Tag: uk-politics

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Going, going, gone? Nope, still there

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By Liz S BBC headline Scottish pages : ‘Our kids are killing each other – we need to do something’ Meanwhile what was formerly and very recently the top article on the main Scottish page of the BBC website on the 5th December, that is now no longer there and it was also formerly the top article on the Scottish Politics page, but now it has descended to being the 6th article on the Scottish politics page. It was earlier today the 11th article on the Glasgow & West Scotland page but now it has gone from that page. (at 15.36pm). So it’s gonna be a case of that article ……Going , Going and then … Continue reading Going, going, gone? Nope, still there

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“We’ve had a lot from Scotland but the tail cannot go on wagging the dog any longer” 

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By Liz S “Nigel Farage was once run out of Edinburgh . Now Scottish voters are embracing his rabble rousing”. Really ? Which scottish voters (with a small ‘s’)? Is it not really, in reality , just actually some scottish (with a small ‘s’) voters ? Some who may live in Scotland and so then get to vote in various elections. However their allegiance is not with Scotland but instead it is elsewhere. So of course they , some scottish (with a small ‘s’) voters, vote for the party that they think will ensure Scotland stays within their UK ….as a part of England. So for Ms Garivelli to write the … Continue reading “We’ve had a lot from Scotland but the tail cannot go on wagging the dog any longer” 

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‘Westminster should learn from Holyrood before another generation pays the price.’ It would make more sense for the UK Labour Government to just replicate the Scottish Child Payment – Independent assessment

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Professor John Robertson OBA This comparative assessment of the effectiveness in reducing child poverty with Labour’s newly announced Child Poverty Strategy or Scotland’s now established Child Payment has not been directly biased in favour of the views of Labour, the SNP or me but, unavoidably, will have been impacted by the weight of the recent media presence of the former. Nevertheless, I feel sure that Grok AI does not have a dog in this fight, based on my recent experience with it, when it comes to the Scottish context. So, will Labour’s new child poverty strategy work as well as … Continue reading ‘Westminster should learn from Holyrood before another generation pays the price.’ It would make more sense for the UK Labour Government to just replicate the Scottish Child Payment – Independent assessment

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As Labour Junior Minister accuses NHS Scotland of ‘airbrushing’ performance figures his own performance figures were defended by Jackie Baillie

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Professor John Robertson OBA Michael Shanks MP, now a junior minister for energy has been caught accusing NHS Scotland of presenting statistics in the same way as Labour Wales and Now Labour England do. I doubt he’ll ever feel obliged to apologise. It reminded me of his Rutherglen election campaign in July 2024 where Jackie Baillie accused me of unethical campaigning against him when I dug up attainment statistics which seemed to suggest a downturn for his school’s Modern Studies department during his time there, working hard, to become the Labour candidate, including, famously, running along every street in Glasgow. … Continue reading As Labour Junior Minister accuses NHS Scotland of ‘airbrushing’ performance figures his own performance figures were defended by Jackie Baillie

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More than £10 000 per year better off, lower electricity bills, 40 000 fewer poor children, Brexit losses reversed and an end to Westminster vetoes – get this spread!

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Professor John Robertson OBA Today, I asked Grok AI (x) How might an independent Scotland benefit? You have to know a bit of the world, of history, of politics, local, national and global, before you ask AI questions. I know from comments that Tus readers are safe but I really worry about youngsters. I used to argue, well-supported by the evidence from research, that Media Studies should be core in schools but subject-based tribalism and ill-informed snobbery kept it out. With Google it became vital and with AI it becomes the most valuable thing we could do. I know that … Continue reading More than £10 000 per year better off, lower electricity bills, 40 000 fewer poor children, Brexit losses reversed and an end to Westminster vetoes – get this spread!

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A strange kind of non-story that makes you think that the timing of this is a tad too convenient with the Scottish & Welsh elections coming up next year

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By Liz S This story was covered in the BBC website on the 11 October 2025. “Government to rethink rejection of Waspi compensation” It’s a strange kind of non story that automatically did make you think that the timing of this is a tad too convenient what with the Scottish & Welsh elections coming up next year….. Also with reports that Keir Starmer is currently “fighting attempts to replace him” from some within the party who are considered to be a tad too keen and a tad too ambitious as his Labour colleagues , who are now seeing an opportunity , what with the polls showing just how … Continue reading A strange kind of non-story that makes you think that the timing of this is a tad too convenient with the Scottish & Welsh elections coming up next year

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Why are only the right-wing media making an argument against 300 plus asylum seekers being sent to Inverness?

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Professor John Robertson OBA The news that the 309 young male asylum seekers arriving in Inverness are going to lead to veterans [three families] being booted out of Cameron Barracks in Inverness is only being covered by the right-wing media. I share the view that these families should absolutely be able to stay but there are other, bigger, reasons too. From BBC Highlands and Islands, 29 October 2025 A UK government minister says he recognises the “strength of feeling” about plans to use an Inverness barracks to house asylum seekers. Cameron Barracks is to provide accommodation for 309 men from next … Continue reading Why are only the right-wing media making an argument against 300 plus asylum seekers being sent to Inverness?

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Why “Motormouth” is a very apt description of Anas Sarwar

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By Liz S “Sarwar refuses to comment on UK tax hike speculation“ Really ? Yet he, Sarwar, is not slow in commentating upon and also speculating upon so many other things that he says the SNP are currently doing wrong and that they , the SNP, will also do wrong if they win again next year, where as he says that he and his party will apparently do far far better if they win in Scotland next year. (Big if) The BBC article states that “the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has refused to be drawn on speculation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will raise UK income tax“. Indeed I bet he does, as he knows only too well the negative financial impact this will have upon Scotland , though when … Continue reading Why “Motormouth” is a very apt description of Anas Sarwar

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‘Scottish’ Labour MP Joani Reid appears on right-wing media to try to drag Scotland into England’s grooming rape gangs shame

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Professor John Robertson OBA The ever-alert MSM Monitor spots the latest attempt by Jimmy Reid‘s granddaughter, Joani, to shame Scotland on behalf of UK Labour. The facts she cares nothing for: Don’t be fooled – this is not a ‘grooming’ gang like those in England – no children, no children’s homes, no thousands of victims They, Scottish Labour and the MSM, would just love it if Scotland had one of those grooming gangs like the ones they have in England. That’s why they’re using the term for a gang that has little in common with the English ones and which, … Continue reading ‘Scottish’ Labour MP Joani Reid appears on right-wing media to try to drag Scotland into England’s grooming rape gangs shame

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Brian Leishman kisses the PM’s ring for early release in error and enjoys the whip again

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By Liz S “Whip restored to suspended Labour MP Leishman” As if that is news that was not expected at some point. He , Leishman, was said to be one of four Labour MP’s who have had their suspension lifted after a discussions with the chief whip Jonathan Reynolds on the previous Friday . So Brian Leishman , formerly a supposed Labour rebel with a cause, has now promised to become a good boy , so I assume he has also promised the Labour Chief Whip that he, Brian Leishman, will be a rebel no more ? On social media Leishman wrote: “People can rest assured that I will … Continue reading Brian Leishman kisses the PM’s ring for early release in error and enjoys the whip again