Tag: news

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PM Starmer still confuses references to the place over which he governs

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stewartb Labour List published the transcript of Keir Starmer’s speech at the recent British Labour Party conference. (see https://labourlist.org/2025/09/labour-conference-2025-keir-starmer-speech-in-full/ ) Despite the best efforts (?) of his speech writers, PM Starmer still confuses references to the place over which he governs. Here are some extracts from the speech, with my comments. ‘It is a great country… It will always be a great country… ………… That’s the Britain I’m fighting for, conference… A nation of resolve… A land of respect… A Britain built for all.’ – we start here with ‘Britain’ being a single country AND a single nation. ‘That’s the most important aspect of … Continue reading PM Starmer still confuses references to the place over which he governs

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‘Proud’ Englishman’s attempt to patronise Scots is embarrassing afterthought

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By Liz S On the BBC website Scottish Politics page. Starmer expresses pride in saltire as he vows UK ‘renewal’ Well actually the content of this article specifies that he , in his conference speech, stated “”I’m not just proud of the union jack and the cross of St George, I’m also proud of the saltire, proud of the red dragon, proud of our union.” So not just noting “pride” in the Saltire then….and also what Union is it that he is referring to ? Also if he is so “proud” of the Saltire then why is it that he only produces a video every year on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) on St George’s day and declares what he thinks it means … Continue reading ‘Proud’ Englishman’s attempt to patronise Scots is embarrassing afterthought

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A tale of BBC Scotland’s response to Scottish Government press releases – how widespread, how blatant is bias by omission becoming?

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By stewartb Each and every working day at 1600 hours, the Scottish Government sends out an e-mail headed ‘Daily news update’. This collates all press releases issued that day, presumably in part as an aid to journalists. You will often find one or more of the day’s topics referred to here on TuS. But by BBC Scotland or the wider mainstream media in Scotland? Not so much!  Is amplifying positive news from the present Scottish Government too much of a threat to Unionist politicians? Whilst the nature of BBC journalism in Scotland is well known to readers of this blog, … Continue reading A tale of BBC Scotland’s response to Scottish Government press releases – how widespread, how blatant is bias by omission becoming?

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NO ONE anywhere should be reviled , hated or indeed killed just because of their religion or their beliefs

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By Liz S Post the attacks on the synagogue yesterday……. “Sir Keir Starmer has promised to do “everything” in his power to protect Jewish people as he said Britain must defeat antisemitic hate“…… However what is Starmer doing to “protect Muslim people within his Britain” as surely “Britain” must also “defeat Islamophobia hate” as well ? He also said that “hatred against Jews is rising once again” but surely he also recognises the same is applicable “against Muslims”….. Let’s be honest here…. much of that hatred against Muslims stems from the language being used by people like Starmer, also other politicians (including pretend ones … Continue reading NO ONE anywhere should be reviled , hated or indeed killed just because of their religion or their beliefs

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Latest data shows just 1.8% of the Scottish population used private healthcare for inpatient and day case admissions but STV find a private healthcare boom

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Professor John Robertson OBA The above from September 2023, shows private healthcare providers (red) and MPs taking money from them to push their interests (blue £), notably then only one in Scotland – Ian Murray, Edinburgh South (Labour). https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1_vYkm4Yb_3r1SCl76qvgdR6zwqqB4u4&femb=1&ll=54.52217059297223%2C-2.3420011625000114&z=6 STV today has the above and what is essentially advertising for the Elanic Hospital in Glasgow. Typically, only at the very end of long piece do we see: A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Latest data shows just 1.8% of the Scottish population used private healthcare for inpatient and day case admissions. telling the reader that they have been reading a pack … Continue reading Latest data shows just 1.8% of the Scottish population used private healthcare for inpatient and day case admissions but STV find a private healthcare boom

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Dr Iain Kennedy linked to Labour campaign and Prof Curtice might be underestimating the intelligence of fleeing Labour voters

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Professor John Robertson OBA, Former Faculty Research Ethics Chair The word ‘ethics’ does not appear in Prof Curtice’s CV. Should I see if Dr Kennedy has any such interests? Should I check if the BMA ever considers the ethical dimensions of their surveys? I did. SFA. In the Herald today – Labour is losing ground in Scotland as NHS blame game bites, two things are intriguing. The big one is about the NHS performance so I’ll get the lesser one out of the way first: With mounting waiting lists, staff shortages, and bed-blocking crises, Scottish Labour has made the state of the … Continue reading Dr Iain Kennedy linked to Labour campaign and Prof Curtice might be underestimating the intelligence of fleeing Labour voters

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As the Herald insists island communities deserve ferry services that are fit for purpose how the Scottish Government transformed their economies in 2020

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Professor John Robertson OBA The above chart from the Evaluation of Road Equivalent Tariff [RET] on the Clyde and Hebridean Network Prepared for Transport Scotland March 2020 reveals a massive increase in ferry usage to the islands with a consequent economic boost, but increasing costs for the taxpayer in lost revenue. The comparison is based on ticket sales only and takes no account of retail revenue, which is likely to have increased as a result of the increased numbers of passengers. What is the RET? In October 2008, Transport Scotland introduced the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) fares policy as a pilot on … Continue reading As the Herald insists island communities deserve ferry services that are fit for purpose how the Scottish Government transformed their economies in 2020

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How Scottish Government support for business dwarves that of UK Government by a factor of 60!

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By stewartb From the Scottish Business section of the BBC News website (October 1): ‘Tech projects to receive share of government fund’. We’re told: ‘ScotlandIS’ Future Ready programme, which provides business support and learning resources for tech businesses across the country, and Game Space in Dundee, who support those working in the country’s gaming industry, are among the recipients of funding from the UK government’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT’s) Regional Tech programme.’ The BBC understands the two Scottish projects will each receive £30,000: the DSIT has told the BBC the money will support at least 30 businesses in Scotland. … Continue reading How Scottish Government support for business dwarves that of UK Government by a factor of 60!

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Justice secretary able to call for emergency prisoner release as released prisoners are now 27% less likely to re-offend than they were when Labour was in power

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA From BBC Scotland today: Around 470 prisoners could be released early from Scottish prisons by the end of the year. Justice secretary Angela Constance has asked parliament to pass emergency legislation that would see short-term prisoners – within 180 days of their release date – to be freed in tranches in November and December. It is the third time early release has been used in this way in Scotland since last summer. Constance said the move was necessary to prevent overcrowding after the prison population “surged” in the last three months. In a statement to MSPs, … Continue reading Justice secretary able to call for emergency prisoner release as released prisoners are now 27% less likely to re-offend than they were when Labour was in power

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Local community activists in a small US state remind us why we must oppose Labour’s nuclear plans for Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA Yesterday, in a report from the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, a grassroots environmentalist group with 7 000 members, in the US state of Iowa alone: Sierra Club Iowa Chapter urges legislators and the public to oppose the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear plant and to support Iowa’s transition to safe, clean, and renewable energy sources. On September 29, 2025, the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club hosted a press conference to address NextEra Energy’s proposal to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear plant, which has been in decommissioning since 2020. Experts in nuclear energy, public health, … Continue reading Local community activists in a small US state remind us why we must oppose Labour’s nuclear plans for Scotland