‘Devastating damage to vehicles’ aboard North Link’s Orkney ferry after ‘cargo shift’ in wind speeds that have never troubled CalMac

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dottie again for alerting us to this: Off Stromness, wind speeds this morning varied between 24.5 and 40.1 mph with gusts up to 42.4 mph1according to the Inverness Courier: ‘Devastating’ damage to vehicles aboard Scrabster ferry after ‘cargo shift’ – A “full review” is under way after vehicles were damaged while the ferry Hamnavoe was crossing the Pentland Firth [from Stromness] this morning. The ferry operator, Serco NorthLink Ferries, said there had been a “cargo shift” as the vessel was on its way from Stromness to Scrabster. No-one was injured. Managing director Stuart Garrett … Continue reading ‘Devastating damage to vehicles’ aboard North Link’s Orkney ferry after ‘cargo shift’ in wind speeds that have never troubled CalMac

Three years after a Liverpool newspaper warned that Liverpool drug gangs are focusing on Scotland and causing high drug deaths, nothing has changed and BBC Scotland still will not inform you of what is happening in your own country

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks, once more to Graham for alerting us to this. The above from the P&J, is just the latest in a trail of reports of English County Lines drug gangs bringing a plague of drug abuse, deaths and extreme violence, based on Police Scotland estimates, to around 50 locations in Scotland. In just one day in April 2025, Aberdeen’s P&J had two reports of English drug gangs occupying homes in the city to sell new more powerful low cost drugs and, in so doing keep drug deaths high, despite the efforts of the SNP Government which has oversight … Continue reading Three years after a Liverpool newspaper warned that Liverpool drug gangs are focusing on Scotland and causing high drug deaths, nothing has changed and BBC Scotland still will not inform you of what is happening in your own country

British university in Scotland with only tiny number of working-class Scottish students or Scottish staff accused of ‘penny-pinching’ over free period products

From BBC Scotland, yesterday: Edinburgh University has been accused of “penny-pinching” after it reduced the availability of free period products at one of its busiest sites. The university has removed free sanitary products from a number of toilets at its main library on George Square, where they have been replaced with signs pointing users to places where they are available. The items are now available in toilets on just three of the building’s eight floors, whereas previously they were available on at least six. The university said it would remain in line with Scottish government guidelines, upholding its commitment to “equality, … Continue reading British university in Scotland with only tiny number of working-class Scottish students or Scottish staff accused of ‘penny-pinching’ over free period products

Scottish fishing fleet has double the catching capacity of English fleet, lands more fish and generates more income but only 7% of UK development funding comes to Scotland

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dottie, once more, for alerting us to this. In the National, yesterday: Scottish Government hits out over ‘totally unacceptable’ fishing deal – MAIRI Gougeon has hit out at the UK Government for short-changing Scotland’s fishing industry over “totally unacceptable” funding allocation.  https://www.thenational.scot/news/25558212.scottish-government-hits-totally-unacceptable-fishing-deal/ According to the National report, Scotland, despite having 70% of the catch and generating 58% of the UK revenue, will only receive £28 million out of the total £360 million of investment through the new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, 7%. Wales and N Ireland get even less, £18m and £10m. So, £304 million, … Continue reading Scottish fishing fleet has double the catching capacity of English fleet, lands more fish and generates more income but only 7% of UK development funding comes to Scotland

More than 500 avoidable baby deaths implicated in reports across 14 NHS England maternity services but not one in Scotland – here’s why

Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC West Yorkshire today: An independent inquiry into “repeated failures” at an NHS trust’s maternity units has been announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, following potentially avoidable harm to babies and mothers. Earlier this year a BBC investigation revealed that the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTH) over the past five years may have been prevented. Streeting said a thorough investigation was required to understand what had “gone so catastrophically wrong” at the trust’s maternity units at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpxnk9n4poContinue reading More than 500 avoidable baby deaths implicated in reports across 14 NHS England maternity services but not one in Scotland – here’s why

What kind of cereal crop harvest contrast between England and Scotland would interest Scottish media?

Professor John Robertson OBA This morning, the Scottish Government announced: The Chief Statistician has released predictions for the 2025 Scottish harvest. These industry predictions anticipate overall cereal production could reach a high of over 3.2 million tonnes. This could bring total production in at well above the average over the past five years, despite dry spring and summer conditions. Winter crops, including winter barley, oilseed rape and wheat, are predicted to perform well, with some very good yields being reported. https://www.gov.scot/news/a-good-cereal-harvest-predicted-for-2025/ There are no MSM reports on this. Three days ago, the Scottish Farmer had: England has suffered its second … Continue reading What kind of cereal crop harvest contrast between England and Scotland would interest Scottish media?

Reports of Knife-Wielding Gangs in Scottish Towns and Cities with English Accents

Professor John Robertson OBA Recent reports and discussions in Scotland have highlighted the infiltration of drug-related gangs from England into Scottish towns and cities, often involving knives or other weapons. These groups are primarily linked to “County Lines” operations—a model originating in English urban areas where gangs exploit vulnerable people (e.g., addicts) to store and sell drugs in remote locations. While Scottish gangs exist and contribute to violence, multiple sources point to English-based groups as a distinct issue, expanding northward to evade police crackdowns and tap into new markets. This has fueled concerns about rising drug deaths and localized violence … Continue reading Reports of Knife-Wielding Gangs in Scottish Towns and Cities with English Accents

BBC Scotland carefully hide the fact that sex offences on trains in England & Wales are TWICE as common as they are in Scotland!

Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Wales two days ago, had: Reports of sexual assaults and harassment on trains have risen by more than a third over the past 10 years, according to data requested by a BBC investigation. There were 2,661 incidents reported across England, Scotland and Wales last year, where one in 10 were children – with some younger than 13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39r2zp1dw7o BBC Scotland in their BBC Breakfast insert yesterday, had: The number of sexual offences on trains in Scotland has risen by over 70% in the last decade, according to figures obtained by BBC Scotland news. There were 98 assaults … Continue reading BBC Scotland carefully hide the fact that sex offences on trains in England & Wales are TWICE as common as they are in Scotland!

Scottish nationalism is not just civic it’s leftist too

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

Shocking contrast between customer satisfaction with CalMac and British Columbia Ferries with latter often screamed at, spat on or threatened due to poor performance

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Times Colonist on 10 October 2025: The union representing B.C. Ferries workers says its members are facing “disturbing” levels of abuse from passengers. A survey of B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union members indicated that more than 80 per cent of respondents said they have been threatened with violence on the job, and 92 per cent said they have witnessed it. The union released the results of its survey as the Thanksgiving weekend got underway in what is expected to be one of the year’s busiest for ferry travellers. Behind every sailing is a crew doing … Continue reading Shocking contrast between customer satisfaction with CalMac and British Columbia Ferries with latter often screamed at, spat on or threatened due to poor performance