Tag: politics

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Polish academic knows thsat Scotland is leading the way in East Asian boom but ‘Scottish’ media to busy with other trivia

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Professor John Robertson OBA In East Asia Forum, by Tomasz Kominski of the University of Lodz, in July 2024, but nowhere in the ‘Scottish’ media at the time, I feel sure, the above, and: As the epicentre of global business shifts decisively toward East Asia, small sub-national European governments are increasingly drawn to engage more robustly with this dynamic region. Scotland, stressing the importance of its links with Asian partners in its strategic documents, is at the forefront of this movement. The motivations are clear — economic opportuni , ambitions to tackle global problems and strategic positioning. Attracting foreign investors … Continue reading Polish academic knows thsat Scotland is leading the way in East Asian boom but ‘Scottish’ media to busy with other trivia

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Glenn Campbell only wants the SNP to be seen as #Bad

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Liz S In the above, Glenn Campbell: “The SNP leader John Swinney has certainly acknowledged a third, red rosette wearing Horse in this race”. “My sense is that his comment came as something of a relief to Scottish Labour, who came second last time and expect to be regarded as the principal challenger to the SNP, who are defending the seat”. Labour could certainly do with a win here“. Glenn for Labour. Why he, Campbell, then also had to add this into this article on the website: “The arithmetic already takes into account a series of SNP controversies over independence strategy, gender self-identification, a police investigation into party … Continue reading Glenn Campbell only wants the SNP to be seen as #Bad

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Herald’s Kevin McKenna casts serious doubt on his pro-independence credentials as he walks with and is ‘most impressed’ by an extreme Unionist

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Liz S Kevin McKenna has written an article for the Herald. He tweeted this today: “I walked the streets of Larkhall with Reform UK. What I saw and heard should trouble John Swinney and Anas Sarwar greatly: my despatch for @HerladScotland” Hmm, but what was the Reform UK candidate saying to these people in Larkhall, as that for me, is far far more ‘troubling’ to be honest. Now I remember when Kevin McKenna wrote this on 2 September 2023 in a tweet: “I spent an afternoon on the stump of Burnbank with the most impressive Conservative I’ve ever encountered. My feature on Thomas Kerr … Continue reading Herald’s Kevin McKenna casts serious doubt on his pro-independence credentials as he walks with and is ‘most impressed’ by an extreme Unionist

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Douglas Ross List Tory MSP……..also……..a………

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Liz S Douglas Ross List Tory MSP……..also……..a……… Attention seeker and clearly a total political lost cause , who now seeks to try and make himself relevant again in pulling a stunt (not for the first time) in him trying to heckle the FM when he, the FM, was speaking in parliament. Ross has form in being reprimanded by the Presiding officer for his bad behaviour in the debating chamber at Holyrood , but he chooses to take absolutely no heed of any former warnings that he has had for ‘talking over the FM’ (heckling) and so this time , for doing … Continue reading Douglas Ross List Tory MSP……..also……..a………

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Is Anas Sarwar so awful that he can neither be trusted nor considered competent enough to campaign?

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By Liz S Angela Rayner came to Scotland to campaign for the up and coming Scottish parliament by-election in the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse seat , where she refused to speak to any Scottish newspapers. She had to abandon her plans though due to pro Palestinian protestors holding a demonstration outside the Labour in Scotland’s office in Hamilton. What is it with these two Tory HQ parties, as in one who are actually called the Tory party and the other one that is Tory in all but party name (as in the new Starmer Labour party), who both want to avoid all media scrutiny in Scotland yet they … Continue reading Is Anas Sarwar so awful that he can neither be trusted nor considered competent enough to campaign?

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If spend by Westminster/Whitehall on Scotland’s behalf is made in England, the economic benefit will accrue to England

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stewartb ‘The multiplier effect is one of the most important concepts you can use when applying, analysing and evaluating the effects of changes in government spending and taxation.’ It’s hard to understate this! A TuS blog post (May 19, 2025) entitled How the ‘Scottish’ media have singularly failed to investigate and fully report on the true state of the ferry services’ had this: ‘on the decision taken to procure two large CalMac ferries from Ferguson’s and then to nationalise the yard, the mainstream media studiously avoids any consideration of the economic benefits derived from sustaining employment in the yard and its domestic supply chain. … Continue reading If spend by Westminster/Whitehall on Scotland’s behalf is made in England, the economic benefit will accrue to England

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Stunning US study makes clear the enormous wider benefits of building the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa ferries on the Clyde

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Professor John Robertson OBA From the Washington State, USA, based Lynwood Times yesterday: A new independent study by Pennsylvania-based Martin Associates confirms the economic value of building the new Washington State Ferries hybrid fleet in-state, showing that each ferry constructed in the state would generate 1,298 jobs and $31.9 million in state and local taxes. Washington State Ferries, which operates the largest ferry system in the nation, solicited bids this spring to build five new hybrid ferries over a six- to eight-year period with a budget of $1.3 billion. The new hybrid electric ferries have 160-car capacity to support growing … Continue reading Stunning US study makes clear the enormous wider benefits of building the Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa ferries on the Clyde

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Crime confirmed as really continuing to fall, based on three sources, to remain at roughly 1 in 10 experiencing crime directly from 1 in 5 under Labour

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: May 2025, published today: Police recorded crime is down 1% since year ending December 2023, and remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic. The total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland in the year ending December 2024 was 298,308. This was 3,768 crimes (or 1%) lower than the level recorded in the year ending December 2023. Crime has fallen by 53% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) show that around one in ten adults were victims of crime in … Continue reading Crime confirmed as really continuing to fall, based on three sources, to remain at roughly 1 in 10 experiencing crime directly from 1 in 5 under Labour

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Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC England today, the above and: Complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing in England are more than five times higher than five years ago, according to the housing watchdog. Housing Ombudsman Richard Blakeway told the BBC an “imbalance of power” in the tenant-landlord relationship was leading to “simmering anger” among those living in social housing. He warned without change England risked the “managed decline” of social housing. Asbestos, electrical and fire safety issues, pest control and leaks, damp and mould are among the complaints, the watchdog receives. According to the ombudsman’s report, there … Continue reading Social housing complaints in England between 40% and 155% higher than in Scotland

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What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have

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By Liz S Vote Reform and chances are you are then voting Tory. How many ‘Scottish’ but really ‘UK’ Tory Councillors is that now who have defected to Reform UK ? What is this strange collective epiphany that they, as Tory Councillors, have all had, that as party defections , have far exceeded any other party also having their own politicians similarly defecting in large numbers to Reform UK as well ? Is anyone in the media investigating or speculating why this is ? Is the downward spiral of the Tory party and the reported ascension of Reform UK in … Continue reading What is this strange ‘Reforming’ collective epiphany that Tory councillors often have