/qnotables22/ - ===Q Notables 2022===

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19991100 (281651ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Michael Matheson Scandal Bun / 'Football obsessive' Michael Matheson watched SIX games in one weekend but had 'no idea' Old Firm match was on

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/football-obsessive-michael-matheson-watched-31540442

'Football obsessive' Michael Matheson watched SIX games in one weekend but had 'no idea' Old Firm match was on

The Scottish Government health secretary's claim he had no interest in the Scottish football games watched by his sons on their Moroccan holiday has been torn apart by his own social media activity.

David Walker

27 NOV 2023

Michael Matheson's "desperate" excuses to save his own career have been called into question after he claimed that he was "not interested" in the Scottish football games which his children watched using his data in Morocco. He was labelled a "football obsessive" after an unearthed tweet revealed he once watched six football games in a weekend.

The health secretary has insisted that he had no idea that his two kids had hijacked his parliamentary hotspot to watch the Celtic V Rangers game on January 2, as well as another match on December 28 until they confessed to him on November 9.

This was the reason for him submitting a £11k data roaming bill to the Scottish Parliament which they initially paid out before the scandal was unveiled. He is now paying back this cash after first claiming it was all to do with constituency work.

Huge questions still remain about whether he misled both the media and MSPs with his excuses for the charges, and he told STV News last week he had not been made aware about his children and if he had been he "would have been able to take action."

He added: "The teams that were playing aren’t even the teams that I have any interest in in the first place. From my perspective, I was on holiday, it wasn’t of interest to me.”

Colin Mackay, STV's politics editor also excused his behaviour as he said: "He didn’t even watch the game because he’s a Partick Thistle supporter. He didn’t know his sons had been watching either."

But this claim has been called into question again, following the Sunday Mail's story that Mr Matheson had previously accepted free tickets to watch Celtic games. His social media activity has been scrutinised, and revealed that he is actually a massive football fan.

One unearthed tweet from May 2016 highlighted that he was so obsessed with the sport, that he once watched six football games in one weekend. He said: "About to take in my sixth football game of the weekend. Catching up with the boys post election!"

Guido Fawkes reported that he also liked a post which detailed Celtic's group stage draw in the Champions League, and that one of his two tweets from his festive holiday in Morocco was paying tribute to Pele after his death. The Scottish Tories highlighted that this evidence was proof that "his claims surrounding the Old Firm game take some swallowing."

Glasgow MSP Annie Wells said that the SNP minister's "desperate efforts to justify his outrageous expenses claim have been riddled with lies, cover-ups and the need for us all to suspend our disbelief."

She added: “The health secretary is seriously expecting us to believe that a football obsessive – someone who boasts of watching six matches in one weekend – was oblivious to the fact that the biggest game in Scottish football was taking place, as it does on the same day every year.

“He’s really telling us that the penny never dropped, even when he saw the breakdown of the bill and that more than £7k of the £11k roaming charges total had been racked up on the day of the Old Firm game.

“His sons watched the match using his iPad hotspot, yet he apparently had no idea what they were doing for two hours and under no circumstances was the game mentioned by them later, despite Celtic having scored in the dying moments to secure a 2-2 draw."

She pointed out that he sent only two tweets from Morocco, with one being about Pele's death. She added: "Yet when it comes to Scottish domestic football, this Partick Thistle fan is apparently clueless, bless him.”

The SNP said:“Mr Matheson has been clear that he will co-operate fully with the corporate body’s investigation. It would be inappropriate to give further comment whilst this is ongoing.” ENDS

The Scottish Government just supplied a statement about him attending football games. A spokeswoman said: "Scottish Government ministers are regularly invited to attend sporting fixtures and other events in an official capacity.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19991773 (281830ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Michael Matheson Scandal Bun / Michael Matheson must act with 830,000 Scots on waiting lists and NHS facing £400m deficit

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>>126638

>Michael Matheson 'confident' in his record as Tories threaten no confidence vote

==HIS RECORD

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/michael-matheson-must-act-830000-31546515

Michael Matheson must act with 830,000 Scots on waiting lists and NHS facing £400m deficit

The NHS Scotland crisis has been laid out in yet more waiting time figures giving a fresh insight into spending that has come with warnings for Humza Yousaf to 'sort the backlog which the SNP have lost control of' and avoid service cuts

Jessica North

28 NOV 2023

Scotland's NHS has fallen into an almost £400 million deficit in just six months as SNP ministers contend with around 830,000 Scots waiting for treatment on the NHS.

Dealing with the health service deficit must take priority before it leads to service cuts, warns the Scottish Liberal Democrats who responded to a letter from the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland revealing that health boards are facing a forecast deficit of £395 million.

Lib Dem leader Alex Cole- Hamilton said the "crisis risks spiralling out of all control" as the latest round of NHS stats are published. They reveal that cancer treatment shows an increase in more fatal late-stage diagnoses of breast cancer, over 40,000 patients are still waiting over a year for an outpatient procedure and 18,000 patients are still waiting longer than 18 months to be seen.

"These figures are utterly disgraceful. The discredited and distracted SNP health secretary Michael Matheson is presiding over a scarcely believable backlog in Scotland’s NHS," said Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, said.

In a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee, NHS Scotland chief executive Caroline Lamb said: "The consolidated position for all NHS Boards at month six of 2023-24 is a forecast deficit of £395 million".

She went on to say that she had: "made clear my expectations of all NHS Boards, the scale of the deficit must reduce and I expect the three per cent recurring savings target to be worked towards both in 2023-24 and 2024-25 "

Public Health Scotland data from 30 September 2023 revealed that 525,654 patients were waiting for an outpatient procedure, 151,093 were waiting for an inpatient procedure, and 151,651 were waiting for a diagnostic procedure. In total, this means 828,398 patients were waiting for an NHS procedure, up 8,046 on the previous quarter.

The Scottish Government said: “We are working closely with all Boards to deliver essential reform and sustainable services fit for the future."

Dr Gulhane said: “The failures of Humza Yousaf’s flimsy NHS Recovery Plan to remobilise frontline services following the pandemic mean more and more Scots are suffering longer – and potentially deadly – delays as we head into another period of winter chaos in the health service.

“Despite the best efforts of my dedicated colleagues on the frontline, the SNP’s failures to give them the resources they need are having a devastating effect on them and suffering patients. The SNP should hang their heads in shame over their lack of action to eradicate the longest waits for patients. No patient should have to wait over three years for treatment, yet on the SNP’s watch, almost 1,500 patients have had to just that.

“While Michael Matheson continues to have his eye off the ball, more and more patients will pay the price. He must get a grip of this crisis immediately and sort the backlog which the SNP have lost control of.”

Mr Cole-Hamilton said of the deficit: “This is as clear a warning as there could be that hospitals and health boards are overstretched. People will be worried that this dire outlook will mean cuts to services and even longer waits.

“We need to fix the mess that the NHS has been left in by the SNP because the crisis risks spiralling out of all control.

“Humza Yousaf was health secretary for years as these problems stacked up. He needs to take a share of the blame and order his ministers to get to work repairing the health service before patients and staff pay an even greater price."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19991789 (281832ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Michael Matheson Scandal Bun / Michael Matheson must act with 830,000 Scots on waiting lists and NHS facing £400m deficit

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>>126639

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Cancer stats

A new report on cancer treatment shows an increase in late-stage diagnoses of breast cancer – making treatment more difficult and survival less likely. The same report showed that the number of lung cancer cases being identified has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels, sparking fresh fears that people are going undiagnosed.

Scottish Labour has said that this is the result of the SNP’s failure to deliver a real cancer catch-up plan in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Commenting, Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said “The pandemic created a ticking time bomb of cancer cases, but the SNP has failed to act – and now we are seeing the consequences. Women’s lives are being put at risk because of late breast cancer diagnosis, while lung cancer cases aren’t being caught at all.

“The SNP has ignored warning after warning about the looming cancer crisis and it has put lives at risk.

“We urgently need a real plan to catch up on cancer care and a lung cancer screening programme, but our Health Secretary has his eye off the ball.

“Swift diagnosis and treatment can make the difference between life and death, which is why Scottish Labour has long called for a real cancer catch-up plan to get services back on track.”

The Scottish Government said: “We are determined to ensure people receive the treatment they need as soon as possible. The First Minister has announced new annual funding of £100 million to help reduce inpatient and day-case waiting lists by an estimated 100,000 patients over the next three years.

“We are working with NHS Boards to reduce long waits, which have been exacerbated by the impacts of the global pandemic. This includes targets to address long waits and delivery of the commitments in our £1 billion NHS Recovery Plan to support an increase in inpatient, day-case, and outpatient activity. We know there are unacceptable waits in some specialities but we are committed to delivering year-on-year reductions.

“Two National Treatment Centres opened this year in Fife and Highland, with two further centres opening soon in Forth Valley and the Golden Jubilee, providing additional protected capacity for patients across Scotland.”

On the deficit they said: “We continue to prioritise investment in frontline services, supporting immediate pressures alongside the essential longer-term reform required to deliver sustainable services, and provided an increase of £730m (6%) for NHS Boards in 2023-24.

“Despite record investment, there remains significant financial challenge across health and social care. Inflation, rising energy costs and the ongoing impacts of Covid and Brexit, along with rising demand, mean that the finite funding available is required to deliver more.

“We are working closely with all Boards to deliver essential reform and sustainable services fit for the future. We continue to engage with Boards to support the best use of resources whilst ensuring that Covid recovery and patient safety remain the priority.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19991990 (281908ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / SNP Government questioned over 'targeting' of women for egg retrieval

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-government-questioned-over-targeting-31541092

SNP Government questioned over 'targeting' of women for egg retrieval

'Women’s bodies are not commodities; the infertility of others is not women’s problem to solve' say campaigners who are backing the Scottish Conservatives asking questions of the SNP Government

Jessica North

27 NOV 2023

A questions MSP is seeking answers to a number of Dr Sandesh Gulhanesurrounding Scottish Conservative funding and research related to a Sperm and Egg Donation Campaign.

SNP is seeking information on any impact assessments carried out prior to the launch of the campaign after a number of women "expressed their dismay at being targeted" by the adverts.

This is according to Surrogacy Concern, a group that aims to highlight the health risks for women embarking on egg donation as well as the rights of women in the surrogacy system. They say the women Government should be "held accountable" after they discovered that the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are targeting women as young as 18 via adverts on social media for egg harvesting.

The launch of the campaign said it "will run across national radio channels and digital advertising for 4 weeks" and will be aimed at 18 – 35 year old women for egg donation, and 18 – 45 year old men for sperm donation.

Unlike men and sperm donation, the process for women in considered far more invasive. The harms of egg donation include risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), a condition which has in some cases proven fatal and according to one NHS site happens in 0.1-15% of cases. Additionally, damage to the bladder, bowel and vagina, pain, nausea, breathlessness and fainting are all known risks.

Campaigners also said it "is not made clear in the advertisements that if a woman donates her eggs, then an embryo successfully implanted in to another woman using the donated egg will lead to the birth of the donors’ own genetic child."

This ties into a national conversation around the rights of surrogate mothers- the women who carry babies for those who are unable or unwilling to carry their own fetus. Its also grabbed global attention following a number of celebrities using surrogate mothers and countries like Italy issuing an all out ban on the transaction.

The advert that was launched in October said: "More than 200 people in Scotland currently need an egg or sperm donor. We need you to help those with lots of love to give."

Other slogans include:" Every egg or sperm donation has the power to give the gift of becoming a parent to those who need help to conceive" and "More than 200 people in Scotland need an egg or sperm donor. Become an egg or sperm donor and give them the chance to become parents."

Dr Sandesh asked about cost and what consideration was given to any potential risk that women who have had a negative experience of egg donation or fertility treatment may be affected by the campaign adverts.

Another question scrutinised any consideration of the social and economic backgrounds and potential vulnerability of the women who donate their eggs. The Tory MSP is also asking why the Scottish Government launched an advertising campaign appealing for sperm and egg donations.

"...we urge Government to drop this campaign, and not repeat it”

Helen Gibson, Founder of Surrogacy Concern, has been campaigning against the adverts and told the Scottish Express: “We are delighted to see Government being held accountable via these questions, and are grateful to Dr Gulhane for tabling them.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19992073 (281928ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Michael Matheson Scandal Bun / Assurance sought that Michael Matheson won't be able to edit final report into his £11k data roaming claim

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>>126637

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/assurance-sought-michael-matheson-wont-31538402

Assurance sought that Michael Matheson won't be able to edit final report into his £11k data roaming claim

The Scottish Government's health secretary is facing a sleaze probe at Holyrood over his allegedly dodgy expenses claim and parliament officials have been urged to deal with the scandal urgently.

David Walker

27 NOV 2023

The Scottish Parliament has been urged to provide a timetable for when its report into Michael Matheson will be published, and to allow time for a debate on it. And Holyrood officials have also been told to come clean about whether the health secretary will be given advance sight of it, and be able to suggest edits.

We previously told how the SNP minister's £11k data roaming bill will be the subject of a sleaze probe into the potentially dodgy expenses claim. He is facing a full investigation under the MSP Code of Conduct.

If officials found that he broke the rules, he could be referred to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, where sanctions include suspension from parliament. If he is punished in this way, it would pile huge pressure on Humza Yousaf to sack him.

Mr Matheson initially claimed the huge bill, which was racked up on a festive holiday to Morocco, was solely due to parliamentary work. But he later tearfully admitted his kids had used the iPad without his knowledge to watch Scottish football.

However, he told journalists days after he allegedly found out about this that the charges were still due to constituency work and not personal use. It has led to him being accused of misleading the media and also his fellow MSPs.

The Scottish Tories have written to Holyrood's Presiding Officer to demand that they set a deadline for when its investigation into Mr Matheson will be complete so that "we finally get the answers the health secretary and First Minister won’t provide”.

Chairman Craig Hoy is also seeking clarity on when the report will be published and whether the health secretary will be allowed to see a draft version and be able to suggest edits before it is made public. In addition, he wants a parliamentary debate about the scandal, and also all the correspondence between the parliament and the SNP minister to be published.

He did say he was "pleased" that the "parliament is taking this matter seriously" but that "it must conduct the investigation as a matter of urgency, so I’m seeking confirmation on when we can expect it to report its findings."

Mr Hoy added: "I’ve written to the Presiding Officer requesting this and – because this scandal is about the integrity of the health secretary and First Minister – a guarantee that time will be made for a parliamentary debate on the report. The public need to have confidence in this process, so we also need to know whether or not Mr Matheson will see a draft version of the report prior to publication – and if he will be allowed to suggest edits to the final version.

“I’m also seeking a guarantee that the parliament publish all its correspondence with Michael Matheson over his outrageous expense claim – because it’s clear that he won’t."

He pointed out that both the SNP and the health secretary are "trying to kick the can down the road in the hope that this scandal will blow over, but that can’t be allowed to happen."

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: "The SPCB’s investigation will proceed quickly and with due regard to the need for a fair process and the requirements of the Code of Conduct set by Parliament. Due process requires that Mr Mathieson will be invited to contribute evidence in writing following the personal statement he made to Parliament on 16 November.

“The SPCB has already made clear that in the interest of fairness to all, and to avoid prejudicing the investigation, it will not comment on any further matters that could have a bearing on this process or provide a running commentary. The Corporate Body remains wholly committed to openness and transparency and will release all material it can, when it can, in line with its legal obligations.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19992264 (282008ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Petition to demand Humza Yousaf and SNP politicians pay own Cop28 costs hits 1,000 signatures

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/petition-demand-humza-yousaf-snp-31549872

Petition to demand Humza Yousaf and SNP politicians pay own Cop28 costs hits 1,000 signatures

The First Minister is set to jet out to Dubai on Wednesday to attend the climate change conference, with his net zero secretary Mairi McAllan joining him later on this week.

David Walker

28 NOV 2023

A petition has been launched to urge Humza Yousaf and his fellow SNP politicians who are flying out to Cop28 on the public purse to pay their own expenses. The First Minister is jetting to Dubai on Wednesday, and will spend five days in the Middle East.

His net zero secretary Mairi McAllan is also heading out to the climate change conference on separate dates to her boss, meaning more Co2 will be catapulted into the atmosphere than if they had went together. She is also returning on a different day as well.

And nationalist Glasgow City Council chief Susan Aitken will be flying out to Dubai despite it being unusual for a councillor to head out, unless its to hand over the baton to the next host city. Glasgow held Cop26, with the SNP chief heading out to Egypt for Cop27.

A petition has been launched to demand that they, along with civil servants who will be accompanying them, pay out of their own pocket for the junket. Last year, Nicola Sturgeon and her entourage built up a huge £148,000 taxpayer-funded bill as she took full advantage of the Egyptian hosting.

She led a team of more than 20 Scottish Government officials to the African country for the summit, with this cash being splashed out on an events space, food, flights and 25 hotel rooms at the official accommodation. It is not known how many staff are heading out with Mr Yousaf.

The petition on Change.Org has proved quite popular since launching on Sunday with 1,262 signing it at the time of writing in just two days. It was started by Kirsty Hutcheson who hit out at the fact that it is the public who are paying for their jolly.

She wrote: "Humza Yousaf, Mairi McAllan, Susan Aitken and all MPs and SNP councillors attending COP28 must pay all their own expenses including flights, hotel accommodation, meals, drinks and all sundries and everything else relating to this trip from their own pocket.

"This money should not be taken from public purse in Scotland as this is tantamount to theft and there is absolutely nothing within your remit in Holyrood requiring you to go there. All foreign affairs are reserved to Westminster who represent Scotland at these events.

"This trip benefits not one person in Scotland and is outwith your powers. Every person attending is neglecting their brief while in attendance at this event and at a time when so many budgets have been severely cut leaving those sectors at crisis point.

"We the undersigned Scottish people object very strongly to this abuse of public finances and we expect accountability and transparency in seeing all the details of these COP28 expenses - to see that they have all been paid in full by each attendee from their own finances."

According to Patrick Harvie, Mr Yousaf and Ms McAllan will be heading out to Dubai to learn from other countries about how best to deal with climate change, and also to boast about what the Scottish Government are doing about it.

You can sign the petition here.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19999155 (292231ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Covid Bun / Nicola Sturgeon's flagship £1.6m Covid FACTS campaign had 'no strong evidence' to back it up except to be different from UK

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeons-flagship-16m-covid-31556349

Nicola Sturgeon's flagship £1.6m Covid FACTS campaign had 'no strong evidence' to back it up except to be different from UK

UK Government minister Michael Gove also told the UK Covid Inquiry that they failed to communicate with the SNP Executive occasionally due to fears they would use the private information to create grievances.

David Walker

29 NOV 2023

Nicola Sturgeon's flagship FACTS Covid campaign was criticised by the UK Government for having "no strong evidence" to back it up, fuelling speculation that it was just done to be different to England. During the pandemic, the UK adopted the Hands Face Space slogan to keep people safe and hygienic.

North of the border this was replaced by the acronym FACTS, with £1.6m of taxpayers money being spent on promoting this. However, it was labelled a flop after polling found that just two per cent knew what each initial stood for, a year and a half after it launched.

The acronym stood for face coverings, avoid crowds, clean hands, keep two metres distanced from others and self-isolate if you have symptoms. In evidence to the Covid Inquiry, Michael Gove highlighted that the campaign had caused a minor argument among the governments.

He was asked about difficulties in pushing forward public communications and health messages during the pandemic and said that he remembered about FACTS, and how the Scottish Government "were anxious to ensure that their approach, using that acronym, took precedence over our Hands Face Space communication, and there was some disagreement over that."

Mr Gove added: "Given the UK-wide nature of the BBC and our principal broadcasters and so on, I was of the view, others in government much more strongly, that it was right to use Hands Face Space and that the evidence for the Scottish Government's different approach was not strong.

"However, the First Minister of Scotland argued that she commanded a level of confidence in her handling of the pandemic within Scotland that meant it was appropriate for her to use that particular form of communication. I think both views had legitimacy."

His evidence also revealed concerns that the SNP Executive were not informed of some decisions in advance due to fears they would leak it to cause a grievance with Westminster. He admitted that they did not "communicate everything" to Scottish minister due to these fears.

One of these big changes was in May 2020 when Boris Johnson replaced the "Stay Home" demand to "Stay Alert" with this announced in a newspaper. Devolved governments criticised this and stuck with the original slogan.

Mr Gove, who was chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster during the pandemic, confirmed that he "did not believe" the Scottish government were informed about the change in advance but that this was not "detrimental" to the handling of it.

Hugo Keith KC, counsel to the Inquiry, then asked why "perhaps one of the most important changes in public messaging” had not been shared with the SNP Executive. Mr Gove responded: "We communicated a great deal, we didn’t communicate everything to the Scottish Government.

“And I want to be fair – the first thing is there will, I am sure, have been failures in what we communicated to the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations at times.

"But it is also the case that the Scottish Government – and I admire the way in which Nicola Sturgeon handled Covid generally – but the Scottish Government is led by a political party that has a desire to generate a particular point, causes for grievance or objection to the UK Government’s constitutional position and policy position.

“So it will be the case that there will be a temptation for some in the Scottish Government and in the Scottish National Party to exaggerate the impact of a mistake or an error in order to feed a broader political mission.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19999527 (292338ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Stephen Flynn doesn't 'speak for Scotland' as SNP MP is mocked for cringe Westminster bashing video

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/stephen-flynn-doesnt-speak-scotland-31557699

Stephen Flynn doesn't 'speak for Scotland' as SNP MP is mocked for cringe Westminster bashing video

The SNP's Westminster leader claimed that Scotland wanted more migration but was criticised for acting like he spoke for the whole country.

David Walker

29 NOV 2023

The SNP's Westminster leader has been mocked for uploading a cringe video on social media where he bashes Westminster. Stephen Flynn was told by Scots that he "does not speak for Scotland" as he insisted that the country wants more migration.

And his dress sense was also roasted as he wore a gilet underneath a suit jacket while ranting outside the House of Commons. In the footage, the Aberdeen South MP manages to link the cost-of-living crisis with the UK Government's campaign against small boats.

But it was his use of the word Scotland, and claiming that he is speaking for the country that drew the most ire from commenters. Fellow Scottish MP David Duguid highlighted that he should not be claiming that he is talking on behalf of his country.

Mr Flynn said in the video: "This place is at it again, at a time when households across Scotland are being hammered by the cost of living crisis, this place is arguing that there's too many people coming to live and work in the UK, it's absurd.

"Scotland has been enriched, so many of our communities have been enriched by people coming to our shores. Our public sector, they need migration. Our schools, our hospitals, our social care settings, our world class universities, also our private sector.

"Economic growth is driven by the ability to recruit from overseas, and to recruit well. The values of this place, they aren't Scotland's values."

His video has been watched more than 400,000 times but has garnered a very mixed reaction, with many Scots pointing out that he nor the SNP talk for them. Banff and Buchan Tory MP Mr Duguid said: "Stephen Flynn was elected to represent the people of #Aberdeen South.

"He also speaks for the group of SNP MPs he leads at Westminster who individually were also elected to represent their respective constituents - all of them, not just those who voted SNP.

"Neither Mr Flynn, nor the SNP speak for ALL of Scotland - not even a majority of Scots, according to vote share. As MP for #BanffAndBuchan I don't claim to speak for Scotland either. Among everything else we hear from SNP MPs, THE most frustrating by far is when they behave as if they do."

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy added: "Let's remember that the SNP doesn't speak for Scotland. Scotland's priorities aren't their priorities." And journalist Kevin Schofield pointed out that "the weird thing is, this was recorded in one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world."

Dr David Jeffery, a professor of politics, wrote: "The only thing more tedious than 'Scots are different to rUK' is 'Scouse not English' - and both aren't really true." Economist Tony Yates pointed out a big Scexit fallacy in Mr Flynn's comments.

He said: "Great sentiments about migration, which I share, but it's ridiculous to appeal to 'values' when you can't face up to the economic cost of independence, which would dwarf those of Brexit."

Not all Scots actually back increased migration at all, with it still being a contentious topic. The SNP failed to admit how many migrants they want to come to an independent Scotland in their latest prospectus due to the controversy surround it.

On Mr Flynn's choice of outfit, it also raised some eyebrows. One person wrote: "Mate, I’ll be honest why are you wearing a body warmer under a suit jacket?" Another social media user added: "Anyone who wears a blazer over a puffer jacket doesn’t share my values. And I’m Scottish since the tenth century."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19999689 (300007ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Two SNP politicians had a seedy extramarital affair that broke Scotland's Covid lockdown rules

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/two-snp-politicians-seedy-extramarital-31546577

Two SNP politicians had a seedy extramarital affair that broke Scotland's Covid lockdown rules

EXCLUSIVE: One aggrieved partner discovered incriminating messages on a mobile phone but all concerned are under pressure to keep quiet, amid fears the story would generate further negative headlines for the Nats

By Express Reporters

29 NOV 2023

Two SNP politicians had an extramarital affair that was discovered by a furious jilted partner. The relationship is said to have continued during the Covid pandemic in breach of lockdown restrictions.

The Scottish Daily Express is aware of the identity of all those involved but is not naming them – at this stage – for legal reasons. One of the people who was cheated on has been spoken to by various media outlets, although there is said to be considerable pressure on them not to go public about the affair.

The individual concerned is believed to have discovered the illicit relationship between his partner and another married SNP politician after finding incriminating and highly personal messages on a mobile phone.

A source close to the story said: "There were a lot of rumours about the affair and the politician's other half was well aware of them, but they didn't want to do anything without evidence. It all came to a head when they found these texts."

Details about the affair are being widely discussed within the SNP and insiders say that if they were to become public it would generate further negative headlines for the party following a difficult year.

So far in 2023 the Nats have already seen their commanding lead in the polls wiped out by Labour, been hammered in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, seen a number of politicians quit or defect to rival parties as part of a simmering civil war and been forced to U-turn on a string of Holyrood policies.

Most notably, of course, there has also been the ongoing police investigation into allegations of large-scale fraud within the party finances.

The extramarital relationship between the pair would also be a matter of public interest due to the fact that it appears to have been conducted in breach of Scotland's lockdown rules. For much of the first and second lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, it was illegal to mix with anyone from outside your own household.

South of the border, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock was forced to resign in June 2021 after it emerged that he had been having an affair with Gina Coladangelo, an old friend from Oxford University who was working as an adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care.

At the time, the SNP said Mr Hancock may have broken the ministerial code by appointing Ms Coladangelo to a Whitehall role and called for an inquiry. Nat MP Kirsten Oswald said: "While aspects of this may be private, public appointments, use of taxpayers' money and conflicts of interest warrant proper scrutiny."

Her Westminster colleague Tommy Sheppard added: "Private matters are just that but public appointments are another matter entirely - and they warrant proper scrutiny and full transparency."

The Scottish Express understands that similar issues around conflicts of interest and "cronyism" are raised by the extramarital affair between the two SNP politicians.

Since the affair began, both parties have seen major advances in their careers in the SNP and they now occupy prominent positions in Scottish public life.

It would not be the first sex scandal to hit the SNP in recent years. A ‘love triangle’ involving MPs Stewart Hosie and Angus MacNeil hit the headlines in 2016 after both men had affairs with Westminster journalist Serena Cowdy. Both MPs split from their wives as a result, while Mr Hosie and Ms Cowdy are now happily married.

The SNP declined to comment.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19999807 (300027ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Operation Branchform Bun / Operation Branchform: No communication between top Scots cops and the SNP for five months as probe heated up

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/operation-branchform-no-communication-between-31550256

Operation Branchform: No communication between top Scots cops and the SNP for five months as probe heated up

Exclusive: There is no recorded communication between the SNP and Sir Iain Livingstone or Fiona Taylor between May and October, right when Nicola Sturgeon was arrested by cops.

David Walker

29 NOV 2023

Scotland's two top cops and the SNP did not communicate officially in the five months where the probe into the party's finances heated up. Between May and October, Operation Branchform continued in its most dramatic fashion as former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested in June.

She was taken into custody for questioning by detectives who are investigating whether there was any criminality involving the nationalists in regards to an allegedly missing ring-fenced £660k of indyref2 cash. This is still a live police investigation.

Just two months before the shock arrest of the former SNP leader, her husband Peter Murrell was also grilled by cops at a police station, and the marital home the pair share was raided, as was the party's HQ in Edinburgh. Ex-treasurer Colin Beattie was then arrested a few weeks later in April, with all three released without charge.

Now, the Scottish Daily Express can reveal that there was no recorded correspondence between then-chief constable of Police Scotland Sir Iain Livingstone, or his deputy Fiona Taylor who took on his responsibilities temporarily when he stepped down between August and October 9.

She is also following him out of the door at the service as she is due to retire at the start of the next year. New chief constable Jo Farrell started last month and has already caused controversy after getting an officer to give her a ride home to England in a marked car during Storm Babet.

We asked for "all correspondence between Sir Iain Livingston and/or Fiona Taylor and the SNP regarding Operation Branchform sent between May 1 2023 and the date of this FOI, which was the start of October.

But in response, the police wrote back: "In terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, this letter represents a notice that the information requested is not held by Police Scotland. By way of explanation no recorded information is held."

In his last interviews as chief constable, Sir Livingstone admitted that the investigation into the SNP's finances, which has gripped the political world, was "difficult" for him due to his close working relationship with Ms Sturgeon. He added that "The sooner this investigation is concluded, the better for everyone involved."

He also rejected any claims that the probe was being motivated by a political perspective, with critics on both sides of the nationalist divide making claims of biasness. He said: "I would fiercely reject any sense that I as an individual am motivated through any political perspective, I am not. Not for a second. My priorities are the rule of law and public safety."

Leading law experts have pondered why the investigation has taken so long, with it being 30 months since the initial complaint was made to Police Scotland. Kevin Drummond KC and Douglas Cusine, both former sheriffs, said there were questions for the Crown Office over the “protracted period of time” taken by the probe.

But Police Scotland have already refused to put any sort of timescale over when the probe will be finished as it is "complex" work.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/19999907 (300045ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Michael Matheson Scandal Bun / Pressure piles on Michael Matheson as majority of Scots demand he quits - and even Nat voters have turned against him

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Pressure piles on Michael Matheson as majority of Scots demand he quits - and even Nat voters have turned against him

The SNP's health secretary is under growing pressure as 60 per cent of Scots turn against him, leaving it to Humza Yousaf to make a big call.

David Walker

29 NOV 2023

Embattled Michael Matheson's position in the Scottish Government is hanging by a thread after a bombshell poll revealed that the majority of Scots want him to resign. And even SNP voters are fed up with the minister, with 52 per cent of them calling on him to go.

New polling from Ipsos for STV News found that 61 per cent of people believe he should step down leading to refreshed calls for Humza Yousaf's good friend to fall on his sword. The First Minister has refused to sack his ally, and tried to shut down the scandal.

But it does not look like it will abate, with even over half of SNP voters from 2021 wanting his scalp, compared to just 44 per cent who said he should continue on. The pollster interviewed 1,004 adults between November 20 and 26.

Only 31 per cent of Scots believe that Mr Matheson should keep his role. It means that Mr Yousaf could become even unpopular with the Scottish public if he refuses to act.

The health secretary is facing a sleaze probe after racking up a huge £11k data roaming bill while on holiday in Morocco and attempting to make the public pay for it. He has changed his excuse numerous times, finally claiming it was his children who did it without his knowledge by watching Scottish football games.

But he has been accused of misleading both the media and MSPs as he claimed that there was no personal use, days after his kids allegedly told him it was their fault. He has so far rebuffed calls for him to resign and the First Minister has refused to sack him.

Opposition critics pointed to this new polling as a sign that he needs to go as it is distracting from his work trying to salvage the NHS. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross highlighted that the Scottish public "can see right through" his "tissue of lies and cover-ups."

He said: “By a huge majority they recognise the health secretary’s position is untenable and that he has to go. It beggars belief that Humza Yousaf and Michael Matheson refuse to recognise this, when even a majority of SNP supporters do.

“This poll demonstrates how arrogant and out of touch the First Minister was to not just stand by a totally discredited minister but aid and abet his efforts to mislead the public. He must finally do the right thing and sack Michael Matheson.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie added: "The verdict of the Scottish Public is clear - they want a Health Minister that is focused on our NHS not one focused on saving his job.

"Michael Matheson has misled the public and taken the focus away from the ongoing and deadly crisis in our NHS. It is time for Michael Matheson to step aside."

The SNP minister made a rare public appearance since the scandal on Wednesday launching the NHS winter plan. But the questioning was mostly about his career and his future in government.

He refused to be drawn in about why he misled the public and said: "Look, I recognise some of the public concern around this matter and as I set out in parliament, as soon as I became aware that there had been use of my iPad for personal purposes, I took immediate action to ensure that parliament was fully reimbursed for that.”

And to distract from the situation, he insisted he was "focused on doing my job" and that "the First Minister has been very clear about me making sure that I continue to drive forward the NHS to support its recovery."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20000034 (300058ZNOV23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Are Ipsos Mori polls biased towards the Nats? We crunch the numbers after new survey puts 'Yes' ahead

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/ipsos-mori-polls-biased-towards-31556412

Are Ipsos Mori polls biased towards the Nats? We crunch the numbers after new survey puts 'Yes' ahead

A new survey suggests the SNP has a healthy lead in the polls and more Scots want to leave the UK than stay in it - but is everything all that it seems...

Douglas Dickie

29 NOV 2023

A new poll as SNP types in something of a tizz. After months of misery, they have grasped onto a new Ipsos Mori poll that shows support for leaving the UK at 54 per cent, once 'don't knows' are removed.

It also suggests the SNP's collapse at the next general election may not be as dramatic as many hope. According to Ipsos, the Nats currently sit on 40 per cent in voting intention compared with Labour on 30 per cent.

It comes with other polls suggesting there is nothing between the two parties in Scotland with some studies actually suggesting Sir Keir Starmer's party could win more seats than the Nats. Ipsos has proved a controversial pollster among social media Unionists, with many feeling its methodology is skewed in favour of nationalism.

But does the evidence back that up? Wednesday's poll is only the seventh this year to give breaking up the UK a lead. In comparison, 39 polls show a preference for the Union.

Of those seven, four were carried out by Find Out Now and one was by Opinium. The other two were carried out by Ipsos Mori and, in fact, that is the only two Scottish independence polls the company has run in 2023. Four of the previous five Ipsos polls before that all showed a 'Yes' lead with one in May 2022 showing a slender Union lead of one per cent.

Before that, the last Ipsos poll that showed a lead for the Union was in March 2018 when it had support for the UK at 50 per cent and support for Scexit at 46 per cent.

If you remove Find Out Now, which almost always shows Yes leads, Ipsos is the only pollster since March 2021 to show support for leaving the UK higher than 50 per cent before don't knows are removed.

So it is fair to conclude that Yes tends to perform well in Ipsos studies compared to other pollsters. Of course, Unionists must guard against complacency and any poll that puts division ahead is a reminder that the SNP remains a huge threat.

Yes also experienced a similar boost at this time last year when Rishi Sunak became PM but the polls continue to show a majority for remaining in the union. In terms of the general election, the only polls that matter is when people actually go out to vote and given the by-elections we've seen this year, it is fair to say Scots remain unimpressed by Humza Yousaf.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20009235 (011717ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun / Capital gains: Edinburgh LEZ signs erected after legal challenge in Glasgow fails

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>>126581

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/capital-gains-edinburgh-lez-signs-31559492

Capital gains: Edinburgh LEZ signs erected after legal challenge in Glasgow fails

The Labour-run local authority is set to spend £56m replacing older vehicles – while residents in the Scottish capital now have just over six months to replace their own cars or face £60 fines

Ben Borland

29 NOV 2023

Road signs marking out the boundary of Edinburgh's Low Emission Zone are being installed ahead of its launch next year. It comes as the city council prepares to spend £56million replacing hundreds of its vehicles to meet new environmental rules.

From June 1, 2024, older petrol and diesel cars will be banned from the 1.2 square mile LEZ in the heart of the Scottish capital. A similar LEZ in Glasgow was enforced from June this year, with the city council raking in £478,560 in fines in the first four months.

A legal challenge against the LEZ was rejected by the Court of Session in Edinburgh last month, with judges telling Glasgow garage owner William Paton the scheme was lawful and appropriate. His lawyer told the court that data showed most air quality targets in the city centre had already been met.

The ruling gives the green light to LEZ schemes in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, with Edinburgh's transport and environment convener Scott Arthur describing the signs as "a reminder that the changes will soon come into force"

The LEZ was introduced at the end of May 2022 and the council claims that has given motorists a "two-year grace period". Mr Arthur added: "We wanted to give people plenty of time to prepare for the LEZ. However, with six months to go there's still time, and I'd urge anyone who's eligible to apply for the support finds on offer."

The Edinburgh LEZ, which stretches from Queen Street to Melville Drive and from Palmerston Place to Abbeyhill, is said to be backed by a majority of motorists, according to market research commissioned by the council.

Cllr Arthur added: "Essentially, reducing the most polluting vehicles from the city will benefit everyone. Air pollution harms both our physical and mental health, so the LEZ we will help create a healthier place for everyone, reducing inequalities and making the city centre a more welcoming place."

More than 280 council-owned vehicles are among the thousands that will need to be replaced by June 2024 in order to avoid fines. They include bin lorries, road sweepers and civic cars and the bill is expected to be £56m, including £51m from the city's reserves.

The Labour-run council said vehicles that cannot be directly replaced, such as HGVs, will have their engines swapped for LEZ-compliant versions. It hopes more than a quarter of its fleet would be "electrified" after the switch.

The LEZ will ban the most-polluting vehicles from driving into the city centre, with rule-breakers fined £60. It will commonly apply to diesel vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before January 2006. Motorcycles and mopeds are exempt. For full details on LEZ penalties and emissions standards you can visit the council website.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20009551 (011809ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Michael Russell suddenly steps down as SNP president weeks after being re-elected

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Michael Russell suddenly steps down as SNP president weeks after being re-elected

The nationalist grandee confirmed that he was quitting as president of the party as he is taking on a new role with the Scottish Land Commission.

David Walker

1 DEC 2023

SNP grandee Michael Russell has announced his shock resignation as president of the party, just weeks after he was re-elected to the role. The former Scottish Government minister claimed that he was taking on a new job in land reform meaning he can't commit his time to his role within the nationalists.

At the SNP's October conference he fought off a coup attempt as Graeme McCormick, who compared the party's independence plans to flatulence in a trance, attempted to unseat him but was thrashed quite soundly. But now the role will be vacant once again.

Pro-indy newspaper the National reported that he has sent his resignation letter to Humza Yousaf, explaining that he is in the process of taking on a new job in land reform with the Scottish Government. He spoke about an "unprecedented year for the SNP".

He wrote: "As a result as president of the party I have been called upon to undertake a whole range of unexpected tasks - which I was glad to do - and I hope my contribution over the last nine months has helped to steady the ship. I am glad to see you now firmly in the vanguard of a whole new SNP generation which has taken over the key positions of responsibility in Government, Parliament, council chambers and the party.”

Mr Russell is expected to become the new chairman of the Scottish Land Commission and will need to dedicate his time to this job instead. He also added that February will mark 50 years since the first time he voted SNP and May will mark 50 years of membership

He said: "Given that, and the fact that I am now 70, I had thought to step away from my party responsibilities at some stage over the next year but the timescale for fulfilling that intention has now been accelerated by circumstances.

“Weighing on my mind was the fact that this might well be the last opportunity I had to make a significant contribution to both the issue and (although land reform is an urban as well as rural issue and is needed Scotland wide) especially to the communities in the Highlands and Islands with whom I have worked, and where I have lived, for many years."

Mr Russell has been known to write madcap columns for the National as well, including accusing the Scottish Tories of destroying democracy because they were holding Michael Matheson to account for him falsely claimed £11k data roaming bill.

He served as an MSP from 2011 to 2021 and held numerous cabinet positions, including education and the constitution. The SNP’s former Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “I have had the privilege of working with @Feorlean over many decades in @theSNP.

“He is a man of diverse talents and I am sorry he is stepping back from being party president although I am happy for Michael that he will be using his considerable talents on land reform. Good luck my friend.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20010208 (012030ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Globe-trotting Nicola Sturgeon flew four and a half times around the world as First Minister despite climate boasts

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Globe-trotting Nicola Sturgeon flew four and a half times around the world as First Minister despite climate boasts

The former SNP leader enjoyed the usage of planes at taxpayers' expense when she was in Bute House, taking 153 planes during her time as First Minister.

David Walker

1 DEC 2023

Globe-trotting Nicola Sturgeon flew around the world four and a half times as First Minister, leaving her climate change boasts in tatters. The former SNP leader was a frequent flyer during her time in Bute House, and took full advantage of taking a plane to London from Scotland instead of the train.

New figures have revealed that she racked up enough air miles equivalent to getting around the equator four and a half times. And her love of flights cost the taxpayer more than £70,000

A schedule of the former first minister's flights were released under freedom of information laws and highlighted that she took 153 planes during her time in Bute House, and flew a total of 112,474 air miles between May 2015 and September last year.

Her rivals claimed that this showed that her environmental boasts were just "hot air" as nearly half of those flights (72) were to get between Scotland and London. She even travelled by air covering much shorter distances like Edinburgh to Manchester and from Manchester to Glasgow

The Daily Telegraph reports that she flew 25 times in 2015-16, with 16 of these trips between Scotland and the capital. She also headed out to far-flung destinations like Beijing, Berlin and New York.

Then, the following year she increased her air miles substantially by taking 32 flights, again with the majority (14) being between her home country and London. She also paid visits to the likes of Vienna, Sarajevo and Reykjavik.

The Covid pandemic put paid to any more flight plans the next few years, as she flew 15 times in 2019-20, zero the year after and then five in 2021-22. But she managed to get back to her frequent flying last year, as she used the plane 21 times.

She attended a two-day summit for "global women leaders" in June 2022 in Milan where she was pictured with the likes of Hilary Clinton. She also headed out to Copenhagen to open up the latest Scottish Government "embassy" and also went to New York.

The total cost of these flights is £71,559,42. The Scottish Tories slated the former first minister for generating 2.7 million kg of carbon emissions, which would require the planting of around 100,000 trees to offset.

Stephen Kerr, a Tory MSP, told the Telegraph: “People are used to hot air from politicians but Nicola Sturgeon took that to a new level with her jet-setting, carbon-intensive travel. Many of these flights were domestic and could have been done by train.

"Frankly, the former first minister, who made protecting the environment such a central plank of her time in office should hang her head in shame at the amount of carbon she produced.”

Ms Sturgeon grandstanded at Cop26 in Glasgow when she claimed that she had installed "world-leading" green targets and urged other countries to do the same. She also handed out millions to help countries suffering from climate change loss and damage.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Travel is an essential part of official government business, we take our responsibility to travel sustainably very seriously and aim to use more sustainable forms of transport wherever possible.

“Any business flights taken by Scottish Government ministers and employees are offset by a carbon levy. The levy is used to fund carbon reduction projects that compensate for the carbon emissions generated.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20010301 (012059ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Cash-strapped SNP-led Glasgow City Council bring in £8m of bus lane fines as motorists get LEZ double whammy

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>>126651

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/cash-strapped-snp-led-glasgow-31559125

Cash-strapped SNP-led Glasgow City Council bring in £8m of bus lane fines as motorists get LEZ double whammy

Exclusive: The local authority are raking it in due to anti-motorist measures but are still looking at measures to fill at £50m black hole, following a five per cent council tax rise this year.

David Walker

30 NOV 2023

Cash-strapped SNP-led Glasgow City Council racked up a huge £8.4m from bus lane fines in the last three years, but still decided to hike up council tax for struggling families. It is a double whammy of punishments for drivers in the capital who also have the low emission zone to deal with.

Last year it was revealed that the nationalist local authority had been the fifth biggest earners through bus lane punishments in the entire UK. But even with this money earned, councillors are still grappling with a near-£50m budget black hole.

There are numerous bus lanes in Glasgow city centre with unlucky motorists who drive through them at the wrong time subjected to fines of £60. A digital camera system records vehicles illegally using the lanes before notices are sent to the drivers.

According to the latest statistics, a total of £2.1m was racked in by the council in 2020/21, £3.4m the next financial year and the figures from 2022/23 were £2.8m. The local authority claim that this cash is then utilised for "a range of roads, transportation and other environmental improvement initiatives.”

This is similar to the claims made about where the significant sums raised by the LEZ are going. The restrictions on high polluting vehicles kicked off on June this year, and has netted councillors £478,560, while they are owed a total of £830,070.

More than 20,000 fines have been handed out with the environmental initiative proving unpopular among Glaswegians. Businesses throughout the city centre have also claimed that footfall has dropped due to punters avoiding the area due to fears of being punished financially.

The local authority have said the money raised is being used to actually run the scheme, with any extra cash "only used for activities that help reduce air pollution or contribute toward achieving our climate change targets."

This is despite councillors warning of stark funding difficulties in next year's budget, with council tax already being raised by five per cent in April. A second increase may be off the cards due to the Scottish Government's freeze, but this means that charges could be introduced at some popular tourist venues.

In a bid to raise much-needed money, a new charge was introduced to remove garden waste which was previously free. And cuts are being made to museum staff through the region.

And in the midst of all of this chaos, residents in Glasgow are suffering from a plague of rodent problems, with more almost 2,000 reports of rats being instigated by concerned locals. According to figures seen by the Scottish Daily Express, there were 340 Remedy Requests for rats in living areas between July 1 and September 10.

Meanwhile, there were a whopping 1,426 reports during the same time period for rodents in outside or non-living areas.

The council were also forced to fork out £71, 342.64 (inclusive of VAT) to defend the LEZ scheme at court, in a case which they managed to win. They have said they are trying to claw some of this cash back.

A spokesperson said about bus lanes: "“The bus remains the most significant form of public transport in Glasgow. Giving buses priority on key routes gives operators the chance to run the kind of reliable and efficient services that people want to use.

“By providing clearer channels for buses to travel along, we can reduce delays and get closer to the bus industry target of ‘on time every time’ that seeks to meet passenger expectations."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20016879 (030206ZDEC23) Notable: Updated SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Scottish Covid Bereaved refuse meeting with Humza Yousaf as 'trust is shattered' over WhatsApp failures

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Scottish Covid Bereaved refuse meeting with Humza Yousaf as 'trust is shattered' over WhatsApp failures

The First Minister attempted to invite the Scottish Covid Bereaved for a meeting but this was rebuffed after he failed to offer more than 'platitudes' to questions about do not destroy orders and Nicola Sturgeon.

David Walker

30 NOV 2023

The Scottish Covid Bereaved group has furiously hit out at a lack of answers from Humza Yousaf and his government over missing Covid WhatsApps. And they have rebuffed an invite to meet the First Minister until their urgent questions have been answered.

They wrote to the SNP leader back in October amid the row over the Scottish Government refusing to hand over correspondence to the UK Covid Inquiry. Lead solicitor Aamer Anwar demanded that he answer a number of queries about his handling of the scandal.

These included about the use of the "auto-delete" function on messages following reports that national clinical director Jason Leitch used it during the pandemic. Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is also accused of wiping her WhatsApps.

Mr Yousaf was asked if this was a government policy, and whether he could tell the bereaved group who all complied with it. Other questions included why the SNP Executive had taken so long to identify the number of relevant WhatsApp groups and whether they will take legal action to stop the former First Minister from publishing her Covid diaries.

But these demands fell on deaf ears as they did get a response from Mr Yousaf, but it was only to request an in-person meeting with representatives from the organisation. Ms Robison also responded, but was accused of just saying "platitudes."

She had written: "Today, I am writing to you to emphasise our commitment to co-operate in full with the work of both the Scottish and UK Covid-19 Inquiries. As I said in my statement to Parliament on 31 October, and as the First Minister reiterated yesterday, where there has been shortcomings from the Scottish Government, we apologise unreservedly(It's okay everybody, the poor wee soul said sorry...without reservation ¯_(ツ)_/¯)for any distress caused.

"That was certainly not our intention. The Scottish Government has provided over 19,000 documents to the UK Covid Inquiry and over 14,000 WhatsApp and other messages as well as many corporate statements which are now being disclosed to core participants."

But in response, Mr Anwar wrote back on November 10 that the "bereaved we represent, placed their trust in you and your government to be transparent and accountable to both Covid Inquiries, sadly that trust has been left shattered.'

He added: "We note your Deputy First Minister wrote to my office today, once again the letter was full of platitudes but no clarity on the questions we had asked, and as explained further concerns arose due to the FMQs.

"The families have not had the courtesy of a full response to our letter, and until the numerous concerns raised in our letter to you on 27th October and today’s letter are clarified, they are unable to meet with you.

"The substantive hearings are two months away, any further delay is simply inexcusable and will obstruct the search for truth by the UK Inquiry who have acted robustly without fear or favour."

With the Scottish Covid Bereaved giving evidence at the Scottish inquiry on Thursday, and Matt Hancock doing the same in England, with Mr Anwar once again hit out at the Scottish Government. He said: "Whilst part of our team is in London preparing to question Matt Hancock and watching his evidence, it is deeply disappointing and disrespectful that the Scottish Covid Bereaved are yet to receive any detailed response to the letter written to the First Minister on the issue of WhatsApps.

"The evidence we will hear today in Scotland from the bereaved will further emphasise the need for truth and accountability from those in power during the pandemic.”

Peter McMahon, Lianne Menzies and Margaret Waterton each spoke in length about their heartbreaking stories of losing loved ones to the virus.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We will respond to Mr Anwar soon. The Scottish Government’s overriding priority throughout the Covid pandemic was saving lives. We mourn every death from Covid-19 and express our sympathy for all those who have lost loved ones, and for the distress and grief experienced by individuals and their families.”

"Game's a bogey" everybody. You can relax and go home now. They have apologised unreservedly and have "sympathy" for all their victims thrown in.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20020870 (032334ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Two SNP politicians had a seedy extramarital affair that broke Scotland's Covid lockdown rules

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>>126647

>>>/qresearch/19890642

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-break-silence-say-lockdown-31575659

SNP break silence to say lockdown affair story is 'categorically untrue'

The denial comes two days after the party was first approached for comment and despite one of the spouses involved saying that he is 'relieved' it's now out in the open

Jessica North

1 DEC 2023

The SNP has officially denied claims that two of their politicians engaged in a sordid affair that carried on during the Covid pandemic lockdowns.

Finally breaking their silence – more than two days after they were first contacted by the Scottish Daily Express – the party said they are aware of the "rumours" but add they are "categorically untrue".

The statement comes amid speculation over the identity of the politicians since details about the secret SNP love affair were revealed exclusively by the Scottish Daily Express on Thursday.

One of the spouses involved has also now spoken out to say it "wrecked my marriage" and detailed his fear of going public because of the "repercussions" on his family.

The SNP statement said: "We are aware of rumours being reported in the media concerning two particular politicians, which first circulated in February. No substantiation for these rumours has ever been offered, very simply because these allegations are categorically untrue."

When contacted previously, the SNP declined to comment on the record. In the full response provided to the Scottish Daily Express, the party said: "You would need to provide specifics before we could possibly comment on what sounds like spurious gossip."

It comes as former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson warned that the names of those involved will be made public eventually. She took to X to say: "It strikes me as unlikely that the anonymity surrounding this will hold. Especially when you factor in clear public interest grounds regarding any breaking of COVID rules.

"Plus the fact the spouse of one of the protagonists is talking, even if not wishing to be be named."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20020951 (032353ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Two SNP politicians had a seedy extramarital affair that broke Scotland's Covid lockdown rules

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>>126656

>>>/qresearch/19890649

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/devastated-spouse-says-sordid-snp-31571376

Devastated spouse says sordid SNP lockdown affair 'wrecked my marriage'

After the story was revealed exclusively by the Scottish Daily Express on Thursday, one of those involved says: 'I'm relieved that people now know that there was an affair'

Ben Borland

1 DEC 2023

More details about the secret SNP love affair revealed exclusively by the Scottish Daily Express have emerged today. One of those involved has now spoken out to say it "wrecked my marriage".

However, the man says he feels he can't go public because of the "repercussions" on his family. The steamy fling between the two SNP politicians is understood to have continued during the Covid pandemic in breach of the Scottish Government's tough lockdown restrictions.

It was discovered when incriminating and highly personal messages were discovered on a mobile phone. The man, who has asked not to be named, told the Daily Mail: "The affair wrecked my marriage. I've thought long and hard about going public about this, but I feel I can't.

"I am fearful about the repercussions if I did, and I have to protect my family at all costs. That's the most important thing for me. However, I'm relieved that people now know that there was an affair. The whole thing has been devastating for me."

The report also claims that he was "left feeling afraid for his own safety and for the safety of his family if he opened up about the affair".

The Scottish Daily Express is aware of the names of all of those involved but they cannot be identified legal reasons. It is understood the names and details of the affair have also been discussed within the SNP.

A source close to the story told the Express: "There were a lot of rumours about the affair and the politician's other half was well aware of them, but they didn't want to do anything without evidence. It all came to a head when they found these texts."

The affair has echoes of the extramarital fling during lockdown between then UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock and his aide Gina Coladangelo. He was forced to resign in June 2021, with the SNP calling for a full inquiry into the scandal.

It is thought that similar issues of conflict of interest and "cronyism" are raised by the illicit relationship between the two SNP politicians.

2023 has already been a difficult year

Any further negative headlines would cap an awful year for the Nats, which began in the worst possible fashion when warnings about the Gender Recognition Reform Bill were proved to be entirely justified when double rapist Adam Graham – who stood trial as a woman named Isla Bryson – was briefly sent to a women's prison.

This was followed swiftly by the sudden resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as party leader and First Minister, who at the time insisted it was unrelated to the police investigation into the SNP's finances. A bitter leadership contest followed, which saw chief executive Peter Murrell forced to resign over lies told to the press over membership numbers.

Just days after Humza Yousaf was confirmed as the new leader, Mr Murrell was arrested and questioned by detectives while officers searched the home he shares with his wife, Ms Sturgeon. The SNP HQ in Edinburgh was also searched and a luxury motorhome seized from the driveway of Mr Murrell's mother's home in Fife.

Operation Branchform officers also arrested former party treasurer Colin Beattie and then in June Ms Sturgeon herself was held. All three were released without charge, although the inquiry is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the party has seen a collapse in the opinion polls, been hammered in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, suffered a raft of defections and resignations and seen its plans for independence widely derided and mocked.

The SNP declined to comment.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20021007 (040008ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Two SNP politicians had a seedy extramarital affair that broke Scotland's Covid lockdown rules

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>>126657

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/spouse-claiming-snp-politician-affair-31585843

Spouse claiming SNP politician affair calls police over 'threats from relatives' who showed up at his door

The man who went public with claims of an affair between two SNP politicians that carried on through lockdown called police after a dispute at his home

Jessica North

3 DEC 2023

The spouse of one of the SNP politicians behind lockdown affair claims has called Police Scotland after her relatives showed up at his home

The man told officers he was shouted at and intimidated by two men outside his house who warned him to stop talking about the affair. Police Scotland confirmed they had attended the incident.

A source quoted in the Daily Record, said: “They were trying to put pressure on him and his family to shut up. The police had to be called.”

This comes after the news of the affair hit headlines last week. The identity of those involved has been kept out the news due to legal reasons however it is widely known among the press and politicians.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.20am on Sunday, November 7, 2021, we were called to a report of a dispute at property. Officers attended and advice was given.”

The SNP hit back at the claims as "categorically untrue".

The partner of the politician said: “I’ve thought long and hard about going public about this, but I feel I can’t. I am fearful about the repercussions if I did, and I have to protect my family at all costs. That’s the most important thing for me.

An SNP spokesman said: “We are aware of rumours being reported in the media concerning two particular politicians, which first circulated in February. No substantiation for these rumours has ever been offered, very simply because these allegations are categorically untrue.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20021116 (040032ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Two SNP politicians had a seedy extramarital affair that broke Scotland's Covid lockdown rules

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>>126658

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/ruth-davidson-says-its-unlikely-31575310

Ruth Davidson says it's 'unlikely that the anonymity' of the SNP love cheats will hold

The former Scottish Conservative leader and a current Scottish MP have become the first public figures to comment on the story of an illicit relationship, originally reported by Scottish Daily Express

Jessica North

1 DEC 2023

Ruth Davidson has weighed in on the reports about two SNP politicians who had a steamy extramarital affair. She said the identities of those involved are "unlikely" to hold.

The former Scottish Conservative leader argued that there is "clear public interest" given the fact the affair is understood to have continued during the Covid pandemic in breach of Nicola Sturgeon's tough lockdown restrictions.

Meanwhile, Alba MP Neale Hanvey has questioned how much Ms Sturgeon and the current SNP leader, Humza Yousaf, know about the party's alleged rule breakers.

The names of those involved and the details of the affair are known both within the SNP and in wider political circles, although they cannot be published for legal reasons. On Thursday, the Scottish Daily Express became the first to break the wall of silence around the affair.

Taking to X on Friday after the Scottish Daily Mail followed up our story, Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links said: "It strikes me as unlikely that the anonymity surrounding this will hold. Especially when you factor in clear public interest grounds regarding any breaking of COVID rules. Plus the fact the spouse of one of the protagonists is talking, even if not wishing to be be named."

The spouse who was quoted in the Mail said he feared the repercussions of putting his name on record, telling reporters: "The affair wrecked my marriage. I've thought long and hard about going public about this, but I feel I can't."

When the press discovers a major story about the personal lives of public figures, they have to weigh up the public's right to know against the individual's right to privacy with any missteps or bad calls likely to end up in court.

The names are said to have been discussed within the SNP who have so far declined to comment. Mr Hanvey, a former SNP MP, took to social media to say: "What did @NicolaSturgeon know? What did @HumzaYousaf know? Why no chucking under the gravy bus for those involved as was so readily, callously and egregiously done to @MargaretFerrier?"

The SNP has been asked for comment.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20021287 (040104ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Two SNP politicians had a seedy extramarital affair that broke Scotland's Covid lockdown rules

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>>126659

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/former-police-chief-says-lockdown-31580456

Former Police Chief says lockdown claims in SNP affair should be investigated

Another public figure has addressed lockdown cheating allegations that hit the SNP after a spouse went on record

Jessica North

2 DEC 2023

A former police chief has claimed officers should investigate the allegation that two SNP politicians continued an affair into the pandemic and broke lockdown rules.

Tom Buchan, former president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, has become the latest figure to publicly address the story. He said those involved should be held accountable if rules were broken.

His statement comes after the SNP broke their silence and brushed off the claims as "rumours" and "categorically untrue" and former Tory leader Ruth Davidson said the identities of those involved are "unlikely" to stay secret for long.

One of the spouses involved spoke out, telling press that the affair "wrecked my marriage" and detailed his fear of going public because of the "repercussions" on his family. He also said he was "relieved" the story was out there.

The spouse claimed the secret relationship continued during the Covid pandemic in 2020.

Mr Buchan told the Daily Mail: "If it is the case that these two conducted an affair when the rest of us were living under the strictest lockdown restrictions then it is only right they be held accountable.

"No one cares about the affair - that should be of no interest except for the spouses and the immediate families involved.

"But what is of public interest is the utter hypocrisy of some of these politicians demanding we stay at home, follow the rules, wear masks and socially distance while they were completely ignoring the rules they themselves impose on everyone else.

"I think people are heartily sick of politicians setting the rules for us, while they think they need not apply to them. As the Covid Inquiry is revealing, there were decent, law abiding people left isolated, tormented and psychologically tortured because of how strict the lockdowns were.

"Many could not see loved ones, family or friends for many months on end, many couldn't even say goodbye to loved ones in hospital, or even attend funerals to pay their last respects.

"The irony is these rules were set by politicians, so any politician who flouts them should be thoroughly investigated and if found to have breached them, then they must be held accountable. There should be at least two investigations - one by the police and at least another by parliamentary officials either at Holyrood or Westminster.

"In order for democracy to function it has to be seen to be imparpartial, and if it is the case this couple broke those lockdown rules then they should face the consequences.

"This is ultimately about being able to trust our politicians."

The former chief superintendent added: "The SNP went hard on Boris [Johnson] over Partygate and rightly so.

"But this is not about party politics - this is about the law, fairness and accountability."

The SNP statement said: "We are aware of rumours being reported in the media concerning two particular politicians, which first circulated in February. No substantiation for these rumours has ever been offered, very simply because these allegations are categorically untrue."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20021374 (040121ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Michael Matheson Scandal Bun / Michael Matheson breaks hated SNP short term let rules in latest 'scandal'

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/michael-matheson-breaks-hated-snp-31586003

Michael Matheson breaks hated SNP short term let rules in latest 'scandal'

The 'embattled' SNP minister has been hit with more allegations of wrongdoing and pressure from oppostion MSPs to leave his position at Holyrood

Jessica North & Hannah Rodger

3 DEC 2023

Michael Matheson has broken his own government’s law on short-term lets over his luxury holiday home.

Our sister paper, the Sunday Mail, found that the SNP MSP failed to declare his licence and energy rating on adverts for a rural cottage on Skye, in line with a policy that is hated by the tourism industry.

Missing information was only added to the online advert sites after ownership of the £200,000 home was revealed. Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said Mr Matheson has a "flagrant disregard of his own government’s rules".

A Scottish Conservatives said: "The stench of secrecy surrounding Michael Matheson only continues to grow.

The Tories added: "The discredited SNP health secretary who has lied to the public now appears to not even be following his own government’s regulations on holiday lets. Humza Yousaf should grow a backbone and sack Michael Matheson who now has serious questions to answer over another matter."

Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie MSP added to commentary, stating: “Once again the embattled Health Minister has found himself at the heart of a scandal. This will pile more pressure on Mr Matheson as his flagrant disregard of his own government’s rules comes to light. It’s time for Michael Matheson to step aside as he is clearly preoccupied when his entire focus should be on tackling the crisis in the NHS.”

The Scottish Government legislation on short-term lets came into force on October 1, 2022, and owners had until October 1, 2023, to obtain a licence to keep operating.

According to the new laws, the homeowner “must ensure that any advert or listing placed on or after you are granted a licence includes your licence number” and all online adverts should be updated with the number “as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving your licence.”

Matheson was granted a temporary licence by Highland Council on September 18, 2023, and according to the law “you should use the temporary licence number or provisional licence number on your advert or listing” if you don’t have a permanent licence.

The legislation says local authorities can take action such as issuing enforcement notices to anyone who is not complying with the new rules. It also states as a “mandatory condition” that you “need to display the EPC rating in all adverts” for short-term lets.

So far, Yousaf has stuck by his health secretary but sources said he was on his “last life” with the First Minister. Matheson’s two-bedroom cottage on Skye makes between £10,000 and £15,000 a year, according to his register of interests, but he claims it doesn’t make a profit due to running costs.

At £875 a week to rent, the home can only be occupied by holidaymakers for a maximum of 17 weeks a year. If so, Mr Matheson is also at odds with his own party’s position on second homes.

A spokeswoman for the health secretary said: “The cottage now complies fully with Scottish Government regulations. It is now one of many other rental homes currenting going through the short-term lets licensing scheme.

“As clearly outlined in Mr Matheson’s Register of Interests, the property does not make a profit due to running costs.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20021575 (040204ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Nicola Sturgeon 'stripped of £600k police protection' amid row over spending

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-stripped-600k-police-30766163

Nicola Sturgeon 'stripped of £600k police protection' amid row over spending

The former first minister was allowed to keep her security detail of six officers and vehicles with the taxpayer picking up the bill, despite the likes of Alex Salmond and Jack McConnell not receiving the same service

Douglas Dickie

23 AUG 2023

Updated14:19, 27 NOV 2023

Nicola Sturgeon has been stripped of her £600,000 a year police protection, according to reports. And it has emerged the former SNP leader was under Police Scotland protection when she was arrested in relation to a fraud probe into SNP finances.

Despite other ex-first ministers not being granted security details, Ms Sturgeon was allowed to keep hers on after she left office in March, with the taxpayer picking up the bill. However, it has now been claimed that a row behind the scenes over the cost to the public purse has led police and government chiefs to pull the plug.

According to The Sun, the change was signed off by the former Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone and the Scottish Government's top official, Permanent Secretary John-Paul Marks. It has also emerged that Ms Sturgeon's cop team - said to comprise six rotating staff and vehicles - was still in place when she was arrested as part of Operation Branchform. She was later released without charge.

Scottish Tory MSP and Shadow Justice Secretary Russell Findlay said: "With the SNP cutting Police Scotland's budget by hundreds of millions of pounds, the force has to make some incredibly tough spending decisions to keep the people of Scotland safe. However, the decision to axe Nicola Sturgeon's £600,000-a-year protection will have been taken following rigorous and scrupulous assessment of all potential risk.

"For a politician under 24/7 police protection to have been arrested by other Police Scotland detectives must surely have been a first." Ms Sturgeon announced she was standing down as SNP leader and first minister in February.

Just days after she eventually left office in March, her husband Peter Murrell was arrested by Branchform officers and the home the couple share was raided. Then-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested two weeks later as detectives continue to probe an alleged 'missing' £600,000 of party funds.

Sources told The Sun that Police Scotland and the government had been concerned about threats made to Ms Sturgeon. However, some officials had become concerned about the use of resources amid claims of a "row" behind the scenes.

SNP insiders say Ms Sturgeon is pleased to be returning to a sense of normality while her successor Humza Yousaf said last week she was sick of being under police watch. The paper quotes sources who said there had been "pushback" against the decision, although not from Ms Sturgeon, while another said it was "unusual" for ex-ministers to keep their security team for so long after leaving office.

The Scottish Government stopped publishing details of Ms Sturgeon's car journeys in 2017, citing police advice. We previously told how the government refused to release this advice through a Freedom of Information request while Police Scotland said it had no record of any such advice.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20025764 (042325ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / SNP councillor 'disgusted and disappointed' at Humza Yousaf picture with Turkish leader Erdogan

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-councillor-disgusted-disappointed-humza-31580324

SNP councillor 'disgusted and disappointed' at Humza Yousaf picture with Turkish leader Erdogan

Humza Yousaf has upset one of his own party councilors after he posted a picture shaking hands with Turkey's controversial leader at COP in Dubai

Jessica North

2 DEC 2023

A Kurdish-born SNP councillor has said she is "disappointed and disgusted" in Humza Yousaf for posting a picture of a meeting Turkish President Recipp Tayyip Erdogan.

Roza Salih, a councillor in Glasgow, came to Scotland from Iraq seeking asylum as a child and was a key figure in a campaign against dawn raids used to remove refugees who had been refused asylum.

In a social media post the councillor hit out at her party leader who posted a photo shaking hands with the controversial leader. Sh said Mr Erdogan "kills Kurds".

It comes amid criticism aimed at the SNP leader who has been "following in Nicola Sturgeon's footsteps by running around looking for photo ops" while attending the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.

She wrote: "I am disappointed and disgusted by this image @HumzaYousaf. Erdogan kills £Kurds in Turkey & does not respect human rights.

"Our politicians & half of the population are imprisoned by him and you shake his hand. I did not expect this from a FM that says he respects human rights."

The picture, originally posted by the First Minister, shows him shaking the hand of the Turkish president as he visits the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai, where he says the pair discussed climate change as well as the war in Gaza and the need for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire".

Mr Yousaf wrote: "As well as discussing the urgency of global action on tackling the climate crisis, I spoke to @RTErdogan & Lebanon PM @Najib-Mikati about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

"An immediate & permanent ceasefire is needed now. Too many innocent children have died, it must stop."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20025838 (042342ZDEC23) Notable: Humza Yousaf 'should sack' Scottish Greens ministers after taxpayers billed £3.5m to upgrade ONE office to net zero

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-should-sack-scottish-31591962

Humza Yousaf 'should sack' Scottish Greens ministers after taxpayers billed £3.5m to upgrade ONE office to net zero

SNP rebel Fergus Ewing has demanded that the First Minister sack Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater after it was revealed that work to upgrade Elgin's Procurator Fiscal office will now cost £3.5m, with the site going net zero.

David Walker

4 DEC 2023

Humza Yousaf has been urged to sack his Scottish Greens ministers after taxpayers were left with a £3.5m bill to upgrade just one office to net zero. And it has led to more concerns being raised about plans to outlaw gas boilers across the country by 2033.

Zero Carbon Buildings minister Patrick Harvie has been spearheading plans to ensure that properties in Scotland do not release emissions into the air. We previously told how he was going to introduce punishments for those with fossil fuel heating systems after 2033.

But it has been revealed that the costs of upgrading just one Victorian-era public building have sky-rocketed to £3.5m. The price of improving insulation and installing heat pumps at the Crown Office building in Elgin, Moray has increased by more than £1m in just a few months.

The project was meant to be a flagship one for the Scottish Government to prove that all properties can become net zero. However, the vast cost of the construction will only worry those being forced into changing their heating systems.

All public buildings and homes in Scotland will have to comply with strict new laws by 2033 to allow the country to "decarbonise" and achieve net zero by 2045. But there are fears that this will cost too much money and push some struggling households into financial ruin.

In August, the Crown Office announced that it was closing the procurator fiscal's base in Elgin to upgrade insulation and fit in an electric heating system at a cost of £2.2m, but it was revealed by the Sunday Mail that this cost has now increased to £3.5m.

Rebel SNP MSP Fergus Ewing has claimed that this cost shows the high price of the Bute House Agreement to regular Scots. He said: "This is the price of having Green ministers in government.

"They impose their madcap schemes on normally sensible organisations like the Crown Office - though why they went along with this must be independently reviewed. It's time Humza Yousaf sacks these failed ministers before they do even more damage."

This environmental update is expected to take up to nine months, with the Crown Office boasting that "this work to decarbonise the procurator fiscal premises in Elgin will further improve our renewable energy credentials." But the price has increased due to there being far more work than was predicted before after investigations into "nature of the building."

The current net zero plan was estimated to cost £33bn in 2021 but the true cost is expected to be higher now due to inflation. Scottish Tory energy spokesman Douglas Lumsden raised concerns about how this would be paid for. He said: "The SNP/Green's latest proposals give just 15 years for all public buildings to meet minimum requirements, meaning we could soon see these astronomical taxpayer bills repeated across the country.

"Even more worrying for homeowners is that they may have to foot the bill for similar upgrades to their own homes even sooner - bills that could top £30,000."

A Crown Office spokesman said: "We are committed to ensure value for public money in all contracts, which are subject to a robust and compliant procurement process. COPFS is also committed to reduce carbon emissions and become carbon neutral by 2040."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20025925 (050001ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / SNP councillor 'disgusted and disappointed' at Humza Yousaf picture with Turkish leader Erdogan

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>>126663

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/world-news/humza-yousaf-slaps-down-kurdish-31596612

Humza Yousaf slaps down Kurdish SNP councillor over talks with Turkey's Erdogan

Roza Salih, who came to Scotland as a refugee, says 'Erdogan's hands are dripping with blood' after he shook hands with the First Minister... but he has ignored her criticism

Laura Paterson, PA Scotland & Ben Borland Editor

4 DEC 2023

First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he is "not going to stop meeting with world leaders" after being criticised by an SNP councillor for shaking hands with the Turkish president.

Kurdish-born Roza Salih, who represents Glasgow's Greater Pollok ward in Mr Yousaf's own constituency, said she was "disappointed and disgusted" after Mr Yousaf met Recipp Tayyip Erdogan at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai.

Ms Salih came to Scotland from Iraq as a child seeking asylum in 2001 after her grandfather and uncle were killed in Iraq. Her father was a Peshmerga – a member of the army which fought for Kurdish independence against the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein.

In a social media post, Ms Salih criticised her party leader about a picture of him shaking the hand of the Turkish president. She wrote: "I am disappointed and disgusted by this image @HumzaYousaf Erdogan kills £Kurds in Turkey & does not respect human rights.

"Our politicians & half of the population are imprisoned by him and you shake his hand. I did not expect this from a FM that says he respects human rights."

In recent months Erdogan's government has stepped up attacks against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. Turkey claims they are affiliated with a terrorist group, the YPG is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces – a western ally in the fight against Islamic State.

Ms Salih added: "From his tweet it seems he is pushing for a cease fire in Gaza, however, Erdogan's hands are dripping with blood. Can you ask someone who is happy to commit genocide on one group of people to help stop the genocide of another? NO"

Questioned on her criticism, Mr Yousaf told the PA news agency: "Look, I am rightly as the First Minister of Scotland going to meet world leaders.

"I'm going to meet heads of government, and of course push them to go further on climate change and I was also pushing many of the world leaders on our position that there should be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza given the horrific destruction and death that we're seeing there.

"So, as First Minister, I am not going to stop meeting with world leaders, it's very important as First Minister that I do that."

In his social media post about the meeting, Mr Yousaf said he spoke to Mr Erdogan and Lebanon's prime minister, Najib Mikati, about the climate crisis and the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He did not raise Turkey's human rights record or the campaign against the Kurds.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20033351 (061017ZDEC23) Notable: Updated SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Nicola Sturgeon Covid claims questioned as new emails show civil servants were warned in 2021 not to delete correspondence

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-covid-claims-questioned-31604468

Nicola Sturgeon Covid claims questioned as new emails show civil servants were warned in 2021 not to delete correspondence

Exclusive: Those leading the Covid pandemic response in Scotland, including the former first minister and clinical director Jason Leitch, have been accused of deleting messages despite advice being given back in 2021.

David Walker

6 DEC 2023

Questions have been raised about why key figures during Scotland's pandemic response allegedly deleted their Covid WhatsApps following the release of two new emails which confirmed that civil servants were warned about keeping their correspondence back in August 2021.

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among those accused of wiping their messages about the pandemic, despite a do not destroy order being sent by both Covid Inquiries. She refused to say four times when questioned in October about whether she did so.

Other members of Scotland's response, clinical director Jason Leitch and chief medical officer Gregor Smith were also fingered as automatically deleting WhatsApps about the virus. There have been demands for all evidence to be handed out to the probe in both countries.

Now, a newly released freedom of information request has revealed that the Scottish Government's Director-General Corporate sent out an email to all staff in August 2021 and warned them not to delete their Covid correspondence. She wrote: "As neither inquiry’s terms of reference have been set, it is a matter of judgement about what material will be relevant to the work of any inquiry.

"If in doubt, you should assume that material may be relevant and ensure that it is retained and is accessible in eRDM. This includes ensuring that no material of potential relevance to either inquiry is destroyed. You should also obtain similar assurances from any relevant arm’s length bodies."

And then a second email was sent out in March 2022 which repeated the same order but also mentioned that the scope had been increased to include why decisions were made. It read: "Any material that you may think may be relevant to the work of any Covid Inquiry should continue to be retained and accessible in eRDM.

"This includes the decisions we take, the process by which those decisions were reached, the reasons for those decisions and the evidence and data used to support them, and applies whatever the format in which that information is held and on whatever device or system."

It sheds new light on excuses used by Ms Sturgeon, and also Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison, who were rebuked by the UK Covid Inquiry for not sending all the message that they asked for. The former first minister claimed that she was clear to the inquiry about what she held and didn't held but said that she "wasn’t a member of any WhatsApp groups“ and "didn’t manage the Covid response by WhatsApp.”

Her replacement and his deputy told MSPs that they had been too "narrow" in their interpretation of what the probe wanted when it requested all messages. They had not included 14,000 messages about the decision-making, claiming that the request had not set this out, although they were ordered to publish the timeline by the Inquiry and were accused of misleading MSPs

But the initial email from the Director-General Corporate, who looks after the organisational aspect of the government, included the decision-making process, warning that these records needed to be kept.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton blasted the SNP for its handling of the situation so far, pointing out that the "public just don’t have any trust for the SNP on the issue of their Covid WhatsApps." He told the Scottish Daily Express: "Junior civil servants were being instructed not to delete anything that might be relevant to a future inquiries, yet it seems that Ministers were happily going home every night and systematically erasing their messages.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20033355 (061019ZDEC23) Notable: Updated SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Nicola Sturgeon Covid claims questioned as new emails show civil servants were warned in 2021 not to delete correspondence

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"As such key discussions between high level people may be lost to the inquiry forever. We need answers about how ministers and other key stakeholders weighed the evidence against the politics and arrived at key decisions.

"I'm concerned that we will never get this clarity and that as a result key questions will remain unanswered. That will mean the bereaved families at the heart of this may never get closure or a sense of understanding."

The 'routinely destroy' policy

But further research shows that additional guidance was issued in November 2021 which told Scottish Government employees to transcribe only “the salient points of any business discussions and/or decisions in a mobile messaging app” into the official records, known as the eDRM.

This was allegedly kept secret for two years, and only became public at the end of October as the missing WhatsApp scandal grew in Scotland. The Scottish Tories pressed Mr Yousaf on why messages had been deleted.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: “The SNP Government policy from August 2021 could not be clearer: all potentially relevant material must be retained by ministers and staff.

“The key question is why that policy was changed just a few months later. We can only assume that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP high command sought to change it to give themselves an excuse for not retaining – and therefore not having to hand over – important messages to the Covid Inquiry.

“The former First Minister has refused to deny that she deleted WhatsApp messages and, it’s now clear, the change in policy – from the original do-not-destroy one – gave her cover for doing so. This shameful secrecy smacks of a cover-up and is an insult to all those who lost loved ones during the pandemic.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "All Ministers and civil servants, including clinicians, have been co-operating fully with the COVID-19 inquiries since their establishment. More than 19,000 documents from the official record have been sent to the UK Inquiry from the Scottish Government, in addition to requested corporate and personal statements, and almost 28,000 WhatsApp messages.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20033416 (061053ZDEC23) Notable: Secretive SNP government in court bid to block information release relating to Alex Salmond probe

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/secretive-snp-government-court-bid-31608255

Secretive SNP government in court bid to block information release relating to Alex Salmond probe

The court case will be heard in Edinburgh and looks into a decision to withhold information surrounding the 2021 Alex Salmond controversy

Jessica North

6 DEC 2023

The SNP-run Scottish Government is going to court on Wednesday to appeal a decision that states it was wrong in failing to provide information about an investigation into complaints about former first minister Alex Salmond.

The case, “Scottish ministers against a decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner”, will go ahead at the Court of Session.

It comes after Nicola Sturgeon referred herself to the independent advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code for an alleged breach on January 13, 2019, while she was first minister. She was accused of misleading parliament and failing to record meetings connected to harassment allegations levelled at Mr Salmond.

An investigation into whether she left out phone calls along with the meeting as required by the code of conduct in an attempt to sway the internal investigation into misconduct claims circling her long time mentor, found that she had not knowingly misled parliament but it was up to MSPs to decide whether she had broken the code. Following this ruling and the conclusion of Mr Salmond's court case, all of the information surrounding the ruling from James Hamilton the independent advisor, was requested.

However, ministers rejected the request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 for all written evidence gathered by Mr Hamilton’s investigation on the basis that he was independent of them, and on an exemption contained in the act that disclosure would cause prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs.

Last year, the Scottish Government appointed a group of external investigators to handle complaints about current and former ministers, following the mishandling of its investigation into claims of sexual harassment by Salmond.

The government’s investigation into the former first minister was successfully challenged in the courts, which prompted a lengthy inquiry at a Holyrood committee.

Following a review of the government’s complaints procedure, new rules around formal complaints of bullying, harassment and discrimination made by civil servants were introduced in February.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20034386 (061609ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Nicola Sturgeon spent £2,118 on wine at Bute House in her final months in office

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Nicola Sturgeon spent £2,118 on wine at Bute House in her final months in office

The wine bill for the former First Minister's grace and favour residence in Edinburgh's Charlotte Square averaged £46 per week in her last year in office – and she spent four times as much on wine as she did on soft drinks and sparkling water

Ben Borland

4 DEC 2023

Taxpayers have picked up another hefty wine bill at the First Minister's boozy Bute House residence, it has been revealed. The bar tab for last year up to February 15 – the day Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation – was £2,118.05.

The wine was purchased for official engagements and receptions at the Edinburgh mansion, and the cost – released under Freedom of Information – represents a return to pre-pandemic levels of spending after two years where very few events were held at Bute House.

Overall, the Scottish Government spent at least £6,762.63 on wine over the past six years of Ms Sturgeon's reign, although officials admit this is "likely" to be an underestimate as other bottles would've been included in the catering costs.

By contrast, the amount spent on sparkling water and soft drinks over the same period was just £1912.32 – barely a quarter of the spend on wine, despite the SNP's push to encourage Scots to drink less alcohol through measures such as minimum pricing.

Somewhat ironically, in previous years, the average amount spent on a bottle of wine for the Bute House cellars was around £16 – far higher than the minimum price of £4.50 for a 12% ABV, 750ml bottle.

When the pre-pandemic wine bill was revealed last year, opposition parties questioned whether it was the best use of public money. At the time, Lib Dem finance spokesman John Ferry said: "It's a shame this wining and dining of dignitaries and business leaders doesn’t seem to have provided any boost to the Scottish economy, which continues to underperform on the back of SNP-Green policy failures.”

And Scottish Labour MSP Neil Bibby said: "The people of Scotland deserve a government with its eye on the ball not one racking up such a big bar tab at their expense."

Bute House wine bill

2022-23 - £2,118.05 (up to February 15)

2021-22 - £84

2020-21 - Nil

2019-20 - £2,048.80

2018-19 - £2,391.78

2017-18 - £84

2016-17 - £36

The Scottish Government said: "It is possible that further bottles of wine will have been provided as part of the wider catering for certain events, and that seems likely to be the case."

Events at Bute House in 2022-23

August 8 - All Festivals reception

August 10 - Reception to celebrate links between Scotland and the USA

August 15 - Edinburgh International Book Festival reception

October 3 - Scottish Human Rights Defender Fellows Meeting and Reception

October 27 - CBI Scottish Leaders Mentoring Scheme reception

November 3 - FSB Awards Reception

November 15 - Brave@Heart Awards reception

December 1 - IoD Directors of the Year Awards Reception

December 13 - Media Reception

February 2 - Industry Leadership Group Reception

Some of the boozy events at Bute House during 2022-23 included a Christmas gathering for Holyrood political reporters in December and two Edinburgh Festivals receptions in August. Guests at the Edinburgh International Book Festival knees-up included Ms Sturgeon's friend, the crime author Val McDermid.

Bute House, a grade A listed Georgian townhouse on Charlotte Square in the New Town, was closed for almost five months this year for major refurbishments including stonework and roof repairs and replacement windows.

It was closed on April 17 and reopened on September 11, with First Minister Humza Yousaf provided alternative living accommodation in Edinburgh during that period while the Scottish Cabinet held its meetings at St Andrew's House.

You pay for their toiletries (soap, toothpaste, and even their loo roll) and now it appears you have to pay for their booze too.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20034637 (061645ZDEC23) Notable: Secretive SNP government in court bid to block information release relating to Alex Salmond probe

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>>126668

>>>/qresearch/19890649

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-lose-court-case-after-31612824

SNP lose court case after judge throws out secrecy argument around Nicola Sturgeon's handling of Alex Salmond scandal

The case ruling will mean that the SNP ministers will have either have to find another excuse for holding onto information that exempted their former leader or they will be forced to publish the details

Jessica North

6 DEC 2023

The Scottish Government has been told their reasoning behind withholding evidence gathered during an investigation into whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the ministerial code is not valid.

James Mure KC, the lawyer working on behalf of the Scottish ministers argued that the written information gathered during an investigation into Ms Sturgeon's handling of complaints made against Alex Salmond should not be made public but their argument has failed in court.

The Court of Session ruled that ministers will have to revisit and Freedom of Information request that was rejected after they claimed the information was not "held" by them.

The Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) who brought forward to court challenge ruled in January this year, following a review, that ministers were wrong. Backing this view, opposing counsel David Johnston KC argued it was "wholly unrealistic and wholly unworkable"

Ms Sturgeon referred herself to independent adviser James Hamilton in 2019 over concerns she failed to record meetings and phone calls she had with her predecessor Mr Salmond and his former chief of staff after he was the subject of complaints from two civil servants.

Mr Hamilton investigated and issued a report in March 2021 in which he determined Ms Sturgeon did not breach the code. Mr Harrop asked Scottish ministers two weeks later to be provided with all written evidence gathered by Mr Hamilton during his investigation.

Ministers declined to hand over the information on two occasions, prompting Mr Harrop to seek a review by the SIC.

They have now appealed against the SIC's ruling that there ought to be a review of their initial responses, arguing the commissioner took "too technical" an approach to the word "held".

Ministers also argue any disclosure of the written evidence would be detrimental to Mr Hamilton's independence as an adviser.

Mr Mure told judges on Wednesday the Scottish Government stored information gathered by Mr Hamilton "purely on his behalf" and only his final report was ever meant to be published.

He told the court: "The report of his findings is the only document that ministers are entitled to receive from the adviser, and the first minister - or, in the present case, the deputy first minister - had no right or interest to seek the information which may be contained in the written evidence provided to Mr Hamilton.

"It is, in my submission, clear that the information is held on behalf of Mr Hamilton, that the ministers have no control over it, and it remains either stored by Mr Hamilton or stored on his behalf in a Government IT system. It remains in the control of Mr Hamilton.

"That means only the independent adviser has access to that information, only he knows what it comprises, and the adviser has no obligation to release that evidence to the Scottish ministers.

"At the end of the day, what the deputy first minister receives is the findings and that is all that Mr Hamilton was asked to provide, all that ministers have a right to receive, and that, of course, has been published."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20034883 (061728ZDEC23) Notable: Historic Abuse Bun Part Two / SNP swamped with calls for public inquiry into Celtic Boys Club abuse but still refuse to launch one

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-swamped-calls-public-inquiry-31596411

SNP swamped with calls for public inquiry into Celtic Boys Club abuse but still refuse to launch one

Exclusive: The Scottish Government have been contacted by concerned Scots demanding that historic sex abuse in football be independently probed.

David Walker

5 DEC 2023

The Scottish Government has been inundated with calls for them to finally launch a public inquiry into child sex abuse in Scottish football, including at Celtic Boys Club. But SNP ministers have so far rebuffed any attempts to start one, or even include it in the ongoing Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

Fresh requests were made to the government after it was revealed that nine paedophiles had links to the Parkhead club. The team are also expected to pay out to victims following a class action law suit from 20 former youth players for Celtic Boys Club who were targeted by monsters Jim Torbett and Frank Cairney.

Now, the Scottish Daily Express can reveal that a number of worried Scots have written to the Scottish Government pleading for an official probe to be launched. Even a SNP MP, Kirsten Oswald, wrote to the nationalist executive on behalf of one of her constituents.

One person wrote that it is "to Scotland's eternal shame" that "this matter has not been fully investigated." Another added that "these victims need a voice in parliament so they can get justice and some closure."

Another concerned Scot even warned that they would get the UK Government involved if they continue to be rebuffed by the SNP. They said: "If this only affected Scotland I presume that it would fall within the remit of the Scottish Parliament, but current evidence now suggests there was cross-border trafficking of children not only to England but also to various European countries and the United States

"Therefore I feel that it should be the responsibility of Westminster to undertake a review of the underbelly of our national game and to initiate a formal inquiry; the Scottish Government have made clear that they have no appetite for the same."

Scottish Tory shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay has long called for a public inquiry to be launched and hoped that this new information might finally poke the SNP into action. He told the Scottish Daily Express: "Survivors of the wide-scale child sex abuse in Scottish football have had the door slammed in their faces by the SNP government.

"Some victims died prematurely while other who are still alive have given up hope of ever getting justice - but they are entitled to answers. The SCAI, or a separate inquiry, should establish the scale of the abuse, why victims were silenced, how these crimes were covered up for so long and the full extent of connections between clubs, paedophiles and each other.

"Humza Yousaf has rejected calls but I hope that these powerful and compelling pleas will cause him to think again."

The Scottish Football Association launched its own independent review into historical sex abuse at clubs, and found that predators worked at the likes of Hibernian, Celtic, Rangers and Partick Thistle, among other teams. It ordered clubs to apologise for failing to protect vulnerable children.

Nine paedophiles linked to Celtic have been convicted of child abuse, with former scout Kenneth Divers the latest back in June. The Scottish Government rebuffed these calls for an independent inquiry.

A spokeswoman said: "Our sympathies are with the victims of historical abuse. The independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football, commissioned by the Scottish FA Board to examine what was known about abuse in Scottish football in the past and what actions were taken as a result, acknowledged the significant physical and mental harm caused to individuals and the need to ensure the safety, rights and wellbeing of children involved in football today.

“We support the work of Scotland’s police and prosecutors to bring perpetrators to justice and note that a number of individuals responsible for such crimes have been successfully convicted and sentenced for these.

“And in the civil justice system the Scottish Government also took action to remove a longstanding legal hurdle for adult victims of child abuse seeking damages claims by legislating to scrap the three-year ‘time-bar’ for all cases involving child abuse."

Another inquiry means another giant payday for potentially the perpetrators of child abuse in the judiciary

All paid by the long suffering taxpayer as usual. The taxpayer should be acknowledged as the child abuser seeing as they are paying? YOU, the taxpayer have been found guilty of child abuse so now empty your pockets while the abusers keep all theirs!

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20035278 (061843ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / SNP minister 'admits' eight months on he 'still doesn't know' what's going on in his education brief

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SNP minister 'admits' eight months on he 'still doesn't know' what's going on in his education brief

Scottish Government's higher and further education minister Graeme Dey was accused of coming to the Holyrood chamber without anything to announce as reform of the sector was pushed back again.

David Walker

5 DEC 2023

An SNP minister has been accused of having no idea of what is going on in his educational brief despite being in the role for eight months. Higher and further education minister Graeme Dey faced this damning conclusion as he gave a statement about the future of the sector.

He discussed the Withers Review into skills and training within the country, which recommended urgent reform, including the scaling back of Skill Development Scotland, which was criticised for being ineffectual. One agency to supply £3bn in funding to Scotland's universities, colleges, skills and apprenticeships was outlined.

But the government minister made no firm commitments at all during his speech, leading to accusations that he had came to the chamber just to fulfil a speaking slot. He did mention that there would be a single source of skills funding, a national career service and a central place for employers.

Scottish Tory education spokesman Liam Kerr pointed out that there was urgency needed here to reform the sector following a poor series of school results, which saw Scotland plummet down the worldwide rankings. He said: "Today's PISA results make stark the need for action, but seven months on from the Withers report, we've seen little progress and even an admission that after eight months the minister doesn't quite know what's working and what's not.

"The minister has rightly said before that this is a constantly changing landscape, and without action we risk being left behind. So on this single funding body, can you give us any timetable on when this is actually going to happen, and what the process will be?"

But he failed to get an answer from Mr Dey who just said that it is "a very complex piece of work" and that they were "taking the right to time to develop our consideration of this."

Speaking afterwards, Mr Kerr added: “Eight months into his job and the education minister admits the SNP have no idea what works – which will strike most people as a humiliating and shocking admission.

“Seven months after the Withers report was published, the SNP still cannot provide details on a single funding body, their views on the national employers’ forum or much-needed clarity on the future of the flexible workforce development fund.

“It is disappointing that the minister couldn’t provide any clarity in regards to these issues after 16 years of SNP failure in education.”

Currently, the Scottish Funding Council and the Student Awards Agency Scotland deal with dishing out cash to educational establishment and students. These would probably come to an end, with a careers advice service being embedded in local communities, schools, colleges and workplaces instead of Skills Development Scotland.

Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr was also critical of the speech. He said: "I like the minister, I enjoyed being on the education committee with him, but he's come to the chamber with a statement that has nothing really in it. And I don't know whether that's to be a commitment that was made to make a statement but frankly there's nothing in this to get excited about.

"I'm delighted that he has an appetite for reform but employers are impatient because they're living with the consequences of a skills crisis. Demand for apprenticeships is outstripping the supply that the government is prepared to fund."

Scottish Labour education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy added: "I imagine many will be sorely disappointed that the government is coming to the chamber with another statement with little substance in it. Nothing that they've said today will be useful to the sector today.

"Colleges are really struggling, finances are broken, staff are retiring, students are seeing courses at risk of being cut and in some cases have serious questions about governance, universities are in a similar difficult position. Institutions face a huge gap between the cost of providing education and the funding they get to do it."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20035335 (061858ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / The grades are in for Jenny Gilruth and the SNP's stewardship of Scottish education… and it's an F for fail

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>>126672

>>>/qresearch/19890649

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/grades-jenny-gilruth-snps-stewardship-31605675?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this

The grades are in for Jenny Gilruth and the SNP's stewardship of Scottish education... and it's an F for fail

Shadow education secretary LIAM KERR says the PISA rankings have shown how the Nats have transformed Scottish education from the envy of the world to little more than run-of-the-mill

By Liam Kerr MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

5 DEC 2023

In 2015, Nicola Sturgeon said: "Let me be clear – I want to be judged on [education].” She added that, as First Minister, she should be “prepared to put your neck on the line on the education of our young people".

That, it turns out, was at best a brass neck. And this year, as every year since, the PISA rankings for Scotland provide a damning judgment on the SNP’s record on education.

An education system which was once a byword for excellence, and the envy of the whole world is now a dismal story of declining achievement on every measure. But let’s be clear – this is not a failing of our hardworking teachers, education staff and our pupils who have endured so much particularly over the last few years. The blame for this lies firmly at the door of 16 years of SNP governing a fully devolved area.

A government which has failed to resource the sector, failed to listen to parents, students and teachers, and failed to collate, interrogate or ameliorate the data in favour of blaming anyone but themselves.

The OECD’s head of education described recent years as “not so great in Scotland”. The Institute for Fiscal Studies declared we had “dropped like a stone”. University College London’s head of education said “parents probably should be worried… clearly things have not been going well”.

The scores in our schools have been declining since at least 2012, the first year where children were assessed after the introduction of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).

Far from excellence, the PISA figures indicate a decline at each successive assessment until now, when the 2022 group – the first to have had CfE at every stage – also have the dubious distinction of the lowest attainment on record.

In maths and science, Scotland’s levels of achievement have fallen in every survey conducted by PISA. Even in reading, where the drop is slightly less marked, we are outperformed by England and at our joint lowest level ever (it is at the same as it was in 2015).

Our schools’ figures in these core subjects are lower than the average of the other OECD countries included in PISA’s assessment, and significantly worse than England’s, and those of the UK as a whole. Our score for maths is 471; England’s is 491. For science, it’s 483 to England’s 503.

These are gaps which, according to Lindsay Paterson, formerly professor of education policy at the University of Edinburgh, are the equivalent of a year’s worth of middle-secondary schooling. He described the results, bluntly, as “catastrophic”, a “calamity”, and pointed out that the attainment gap is worsening.

Years of SNP neglect

The Scottish Government is keen to suggest that the scores are a function of Covid. But while that will undoubtedly have had some effect, the OECD are clear that this decline started long before the pandemic, indeed the fall has been obvious for at least a decade, and we’ve seen that Scotland’s performance is worse than elsewhere in the UK.

Interrogating the data suggests the decline started when the Nationalists introduced the “reforms” and when – chiefly to save money, it later transpired – the SNP removed Scotland’s schools from key international comparison tables.

The Scottish Conservatives have policies and proposals to try to arrest the results of the SNP’s failures. They start with taking responsibility – not trying to blame other governments, our professionals and our students. It deals with proper resourcing of schools and local authorities after years of SNP neglect. It means looking beyond the education portfolio at whether young people are able to attend school ready to learn. And it means addressing the shameful violence which blights our schools and which the education secretary has failed to get a grip of, time and again.

The facts are clear: if the SNP paid attention to international comparisons, such as PISA, they would realised that their approach was letting Scottish schoolchildren down, and that results were poorer than their contemporaries elsewhere in the UK. They might have noticed that the judgment on their stewardship of education was in.

And that it was an F.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20036635 (070008ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / 'Humiliated' SNP ministers urged to publish ALL relevant information about Nicola Sturgeon's misconduct probe

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>>126668

>>126670

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humiliated-snp-ministers-urged-publish-31614216

'Humiliated' SNP ministers urged to publish ALL relevant information about Nicola Sturgeon's misconduct probe

The Scottish Conservatives are calling for the SNP ministers to publish all the requested information after their 'humiliating' court defeat

Jessica North

6 DEC 2023

SNP ministers have been told to publish all of the relevant information about Nicola Sturgeon's ministerial code investigation following a major court defeat.

The Scottish Government has been told at a Court of Session hearing that their reasoning behind withholding evidence gathered during an investigation into whether Ms Sturgeon breached the ministerial code is not valid.

This means that details previously withheld after a Freedom of Information request could soon be made public.

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Ministers should now do the right thing and publish in full all the relevant information."

The Tory MSP said: "This shabby episode is the latest example of the SNP’s addiction to secrecy and aversion to accountability. They have spent a small fortune of taxpayers’ cash on trying to defend a cover-up.

“This growing trend of public money being squandered on failed legal cases pursued in the SNP’s political interest – which also includes the Salmond judicial review and the Supreme Court indyref case – has to stop.”

He added: “This is a humiliating defeat for the SNP Government, whose defence that they don’t hold key information about the ministerial code investigation into Nicola Sturgeon has been rejected by Lord Carloway."

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said SNP minister's defence was a "pathetic attempt to pass the buck on the Scottish Government’s complicity in the misconduct of Nicola Sturgeon".

She said: "No government that is supposedly committed to transparency should be using taxpayers money fighting against the Information Commissioner and the Court of Session to protect its reputation.”

The Scottish Government has yet to comment.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20036751 (070041ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / Nicola Sturgeon and key SNP ministers refused to use government mobiles during pandemic response

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Nicola Sturgeon and key SNP ministers refused to use government mobiles during pandemic response

Scots Tory chairman Craig Hoy says: 'There is a culture of secrecy at the heart of the SNP government that stinks, and the onus is on the former first minister to fully explain what devices she used to communicate.'

Ben Borland

6 DEC 2023

Nicola Sturgeon and most of her ministers refused to use government-issued mobile phones during the Covid pandemic, it has emerged. This is despite the devices being more secure and having a higher level of encryption.

The news sparked yet more fears over transparency and security at the heart of the Nationalist establishment at Holyrood, with the Scottish Conservatives warning that "the murkiness surrounding SNP decision-making only continues to grow".

It follows our revelation earlier today that key figures during Scotland's pandemic response – including Ms Sturgeon – were warned not to delete their texts, WhatsApps and other messages and records as long ago as August 2021.

The Times reported tonight that just nine of the 36 ministers in post between February 1, 2020 and January 31, 2022 were recorded as having official phones. Instead, the former first minister and her most senior parliamentarians used only personal devices to call or text colleagues.

By contrast, 26 of the 30 ministers currently working under Humza Yousaf have government-issued devices. Only Scottish Greens minister Lorna Slater, SNP culture minister Christina McKelvie and Scotland's law officers have opted not to have a phone. Last month, Ms Slater told BBC Scotland she wanted to ensure that "personal and government business is totally separate and there can be no confusion".Isn't the reason for having a separate work phone "for exactly that purpose?"

The revelation raises further questions about Ms Sturgeon's record-keeping after reports that she deleted swathes of WhatsApp messages sought by the UK Covid inquiry. She has insisted she is "committed to full transparency" but has refused to comment on the deletion of messages.

In 2019, The Times revealed the first minister made handwritten notes on government policy which were then destroyed. At the time, Ms Sturgeon insisted there was "absolutely no substance" to claims that she did this to avoid scrutiny.

She was also shown to be using her SNP email account to conduct state business for years, despite strict rules separating government and party. Strict data retention rules apply to government email servers, whereas information can be deleted freely on private accounts.

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative chairman, said: "The murkiness surrounding SNP decision-making only continues to grow with this revelation. The public will want — and expect — Nicola Sturgeon to be upfront about whether any government business was carried out on a personal phone, especially in relation to the pandemic.

"There is a culture of secrecy at the heart of the SNP government that stinks, and the onus is on the former first minister to fully explain what devices she used to communicate."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "It is not the culture within the Scottish government to use WhatsApp for decision-making. However, our long-standing records management policy makes clear that government decisions, however they are made, should be recorded in the official record. Decisions are routinely made in minuted meetings or through formal submissions to ministers.

"A secure app was used on a personal device to safely access government emails from a corporate ministerial email account, as was routine practice for ministers within Scottish government guidance."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20036965 (070129ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / 'Astonishing' Shona Robison thought fiscal framework would be too 'technical' to debate

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'Astonishing' Shona Robison thought fiscal framework would be too 'technical' to debate

The deputy first minister complained about the UK Government giving more powers to Scotland so that it can borrow more cash as she was blasted by opposition critics.

David Walker

6 DEC 2023

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison was labelled "astonishing" over her claims that the fiscal framework would be too "technical" for MSPs to debate. The issue was discussed at Holyrood on Wednesday after the new deal was signed between the Scottish and UK Governments in August.

The fiscal framework is the arrangement between the two administrations which decides how much funding Scotland gets. The latest adaptation of it allows SNP ministers to borrow double the amount of money to spend on day-to-day budgets as it hiked the limit to £600m a year.

Holyrood's spending powers for capital projects like schools and transport infrastructure will now rise in line with inflation, with Westminster continuing to top-up the Scottish Government's tax revenues which was worth £1.4bn last year. The deal also removes limits on how much can be drawn from Scotland's reserves to spend on future years.

This was debated at the Scottish Parliament, with opposition MSPs criticising Ms Robison as she took the opportunity to complain about the new deal, despite previously welcoming it as "a finely balanced agreement that gives us some extra flexibility to deal with unexpected shocks."

She claimed that the "framework cannot protect Scotland from the UK Government’s austerity-driven budget decisions" and "called for the UK Government spending plans for 2024-25 to be urgently revisited."

But the SNP were criticised for the secretive way they act when it comes to spending taxpayer cash and for its actions prior to the debate. Scottish Labour finance spokesman Michael Marra claimed that the deal "was rushed out during the summer recess" and that the government tried to schedule the debate in September before the finance committee even had the opportunity to discuss it.

He said: "Why is this government so desperate to avoid genuine scrutiny that Labour would like to see? Deleting WhatsApps, forgetting meetings, refusing to reform FOI. Even today, it's suing the Information Commissioner.

"The deputy first minister told the finance and public administration committee that she did not think there would be a public debate over the fiscal framework because, I quote, 'it's quite technical,' but I find that quite astonishing. Like so much else in the SNP's tenure, NHS waiting lists, school attainment lists, this one has been filed in the too difficult pile.

"Granted, it's not a vote winner, like tax freeze or free bikes and laptops, but good governance is in the interest of the people of Scotland, and rests on getting the quite technical issues right. This updated fiscal framework gives Scotland more borrowing powers and the SNP frequently claim they're powerless in this parliament to deal with the situation that we find themselves in."

He concluded by claiming that this is a government "that is in crisis. It's out of its depth, it's making it up as it goes along, it's caught in a maelstrom of its own scandal, gaffes and controversies."

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton pointed out that the framework gives the Scottish Government "more flexibility and more power than ever" but that hasn't stopped the SNP "blaming Westminster more than ever." He added that the nationalists have "been writing cheques that people can't cash."

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20037072 (070151ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four / 'Curriculum for Excrement'! Kaye Adams stunned at teacher's fury at SNP on phone-in

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/curriculum-excrement-kaye-adams-stunned-31609115

'Curriculum for Excrement'! Kaye Adams stunned at teacher's fury at SNP on phone-in

Jenny Gilruth is under pressure to get to grips with the mess left by 16 years of SNP government after the country slipped down international rankings

Douglas Dickie

6 DEC 2023

The SNP's Curriculum for Excellence has been dubbed the 'Curriculum for Excrement' by a Scottish schoolteacher who said the SNP was using education as a "political football". The comment left host Kaye Adams shocked on her BBC Radio Scotland show on Wednesday morning as she discussed Scotland's failing education system under the nationalists.

It emerged on Tuesday that Scotland has dropped down the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) rankings with the country receiving its worst ever results in science and maths. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth is under pressure to get a grip of the situation with opponents saying years of mismanagement under the SNP have let down staff and students.

On Wednesday's Kaye Adams show, secondary school English teacher Sandra called in to share her thoughts on the situation. She fumed: "We have a Curriculum for Excellence. I'm not afraid to say on the radio that in the business we call it the 'Curriculum for Excrement' because it is not fit for purpose."

The comment left Adams stunned as she asked: "Really?" Sandra responded: "Absolutely. Our standards have been lowered year after year after year." She said what is expected of pupils now is "laughable" compared to when she first entered the profession 25 years ago.

She said she had two children who had gone through it and suggested it was being made too easy for pupils so the government could pat itself on the back. Sandra said: "Honestly, what they are asked to do and the standards they are asked to do are, year on year on year, lowered and lowered because it's a political football.

"It's a political football for the SNP to every year say that 'Oh yes, we are achieving, results are better year on year', when, actually, when put in the spotlight like yesterday with the Pisa results, we are failing. Scottish education, boasting a good solid education, particularly in comparison to our other United Kingdom partners - it is not that way anymore."

Sandra dismissed suggestions teachers were to blame, saying she worked with "incredibly committed individuals" and she "loved her job". And she added: "It is not our fault, it is the curriculum we've been given.

"And we are asked constantly for changes to lower levels. I go to markers meetings with the SQA and fight every year because they say 'oh, that is an acceptable answer'. And I'm saying, 'But that's not acceptable. That's not answering the question. That's not analysis'. And I'm told, 'you accept that and mark it correct'."

It comes as suggestions have been raised that the use of smartphones in classes is to blame for the falling standards. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which compiles the Pisa rankings, highlighted smartphone usage with the report saying: "We can see that students' use of smartphones was quite clearly linked in Scotland, but also in other countries, to greater student anxiety, to more disruption, to less concentration.

"Even many students in Scotland said: 'My neighbour is using their smartphone during a lesson and I can't concentrate'." It comes after a report by the UN suggested smartphones should be banned in classrooms, according to the Daily Mail.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liam Kerr said: "Mobile phones can be disruptive and distracting for pupils in class - and the final say on whether they are permitted should lie with teachers. If they believe that learning would be enhanced by banning the use of mobiles during class time, then they should have the power to enforce that."