Geriatrician called ‘Elder’ is clearly ‘having a laugh’ when the FACTS tell us NHS Scotland is barely privatised at all compared to NHS England

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON The above threat is not the result of the gathered opinion of thousands of Scottish ‘doctors’ but just the views of Geriatrician, Professor Andrew Elder of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, above. He clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about. NHS England is more than 100 times, 10 times per head, more privatised than NHS Scotland in England were delivered by private hospitals and clinics in the last 12 months – that’s almost 500 000 higher … Continue reading Geriatrician called ‘Elder’ is clearly ‘having a laugh’ when the FACTS tell us NHS Scotland is barely privatised at all compared to NHS England

Wrong! There are 6 505 fewer pupils yet 63 more teachers to keep Scotland’s pupil/teacher ratio the best by far in the UK

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON Rehashing a story from one of their December 2025 front pages, the Herald’s Garrett Stell (‘Originally from North Carolina’), has the above headline based on an apparent fall in teacher numbers from 2022 to 2025. I’m not going to check. It’s not important. Much more important, he doesn’t seem to know about the ratio between teacher and pupil numbers. I’ll resist the temptation to do my Appalachian accent. You’ll see above, in the official figures, that pupil numbers … Continue reading Wrong! There are 6 505 fewer pupils yet 63 more teachers to keep Scotland’s pupil/teacher ratio the best by far in the UK

Six Scottish Government initiatives they don’t want you liking before an election

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON By stewartb I wonder how many of the following recent Scottish Government commitments/investments in General Practice have been conveyed to voters in Scotland by the mainstream media that supposedly serve our polity? Scottish Government press statement 29 November 2024: ‘Additional investment in general practice – Funding to help practices retain and recruit key staff’. ‘An additional £13.6 million will be invested in General Practice this financial year to support GPs to retain and recruit key staff, Health Secretary Neil … Continue reading Six Scottish Government initiatives they don’t want you liking before an election

Clear up rate for all recorded crimes goes up and remains far higher than in England & Wales

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From: the Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: February 2026, published today: Increase in crime clear up rate. The clear up rate for all recorded crimes was 56.0% in 2024-25, up from 54.1% in 2023-24. Crimes against society (93.8%), non-sexual crimes of violence (68.4%) and sexual crimes (56.9%) continued to have higher clear up rates in 2024-25 than crimes of dishonesty (35.1%) and damage and reckless behaviour (31.0%). https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-february-2026/pages/statistics-on-crime-in-general/ The clear-up rates in England and Wales, for the … Continue reading Clear up rate for all recorded crimes goes up and remains far higher than in England & Wales

Property and violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 37% since 2008-09 based on statistics that go beyond just police reporting including responses from the public

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From the Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: February 2026, published today: Property and violent crime has fallen by 37% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) show that one-in-five (19.9%) adults were estimated to have experienced at least one crime in 2023-24. This included property crime (10.3% of adults), violent crime (2.9%) and for the first time fraud and computer misuse (9.5%). The latest findings show that the overall level of property … Continue reading Property and violent crime in Scotland has fallen by 37% since 2008-09 based on statistics that go beyond just police reporting including responses from the public

Murder cases fall again to 22% lower than pre-pandemic and well below half that under Labour in 2007

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON BBC Scotland yesterday respond to the latest crime statistics, with: Crimes reported to police in Scotland rose by 3% last year, according to new government data. The crimes that increased the most , include domestic abuse incidents (which rose by 25% between 2024-25), indecent communications (21%), indecent photos of children (20%) and shoplifting (15%). Reports of rape and attempted rape, fire-raising, supply of drugs and dangerous and careless driving also increased. Categories of crime which have decreased include housebreaking (down … Continue reading Murder cases fall again to 22% lower than pre-pandemic and well below half that under Labour in 2007

For 8 years now Scotland’s ‘universal and generous’ IVF system costs nothing in the longer term, reduces psychological distress and increases child-wellbeing

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From IVF waiting times in Scotland Quarter ending 31 December 2025 published yesterday: During the quarter ending 31 December 2025, 313 patients were screened. The 90% standard was met, with all patients attending a screening appointment within 52 weeks of referral. The standard has never been missed since records began in 2018. How does IVF treatment in Scotland compare with that in England? Scotland has a nationally standardized policy, offering more generous and equitable access compared to England, … Continue reading For 8 years now Scotland’s ‘universal and generous’ IVF system costs nothing in the longer term, reduces psychological distress and increases child-wellbeing

Why we should not get carried away with the latest Times MRP poll predicting a ‘stunning’ majority for the SNP

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON As soon as I saw this Times piece above, I’m sorry to say, I immediately had serious reservations. I hope I’m wrong but, straight off, I thought: However, let’s concentrate on the scientific, objective, reservation based on sampling. Here’s a thorough AI response to: You note – ‘Accuracy depends heavily on sample quality and size.’ Might this be a particular concern regarding this latest poll on the Scottish Holyrood election coming up Yes, sample quality and size can … Continue reading Why we should not get carried away with the latest Times MRP poll predicting a ‘stunning’ majority for the SNP

NHS Grampian had its first case of measles for 12 years after 80% of Scotland’s cases in 2025 were imported

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland today: NHS Grampian is urging people to get vaccinated against measles after its first confirmed case of the illness in more than a decade. Measles is a highly contagious disease which is spread by coughs and sneezes. The virus can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and death. The last case in the Grampian area was in 2014, and the health board said all adults and children should ensure they are vaccinated. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24xk1d68lo No indication of … Continue reading NHS Grampian had its first case of measles for 12 years after 80% of Scotland’s cases in 2025 were imported

Scotland’s first Reform UK defecator must be hoping his own bill fails

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON From BBC Scotland Politics today: MSPs are to decide whether to give voters the power to effectively sack them. Holyrood parliamentarians automatically lose their seat if they are given a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. But unlike at Westminster, where MPs can be removed by local voters, there is no recall mechanism in the Scottish Parliament. Under a members’ bill tabled by Reform’s Graham Simpson, MSPs could be recalled if they are either suspended from Holyrood … Continue reading Scotland’s first Reform UK defecator must be hoping his own bill fails