Tag: scotland

4 Comments

Yet another BBC report on the Stonehaven rail deaths fails to tell you that responsibility does not lie with the Scottish Government but in Westminster

johnrobertson834

BBC Scotland today, has: Stonehaven train derailment inquiry told of ‘lives ripped apart’ – A fatal accident inquiry into a train derailment which killed three men in the north east of Scotland has been told lives were “ripped apart” in the crash. The Aberdeen to Glasgow train came off the rails at Carmont in Aberdeenshire on 12 August 2020 after it hit debris washed from a drain following heavy rain. Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died in the crash. Network Rail was later fined £6.7m in court for a series of failings. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98pl47ylgno There’s … Continue reading Yet another BBC report on the Stonehaven rail deaths fails to tell you that responsibility does not lie with the Scottish Government but in Westminster

5 Comments

Edinburgh Labour minority Lib Dem-assisted government repeats handing back housing money to government and failing constituents

johnrobertson834

From BBC Scotland on 19 December 2024, the above and: Labour has retained control of City of Edinburgh Council under a minority administration propped up by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Jane Meagher has been appointed as the council’s new leader. Former leader Cammy Day resigned over claims he sent sexually explicit messages to Ukrainian refugees. SNP and Green councillors had launched an attempt to take over running the council but their bid was voted down by 32 votes to 28. Labour only has 10 of the 63 councillors that make up the city’s administration. Councillor Meagher, who represents the Portobello … Continue reading Edinburgh Labour minority Lib Dem-assisted government repeats handing back housing money to government and failing constituents

5 Comments

“Insulted”, “patronised”, “betrayed”, ‘profoundly unjust’, shown ‘complete indifference’ – Scotland’s fishing industry and Westminster

johnrobertson834

“Insulted”, “patronised”, “betrayed”, ‘profoundly unjust’, shown ‘complete indifference’ – judgements by Scotland’s fishing industry on actions of Labour in Westminster. By stewartb Despite the above descriptions of Labour’s actions towards Scotland’s wild capture fisheries, in the House of Commons debate on the ‘Fishing Industry’ held on January 22, the SNP’s Seamus Logan was moved to comment: ‘I regret that the right hon. Gentleman (referring to Alastair Carmichael, the Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland) and the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton, Labour) used so much of their time to attack the SNP Scottish Government.’ That … Continue reading “Insulted”, “patronised”, “betrayed”, ‘profoundly unjust’, shown ‘complete indifference’ – Scotland’s fishing industry and Westminster

Leave a comment

Scottish Government delivers on pledge to increase dentistry student numbers and further widen gap with other parts of UK

johnrobertson834

From Scottish dentistry student numbers increase, published 22 January 2026 11:35 The number of Scottish students starting Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) courses has increased by 7% – the highest increase in a decade. The boost in student numbers fulfils a Scottish Government pledge to deliver an expanded pipeline of new dentists joining the workforce from 2029. The increase, which came in 2025-26, will be further supported by the Draft Budget for 2026-27 which outlines record funding of over £526.5 million for the sector. The number of Scottish students starting BDS courses has risen by 10 places, up from 135 … Continue reading Scottish Government delivers on pledge to increase dentistry student numbers and further widen gap with other parts of UK

3 Comments

Far more police officers and far less crime – what today’s Reporting Scotland team will never tell you in this election year

johnrobertson834

In BBC Reporting Scotland’s, BBC Breakfast, inserts and all today today, you’ll be hearing this meaningless fact – ‘but officer numbers have fallen 5% over five years.‘ BBC Scotland, the Daily Record, the Herald and the Scotsman are now fully dedicated to platforming Scottish Labour’s stash of manipulated Freedom of Information data on any aspect of public service that might look bad for the SNP Government. Recently, it’s been police officers giving up on the job or failing training courses. I could try to dig into these and find the usual lack of any methodology and sneaky fiddling with the figures, I’ve found several times … Continue reading Far more police officers and far less crime – what today’s Reporting Scotland team will never tell you in this election year

Leave a comment

Scottish think-tank – ‘Value judgements’ over analysis-based conclusions.

johnrobertson834

By stewartb: As a regular reader of the output of the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI), I’m becoming increasingly disappointed in how it’s opting to express and emphasise what are ‘value judgements’ over analysis-based conclusions. Does it intend to become a quasi-political organisation? On January 15 this headline appeared above an FAI article: ‘Budget – day 3 reaction – Council tax & the Spending Review. Incoherent reforms to council tax: could have been worse, but not good enough.’ Within the piece we read (with my emphasis): ‘Scotland will follow the UK Government’s example and introduce higher taxes on higher value properties. Whereas … Continue reading Scottish think-tank – ‘Value judgements’ over analysis-based conclusions.

5 Comments

95% of Scotland’s schools in good condition up from only 62% under Labour yet Herald platform Anas Sarwar to accuse SNP

johnrobertson834

The Herald today, above, joining the daily anti-SNP drip from the 95% Unionist media in Scotland, with the above evidence-free reporting and, of course, ignoring the key role of local councils in maintaining school buildings. Here’s the evidence on school buildings: By stewartb This provides statistics for context and perspective. It follows a BBC Scotland article on the corporation’s News website on 12 October headlined: ‘Child safety fears as ‘repaired’ ceiling falls at neglected school’. Now don’t get me wrong, no one should have a piece of wood or plasterboard fall on or near their head, anywhere. And especially no … Continue reading 95% of Scotland’s schools in good condition up from only 62% under Labour yet Herald platform Anas Sarwar to accuse SNP

1 Comment

Why shops on Scotland’s islands will not have to charge more like those on the Channel Islands – no harbour dues passed on and fares up to 5 times lower thanks to massive Scottish Government subsidies

johnrobertson834

From the Jersey Evening Post on 5 January 2025: THE firm that runs M&S stores in Jersey says that its prices on the shelves will have to go up next month when DFDS starts to add harbour dues levied by Ports of Jersey on to its bills. No actual figures are as yet available but imagine that was on a Scottish island served by CalMac. Imagine the media coverage, the opposition partys’ faux fury. Why will this not happen here? Shops on Scottish islands do not specifically have to charge more because of harbour dues or levies charged by port … Continue reading Why shops on Scotland’s islands will not have to charge more like those on the Channel Islands – no harbour dues passed on and fares up to 5 times lower thanks to massive Scottish Government subsidies

2 Comments

BMA leaders praise Scottish Government on ‘our shared ambition of making Scotland the best place in the UK for doctors to train and work.’

johnrobertson834

From the BMA in Scotland today, absent the views of Dr Iain Findlay whom I’m guessing the Scottish resident doctors have never heard of: Strikes by resident doctors in Scotland due to begin on Tuesday have been suspended following a new offer on pay and contract reform. The BMA Scottish resident doctors committee recommends members accept the offer, which is the equivalent of a 9.9 per cent end-of-year pay uplift for this year and 9.4 per cent for 2026-27. SRDC chair Chris Smith (pictured above) welcomed the proposed deal, which amounts to £149m for the two years. ‘From day one … Continue reading BMA leaders praise Scottish Government on ‘our shared ambition of making Scotland the best place in the UK for doctors to train and work.’

10 Comments

London-born, entirely England-educated, nephrologist with no understanding of Scotland’s 500 years plus history of universal free-education thinks he can tell us what to do

johnrobertson834

Sir Peter William Mathieson, above, born in Colchester, educated entirely in England with only a medical science degree, and principal of the university where anti-working class Scots bias is the norm1, is on BBC Scotland today to tell us: Edinburgh University’s principal says Scottish students should be asked to pay towards their tuition, as the sector is in “danger” under the current system. Prof Sir Peter Mathieson said that Scotland – where undergraduate tuition is free for most students – could adopt a “graduate repayment scheme” based upon salary. Mathieson insisted Scotland’s funding model was “not sustainable”, but said he … Continue reading London-born, entirely England-educated, nephrologist with no understanding of Scotland’s 500 years plus history of universal free-education thinks he can tell us what to do