Tag: news

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10 countries already routinely issue iodine tablets to those near nuclear facilities but with the highest cancer rates in world, Scotland, dependent on Westminster, does not

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Professor John Robertson OBA Sky News in September 2019, reported: France is to give free iodine tablets to more people living near the country’s 19 nuclear plants. Around 2.2 million people living within 20km (12.4 miles) of a nuclear plant will be given the tablets to protect their bodies from the effects of radiation in the event of an accident. In 2016, five years after the nuclear accident in the Japanese city of Fukushima, France gave iodine to those living within 10km (6.2 miles) of a nuclear plant. Thyroid cancer incidence in France has increased dramatically over recent decades, particularly … Continue reading 10 countries already routinely issue iodine tablets to those near nuclear facilities but with the highest cancer rates in world, Scotland, dependent on Westminster, does not

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There is nothing worse than Scottish exceptionalism on summer riots? Yes, the dark kind Tory and Labour SPADs spend their hours grubbing for

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Professor John Robertson OBA In Holyrood Sources YouTube podcast (?), three days ago, with an ex-SNP (disappointing) and and ex-Tory (full cringe) SPAD, on whether or not Scotland will be immune to race-related riots this summer, the latter said: Um, I think it’s fair to say that there is an increase in Scotland in kind of low…it does seem to be fairly clear that there’s an increase in relatively low level anti-social behaviour…I think there are big problems there. There’s big unrest there….but…Scotland is not England and Scotland doesn’t necessarily experience the same things that England experiences particularly around the … Continue reading There is nothing worse than Scottish exceptionalism on summer riots? Yes, the dark kind Tory and Labour SPADs spend their hours grubbing for

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‘A bottomless pit of hell’ – US researchers confirm the risk to Scots children of living downstream of sites like Sellafield, Europe’s ‘most toxic radioactive waste site’

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Journal of the American Medical Association (Impact factor 50 – 7th highest of 500 peer-reviewed medical research journals) published 16 July 2025: Question  Is there an association between cancer incidence and living near Coldwater Creek [map above] as a child when it was actively being contaminated by radioactive byproducts from the Manhattan Project? Findings  In this cohort study of 4209 participants, living near Coldwater Creek as a child was associated with an increased risk of overall cancer during long-term follow-up, with evidence of a dose-response association. When comparing those living around the creek or its floodplain … Continue reading ‘A bottomless pit of hell’ – US researchers confirm the risk to Scots children of living downstream of sites like Sellafield, Europe’s ‘most toxic radioactive waste site’

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‘Scottish’ newspaper platforms English charity warning of dangerous ‘refugee’ dog organisations that cannot operate in Scotland and cannot be bothered to helpfully inform its readers of the details of the law in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Record on 28 July, 2025, the above and: Buying or adopting a dog always comes with risks, namely around the canine’s health and/or how likely they are to lash out or not take to training as well as the owner would hope. There are also circumstances that can exacerbate these risks, and it turned out importing dogs into the UK is one of them, according to an animal charity, which is calling for stricter regulations on animal rescues doing just that. The RSPCA has cited concerns about disease risks and behavioural issues, just as government statistics show … Continue reading ‘Scottish’ newspaper platforms English charity warning of dangerous ‘refugee’ dog organisations that cannot operate in Scotland and cannot be bothered to helpfully inform its readers of the details of the law in Scotland

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Scotland has only half the TB rate of England due to less poverty, more affordable housing and better healthcare access and could further improve with independence

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Professor John Robertson OBA I’ve used the Grok AI to assist in researching and presenting this paper. I’m able to check the references it helpfully offers. Last year the Scottish and English media widely reported a one-year surge in TB cases reported in Scotland from 2022 to 2023. Yesterday, Public Health Scotland published the latest data: To my knowledge, the media have not since reported the fall in the number of cases between 2023 and 2024. For context, all things being equal, we might expect England to have had around 2 700 cases in 2024. It had almost exactly twice … Continue reading Scotland has only half the TB rate of England due to less poverty, more affordable housing and better healthcare access and could further improve with independence

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Why do Scots think crime is just as high when it has fallen by half?

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: July 2025 published today, some key points getting no media attention: Public perception of local crime rate at a similar level to 2008-09. The SCJS found that over two-thirds (71%) of adults in 2023-24 said that the crime rate in their local area had decreased or stayed the same over the last couple of years. This figure has fallen from 76% in 2021-22 and is at a similar level to 2008/09 and the pre-covid position in 2019-20. https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-july-2025/pages/statistics-on-community-safety/ This is both disturbing and contradictory. Why? From Grok AI: Since 2008/09, violent crime in … Continue reading Why do Scots think crime is just as high when it has fallen by half?

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300 more police officers in Scotland since last Labour government despite massive fall in crime and far better staffing ratio than in other parts of the UK

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: July 2025 published today, some key points getting no media attention: There were 16,553 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 31 March 2025. This was 319 (+2.0%) more officers compared to the position on 31 March 2007, and 197 (+1.2%) more than on 31 March 2024. https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-communities-and-justice-statistics-monthly-data-report-july-2025/pages/statistics-on-policing/ How much has crime fallen in Scotland. From a Grok AI question: Since 2007, crime in Scotland has significantly decreased, with various sources indicating a substantial decline in overall recorded crime and specific crime categories. According to the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey … Continue reading 300 more police officers in Scotland since last Labour government despite massive fall in crime and far better staffing ratio than in other parts of the UK

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In BBC Scotland’s push for Labour in 2026 even cancer deaths will be exploited

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Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Wales yesterday had the above and, in the full text, not one word about the Labour Government in Wales and its oversight of the NHS. As readers know, it’s different in Scotland. In June 2025: No actual deaths but still plenty of space for this: Scottish Conservatives health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said one patient waiting more than two months is too many. He said: “These appalling statistics confirm Scotland is facing a ticking timebomb when it comes to cancer cases on the SNP’s watch. “SNP ministers have not met their own waiting time target … Continue reading In BBC Scotland’s push for Labour in 2026 even cancer deaths will be exploited

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Scotsman’s confusion on cancer scanning ignores major progress

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Scotsman‘s David Bol, today, has a frontpage masterclass in confusion. It seems to be about one NHS nurse claiming she’s had to go private for some unspecified cancer ‘check‘ and who is warning that ‘someone could die‘, presumably from delay in that ‘check‘. Before you can ask what the cancer in question is, so that we might look at the published figures, Bol charges straight into a piece about the apparent problem of cervical cancer screening uptake not hitting the 80% target. So, if there are delays in the cancer ‘check‘ this one nurse has … Continue reading Scotsman’s confusion on cancer scanning ignores major progress

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Labour-run Wales has by far the highest rate of the economically inactive due to long-term illness or disability in the UK

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By stewartb The number of people economically inactive due to long term sickness or disability is a UK-wide ‘problem’ . From the Bevan Foundation on the situation in Wales where the Daily Record’s favoured political party, the British Labour Party has been in power for c.26 years (see https://www.bevanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SoW-Get-Wales-Working-Feb-25.pdf ): The Foundation’s report adds: ‘Across the UK, around a quarter of people aged 16 to 64 have a long-term health condition that limits their day-to-day activities (which means that they are classed as disabled). In Wales the proportion of people who have a long-term health condition is higher, at 28% in September … Continue reading Labour-run Wales has by far the highest rate of the economically inactive due to long-term illness or disability in the UK