Tag: politics

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More good ideas for winning the voters round to the pro-independence parties including honesty about the England team

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I’m indebted to one of the many Ann Onymouses who comment on TuS, for sharing this with me. Earlier today, I wrote: The SNP can win again if they learn from the US Democrat’s defeat – don’t respond to opposition ‘facts’, frame the argument as strength and do not move to the right as that only convinces voters that the right has better ideas https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2024/11/18/the-snp-can-win-again-if-they-learn-from-the-us-democrats-defeat-dont-respond-to-opposition-facts-frame-the-argument-as-strength-and-do-not-move-to-the-right-as-that-only-convinces-voters-t/ In essence, this argues that the leadership should ignore the flak, like Trump, dismiss it all as biased, present as strong and caring, frame the argument around the values that the majority will vote for … Continue reading More good ideas for winning the voters round to the pro-independence parties including honesty about the England team

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Will the Scottish Conservatives call for a full ban on double jobbing for their own distracted colleagues?

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In a sad, desperate and fearful attempt to keep Stephen Flynn out of Holyrood, the Scottish Conservatives are calling for a vote to ban “double jobbing” in the wake of Stephen Flynn’s bid to stand as both an MSP and MP. I agree that if elected to Holyrood in May 2026, he should stand down from his Westminster seat. However, I smell something corrupt when the Scottish Cons attempt to climb windily on to a high horse. Being an MP and MSP even in the same geographical area is a push but a wee look at some of jobs the … Continue reading Will the Scottish Conservatives call for a full ban on double jobbing for their own distracted colleagues?

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Police Scotland NEVER in special measures but THREE English forces still are – here’s why

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By Professor John Robertson OBA I know, Operation Branchform is a disgrace but, to be fair, when the security services tell the chief of police what to do, they have to do it. Today, the widely-read international policing journal, Policing Insight, has: A record number of police forces in England and Wales have been put into special measures (formally known as ‘Engage’) over the past three years – but what does Engage mean, and how do forces move out of it? Policing Insight’s James Sweetland spoke to HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke, as well as two Chief Constables who have … Continue reading Police Scotland NEVER in special measures but THREE English forces still are – here’s why

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Scotland has one of shortest gynaecology waiting lists but gets BBC Scotland’s bad news while Northern Ireland with more than twice as many waiting doesn’t seem to need to know that

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland’s and BBC Northern Ireland’s main pages above – spot the difference? Should Northern Ireland be told this? Maybe fewer women there are being left in pain? See this from the BBC Health report: Wow? BBC England is not covering the story. BBC Wales is, as they should, but why is BBC Scotland’s news editor choosing it, given the above graph? Is this just more of the thinking behind yesterday’s rape fake news? See: Today, the BBC Scotland News Editor (James Cook) chooses to include 2 rape reports in the 7 top stories. BBC England, Wales and Northern … Continue reading Scotland has one of shortest gynaecology waiting lists but gets BBC Scotland’s bad news while Northern Ireland with more than twice as many waiting doesn’t seem to need to know that

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The SNP can win again if they learn from the US Democrat’s defeat – don’t respond to opposition ‘facts’, frame the argument as strength and do not move to the right as that only convinces voters that the right has better ideas

johnrobertson834

I’m grateful to stewartb for alerting me to this: How could so many people vote for someone who does not have their best interests at heart? Because people don’t necessarily vote their self-interest. Instead, they vote their values. Moving forward, Democrats must stop making these superficial, last-minute lurches toward Republican ideas. They must frame the case not as left or right, but for the people and the public good. Moving to the right only convinces voters that the right has better ideas. It’s a desperate short-term strategy with harmful long-term consequences. These two quotes are from Some lessons of the … Continue reading The SNP can win again if they learn from the US Democrat’s defeat – don’t respond to opposition ‘facts’, frame the argument as strength and do not move to the right as that only convinces voters that the right has better ideas

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Why facts don’t change our minds but framing does

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By stewartb Intuitively ‘facts’ should form a key part of informing, rebutting and changing views, but what impact do ‘facts’ actually have on voting intentions? There are many studies of human behaviour in elections in western democracies – albeit mostly focused on the USA – that, worryingly, question the role played by ‘facts’. As one example, a review of some leading academic studies published in New Yorker magazine in 2017 had this headline: ‘Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds – New discoveries about the human mind show the limitations of reason.’ Here are some extracts to give a sense of its content: I’d … Continue reading Why facts don’t change our minds but framing does

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Winner of ‘fake health news’ award churns out ‘fake health news ‘ on NHS Scotland to hide its clear-cut superiority

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Helen Puttick, ‘Scottish Health Correspondent’, above, winner the 2023 Sarah Hughes Trust Prize ‘for journalism that exposes misleading health information’ was in the Times on Saturday past with: SNP’s failure to reform has left NHS in Scotland flatlining. In England Wes Streeting is demanding change in return for extra funding but north of the border the service continues to stagnate under Neil Gray. As Neil Gray, Scottish health secretary, defended his chauffeur-driven trips to watch his favourite football team this week, frontline medical staff in Scotland wondered if there may yet be another changing of the guard. … Continue reading Winner of ‘fake health news’ award churns out ‘fake health news ‘ on NHS Scotland to hide its clear-cut superiority

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Rape – how ‘your’ media choose to make you feel and how you feel affects how you vote

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Today, the BBC Scotland News Editor (James Cook) chooses to include 2 rape reports in the 7 top stories. BBC England, Wales and Northern Ireland have none. Will that just be because there were none to report? There were 67 928 reported rape offences in England and Wales last year.1 There were 294 reported rapes and attempted rapes (rape offences) in Scotland, in the same year.2 There were, thus, 231 times (67 928 / 294) as many rape offences in England in Wales and even per head of population, rape offences were (231/11) 21 times as many. … Continue reading Rape – how ‘your’ media choose to make you feel and how you feel affects how you vote

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Shock as some heart ops no longer possible in NHS Wales but Health Secretary not questioned

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Wales, yesterday: Some major vascular operations will no longer be going ahead in north Wales, a health board has announced. Betsi Cadwaladr health board said it was pausing its provision of planned and emergency open abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA) surgery to help improve its other care. The health board confirmed there had been an “incident”, but said the decision was not based solely on this and other vascular care would continue as normal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp58z7pr2o Wow! Dramatic news. The Health Secretary will be challenged? Nope Opposition politicians call it a scandal? Nope, not a word. How … Continue reading Shock as some heart ops no longer possible in NHS Wales but Health Secretary not questioned

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Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Breakfast this morning looked at the increasing cost of living, in particular council tax increases. They didn’t compare costs across the UK. In March 2024: While Labour, Tory and LibDem councils tried to impose big council tax hikes, it was an SNP government which has protected family budgets during this cost-of-living crisis. As well as showing a clear difference between the SNP and the Westminster parties, it also stands as an example to show voters how decisions made in Scotland prove better for the people of Scotland. It was the SNP that delivered a policy to protect people during … Continue reading Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze