A more upbeat song for Scotland than the wilting flower?

Professor John Robertson OBA For decades, I’ve wanted to write the lyrics for songs but could never find a collaborator. Recently I’ve turned to AI for the tunes and the performance – what else can I do? I’ve written this song with a view to persuading reluctant Yes voters that independence is not exile. We’d still be good friends to the many good folk, not just their relatives and friends, when Scotland is free to run its own affairs. We’re not going away in any physical sense and if the going got tough, we’d still be there with them, barring … Continue reading A more upbeat song for Scotland than the wilting flower?

Scotsman lies barefaced about pandemic lockdown effects on developmental delays in toddlers and fails to ask if UK Government austerity was a major factor

Professor John Robertson OBA Above how BBC Scotland reported on developmental delays in toddlers during the pandemic. The Scotsman however, had: That’s a clear lie and it’s not qualified, and at that only very very slightly until the 7th paragraph when we see ‘associated with’ as opposed to ’caused: Unless the reporter is thick-as-a-brick, what is the Scotsman’s agenda here? To join the pile-on demonising of Nicola Sturgeon in the Covid inquiry process? Was it hard to understand the University of Edinburgh news release? Covid lockdown linked to child development issues – Lockdown and social distancing measures during the Covid-19 … Continue reading Scotsman lies barefaced about pandemic lockdown effects on developmental delays in toddlers and fails to ask if UK Government austerity was a major factor

3.5 MILLION children could be lifted out of poverty if the Labour Party in England and Wales copied the Scottish Child Payment unique in Europe and in the long-term really costing nothing

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government yesterday: More than 300,000 children supported by Scottish Child Payment Social Security Scotland’s Scottish Child Payment is supporting 322,230 children across the country, newly published figures show.  Launched in February 2021, the Scotland-only benefit gives families with low incomes crucial financial support to help with the cost of raising children. The weekly payment of £27.15 is paid every four weeks for every eligible child under the age of 16 within a household.  https://www.gov.scot/news/more-than-300-000-children-supported-by-scottish-child-payment/ If Labour in England and Wales did the same, they’d lift around 3.5 million children out of poverty. Why … Continue reading 3.5 MILLION children could be lifted out of poverty if the Labour Party in England and Wales copied the Scottish Child Payment unique in Europe and in the long-term really costing nothing

Community owned assets surge in Scotland up to 14% higher than in England

Professor John Robertson OBA From Community Ownership in Scotland 2024, published today, the above and: This publication reports the number of assets in community ownership which are recorded by the Scottish Government. There are several initiatives which have been put in place to enable community ownership.  There are several initiatives which have been put in place to enable community ownership. The Scottish Land Fund, as it is now known, was founded in 2001. It now supports both rural and urban communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of assets. Legislation concerning land reform commencing in 2004 (Land … Continue reading Community owned assets surge in Scotland up to 14% higher than in England

Scotland sees major falls in violent crime, housebreaking and drug possession but the Herald only sees the dark side

Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald has an agenda and it’s so clear above – Crime is rising and the SNP is to blame. I have an agenda too but unlike the MSM I’ve never sought to hide it – some things are improving and we need media balance so that people can correctly assess the quality of their lives under the SNP. They’re selective to paint a dark picture. I’m selective to try and balance that. They are correct about sexual crimes though there is research suggesting the increase is at least in part about a greater willingness to … Continue reading Scotland sees major falls in violent crime, housebreaking and drug possession but the Herald only sees the dark side

An new Scots Wha Hae by Bill Warren with a fantastic catalogue of TuS links at the end

Bill Warren sent me this today. I’m stunned, deeply impressed. I was further stunned when I found the above by another Warren whom I cannot trace – any connection Bill? The same theme was allegedly played in 1429 by the Franco-Scots army at the siege of Orléans in front of Joan of Arc. ScotsWhaHae.OnlineBest viewed in Landscape on your mobileLinks to evidence at end of line with a ctrl click WHY VOTE FOR SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE? SCOTS WHA HAE WI’ WALLACE BLEDScots wham Bruce has aften ledFREE YOURSELVES FROM WESTMINSTER LED  BREXIT AND AUSTERITYNow’s the day and Now’s the hourScotland again a Sovereign PowerIf you … Continue reading An new Scots Wha Hae by Bill Warren with a fantastic catalogue of TuS links at the end

There is NO evidence that NHS Scotland directed pregnant women to controversial Free Birth Society via a charity nor is there credible evidence that a single Scot was influenced by them

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today, the above and: The NHS has been directing pregnant women to a website that connected them to the Free Birth Society, an organisation that has been linked to baby deaths around the world after promoting labour without medical support. A number of NHS trusts are directing women who are contemplating a “free birth” to a charity website that until Monday referred to FBS podcasts as a source of “empowering stories” that can help British women “preparing for their own birth”. I’ve searched manually the Guardian’s four recent reports on the Free Birth Society and … Continue reading There is NO evidence that NHS Scotland directed pregnant women to controversial Free Birth Society via a charity nor is there credible evidence that a single Scot was influenced by them

Nothing in Scotland looks anything like the mass child grooming rape gangs in England but Paul Hutcheon and Jimmy Reid’s granddaughter seem to think it’d be great for Scottish Labour’s campaign

Professor John Robertson OBA The Record‘s Paul Hutcheon and Labour‘s Joani Reid are at it again today desperate to have rape grooming gangs here too in the hope that the SNP can be blamed for them and just in time to save Anas for the May 2026 Holyrood elections. I’ll repeat the evidence that totally refutes the notion but first, look at that frontpage from October 2025 on the right. Why would you want a photo of yourself smiling in that context and use the phrase ‘we need?‘ I’m no psychologist but is the smile not a bit sociopathic and … Continue reading Nothing in Scotland looks anything like the mass child grooming rape gangs in England but Paul Hutcheon and Jimmy Reid’s granddaughter seem to think it’d be great for Scottish Labour’s campaign

Trafficked child refugees in the ‘UK’ – researchers seem unaware of more humane and caring approach with guardians in Scotland

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: More than 2,000 children who have been trafficked or who arrived in the UK alone to claim asylum disappeared from social services’ care last year, according to freedom of information data shared with the Guardian. The authors of a report, Until Harm Ends, submitted FoI requests to children’s services departments in councils across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland asking for information about trafficked children and those who arrived alone in the UK and claimed asylum, who then went missing after being taken into care. Data from 135 local authorities revealed that out of 2,335 … Continue reading Trafficked child refugees in the ‘UK’ – researchers seem unaware of more humane and caring approach with guardians in Scotland

As Labour Junior Minister accuses NHS Scotland of ‘airbrushing’ performance figures his own performance figures were defended by Jackie Baillie

Professor John Robertson OBA Michael Shanks MP, now a junior minister for energy has been caught accusing NHS Scotland of presenting statistics in the same way as Labour Wales and Now Labour England do. I doubt he’ll ever feel obliged to apologise. It reminded me of his Rutherglen election campaign in July 2024 where Jackie Baillie accused me of unethical campaigning against him when I dug up attainment statistics which seemed to suggest a downturn for his school’s Modern Studies department during his time there, working hard, to become the Labour candidate, including, famously, running along every street in Glasgow. … Continue reading As Labour Junior Minister accuses NHS Scotland of ‘airbrushing’ performance figures his own performance figures were defended by Jackie Baillie