Far more working-class students in medicine in Scotland

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser closing on Friday, primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS  From the Guardian yesterday, the above shocking headline. You won’t be surprised to see the Guardian report is typically and lazily, Anglocentric when you see this from the original … Continue reading Far more working-class students in medicine in Scotland

The hypocrisy of Metro Mayor Andy Burnham

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser closing on Friday, primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Liz S The Herald newspaper had a front page headline on the 26 February 2025. “Andy Burnham: Glasgow could be an economic powerhouse with five city collaboration” Andy Burnham is the Labour Manchester Metro Mayor. This … Continue reading The hypocrisy of Metro Mayor Andy Burnham

Latest Referendum/Holyrood poll distorts by pretending it’s still 2014 to hide 56% for Yes

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing in 9 days, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA The 11-14 February 2025 Holyrood poll of party preferences, above, and on independence, below, is based on a sample that has been adjusted, ‘weighted‘ to match the result of the 2014 referendum – a … Continue reading Latest Referendum/Holyrood poll distorts by pretending it’s still 2014 to hide 56% for Yes

Headlining rape – BBC Scotland focus on one case but the wider picture, including higher conviction rates, they don’t want you to know about that

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS In an extended report on a single rape victim and her understandable, important, concerns, there’s the unchecked, unspecified, claim that conviction rates are ‘low’ and no room for any context somehow. Here … Continue reading Headlining rape – BBC Scotland focus on one case but the wider picture, including higher conviction rates, they don’t want you to know about that

England’s NHS underperformance day, bed-blocking and road deaths set BBC Scotland an impossible task to match the misery – second bed-blocking and community care

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS BBC UK today is focusing on what they are calling ‘NHS Performance Day.’ Their tone suggests they already know the figures are going to be bad and they clearly intend to consider … Continue reading England’s NHS underperformance day, bed-blocking and road deaths set BBC Scotland an impossible task to match the misery – second bed-blocking and community care

Scotland’s media and the trade unions before and after the rise of the SNP

My February 2025 column in Scots Independent The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson Professor John Robertson OBA Before the rise of the SNP, trade unions had very little presence in the media other than in being presented as hate figures whose industrial actions spoiled or risked … Continue reading Scotland’s media and the trade unions before and after the rise of the SNP

Not one anti-semitic violent attack recorded in Scotland in 2024 and only one misogynistic leaflet in ‘Northern Scotland’ is mentioned in report

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS The report on anti-semitic attacks in the UK in 2024, from the CST, published today has prompted some excited media coverage but not, yet, in Scotland. Watch out for the Herald to … Continue reading Not one anti-semitic violent attack recorded in Scotland in 2024 and only one misogynistic leaflet in ‘Northern Scotland’ is mentioned in report

‘Controversial’ physician associates more than twice as common in NHS England than in NHS 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/details By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair, UWS The role of physician associates [PA] is at the centre of controversy this week as the BMA sues the GMC over how they are to be described. What are PAs? Physician associates (PAs) are medically trained [but not full MD training], generalist healthcare professionals who work with doctors in multidisciplinary teams to provide medical care. PAs are dependent practitioners working with a dedicated supervisor but can also work independently on specific tasks.1 Scotland’s media seem disinterested, … Continue reading ‘Controversial’ physician associates more than twice as common in NHS England than in NHS Scotland

MI5, CIA, SNP and the GRA – Have I watched Homeland and the Diplomat too often?

Professor John Robertson OBA The Express today has: Nicola Sturgeon was CIA agent who stoked gender wars to foil Scexit, claims top nationalist – Former diplomat Craig Murray suggests that American spooks used USAID funding to split the SNP, adding that the former First Minister was likely ‘bribed, indoctrinated and blackmailed’ https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-cia-agent-who-34647121 Mad, eh? Who would believe any of that? I’m saying nothing….well nothing much but I have worried and written at times of a more subtle form of CIA presence – a form of cultural imperialism which manifests itself in ‘Atlanticism‘ – a tendency to admire US politics, especially … Continue reading MI5, CIA, SNP and the GRA – Have I watched Homeland and the Diplomat too often?

Don’t these dentists know there’s a crisis in dentistry? Scottish Labour MPs are telling England there is one to make them feel better and able to keep looking down on us

The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson By Professor John Robertson OBA Look at that from Newmilns in East Ayrshire! No need to queue round the block for an appointment and then wait forever for it, as we hear is the case across NHS England. I wonder is the … Continue reading Don’t these dentists know there’s a crisis in dentistry? Scottish Labour MPs are telling England there is one to make them feel better and able to keep looking down on us