Only 0.01% of voters actually think gender reform is the key issue but the media will say it is for the SNP in 2026 – How the media try to influence election outcomes by deciding WHAT you think is important

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA The Trans issue has been central to media coverage in Scotland for years now and that coverage has uniformly sought to present it as controversial and to locate entirely within the affairs of the SNP, disregarding cross-party support, so as to protect, especially, Anas Sarwar. You see above, that the Times has decided that ‘trans’ is to be the ‘key issue for the SNP‘ at election, May 2026. What is that claim based on? In December 2022, in a poll of 1 … Continue reading Only 0.01% of voters actually think gender reform is the key issue but the media will say it is for the SNP in 2026 – How the media try to influence election outcomes by deciding WHAT you think is important

No supporters resorted to the more ‘divisive’, the more extreme and inflammatory rhetoric to try to convince voters to stay in the UK

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details By stewartb “Lots of us were persuadable, but if the knee jerk response to common sense questions is ‘you’re a unionist traitor, a scaremonger and no true Scot’, don’t be surprised if the questioner becomes sceptical about the inclusive, egalitarian, welcoming utopia independence activists swore we’d be living in once they were in charge” At one level I’m bored by the likes of this from Ms Rowling and want to move on. But this wishing to occupy some sort of moral high ground grinds … Continue reading No supporters resorted to the more ‘divisive’, the more extreme and inflammatory rhetoric to try to convince voters to stay in the UK

‘I came to the question of independence with an open mind’ – writer of mundane children’s fantasy books

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details By Liz S JK Rowling has now written another loooooooooooong post on ‘X’ today in response to a tweet by, checks notes, Wings Over Scotland. The last paragraph of her post includes this…. “Lots of us were persuadable, but if the knee jerk response to common sense questions is ‘you’re a unionist traitor, a scaremonger and no true Scot’, don’t be surprised if the questioner becomes sceptical about the inclusive, egalitarian, welcoming utopia independence activists swore we’d be living in once they were in … Continue reading ‘I came to the question of independence with an open mind’ – writer of mundane children’s fantasy books

To Hell with the UK and the likes of JKR, Katie Hopkins , Kelvin McKenzie , Dan Wootten, Farage, GB News, the UK gutter press and all the others

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details By Liz S Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was quoted in 2023 as saying that “Labour had changed permanently under his leadership”. He then stated “if you don’t like that, if you don’t like the changes that we’ve made, I say the door is open, and you can leave”. Well guess what….people are now acting upon that and so many are now leaving Labour as party members…..and also leaving as Labour voters…where future voting intentions are showing that Labour are down in the recent polling outcomes. In February … Continue reading To Hell with the UK and the likes of JKR, Katie Hopkins , Kelvin McKenzie , Dan Wootten, Farage, GB News, the UK gutter press and all the others

Scotland’s care system FOUR times as effective as in England yet Neil Mackay argues its ‘apocalyptic’ on behalf of business just hoping to charge us more

Professor John Robertson OBA Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details In the Herald today, the commonly hyperbolic Neil Mackay has the above, and: More than 60% of social care charities risk imminent closure leaving the nation’s most vulnerable citizens in peril. Our Writer at Large reports THE numbers are as astonishing as the severity of the warning. More than 200 charities, which provide health and social care across Scotland, are sending out an SOS saying the sector risks collapse. If this was more than just another example of a corporate hack writing … Continue reading Scotland’s care system FOUR times as effective as in England yet Neil Mackay argues its ‘apocalyptic’ on behalf of business just hoping to charge us more

Are GERS figures for Scotland a measure of its economy after say 20 years of independence? No and here’s why, says AI analysis in support of an angry Pict

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA From Grok with the above question in the headline: No, the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures are not a measure of Scotland’s economy after 20 years of independence. GERS provides an annual snapshot of Scotland’s public finances under the current constitutional arrangement as part of the UK, estimating revenue raised and public spending allocated to Scotland. It reflects the existing fiscal framework, where Westminster controls significant portions of revenue (around 70%) and spending (around 40%), including items like … Continue reading Are GERS figures for Scotland a measure of its economy after say 20 years of independence? No and here’s why, says AI analysis in support of an angry Pict

Neither ‘Nic’ nor the SNP have ‘failed poor kids’ as attainment among them doubles

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA, for nearly 40 years a schoolteacher, a teacher education lecturer, Associate Dean for Quality Assurance, research methods lecturer, PhD supervisor and Faculty Research Ethics Chair I don’t know what the former first minister has said about this exactly but the media exploitation of it stinks. I’m in danger, not for the first time, of being called a ‘heid-the-ba‘ after posting the details of my long experience in education above. You should just be relieved, I didn’t add my 6 postgraduate qualies! I worked hard … Continue reading Neither ‘Nic’ nor the SNP have ‘failed poor kids’ as attainment among them doubles

Royal College of Emergency Medicine is much more negative and indeed, alarmist when reporting on Scotland

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 By stewartb There have now been two press statements issued during August by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) concerning A&E waits in Scotland. The headlines use extremely negative language, designed to alarm – ‘unacceptable and dangerous’, ‘ shocking and shameful’ and ‘dangerous’. These are in addition to a press statement in June – ‘deeply concerning and distressing’ in the headline, and one in July when new data on … Continue reading Royal College of Emergency Medicine is much more negative and indeed, alarmist when reporting on Scotland

Will Jackie Baillie now retract her claim that hospital discharges caused unlawful care home Covid deaths?

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA In May 2022, the above claims were being made repeatedly by Scottish Labour. Here is a typical example: Jackie Baillie has demanded Nicola Sturgeon faces up to the “unlawful, unreasonable and irrational” decisions her Government made by discharging patients from hospital to care homes at the height of the pandemic which cost lives. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions this … Continue reading Will Jackie Baillie now retract her claim that hospital discharges caused unlawful care home Covid deaths?

Another reason to make us believe in ourselves – Research reveals all Scottish building standards are more rigorous than those in England, to protect all of us

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to JB for alerting me to this: In response to our previous report on why there will be no Grenfell here, JB shared with us: “Scottish Building Standards vs English Building Regulations” written by Gregory Barclay, Architectural Technologist Nov 12 2024. You may wish to read the full text at the link below but one or two conclusions stand out: Building codes and standards are set … Continue reading Another reason to make us believe in ourselves – Research reveals all Scottish building standards are more rigorous than those in England, to protect all of us