Tag: scotland

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As Motherwell man becomes first [vulnerable?] Scot to be named as member of an English County lines gang, BBC Scotland still won’t bite

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BBC Scotland (above) today, have no space for this hot story: A man from North Lanarkshire has been charged after over £6m worth of cannabis was seized during a massive multi-agency taskforce operation. Craig Tomlinson from Motherwell was charged with the supply of Class B drugs after British Transport Police officers targeted key stations across Manchester on Monday and Tuesday last week while intelligence led to a search of three addresses. The multi-agency operation, dubbed Op Blume, was led by a BTP specialist County Lines taskforce and deployed officers from the dog section, Neighbourhood Policing Team, Operational Support Unit, plain … Continue reading As Motherwell man becomes first [vulnerable?] Scot to be named as member of an English County lines gang, BBC Scotland still won’t bite

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Latest poll – Labour collapse and Reform almost catch Tories

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I’m just seeing the full data tables from the Norstat/Sunday Times poll on 1 November 2024 which had YES/No tied, so improved from a 3% NO lead on August 22, 2024. 22 August 2024 poll by same sample in brackets below, before death of Alba leader Alex Salmond (12 October) and first Labour budget (30 October). Westminster (likely voters excluding undecided): Holyrood Constituency Holyrood Regional In the space of around 5 weeks after the last Norstat poll using the same sampling technique, we can see the clear effect of Labour’s early actions in a major collapse in their support in … Continue reading Latest poll – Labour collapse and Reform almost catch Tories

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Will the Scottish Conservatives call for a full ban on double jobbing for their own distracted colleagues?

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In a sad, desperate and fearful attempt to keep Stephen Flynn out of Holyrood, the Scottish Conservatives are calling for a vote to ban “double jobbing” in the wake of Stephen Flynn’s bid to stand as both an MSP and MP. I agree that if elected to Holyrood in May 2026, he should stand down from his Westminster seat. However, I smell something corrupt when the Scottish Cons attempt to climb windily on to a high horse. Being an MP and MSP even in the same geographical area is a push but a wee look at some of jobs the … Continue reading Will the Scottish Conservatives call for a full ban on double jobbing for their own distracted colleagues?

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Police Scotland NEVER in special measures but THREE English forces still are – here’s why

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By Professor John Robertson OBA I know, Operation Branchform is a disgrace but, to be fair, when the security services tell the chief of police what to do, they have to do it. Today, the widely-read international policing journal, Policing Insight, has: A record number of police forces in England and Wales have been put into special measures (formally known as ‘Engage’) over the past three years – but what does Engage mean, and how do forces move out of it? Policing Insight’s James Sweetland spoke to HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke, as well as two Chief Constables who have … Continue reading Police Scotland NEVER in special measures but THREE English forces still are – here’s why

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Scotland has one of shortest gynaecology waiting lists but gets BBC Scotland’s bad news while Northern Ireland with more than twice as many waiting doesn’t seem to need to know that

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland’s and BBC Northern Ireland’s main pages above – spot the difference? Should Northern Ireland be told this? Maybe fewer women there are being left in pain? See this from the BBC Health report: Wow? BBC England is not covering the story. BBC Wales is, as they should, but why is BBC Scotland’s news editor choosing it, given the above graph? Is this just more of the thinking behind yesterday’s rape fake news? See: Today, the BBC Scotland News Editor (James Cook) chooses to include 2 rape reports in the 7 top stories. BBC England, Wales and Northern … Continue reading Scotland has one of shortest gynaecology waiting lists but gets BBC Scotland’s bad news while Northern Ireland with more than twice as many waiting doesn’t seem to need to know that

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Has a 73 year-old, part-time OCD, retired prof, beaten the Herald into submission as they scuttle their troubled ferry fiasco newsletter?

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By Captain Professor John Robertson OBA Where’s the link to the Herald’s much-vaunted Ferries Newsletter? From TuS reader Stephen McKenzie, today: Slightly off topic, but the Heralds “Scotland’s Ferries” tab at the top of their on-line version seems to be missing these days? Ok, I know that when you clicked it, it took you to any topic unrelated to ferries, but that was part of its fun appeal. Good question. Gooood question. It’s not in the banner. It’s not listed as a newsletter at: https://www.heraldscotland.com/newsletters/ Has Captain Maritime Williams of the BS Herald gone down? With his ‘ship?’ I’ve written nearly 170 … Continue reading Has a 73 year-old, part-time OCD, retired prof, beaten the Herald into submission as they scuttle their troubled ferry fiasco newsletter?

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Winner of ‘fake health news’ award churns out ‘fake health news ‘ on NHS Scotland to hide its clear-cut superiority

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Helen Puttick, ‘Scottish Health Correspondent’, above, winner the 2023 Sarah Hughes Trust Prize ‘for journalism that exposes misleading health information’ was in the Times on Saturday past with: SNP’s failure to reform has left NHS in Scotland flatlining. In England Wes Streeting is demanding change in return for extra funding but north of the border the service continues to stagnate under Neil Gray. As Neil Gray, Scottish health secretary, defended his chauffeur-driven trips to watch his favourite football team this week, frontline medical staff in Scotland wondered if there may yet be another changing of the guard. … Continue reading Winner of ‘fake health news’ award churns out ‘fake health news ‘ on NHS Scotland to hide its clear-cut superiority

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Rape – how ‘your’ media choose to make you feel and how you feel affects how you vote

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Today, the BBC Scotland News Editor (James Cook) chooses to include 2 rape reports in the 7 top stories. BBC England, Wales and Northern Ireland have none. Will that just be because there were none to report? There were 67 928 reported rape offences in England and Wales last year.1 There were 294 reported rapes and attempted rapes (rape offences) in Scotland, in the same year.2 There were, thus, 231 times (67 928 / 294) as many rape offences in England in Wales and even per head of population, rape offences were (231/11) 21 times as many. … Continue reading Rape – how ‘your’ media choose to make you feel and how you feel affects how you vote

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The Arran ferry service is one of the best in the world and the Mail’s Jonathon Brocklebank’s account is ill-informed, politicised, gossip

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By Professor John Robertson, Genuine Ferry Correspondent From Jonathon Brocklebank of the ‘Scottish’ Daily Mail, today: People rely on the ferries to get on and off Arran. But the SNP’s ruinous handling of our lifeline service means that it is simply no longer fit for purpose Here’s what he missed: First, The MV Caledonian Isles was taken off the Arran/Ayrshire (Ardrossan or Troon) service and replaced by the MV Alfred to partner the MV Isle of Arran. There has been 1 cancellation, with these two vessels in the last 100 sailings – 99% reliable.  https://www.calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser?date=27%2F09%2F2024 The brand new MV Glen Sannox … Continue reading The Arran ferry service is one of the best in the world and the Mail’s Jonathon Brocklebank’s account is ill-informed, politicised, gossip

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Affluent Washington State has only 15 out of 21 ferries serviceable and new ferries will not arrive till 2028 – CalMac has 32 out of 34 in service and four arriving this year or next for a smaller population

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By Professor John Robertson, International Ferry Correspondent From King TV, Seattle, USA, today: Residents said they are thankful for the ferries and they are special to the area. But the shortage of boats can cause issues. Right now, three routes are not running at full service and sometimes ferries need to be moved around to help fill gaps. “That puts us in trouble when we’re trying to get back and forth all the time and they’re down a ferry, then it’s backed up at the ferry terminal, so that gets to be a pain,” said Judy Lindquist, a Port Orchard … Continue reading Affluent Washington State has only 15 out of 21 ferries serviceable and new ferries will not arrive till 2028 – CalMac has 32 out of 34 in service and four arriving this year or next for a smaller population