/qresearch/ -  Q Research

Dough

https://fullchan.net/?0f8f166aa0d64c9a#HAdEgL7uBLYbR8LiUepmwU1cUsGocbWtpMezi17GqUCv

>>20771576

>>>20669769

> Initial Hate Crime Law Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/top-scots-cop-claims-police-32646298

Top Scots cop claims police shouldn't be dealing with 'hurt feelings' in latest Hate Crime criticism

Chief superintendent Gordon McCreadie claimed that there should be more frontline policing in communities, but in order to do this there either needed to be more cops on the street, or take them off dealing with 'hurt feelings.'

David Walker

APR 2024

A top Scots cop has hit out at Humza Yousaf's Hate Crime shambles as he insisted that officers should not be dealing with "hurt feelings." Chief superintendent Gordon McCreadie pointed out that if this was the case then the force needs more officers on the beat so that crime can be dealt with as well.

The new law was brought in on April 1 and led to a huge influx of complaints, with Police Scotland inundated with more than 7,000 in just the first week. The vast majority of these were not taken any further than the initial report, with only just over 200 dealt with under the legislation.

It has meant that already overworked officers need to investigate every single complaint, with overtime bills being racked up in their thousands. Concerns were also raised that it would take bobbies away from dealing with other crimes such as assault or theft.

Ch Supt McCreadie made the comments on Twitter in response to a complaint from a user that there is no longer a visible force in communities to deter criminals in the first place. He is also the local policing commander in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde and posted originally about his Friday night spent on the frontline.

He wrote: "Our response officers are one of the most important facets of policing. On Friday night I joined them and saw them tackling a range of challenging & dangerous incidents with partners, from knife carriers (below) to flat fires, missing children and bar fights.

"Being out on Friday night across Paisley, Renfrew and Johnstone absolutely affirmed the incredible and RELENTLESS work our response and community officers do protect communities. Thanks too to all our partners I saw deployed."

A social media user responded to him by airing his concerns about a lack of community policing: "Let’s get back to highly visible routine patrols and community policing. Responding quickly to a call is one thing but being a visible deterrent in the first place is better."

Ch Supt McCreadie replied: "Completely agree. Something has to change though as the maths simply don’t work. From what I saw and hear one of two things is needed: A) We need to stay in our lane. Prevention first and tackling crime and the upper tariff of wellbeing (not hurt feelings) B) More officers."

The number of cops in Scotland has reduced massively in recent months, despite a vow from the Scottish Government to keep them at steady levels. The Scottish Police Federation claimed that it has fallen to below 16,000, although this has been disputed by Police Scotland.

And they now need to deal with reports from people claiming that a hate crime has been committed, with advertising claiming that if you perceive this to happen, then you should report it to cops. The Scottish Tories are calling for the legislation to be repealed, and welcomed Ch Supt McCreadie's comments.

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay MSP told the Scottish Daily Express: “Out-of-touch SNP ministers believe that everyone else is wrong in their blind defence of Humza Yousaf’s hate crime law which could be scrapped. They need to start listening to the testimony of experienced officers like this who understand that effective policing involves the presence of officers in our community and a focus on tackling real crimes, not hurt feelings.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Scotland’s police officers do an outstanding job to keep communities safe, with recorded crime at one of the lowest levels since 1974 and down 39% since 2006-07.

"Despite deeply challenging financial circumstances due to the UK Government settlement, our Budget for next year includes record police funding of £1.55 billion – an increase of £92.7 million. This enables Police Scotland to retain police numbers of around 16,500-16,600. Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales and higher pay ranges for officers at all ranks.”

>>20771576

>>20771578

Thanks baker buddies.

The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow…….I'm starting to doubt I'll live long enough to see it. ;)

>>20771576

>>>20771485 Final Operation Branchform Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/top-scots-kc-says-peter-32627624

Top Scots KC says any Peter Murrell embezzlement trial unlikely to happen until 2026

Ben Borland

19 APR 2024

One of Scotland's top advocates said a potential embezzlement trial involving Peter Murrell would be unlikely to happen until 2026 at the earliest. This raises the potential of a clash with the next Scottish Parliament election.

Thomas Ross KC told BBC Scotland News he did not know whether the case, if it did go to court, would be held at the sheriff or the high court. But he added: "Clearly if the case was at the high court they already have trials there in August 2025.

"It is not unusual for a case to take a year to get to the high court for its first appearance and then to take another year for the trial. So, if we work on that basis that a charge has only just been brought and the case is just about to be reported to the procurator fiscal, then it could easily be two years before the case gets to court."

After Mr Murrell was charged with embezzlement of SNP funds on Thursday evening, the next step will be for Police Scotland to submit a standard prosecution report (SPR) to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. It will be for the COPFS to decide whether or not to move ahead with a criminal trial.

The procurator fiscal must consider if the police have gathered sufficient evidence to prove a crime has been committed – and that the accused is the person responsible for that crime. They will also decide whether it is in the public interest to prosecute, with the huge sums spent on Operation Branchform likely to be a factor.

The next Holyrood election is due to be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026. As things stand, Mr Murrell's wife, Nicola Sturgeon, has said she intends to carry on as MSP for Glasgow Southside until at least that date – although there have been calls for the former SNP leader to quit politics.

She has barely spoken at the Scottish Parliament since standing down as first minister last year and is currently working on a "deeply personal and revealing" memoir, which is due to be published in 2025.

Although still more than two years away, the opinion polls suggest the SNP is on course to lose power in 2026 with Scottish Labour likely to be the biggest party. This would give Anas Sarwar the first bite at forming a coalition government with the Lib Dems or even the Greens.

However, the first big electoral test for Humza Yousaf will come much sooner with the UK general election looking increasingly like it will be a make-or-break event for his faltering leadership of the Nats.

>>20772472

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/crown-office-hasnt-received-peter-32652489

Crown Office hasn't received Peter Murrell embezzlement charge report five days after his re-arrest

The former chief executive of the SNP, and Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was officially charged by Police Scotland last week but prosecutors have yet to receive a standard prosecution report.

David Walker

23 APR 2024

Scotland's Crown Office has still not received a report from Police Scotland about former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, almost a week since he was charged by cops. Prosecutors have not caught sight of a charge sheet involving Nicola Sturgeon's husband, who is accused of embezzling from his former party.

Cops have yet to send a standard prosecution report to the procurator fiscal which could mean a number of things, including that further charges in relation to an individual or the overall investigation are still being considered. The former first minister and ex-party treasurer Colin Beattie are still suspects in Operation Branchform.

A spokesman for the Crown Office told the Scottish Daily Express: “Senior professional prosecutors from COPFS and an Advocate Depute are working with police on this ongoing investigation. It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference.Not according to Roger Livermore.

“As is routine, to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, we do not comment in detail on their conduct.” It is understood a report has not been sent to prosecutors to consider whether to take the case to court or not.

Mr Murrell was re-arrested by cops on Thursday morning and grilled for around nine hours at Falkirk police station before being charged with embezzlement as part of the police's long-running probe into the finances of the SNP. Operation Branchform launched in the summer of 2021 to look at whether £600k of ring-fenced funds donated for independence referendum campaigning had been illegally spent elsewhere.

Former Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingston suggested before he stepped down that the probe had been expanded to look at allegations of fraud, misuse of funds and embezzlement. Cops raided the marital home shared by Ms Sturgeon and her husband in April 2023 and seized a number of items.

We previously told how senior figures in the SNP feared that more charges would be brought against members of the party, in addition to the single charge brought against Mr Murrell. It has caused turmoil within the party as well, with Humza Yousaf's leadership questioned as he failed to distance himself from the former chief executive.

Mr Murrell refused to comment on the issue when he returned home on Thursday evening before it was revealed that he had resigned his membership of the party he served as chief executive for more than two decades. Ms Sturgeon revealed it was a "difficult" time for her.

She has now cancelled her appearance in front of MPs next week, where she was due to be grilled about her time in Bute House. However, she will now need to reschedule this.

Speaking to journalists last week, she said: "There is absolutely nothing I can say given the circumstances. I'm now going to go a walk if that's alright with you. I know you’ve got jobs to do but can I ask you to maybe give my neighbours some peace.

“There is nothing going to be happening here. It’s incredibly difficult, but that’s not the main issue. I can’t say anymore, I’m not going to say any more. I hope you can appreciate I’m quite a new driver, try not to distract me while I’m driving away.”

>>20771576

>>>20501739 >>20501747 Thomas Kingston cause of death confirmed as Lady Gabriella Windsor in mourning

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/royals/12544147/princess-beatrice-paolo-liuzzo-drug-overdose/

ROYAL TRAGEDY Princess Beatrice’s ex boyfriend Paolo Liuzzo dies of drug overdose in Miami hotel room leaving royal heartbroken

Liuzzo had repeated run-ins with the law including over the death of a student in a fistfight

Alex Diaz, Matt Wilkinson & Joe Hadden

24 Apr 2024

PRINCESS Beatrice was just 17 when she started dating her tragic first love Paolo Liuzzo in 2005.

His death at 41 from a suspected overdose, in a Miami hotel in February, came as sources said he had struggled with drugs and racked up big gambling debts.

Beatrice, now 35, found out soon after her mum Sarah Ferguson’s shock skin cancer diagnosis.

Liuzzo had repeated run-ins with the law including over the death of a student and cocaine possession.

Officer Michael Vega, of the Miami Police Department, told The Sun police found Liuzzo after being called to a room at the citizenM Miami Worldcenter hotel at 3.22pm on February 7.

The time of death was given as 3.34pm. The cause has not been disclosed due to Florida records law.

Officer Vega said: “It was investigated as an overdose death. The investigation is open and ongoing.”

The death certificate says Liuzzo had been working as an art industry consultant and never married.

He was listed as living at an apartment building near the hotel.

His body was flown back to his native Long Island, New York, for a funeral on February 16.

A pal of Liuzzo admitted: “Paolo was not doing great on a personal level. He loved to party and gamble. He began using a lot of pharmaceutical drugs but that later led to cocaine and harder drugs.

“It was a very fast lifestyle and we all feared it would catch up with him eventually.”

The friend added: “He was always borrowing money to pay loans. It became a vicious cycle.”

Liuzzo and Beatrice — six years his junior — started dating in 2005 but kept it under wraps until he joined her family’s ski holiday to Switzerland in 2006.

Four years earlier Liuzzo had been charged with the fist-fight death of a student in Massachusetts.

The charge was downgraded to assault and battery, and he served 100 hours’ community service.

Regardless, Fergie backed her daughter’s fledgling romance, saying: “We all have our own journeys and have to learn our way but Beatrice is a sensible girl, soon to be 18, with many friends including Paolo.”

However, the publicity led to Liuzzo being hauled back to the US for flouting his probation conditions, since he was allowed to travel abroad only for work.

He had his three-year probation extended by six months, and Beatrice publicly ended the romance.

Paolo later said: “It was a stupid fist fight and if I had gone to trial, my lawyers were certain I’d have been found innocent.

“But if it came out that me and Bea were dating, it wouldn’t be good for her image or Sarah’s so everyone was trying to keep our relationship a secret.”

After the split he claimed Bea and Eugenie, then 15, had attended a party in Jamaica where guests smoked cannabis and took magic mushrooms.

And later he cruelly dismissed his relationship, with Bea, saying: “I wasn’t sure I wanted to get in that deep with Bea.

“I loved her but I wasn’t in love with her.”

>>20772936

………………………………………………………………………………….continued……………………………………………………………………………

He added: “Sometimes another lady friend of mine would come over to my place at Eaton Square in London. It was just messing around, never anything more, and I felt so bad after because of Bea.

“I’m not a bad person. But it’s like putting heroin in front of Pete Doherty. Women are my weakness.”

In September 2009 Liuzzo, then 27, was arrested on Australia’s Gold Coast after crashing his Audi hire car into traffic lights.

He had also failed to pay for accommodation and restaurant bills at a casino.

He pleaded guilty to motoring offences, fraud and cocaine possession and was fined £2,600.

No conviction was recorded but the magistrate blasted Liuzzo for his “cavalier” attitude to the court.

Public records show in recent years he had several brushes with Florida police over driving offences.

Liuzzo was understood to have inherited a fortune after his dad, Italian plastic resin tycoon Nico Liuzzo, died aged 62 in 2001.

After her split from Liuzzo, Beatrice began dating Virgin Galactic executive Dave Clark.

When he got a job at Uber, she enrolled on a finance course in San Francisco to be near him.

But they split by mutual agreement after ten years, in 2016.

Bea was pictured with fitness trainer James Williams, then CNBC host Wilfred Frost, but suggestions of romance were shot down.

In 2018 she was confirmed to be dating property tycoon Edo Mapelli Mozzi, a member of the Italian nobility.

The pandemic meant they had to cancel plans for a grand wedding at St James’s Palace, in May 2020.

Instead, in July that year, they held an intimate ceremony at All Saints Chapel, Windsor, witnessed by a few guests including the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The couple now have daughter Sienna, two, and split time between homes in London and Oxfordshire.

Liuzzo’s siblings Annalisa and Roberto did not respond to requests for comment on his death.

The Sun also asked the citizenM Miami Worldcenter hotel for comment but did not hear back.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-msps-tired-fing-cranks-32662214

SNP MSPs tired of 'f***ing cranks' like Patrick Harvie holding Humza Yousaf to 'ransom'

Scottish Green members are set to vote on the future of the Bute House Agreement and some in the SNP are hoping they will decide to end the deal

Douglas Dickie

24 APR 2024

A groundswell of feeling that the SNP should ditch the Bute House Agreement is growing among Nationalist MSPs, with one politician saying they were being dictated to be "f***ing cranks". The future of the deal is hanging in the balance with Scottish Green members becoming disillusioned with the arrangement.

Agreed by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021 to prop up an SNP government, the coalition handed ministerial roles to Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. Initially backed by party members, relations are now strained after the Scottish Government ditched a key climate target.

Arguments over the response to the Cass review into transgender healthcare has also highlighted differences, with the Greens accused of being anti-science by refusing the accept the report. Calls are now growing for Humza Yousaf to give his party members a say on the future of the Bute House Agreement.

While the First Minister backs it, others have said it has led to a drop in SNP support in the polls. And one MSP was quoted by political columnist Euan McColm as asking how the party "ended up with a leader being held to ransom by f***ing cranks".

Writing in The Scotsman, McColm said there was a growing feeling within the backbench ranks that the time had come to end the deal. Another MSP said: "We've been pathetic on the Cass stuff. It was bad enough Humza ignoring it for days but then to have Harvie out there rubbishing it is intolerable."

McColm quotes another source saying things had changed since Ms Sturgeon secured the backing of the Green group. They said: "Is Humza really going to wait for weeks to see whether a bunch of Green members give him what he wants? Are we really letting these people dictate to us? He should give us back some dignity and end the Bute House Agreement now."

We reported on Wednesday that a poll in the pro-Scexit The National suggested almost two-thirds of independence supporters wanted the deal scrapped. But despite the pressure, Mr Yousaf has continued to back his partners.

Spaking earlier this week, he said: "I hope that cooperation agreement will continue and I hope that Greens members will also see the benefit of that cooperation."

>>20773053

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/bute-house-agreement-ended-what-32668222

Why the Bute House Agreement has ended and what happens to Humza Yousaf's government now

Humza Yousaf has dumped Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater after three years in government together - and it has not gone down well with the Scottish Greens

Douglas Dickie

25 APR 2024

The Bute House Agreement that had propped up the SNP in government has come to an end - and it has proved to be an acrimonious split. Humza Yousaf might have told Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie, "it's not you, it's me", but the Green duo still reacted with all the fury and bitterness of a scorned lover.

Hailed by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021 as an example of "doing politics and governance better" when she signed the deal after the Scottish election, it has proved to be a controversial arrangement with dissatisfaction growing on both sides.

Things have come to a head in recent weeks with Green members especially becoming upset with the agreement. On the SNP side, Yousaf and his allies were bigging up the deal just hours before he scrapped it but criticism, was growing among his backbenchers.

So what changed to bring this partnership to an end? And crucially, what happens next?

Cass review and puberty blockers

Gender issues have cast a shadow over Scottish politics since the Greens entered government. Fervent supporters of making it easier to legally change gender, they were the driving force behind the controversial Gender Recognition and Reform Bill, which passed Holyrood in December 2022.

It was blocked by the UK Government over concerns with the Equality Act and was widely seen to have played a part in Nicola Sturgeon's resignation. The issue was thrust back into the spotlight this month when the Cass review into transgender healthcare was published.

While the report only covered England, the SNP government found itself under pressure to implement its recommendations. Key to this was stopping the prescribing of puberty blockers to children. Humza Yousaf tried to dodge the issue and passed the buck to clinicians to make the call - which they duly did, with two health boards announcing a pause.

The move, and the SNP's unwillingness to prevent it, angered many Greens. Patrick Harvie was scathing in his judgement of the Cass report, questioning its legitimacy. It led to accusations from SNP MSP Michelle Thomson that he was a science denier. Harvie's criticism left many SNP politicians uneasy with one saying he was a "f***ing crank".

Mairi McAllan ditches key climate pledge

The Cass fallout had already driven a wedge between the two nationalist allies. But Mairi McAllan's announcement last week that the Scottish Government was ditching a key climate pledge proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

The SNP had committed to cutting carbon emission by 75% by 2030 - a target they were repeatedly told was too ambitious. The u-turn was a humiliation and McAllan was left trying to spin it as a restructuring of the Net Zero plan. The eight Green MSPs at Holyrood failed to call out the government, but members were less impressed.

Green EGM and Yousaf takes the plunge

Member anger led to the Scottish Green Party confirming an EGM would be held on the future of the Bute House Agreement. It led to growing voices in the SNP that the deal should be put to their members as well.

As late as Wednesday, Yousaf was extolling the virtues of the deal. But as the prospect of being dumped by the Greens increased, he had a change of heart on Wednesday evening and called an emergency cabinet meeting. Just before it, he invited Harvie and Slater to Bute House to sack them.

What happens now

With 63 MSPs, the SNP remains the biggest party at Holyrood. But that leaves them two short of a majority.

The Greens had allowed first Sturgeon and then Yousaf to pass their budgets through parliament. Many expected the Greens would still back their nationalist allies given they both support independence rather than risk the future of a pro-Scecit majority.

But the anger from Harvie and Slater on Thursday was clear. They savaged Yousaf, saying he could no longer be trusted and questioning his ability to lead.

It leaves him in danger of becoming a lame duck FM if he cannot get others on board. The sole Alba Party member Ash Regan, who defected from the SNP, could offer one route, and minorities have operated at Holyrood before, but given the Nats have spent much of the past few years fomenting division, it is unlikely they have many friends left elsewhere in the chamber.

>>20776285

>>20773053

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-running-zombie-government-32658919

Humza Yousaf running a 'zombie' government as SNP held hostage by the Scottish Greens

Fears have been raised that the first minister and his administration may be scared to introduce legislation over the next month to not scare off the Scottish Greens.

David Walker

24 APR 2024

Humza Yousaf is now running a "zombie government" it has been claimed while the SNP await the results of the Scottish Greens' Bute House Agreement vote. It means that the nationalist administration will struggle to push through any legislation and will be looking to placate the environmentalists.

This was shown on Tuesday when the first minister's flagship justice reforms barely made it through the first stage of debate with only 60 MSPs voting for it, compared to 62 abstaining. It included a mini rebellion of Nat MSPs, as Kate Forbes, Fergus Ewing, Annabelle Ewing, Michelle Thomson, Ivan McKee and Christine Grahame all refused to vote for it.

And the Scottish Government was blasted over its response to the Cass Review as it failed to announce anything of something substance, with rivals suggesting this was to placate the Greens whose grassroots membership raged about the pause on puberty blockers to those under-18.

Now, concerns have been raised that Mr Yousaf's administration will be in a state of "paralysis" until a decision is made on the Bute House Agreement. The first minister outright refused to give his own party a vote, telling journalists on Wednesday it was "not needed or wanted" despite growing calls from some Nats for this to happen.

Opponents have accused him of creating a vacuum which will have an impact on the current administration as it will be too worried to put forward anything controversial. Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy said: "Scotland can't afford to endure weeks of a zombie government while Green members decide on the future of their pact with the SNP.

"This coalition of chaos has been a disaster for Scotland and it's a measure of how painfully weak Humza Yousaf is that he's now at the mercy of another party's vote. If he had any backbone, he'd be pulling the plug on the Bute House Agreement himself rather than leaving the country in limbo while others determine whether he leads a majority or minority government.

"The anti-growth Greens should never have been invited into government in the first place and so long as the First Minister is desperately trying to placate them - as he did with the vacuous ministerial statement on the Cass review - Scotland is in a state of paralysis."

Many commentators have claimed that it would be another humiliation for Mr Yousaf to have agreement collapse around him without him even being involved. He has yet to show leadership since being appointed, failing to distance himself from Nicola Sturgeon despite the scandals embroiling her.

Scottish Labour business manager Martin Whitfield said: "Any shred of credibility the Scottish Greens had left has been abandoned with Scotland's 2030 climate targets." Former SNP minister Ash Regan lodged a no confidence motion in Mr Harvie due his failure to accept the Cass Review, but it is unlikely to even be debated due to a lack of support from other parties.

A Scottish Government source told the Daily Mail: "The Scottish Government was urging calm, and for people to use the time and space between last week and the Green vote in May to consider the issue in a dispassionate manner: more light, less rushing to judgment in the heat of the moment. I'd say it's important not to make the end of the BHA a self-fulfilling prophecy."

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

Former SNP council leader in court on sex offences charges

5 hours ago

A former SNP council leader has appeared in court charged with multiple sexual offences.

Jordan Linden, 28, who stood down as leader of North Lanarkshire Council two years ago, is accused of 17 charges, including six charges of sexual assault.

He made no plea during a hearing in private at Dundee Sheriff Court before Sheriff James Williamson and was granted bail.

A date for his next court appearance has yet to be confirmed.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place at a number of locations, including Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, and Dundee.

Mr Linden became a councillor for the Bellshill ward during the 2017 local elections.

He was elected leader of the council in May 2022 but resigned from the post a few weeks later when a newspaper published allegations against him.

He initially continued serving as a councillor but resigned from both the council and the SNP last year.

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12553064/snp-cabinet-forced-resign-no-confidence-vote/

SNP MELTDOWN Entire Scottish Cabinet could be forced to resign as Labour cranks up pressure on SNP with fresh confidence vote

The vote would be binding and could spell disaster for the Scottish Government

The vote would be binding and could spell disaster for the Scottish Government

Paige Beresford

26 Apr 2024

THE entire SNP Cabinet could be forced to resign after Scottish Labour announced a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government as pressure on Humza Yousaf ratchets up.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party would lay the motion before parliament this afternoon.

It comes after we told how The First Minister faces a Tory-led vote of no confidence next week.

But unlike the Tory vote on the First Minister, this vote WOULD be binding and means if the Scottish Government loses the vote, Humza Yousaf and his cabinet would have to resign.

There would then be 28 days to introduce a new leader, or the SNP face a Scottish election.

Mr Sarwar told LBC News: "I think it's now a matter of when, not if, Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister.

"But I think it would be completely untenable for the SNP to presume they can impose another unelected Frist Minister in Scotland.

"And that's why Scottish Labour has said already we don't have confidence in Humza Yousaf.

"But today we will also be laying a motion before parliament saying that the Scottish parliament does not have confidence in this Scottish Government.

"Because, ultimately, I think it is the people of Scotland who should decide who leads this country, not just a small group of SNP members".

He also insisted: "It is for the people of Scotland to decide who is first minister, not just a group of SNP members.

"Removing Humza Yousaf alone will not deliver the change we need, we need to get rid of the entire SNP government which has left almost one in six Scots on an NHS waiting list, public finances in chaos and public services at breaking point.

"The people of Scotland deserve a fresh start, this can only come with a Scottish election."

It comes as Mr Yousaf cancelled a major speech on independence this morning an hour after a key ally claimed he would “come out fighting” over the threat to his leadership.

Nats MP Stephen Flynn called for “cool heads” and “calm words”, after Mr Yousaf infuriated Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater.

Yesterday, he ripped up the power-sharing deal their party agreed with the SNP under Nicola Sturgeon back in 2021.

Mr Yousaf was due to be giving a speech at the University of Strathclyde, billed as "the second in a series of speeches outlining the Scottish Government’s ambition for a more productive economy to achieve higher living standards in an independent Scotland".

He was then due to take questions from an audience of academics and guests, followed by media interviews.

The Scottish Sun understands Mr Yousaf's aides have been trying to organise another, more "low key" event for him to attend today, when he is expected to speak to media.

Mr Yousaf's fate potentially lies in the hands of the Alba MSP he bad-mouthed just months ago.

He may need the support of Alba Party MSP Ash Regan, who he described as “no great loss” when she defected from the SNP in October last year.

Ms Regan has said she will write to Mr Yousaf ahead of the no-confidence vote, seeking assurances from him in return for her support.

She told BBC Radio 4: “I’m not setting out specific demands, as such, I am really putting the ball into Humza’s court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he will make progress in a couple of these areas, particularly around the return to a competent government.

>>20781922

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

…………………………………………………………………………………….continued…………………………………………….

"I think it's now a matter of when, not if, Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister"

Anas Sarwar Scottish Labour Leader

“This is something the SNP was obviously known for a few years ago.

"Unfortunately, it’s lost its focus, over the last few years it has gone down pursuing some policies that are not popular with the public, many of those were policies that really stemmed from the coalition agreement with the Green Party.

“So, I think many people in Scotland will be very pleased to see the end of Green Party extremism coming from the Scottish Government.”

And last night, the First Minister’s official spokesperson was forced to deny claims he was set to quit, amid speculation online by political opponents.

Quizzed on whether he would stand to become the next SNP leader if Mr Yousaf was to quit, Mr Flynn said: “What I expect to happen next week is that the First Minister, the leader of my party, wins that vote next week, and he will continue to be the party leader and he will continue to be the First Minister of Scotland.

“Now is not a time to speculate over the future of anyone beyond, of course, the discussion that is being had next week.

“The First Minister has my full support, I believe he is going to come out fighting today, and I’ll be standing shoulder to shoulder with him during that battle.”

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/former-snp-council-leader-jordan-32671282

Former SNP council leader Jordan Linden appears in court charged with sexual offences

The offences against him include six charges of sexual assault and eight of indecent communication

Mark Connor

25 APR 2024

A former SNP council leader has appeared in court charged with a string of sexual offences. Jordan Linden, a former member of the SNP and leader of North Lanarkshire Council until July 2022, appeared in private at Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday to face a total of 17 charges.

It comes after he was arrested on February 28 in connection with alleged sexual offences. The offences against him include six charges of sexual assault and eight of indecent communication.

Linden, of Bellshill, is further charged with one count each of stalking and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner. The 28-year-old made no plea or declaration during the hearing and was released on bail.

The date of his next appearance has yet to be set. The 28-year-old was elected as an SNP member in 2017 and was made council leader in May 2022. He left the council in March last year and is no longer a party member.

His resignation led to the downfall of the minority SNP administration, with the Labour Party later taking over control of the council.

I will not rest until every hostage, like Abigail, ripped from their families and held by Hamas is back in the arms of their loved ones.

They have my word.

Their families have my word.

https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1784205859054080051

Why are those kids dressed like that?

>>20771578

>>>20771513 Final Humza Yousaf Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/humza-yousaf-tops-uk-politician-32652859

Humza Yousaf tops UK politician pay league table - no wonder he's desperate to keep his job

The SNP leader is the best paid politician in the UK with the role of Scottish first minister being paid more than the prime minister despite Holyrood having to deal with less

Douglas Dickie

27 APR 2024

Hundreds of UK politicians enjoyed a pay rise this month with the likes of MPs and MSPs all entitled to more cash. While many voters think our elected representatives take enough out of the public coffers, there is a growing sentiment that we should be paying our lawmakers even more.

The argument is that politicians get paid far less than other jobs with similar responsibilities meaning there is less incentive to follow a career in public service. Not that you'll find a politician who's short of a few quid.

MPs saw their salary increase to £91,346 this month - over three times higher than the average annual wage in Scotland. Even at Holyrood, which only deals with devolved policy, MSPs take home a healthy £72,196 - although they were quick to ensure they did not need to suffer from one of their own policies of double council tax on second homes.

Ministers and other officeholders then receive additional salaries for their extra roles. We've crunched the numbers to see who the best-paid politician in the UK is, and it isn't Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Instead, that honour belongs to SNP leader Humza Yousaf who takes home an enormous £176,780 a year. The £104,584 he receives for being first minister is way above the £80,807 Mr Sunak is entitled to for running the country. Currently facing a crisis at Holyrood, it is little wonder he's keen to cling onto his job with that sort of salary.

The Tory leader doesn't claim the full amount for being in Number 10, taking £75,440. But when you add his MP and PM salary together, he could receive a healthy £172,253 for his work.

Third on the list of the best-paid elected politicians in the UK is Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. He receives an additional £77,208 for his role as Speaker of the House of Commons on top of his regular MP salary, although given what he needs to put up with from MPs on the weekly basis, he probably doesn't think that's enough.

Mr Yousaf's comfy salary also dwarfes his counterparts in Northern Ireland and Wales. At Stormont, the first minister and deputy first minister receive a total of £124,500 while in Wales, the FM takes home a total of £153,033.

Top 10 political salaries in the UK

Figure is accumulative of both basic salary and additional pay. Total is what role is entitled to with some roles claiming less

1 First Minister of Scotland (Humza Yousaf MSP) - £176,780

2 Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak MP) - £172,253

3 Speaker of the House of Commons (Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP) - £168,534

4 UK Government: Chancellor of the Exchequer (Jeremy Hunt MP), Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Oliver Dowden MP), Secretary of State, Lord Chancellor (Alex Chalk MP), Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Penny Mordaunt MP), Minister of State who are members of the Cabinet - £163,805

5 First Minister of Wales (Vaughan Gething MS) - £153,033

6 Cabinet Secretary in Scottish Government, Presiding Officer of Scottish Parliament (Alison Johnstone MSP) - £126,452

7 UK Government Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Laura Trott MP), Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip (Nigel Huddleston MP), Treasurer of HM Household and Deputy Chief Whip, (Marcus Jones MP) Minister of State - £126,088

8 First Minister of Northern Ireland (Michelle O'Neill MLA), Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (Emma Little-Pengelly MLA) - £124,500

9 UK Government Parliamentary Secretary - £116,293

10 Comptroller of HM Household (Rebecca Harris MP), Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household (Stuart Anderson MP), Junior Lord of the Treasury (Dame Amanda Milling MP), Assistant Whip.

>>20771576

>>>20669769 Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Initial Hate Crime Law Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/glasgow-city-council-course-rake-32672478

Glasgow City Council on course to rake in £4m in first year from LEZ fines

Despite Glasgow City Council originally insisting their environmental scheme would not be a money-maker, the local authority is on course to issue £4 million worth of fines within its first 12 months

Paul Drury & Mark Connor

26 APR 2024

Serial offenders have run up the highest number of repeat breaches of Glasgow’s controversial Low Emission Zone since the scheme was introduced last year. Monthly figures for March released by Glasgow City Council show that 130 drivers received five penalty charge notices, with each offender forced to pay up to £1860 in fines.

In total, the city council’s potential take from all drivers from LEZ fines last month amount to £357,000. The scheme aimed at reducing pollution in Scotland's biggest city began last June and similar Low Emission Zones are due to be introduced in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh in the summer.

The scheme bans older petrol cars manufactured before 2006 and diesels dating from 2015 or before. However, despite Glasgow City Council originally insisting their environmental scheme would not be a money-maker, the local authority is on course to issue £4 million worth of fines within its first 12 months.

Single offences cost £60, with the option to reduce it by half if paid within a fortnight. But the council’s surcharging scheme sees a doubling of the initial fine to £120 for a second offence, £240 for the third, £480 for the fourth and a whopping £960 for the fifth.

Fines for drivers of cars and light goods vehicles are capped at £480 at the fifth offence but those driving minibuses, buses, coaches and HGVs are fined £960 for the fifth offence. The 130 fines within the biggest category was up 17 on February’s figure and is the highest since enforcement of the LEZ scheme began in June of last year.

The total number of fines in March was 2548, the highest since last December.

Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister Graham Simpson MSP said: "We warned that many people would be caught by these draconian restrictions because they drive older vehicles and can’t afford to replace them. It is clear from these figures that some of those repeated offenders will be those who have no choice but to drive their vehicles in the low emission zone.

“The implementation of this has been botched from the start and should be a lesson to all those other councils who are planning to do the same.”

A council spokesperson said: “Glasgow’s LEZ has been well publicised ahead of enforcement, with statutory signage and road markings installed many months ahead of the scheme going live. The number of penalties issued has halved since the first few months of scheme operation, with the vast majority of fines issued for a first LEZ infringement.

“These penalties carry additional charges if not paid or contested promptly, and if they remain unpaid would ultimately end up being pursued for further action. We would remind drivers that Glasgow’s LEZ is fully in force and to familiarise themselves with its emissions requirements.”

Schizophrenia is contagious

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12556944/dozens-of-scots-cops-believe-in-witchcraft/

SPELLBOUND Dozens of Scots cops have witchcraft or Paganism-type beliefs, official stats reveal

Those with the belief typically identify as witches

Lewis Mckenzie

26 Apr 2024

DOZENS of cops in Scotland have witchcraft or Paganism-type beliefs, official force statistics reveal.

A freedom of information response published by Police Scotland said there are “46 officers who have Paganism or witchcraft types beliefs”.

The term relates to followers of Wicca - the largest of the modern Pagan, or neo-Pagan religions.

They typically identify as witches and draw inspiration from the pre-Christian religions of Europe.

Figures previously published by Police Scotland show that as of March 31, 2021, just over 48 per cent of the force - which works out at 11,249 officers/staff - were categorised as having no religion or belief.

The Police Pagan Association said it has 12 registered members in Police Scotland, and a total of 221 members across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

They said that there is a large number of Pagans who choose not to openly declare their faith in the workplace for fear of discrimination.

Meanwhile, just over 20 per cent, or 4,748, said they were members of the Church of Scotland, while about 11 per cent, or 2,684 said they were Roman Catholic.

The number of officers and staff members who identified as being Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish or Hindu each accounted for less than one per cent of the total workforce.

The FoI response also noted that there is a national Police Pagan Association.

A spokesperson for the association said: “Policing has always sought to be representative of the ever diversifying communities we serve, and as such we have police officers and police staff across the UK from a wide range of religions.

“However, policing and Paganism are not as counter-intuitive as it may first seem.

"As a practising Heathen for example, I find that the tenets of community service, protecting the vulnerable and the pursuit of justice that define my faith align quite solidly with the ethics and values of policing.

“Just like the population as a whole, there have always been Pagans in policing, but now they are becoming recognised, supported and more openly represented in our ranks.

Alba Party general secretary Chris McEleny joked: “I’ve long thought that there were spooks in Police Scotland but now we know.

“Humza Yousaf’s shambolic Hate Crime Act did actually abolish the common law offence of blasphemy in Scotland so at least that’s one less vexatious complaint our Police would need to investigate about their own officers.”

Alba’s Mr McEleny added: “On a serious point, there is welcome room in Scotland for all beliefs.

“When the Kingdom of Alba emerged in the ninth century it was very much a Christian kingdom and, despite the cultural diversity, religion was a major source of Scottish identity but the influence of Celtic Paganism is still to this day part of Scottish culture.

“Whether it’s the Burning of the Clavie, or even Halloween which was the last day of the year in the old Celtic calendar - celebrated by the Druids as ‘Samhain’, Scotland’s story today has been formed by the traditions of thousands of years.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland recognises the benefits of having a workforce which reflects the diversity of backgrounds, cultures and beliefs within the communities that we serve.

“We monitor equality and diversity to ensure that employment practices are fair, non-discriminatory and which support equality of opportunity. Officers and members of police staff provide this information voluntarily.”

It is believed the number of people identifying as Wiccan is now in the low hundreds of thousands with the majority living in English-speaking Western countries.

A spokesperson for oversight body the Scottish Police Authority said: “Scotland is a diverse community and it’s important that policing represents the communities that it serves.”

>>20771578

>>>20771513 Final Humza Yousaf Bun

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-humiliating-act-desperation-32684402

Humza Yousaf in 'humiliating' act of desperation as he puts out begging bowl to save his career

The First Minister has sent letters to all parties begging for them to meet with him at his office ahead of this week's no confidence vote

Mark Connor

27 APR 2024

Humza Yousaf has been branded ‘humiliating and embarrassing’ after saying it would be ‘disappointing’ if the Scottish Greens voted against him in a vote of no confidence just days after he sacked them from his government. It comes as the Alba Party, whose sole MSP Ash Regan could hold a vote crucial to Mr Yousaf’s future, were holding an emergency meeting to discuss the way forward.

The First Minister has put out the begging bowl to political leaders at Holyrood, inviting them to talks at his official residence, in a desperate bid to save his career. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at Bute House in Edinburgh to discuss how they can “contribute constructively”, while acknowledging that there are “strong feelings” about the upcoming confidence votes.

Letters were sent to the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Alba Party on Friday night. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross quickly dismissed the letter.

He said: “This is a humiliating and embarrassing letter, in which Humza Yousaf is begging to be allowed to keep his job. His belated abandonment of the Bute House Agreement with the toxic Greens – which he was backing just two days before he finally decided to pull the plug – does nothing to undo the immense damage it has caused.

“Our NHS, schools, police and public services have all been profoundly hit by the spectacular mismanagement of the SNP-Green government under his leadership, and his last minute U-turn offers nothing to repair that. Humza Yousaf now talks about delivering “substantial benefits for people, communities and businesses right across the country”, and only wants to discuss “concerns and… priorities” now that his job is on the line.

“It is his abject failure to have prioritised these issues that has led to a complete lack of confidence in his leadership across the parliament. He should now accept that his time in power is over, and finally offer his resignation as First Minister. If he doesn’t do so before the Scottish Conservative vote of no confidence in him next week, his future as First Minister rests on a vote that is currently so finely balanced that his credibility as a leader will be utterly destroyed, whatever the result.”

Mr Yousaf terminated the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday, leading to the smaller pro-independence party announcing it would back the motion of no confidence in his leadership.

Mr Yousaf spoke to Sky News on Saturday, saying he hoped to hear from the other Holyrood leaders soon.

It was put to Mr Yousaf that given the lack of support from the Greens, Ms Regan could be crucial to his political survival.

He said: “That would be really disappointing if that is the Greens’ position. As I say, I’ve reached out to them, they are saying publicly that they’re going to support a Conservative motion against – a First Minister, an independence government.

“I think that would be, I think, a poor choice to make. So of course I have written to Ash Regan, as well. I look forward to speaking to her too.”

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-spotted-partying-without-32683062

Nicola Sturgeon spotted partying without her wedding ring as the SNP falls apart

While the party implodes and just days after her husband Peter Murrell was charged with embezzlement, Nicola Sturgeon managed to enjoy herself at a glitzy bash in London

Mark Connor

27 APR 2024

Nicola Sturgeon was pictured at a glitzy awards ceremony on Friday night without her wedding ring - just days after her husband was arrested over SNP finances.

Despite the potential prosecution of her spouse, and the SNP falling apart in recent days, she seemed in good spirits as she arrived at the red carpet event. She was spotted partying with pals Val McDermid, Joanne Sharp, and Hannah Bardell at last night’s bash, which is part of Lesbian Visibility Week.

The 53-year-old was pictured alongside Bardell, the SNP MP for Livingston, crime writer McDermid, and her girlfriend, Jo Sharp, on the red carpet. She was also pictured alongside Publisher Linda Riley, who started the DIVA magazine in 1994, and launched the annual awards to celebrate the achievements of LGBTQIA women and non-binary people in 2017.

The event was held at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, on London’s Great Queen Street, where Sturgeon sported a fuchsia pink suit. She was clutching a black handbag in her left hand, with photographs showing that she appeared to be missing her wedding ring.

It comes after officers charged her husband, Peter Murrell, over allegedly embezzling funds from the ruling party, where he served as chief executive for 22 years. On April 18, he was arrested and taken to Falkirk Police Station, where he was grilled by detectives as part of Operation Branchform - Police Scotland’s probe into the SNP’s finances.

He then became the first and only person to be charged in connection with the investigation. The probe began in 2021 following concerns being raised over how £600,000 of cash earmarked for independence campaigning had been spent.

The former First Minister was herself arrested over the same police probe last year and released without charge. Last night was also the second time in a week she’d enjoyed a public outing with McDermid, Sharp and Bardell.

>>20771578

>>>20771513 Final Humza Yousaf Bun

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12561658/humza-yousaf-rejects-alex-salmonds-indy-pact/

ECK NO Humza Yousaf rejects Alex Salmond’s Indy pact ultimatum as he clings to power as First Minister

A spokesperson for the First Minister dismissed the demands as 'fantasy'

Conor Matchett

27 Apr 2024

HUMZA Yousaf rejected demands to sign up to an electoral pact with Alex Salmond's Alba party in order to survive as First Minister.

Mr Salmond said a "top line" for any deal with Mr Yousaf would see the two pro-independence parties agree a deal ahead of the Holyrood election in 2026.

But a spokesperson for the First Minister dismissed the demands as "fantasy".

They said: "This is fantasy. There is no possibility of the First Minister agreeing any deal like this with Alex Salmond."

Mr Salmond - who set up Alba in 2021 amid the parliamentary inquiry into the Scottish Government's handling of sexual harassment complaints made against him - told The Times the price of his party's support would be a partial pact at the next Holyrood election.

He also demanded Mr Yousaf accept all recommendations of the Cass review into gender healthcare for children, and an "independence convention".

The Alba party leader said: "If you remember the Scotland United idea from last year which Humza just ignored, which was very popular with the Yes groups and amongst SNP supporters.

"It would be difficult to revive it in full now because obviously candidates have been selected, but it could be revived in part, or there could be an understanding for the Scottish elections in two years time.

"So a discussion along these lines, so its a menu of independence options."

He added these demands were "not impossible" and "not out of reach", and could include additional investment in closure-threatened oil refinery Grangemouth.

But there are understood to be concerns from inside the SNP about cozying up to Ms Regan.

One minister told the Scottish Sun: “Ash is to quality what Liz Truss is to economics.”

But a senior Scottish Government source said: “The Greens are not for shifting.

“Alex Salmond is playing it a bit cannier than the Greens. He is playing his cards over the weekend and into the week. It’s unlikely there will be white smoke soon.”

Left-wing activists in the SNP also promised to fight against any move to the right by Mr Yousaf in a warning shot about any potential deal with Alba.

In a letter attacking the failure to go to SNP members about the decision to ditch the

Bute House Agreement, the SNP Socialists said they would “organise against” any “shift to the right”.

It came amid warnings Scotland could face an “accidental” snap election as Mr Yousaf fights to cling to power and Holyrood descends into turmoil, a top pollster said.

Sir John Curtice also warned that Scottish Labour could clean up at the looming Westminster vote as the SNP faces months of chaos.

His stark prediction came as the First Minister sent “begging” letters to his political opponents on Friday night in a desperate bid to shore up support ahead of no confidence votes this week.

>>20791697

…………………………………………………………………………continued…………………………………………………

If the Nats leader loses, a Holyrood election could be sparked if no replacement is found within 28 days.

Meanwhile a senior Scottish Tory source revealed a July election was “nudging into the favourite territory” amid gossip of an announcement by Rishi Sunak on Monday.

This could see both Scotland and the UK go to the polls within days of each other. Sir John, politics professor at Strathclyde University, said the escalation to votes of no confidence made a snap election more likely as no-one is in control of what happens next.

Referring to the move by the Scottish Tories and Scottish Labour to lodge votes of no confidence, the pollster said: “[Politicians] are making moves and they don’t necessarily appreciate the consequences of the move they make.

“Nobody’s in charge of this process now. Whether we end up with an accident of an early election is not really directly in anybody’s control.”

And the polling guru added the chaos for the SNP is good news for Scottish Labour.

He said: “If there’s six months of chaos between now and the general election, [Scottish Labour] will be delighted because they think it will improve their chances of maximising seats at Westminster at the election.”

Mr Yousaf now faces a nervous wait to see if any of his fiercest critics in Holyrood are willing to work with him to save his skin.

And speaking while on a campaign visit in Cupar, he said it was up to his main political opponents to decide if they wanted to “contribute constructively” and find “common ground”.

The SNP leader said it would be “really disappointing” if the Scottish Greens refused to engage with him ahead of the confidence vote.

He said: “I’ve reached out to them, they are saying publicly that they’re going to support a Conservative motion against - a First Minister, an independence government.

“I think that would be, I think, a poor choice to make.”

And he added it was up to Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, and Alba MSP Ash Regan “what button they push” next week.

Any meetings between opposition leaders and Mr Yousaf are likely to take place on Monday or Tuesday.

And a senior Scottish Government source later insisted the offer to speak to opposition parties was genuine.

They said: “The parliament is going to have to find a way to work, so there is a serious conversation to have and that is a conversation we are willing to have.

“Whether the other parties are up for having it is perhaps less likely.”

>>20791697

>>20791710

………………………………………………………………………………….continued…………………………………………………………..

Asked whether they believed Mr Yousaf could survive next week, the source said: “There is plenty of road here. There are many moving parts, let’s see where we get to on Thursday.”

But Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross attacked the “begging” letter as being “humiliating and embarrassing” for the First Minister.

He added: “His belated abandonment of the

Bute House Agreement with the toxic Greens - which he was backing just two days before he finally decided to pull the plug - does nothing to undo the immense damage it has caused.”

And Scottish Labour pointed to comments from Anas Sarwar on Friday where the leader said he was “happy to engage” with all parties.

However he added: “It is clear that Humza Yousaf is out of time. He is leading a chaotic and divided political party and an incompetent government that is failing the people of Scotland every single day, and one conversation isn’t going to change that.”

Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Lib Dems, will set out his party’s response to the letter.

However, all three leaders of the unionist parties in Holyrood have previously committed to voting against the First Minister in a confidence vote. That position will not change.

The Scottish Greens - who reacted with fury to being dumped out of government on Thursday and committed to voting against Mr Yousaf - said they would consider the letter from the First Minister and respond in “due course”.

It remains unclear whether they will vote against the government in the second vote of no confidence - which if lost would legally require the resignation of Mr Yousaf and potentially spark an election.

But leadership contender Kate Forbes - who lost narrowly to the SNP leader in the vicious contest last year - backed her old foe.

The SNP MSP Ms Forbes - who has orchestrated several rebellions against Mr Yousaf since he became leader - said you find out what “real loyalty looks like” when times are tough.

She said: “It is easy to be loyal to a party when times are good and the party is ahead in the polls.

“But you find out what real leadership is - and what real loyalty looks like - when times are tougher and that is why I will back the SNP and the First Minister through next week’s fight and I urge everyone in our party and everyone who cares about Scotland to do the same.”

And in a thinly veiled pitch to for the leadership, Ms Forbes said she hoped the Scottish Greens would work with her in the future.

She said: “The question therefore isn’t whether my world is big enough to embrace the Greens – it is. The question is whether their world is big enough to embrace me. I hope and believe it is.”

Fellow rebellious SNP MSP Ivan McKee - who initially ran Ms Forbes’ leadership campaign - insisted Mr Yousaf would have to resign if he lost the confidence vote.

He said: “If you lose a vote of no confidence then clearly you don’t have the confidence of the parliament.”

>>20791697

>>20791710

>>20791718

…………………………………………………………………….continued………………………………………………….

No confidence votes explained

By Chris Musson, Associate Editor (Politics), The Scottish Sun

Tories have lodged a motion of confidence in the First Minister.

Labour then lodged a motion of confidence in the Scottish Government.

Parliament bureau is not due to meet until Tuesday and usually there is two days' notice of a confidence vote (meaning vote next Thurs). It's possible they could meet ahead of this and/or timetable could be accelerated.

If there is a vote of no-confidence in the FM it would be up to the First Minister how they responded once the will of the Parliament had been made clear.

If there is a vote of no-confidence in the Government both the FM and Ministers are required to resign. In that case the Parliament is not automatically dissolved, instead the Parliament has 28 days to choose a new FM (by simple majority) (Section 46 of the Scotland Act). If it cannot do so, Parliament is dissolved.

A vote of no confidence in a Minister, the First Minister or even the Government as a whole requires only a simple majority in the Parliament for it to be agreed.

A simple majority in relation to votes of no confidence in Ministers or in the Government requires only the number of members voting 'for' to be greater than those 'against' - no account is taken of any members who abstain.

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/ian-blackford-causes-fury-within-32688302

Ian Blackford causes fury within SNP as he approaches Sir Keir Starmer for place in House of Lords

The former Westminster leader has refuted the allegations but a number of sources have said that Blackford has approached the Conservatives and Labour for a nomination

Mark Connor

28 APR 2024

The SNP’s former Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has sparked fury within the party over an audacious bid to enter the House of Lords. The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber - who recently dumped his loyal wife of 24 years for his childhood sweetheart - has approached both Labour and the Tories to ask them to nominate him for a peerage, despite the SNP’s fierce opposition to the Lords, according to the Mail on Sunday.

A number of sources close to Mr Blackford have confirmed that he has privately met Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Conservative Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, in a bid to secure a nomination. They fear that his manoeuvres, in flagrant defiance of the SNP’s policy to abolish the Lords, also informed his decision to abstain on a vote of no confidence in Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle amid the Gaza furore earlier this year.

Concerns were raised that he failed to vote with his own party in a bid to impress Sir Keir.

Mr Blackford - a former banker who once described himself as a simple crofter - has denied having the meetings. However, sources insist that he has.

Now his future as a Nat politician is hanging in the balance as he could face losing the whip. He is to stand down as an MP at the next general election. One source told The Mail on Sunday: “Trying to get a peerage is completely at odds with the SNP’s stance on the unelected House of Lords. [Westminster leader] Stephen Flynn has stated that no SNP MP will enter the House of Lords under his watch.”

Another senior insider, who confirmed Mr Blackford’s conversation with Mr Jack and expressed incredulity at his shameless attempts to continue his life in Westminster, added: “What Ian Blackford is doing is so wrong. He should lose the whip.”

A third source said: “He asked Sir Keir Starmer to include him on his honours list, but Sir Keir was incredulous and responded saying, “Why would I nominate you instead of a Labour MP?’ He is desperate for a peerage despite constantly denying it.

“He even went to Alister Jack to ask the Tories to list him, but Jack said “no chance”. It is pretty pathetic.”

In January, Mr Blackford reportedly told an event for student journalists that he would not rule out accepting a place in the upper chamber if he was offered one.

Mr Blackford said on Saturday night: “The House of Lords is an archaic and undemocratic institution - I wholeheartedly support the SNP’s longstanding position.”

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/fury-snp-spend-35m-installing-32689351

Fury as SNP spend £3.5m installing heat pumps in building valued at just £275k in 'lunatic' scheme

The SNP's own Fergus Ewing branded the spend 'utterly ludicrous' as he demanded the First Minister halt the heat pump scheme

John Ferguson & Mark Connor

28 APR 2024

The Scottish Government has spent £3.5million “decarbonising” a property valued at just £275,000. The tax-funded upgrade electric saw heat pumps fitted and insulation improved at Elgin’s small procurator fiscal’s office where gas bills are an average of £2500 a year.

The refurbishment, which will take 1,000 years to recoup in energy savings, was ordered by the Crown Office despite the cost engulfing the value of the premises. SNP MSP Fergus Ewing said he was horrified and demanded the First Minister call a halt to similar plans for public buildings.

He said: “It beggars belief anyone would spend £3.5million doing up an old tenement worth only £275,000. That’s 13 times the value of the property. This shows Scotland cannot afford to decarbonise its public buildings and private flat owners can’t afford it either.

“I’m writing to ask Humza if he’ll apply the brakes on this lunatic scheme, where according to the auditor general £1.8billion will be spent by the Scottish Government out of a total estimate of £33billion to decarbonise the public estate. Surely we should use this money on our health service buildings or roads such as the A9 or A96?”

It was revealed in January how builders were ripping out the office’s gas boiler to replace it with a heat pump as part of the SNP/Green governments plans. Even then it was branded “utterly ludicrous” by Ewing after it emerged the estimated annual energy cost saving is just £3885 - meaning it would take a millennium to pay for itself.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “The money spent on this project will benefit the Moray economy and provide prosecutors with an expanded modern, environmentally friendly base from which they can continue their work.”

>>20771578

>>>20771513 Final Humza Yousaf Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-quits-first-minister-32692434

Humza Yousaf QUITS as first minister as shambolic reign comes to an end before he faces humiliating no confidence vote

The long-suffering SNP leader has finally quit as first minister after a turbulent year in charges as Bute House Agreement axing is final blow to his career.

David Walker

29 APR 2024

Humza Yousaf has quit as first minister before he faced two no confidence votes in his leadership. It means the SNP are hunting for a new leader just over a year since a bruising contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon.

It has been turbulent time in office for Mr Yousaf in the last week as he brutally axed the Scottish Greens and the Bute House Agreement on Thursday in a hastily arranged press conference. But this has backfired majorly as it has led to Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater seeking revenge.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross lodged a motion of no confidence in the first minister which would have been debated on Wednesday but is now unlikely to go ahead. The SNP leader struggled to find backing for his minority government despite sending "humiliating" begging letters to all major parties.

The Greens, Tories, Labour and Lib Dems all confirmed they would be voting against him, leaving Alba Party's only MSP Ash Regan with the deciding vote. But the thought of getting into bed with Alex Salmond, who outlined a list of demands at the weekend, has been unpalatable for the SNP.

Mr Yousaf announced he was quitting at a press conference at Bute House where he admitted that he could not keep a minority government together without trading his "principles and values" to stay in power. He will remain first minister until a new SNP leader is installed.

He became the second shortest serving first minister ever after Henry McLeish, and the shortest serving SNP first minister, following in the footsteps of Ms Sturgeon and Alex Salmond. It leaves a huge chasm in the nationalist leadership as the party needs to regroup to retain control of the Scottish Government.

Former deputy first minister John Swinney is being backed as a temporary replacement for Mr Yousaf as he is mostly likely to bring the divided party together and negotiate with other parties. In the longer terms, Jenny Gilruth has emerged as one of the front-runners alongside Kate Forbes.

>>20794507

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/kate-forbes-giving-serious-consideration-32696947

Kate Forbes giving 'serious consideration' to SNP leadership tilt as John Swinney backed by Nat establishment

The former Scottish Government finance secretary lost out to Humza Yousaf in the contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon last year, and is now set to throw her hat in the ring again.

David Walker

29 APR 2024

Kate Forbes is reportedly considering a second tilt at SNP leadership as allies fear a "Anyone But Kate" campaign is being orchestrated against her. The former finance secretary only narrowly lost out to Humza Yousaf last year in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon.

The Highlands MSP has remained influential among Nat MSPs while on the back benches after she rebuffed attempts by her former rival to serve as rural affairs secretary. And she refused to be drawn on speculation when she posted about the first minister on social media.

She wrote: "As First Minister @HumzaYousaf cared passionately about Scotland. Few of us will forget his statesmanship and compassion on Gaza. He is an honourable man, who displayed dignity and humility today. I wish him and Nadia well with their impending new arrival in the summer."

But as the SNP start to make manoeuvres on who will replace the first minister, a number of big names have already backed former leader John Swinney. The likes of potential contenders Neil Gray and Jenny Gilruth have thrown their backing behind him, as has Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and predecessor Ian Blackford.

We previously told how he informed journalists that he would consider taking the top job and has been labelled as the only Nat politician who will be able to unite non-party MSPs behind a minority government. And now that SNP's "old guard" want to install him as well.

The same situation happened last year when Ms Sturgeon's close allies backed Mr Yousaf to replace her, and he eventually won the contest, only to resign just over a year later about a shambolic time in Bute House. And it looks like the SNP "old boys club" are aiming to do similar again.

According to the Scotsman's Alistair Grant, SNP MSP Michelle Thomson, who ran Ms Forbes' leadership campaign, says she understands that the former finance secretary is giving "serious consideration" to standing again. SNP MP Joanna Cherry hit out at the attempts to "stitch up" Mr Yousaf's replacement.

She said: "As Humza, who should be thanked for his service, will remain FM until we have a new leader there is no need for an unseemly rush by the (old) boys club to stitch up the succession. The leader of the SNP should be chosen by our members not by men in grey suits."

SNP veteran Fergus Ewing also backed his Highlands colleague: "Kate Forbes has the biggest majority of any MSP. If any other candidate is chosen because the Greens say they won’t work with Kate Forbes – we’re actually allowing the Green party to determine who the next first minister will be, that’s surely absurd.

“Politicians should work together far more than they do. Most of the political agreements seem to be more about theatre than substance. There’s no doubt in my mind that the people in the leadership of the other main parties – Tory, Liberal and Labour – respect Kate Forbes. They will trust her, they will work with her.”

But supporters of the former finance secretary are concerned by the potential rebirth of the "Anyone But Kate" which was launched last year to help Mr Yousaf to victory, and was co-ordinated by the "SNP old guard" who were Sturgeonites.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-reacts-humza-yousaf-32695083

Nicola Sturgeon reacts to Humza Yousaf resignation as she gushes over protege

The former first minister said she knows what a 'wrench' it is to stand resign the post

Mark Connor

29 APR 2024

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has broken her cover to gush over Humza Yousaf after he signalled his intent to leave his post on Monday. Sturgeon has been rarely seen in public in recent months after her husband Peter Murrell was charged with embezzlement as part of Operation Branchform.

She was, however, spotted on Friday night in London at an LBGTQ event with gal pals Val McDermid and co where she partied the night away without her wedding ring on. The fact that her party is crumbling to pieces does not seem have fazed her former SNP leader while she’s been seen in Holyrood just a handful of times since her own arrest.

But she finally broke her silence on Monday afternoon when she took to X, formerly Twitter, to say that she is ‘proud’ to call Yousaf a friend after watching his performance at Bute House.

It looked like he had taken notes from Sturgeon’s own resignation speech as he turned on the water works near the end and also said he will stay on until a successor was appointed.

She said: “I know how big a privilege being First Minister is, but also the toll it can take. I also know what a wrench it is to step aside, even when sure it is the right thing to do.

“Humza has conducted himself with grace, dignity and integrity - both as FM and in the manner of his leaving. I am and always will be proud to call him a friend.”

>>20771578

>>>20771513 Final Humza Yousaf Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousafs-52000-golden-goodbye-32695710

Humza Yousaf's £52,000 golden goodbye for 13 months of failure as first minister

The taxpayer will have to fork out half of the outgoing SNP leader's salary with the Glasgow Pollok MSP in line for a huge resettlement grant

Douglas Dickie

29 APR 2024

Humza Yousaf's 13 months as first minister don't seem so unlucky after all, with the hapless MSP in line for a whopping £52,000 pay off at the taxpayer's expense. The SNP leader signalled his intention to resign on Monday after it became clear he would be unable to govern at Holyrood.

His premiership collapsed after he sacked Scottish Green co-minister Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater from government. It culminated in his resignation speech at Bute House during which he said he had "informed the SNP’s national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader and ask that she commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as possible".

But if anyone was worrying about the Glasgow Pollok MSP potentially facing financial hardship, they shouldn't bother. The Scottish Express can reveal the outgoing FM is in line for a 'golden goodbye' of £52,292.

Under Scottish Parliament rules, ministers are entitled to a resettlement grant after leaving office. While most receive three months' salary, pensionable positions like the first minister and presiding officer get more.

A formula is used to work out exactly how much an individual receives. They are either entitled to 50% of their final salary or a percentage based on a calculation where the full number of years service in the role is divided by 12 and multiplied by 100.

Under the Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Act 2009, whatever figure is the highest is paid out. We've crunched the numbers and if Mr Yousaf's grant was calculated using the formula, he would receive only £8,860.

Instead, he will be entitled to half of his £104,584 first minister's salary after completing a just a year in the job as well as continuing ti pick up his MSPs salary of £72,196 plus expenses. That is only £12,000 less than his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon received after eight years.

We recently told how, combined with his MSPs salary, Mr Yousaf's FM's wage made him the highest paid elected politician in the UK. While whoever takes over will have to deal with an SNP civil war and a minority at Holyrood, they will certainly be well paid for the privilege.

much love for Scotland and proud of the fact the racist resigned! holding a scotish passport don't make ye a gael!

being brown don't make you one either … now eff off you camel effer!

>>20800689

>It's one giant criminal cartel, the whole shit show is run by unelected, unaccountable, psychopaths its every branch of society, media, banking, law enforcement, the courts, at every level, corporation, health, pharma, even the military! it's ALL corrupt!

That about sums it up anon. It's the ordinary constables we need to wake up. Their progeny will ultimately have to deal with far greater tyranny too if they don't stand with the people.

They worry like everyone else about mortgage payments and other bills.

You bring down the system by starving it of oxygen…tax revenue. When the system fails it all goes down including banking…….no more mortgage payments. No more worries for them; preventing them doing the right thing (by themselves as much as the rest of us). I've spoke to a lot of police, both men and women over the last few years. Most of them are good people, stuck (albeit in a different role) in a really shitey system.

>>20800753

Lots of Scots with darker skin anon. Any kid with a Scottish parent or ancestry (imo) is a Scot, English, Brit, Welsh, or Irishman. We Brits from all over the UK have been having children with foreigners forever. There's guys out there with skin as dark as night that have Scots blood in them. If they have pride in that then I have pride in them for their acknowledgement of kinship.

Here my friends, made a little present for you

>>20801736

Swinney up next hopefully. Up to his neck in everything that one.

>>20800120

>>20794507

>>20795711

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12587989/john-swinney-kate-forbes-secret-snp-talks/

SECRET SUMMIT John Swinney & Kate Forbes hold ‘secret talks’ to avoid SNP leadership bloodbath by striking power deal

It comes amid a plan by senior Nats to install Mr Swinney as leader - uncontested

Chris Musson

1 May 2024

THE two contenders tipped to replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister have held secret talks about cutting a deal, The Scottish Sun can reveal.

Sources told how John Swinney and Kate Forbes met face to face amid a plan by senior SNP politicians and officials to install Mr Swinney as leader - uncontested.

An insider said that during the discussions, Ms Forbes did “not rule out” a deal where she takes a top job in a Swinney-led cabinet.

The secret summit took place at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, but no agreement was reached, The Scottish Sun understands.

An insider close to talks said both camps were keen not to be seen to be briefing against each other, but confirmed the pair did talk about whether a deal could be done.

And the source said: “A deal has not been ruled out.."

On Wednesday evening a spokesman for Ms Forbes confirmed the meeting took place.

He added: “We can confirm Kate spoke to John yesterday. It was a purely informal meeting.

"Kate is continuing to weigh up whether to run and is grateful for the growing outpouring of support.”

The Scottish Sun revealed earlier today how Ms Forbes was being urged to strike a deal with Mr Swinney in order to avert a “bloodbath” battle to succeed Mr Yousaf.

The First Minister quit suddenly on Monday after a crisis triggered by his unceremonious ditching of the Scottish Greens from the Scottish Government power-sharing pact known as the Bute House Agreement.

I'd suggest his resignation is more down to the work of Roger Livermore as evidenced by Silver Fox.

>>20772674

>>20772721

We revealed how party chiefs want the ex-Holyrood Finance Secretary to roll in behind stalwart former Deputy First Minister Mr Swinney and give him a clear run at becoming First Minister.

On Tuesday, a source said: “The hope is that Kate takes a job offered by John, and we can get on with governing. The last thing we need now is a bloodbath contest.”

Neither Mr Swinney nor Ms Forbes have yet declared they will run ahead of the nominations deadline on Monday at noon.

A snap poll for Ipsos suggested Forbes is the most popular candidate to succeed Mr Yousaf among the public - but Mr Swinney is better liked among SNP voters.

Ipsos Scotland's Emily Gray said Mr Swinney “does look better placed to unite the party” but said: “When you look at both candidates appeal to the wider electorate in Scotland, there Kate Forbes has a six-point lead over John Swinney.

"So she is a little more popular among the wider public when it comes to who might be the best first minister for Scotland."

>>20771578

>>>20771520 Final Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Three

>>20771576

>>>20669769 Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Initial Hate Crime Law Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/snp-council-impose-20mph-limit-32715885

SNP council to impose 20mph limit on thousands of Glasgow streets… but what about the potholes?

Over the next 18 months, the cash-strapped city council will spend £4.5million on reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on more than 3,800 streets across the Dear Green Place

Paul Cargill, PA Scotland & Ben Borland Editor

1 MAY 2024

Thousands of streets across Glasgow are set to have the speed limit lowered from 30mph to 20mph as part of a £4.5million project. The proposed changes would see speeds reduced on 3,868 streets over the next 18 months.

The move is aimed to make roads safer and encourage more walking and cycling in quieter and less congested neighbourhoods. However, critics have hit out at imposing a blanket 20mph limit while others say the money would be better spent fixing the city's potholes.

City leaders from the SNP-run administration agreed a policy in 2020 to make 20mph limits the standard for all residential streets, the city centre, other main shopping areas or where there are high levels of walking, wheeling or cycling.

Alongside capital funding, the scheme is being supported by a £2.5million taxpayer-funded grant from 'Places for Everyone', an active travel infrastructure fund backed by Transport Scotland and administered by Sustrans.

Councillor Angus Millar, city convener for climate and transport, claimed: "A city-wide 20mph speed limit will bring Glasgow in line with many other UK cities and help to create safer streets and communities for all of us, reducing the risk of accidents and the severity of injuries sustained.

"Reducing the impact of traffic on communities will also contribute to the wider shift needed towards more sustainable forms of transport which is vital if we are to achieve our target of Glasgow becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

"We know that many other cities have a 20mph speed limit and the evidence that's been gathered shows a minimal impact on the journey times for cars and buses. Reduced speed limits on local roads can help create a safer environment for children and other vulnerable road users, while encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle."

Consultants assessed more than 5,700 streets across Glasgow, concluding the 1,400 streets – some 288km – that already have a 20mph limit should remain at that speed. Only 472 roads will be allowed to stay with a 30mph limit, with the council saying the "majority" of the city's residential streets will be 20mph.

"Moving to 20mph is a technically complex undertaking and the council has been working with national partners to identify the best mechanisms to take this work forward," said Cllr Millar. "Now that the roads assessment is complete, the necessary legal, technical and logistical work required to implement the new 20mph speed limit can start.

"We will also be engaging with stakeholders and will continue to raise awareness of the mandatory speed limit to encourage drivers to lower their speeds in line with the new limit."

'Taking this step will help create safer, fairer streets'

Karen McGregor, Scotland director at Sustrans, said: "Sustrans is delighted to support Glasgow City Council and communities across the city with making this positive change. Time and time again, the evidence has shown that lowering speed limits in our built-up areas creates neighbourhoods that are safer for everyone - and that this makes the biggest positive difference for our most vulnerable people such as children, older people and those living with disability.

"60% of Glasgow residents surveyed for the 2023 Walking and Cycling Index said they would find more streets with 20mph speed limits useful to walk or wheel more. Taking this step will help create safer, fairer streets which give everyone more freedom and choice in how they make their journeys."

How long before they ban driving, walking or even just taking a shite?

Fucking farcical. Mandatory, so applies to nobody that does not accept the mandate.

>>20806653

>>20805647

>>20795711

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-government-survives-motion-no-32714433

Scottish Government survives motion of no confidence after Greens refuse to vote in favour

Anas Sarwar said Scots were "crying out for change" and demanded a Holyrood election be called.

Chris McCall

1 MAY 2024

The Scottish Government has survived a motion of no confidence after Green MSPs refused to vote in favour.

Labour tabled the vote last Friday before Humza Yousaf confirmed he would step down as First Minister on Monday.

MSPs voted 70-58 today against the motion brought by Anas Sarwar - meaning all government ministers can stay in their jobs.

Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said the motion was “chaos for the sake of chaos” as his party voted against it.

A separate motion brought against Yousaf himself was withdrawn earlier this week by the Tories following his resignation announcement.

Moving the vote against the Government today, Sarwar told MSPs: "Now more than ever our country needs credible and effective leadership and stable and competent government to take on the twin crises facing our nation - an economic crisis and an NHS crisis.

"I have no confidence in the SNP’s ability to deliver that and that is why I am bringing this motion to Parliament today.

"And this motion of no confidence in this SNP Government is based on two principal arguments.

"First - it is now clear that the SNP as a political party is so chaotic, divided and dysfunctional, that it can’t deliver competent government and is failing Scots every day.

"I don't believe changing the face at the top is going to change that."

But Yousaf - who will step down as First Minister when his party has chosen a replacement - defended his Government's record.

He told MSPs: "We choose progressive taxation, we choose to launch a ten year just transition fund to support Scotland's drive to net zero - where of course, Labour choose to ditch their £28bn green energy pledge.

"Where Keir Starmer refused for months to call for an immediate ceasefire even failing to condemn the collective punishment of the people of Gaza, I and the government I lead chose to be a voice of peace and humanity in the world."

Harvie said: "This proposal portrays the true motives of others: chaos for the sake of chaos.”

The Greens co-leader added: “Let’s just consider what would happen if it passed; a month to seek another government, then an election around the time that voters around the country were heading off on their summer holidays, a new government formed perhaps by August – leaving just a little more than a year-and-a-half until the legally required dissolution for the 2026 election.”

>>20806666

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinneys-role-murky-586million-32719879

John Swinney's role in murky £586million Gupta smelter deal sparks fresh inquiry calls

The SNP leader-in-waiting was Nicola Sturgeon's deputy when Scottish Government struck a controversial deal to sell the Lochaber aluminium smelter – and he even joined metals tycoon Sanjeev Gupta for a celebratory dinner at a 5-star hotel

Ben Borland

2 MAY 2024

John Swinney's bid to become the next SNP leader and First Minister has sparked fresh interest in his role in the controversial takeover of a Highlands smelting plant.

Entrepreneur Sanjeev Gupta, chief executive of Liberty Steel, acquired the Lochaber aluminium plant and two adjacent hydro power plants for just £5 in December 2016, with taxpayers financing the rest of the £330million deal. The Scottish Government provided a taxpayer-backed guarantee of £586m.

With the metal tycoon now under investigation for fraud, there have long been calls for a Holyrood inquiry into the affair and the Scottish Daily Express understands that rival parties are set to ramp up the pressure now that Mr Swinney has launched his leadership campaign.

The SNP veteran was Nicola Sturgeon's Deputy First Minister at the time the deal was agreed and he attended a lavish dinner with Mr Gupta and senior figures from his his Liberty Steel/GFG Alliance empire of companies near Oban on December 18, 2016.

The event took place at the five-star Isle of Eriska Hotel located on a private island at Benderloch, along with fellow SNP minister Fergus Ewing – who was then the Rural Economy Secretary. However, no minutes were taken to show what was discussed over drinks and dinner.

GFG Alliance acquired the loss-making venture from Rio Tinto with the help of a 25-year guarantee, with up to 2,000 jobs promised as as result of the takeover. Mr Gupta also acquired a Scottish hunting estate measuring 114,000 acres and including vast tracts of land around the lower slopes of Ben Nevis as part of the deal.

Speaking to the Scottish Daily Express, Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: "In 2022 I wrote to John Swinney to raise concerns about the financial health of the Lochaber smelter after the publication of unaudited accounts which admitted to 'material uncertainties that cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern' amid multi-million pound losses.

"The government made flashy promises of 2,000 jobs and a new billet plant in exchange for hundreds of millions of pounds of government financial guarantees. Instead between 2016 and 2022, just 40 new jobs had been created. There are vast sums of taxpayers’ money at stake.

"John Swinney should take an early opportunity in parliament to explain whether he will accept calls for an inquiry into the Scottish Government's dealing with Sanjeev Gupta."

'We have preserved industrial capacity and supported livelihoods'

GFG Alliance is the subject of alleged fraud and money laundering investigations. The company has denied any wrongdoing and Mr Gupta returned to the UK for the first time in more than two years in autumn 2023. Last year, after the UK Government withdrew guarantees on £400m of loans to the firm, the SNP Government was urged to follow suit.

Ironically, Mr Swinney's potential leadership rival – Kate Forbes – has also come under scrutiny over her links to GFG Alliance after she accepted a rugby ticket worth £600 from the firm in 2018. She has been the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch since 2016, and previously served as public finance minister and later Finance Secretary.

The Scottish Government said: "The dinner on 18 December was an informal event designed to mark the occasion of the conclusion of the purchase by the GFG Alliance of the Lochaber business assets of Rio Tinto and, as such, no notes, minutes or action points were recorded."

In response to Mr Rennie's call for a statement in parliament, a spokesman said: "The businesses at Lochaber continue to operate well and support highly skilled jobs in the region. The guarantee has not been called and the Scottish Government continues to earn the expected income in the form of guarantee fee payments from the GFG Alliance."

The SNP and Mr Swinney's office have also been contacted for a response.

>>20813293

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/secretive-snp-almost-fully-redact-29236952

Secretive SNP almost fully redact key documents involving Sanjeev Gupta and Dalzell Steelworks

The Scottish Lib Dems blasted the Scottish Government for refusing to be open about their dealings with troubled steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta as a FOI document was almost completed redacted.

David Walker

17 FEB 2023

The secretive SNP Government has been blasted after they published key documents surrounding Sanjeev Gupta and Dalzell Steelworks- but redacted almost all of the information.

And the Scottish Lib Dems, who originally made the request, are appealing to the Scottish Information Commissioner in regards to the lack of transparency around the issue.

They have been campaigning for a long time for the SNP to be more open about their "shady" deal with troubled steel tycoon Mr Gupta who bought Dalzell Steelworks from the Scottish Government in 2016.

Scotland's last active steel plant was originally bought by the government for £1 from Tata and then sold on to Liberty Steel which continues to operate it now.

But questions have been asked about the viability of the deal after it was revealed that the agreements may have breached state aid rules.

In a bid to find out more information on the deal, a freedom of information request was made asking for a copy of the due diligence carried out by Ernst and Young in 2016 on Liberty’s financial standing and business plan to take over the Dalzell Clydebridge Steelworks.

It was published on the government website on Thursday but most of the 66-page document has been redacted, with only the most basic of information left in.

The importance of the document is that it should reveal if ministers had properly considered the financial viability of selling the steelworks to Liberty considering the money crisis the company is going through now.

Mr Gupta is currently under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office and had his offices raided by them. This is due to his role in the collapse of Greensill Capital.

It has led to accusations that the Scottish Government may have risked millions of taxpayers money by loaning him cash, as they handed him £7m in 2017 to help with running Dalzell.

They also signed a controversial deal with Mr Gupta's GFG Alliance who own a Lochaber smelter which guarantees the power purchase obligations of the smelter from the nearby hydroplant at a potential cost of £568m to the taxpayer.

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP blasted the Scottish Government for refusing to be transparent with a subject which could cost hundreds of jobs.

He told the Scottish Daily Express: "This was an FOI request submitted by the Scottish Liberal Democrats. It has been incredibly difficult to get the government to be open about the consequences and risks of its high-profile investment in Mr Gupta’s companies.

“We will appeal to the information commissioner about this latest block. Transparency matters because millions of pounds, skilled jobs and the credibility of the SNP Government’s industrial strategy are all at stake.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: ““FOI responses are issued in line with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act and Ministers remain committed to transparency.

"The Scottish Government acted at pace in 2016 to support a transaction involving Tata Steel and Liberty House to ensure steel communities in Scotland had a future.

“This saved the Dalzell and Clydebridge steel works, rescued more than 100 jobs and retained steel plate production in Scotland. Subsequently, ministers were advised that one specific part of the contract arrangement may not comply with state aid rules.

“This finding was reported promptly to the Scottish Parliament and means in the unlikely event of the indemnity ever being called upon, no money would legally have to be paid out by the Scottish Government.”

>>20813366

>>20813293

>>20808537

>>20806666

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/coronation-chicken-caretaker-john-becomes-32724069

Coronation chicken! 'Caretaker John' becomes second unelected FM in SNP leadership carve-up

The shady stitch-up between John Swinney and Kate Forbes leaves the Scottish electorate facing another two years with no say in who is running the country. How can that be democracy?

Comment

opinion

Ben Borland Editor

2 MAY 2024

So, that’s it then. Scotland is to get its third first minister in just over a year and the electorate aren’t going to get a say in who it should be.

Humza Yousaf was elected SNP leader in March last year by around 50,000 SNP members, although you could hardly get a cigarette paper between him and Kate Forbes when the ballots were counted.

This time around, it seems the next leader of both party and devolved government has been selected by shadowy figures pulling strings in the darkness, desperate to avoid another "bloodbath" leadership contest.

Did Stephen Flynn push Humza Yousaf to jettison the Scottish Greens and rip up the Bute House Agreement? And when that backfired, did Nicola Sturgeon instruct him to spurn the lifeline from Alex Salmond’s Alba Party?

For that matter, who twisted John Swinney’s arm to stand for the leadership, when this time last year he was happily declaring that he was looking forward to retirement from frontline politics?

And what were the terms of the backroom deal he struck with Ms Forbes in order to dissuade her from standing again? We are unlikely to get the answers to these or many other pressing questions, at least in the short term.

Instead, Mr Swinney is to return to the job he held with no great distinction at the turn of the century. Only this time, its not just the SNP he is danger of running into the ground, but the whole of Scotland.

Quite frankly, the country deserves better than this shady stitch-up and the Nats have shown that they do not have the courage of their convictions. They screamed for a General Election when Boris Johnson was replaced by first Liz Truss and then Rishi Sunak.

Now all you can hear at Holyrood is the popping of Champagne corks from behind closed doors as the SNP celebrate clinging on to power for two more years.

Truth be told…everyone sitting in that parliament (so called) is a fraud upon the people and must surely know the tipping point is coming when they are all shown the door? They are, all of them, SNP or other, absolutely relieved that they'll squeeze another 2 years out of you voting, tax-paying, bawbags. It's all you fucking morons that are keeping the rest of us trapped in this asylum!

>>20816169

>>20806666

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/caretaker-john-swinneys-worst-catastrophes-32729355

Caretaker John Swinney's worst catastrophes and cover ups as failed Nat leader takes up reins once more

Scandal has never been far away from the former deputy first minister despite SNP claims he is a 'steady hand'

Douglas Dickie

4 MAY 2024

John Swinney will be anointed SNP leader without a contest next week, marking a remarkable turnaround for the Perthshire North MSP. It will be his second stint in the job having spent four years as leader between 2000 and 2004.

He performed so badly back then he was ousted for the returning Alex Salmond. While that had little impact on Scots' lives, this time the role comes with the keys to Bute House with Mr Swinney set to become first minister.

His backers - which seemingly now includes every Nat MP and MSP - have painted him as a steady pair of hands, someone the trust to take control in a crisis. He certainly has plenty of experience having spent 16 of the last 17 years in government and spending almost nine years as deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon.

But experience doesn't equate success and Swinney's track record at Holyrood actually makes grim reading. While he has his fingerprints on every scandal from the Sturgeon days, here's his top five catastrophes and cover ups as a government minister…

'Worst education minister in Holyrood history'Mainly because he's Scotland's No'1 groomer

Mr Swinney's performance in the education brief has seen his dubbed the worst to ever hold the role. Given Jenny Gilruth is the current incumbent, that seems harsh, but his performance was littered with disasters.

Appointed by Nicola Sturgeon in 2016, he oversaw a spectacular drop in standards during his tenure as Scotland tumbled down international league tables. By the time he left the office in 2021, the attainment gap had not been bridged and had actually widened in some areas. Swinney faced a vote of no confidence in 2020 when the system used to score pupils during Covid led to children from poorer areas being penalised. He survived thanks to support from the Scottish Greens.

Alex Salmond cover up

In 2021, Swinney faced another no confidence vote in relation to the Alex Salmond inquiry. As minister in charge of liaising with the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, Swinney was ordered to publish legal advice requested by the committee.

However, he twice refused the request leading to accusations of the government cover up. He eventually relented when faced with the prospect of the no confidence vote, which was again unsuccessful.

Named persons law

Swinney was the architect of the hated Named Person law which eventually had to be ditched by the SNP government under intense pressure in 2019. Introduced in 2016, it would have seen every child under the age of 18 allocated a 'named person' as a point of contact between the child and authorities.putting children at risk of child abuse from John's pals

It was dubbed a 'snooper's charter' by critics and was even found by the Supreme Court to breach human rights laws. Swinney eventually withdrew the bill, with the u-turn branded a "complete humiliation".

Edinburgh tram controversy

The public inquiry into the cost of the Edinburgh tram project was scathing in its assessment of the SNP government. While no one came out of it well, Swinney came in for a particularly hard time.

He was the finance secretary who took on the project in 2007 with the inquiry finding he had 'pulled strings' and meddled behind the scenes. He told Transport Scotland to leave the project in 2007 only for it come back on board in 2011 to sort it out. Despite the criticism, Swinney insists he would not have done anything differently.He'd even still appoint Lord Andrew Hardy himself named by Suzie Henderson at the trial of John Watt as another one of her abusers when she was just a small girl wouldn't you John? I wonder if he'd have made Hardy a "named person" to get close to children? All above board guv' I'm a Lord don'tcha know?

Deleted Covid messages

Given his boss Nicola Sturgeon had deleted hers, it didn't really come a shock to learn Swinney hadn't kept hold of his Covid WhatsApp messages either. He appeared in front of the UK Inquiry earlier this year. He claimed he was acting on advice from 2007 but his former boss Alex Salmond questioned that.

The now-Alba leader said: "Honest John, as John Swinney used to be called, said he was doing this manually and that he said he was doing it since 2007, as first minister between 2007 and 2014 can I assure everyone that no such policy was in existence in these years and John was doing it off his own back."John is, as it turns out…a total CUNT!

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/furious-nats-raging-newspaper-cartoon-32729450

Furious Nats are raging at a newspaper cartoon showing SNP leaders hanging from a noose

The cartoon by the award-winning Peter Brookes has sparked an angry reaction from the likes of Pete Wishart, Kelly Given and even Kirsten 'Decapitate Terfs' Oswald

Ben Borland

3 MAY 2024

SNP politicians and high-profile supporters have called for a cartoon published in The Times to be "taken down" and an apology issued by the newspaper.

The satirical take by Peter Brookes CBE, who has won British Press Awards cartoonist of the year eight times, shows Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf hanging from a noose fashioned from the SNP logo. John Swinney is walking into frame, saying: "I'm the continuity candidate."

As we reported earlier, Scots journalist Andrew Neil praised the 'toon on X as "brilliant" – and if he was hoping for a reaction from the SNP, then he got one. Veteran MP Pete Wishart replied: "This is the level of unionist discourse just now. Absolutely disgusting and we deserve so much better than this."

SNP member Kelly Given, who is frequently called on to defend the party on BBC Scotland, responded: "Not brilliant. So many activists and elected politicians recieve[sic] daily threats to their safety and security, and at times, threats to their life. This is distasteful and should be removed and an apology issued."

Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford also chimed in, tweeting: "Satire and cartoons are part of our political life and of course this can be edgy. However this crosses a line, it is offensive and does nothing to foster respectful debate. I am surprised by @thetimes who should both withdraw and apologise for this."

And East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald also called for The Times to somehow remove the cartoon from the Internet. She tweeted: "This is horrific. So far beneath the bottom of the barrel. Should never have been published. Needs taken down now."

However, several critics called her out for her lack of contrition when appearing at a pro-trans rally in Glasgow last year when she was pictured in front of a sign reading 'Decapitate Terfs' with a crude drawing of a guillotine.

Scottish Daily Express commentator Alan Grant said: "Personally, I'm ok with both. But then I'm not an insipid hypocrite who only pretends to believe in free speech when it suits me."

Brookes posted the image on his own X account, leading to a flood of complaints with dozens of people saying they had reported him to the press watchdog Ipso. One person even tagged in Police Scotland.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/anniesland-assassination-stephen-flynn-kate-32731357

The Anniesland Assassination: Did Stephen Flynn and Kate Forbes plot Humza Yousaf's downfall at this Glasgow bowling club?

THE EXPRESS INVESTIGATES: As rumours swirl about an SNP stitch-up to remove Humza Yousaf and install John Swinney as the caretaker leader without a damaging 'bloodbath', we reveal three of the key players in this shadowy Nationalist drama met just days beforehand

Ben Borland

3 MAY 2024

Questions are being asked about an SNP event where Stephen Flynn, Kate Forbes and Stewart McDonald got together just five days Humza Yousaf tore up the Bute House Agreement.

The alleged plotting is said to have taken place in the low-key setting of Scotstounhill Bowling Club in the Glasgow suburb of Anniesland on the evening of Friday, April 19. The event was held to endorse Carol Monaghan as the Glasgow West candidate.

Ms Forbes and Glasgow South MSP Mr McDonald were advertised as special guests several months in advance, along with Anniesland MSP Bill Kidd. But Mr Flynn, who represents Aberdeen South, was only added on April 16. On social media, one person suggested it was a "last minute line-up change to plot Humza's downfall".

It came as the simmering tensions between some SNP politicians and the Scottish Greens were about to boil over, brought to a head by the Cass Review into gender services for children and the decision to ditch net zero targets. Just hours before the get-together in the bowling club bar, the Greens had announced a vote on ending the Bute House Agreement.

Mr Flynn was already known to be quietly fuming at the deal, with Green opposition to the North Sea oil and gas industry causing huge damage the SNP's electoral chances across the North-East. Like Ms Forbes, he is ferociously ambitious, relatively young (she is 34, he is 35) and likely to spend years at the top of the party.

Two days after the Anniesland gathering, Patrick Harvie gave the extraordinary BBC interview in which he repeatedly refused to accept the findings of Dr Hilary Cass and her team of medical experts, who spent four years putting together their report. This may have been just the trigger the plotters had been waiting for…

By Wednesday, April 24, Mr Flynn was in Edinburgh for a meeting with the First Minister. He is said to have urged Mr Yousaf to chuck the Greens out of government before the party's lentil-munching members could vote to terminate the BHA, arguing that failing to do so would make him look weak.

The SNP leader ended the coalition the following morning – fatally underestimating the spiteful response from Mr Harvie, Lorna Slater and Ross Greer. With the eight Green MSPs threatening to support a vote of no confidence, Mr Yousaf was forced to turn to Alba's Ash Regan in order to save his political career. However, for reasons that are yet to be fully explained, he then rejected her offer of support and instead decided to resign on Monday, April 29.

It has now been revealed that Ms Forbes and John Swinney held discussions about the party leadership on the day BEFORE Mr Yousaf's resignation. The Times reports that Mr McDonald and the SNP MP Ian Blackford acted as proxies for the pair, with Ms Forbes eventually agreeing to stand aside in exchange for a plum cabinet post.

'I think she's going to have an incredibly bright future'

Meanwhile, Mr Flynn – who is now being tipped for a switch to Holyrood in 2026 – showered Ms Forbes with praise even as he publicly urged her not to stand against Mr Swinney. Hinting at a future leadership contest between them, he said: "So, I've got a huge amount of respect for Kate, I think she's phenomenally talented and she's going to have an incredibly bright future. But one of the reasons I'm not putting myself forward is because I'm 35 years old and I've got a lot of experience still to gain."

Suggestions of a plot to topple Mr Yousaf – also involving Nicola Sturgeon, who still wields huge influence in the SNP and is said to have torpedoed any alliance with Alex Salmond and the Alba Party – have been swirling around in nationalist circles all week. Some have even claimed that the outgoing FM's strong stance on the war in Gaza (not to mention his dalliance with Turkish leader Erdogan) was the motivation for "the powers that be" to act against him.

There are even extraordinary claims that the political manoeuvres in Glasgow and Edinburgh were in some way connected to the British-American Project, which is run from the US Embassy in London. It seeks to strengthen links between the US and the UK and counter anti-American sentiment among the British left.

>>20816747

…………………………………………………………………………………continued………………………………………………………………………………………

Ms Forbes is a fellow of the BAP (along with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar) and both Mr Flynn and Mr McDonald are said to have links to the organisation. Its conferences are held under Chatham House Rules (similar to the Bilderberg Group, where participants are free to use information without revealing its source) and there are claims it is sometimes used as a front for the CIA.

Denise Findlay, a prominent nationalist who quit Alex Salmond's Alba Party in a row over gender, is among those promoting the idea of a plot. She tweeted: "Why on earth has Humza been stitched up. What happened makes no sense. Is it possible his stance on Gaza meant [The Powers That Be] decided he had to go?"

In response, one like-minded nationalist asked: "Why on 16/4 did Flynn decide to go to Anniesland on 20/4 to meet Forbes, McDonald also in tow, all British-American Project associates?" However, another X user scoffed: "So it was MI5 at play again Denise? Better buy some more bacofoil before you run out."

While suggestions of MI5 and CIA involvement seem unlikely in the extreme, the fact remains that Ms Forbes – who represents Ross, Skye and Lochaber and lives in the Highlands with her husband and their infant daughter – was in Glasgow with both Mr Flynn and Mr McDonald on a Friday evening just days before Mr Yousaf's extraordinary self-destruction.

'Clearly far more going on behind the scenes'

If there was a plot to topple the First Minister (who seems genuinely relieved to be out of the hot seat and back in Broughty Ferry with his own young family), it wouldn't be Mr Flynn's first involvement in such skullduggery. He is said to have orchestrated Mr Blackford's downfall, together with members of the so-called 'Tuesday Club' of MPs (named after their regular Tuesday night 5-a-side football and curry sessions in London).

This coup (Mr McDonald was another Tuesday Club member) in December 2022 came just over two months before Ms Sturgeon herself unexpectedly stepped down. Although the Isla Bryson scandal and developments in Operation Branchform were the prime motivators, insiders say her loss of control at Westminster should not be underestimated.

Ms Sturgeon is said to have fought tooth and nail to keep her ally Blackford in place. Writing in the Daily Mail at the time, former Glasgow Labour MP Tom Harris – who maintains impeccable Whitehall connections – described Mr Blackford's removal "as the beginning of the end of the Sturgeon era".

In response to the latest plotting, one political observer said: "Clearly, there's been far more going on behind the scenes than we have been led to believe and it looks as though the planning for Humza's downfall began not hours but days in advance. Could it be that Flynn and Forbes agreed to sit this one out ahead of a proper leadership contest between the pair of them at some stage in the not-too-distant future?"

>>20806666

>>20813293

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-says-making-personal-32723038

John Swinney says he is 'making a personal sacrifice' to stand for SNP leader

The incoming SNP leader said he had taken a few days to decide whether he wanted to join the contest because of family circumstances.

Andrew Quinn

2 MAY 2024

John Swinney has said that he is "making a personal sacrifice" to stand to be SNP leader and first minister.

The former finance secretary said he had taken a few days to decide whether he wanted to run because of his family circumstances.

The Perthshire North MSP has a teenage son and his wife has multiple sclerosis.

He confirmed on Thursday morning that he was running to replace Humza Yousaf.

It looks likely that he will be crowned SNP leader and first minister next week after Kate Forbes ruled herself out.

Swinney had said he did not want to stand last year because he expected to wind down his political career.

He told ITV Border: "I am making a personal sacrifice to stand for leader of the SNP today.

"I thought a year ago that I had done my bit. I'd had a long government career, 16 years as a senior minister, and I thought the time was right for me to move on.

"Times and circumstances change. The SNP is in a difficult position just now. It's not as cohesive as it needs to be.

"It needs to be brought back together again and I think I've got the skills and the attributes to make sure that can happen."

When asked if it was a difficult decision because of his wife's medical condition and his son's age, Swinney replied:

"That's why I've taken some days to come to this decision.

"I was under media pressure almost immediately [after] the First Minister announced his decision as to whether I would stand.

"I've had to take time to speak with my wife and with my son to make sure that we can manage our way through this, because this will involve challenges for us, for all of us.

"And I'm deeply grateful to my wife and my son for the encouragement they've given [me] to do this.

"They know how much I am devoted to the SNP. They know how much I am concerned about where we are as a party, and they recognise that I've got something to do to help sort that.

"That involves personal sacrifice but I am prepared to do that."

North Lanarkshire council, currently held by Labour party

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/police-asked-probe-dodgy-data-3273608

Scots cops probe dodgy data claims at firm as council hands company £1.8bn contract

Mears was awarded the £1.8bn deal amid chaotic scenes at North Lanarkshire Council.

Hannah Rodger

5 MAY 2024

Police have been asked to investigate dodgy figures at a repairs firm which has just been handed millions in public cash.

Mears is now at the centre of a complaint to officers over concerns they were manipulating data for work at North Lanarkshire Council, the Sunday Mail can reveal.

But despite the issues, councillors approved a new contract for Mears at a secretive meeting on Thursday night worth £1.8bn - the largest of its kind in Scotland.

The controversy over Mears led to chaotic scenes with some councillors from Progressive Change North Lanarkshire (PCNL) who spoke out against it branded "conspiracy theorists" in an angry speech by Labour council leader Jim Logue before they were thrown out of the chamber.

The Sunday Mail can reveal details of a report, hidden from the public, warning councillors they had no choice but to hand Mears the contract despite the firm having already been found to have amended its performance figures for potentially years while working on other contracts with the local authority.

The report states that if councillors didn't give Mears the contract the local authority had no other means of doing repairs to its tenants' homes.

It says there is "insufficient" resources in the council to manage contractors to do their own repairs across social housing and council buildings and if the contract isn’t given to Mears the firm could sue "given that they have met all the conditions for a successful award".

It adds that there would be a risk for future elections as "the council does not have the available human resource or expertise to operate the setting up of polling places, delivery of ballot boxes and management of inbound ballot boxes to the count centre."

The scandal of Mears unravelled when a whistleblower reported their concerns to Audit Scotland last year alleging the company had been manually changing its completion dates on repairs jobs to make it look as if they were finishing repairs faster than they actually were.

A probe by the council then confirmed the claims were accurate and the practice may have been going on for years.

Councillors from Progressive Change North Lanarkshire have been challenging the Mears deal for months and said it is unacceptable that the council has been forced to award this contract.

PCNL Deputy Leader Paul DiMascio said the situation was a "damning indictment of the catastrophic failure of this council to have protected council interests better."

He said: "We have no contingency plan for if the contract was awarded to anyone other than Mears; we don't own the management system which allows repairs to be scheduled, we don't have resources to deliver repairs on time.

"Councillors seem to be fine with this despite accepting the fact that important statutory data has been openly manipulated by Mears." Police Scotland has been asked to investigate Mears' dodgy data claims after a report was made two weeks ago.

It is not known whether council staff or councillors were aware of the police report when they voted to award the deal last week. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Reports have been received and the information is being assessed."

A North Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: "The council agreed unanimously at a meeting this week to award the contract for housing and corporate property repairs to Mears Limited.

"This ensures that 37,000 council houses will receive routine and emergency repairs and that the corporate property estate will be maintained appropriately while achieving best value for tenants and residents.

"This followed a six-year procurement process which was approved at all stages by councillors, including by members of PCNL, until an unsuccessful amendment was proposed at the award stage in August last year." Mears declined to comment.

>>20824429

Nobody cares about much in Scotland. They will keep chasing the illusion of money until it becomes worthless. I hope that is soon.

>>20824227

>>20808262

>>20813366

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/cracks-already-showing-snp-unity-32734957

Cracks already showing in SNP 'unity' as government minister rages at 'senior sources'

John Swinney is supposed to be the man to bring the SNP together but instead insiders are already briefing the press that he is a mere caretaker keeping the seat warm for Stephen Flynn

Douglas Dickie

4 MAY 2024

Cracks are already starting to appear in the SNP's apparent new unified stance ahead of the coronation of John Swinney as party leader. Nats claim they have put the feuding of the past few years behind them and the Swinney premiership will trigger a reset.

Kate Forbes stepping aside meant the former deputy first minister has a clear run at the SNP leadership - a job that will likely take him all the way to Bute House and the first minister's office. But insiders are already briefing that the Perthshire North MSP is little more than a caretaker boss to get the party through the general election.

We reported that Holyrood insiders expect him to be a patsy for poor election results. And senior SNP sources at Westminster told the Independent that Stephen Flynn was already being lined up as the next leader in a desperate bid to stop Ms Forbes from ever becoming leader.

It was all too much for Shirley Anne-Sommerville, who is currently the social justice secretary in the Scottish cabinet. She took to social media site X to blast any SNP politician briefing the press.

She fumed: "That call for unity meant you too. Stop your secret wee quotes and get on with organising a canvassing session."

Tory MSP Stephen Kerr said the report had "certainly got under senior Nationalist’s skin" adding: "So there must be at least a grain of truth to it. It’s apparently not enough for the SNP to install two continuity leaders in two years.

"Now there’s a succession plan to crown another successor in 2026. That shows an absolute lack of respect for the electorate. Handily, voters have the opportunity to show the SNP they cannot be taken for granted - showing them the door in constituencies across Scotland, later this year."

Senior party figures are apparently keen to prevent former finance minister Ms Forbes ever becoming party leader despite her stepping aside to allow Mr Swinney, who was Ms Sturgeon's deputy first minister for nearly nine years, a free run at the leadership. The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP is expected to be handed a high-profile job in his cabinet in return for not standing for the leadership.

But her social views sit uneasily with the party establishment. It is suggested members loyal to Nicola Sturgeon will do everything they can to prevent Ms Forbes becoming leader.

>>20771578

>>>20771494 Final Covid and other Pestilence Bun Part Two

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-must-make-amends-32737569

John Swinney must 'make amends' to betrayed Covid bereaved after deleting messages

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton owes a full explanation after admitting to destroying all his WhatsApp messages relating to the pandemic

Douglas Dickie

5 MAY 2024

John Swinney has been told by the Liberal Democrats he must “make amends” to the Covid bereaved for deleting key WhatsApp messages if he is to become Scotland’s next First Minister. The former deputy first minister is the likely candidate to replace Humza Yousaf in the top job this week after other possibles ruled themselves out of the contest.

However, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton urged the Perthshire North MSP, who served as Nicola Sturgeon’s deputy in the pandemic, to “overhaul government transparency” – if selected for the role. In January, Mr Swinney admitted to the UK Covid Inquiry that he “manually” deleted informal messages between himself and Ms Sturgeon, in accordance with Scottish Government guidance.

The Scottish Government has since said it is committed to learning lessons, with a review into the use of WhatsApp and other communications announced. However, Mr Cole-Hamilton has said: “When he set out his leadership bid, John Swinney said that his values are based on helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society. If he is serious about that then he must make amends to all those whose lives were ripped apart by Covid.

“It was John Swinney who deleted his pandemic messages, alongside Nicola Sturgeon and other members of her top team. By doing so, they undermined the work of both the UK and Scottish Covid inquiries and deprived all those who lost loved ones of the answers and understanding they are searching for.

“Lives and livelihoods hinged on the decisions that John Swinney acknowledged were happening ‘at an absolutely ferocious pace’. To erase the discussion that underpinned them smacks of a government that had little care for accountability and was covering its tracks.

“If John Swinney does become the next First Minister, he must explain to the Covid inquiries and to families how he will overhaul government transparency and record keeping to finally end the culture of secrecy that has existed for 17 years.”

A spokesman for Mr Swinney said: “Mr Swinney’s deepest sympathies are with all those who lost loved ones during the pandemic. Mr Swinney addressed the subject of message retention during an extensive evidence session at the Covid Inquiry.

“While giving evidence, Mr Swinney made clear that he acted in line with the existing Scottish Government policy at that point in time.”

>>20771576

>>>20771485 Final Operation Branchform Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/operation-branchform-cops-looking-stolen-32739295

Operation Branchform cops looking at 'stolen goods charges' in relation to SNP finances

The probe into over £600,000 of cash donated to the Nationalist party has been going for almost three years with Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement last month

John Ferguson & Douglas Dickie

5 MAY 2024

Officers involved in an investigation into SNP finances are considering charges of possession of stolen goods, according to reports. Operation Branchform detectives are now looking at whether the crime of 'reset' could have been committed as part of the three-year probe.

The inquiry relates to around £660,000 of donations to the SNP, alleged to have been spent fraudulently. One person has so far been charged in relation to the probe.

Nicola Sturgeon's husband and the SNP's former chief executive Peter Murrell was charged with embezzlement last month. Sturgeon herself was arrested last year, as was former party treasurer Colin Beattie, although neither have been charged.

The Sunday Mail reports a source close to the investigation saying: "More charges could come at any time. This is a wide-ranging inquiry and the fact that a report has not yet been sent to the Procurator Fiscal by police suggests the police are not finished."

Reset is the crime of possessing property knowingly acquired by theft – or by robbery, fraud or embezzlement – and intending to retain it. It can be committed by being privy to or being involved in the retention or keeping of property which you know to be stolen.

The first allegations against the party were made in March 2021 and a formal investigation was launched in July that year. The home Sturgeon and Murrell share near Glasgow was searched along with SNP HQ. A campervan bought by the party officially to fight the 2021 Scottish election was also seized by cops.

>>20826329

https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/corrupt-scotland-john-swinney-and-crown-office

Corrupt Scotland: John Swinney and the Crown Office

David Scott

7th March 2021

Scottish public life is currently mired in corruption. Comparisons are being made to tin-pot, third-world dictatorships and banana republics. There are calls to drain the swamp.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has faced, and will again face, a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament over his decision to block the release to the Salmond Inquiry of information embarrassing to the regime.

The present Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, the most senior law officer in Scotland, has been called upon to "consider his position", which means to resign, by the former First Minister Alex Salmond, due to the failure of his leadership in the Crown Office — Scotland's state prosecutor.

Against this background, we feel compelled to release the following item of information into the public domain. It forms part of a large, vitally important case which involved a good man and loving father having his disabled son removed from his care by state officials in what we can only describe as an abduction. The details of this case are currently the subject of discussions with Police Scotland and other state agencies and must remain, for the moment at least, out of the public eye.

As Mr Swinney had been involved for many years in the case and had previously assured the family of his support, they called him as a witness in the guardianship case concerning the young man.

Mr Swinney refused to attend.

The family therefore cited him to attend and had the necessary notice served on him at his parliamentary premises, Holyrood.

The following is their description of the events in court on the day when John Swinney, Member of the Scottish Parliament, Education Secretary for Scotland and Deputy First Minister, was due to give evidence as a witness for a family fighting to keep their son.

What can we conclude from this courtroom drama?

Frank Mulholland, when Lord Advocate, contacted the lawyer representing a local government body in a civil case. He then attempted to alter the witness list for the applicant in this case, without that party’s knowledge or consent. This interference in a court case seems to have been undertaken to satisfy the wishes of a fellow cabinet minister, John Swinney. After all, the Lord Advocate is not just the Scottish Government's chief legal officer but is also a member of the executive that runs the country.

This is disturbing and leaves us with further questions.

Does Frank Mulholland (now Judge Lord Mulholland) make a habit of interfering with court cases and tampering with witness lists?

Does John Swinney, or for that matter Nicola Sturgeon or any other Scottish cabinet minister, routinely use the Lord Advocate to influence the conduct of court cases which they feel to be inconvenient, bothersome or personally threatening?

Just what is the relationship between the present and previous Lords Advocate and the Scottish National Party administration? How close is it? Is there any separation of powers at all?

At the opening of the Case, on the morning of the 3rd December 2015, Mr. Adam Heath (Solicitor for Perth and Kinross Council) called for a "Point of Order", which was approved by Sheriff Wood. Mr Heath stated that he had received a phone call from a third party asking him if he could assist in getting one of the witnesses out of giving evidence. When asked who this witness was, he said he was one of the witnesses for the parent attempting to recover the son.

When asked who the third party was, [the solicitor] stated that it was the Lord Advocate for Scotland, Mr Frank Mulholland. Finally, when asked a second time who the witness was, Mr Heath said it was Mr John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland.

The Sheriff stated that this action would not be allowed in his Court but also prevented the recording of the Point of Order by the Verbatim Reporter.

>>20771576

>>>20296546 (You) Huge double blow for royals as King Charles AND Princess Kate in hospital at same time

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/king-charles-warned-must-not-32745614

King Charles warned he must not appoint another 'unlawful' First Minister or risk a constitutional crisis

EXCLUSIVE: With Holyrood's Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone set to ask King Charles to appoint John Swinney, campaigners are warning the monarch 'is being placed in an unconstitutional and exceptionally unacceptable position'

Ben Borland

6 MAY 2024

Political leaders in London and Edinburgh have been warned – again – of the "major constitutional and legal problem" in asking King Charles to appoint John Swinney as First Minister.

Campaigners say there is a major flaw in the devolution settlement which has gone unchecked in 25 years; namely that there is no real separation of powers in Scotland. The UK Supreme Court states: "The doctrine of the separation of powers requires that the principal institutions of state – executive, legislature and judiciary – should be clearly divided in order to safeguard citizens' liberties and guard against tyranny."

Critics say that because the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General are also Cabinet ministers, the Scottish Government is not separate from the prosecution service. In a further flaw, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is in charge of both prosecutions and investigations of deaths.

All these issues have been highlighted many times by legal and constitutional experts, including SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC and members of the the Action for a Safe and Accountable People's NHS (ASAP-NHS) campaign. The campaigners say: "This is now an urgent matter requiring attention at the top. The King is being placed in an unconstitutional and exceptionally unacceptable position."

Over the years, ASAP-NHS has repeatedly found its calls for investigations and prosecutions relating avoidable hospital deaths stymied – and the group believes this is because the Scottish Government can effectively decide "who is prosecuted and who is not".

The constitutional conflict of interest has manifested itself in multiple other ways, such as the alleged failure to properly investigate Covid deaths during the pandemic, the Rangers FC malicious prosecution scandal, the handling of sexual harassment complaints against Alex Salmond and the Operation Branchform investigation into the SNP's finances.

Roger Livermore, a former Crown prosecutor in England, wrote to the King's Private Secretary in March 2023 to notify him of the group's concerns before Humza Yousaf was appointed First Minister. Now, with Mr Swinney set to become the next unelected occupant of Bute House, he has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to set out the ASAP-NHS position once again.

>>20835562

………………………………………………………………………………continued…………………………………………………………………………

The Scottish Express has obtained a copy of his letter, which has been copied to figures such as Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and all the Holyrood party leaders. Mr Livermore writes: "With the absence of the separation of the powers in Scotland, this should be guaranteed to be a major constitutional and legal problem for Scotland and the UK…. It has severe consequences for both government and justice in Scotland, and also for the UK.

"Imminently the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP should be asking the King to appoint a new Scottish First Minister, the head of the Scottish Government who would as it stands be outside the King's Law and the law of the land. This would be highly unconstitutional, and by constitutional law highly unlawful."

He adds: "Ever since devolution and the Scotland Act 1998 there has remarkably been the absence of the rule of law in Scotland. A vital part if democracy has been missing in Scotland. We are dealing with the most basic legal and constitutional errors." And Mr Livermore continues: "The Scottish Government is unlawfully outside the law. Without the constraints of the law, the current SNP Government is free to ignore the law, and it does so constantly."

ASAP-NHS is calling for the "error-strewn Scotland Act to be amended", adding: "The control of judicial processes must be removed from Scottish Government control. The prosecution system must be independent such as it is with DPP/CPS. The system of investigating deaths must likewise be an independent system such as the HM coroner system."

In conclusion, Mr Livermore writes: "In comparison with western countries, the Scottish system of government and justice treat life as cheap."

'At the very least, there is a perception of a conflict of interest'

In January, SNP MP Joanna Cherry lodged a Bill to amend the Scotland Act 1998 to allow the Scottish Parliament to separate the twin roles of Lord Advocate into two new jobs – one as head of the prosecution service and the other as Minister and chief legal adviser to the Scottish Government.

Arguing that "reform is long overdue", Ms Cherry said: "The present Lord Advocate performs both roles, and both legal scholars and politicians are becoming increasingly concerned that that may give rise to a conflict of interest, or at the very least a perception of a conflict of interest."

The Scottish Government has agreed to review the current set-up and Ms Cherry's Bill is supported by SNP, Alba and Lib Dem MPs, as well as Tory backbencher Sir David Davis. Both Mr Jack and Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary "agreed there is a case for separating the two roles".

>>20772674

>>20772721

>>20835343

>>20835569

Just found on telegram………

…………More to follow apparently.

>>20835613

>>20772674

>>20772721

>>20835343

>>20835569

Will check tomorrow and see if any more are added.

>>20826329

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-keeps-humza-yousafs-32765139

John Swinney keeps Humza Yousaf's 'continuity' and 'chaotic' cabinet - and adds extra £112k-a-year role for Kate Forbes

The new First Minister has acted like the old First Minister by keeping in place the majority of his predecessor's Cabinet, only adding an extra role in Gaelic and Economy for Kate Forbes.

David Walker

8 MAY 2024

John Swinney has been slated as "uninspiring" after announcing a "continuity" Cabinet which will remain almost exactly the same as Humza Yousaf's, except for an extra taxpayer-funded £112k role for Kate Forbes. The former SNP leadership contender has been appointed Deputy First Minister with responsibility for the economy and Gaelic.

But otherwise the "continuity" First Minister has stuck by the nine figures who led Scotland under Mr Yousaf, the second shortest-serving First Minister of all time. It means that Shona Robison remains Finance Secretary, but now with responsibility for local government.

Mr Swinney claimed that the "new" Scottish Cabinet will "help drive real and urgent progress in eradicating child poverty, driving economic growth, and tackling the climate emergency." He has already angered the Scottish Greens through his promotion of Ms Forbes to a senior role.

Jenny Gilruth remains on Education, Angela Constance keeps her Justice brief, Mairi McAllan has a shortened role of Net Zero and Energy, Fiona Hyslop is still Transport Secretary, Neil Gray is on Health, Shirley-Anne Somerville remains Social Justice Secretary, "Air Miles" Angus Robertson can continue to enjoy his trips abroad as Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and Mairi Gougeon keeps the Rural Affairs brief.

It means the number of Cabinet members has increased to 11, the largest of all time. Critics have blasted the failure of Mr Swinney to show any initiative by going with new blood, with the rest of his ministers set to be confirmed "in due course."

And former coalition partner Patrick Harvie also outlined his distaste for the new Deputy First Minister, posting a tweet showing a sigh which said "no right turn" at jibe at Ms Forbes centre right views. He added: “There will be many people across our country who will be very concerned and who will want to know that this Scottish Government remains committed to a greener and more equal future for Scotland.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross mocked Mr Swinney as he said: "John Swinney doesn’t want to be labelled the continuity First Minister but he has just spent hours reappointing the entire cabinet he inherited Humza Yousaf to the same posts they failed in before."

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy called it "Humza Yousaf’s cabinet with a different figurehead." He added: "The return of Kate Forbes is a desperate attempt by both John Swinney and his new deputy to gloss over the huge splits in the SNP and fixate on independence."

He also pointed out that the First Minister and Ms Forbes traded barbs last year during the leadership election, as he questioned whether she was an "appropriate individual" to lead the party, and that the former Finance Secretary claimed that "continuity won't cut it."

Mr Hoy added: “This uninspiring cabinet is further evidence that John Swinney as First Minister will just mean more of the same. His fingerprints are all over the failed SNP policies that have damaged Scotland, while he’s already doubled down on the SNP’s independence obsession, instead of focusing on the public’s real priorities such as fixing our ailing public services and growing the economy."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie dubbed it a "continuity cabinet that cannot be trusted to fix the chaos and instability they have created." She added: "With two of the former Finance Secretaries responsible for trashing public finances now in the top jobs, more SNP chaos lies ahead. Scotland needs change and the people of Scotland know continuity won’t cut it – we need an election."

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "“We need ministers that won’t make empty promises but will get the basics right. Relying on all the same ingredients is a recipe for disappointment. This parade of familiar faces proves that nobody in the SNP ever pays the price despite 1 in 7 Scots being stuck on NHS waiting lists, sewage dumping in our rivers reaching record levels, and islanders waiting forever for ferries.

Mr Swinney claimed that he had selected a team that "blends experience and energy, with a strong focus on the priorities my government will pursue – eradicating child poverty, driving economic growth, meeting climate obligations and investing in our vital public services."

>>20839902

>>20826329

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-kate-forbes-plotted-32725835

John Swinney and Kate Forbes plotted shady backroom deal BEFORE Humza Yousaf resignation

Ian Blackford and Stewart McDonald were said to have played key roles in smoothing the path for the former deputy first minister to become Nat leader without a contest

Douglas Dickie

3 MAY 2024

Discussion between John Swinney and Kate Forbes to carve up the SNP leadership contest started even before Humza Yousaf had announced his resignation. Mr Swinney will take the reins 20 years after being ousted from the role after Ms Forbes announced she would not enter the race on Thursday.

While nominations remain open until Monday, no other candidate is expected to come forward. Mr Swinney's coronation will pave the way for him to become first minister on Tuesday, bringing to an end the chaotic 13-month premiership of Mr Yousaf.

The outgoing Nat leader saw his position become untenable after sacking the Scottish Greens from government last week. He faced a no confidence vote at Holyrood and spent the weekend desperately trying to save his job.

However, by Monday morning it became clear he would not enjoy the support of parliament while his authority over his own party was in tatters. It has now emerged the Swinney and Forbes camps had started communicating over the weekend in an attempt to avoid a bruising leadership battle.

The Times reports proxies for the pair opened talks on Sunday. Discussions continued with the party's former party leader at Westminster Ian Blackford and former defence spokesman Stewart McDonald seemingly playing key roles in smoothing the path to Mr Swinney's coronation.

Civil servants were told on Wednesday to prepare for a new first minister next week, a clear indication that SNP bosses were confident a contest would be avoided. Ms Forbes was physically absent from much of the main events on Thursday after her young daughter had a minor accident on Wednesday and had to go to hospital.

Sources close to the Forbes camp say the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP believed she could have won a contest with Mr Swinney. However, she was aware a second defeat in little over a year could be fatal to her hopes of ever leading the party.

An insider said: "She reckoned she could have given it a good go and could have won. But given the scale of the challenge to the party she didn't feel it was the right time. It's time to unify." Other sources have said she would have run against anyone else by Mr Swinney, who spent over eight years as deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon, and was playing a "slightly longer game".

Critics accused Ms Forbes of 'caving in' to pressure from the Nat establishment not to stand. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: "Kate Forbes famously warned that ‘continuity won’t cut it’ when it came to Humza Yousaf, yet she’s now urging the SNP to go back to the future by imposing John Swinney – a failed former leader, tied at the hip to Nicola Sturgeon – as First Minister.

"Scotland deserves better than someone whose fingerprints are all over 17 years of SNP failure and secrecy. John Swinney has confirmed, via his campaign slogan, that he will ignore the public’s real priorities to obsess about independence yet again."

>>20826329

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/desperate-john-swinney-fails-answer-32770423

'Desperate' John Swinney fails to answer questions on education as he has only been in role for 48 hours

The new First Minister faced MSPs for the first time since taking over from Humza Yousaf but excused himself from answering questions in full due to only taking on the role this week, despite being in government for 16 of the 17 years the SNP have been in charge for.

David Walker

9 MAY 2024

John Swinney was accused of utilising the "same old excuses" as he refused to answer a question four times about whether he will live up to a SNP promise of adding 3,500 extra teachers. He warned that the country faced a "very significant financial pressures in Scotland in our public finances."

The new First Minister faced his first FMQs since being parachuted in to replace Humza Yousaf and described how the last two weeks was a "traumatic" time for the party. However, he parroted the same lines about "success" the nationalists have had in education, as his "indefensible" record as Education Secretary was highlighted.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross highlighted the hundreds of teacher jobs being cut by cash-strapped SNP-led Glasgow City Council, and asked Mr Swinney to dissuade fears that the flagship teacher vow would be dropped four times but was rebuffed each time.

The new First Minister even used the excuse that he had only been in the job "48 hours" for failing to answer questions about the state of schools and education in Scotland. Mr Ross called him out for offering the "same old excuses" as his predecessors.

He said: "John Swinney’s record in education is one of broken promises. He introduced a flagship education bill that could have improved standards - then abandoned it. He promised a free laptop for every child - that hasn’t happened. Three years ago, the SNP said Education Scotland would be reformed - nothing has happened. The government he served in promised the SQA would be replaced - but it’s still here.

"John Swinney served as education secretary from 2016 to 2021. During that time, education was supposed to be the SNP’s top priority. They wanted to be judged on their education record. When John Swinney was in charge of Scotland’s schools, results fell to record lows in the OECD’s PISA rankings. These tests measured performance for maths, reading and science.

We have however managed to convince kids into chopping off their sexual organs in their droves.

"John Swinney is not being straight with the public on whether he agrees or not with his own promise to increase teacher numbers. But we know already they are falling under this SNP Government. For 16 years, John Swinney has been at the heart of a government that has let down pupils, parents and teachers. Now he’s the head of the government, what’s going to change?"

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie also blasted his former coalition partners for bringing in Kate Forbes to the government, claiming that many LGBT people were now worried due to this. He also urged him to continue with "progressive taxation" rather than dropping income tax rises.

Mr Swinney claimed that he was not fully on top of the issues due to not "being on the front bench for 12 months or so." But his excuses were called out by rival politicians.

Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser wrote: "don’t see the line from @johnswinney that he’s only been FM ‘for 48 hours’ working as a defence, when he’s been in this Government for 16 out of the last 17 years." Jamie Halcro Johnston added: "When failing to answer straightforward Yes/No questions from @Douglas4Moray, 'I’ve only been FM for a few days' excuses himself an FM who’s been a key figure in the SNP government for 16 of the last 17 years. It’s desperate stuff.

>>20835562

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-harry-traitor-kings-decision-32770587

Prince Harry is a 'traitor' and King's decision not to see him was revenge for Meghan's Nigeria trip

A royal expert has claimed that Queen Camilla and Prince William played a significant role in the monarch not allowing Prince Harry a photo-op

Mark Connor

9 MAY 2024

The King refusing to meet Prince Harry was retaliation for Meghan Markle going to Nigeria in a bid to ‘embarrass’ the Royal Family, it has been claimed.

Royal biographer Tom Bower has also said that Queen Camilla and Prince William played a significant part in the decision not to see Harry who visited London as part of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

Speaking on GB News, Bower said: “I finally think the King and his advisors have seen sense. The Invictus people are terrific and did the greatest service to the country, but Harry is milking it for the brand.

“Harry and a service at St Paul’s, of thanksgiving - come on, he’s not a great Christian, that’s for sure. But what is really important in all this is that he’s going from here to Nigeria. And what this is really all about is that Meghan is going to Nigeria because she says her mother’s family originally was from Nigeria and she’s looking at her roots.

“Who knows [if it’s true] but what really is important is that she’s going to play the Duchess there, she’s going to play the Royal Family card. The woman who fled to California for her privacy and Oh, can’t do too much for the Royals, is going to play the royal card.

“But the key here is that Harry was desperate for a photo opportunity with the King so when he gets Nigeria, he can say, ‘I come as an emissary of the Royal Family, and the King denied him that opportunity. Rightly so.

“I think this is a sign that he realises finally that with the Sussexes, he’s on a losing card.

“After all, what they’re really doing is putting Kate and William in a terrible light. There is poor Kate, suffering from her illnesses; they should be in Nigeria probably, they should be doing the work and now the Sussexes have stepped in to embarrass the King and rightly, Buckingham Palace decided, no we’re not going to play their game on this occasion.

“Treachery is a strong word but [Harry] is a disloyal, traitorous man, son and brother and member of the British public. He has behaved appallingly. His book, the Oprah Winfrey film, all his conduct and supporting Meghan in her bid for all this different branding.

“He has really behaved appallingly towards his family and thankfully, the King has finally seen it.

“My view is that the King was encouraged to take this position both by the Queen and by William who were badly maligned in Harry’s book. And they said, ‘enough is enough. We’ve got to cut them off.’

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/anger-17-million-trees-chopped-32774066?int_source=nba

Anger as 17 million trees chopped down in SNP's Scotland to clear way for wind farms

A Scottish Government quango has commissioned the destruction of more than 17 million trees in the last 24 years in order to build wind farms on public land.

David Walker

9 MAY 2024

The Scottish Government has been blasted after it was revealed that more than one million trees have been chopped down on publicly owned land in just a year to make way for wind farms. This mass cutting down of trees came despite the SNP and Scottish Greens claiming environmental credentials.

Communities in rural Scotland have complained about massive turbines blighting their landscapes, with even more planned in areas such as Aberdeenshire and Moray. And now it has been revealed that a SNP quango is getting rid of healthy trees in order to make space for them.

According to new statistics, more than one million trees were chopped down on public land, which is the equivalent to 2,700 per day. Critics described this as "appalling" and warned that the rising number of wind farm developments are causing “irreparable damage” to the countryside.

In a freedom of information request, the Scottish Government estimated that 17.05 million trees had been cut down since 2000 in areas that are currently managed by public agency Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS). This is based on a figure of 8,503 hectares, using an average number of trees per hectare of 2,000.

According to analysis, it means that around 1.3 million more trees have been felled since last year when the figure stood at 15.7 million. There are also currently 24 wind farms in operation on FLS managed land, with three currently in construction, 13 at pre-construction stage and five in planning.

Alexander Burnett, Scottish Tory MSP for Aberdeenshire West, hit out at the government for causing "irreparable damage" to Scotland's "spectacular countryside at a rapid rate of knots." He added: “It’s appalling that in the space of a year, more than £1 million trees have been chopped down without any community consent.

“The sheer size of these developments and the damage which is being caused are making many areas inhabitable for people. Having met residents whose communities have been tarnished and are now dominated by wind farms, I’ve heard first-hand how their lives have been impacted on an industrial scale.

“The Scottish Government cannot continue to knock down trees at this substantial level otherwise, not only will areas of historic importance be jeopardised, but both residents and tourists will abandon these once wonderful places.”

A spokesman for Forestry and Land Scotland said: “Renewable energy generated from windfarms is a key element in Scotland’s response to the Climate Emergency and the shift towards Net Zero and the infrastructure on land that we manage generates enough power for 600,000 homes.

“The trees felled to accommodate this infrastructure were productive conifer that would in any event have been harvested at some stage. All our harvesting activity is subject to the normal approval processes, which includes consultation with stakeholders such as local and affected communities.

“As we have clarified on previous occasions, the quantity of trees felled to make way for renewable energy infrastructure since the year 2000 equates roughly to our annual harvesting programme. Over the same period, FLS has planted around 25 million trees every year - productive conifer and new woodland creation – which amounts to over 500 million trees.”

>>20843810

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/profits-scotlands-renewables-flow-abroad-32740218

Profits from Scotland's renewables flow abroad as SNP fails to claim stake in operating firms

The Scottish Government losing out on profits with no shares in the companies involved in the offshore wind projects

Paula Murray

5 MAY 2024

The Scottish Government is selling the nation’s renewables to foreign companies with most of the cash flowing abroad.

Japan and Italy are in line for millions of pounds from plans for the world’s largest floating wind farm in the Highlands.

But Scotland stands to lose out on profits to foreign interest from the Green Volt site off Aberdeenshire coast.

It will be Europe’s first commercial scale floating wind farms and one of two joint venture between Flotation Energy and Norwegian offshore wind company Vårgønn.

They secured the project under Crown Estate Scotland’s Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round to provide low-carbon electricity to oil and gas platform.

Foreign ownership

Vårgønn is owned by Italian energy firm Eni Plentitude with the nation’s government holding around 30 per cent share and HitecVision, which has offices in Norway, UK and Italy.

And Flotation Energy’s parent company is Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings which is owned by the Government of Japan.

It has been reported the Scottish Government has no stake in any of the companies involved and has failed to create a state-owned energy firm to reap financial benefits.

It is thought the ability to sell electricity from 17 offshore projects from the ScotWind leasing round and retain operating profits could have boosted Holyrood’s coffers by up to £5.5billion a year.

The SNP has repeatedly claimed the UK Government has depleted its fortunes from the oil and gas industry but has failed to guarantee profits from the renewables sector stay in the country.

Ministers continue to over-rely on foreign investment with eye-watering levels of wealth loss.

The Chinese government has an interest in two of Scotland’s offshore wind farms, including the 84-turbine Beatrice off the coast of Caithness.

It has a 25 per cent stake in the operation, which has made total profits of close to £200million over the three years since it was switched on.

The Chinese also has control of Red Rock Power Limited which co-owns the 72-turbine Inch Cape being built off the Angus coast with Irish energy firm ESB.

Despite not being operational yet, it churched out close to £3million profit in 2021.

Other governments with a stake in energy firms operating off Scotland’s coast include the United Arab Emirates, France and Sweden while privately-owned companies in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Japan also have a slice of the profitable renewables cake.

'Renewables given away'

Amanda Burgauer, director of the think tank Common Wheel tracking Scotland’s financial performance, told The Herald on Sunday: “The Scottish Government keep boasting about the strength of our renewable sector, while they keep giving it away.

“When it is owned overseas, Scotland's wealth gets exported to the ultimate shareholders. If we give 30-year licences, we give away 30 years of your wealth in one go. Unless we keep this wealth somewhere in the Scottish economy we just keep undermining ourselves."

The devolved administration insists offshore wind farms will help with the nation’s net zero ambitions creating thousands of jobs and establish the country as a major exporter of renewable energy.

Outgoing First Minister Humza Yousaf hailed the approval of Green Volt as a “significant milestone” placing Scotland at the forefront of floating wind technology.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said INTOG and ScotWind are expected to deliver over £950million in revenues for the public purse from the initial awards, paid or pledged by developers.

He told the newspaper: "We are investing these revenues in our journey to net zero, and the Scottish Budget sets out the multi-million-pound investment in 24/25 to ensure the Scottish workforce, businesses, and communities all benefit from the offshore renewables revolution.

"The type of high-quality investment we are seeing across our burgeoning renewables sector is supporting our domestic supply chains, improving productivity, and providing thousands of well-paid, skilled jobs.”

>>20843773

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-andrew-could-evicted-royal-32753569

Prince Andrew could be evicted from his royal home - but King Charles will not have a say

The King is looking to trim royal budgets and that could mean kicking Prince Andrew out of his home - but only one person in the country has that power and it is not the Monarch

Mark Connor

7 MAY 2024

Prince Andrew may yet be evicted from his royal home - but the decision will NOT lie with King Charles, it has been revealed. So far, the disgraced prince has refused to leave his £30m mansion which leaves the Royal Family with very few options.

The Duke’s residence Royal Lodge has become a battleground amid claims of his refusal to accept the King’s orders that he vacate the 30-bedroom residence, the Mirror reports.

Prince Andrew has been living in the Grade-II listed house in Windsor Great Park for two decades but the property is now supposed to be designated to Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

After he moved following the death of the Queen Mother who was the former resident, the Prince signed a mammoth long lease on the manor which is a part of the Crown Estate where he lives with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

According to the Prince’s close friends, the lease is not up for several decades and unfortunately for King Charles, the powers to evict him are out with his hands and lie with the Chancellor instead.

A friend told The Times: “The lease is in the Duke’s name so no one can take that away from him. It has never been suggested that it could be taken away from him.

“It’s a long lease with 80 to 90 years left on it. This is a lease between him and the Crown Estate. That’s not a matter for the King. It’s a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

“The only way you could get him to move out would be through an arrangement — he would have to agree.”

The King and Prince Andrew’s feud over the Royal Lodge has now been ongoing for some time now after King Charles decided the house had become too costly to maintain amid a crack down on royal budgets. The disgraced Prince has had his annual maintenance loan from £249k slashed this year which has made it increasingly difficult for him to afford the upkeep of his lavish home.

>>20842052

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/embarrassing-snp-minister-fails-answer-32773686

'Embarrassing' SNP minister fails to answer any questions about his brief in 'new low' for Holyrood

Jim Fairlie, the Scottish Government Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, was slated after failing to answer any unscripted questions about his brief in an 'embarrassing' appearance at Holyrood.

David Walker

9 MAY 2024

A member of John Swinney's government has been ruthlessly mocked as an "embarrassment" as he failed to answer repeated questions about one of his briefs at Holyrood. Jim Fairlie, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity was subbing in for Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon on Wednesday during the SNP reshuffle.

But his performance was so awful a point of order was raised about his inability to answer any unscripted questions about the portfolio, instead insisting he would either write to the MSP, or ask Ms Gougeon about it. Critics labelled it a "new low" for the Scottish Parliament.

With all Cabinet Secretaries at Bute House for the "reshuffle" it was left to Mr Fairlie to answer queries about Rural Affairs but he failed to do so. Scottish Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton asked about property rights within the Land Reform Bill but was told that a full answer would be supplied afterwards as he was not involved in this legislation.

This became a pattern to his answers as he told Alexander Burnett he could not defend trees being cut down for wind farms as "this is not my bill or my area. I was not aware of the issue that you have raised, but I will get the cabinet secretary to write to you with the details."

He repeated a similar line five times during the session, including to questions about Scotland selling off land to foreign investors, and about cuts to the forestry scheme. His inability to respond was blasted by the Scottish Tories in the chamber.

Finlay Carson pointed out "the issue is not so much whether the right tree is in the right place, but whether we have the right minister in the right place. He then asked about "what other sources of funding for new woodland creation does the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity expect to become available? Specifically, how many additional hectares does he believe that that funding will deliver in the coming financial year?"

But continuing with his theme, Mr Fairlie revealed that "the honest answer to that is that I do not know." He added: "I am answering questions on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, and I do not have the answer to that question, but we will write to the member with a suitable answer."

An exasperated Ms Hamilton raised a point of order as she said: "We are here for rural questions, but we have had not one answer other than the scripted ones. Could the cabinet secretary not have come to rural question time and then dealt with whatever she had to do following that, given that she has been seen on social media at Bute house?"

Afterwards, a clip of Mr Fairlie's poor performance went viral, and was mocked by Scottish Tory MSPs. Stephen Kerr wrote: "This must be watched. The SNP are laughing at us. This is a new low for the SNP and the Scottish Parliament." Ed Mountain added: "This was a truly dismal performance."

Jamie Halcro Johnston said: "Just embarrassing. Colleagues from across the Chamber asked questions but got no answers. I asked a question I first asked in March and he still said he’d have to get the Cab Sec to write to me… …which is exactly what he promised to do 2 months ago."

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/police-scotland-shell-out-almost-32779438

Police Scotland shell out almost £500k after female officer was sexually assaulted in station

The force’s deputy chief constable said misogyny, sexism and discrimination of any kind was utterly unacceptable and he would meet Gemma MacRae to apologise for her treatment