Tag: politics

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Sickening hypocrisy – Will the Browns now condemn Starmer as their research project proves that poverty risks the development of babies as much as premature birth?

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Professor John Robertson OBA Only 18 paragraphs down in this headlining story, after much detail on the loss of a baby to former PM Gordon Brown and his wife, do we see this key finding mentioned: Prof James Boardman, from the University of Edinburgh, is the cohort’s chief investigator. His team uses a series of brain scans and psychological studies at various ages. He says one of the key findings so far is that poverty has an impact on brain development. “It would be fair to say that a baby born at full term to a more deprived couple has … Continue reading Sickening hypocrisy – Will the Browns now condemn Starmer as their research project proves that poverty risks the development of babies as much as premature birth?

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The English Connection keeping Scotland’s drug deaths high

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Graham for alerting me to the above: In just one day, Aberdeen’s P&J has two reports of English drug gangs occupying homes in the city to sell new more powerful low cost drugs and, in so doing keep drug deaths high, despite the efforts of the SNP Government which has oversight of a world-leading opium overdose reversal drug programme (Naloxone) and a drug treatment programme running a a target-busting 95%+ treated within three weeks. The P&J has been reporting this plague for years. In December 2021, more than three years ago, the had In … Continue reading The English Connection keeping Scotland’s drug deaths high

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Prison Inspectors reveal that 80% of Barlinnie is not in a ‘wretchedly poor state’ and should know that the first phase of the early release programme was never meant to be the long-term solution

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helped ease the pressure on Scotland’s biggest jail but has done nothing to solve the long-term issue of overcrowding. Professor John Robertson OBA I’ll come back the ‘long-term solution‘ but first the other most popular media extract from the Inspector’s report: BBC Scotland today – Barlinnie jail in ‘wretchedly poor state’ – inspectors The Herald today – Barlinnie in ‘wretchedly poor state’ as new prison waits mount All of the media have pounced on the Inspector’s report from 18-22 November 2024 and have been delighted to find on page 5, just as the wee souls were about to tire: Our … Continue reading Prison Inspectors reveal that 80% of Barlinnie is not in a ‘wretchedly poor state’ and should know that the first phase of the early release programme was never meant to be the long-term solution

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How death due to a cancer screening error in Scotland is different from one in England

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Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Leicestershire today has the above and: The family of a mother who died from cervical cancer after twice being wrongly told she had negative results have been awarded undisclosed damages. The misreporting of Louise Gleadell’s cervical screening results was admitted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust following her death aged 38 in March 2018. An internal review in 2017 found the samples, taken four years apart, were not good enough to produce reliable results but neither Ms Gleadell – a mum to three boys – nor her relatives were told about the “inadequate” samples … Continue reading How death due to a cancer screening error in Scotland is different from one in England

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How ‘two 13-year-olds charged after Scottish primary hit by ‘sectarian arson attacks’ tells us to calm down

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Professor John Robertson OBA In the National today and no doubt all over the Scottish media with dramatic headlines, two 13 year-olds are charged with vandalism in the form of ‘anti-Catholic‘ graffiti on the wall of a primary school. I do feel for the staff, parents and the children. It will have been unsettling and it is unacceptable. I was pleased that the FM will visit the school to show support but let’s keep things in perspective. This is not evidence of surging or worsening hate crimes against Catholics. Hate crime based on religion, including against Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and … Continue reading How ‘two 13-year-olds charged after Scottish primary hit by ‘sectarian arson attacks’ tells us to calm down

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FACTCHECK – How the former Lambeth councillor and helicoptered-in Labour MP lies about NHS Scotland and NHS England

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Professor John Robertson OBA From PMQs yesterday, Imogen Walker MP, fed the PM with these demonstrably questionable statements. In Hamilton and Clyde valley my constituents are struggling to access the health care that they desperately need. In the last quarter of 2024, NHS Lanarkshire, treated 97% of cancer referrals with a decision to treat within 31 days and 96.2% of urgent referrals with a suspicion of cancer within 62 days.1 The target is 95%. The equivalent figures for England were 91.3% and a shocking 69.6%.2 In the same period, for the critical 18 week target for life-threatening conditions, NHS Lanarkshire … Continue reading FACTCHECK – How the former Lambeth councillor and helicoptered-in Labour MP lies about NHS Scotland and NHS England

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Labour , the union which supports them and ‘their’ media have all damaged the reputation of this shipyard

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By Liz S Gary Cook of the GMB at Ferguson Marine, and others like him, needs to get their stories straight and adopt a consistent narrative. So with a workers Union and a media supporting a Political party (Labour) targeting , as in making political attacks, upon this company, as in their shipyard, that then prompts a lack of confidence in the company’s shipyard, but then their , Labour’s, real target (the SNP) must somehow be in the thick of this story , as they were the ones who nationalised it so this must end up, like all things Scottish, … Continue reading Labour , the union which supports them and ‘their’ media have all damaged the reputation of this shipyard

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Water bills in Labour Wales to increase by TWO to THREE times more than in Jackie Baillie’s taps

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By stewartb Wales Correspondent I missed this on April Fools’ Day. The Daily Record published an article below the headline: ‘Water bills in Scotland to soar today – find out how you are affected’. Perhaps it was a ‘slow’ day in the office. After all, the BBC News website and others had covered the rise in charges introduced by Scottish Water way back in January. On January 28, the BBC News website published a detailed, informative piece headlined: ‘Scottish Water bills set to rise 9.9% in April’. The article gave lots of factual information. Perhaps the Record’s motivation for regurgitating old news becomes … Continue reading Water bills in Labour Wales to increase by TWO to THREE times more than in Jackie Baillie’s taps

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SNP plans even fairer taxation with new council tax band

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Telegraph, above, plotting the downfall of the SNP with the politics of meanness. The Scottish Government is consulting with local councils on introducing a new council tax band for the most expensive homes. Expect a hysterical reaction as Anas Sarwar and his mum both rage against their houses being included. Most of us, I’m sure recognise another progressive initiative from the SNP in Government to gradually work away at the inequality which so damages life for everyone, including the rich. We had to defend Scotland’s modest attempts in this regard, earlier this year: We’ve recently … Continue reading SNP plans even fairer taxation with new council tax band

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Channel 4 reports 150 knife attacks in schools in England & Wales but has no figures for Scotland and the reason is simple

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Legerwood for alerting me to this. Channel 4 tonight had the above story. Had this been drug deaths you can be sure the Scottish data would be presented to remind us of our status as the drug death capital of Europe. I am not aware of directly comparable figures for Scotland and neither are Channel 4’s researchers, it seems, but there is evidence to point to them being significantly lower. In 2006/2007, there were just over 4 000 recorded crimes of ‘having in a public place and article with a blade or point.’ By 2016/2017, the … Continue reading Channel 4 reports 150 knife attacks in schools in England & Wales but has no figures for Scotland and the reason is simple