12/03/2022 – 18/03/2022 And the winner is ……Turkey A row has broken out over the award of the Islay and Jura ferry contract to Turkey. Unsurprisingly, no Scottish yard was in the final bidding process which involved Romania, Poland and Turkey. Scottish government-owned Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow is currently building two ferries, hugely late… Read More »Week 11 12th March – 18th March 2022
05/03/2022 – 11/03/2022 Second Homes The Welsh government is planning to tax second-home owners at four times the current level, a 300% increase on the current second-home premium. Rules to allow second homes as businesses and pay business rates will only apply to properties available for rent at least 252… Read More »Week 10 5th March – 11th March 2022
26/02/2022 – 05/03/2022 Ukraine Crisis: Priti Patel has put her foot in it again, saying Ukrainian refugees can pick fruit here. The UK’s initial response was limited to Ukrainians with immediate family here. Now, adult parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings of those living in the UK can join them, and a new… Read More »Week 9 26th February – 5th March 2022
The recent headlines claiming a Savanta ComRes poll of 2038 people showing a clear majority of Scots backing gender reform proposals need some clarification. Responses to Question 1 showed people do not all understand transgender as meaning the same thing. 51% thought it was gender expression, 22% thought it was hormones plus full gender… Read More »Devil is in the detail of responses to survey on gender reforms
19/02/2022 – 25/02/2022 Visibility Scotland find Glasgow dangerous The new road layout under the Avenues Project has made roads including Sauchiehall Street confusing and dangerous for the visually impaired. Guide dogs detect pavement edges by dips, but the dips designating new cycle lanes are much smaller than the usual kerbs, making it hard to… Read More »Week 8 19th February – 25th February 2022
12/02/2022 – 18/02/2022 Prospectus (or 2) for Independence The Scottish Greens will be joint contributors to the Scottish government’s Prospectus for Independence, but will also prepare their own prospectus. Lorna Slater said the government vision for independence is not the same as theirs, but is unsure if the Green prospectus will be one or… Read More »Week 7 12th February – 18th February 2022
05/02/2022 – 11/02/2022 Legislation: Emergency Powers The Scottish government is considering making some emergency powers permanent. The Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill gives powers in public health to impose lockdown restrictions, allow remote court hearings, close schools and change private sector evictions to disallow some automatic eviction orders. Opposition MSPs call it a ‘power grab’.… Read More »Week 6 – 5th February – 11th February 2022
29/01/2022 – 04/02/2022 Proxy Vote for EU Re-entry? Believe in Scotland wants indyref2 to be a proxy vote on rejoining the EU, claiming independence will not win if EU re-entry is not stipulated. Many including the SNP appear to support a separate EU vote, but Nicola Sturgeon ruled this out last year. This may drive… Read More »Week 5: 29th January – 4th February 2022
IndyRef2 Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme, Nicola Sturgeon said the government would decide “within weeks” when it would introduce legislation for indyref2. Previously the legislation was actually to be tabled within weeks. Now she will do “everything … within my power” to hold indyref2 in 2023. Not exactly watertight, then. The unionist media… Read More »This Week In Scotland – Week 04
Team UK Following an Intergovernmental Relations Review (IGR), and with the apparent agreement of the devolved governments, a new council is being established covering the four constituent parts of the UK to encourage “mutual respect, maintaining the trust and positive working”. With three tiers, Tier 1 is a council chaired by the PM; Tier 2… Read More »This Week In Scotland – Week 03
