Next time you’re told the Scottish Government is failing to replace inflammable cladding here’s the evidence, six times for emphasis, why it’s not necessary in Scotland

In the National today, the above, and a report based entirely on events in England with no mention of the somewhat obvious fact that there have never been towering infernos in Scotland despite 6 tower-block fires in the years since Grenfell. What might they have mentioned? This kind of thing: In the Herald 28 April 2026, Martin Williams has: 10 buildings in Scotland have had emergency safety measures put in place after being judged an “immediate risk to human life” — yet not a single block has been declared fully repaired under the national cladding programme, nearly nine years after … Continue reading Next time you’re told the Scottish Government is failing to replace inflammable cladding here’s the evidence, six times for emphasis, why it’s not necessary in Scotland

UK Labour promises a tiny 2.2% increase in tree planting in a sad effort to catch John Swinney’s 35 million tree lead

Before the crowdfunder finishes tomorrow, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at:Crowdfunder 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: Half a million trees will be planted across England in the next three years to protect against extreme weather, the environment secretary, Angela Eagle, will pledge on Wednesday morning. Mayors, local authorities, charities and grassroots groups will be given new funding and responsibilities for restoring natural landscapes such as wetlands, river edges and meadows, which can provide natural flood management and reduce the damage done by droughts. The … Continue reading UK Labour promises a tiny 2.2% increase in tree planting in a sad effort to catch John Swinney’s 35 million tree lead

You may be wondering what on earth the ‘marching season’ is all about?

With only 3 days left, support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: 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 By Liz S The BBC has an article today on their N Ireland page: “Who are the Orangemen”? Then incredulously it stated ” If you’re not from Northern Ireland, you may be wondering what on earth the ‘marching season’ is all about“. Sorry ? OMG , well I am from Scotland and I and others who live here know only too well what the “marching season is all about” ! … Continue reading You may be wondering what on earth the ‘marching season’ is all about?

Violent crime in England & Wales is 8 times more common than in Scotland…per square mile

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 When rtpscott replied in https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/09/25/drug-deaths-simple-language-not-simplistic-solutions/: The population of England in 2026 is estimated to be approximately 58.8 million people, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Scotland’s population was estimated at 5,545,500 as of mid-2025 by the National Records of Scotland (NRS), marking a slow growth of less than 0.1% from the previous year Maybe I am being stupid but using these two figures how is it that Scotland has more recorded drug deaths than England I doubt that MSM will look into that,anything to do down … Continue reading Violent crime in England & Wales is 8 times more common than in Scotland…per square mile

How long do ‘Vietnamese’ trafficking gangs have to live and work in England until they become ‘English’ before 16 years later they spread into Scotland?

BBC Scotland today reporting ‘Vietnamese’ people trafficking gangs operating in Scotland, leaving viewers to think they came directly from and are managed from, say, Hanoi. 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 Readers will know that County Lines gangs terrorising Scotland from Dumfries to Wick, arriving here as ‘heavies’ from Liverpool, Birmingham, Bradford or London are never referred to in Scottish media, as Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Somali, Irish, Jamaican or, heaven forfend, ‘English’ though the communities they come from are described as such in England. So, why is BBC Scotland so comfortable with ‘Vietnamese’ when refugees from … Continue reading How long do ‘Vietnamese’ trafficking gangs have to live and work in England until they become ‘English’ before 16 years later they spread into Scotland?

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

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

Arran Ferry – two very good reasons for the Troon move

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 understand the concerns in Ardrossan about this but the wider picture is important. The summer traffic to Arran warranted the building of larger ferries. Businesses and the islanders campaigned for bigger ferries to cope with and that is where we are. The move to Troon will and understandable disappointment in Ardrosssan will of course be exploited by the media. Here’s the case for it, in two parts: First, Glen Sannox sailing from Troon means the same bus/car, shorter train, journey times from Glasgow … Continue reading Arran Ferry – two very good reasons for the Troon move

The prof who believes that Pisa tests prove England’s schools are better is also the same one who tried to stop my research in 2014 revealing BBC bias from affecting the Referendum

Not just posing in front of books but higgledy-piggledy ones? 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 Regulars here will know that we’ve been reacting, often angrily, to Prof Paterson’s attempts to shame Scottish schools, based on the skills he picked up in his own early research into barley crop yields, bull testicles and other agricultural products. I won’t re-tread these today. I have another reason to question his motivations, that I’d forgotten about these 13 years since I did quantitative research into BBC/STV reporting of the referendum campaign and found, … Continue reading The prof who believes that Pisa tests prove England’s schools are better is also the same one who tried to stop my research in 2014 revealing BBC bias from affecting the Referendum

Even under Plaid Cymru rule BBC Wales can maintain professional journalism standards miles above the BBC Scotland scare stories

Two headlines sum it all up for us? 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 BBC Wales and BBC Scotland react, both on the 9th September, to the latest Pisa results. The BBC Wales reporting is especially notable given these: Imagine if Scotland had been bottom, how BBC Scotland would have covered. Of course, the English figures are fiddled. They’ve just recruited image consultants to present their still dodgy data so that they don’t nearly get chucked off the whole thing as in 2022. See: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/09/08/two-leading-academics-cast-doubt-on-englands-supposedly-better-pisa-scores-as-their-sample-is-revealed-to-be-skewed-toward-high-achievers-by-schools-gaming-the-system-again/ Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or … Continue reading Even under Plaid Cymru rule BBC Wales can maintain professional journalism standards miles above the BBC Scotland scare stories