Tag: snp

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So ‘Scotland’s national security’ is threatened by loss of a £2.5m grant!? This silliness from ‘patriotic Brits’ requires Scotland’s electorate to suspend basic thinking skills!

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By stewartb – a long read In recent days, British Labour Party politicians as well as journalists writing for ‘patriotic’ British media outlets have been trying to make mountains out of the molehill of Scottish Enterprise not awarding Rolls-Royce a £2.5 million grant. It’s tough competition but pellisonrhaps the prize for the ‘best’ headline – the most ridiculous –  goes to the ‘Scottish’ Daily Express (May 31) with this (my emphasis):  ‘SNP’s ‘student politics’ threaten Scotland’s ‘national security’ after it blocks £11m investment’. From the Express, we learn: ‘the SNP have been accused of threatening Scotland’s national security after blocking … Continue reading So ‘Scotland’s national security’ is threatened by loss of a £2.5m grant!? This silliness from ‘patriotic Brits’ requires Scotland’s electorate to suspend basic thinking skills!

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BBC Scotland’s Lisa Summers exposes the sham – and the trap – of devolution

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By stewartb Lisa Summers’ ‘Analysis’ of the Scottish Nurses 8% pay deal: The gamble here is that it doesn’t know what deal will be offered to NHS staff elsewhere in the UK as negotiations are ongoing. However, the UK government has so far said it would recommend a 2.8% increase, a move described as “offensive” by unions. If the pay deal is significantly higher for Scotland, the government will have to find the money to pay for it with no additional money coming from Westminster … Ms Summers exposes the sham – and the trap – of devolution. The NHS is the responsibility of the … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s Lisa Summers exposes the sham – and the trap – of devolution

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SNP plans even fairer taxation with new council tax band

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Professor John Robertson OBA The Telegraph, above, plotting the downfall of the SNP with the politics of meanness. The Scottish Government is consulting with local councils on introducing a new council tax band for the most expensive homes. Expect a hysterical reaction as Anas Sarwar and his mum both rage against their houses being included. Most of us, I’m sure recognise another progressive initiative from the SNP in Government to gradually work away at the inequality which so damages life for everyone, including the rich. We had to defend Scotland’s modest attempts in this regard, earlier this year: We’ve recently … Continue reading SNP plans even fairer taxation with new council tax band

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Rail fares to go up by shocking 21% more in England than in Scotland despite far fewer views like this

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Professor John Robertson OBA, Travel Correspondent BBC Scotland this morning, on various cost-of-living increases in the next few days felt the need to remind us that Scotrail fares had gone up ‘nearly 4%.’ That was 3.8% on 31 January 2025. Back then, they had also felt the need to tell us all this: Opposition parties said the price rise would “hammer” passengers who would be “dismayed” at having to pay more despite regular disruption to rail services. Scottish Labour’s transport spokeswoman Claire Baker said the price increase would “hammer” rail passengers and “consign ScotRail to a spiral of decline”. She … Continue reading Rail fares to go up by shocking 21% more in England than in Scotland despite far fewer views like this

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From the ‘Murder Capital’ of Europe to the safest place in the UK in less than 20 years but clearly too quickly for journalists, writers or comedians to adapt to

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That should read ‘treat’. How an otherwise excellent comedian continued to get laughs out an outdated image of the country with the lowest domestic violence levels in the UK. Professor John Robertson OBA This was first published in Scots Independent in February 2025 In 2005, only 20 years ago, according to the United Nations, Glasgow had the highest murder rate in the UK, higher than in Albania or Romania and was referred to in the media as the ‘Murder Capital of Europe.’ Scotland had a murder rate three times higher than in other parts of the UK. In sharp contrast … Continue reading From the ‘Murder Capital’ of Europe to the safest place in the UK in less than 20 years but clearly too quickly for journalists, writers or comedians to adapt to

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Prof who doesn’t ‘give a flying fcuk’ resurfaces to lie about Scotland joining the EU

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Published in the Sunday Herald today, retired Prof of German History, Jill Stephenson, is enabled to repeat, above, the old claim that Scotland ‘is not qualified to join the on grounds currency, control of monetary policy, lender of last resort and deficit’. TuS gets a rare mention as a ‘separatist blog‘. Should we rename as ‘Splitting-up Britain?’ More on Prof Paterson, her colleagues in a covert letter-writing and radio phone-in group, later, but first the substance of her claim. She’s wrong, all wrong. The full answer is far too long for this place but you can read it at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-new-scotland-independent-scotland-eu/pages/11/ … Continue reading Prof who doesn’t ‘give a flying fcuk’ resurfaces to lie about Scotland joining the EU

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Falkirk SNP council tried to set lower council tax but Labour and Independents forced through largest council tax increase of 15.6%

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By Liz S BBC have an article on their website which is the top story on their Scottish Politics page and top story on the Tayside & Central page too and also it’s the sixth story on the main Scotland page with a headline that states: “Falkirk sets largest council tax increase of 15.6%” The text of the article explains that “The budget of the council’s SNP administration was defeated. Instead the motion of Independent councillor Laura Murtagh was backed by the Labour group and other Independents”. “Council leader and SNP councillor Cecil Meiklejohn said her administration’s proposed 13.7% would have brought … Continue reading Falkirk SNP council tried to set lower council tax but Labour and Independents forced through largest council tax increase of 15.6%

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How Scotland’s disability benefits system has been kinder, remains affordable but is not apparently worthy of proper media coverage

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Today, BBC Reporting Scotland Down has the above story on disability payments in Scotland. As always there’s no context so that the narrative can remain pure – critical of the Scottish Government. What is the most important recent historical fact in disability payments in the UK? This: A leading disability rights charity has described new suicide statistics as the “tragic face of systemic inequality”. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggested disabled people had the highest rate of dying by suicide compared to other groups. It found 48 disabled men per 100,000 people and 19 … Continue reading How Scotland’s disability benefits system has been kinder, remains affordable but is not apparently worthy of proper media coverage

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As Labour government cuts millions from funding for victims’ services, SNP increase it by 12% in one year

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By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: The [UK] government has cut millions of pounds in funding for victims’ services, prompting warnings that “criminals will go unpunished” unless it urgently changes its position. The Victims’ Commissioner has written a letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves, shared exclusively with the Observer, saying a combination of funding reductions and the upcoming employers’ national insurance increase was creating an “existential crisis” for charities. The commissioner and charities in the sector are calling for an urgent funding increase in the next spending review, which concludes this spring. “These crucial services ensure victims have the … Continue reading As Labour government cuts millions from funding for victims’ services, SNP increase it by 12% in one year

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As energy bills are set to rise again English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’

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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 inkl in October 2024: Households in Scotland are paying higher energy bills than they ought to keep prices down south of the Border, according to experts at the … Continue reading As energy bills are set to rise again English financiers says ‘Scotland ‘subsidises’ London energy bills’ and it’s ‘better for Scots to pay over the odds than those living in the English capital’