Tag: politics

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SNP ordered separate NHS app because of need for Scotland’s better-funded, better-delivered and more integrated social care not for reasons given by Telegraph

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Telegraph, 24 November 2025: SNP ministers decided to create their much-delayed Scottish NHS app from scratch after being warned against the “political optics of adopting” the existing English version. An assessment prepared for the Scottish Government on whether to “re-use” the English NHS app admitted that it was an “already usable and scalable digital platform”. It’s not clear who did the above assessment nor is it likely that the Telegraph is reporting all of it’s views give that they have missed a key factor – integration with social care services. Perhaps reflecting England’s failure to properly develop … Continue reading SNP ordered separate NHS app because of need for Scotland’s better-funded, better-delivered and more integrated social care not for reasons given by Telegraph

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‘Westminster should learn from Holyrood before another generation pays the price.’ It would make more sense for the UK Labour Government to just replicate the Scottish Child Payment – Independent assessment

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Professor John Robertson OBA This comparative assessment of the effectiveness in reducing child poverty with Labour’s newly announced Child Poverty Strategy or Scotland’s now established Child Payment has not been directly biased in favour of the views of Labour, the SNP or me but, unavoidably, will have been impacted by the weight of the recent media presence of the former. Nevertheless, I feel sure that Grok AI does not have a dog in this fight, based on my recent experience with it, when it comes to the Scottish context. So, will Labour’s new child poverty strategy work as well as … Continue reading ‘Westminster should learn from Holyrood before another generation pays the price.’ It would make more sense for the UK Labour Government to just replicate the Scottish Child Payment – Independent assessment

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‘Grooming gangs’ – As Herald platforms Tories to reveal their squalid purpose, Scottish Government appoints a real expert

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Professor John Robertson OBA The abovementioned calls are from a expected quarter: You see that first line in the second paragraph? They already know that there are grooming gangs in Scotland like the ones in Rochdale and other midland towns, which have raped thousands of young white girls from badly -run care homes. There’s no point having an inquiry if you already know the answer. I know a different answer and mine is based on Police Scotland advice to the First Minister – there are none like the ones in England. In different times the Police Scotland verdict might have … Continue reading ‘Grooming gangs’ – As Herald platforms Tories to reveal their squalid purpose, Scottish Government appoints a real expert

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Why do Scotland’s deprived areas NOT have the most troubled hospitals?

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian yesterday, the above and: Blackpool report: why do England’s deprived areas have the most troubled hospitals? The findings of the report into Blackpool Victoria hospital are as shocking as they are damning: a culture of bullying, racial discrimination and harassment that has contributed to a staff exodus with a direct impact on patients. The treatment of chronic disease, including Parkinson’s, were just some of the areas blighted by what appears to be a toxic culture. But the Royal College of Physicians report, leaked to the Guardian, exposes much broader challenges for the NHS – and … Continue reading Why do Scotland’s deprived areas NOT have the most troubled hospitals?

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They so want Rutherglen to be like Rochdale but from Police Scotland – ‘No current investigations in Scotland involving offences against children which would mirror the investigations [in England] described in Baroness Casey’s audit as being perpetrated by “grooming gangs”

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Professor John Robertson OBA They will not give up. They smell blood and tears and with Joani Reid’s help they will make sure enough Scots think we have rape grooming gangs too and so are no different. Why do they want this? To keep SNP supporters at home. Readers will be aware no doubt of new Labour MP Joani Reid’s shameless u-turn on national inquiries into grooming gangs – no in England where they are many, to save her boss a red face, but yes in Scotland, where there are none, proving that as Jimmy Reid’s granddaughter, the apple can fall pretty … Continue reading They so want Rutherglen to be like Rochdale but from Police Scotland – ‘No current investigations in Scotland involving offences against children which would mirror the investigations [in England] described in Baroness Casey’s audit as being perpetrated by “grooming gangs”

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Any Scottish stand-up – “Honestly, at this rate the only thing Great British Energy is powering is my material for the next five years.”

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I’m using AI increasingly. I trust it more than most journalists or thinktanks to tell me the truth. Grok AI time after time reveals no agenda on Scottish independence. Professor John Robertson OBA Only BBC Scotland is going with this ridiculous line: Great British Energy (GBE) says its investments aim to support at least 10,000 jobs over the next five years, with a focus on areas historically dependent on oil and gas. See that ‘support’? I seem to remember the word ‘creation’ was in their aims only a few months ago. Let’s ask AI: Yes, job creation was explicitly one … Continue reading Any Scottish stand-up – “Honestly, at this rate the only thing Great British Energy is powering is my material for the next five years.”

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Let’s be sure we learn this lesson from history as global uranium demand and Labour’s nuclear plans threaten the lives of the people of the Orkney Islands

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Professor John Robertson OBA As Donald Trump‘s push for increased uranium production stirs up community media across the USA, a reminder of the risks in Scotland too. From In These Times, yesterday, the above and: When the uranium market dried up, companies simply abandoned the mines, a phenomenon so common there’s a term for it: AUM, or ​“abandoned uranium mine.” Now, the mines stand as toxic monuments to America’s nuclear weapons and energy programs. People are still dying, and the abandoned mines are still not remediated. Yet the United States is pushing ahead with a $1.7 trillion plan to expand and ​“modernize” nuclear weapons, and … Continue reading Let’s be sure we learn this lesson from history as global uranium demand and Labour’s nuclear plans threaten the lives of the people of the Orkney Islands

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Nearly £300 for carers only in Scotland in run-up to Christmas

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Professor John Robertson OBA From December payment for thousands of Scots carers published yesterday: Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be paid to more than 96,000 carers across Scotland from 4 December. Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment, currently made twice a year, for people in Scotland who get Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying dates. The payment of £293.50, which is only available in Scotland, will be made automatically from 4 December to people who were paid Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on 13 October 2025. Carers due to get the payment will get a letter … Continue reading Nearly £300 for carers only in Scotland in run-up to Christmas

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UK Labour Health Minister seems unaware that US tech firm which supplies Israeli forces and which risks patient safety will not allow his scheme to make money out of patient data but has no presence in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dorothy for this. From the FT yesterday: The UK should “leverage” its new health data storage service for the “benefit of the Treasury coffers”, a health minister has said, as well as accelerating the discovery of new treatments for NHS patients.  Zubir Ahmed said in an interview that the government’s new Health Data Research Service (HDRS) will give researchers a single access point to national datasets for the first time and unlock “the power” of NHS data. “There is no shame in saying, we have world leading examples of high quality care and high … Continue reading UK Labour Health Minister seems unaware that US tech firm which supplies Israeli forces and which risks patient safety will not allow his scheme to make money out of patient data but has no presence in Scotland

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Submissive Ayr MP feeds English Health Secretary with lies about her own NHS which is far better than his and betrays all the staff in her constituency

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Professor John Robertson OBA On 25 November, Elaine Stewart, MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, joined the tragic trail of Scottish Labour MPs prepared misrepresent their own NHS boards in order to win favour with the UK Labour leadership. Here are the facts she dare not mention: From NHS waiting times – stage of treatment published yesterday, the above impressive signs of progress. with increasing numbers treated yet plummeting longer waits. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times-inpatients-day-cases-and-new-outpatients-25-november-2025/ Important note – These latest statistics up to 31 October 2025 cover all patients waiting for a new outpatient appointment or treatment as an inpatient or day case, as well as … Continue reading Submissive Ayr MP feeds English Health Secretary with lies about her own NHS which is far better than his and betrays all the staff in her constituency