Tag: scotland

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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

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Shock as some heart ops no longer possible in NHS Wales but Health Secretary not questioned

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Wales, yesterday: Some major vascular operations will no longer be going ahead in north Wales, a health board has announced. Betsi Cadwaladr health board said it was pausing its provision of planned and emergency open abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA) surgery to help improve its other care. The health board confirmed there had been an “incident”, but said the decision was not based solely on this and other vascular care would continue as normal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp58z7pr2o Wow! Dramatic news. The Health Secretary will be challenged? Nope Opposition politicians call it a scandal? Nope, not a word. How … Continue reading Shock as some heart ops no longer possible in NHS Wales but Health Secretary not questioned

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Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze

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By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Breakfast this morning looked at the increasing cost of living, in particular council tax increases. They didn’t compare costs across the UK. In March 2024: While Labour, Tory and LibDem councils tried to impose big council tax hikes, it was an SNP government which has protected family budgets during this cost-of-living crisis. As well as showing a clear difference between the SNP and the Westminster parties, it also stands as an example to show voters how decisions made in Scotland prove better for the people of Scotland. It was the SNP that delivered a policy to protect people during … Continue reading Everyone in Scotland now benefits from the progressive SNP national council tax freeze

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As the poor struggle to pay more for less in England, Scotland’s cheaper, cleaner drinking water

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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 by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA On BBC Breakfast today, we see an extended report on high and increasing water bills and hardship for the less well off, across England. From Policy Mogul, AI assisted fact checker, on 3 November 2024: Scottish taxpayers pay less for their water than their English counterparts, thanks to public ownership, with the average water bill in Scotland around £438 a year – £35 a year cheaper than the average bill of … Continue reading As the poor struggle to pay more for less in England, Scotland’s cheaper, cleaner drinking water

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Statistical uncertainty, sparse data and the absence of up to date evidence – I give you the Institute for Fiscal Studies

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By stewartb Candidly, this is an unworthy report from the IFS, an organisation that should stand or fall based on the rigour of its quantitative analysis and its evidence based policy pronouncements. The piece is replete with references to statistical uncertainty, sparse data and absence of up to date statistical evidence. It also makes reference to an HMRC study which found ‘an increase in net migration to Scotland during the period since tax policy started to diverge, including among the higher-income taxpayers whose taxes have increased in Scotland.’ And also reports: ‘these data do suggest that any migration response to Scotland’s … Continue reading Statistical uncertainty, sparse data and the absence of up to date evidence – I give you the Institute for Fiscal Studies

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Productivity, measured as GVA per hour worked, is lower in Labour-run Wales than in other UK countries and regions in England

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By stewartb In the House of Commons this week (PMQs November 13) the leadership of the British Labour Party was at it again, denigrating Scotland and its government. Hansard records the response of the PM to a question from the SNP’s Brendan O’Hara on the ending of the winter fuel payment. The PM finished his answer with this: ‘I will take no lectures from his party about running the economy; the SNP’s record in Scotland is terrible.’ This rivals the false claim from Labour’s Chancellor recently that Scotland has the worst performing NHS in the UK. How to counter such … Continue reading Productivity, measured as GVA per hour worked, is lower in Labour-run Wales than in other UK countries and regions in England