Tag: politics

1 Comment

Rail fares to go up by shocking 21% more in England than in Scotland despite far fewer views like this

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA, Travel Correspondent BBC Scotland this morning, on various cost-of-living increases in the next few days felt the need to remind us that Scotrail fares had gone up ‘nearly 4%.’ That was 3.8% on 31 January 2025. Back then, they had also felt the need to tell us all this: Opposition parties said the price rise would “hammer” passengers who would be “dismayed” at having to pay more despite regular disruption to rail services. Scottish Labour’s transport spokeswoman Claire Baker said the price increase would “hammer” rail passengers and “consign ScotRail to a spiral of decline”. She … Continue reading Rail fares to go up by shocking 21% more in England than in Scotland despite far fewer views like this

4 Comments

Latest research – London School of Economics say 700,000 children could be lifted out of poverty by following Scotland’s approach but no media coverage in ‘trusted’ Herald

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA From the LSE two days ago, the above, being carefully ignored by the BBC and UK MSM, and: Recent days have seen a round of cuts announced to social security, which the UK Government’s own impact assessment shows will increase poverty. But new analysis shows that the Westminster government could cut child poverty in the UK by a sixth if they were to match Scotland’s investment in social security. The analysis comes as the annual poverty statistics show that a growing gap is emerging between the poverty rates of Scottish children, when compared to those in … Continue reading Latest research – London School of Economics say 700,000 children could be lifted out of poverty by following Scotland’s approach but no media coverage in ‘trusted’ Herald

Leave a comment

Social care – the British Labour Party in government is no more the ‘solution’ to the problems facing the sector in England than the Tories

johnrobertson834

By stewartb Problems with social care? Just in Scotland? Is the British Labour Party in government in Westminster solving the resourcing issues underlying social care problems in England? It seems that the British Labour Party in government is no more the ‘solution’ to the problems facing the sector in England than the Tories! Indeed they seem to be contributing to their continuation. Given this, why would the British Labour Party in government in Holyrood be the ‘solution’ for Scotland? Nuffield Trust (March 26, 2025) Nuffield Trust response to the Spring Statement – press release. (https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/nuffield-trust-response-to-the-spring-statement) ‘Adult social care has once again … Continue reading Social care – the British Labour Party in government is no more the ‘solution’ to the problems facing the sector in England than the Tories

3 Comments

Welfare cuts – The British Labour Party in Scotland is in a sorry state – ‘red Tories’ indeed!

johnrobertson834

By stewartb Recall that on March 27, 2025 the BBC News website had this headline: ‘Sarwar defends UK government welfare cuts’. ‘Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has defended the UK government’s controversial welfare reforms. Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed £5bn of cuts in the Spring Statement in a bid to meet self-imposed debt rules. The cuts have been condemned by charities, Holyrood ministers and some Scottish Labour politicians. Now by way of contrast, on March 28, the BBC News website has this headline in its Wales section: ‘First minister refuses to back welfare cuts’. ‘Wales’ first minister has refused to back … Continue reading Welfare cuts – The British Labour Party in Scotland is in a sorry state – ‘red Tories’ indeed!

2 Comments

Why Reform UK is not the solution for Scotland

johnrobertson834

By Liz S There is no doubt that the obvious failure of 14 years of various Tory UK governments and now also the obvious failure of a new Labour (Tory) UK government since 2024 , who as the new Labour (Tory) UK government, are seemingly determined to go down the same cruel, disastrous and dangerous path as the previous Tory governments went , has now left voters feeling tremendously let down by politics and also by (pro) UK political parties. We, and others, know 100% that Reform UK are not the solution, as in the panacea, to the woes people have suffered … Continue reading Why Reform UK is not the solution for Scotland

7 Comments

Child poverty – Labour’s deep hypocrisy

johnrobertson834

By stewartb The BBC News website on March 27 2025 had this headline: UK child poverty numbers reach a record high’. It repeated: ’An extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, will be pushed into relative poverty by these changes, according to the government’s own impact assessment.’ Of course the party of government referred to is the British Labour Party, the same party that wishes us to vote it into government in Holyrood in 2026. The very same party that ‘Scotland’s Champion’, the Daily Record urged us to vote for in the 2024 UK General Election and will no doubt support in … Continue reading Child poverty – Labour’s deep hypocrisy

11 Comments

Infrastructure projects can stay in Scotland and take advantage of the speed of light

johnrobertson834

By Liz S “Major infrastructure projects currently planned for Scotland being switched to other parts of the UK”. Is this another way of the BBC communicating (threatening) some people in Scotland would be better to STFU or else . I mean if we are talking “Energy” and “losing out” well the Labour Energy Secretary, Ed Milliband, tweeted this on 21 March 2025: “Great British Energy is coming to you. Our publicly-owned energy company is rolling out solar panels for schools and NHS sites across England. Cutting bills and saving money for frontline services”. “Coming to you” ? Like coming to the … Continue reading Infrastructure projects can stay in Scotland and take advantage of the speed of light

5 Comments

Labour to push 250,000 people into poverty but Gordon Brown campaigns against it apparently untroubled by the contradictions

johnrobertson834

stewartb While we’re on the subject of egregious omissions in the wake of Labour’s ‘Spring Statement’ … From Birmingham Live on March 12, 2025 this headline: ‘Former PM Gordon Brown in Birmingham backs child poverty urgent action call’. We’re told the sage of British Labour in Scotland and saviour of solidarity in the precious Union attended an event at which: ‘He took the opportunity to press fellow guest, Government employment minister Alison McGovern, to do more to fix child poverty. She is one of three ministers leading the Child Poverty Taskforce set up by Sir Keir Starmer and due to report its … Continue reading Labour to push 250,000 people into poverty but Gordon Brown campaigns against it apparently untroubled by the contradictions

3 Comments

Why has there been a massive but unreported reduction in the number of children on the child protection register in Scotland and a widening gap with the other 3 nations?

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair This caught me off-guard today. I was astonished to read this and to see that it is not a major news item for ‘our’ media. From the Scottish Government, yesterday: On 31 July 2024, 2,129 children were on the child protection register, representing a 3% increase on 2023 (2,077) and a 26% decrease on 2014 (2,877). During the year, 3,167 children were registered onto the child protection register, representing a 2% decrease on 2022-23 (3,234) and a 31% decrease on 2013-14 (4,622). https://www.gov.scot/publications/childrens-social-work-statistics-child-protection-2023-24/ These are massive reductions in only 10 years … Continue reading Why has there been a massive but unreported reduction in the number of children on the child protection register in Scotland and a widening gap with the other 3 nations?

1 Comment

Scotland has been putting patient safety first since 2007 and former Labour or Tory Health Secretaries could have copied us but didn’t

johnrobertson834

Professor John Robertson OBA It’s a bit much, Jeremy Hunt now worrying about patient safety, 15 years after he could have learned how to do it, 18 years after Labour could have, from SNP-led Scotland. In the Guardian, yesterday, the above, and: I am worried about something else being missed. In the huge blizzard of organisational change, there is a risk of eyes going off the ball when it comes to broader patient safety risks. In December, the charity I set up, Patient Safety Watch, published a report put together by a team of people at Imperial College London led by Prof … Continue reading Scotland has been putting patient safety first since 2007 and former Labour or Tory Health Secretaries could have copied us but didn’t