Tag: scottish-independence

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What would Scotland’s fiscal position be outside the UK?

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By derekscott1953 Richard Murphy’s argument (above) demonstrates why the independence debate needs two sets of numbers, not one. 1. What is Scotland’s fiscal position inside the UK? GERS addresses that. We may argue about some of the assumptions, and its origins in the 1990s, but Scottish Governments do not disassociate from the analysis. Maybe they should in future in order to move this debate on? 2. What would Scotland’s fiscal position be outside the UK? That’s the estimated calculation Murphy says matters, but his articles and videos never try to provide it. I accept if we were facing another referendum … Continue reading What would Scotland’s fiscal position be outside the UK?

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A Guardian picture tells a story of Scotland’s place even amongst England’s liberal elite

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See those Ivory Coast players in orange, very bottom left in the (just) ‘More sport’ afterthought section? That’s the report of Scotland’s 1 nil defeat last night, right at the bottom. I read the Guardian all the time but won’t pay until they change their editorial policy to oppose Scottish independence at the same time as not opposing any other country’s departure from the brutal empire they apparently now regret. I wrote this on February 19 February 2026, six weeks ago. Not even an acknowledgement far less a response. Katherine Viner, Editor, the Guardian, katharine.viner@guardian.co.uk Dear Katharine I’d really like … Continue reading A Guardian picture tells a story of Scotland’s place even amongst England’s liberal elite

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Is there already research evidence on the effectiveness of ‘Walk-in GP centres’? Has the SNP policy even been designed to take advantage of those findings?

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Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON As you might expect, Dr John Tobias who, on his cv, claims that during COP26 in Glasgow he was chosen to be a personal physician to Heads of State, did not hesitate to rule on the new SNP walk-in GP centres as failures before they can even begin. You can just hear him – ‘I don’t need researchers to tell me what to think! I know…..’ There is, however, research, lots of it, and I feel the need … Continue reading Is there already research evidence on the effectiveness of ‘Walk-in GP centres’? Has the SNP policy even been designed to take advantage of those findings?

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An new Scots Wha Hae by Bill Warren with a fantastic catalogue of TuS links at the end

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Bill Warren sent me this today. I’m stunned, deeply impressed. I was further stunned when I found the above by another Warren whom I cannot trace – any connection Bill? The same theme was allegedly played in 1429 by the Franco-Scots army at the siege of Orléans in front of Joan of Arc. ScotsWhaHae.OnlineBest viewed in Landscape on your mobileLinks to evidence at end of line with a ctrl click WHY VOTE FOR SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE? SCOTS WHA HAE WI’ WALLACE BLEDScots wham Bruce has aften ledFREE YOURSELVES FROM WESTMINSTER LED  BREXIT AND AUSTERITYNow’s the day and Now’s the hourScotland again a Sovereign PowerIf you … Continue reading An new Scots Wha Hae by Bill Warren with a fantastic catalogue of TuS links at the end

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Despite already having far more affordable housing per head than England, Scotland plans to build more than three times as many new ones

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Professor John Robertson OBA According to the Herald today: A new report published today by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has calculated that £8.2bn would be needed to build the required number of homes to address the crisis. Yet it states ministers have only set aside £4.9bn failing to take account of the number of homes needed, the impact on inflation on building costs and new cost relating to standards it is introducing for the sector. The report comes just weeks after Ms McAllan, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, has announced a four-year £4.9bn plan for the affordable … Continue reading Despite already having far more affordable housing per head than England, Scotland plans to build more than three times as many new ones

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Scottish nationalism is not just civic it’s leftist too

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Professor John Robertson OBA From: Scottish Social Attitudes | 25 years of devolution in Scotland: Public attitudes and reactions published last week: https://natcen.ac.uk/publications/scottish-social-attitudes-25-years-devolution-scotland Figure 15, meanwhile, analyses the relationship between where people stand on our left-right scale and their constitutional preference. To construct this figure, we have for each of our yearly samples identified the one-third of respondents whose score on our scale puts them among the one-third most left-wing in that year, those whose score puts them among the one-third most right wing, with the remaining one-third in between. The figure shows that, from the outset of devolution, those on the left were somewhat … Continue reading Scottish nationalism is not just civic it’s leftist too

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Only since the first SNP Government have Scots thought devolution made a difference and now they have 100 reasons to think so

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Professor John Robertson OBA From: Scottish Social Attitudes | 25 years of devolution in Scotland: Public attitudes and reactions published last week: https://natcen.ac.uk/publications/scottish-social-attitudes-25-years-devolution-scotland Forget dip in the last year; we can confidently label that a hanging form of branch (geddit?). In the Labour/Lib Dem era, 1999-2007, most Scots thought that having a Scottish Parliament made no difference to life up here. Within a few years, ignoring spikes and dips, the majority have thought it does make a difference. Why? Because it does, indisputably: 1. Free Tuition. We believe in education based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay. While students in England now … Continue reading Only since the first SNP Government have Scots thought devolution made a difference and now they have 100 reasons to think so

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Why has British identity in Scotland plummeted since 2021

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Professor John Robertson OBA From: Scottish Social Attitudes | 25 years of devolution in Scotland: Public attitudes and reactions published last week: https://natcen.ac.uk/publications/scottish-social-attitudes-25-years-devolution-scotland The researchers offer no explanation for this recent collapse, from 2021 to 2024, in the proportion of Scots who consider themselves ‘British’, at all or best as. Readers will have their own views. I’m guessing the rise of Reform UK, Nicola Sturgeon managing the pandemic response far better than Boris Johnson, the Partygate Scandal, UK support for Israel even before the full genocide, England fans riot after losing to Italy on penalties, and the last years of … Continue reading Why has British identity in Scotland plummeted since 2021

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As the Labour chancellor promises to prioritise UK firms for shipbuilding contracts, history tells us we cannot trust them

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With only 2 days left, 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 – John Robertson, Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 By Liz S Anas Sarwar tweeted this yesterday : “So much for Stronger for Scotland…. More like SNP – Stronger for Poland. This is a huge blow to Scottish shipbuilding. Once again, jobs and investment going abroad on the SNP’s watch” This was in relation to the news that “Ferguson ship yard misses out on new CaLMac Ferry order” as headlined on the BBC website, … Continue reading As the Labour chancellor promises to prioritise UK firms for shipbuilding contracts, history tells us we cannot trust them

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‘Dr Death’ Iain Kennedy – the very long read

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With only 2 days left, 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 – John Robertson, Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA By Liz S The Sunday Herald front page….. “In a bleakly pessimistic interview , Chair of the British Medical Association Scotland Dr Iain Kennedy reveals all on the disturbing crisis currently engulfing our health system”. “pessimistic” is a constant with Sr Iain Kennedy on the Scottish NHS service…..in fact has he ever said anything positive about our Scottish NHS and our Scottish government ? “our health system”….is that only “ours” (Scotland’s) or is there … Continue reading ‘Dr Death’ Iain Kennedy – the very long read