Tag: politics

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‘Justice needs to be done’: UK minister responsible for the Stonehaven rail deaths must face trial

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By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today ‘Justice needs to be done’: Rail crash lessons learnt stalls – Victims affected by the Stonehaven rail tragedy say ‘heads should have rolled’ for happened what as it emerged more than half of the ‘lessons learnt’ recommendations of action demanded by investigators have still to be implemented, three years later. It has been confirmed that as of the turn of the year of 20 official recommendations for action over the crash made nearly three years ago, just nine have been closed – meaning action has been taken to totally implement them. Further down, … Continue reading ‘Justice needs to be done’: UK minister responsible for the Stonehaven rail deaths must face trial

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Tackling misogyny in Scotland – more police officers dismissed, rape convictions soar, more sensitive approach to domestic abuse calls and Labour hypocrisy

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today claims: ‘Culture of misogyny’ in Police Scotland sex crime unit – Detectives working in Police Scotland’s rape investigation unit would “frequently” describe female complainers as “slags,” a whistleblower has alleged. In a 30-page statement, … Continue reading Tackling misogyny in Scotland – more police officers dismissed, rape convictions soar, more sensitive approach to domestic abuse calls and Labour hypocrisy

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The lowest Band D council tax rate in British Labour Wales is higher than the highest in SNP Scotland

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stewartb Worth repeating this from a recent TuS blog post to give another way of setting out Council Tax baselines prior to next financial year’s CT increases across Great Britain. Insights into differences across Great Britain in 2024-25 for the benchmark average Band D tax can be found at https://propertydata.co.uk/council-tax Focusing on Wales where the British Labour Party governs: The contrast between Council Tax Band D rates in Scotland and Wales is quite remarkable! Is this what the British Labour Party would like to see in Scotland after 2026? ‘Levelling-up’ Scotland Labour style? Continue reading The lowest Band D council tax rate in British Labour Wales is higher than the highest in SNP Scotland

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Labour hypocrisy well on-track

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stewartb The Scotrail fare rise is covered on the Scotland page of the BBC News website (January 21). The BBC opened the article to readers’ comments and what a catalogue of evidence-free, statistics-free bile! This is the BBC headline ‘ScotRail fares set to increase by nearly 4%’. (By the way, the ’to nearly 4%’ in the headline could have been shorten to the accurate ‘to 3.8%’.) The article adds: ‘Transport Scotland said a 20% discount on season tickets would continue until September and the travel card Flexipass – which offers 12 single journeys for the price of 10 – has been expanded … Continue reading Labour hypocrisy well on-track

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The Herald’s Neil Mackay, Audit Scotland and a charity head combine to imagine an ‘unprecedented crisis’ in mental health treatment and to lay the blame on the Scottish Government for ‘losing control’ yet waiting times are slashed and performance approaches 90% target

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald, today: Mental illness is rocketing, while government funding falls. Suicides are rising, along with self-harm, autism, ADHD and loneliness. The head of Scotland’s leading mental health charity explains to our Writer at Large just … Continue reading The Herald’s Neil Mackay, Audit Scotland and a charity head combine to imagine an ‘unprecedented crisis’ in mental health treatment and to lay the blame on the Scottish Government for ‘losing control’ yet waiting times are slashed and performance approaches 90% target

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The evidence says that Anas Sarwar is even less popular than Sir Keir Starmer and that someone like Monica Lennon would lead Labour better

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA Today in the Herald, ‘Scottish’ Labour’s collapse in the latest Find out Now Holyrood poll to 19% in the constituency vote and only 15% in the regional vote, is attributed by Sir Professor John Curtice, to the … Continue reading The evidence says that Anas Sarwar is even less popular than Sir Keir Starmer and that someone like Monica Lennon would lead Labour better

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Many English local authorities to increase council tax by more than twice that in Scotland on top of already higher rates

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: Ministers could allow council tax to rise by up to 25% to prevent bankruptcies – Experts say it is inevitable government will let English local authorities exceed 5% cap if they are likely … Continue reading Many English local authorities to increase council tax by more than twice that in Scotland on top of already higher rates

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‘Tawdry’ Labour spin doctor pretends to know something about education to undermine Nicola Sturgeon, SNP and Scottish schools

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA former school teacher, education lecturer, Associate Dean (Quality Assurance) Faculty of Education, Research Ethics Chair and Research Methods Tutor to BA Journalism (!) UWS Peter MacMahon is in the Herald with: Has anything changed since Sturgeon’s education pledge? Not long after she became First … Continue reading ‘Tawdry’ Labour spin doctor pretends to know something about education to undermine Nicola Sturgeon, SNP and Scottish schools

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Why are only Scottish prisoners released early a reason to be afraid? Blame the Two Liams!

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland two days ago: Up to 390 prisoners will be released early starting from next month in the latest move from the Scottish government to reduce the prison population. Emergency legislation was passed last year … Continue reading Why are only Scottish prisoners released early a reason to be afraid? Blame the Two Liams!

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Cautious but still positive signs that Scotland CAN reduce car use by 2030 contrary to opinions of media fuelled by the Auditor General’s latest politicisation of events to undermine SNP Government

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The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA The media in Scotland are largely of one mind: Scottish government ‘unlikely’ to meet 2030 target on reducing car use What is their source for this? From the Auditor General for Scotland, two days ago A lack … Continue reading Cautious but still positive signs that Scotland CAN reduce car use by 2030 contrary to opinions of media fuelled by the Auditor General’s latest politicisation of events to undermine SNP Government