Tag: news

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East Sussex-born, Tory-appointed Baroness and BBC Scotland conspire to hide the facts and blame Nicola Sturgeon for pandemic ‘failures’ despite her doing better on every measure to save thousands

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Nicola Sturgeon SNP Leader 2014-2023 Professor John Robertson OBA In tonight’s BBC Scotland report, Baroness Hallett, appointed by PM Theresa May in 2019, made comments designed to ensure no one thinks the Scottish First Minister or her colleagues did any better than Boris Johnson PM and his ‘team’. It’s a remarkable and jaundiced account, factually and selectively biased. First, nowhere mentioned, bias by omission, the inquiry did not hear of that most poignant and significant of facts. The mortality rate resulting from the decision made in each nation, was 3.9% in Scotland, 4.9% (25% worse) in Wales and 6.5% (almost … Continue reading East Sussex-born, Tory-appointed Baroness and BBC Scotland conspire to hide the facts and blame Nicola Sturgeon for pandemic ‘failures’ despite her doing better on every measure to save thousands

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Have Scottish Government’s significantly widened access to free flu vaccine to give more than twice as many, per capita, protection from worrying new mutation, prevented a crisis?

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Viral respiratory diseases in Scotland surveillance report, published on 20 November 2025 (Latest release): Whilst influenza activity in Scotland remains at low level overall in week 46, an increasing trend continues. This is progressively seen across all age groups, having more affected the 5-14 age group in earlier weeks. Increases in laboratory confirmed cases, from 446 to 528, and test positivity, from 9.6% to 11%, are relatively moderate in week 46 compared to week 45. Test positivity for influenza A in CARI surveillance remained stable between weeks 46 (24.2%) and 45 (24.8%) although increased in adult … Continue reading Have Scottish Government’s significantly widened access to free flu vaccine to give more than twice as many, per capita, protection from worrying new mutation, prevented a crisis?

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22 times as many properties at risk of flooding in England after 18 years of SNP policies

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian yesterday, the above and: John Harris correctly identifies that the UK is hopelessly unprepared for flooding, but is wrong to suggest that the public is not told about the threat (Flooded and forgotten: the UK’s waters are rising and we’re being kept in the dark, 16 November). Is there a comparable problem in Scotland? Nope After 14 years of Tory rule in England and 17 of SNP rule in Scotland, 22 times as many properties at risk of flooding….in England, of course In the Independent and others, today, a warning that 6.3 million homes and … Continue reading 22 times as many properties at risk of flooding in England after 18 years of SNP policies

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NHS England is 10 times more privatised than NHS Scotland and patients there will pay for that not just in cash

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian, yesterday, the above and: There are other threats to the delivery of NHS services too. The privatisation of the NHS is happening in plain sight. Last month, the government proudly announced that “A total of 6.15 million appointments, tests and operations were delivered by independent providers for NHS patients this year”, an almost 500,000 increase on last year, which it says is “helping to cut waiting times [and] free up NHS capacity”. How can this be so? There’s a finite number of doctors, nurses and surgeons in the country. If medical staff increase their work … Continue reading NHS England is 10 times more privatised than NHS Scotland and patients there will pay for that not just in cash

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More than £10 000 per year better off, lower electricity bills, 40 000 fewer poor children, Brexit losses reversed and an end to Westminster vetoes – get this spread!

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Professor John Robertson OBA Today, I asked Grok AI (x) How might an independent Scotland benefit? You have to know a bit of the world, of history, of politics, local, national and global, before you ask AI questions. I know from comments that Tus readers are safe but I really worry about youngsters. I used to argue, well-supported by the evidence from research, that Media Studies should be core in schools but subject-based tribalism and ill-informed snobbery kept it out. With Google it became vital and with AI it becomes the most valuable thing we could do. I know that … Continue reading More than £10 000 per year better off, lower electricity bills, 40 000 fewer poor children, Brexit losses reversed and an end to Westminster vetoes – get this spread!

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Future Queen of England and Scotland calls for dignity for carers but ignores what only the Scottish Government has already done to that end

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC UK two days ago: The Princess of Wales has called for more dignity for carers and a greater respect for values such as “tenderness” in business, in her first public speech in two years. At an event in the City of London, Catherine called on 80 top business leaders to play their part in ensuring employees can have healthy family lives, including caring responsibilities. “I believe in restoring the dignity to the quiet, often invisible work of caring, of loving well, as we look to build a happier, healthier society,” the princess told the … Continue reading Future Queen of England and Scotland calls for dignity for carers but ignores what only the Scottish Government has already done to that end

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Not in the Covid Inquiry reporting today – How First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scottish Government kept excess mortality here at just over half the UK average despite the delay in devolving responsibility and Johnson’s callous inertia – saving thousands of lives

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Professor John Robertson OBA I’m grateful to @amaccj for reminding me of this and for the link to the source. When the final assessment is made, we need to set the scene with these facts: Two years later, in February 2022, as the pandemic receded, the simple consequences in terms of mortality in different parts of the UK can be see in this table from the September 2023, UK Covid 19 Inquiry report6: Other than the isolated South-west of England, Scotland had the lowest mortality rate of the 4 nations, even lower than Northern Ireland sheltered by its sea gap. 15% more … Continue reading Not in the Covid Inquiry reporting today – How First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scottish Government kept excess mortality here at just over half the UK average despite the delay in devolving responsibility and Johnson’s callous inertia – saving thousands of lives

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News BBC Scotland prefers not to tell you – Young carers were almost “perfect” targets for the kind of street-grooming model that operated in Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford but only SNP Government in Scotland offers unique payment to help them escape those conditions

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government today, reported by STV but not by BBC Scotland: Young carers up to age 19 will now receive Young Carer Grant following an expansion of the benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland. The grant which was previously open to 16 to 18-year-olds is a Scottish only benefit that gives young carers a yearly payment of £390.25. The payment can be used to pay for whatever the young person wants – like driving lessons, tech to help with work or study or new clothes. The grant is available to young people who spend … Continue reading News BBC Scotland prefers not to tell you – Young carers were almost “perfect” targets for the kind of street-grooming model that operated in Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford but only SNP Government in Scotland offers unique payment to help them escape those conditions

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Scotland’s flu season starts early but with TWICE as many jags done, 30% more beds and 71% more nurses, SNP better prepared

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in Scotland in the past week, up 72%. The number of patients admitted to hospital has almost doubled too according to Public Health Scotland data, Experts have been warning of an early flu seasonwith a new variant that spreads more easily and may be more severe. Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Reporting Scotland last night had the above, missing key facts on vaccine uptake and the resilience of NHS Scotland. Here they are: Scottish Government significantly widened access to free flu vaccine to give more than twice as many, per capita, protection from worrying new mutation First, availability in England – … Continue reading Scotland’s flu season starts early but with TWICE as many jags done, 30% more beds and 71% more nurses, SNP better prepared

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English judges in England’s Supreme Court over-rule Scotland’s research based changes to protect victims of rape like this

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Professor John Robertson OBA There was little chance that the Sunday Daily Record would report this honestly as their Holyrood 2026 campaign in support of Anas Sarwar kicks on. The above victim’s mother is concerned about a recent decision by the Supreme Court in London, which though not competent in Scots Law is, in the context of the Union, superior to the highest courts in Scotland and can exert considerable pressure on them, even over-turn their verdicts, such as in the case of Nat Fraser’s murder conviction which it quashed in 2011. The Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act … Continue reading English judges in England’s Supreme Court over-rule Scotland’s research based changes to protect victims of rape like this