word on Smyth’s long membership and representation of the Labour Party nor any suggestion that his leader Anas Sarwar might be asked how he feels about another sex offender in his ranks. How many Scottish Labour MSPs MPs or councillors have been accused of sex offences against children? Scottish Labour MSPs Scottish Labour Councillors Three distinct individuals were identified: Other cases (e.g., Ewan Dillon, Sean Morton) involved indecent images but were not explicitly tied to Scottish Labour in reports; they appear to have been independents or from … Continue reading As Colin Smyth, Labour MSP comes to court should Anas Sarwar be asked what he thinks of having now at least six known child sex offenders in his ranks?

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Around 600 County Lines in operation in Scotland, 200 children exploited and 75% violence

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the National Police Chiefs Council published yesterday: An annual review of the threat posed by County Lines to UK communities has today been published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC). Covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the latest County Lines Strategic Threat Assessment found that there are over 6,500 County Lines in operation across England, Scotland and Wales. However, the rise in internal lines (drug lines operating exclusively in one county) that was evident the previous year, has now stabilised, as has the number of County Lines … Continue reading Around 600 County Lines in operation in Scotland, 200 children exploited and 75% violence

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As number of schools in England facing structural building failure surges, 92% in Scotland are safe – rated good or satisfactory – after inspection, up from only 62% under Labour

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By stewartb Evidence of Westminster governments allowing England’s deterioration, this time its school buildings. What follows comes in a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) published today, 21 October: ‘Departmental overview: Department for Education 2024-25’ (See https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Department-for-Education-Overview-2024-25.pdf ) It reports, in the ‘matter of fact style’ that is characteristic of the NAO, that: ‘DfE has reported the risk of school building failure resulting from structural safety issues as one of its top risks since 2021-22. Our 2025 report ‘Maintaining public service facilities’ identified a £13.8 billion maintenance backlog in schools – 28% of the government backlog. Cabinet Office estimated that deferring work to … Continue reading As number of schools in England facing structural building failure surges, 92% in Scotland are safe – rated good or satisfactory – after inspection, up from only 62% under Labour

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British university in Scotland with only tiny number of working-class Scottish students or Scottish staff accused of ‘penny-pinching’ over free period products

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From BBC Scotland, yesterday: Edinburgh University has been accused of “penny-pinching” after it reduced the availability of free period products at one of its busiest sites. The university has removed free sanitary products from a number of toilets at its main library on George Square, where they have been replaced with signs pointing users to places where they are available. The items are now available in toilets on just three of the building’s eight floors, whereas previously they were available on at least six. The university said it would remain in line with Scottish government guidelines, upholding its commitment to “equality, … Continue reading British university in Scotland with only tiny number of working-class Scottish students or Scottish staff accused of ‘penny-pinching’ over free period products

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Despite already having far more affordable housing per head than England, Scotland plans to build more than three times as many new ones

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Professor John Robertson OBA According to the Herald today: A new report published today by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has calculated that £8.2bn would be needed to build the required number of homes to address the crisis. Yet it states ministers have only set aside £4.9bn failing to take account of the number of homes needed, the impact on inflation on building costs and new cost relating to standards it is introducing for the sector. The report comes just weeks after Ms McAllan, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, has announced a four-year £4.9bn plan for the affordable … Continue reading Despite already having far more affordable housing per head than England, Scotland plans to build more than three times as many new ones

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69 000 GB Energy jobs – Michael Shanks is literally lying when he says no such pledge was ever made. He should publicly apologise

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By Liz S Since we have an election coming up next year….how about some fairness that we now finally see some of the media here in Scotland casting their attention upon Anas Sarwar’s role in promoting his Labour HQ’s flagship policy last year in the Labour GE campaign………. MSM Monitor posted a reminder of what Sarwar said in the STV’s Leader’s debate in Scotland last year prior to the UK GE. “During the general election campaign Anas Sarwar repeatedly pledged that GB Energy would created 69,000 jobs in Scotland. So far it has created 13“. MSM Monitor also included a video that confirmed the figure Sarwar quoted on jobs … Continue reading 69 000 GB Energy jobs – Michael Shanks is literally lying when he says no such pledge was ever made. He should publicly apologise