‘How Scots villagers took the law into their own hands to expel [English] drug dealers’ – Scottish Daily Express reports in more intelligent and sophisticated manner than so-called ‘serious’ media to inform their readers

Professor John Robertson OBA Readers will know that the ‘serious’ or ‘elite’ media in Scotland – BBC Scotland, STV, the Herald and the Scotsman – have an aversion to reporting accurately on the plague of County Lines affecting almost every town and village in Scotland and caused by County Lines gangs from, entirely, English cities. The tabloids and some locals are more honest. Yesterday, the Express in Scotland had the above headline and the comments below on the prosecution of local ‘ringleaders’ of riots which developed in the East Ayrshire former mining village of Auchinleck and which I have already … Continue reading ‘How Scots villagers took the law into their own hands to expel [English] drug dealers’ – Scottish Daily Express reports in more intelligent and sophisticated manner than so-called ‘serious’ media to inform their readers

On VJ Day, a reminder that Scotland’s WW1 army war dead was a greater sacrifice, 63% higher than the rest of the UK

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details Professor John Robertson OBA With the UK media saturated with frankly disturbing jingoism based on myths about WWII, it seems like a good moment to repeat this attempt to resolve the alleged myth that Scots had given more in blood on the WWI battlefields. On 10th August 2014, with clear political intent, the Scotsman allowed Sir Hew Strachan to confirm it as a myth: Great War worst for Scots troops ‘a myth’ https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/great-war-worst-scots-troops-myth-1529401 In Patrick Watt’s Manpower, Myth and Memory: Analysing Scotland’s Military Contribution to the Great … Continue reading On VJ Day, a reminder that Scotland’s WW1 army war dead was a greater sacrifice, 63% higher than the rest of the UK

Lib Dem Orkney Island council fails for the second time to run a proper ferry service

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA Today, the Herald does have Orkney ferry workers to begin overtime ban amid industrial dispute makes little effort to remind that this not a CalMac story. Yahoo simply re-pastes the Herald story. FERRY services to Orkney will face disruption later this month, a union has warned after workers backed industrial action amid an escalating pay dispute. Unite the Union confirmed on Wednesday that its Orkney Ferries members will take part … Continue reading Lib Dem Orkney Island council fails for the second time to run a proper ferry service

There are no lives at risk from a Grenfell-like towering inferno in Scotland due to cavity fire barriers and higher building standards but tell that to the Herald

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA In the Herald today: ‘Lives at risk’ as ministers spend just 11% of £97m Scots safety fund Ministers have come under fire as repairs on ‘dangerous’ cladding have reached a “scandalous” standstill with just 11% of a special safety fund spent so far – eight years after the Grenfell tragedy. Up to 1500 tower blocks across Scotland may need repairs, but as of June two are being made … Continue reading There are no lives at risk from a Grenfell-like towering inferno in Scotland due to cavity fire barriers and higher building standards but tell that to the Herald

Bus passes for under 22s – As UK Labour copy another SNP initiative BBC Scotland is instantly ready to undermine the very same in Scotland on behalf of Scottish Labour

sanctions against free travel card holders here. Professor John Robertson OBA Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Only minutes after BBC Breakfast‘s report on the plans to introduce free bus passes for young folk in England, days after we heard they will copy Scotland drink driving limits, and their mention that since 2022, everyone (their emphasis) in Scotland from 5 to 22 is entitled to free bus travel, Reporting Scotland had an oven-ready piece to undermine it. … Continue reading Bus passes for under 22s – As UK Labour copy another SNP initiative BBC Scotland is instantly ready to undermine the very same in Scotland on behalf of Scottish Labour

A warning of the terrible costs of not dealing now with English drug gangs terrorising small-town Scotland

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Record yesterday, the above headline and: Three men and a woman were jailed today after taking part in rioting that brought “great terror” to an Ayrshire village as police were forced to deploy riot officers and dog units, writes Dave Finlay. During the violent disorder in Auchinleck police came under attack with bricks and rocks and firefighters who were deployed to tackle a blaze … Continue reading A warning of the terrible costs of not dealing now with English drug gangs terrorising small-town Scotland

‘Highland police highlight rise in drug offending with violent English gangs from Birmingham, Derby, Liverpool and London ‘cuckooing’ vulnerable people to push heroin and crack cocaine’

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to France McKie for alerting me to this. In the Inverness Courier today but with not a peep from the local BBC folk [above], far less those at Pacific Quay: English drug gangs are targeting vulnerable Highlanders with increasing ruthlessness amid a rising tide of drug-related violence, exploitation and abuse. Latest figures in a 24-page Police Scotland performance report for the north division’s Highland area show … Continue reading ‘Highland police highlight rise in drug offending with violent English gangs from Birmingham, Derby, Liverpool and London ‘cuckooing’ vulnerable people to push heroin and crack cocaine’

News you won’t hear – Record numbers of hip and knee operations performed last year in Scotland

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/detailsor, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA I didn’t see this at the time of publication, 7 days ago, for the obvious reason the Scottish media didn’t report it. Today, the media across the UK do have the story of knee implants that are faulty and have been know to be faulty for ten years and recently the Herald, your supposedly trusted information source had a story about a Glasgow hospital praised for incredible … Continue reading News you won’t hear – Record numbers of hip and knee operations performed last year in Scotland

Did Annie Wells want Glasgow to spend less on needle bins so that local weans can get their hands in more easily?

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or, if you prefer, a bank transfer, at sort code 089300 account 1421 7339 Professor John Robertson OBA In little more than another Conservative Party release, the Herald has a report today from Annie Wells (Con) that Glasgow City Council has spent £5 000 on installing two public sharp bins for used injection needles. I’m sure Wells will know that these bins must be safe and that an ordinary wheelie bin is not on. Did the wee researcher for Wells check the going rate … Continue reading Did Annie Wells want Glasgow to spend less on needle bins so that local weans can get their hands in more easily?

STV simply lie about police numbers in little more than a Labour campaign leaflet, despite 300 more police officers in Scotland since last Labour government, despite a massive fall in crime and 30% more officers than England

Professor John Robertson OBA STV, only 5 days ago had the above inaccurate claims, overtime figures found by the thoroughly discredited friend of Labour, the 1919 magazine, with an extended rant from Scottish Labour‘s Pauline McNeill. The STV report is utterly devoid of reliably sourced facts such as these: From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Monthly Data Report: July 2025 published today, some key points getting no media attention: There were 16,553 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 31 March 2025. This was 319 (+2.0%) more officers compared to the position on 31 March 2007, and 197 (+1.2%) more than on 31 March … Continue reading STV simply lie about police numbers in little more than a Labour campaign leaflet, despite 300 more police officers in Scotland since last Labour government, despite a massive fall in crime and 30% more officers than England