Scotland’s drug deaths are expected to rise to maintain the reputation BBC Scotland love to trot out but deaths in England being seriously under-counted

official figures are published on Wednesday. BBC Scotland seem to know already that drug-related deaths will be up on Wednesday coming, and that their ‘Scotland is drug death capital of Europe’ line will be still available to them. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 We won’t be hearing this from them to put things in context. Drug deaths in England being seriously under-counted Opioid deaths in England 50% higher than recorded In September 2025 (most recent data for this purpose) , BBC UK reported: More than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths are expected to rise to maintain the reputation BBC Scotland love to trot out but deaths in England being seriously under-counted

Deaths in England attributed to nitazenes have nearly quadrupled since 2023.

By stewartb Once again, the way BBC Scotland reports on issues of importance and serious concern smacks of a preference to gaslight voters in Scotland – and in the process undermine the government in Edinburgh – rather than ‘educate’/inform by providing context, perspective and relevant comparative analysis. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In its response to the latest drug deaths in England and Wales based on ONS reporting, the Scottish Drugs Forum (October 2025) stated: ‘The latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that drug-related deaths in England and Wales … Continue reading Deaths in England attributed to nitazenes have nearly quadrupled since 2023.

Step We Gaily Over The Line?

By Mark E. Saunders of “The Scottish Minuteman” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Reports in today’s Sunday newspapers are suggesting that Gordon Brown was taking a “very keen interest” in Operation Branchform. Apparently he raised the investigation into SNP finances with his friend, the then Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Sir Iain Livingstone, several times. And before anyone says — “so what? It’s just another resurrection of Auld Broon” — remember what Branchform became. It wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill police investigation. It became one of the biggest political stories in Scotland, engulfing the SNP leadership and doing … Continue reading Step We Gaily Over The Line?

James Cook still still trying to hide UK Police Chiefs’ evidence that Scotland is victim of drug gangs from London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool crossing border to keep drug deaths high

There’s no mention of England in James Cook‘s report nor is there in the fuller report on the BBC Scotland website. This is political. The drug-related death statistics coming out this Wednesday 23 September are, it seems, expected to show an increase and that is being connected to new more powerful synthetic opioids like Nitazene. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In both reports, there are attempts to locate the supply in Scotland and avoid the real story, below. Is there evidence in other sources that these gangs are based in large cities in England? … Continue reading James Cook still still trying to hide UK Police Chiefs’ evidence that Scotland is victim of drug gangs from London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool crossing border to keep drug deaths high

Children’s care homes in places like Rochdale could not just rely on ‘committed people.’ They needed regulation and inspection of the kind Alex Salmond brought to Scotland nearly 20 years ago

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the Guardian yesterday: Children’s care homes rely on committed people – While there are good private children’s homes (I’ve worked with some), they are defined by personal and family commitment, not profit. The same relationships are required whoever runs a children’s home, whether a charitable organisation or local authority. Without the personal, unflinching commitment of councillors, managers, social workers and, crucially, the grownups who work in the home, it can’t be a loving home. We have been led to believe that regulation and inspection ensure good care. Do … Continue reading Children’s care homes in places like Rochdale could not just rely on ‘committed people.’ They needed regulation and inspection of the kind Alex Salmond brought to Scotland nearly 20 years ago

‘Cost of housing crunch in England looms for low-income families, warns Resolution Foundation’ but it does not mention Scotland because…..

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 In the Guardian today: More than 1.1 million low-income families in rented homes face a “cost of housing” crunch without action from John Healey in next month’s budget, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has warned. Local housing allowance (LHA) has been frozen in cash terms since autumn 2024. In a new report, Saving Private Renters, the thinktank found that rising rents since then have led to a widening gap between what families claiming LHA can afford, and the realities of the market. It said a low-income family renting a typical … Continue reading ‘Cost of housing crunch in England looms for low-income families, warns Resolution Foundation’ but it does not mention Scotland because…..

How new Scottish Labour leader lied in a rant on the best NHS in the UK but is easily corrected

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 I could not sleep waiting for this result. 😉 Yes, yes but: Indeed but sadly, I do, quite a bit having, sadly again, written about him a few times here. Here’s the latest from February 2026, to give you a flavour of the man, sour of course. I know it has a tiny audience, but Michael Marra of ‘Scottish’ Labour had a rant on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night, 19 February 2026, of such hysterical dishonesty and fear for the near extinction event they face in May , I felt … Continue reading How new Scottish Labour leader lied in a rant on the best NHS in the UK but is easily corrected

Who exactly are those 37 ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs really working for ?

Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 By Liz S So Sky News reported today that: “British Steel losing £1.3m a day – and there is no ‘credible‘ survival plan yet, MPs warn”. In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warns that the government has not yet set out concrete plans for how the company will become financially sustainable. It continues to cost £1.3m a day of UK taxpayers’ money“. (So I say that basically it seems then that no expense is spared when it is an industry that is based in England). The article continued in stating that: “The government intervened to prevent the closure of its blast furnaces in April 2025“. “More … Continue reading Who exactly are those 37 ‘Scottish’ Labour MPs really working for ?

Àird nan Saor – Recycling England’s imperial forts in Scotland

Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 This x discussion yesterday drew my attention at https://x.com/IainRWhite/status/2100667566557458939?s=20: Absolutely! I like An Gearasdan Dubh. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 I was reminded instantly of something I posted last year but based on an earlier piece in 2021: Fort George, Scotland’s very own Fort Apache is apparently at risk again. It was under threat four years ago: In the Times 17 October 2021: Up to 1,700 soldiers could be axed in Scotland as the Ministry of … Continue reading Àird nan Saor – Recycling England’s imperial forts in Scotland

There are 54% [66% in Borders] fewer road traffic accidents but only 33% fewer officers on the roads in Scotland

.…so that is bound to have an impact on visibility, and impact on road safety and an impact on travelling criminality. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Neither in the short BBC Scotland insert in BBC Breakfast nor in the longer website report, do we hear any useful context to the above news of cuts. How do the levels of road accidents in 2013 and in 2025 compare? Sources: https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/scottish-transport-statistics-no-33-2014-edition/j357783-09/ https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/key-reported-road-casualties-scotland-2025/key-findings/ Why are the seriously injured figures not comparable? How it used to work (including 2013)An officer judged severity using … Continue reading There are 54% [66% in Borders] fewer road traffic accidents but only 33% fewer officers on the roads in Scotland