Reform UK’s manifesto ‘the sums do not add up’ and ‘would require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services’ in Scotland

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 9 days, 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 Professor John Robertson OBA In June 2024, the IFS had a look at the Reform UK manifesto. Even this rightist think tank was less than impressed and concluded: Even with the extremely optimistic assumptions about how much economic … Continue reading Reform UK’s manifesto ‘the sums do not add up’ and ‘would require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services’ in Scotland

Reform UK to offer 20% tax relief for school fees

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 11 days, 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 Professor John Robertson OBA Fettes College in Edinburgh with nine-hole golf course, an ice-skating rink used in winter for ice hockey and in summer as an outdoor swimming pool, a cross-country running track and a rifle shooting … Continue reading Reform UK to offer 20% tax relief for school fees

Reform UK – A clear and present danger for the SNP

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 11 days, 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 Mostly by Reader JB Yesterday, in the wake of the Norstat poll for the Times suggesting 77% of Scots are opposed to the SNP’s immigration policy and evidence from other polls of Reform UK moving into second … Continue reading Reform UK – A clear and present danger for the SNP

Jackie Baillie unable to travel to Wales for fear of arrest

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 14 days, 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 Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS In the Guardian yesterday: Elected politicians who deliberately lie could be forced from office under proposals designed to put Wales at the forefront of the “global challenge” to restore trust … Continue reading Jackie Baillie unable to travel to Wales for fear of arrest

NHS Scotland saving hundreds of lives with better cancer care performance

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 BBC Health is headlining today problems and delays in cancer care in England & Wales. BBC Scotland has nothing similar. Here’s why: In the Guardian on 3 February 2025: More than half a million people in England have had to … Continue reading NHS Scotland saving hundreds of lives with better cancer care performance

As Labour and Cons fade, I smell danger – Scots, immigration and Reform UK – what can we do?

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing on 28 February, 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 Daily Record, late last night, and everywhere in the media in Scotland today: Most Scottish voters are against John Swinney’s plans to boost immigration, a poll has suggested. More than three quarters … Continue reading As Labour and Cons fade, I smell danger – Scots, immigration and Reform UK – what can we do?

Should Jackie Baillie not be asking why A&E 12 hour waits are far less common in Scotland than in England or Wales?

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing on 28 February, 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 Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS Thanks to AR for alerting me to this. The Scottish Labour Branch health spokesperson, Jackie Baillie has already asked the above question. Given that her party now runs the NHS … Continue reading Should Jackie Baillie not be asking why A&E 12 hour waits are far less common in Scotland than in England or Wales?

The power of early-morning nightmares – Reporting Scotland create a fictional world of dangerous prisoners released early

By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS IMPORTANT – If you know someone frightened by the broadcast above or by the same story in their newspaper, tell them the facts below to reassure them! BBC Reporting Scotland‘s insert on early prisoner release in BBC Breakfast at 06:30, with repeated doses throughout the day is classic propaganda designed to keep you and especially your elderly and vulnerable neighbours, fearful of change. There’s a strong correlation between heavy news consumption and anxiety/depression. Some groups, the elderly, the inform, the disabled, are more likely to be worried by reports that seem to … Continue reading The power of early-morning nightmares – Reporting Scotland create a fictional world of dangerous prisoners released early

Reform pushing steadily into 1st place in UK and 2nd in Scotland as Sarwar’s dream of FM with Reform turn to ashes

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 10 days, 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 Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS Six out of the last seven UK polls for Westminster have had Reform UK ahead of Labour, and only 1 point behind, in the other. The latest from … Continue reading Reform pushing steadily into 1st place in UK and 2nd in Scotland as Sarwar’s dream of FM with Reform turn to ashes

Headlining rape – BBC Scotland focus on one case but the wider picture, including higher conviction rates, they don’t want you to know about that

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 Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS In an extended report on a single rape victim and her understandable, important, concerns, there’s the unchecked, unspecified, claim that conviction rates are ‘low’ and no room for any context somehow. Here … Continue reading Headlining rape – BBC Scotland focus on one case but the wider picture, including higher conviction rates, they don’t want you to know about that