On VJ Day, a reminder that Scotland’s WW1 army war dead was a greater sacrifice, 63% higher than the rest of the UK

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA With the UK media saturated with frankly disturbing jingoism based on myths about WWII, it seems like a good moment to repeat this attempt to resolve the alleged myth that Scots had given more in blood on the WWI battlefields. On 10th August 2014, with clear political intent, the Scotsman allowed Sir Hew Strachan to confirm it as a myth: Great War worst for Scots troops ‘a myth’ https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/great-war-worst-scots-troops-myth-1529401 In Patrick Watt’s Manpower, Myth and Memory: Analysing Scotland’s Military Contribution to the Great … Continue reading On VJ Day, a reminder that Scotland’s WW1 army war dead was a greater sacrifice, 63% higher than the rest of the UK

Bus passes for under 22s – As UK Labour copy another SNP initiative BBC Scotland is instantly ready to undermine the very same in Scotland on behalf of Scottish Labour

sanctions against free travel card holders here. Professor John Robertson OBA Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Only minutes after BBC Breakfast‘s report on the plans to introduce free bus passes for young folk in England, days after we heard they will copy Scotland drink driving limits, and their mention that since 2022, everyone (their emphasis) in Scotland from 5 to 22 is entitled to free bus travel, Reporting Scotland had an oven-ready piece to undermine it. … Continue reading Bus passes for under 22s – As UK Labour copy another SNP initiative BBC Scotland is instantly ready to undermine the very same in Scotland on behalf of Scottish Labour

A warning of the terrible costs of not dealing now with English drug gangs terrorising small-town Scotland

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Record yesterday, the above headline and: Three men and a woman were jailed today after taking part in rioting that brought “great terror” to an Ayrshire village as police were forced to deploy riot officers and dog units, writes Dave Finlay. During the violent disorder in Auchinleck police came under attack with bricks and rocks and firefighters who were deployed to tackle a blaze … Continue reading A warning of the terrible costs of not dealing now with English drug gangs terrorising small-town Scotland

‘Highland police highlight rise in drug offending with violent English gangs from Birmingham, Derby, Liverpool and London ‘cuckooing’ vulnerable people to push heroin and crack cocaine’

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to France McKie for alerting me to this. In the Inverness Courier today but with not a peep from the local BBC folk [above], far less those at Pacific Quay: English drug gangs are targeting vulnerable Highlanders with increasing ruthlessness amid a rising tide of drug-related violence, exploitation and abuse. Latest figures in a 24-page Police Scotland performance report for the north division’s Highland area show … Continue reading ‘Highland police highlight rise in drug offending with violent English gangs from Birmingham, Derby, Liverpool and London ‘cuckooing’ vulnerable people to push heroin and crack cocaine’

Another reason to say no to nuclear – global warming causing more and more jellyfish blooms clogging nuclear power stations from Australia to East Lothian and forcing shutdowns

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to gavinochiltree for: Four reactors at the EDF French nuke plant at Gravelines have been forced to close down on Sunday and Monday because of a swarm of jelly fish getting into the cooling system. If it had been Hinckley Point, what would be the back up, as we scots are frequently asked about wind. And jelly fish? There are millions around the UK–check out Ayr … Continue reading Another reason to say no to nuclear – global warming causing more and more jellyfish blooms clogging nuclear power stations from Australia to East Lothian and forcing shutdowns

STV simply lie about police numbers in little more than a Labour campaign leaflet, despite 300 more police officers in Scotland since last Labour government, despite a massive fall in crime and 30% more officers than England

Professor John Robertson OBA STV, only 5 days ago had the above inaccurate claims, overtime figures found by the thoroughly discredited friend of Labour, the 1919 magazine, with an extended rant from Scottish Labour‘s Pauline McNeill. The STV report is utterly devoid of reliably sourced facts such as these: From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: July 2025 published today, some key points getting no media attention: There were 16,553 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 31 March 2025. This was 319 (+2.0%) more officers compared to the position on 31 March 2007, and 197 (+1.2%) more than on 31 March … Continue reading STV simply lie about police numbers in little more than a Labour campaign leaflet, despite 300 more police officers in Scotland since last Labour government, despite a massive fall in crime and 30% more officers than England

Scotland’s ‘top pillar’ patient safety ignored as rogue BMA Scotland’s anti-SNP agenda is exposed in dishonest report for Times

Professor John Robertson OBA The above report, two days ago, in the Times, is just the latest in a stream of BMA Scotland activity which diverges from the BMA UK‘s tendency to report favourably on the Scottish Government’s handling of the NHS (more on this below). The findings referred to are from the General Medical Council‘s 2025 National Training Survey.1 In it, the word ‘safety‘ appears 9 times but is never linked to Scotland specifically. Indeed the only link of this kind is made to Norfolk University Hospitals Foundation Trust! As for ‘Scotland‘, this only appear in four tables which … Continue reading Scotland’s ‘top pillar’ patient safety ignored as rogue BMA Scotland’s anti-SNP agenda is exposed in dishonest report for Times

Gaza protests – Why not target those who are part of the complicit Labour UK government?

By Liz S “Pro-Palestinian protesters STORM John Swinney’s Fringe appearance” There is a video on YouTube of this (via The Daily Mirror , the client media of the Labour party)…..call me cynical but there are (were) other political interviews during the Fringe and I wonder if some of these same ‘protestors’ or others will ‘protest’ or did ‘protest’ at these other political events (interviews) on the Fringe….. Anas Sarwar, from Labour was one of the other political interviewees at the Fringe and his interview was not subject to pro Palestine protests …..so why was he, as a Labour politician, exempt … Continue reading Gaza protests – Why not target those who are part of the complicit Labour UK government?

Academic’s research confirms that County Lines gangs plaguing Scottish towns and villages, fuelling drug deaths, is an exclusively English phenomenon

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Law Society of Scotland Journal in July 2025: Criminologist Ross Deuchar presents insights from his research into Scottish gang culture, and makes the case for the courts to apply supportive, problem-solving approaches to the teenagers and young adults affected. While in England young people are sent out from their own towns with drugs to be sold in provincial markets (known as ‘County Lines’ dealing; see Harding, 2020), the young men I interviewed tended to suggest that drugs are most commonly collected from afar before being brought back to Scotland and sold within or around … Continue reading Academic’s research confirms that County Lines gangs plaguing Scottish towns and villages, fuelling drug deaths, is an exclusively English phenomenon

Not another one

By Liz S Last year in October there was an article on the BBC website. “Scottish government avoids defeat over housing emergency ‘failure’” “Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar put forward the motion which was debated by MSPs at Holyrood. It was defeated by 60 votes to 54 with eight abstentions”. “Instead, a motion amended by the government which removed the claim it had failed in responding to the emergency passed by 59 votes to 55 with eight abstentions”. “Sarwar stated homelessness on the rise” and he also said “Every number a human being in need of help and every missed … Continue reading Not another one