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

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

Why has British identity in Scotland plummeted since 2021

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

Not yet the news but needed now to undermine the SNP Conference

are set to ballot members on strike action, both claiming that the Scottish Government has reneged on promises made earlier in its parliamentary term. Professor John Robertson OBA So, two groups, teachers and young doctors might strike in the future but haven’t even had a vote yet? Wouldn’t this be the news if they have already voted to strike or not to strike? What’s the rush? Well, obviously and firstly, the SNP Conference is already under way and some bad news is needed to report on instead of what the governing party might promise the electorate for the May 2026, … Continue reading Not yet the news but needed now to undermine the SNP Conference

So we have BBC Scotland, the Chair of the Scottish BMA, Sarwar, Baillie, the English NHS Health Secretary Wes Streeting, the UK PM, all of Labour HQ & the branch office Labour party in Scotland all politicising the NHS in Scotland but England’s NHS is to be exempt from politicisation now that Labour are in charge. I see. Got it.

By Liz S “Why is Reporting Scotland still headlining the three-day-old news of ‘hundreds’ of operations cancelled in one NHS board”…….why indeed. Well they, the BBC ‘news’ teams in Scotland, need to hang onto (prolong) what they promote as being #BAD ‘news’….. that they then see as being another political weapon that they can use against the SNP…………it also helps to reinforce the BBC in Scotland’s current favourite UK political party’s message, as in the Labour party, and their political campaign of misinformation upon the Scottish NHS and the SNP. Meanwhile yesterday MSM Monitor posted this on ‘X’ “Waiting times in the English NHS … Continue reading So we have BBC Scotland, the Chair of the Scottish BMA, Sarwar, Baillie, the English NHS Health Secretary Wes Streeting, the UK PM, all of Labour HQ & the branch office Labour party in Scotland all politicising the NHS in Scotland but England’s NHS is to be exempt from politicisation now that Labour are in charge. I see. Got it.

Dr Iain Kennedy linked to Labour campaign and Prof Curtice might be underestimating the intelligence of fleeing Labour voters

Professor John Robertson OBA, Former Faculty Research Ethics Chair The word ‘ethics’ does not appear in Prof Curtice’s CV. Should I see if Dr Kennedy has any such interests? Should I check if the BMA ever considers the ethical dimensions of their surveys? I did. SFA. In the Herald today – Labour is losing ground in Scotland as NHS blame game bites, two things are intriguing. The big one is about the NHS performance so I’ll get the lesser one out of the way first: With mounting waiting lists, staff shortages, and bed-blocking crises, Scottish Labour has made the state of the … Continue reading Dr Iain Kennedy linked to Labour campaign and Prof Curtice might be underestimating the intelligence of fleeing Labour voters

‘Dr Death’ Iain Kennedy – the very long read

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

They may not feel comfortable with it, but to win, the SNP should recognise that voters are ‘avoiders of danger’ and GO NEGATIVE

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 Professor John Robertson OBA It’s probably not in your nature. It’s not in mine and of all the large parties in the UK, it’s not in the spirit of the SNP. We want to campaign with a positive message and we have a lot to be positive about in our achievements, in reducing poverty such as with the unique, world-leading Child Payment, in providing universal benefits such as those for prescriptions and tuition, in the lowest crime levels in the UK, in increased attainment by pupils … Continue reading They may not feel comfortable with it, but to win, the SNP should recognise that voters are ‘avoiders of danger’ and GO NEGATIVE

The Scottish values that Reform UK cannot align with, but which produce an ‘impenetrable wall’ of support for the SNP?

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 Professor John Robertson OBA This was first published in Scots Independent in July 2025. A recent survey by pollster More in Common for GB News, has cast doubt on Reform UK’s prospects in Scotland and suggests an ‘impenetrable wall’ of support for the SNP. On 19 July 2025, GB News reported: Reform UK’s hopes of generating a tartan tidal wave have been handed a damning verdict as a pollster has told GB News that the party’s values do not fully resonate with Scottish voters. According to a … Continue reading The Scottish values that Reform UK cannot align with, but which produce an ‘impenetrable wall’ of support for the SNP?

No supporters resorted to the more ‘divisive’, the more extreme and inflammatory rhetoric to try to convince voters to stay in the UK

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 stewartb “Lots of us were persuadable, but if the knee jerk response to common sense questions is ‘you’re a unionist traitor, a scaremonger and no true Scot’, don’t be surprised if the questioner becomes sceptical about the inclusive, egalitarian, welcoming utopia independence activists swore we’d be living in once they were in charge” At one level I’m bored by the likes of this from Ms Rowling and want to move on. But this wishing to occupy some sort of moral high ground grinds … Continue reading No supporters resorted to the more ‘divisive’, the more extreme and inflammatory rhetoric to try to convince voters to stay in the UK

‘I came to the question of independence with an open mind’ – writer of mundane children’s fantasy books

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 Liz S JK Rowling has now written another loooooooooooong post on ‘X’ today in response to a tweet by, checks notes, Wings Over Scotland. The last paragraph of her post includes this…. “Lots of us were persuadable, but if the knee jerk response to common sense questions is ‘you’re a unionist traitor, a scaremonger and no true Scot’, don’t be surprised if the questioner becomes sceptical about the inclusive, egalitarian, welcoming utopia independence activists swore we’d be living in once they were in … Continue reading ‘I came to the question of independence with an open mind’ – writer of mundane children’s fantasy books