/qnotables23/ -&nbsp;===Q Notables 2023===

https://youtu.be/idKUYMKQOYs?si=bNizgNtbaxIAOkG0

Michelle Mone interview: Baroness tells Laura Kuenssberg that lying over PPE contracts ‘not a crime’

Evening Standard

258K subscribers

86,807 views Dec 17, 2023

Baroness Michelle Mone has admitted she did not tell the truth about her links to PPE firm Medpro, but insisted that she and her husband have “no case to answer”.

The company is currently being investigated by the National Crime Agency (NCA), while the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has since issued breach of contract proceedings over a 2020 deal on the supply of gowns.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:13:12 efbe90 No.129882

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20116660 (222338ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Updated Humza Yousaf Bun | Updated Michelle Mone Bun / Baroness Mone hits back at PM over PPE MedPro scandal (video)

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>>129881

https://youtu.be/KW0WHxVZpPE?si=gNjg0ZJpdpJzZG9J

>>129879

Baroness Mone hits back at PM over PPE MedPro scandal

Sky News

7.25M subscribers

46,043 views Dec 18, 2023 #skynews #labour #sirkeirstarmer

Baroness Michelle Mone has hit out at the prime minister after he insisted he took the scandal surrounding a PPE company she was linked to "incredibly seriously".

The Tory-appointed peer and her husband, Doug Barrowman, have been embroiled in a row over their associations with PPE MedPro after it was awarded multi-million-pound contracts by the government for personal protective equipment during the pandemic.

The pair continually denied any involvement with the firm, but leaked documents showed she had recommended PPE MedPro to Cabinet Office ministers.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:13:27 efbe90 No.129883

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20116700 (222348ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Updated Humza Yousaf Bun | Updated Michelle Mone Bun / Michelle Mone PPE deal is NOT a 'great scandal', says Nigel Farage as peer urged to pay back money

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/michelle-mone-ppe-deal-not-31706283?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this

Michelle Mone PPE deal is NOT a 'great scandal', says Nigel Farage as peer urged to pay back money

Fresh from his stint in the Australian jungle on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, the former UKIP politician reckons there are bigger issues relating to the pandemic

Douglas Dickie

19 DEC 2023

Baroness Michelle Mone's links to a PPE deal with the UK Government is NOT a 'great scandal', at least according to Nigel Farage. The Scots peer, 52, admitted at the weekend that she had lied about her links to PPE Medpro, which was awarded Covid contracts of over £200 million from UK Ministers in 2020 to supply personal protective equipment such as face masks and gowns.

Lady Mone's husband Doug Barrowman, 58, stands to make a profit of around £60m as part of the deal after she recommended Medpro. The pair are being probed by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of fraud and bribery while Medpro is being sued by the Department of Health and Social Care for breach of contract for allegedly supplying non-sterile gowns.

The Glasgow-born businesswoman, who was handed a seat in the House of Lords by David Cameron in 2015, has insisted she has done nothing wrong. She and Barrowman appeared in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday to tell their side of the story, but the car-crash appearance, which included her saying she didn't "honestly see what we've done wrong", appears to have backfired.

On Monday, Lady Mone hit out at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after he said he was taking the scandal seriously. But despite the widespread public attention, Farage, fresh from his stint on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, reckons it is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Instead, he said government waste was a bigger issue. Speaking on GB News, he claimed around £10 billion worth of purchased PPE had been "written off, destroyed or lost". Of Lady Mone's involvement, he said: "... on the face of it, this looks like the great scandal to come out of the pandemic, but folks, it really isn't."

He added: "There were over 14,000 companies that applied for PPE contracts, many people making very, very big profits out of it. And yes, of course there was a high priority lane, where those that were known to government ministers had a much better chance of getting the orders and, of course, Baroness Mone was a part of that."

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Lady Mone and Barrowman to pay back the money they made from the Medpro deal. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said there were "huge questions" for the UK Government to answer.

He accused the Tories of using the Covid crisis to help allies "make millions" and added: "It's absolutely disgusting that Michelle Mone seems to think that she's the victim when, in actual fact, the victims here are the health care professionals or patients who required quality PPE but weren't able to get it. The victim here is the taxpayer who expected the money to be spent protecting families from the pandemic.

"And the victims in the longer term are those that require money from the government to support the most vulnerable. That's why it's disgusting and that's why we need to get our money back."

Lady Mone famously made her name as the head of lingerie company Ultimo. She and businessman Barrowman, who founded the Knox Group of Companies, married in November 2020.

Asked about the scandal on Monday, the PM said: "The Government takes these things incredibly seriously, which is why we're pursuing legal action against the company concerned. That's how seriously I take it and the Government takes it. But it is also subject to an ongoing criminal investigation. And because of that, there's not much further I can add."

The comment prompted Lady Mone to post on social media: "What is Rishi Sunak talking about? I was honest with the Cabinet Office, the Government and the NHS in my dealings with them. They all knew about my involvement from the very beginning."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:13:38 efbe90 No.129884

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20119735 (231630ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Ferguson Marine ferries fiasco is a monument to SNP incompetence; Turkish shipyard set to launch new ferry after just two years of construction

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Ferguson Marine ferries fiasco is a monument to SNP incompetence that looks set to keep getting bigger – Scotsman comment

Opinion by Scotsman comment • 11h

Ferguson Marine shipyard warns that ‘supplier issues’ mean the two ferries being built for CalMac could be delayed by up to two months

After the week the SNP have had – dominated by a chorus of justified outrage and condemnation of the Scottish Budget – they must have been looking forward to a break from it all over Christmas. However, ministers didn’t manage to make it to the end of the week before they were hit by another piece of bad news.

Once again, for the umpteenth time, we learned that the two over-budget and much-delayed CalMac ferries being built at the state-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard face yet more delays. As a reminder, these ferries were commissioned in 2015 and were supposed to have been in service in 2018. They were supposed to cost £97 million, but the current estimate is now £337 million.

In a letter to MSPs, Ferguson Marine chief executive David Tydeman revealed that “supplier issues” could cause up to two months’ delay. And, what’s more, the shipyard plans to review the current completion “dates and budgets” on January 25. Given the consistent direction of travel, that can surely mean only one thing – even more taxpayers’ money and an even longer wait for these much-needed ferries.

Neil Gray, the Well-being Economy Secretary, said news of the review was “extremely concerning”, adding that he had recently “impressed upon” Tydeman that the Scottish Government was facing “significant challenges... in terms of spending” and that “he should exercise every possible mitigation over potential overspend”.

The Scottish Government thinks that its recent decision to increase the top rate by 1p will raise an extra £82 million, or expressed in ferry terms, about half of one. However, the sum raised may well be less as higher earners take steps to cut their bills. High taxes already appear to be putting people off moving to Scotland and there are fears a “brain drain” could gather pace.

So ministers' calamitous handling of the ferry project may well have prompted them to take a step that is causing serious damage to the Scottish economy. Ferrygate is not quite the disastrous Darien scheme – not yet anyway – but it is, without doubt, a monument to SNP incompetence.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/ferguson-marine-ferries-fiasco-is-a-monument-to-snp-incompetence-that-looks-set-to-keep-getting-bigger-scotsman-comment/ar-AA1lVSNz?ocid=windirect&cvid=e1830596f7fb4c17b061dac2f3d48592&ei=29

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:13:48 efbe90 No.129885

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20126259 (250108ZDEC23) Notable: Final Historic Abuse Bun / Beneath the Magic Circle (video)

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

https://youtu.be/fyEoXJWrScU?si=yeZ7ORwv01vZatlU

BENEATH THE MAGIC CIRCLE

HD Documentary

170 subscribers

126 views Oct 6, 2023

A Scottish lawyer is convicted on historic child abuse charges, BBC Disclosure speaks to his victims and explores how he hid his crimes for decades. Reporter Myles Bonnar also revisits a 30-year-old scandal that rocked the legal establishment. For the first time on camera, members of the police, press and judiciary look back on the so-called 'Magic Circle Affair' and its major players. We ask whether there was a dark circle of criminality operating beneath this scandal. DISCLOSURE BBC

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:14:00 efbe90 No.129886

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20129215 (251928ZDEC23) Notable: Final Law and Disorder Bun / Edinburgh crime: Advocate John Mayer caught with haul of 500 child abuse images jailed for a year

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https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/edinburgh-crime-former-top-lawyer-john-mayer-facing-jail-after-downloading-hundreds-of-child-abuse-pictures-4455202

Edinburgh crime: Former top lawyer John Mayer facing jail after downloading hundreds of child abuse pictures

He downloaded more than 500 images of children being sexually abused.

Alexander Lawrie

21st Dec 2023

A former High Court lawyer is facing a jail sentence after he was found guilty of possessing indecent images of children on his laptop.

Retired advocate John Mayer downloaded more than 500 horrific pictures depicting the sexual abuse of children aged between 12 months and 14 years old. Mayer, 70, deleted the shocking collection of images and was found to have used computer cleaning software in a bid to hide his online activity.

Mayer, who turned to writing crime novels after retiring from his legal career, was caught when police officers seized several electronic devices during a raid on his home at Duddingston in Edinburgh in January 2021.

The lawyer denied any knowledge of the pictures but was found guilty of possessing the depraved images by a jury following a three day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court this week.

The trial heard from forensic computer analyst David McGowan who was working with Police Scotland as a cyber crime officer at the time of Mayer’s arrest on January 28, 2021.

Mr McGowan told the jury he was tasked with examining Mayer’s laptop seized during the police raid and said he found documents including an application for Mayer to become a part time sheriff. Mr McGowan, 35, said he also discovered thumb nail images on the hard drive which had been left behind on the device after the original files had been deleted.

He said the images showed children aged between one and 14 being “subjected to sexual posing and non-penetrative sexual activity with other children and adults”. Mr McGowan said the most serious images showed children engaged in “penetrative sexual activity with other children and adults”. The court was told the pictures were categorised as 117 at Category A, 193 Category B and a 201 at Category C.

The expert also told the jury the laptop contained the ADB Shredder programme that is used to permanently delete computer files.

Mayer told the trial he was a retired advocate who had acted in High Court trials, worked with the International Criminal Court at The Hague and had specialised in fighting international child abuse and abduction. Mayer said he had bought the laptop while living in Greece in 2018 and used the device to write his novels and for storing personal documents.

He told the jury he also used the device to download TV programmes and movies from the Pirate Bay website and at times the content he been corrupted with conspiracy themed material.

Mayer said he had allowed his wife, a cousin and a team of Albanian builders at his Greek home to access his laptop while he was not present. He told the court he had never seen the child abuse images on his laptop and denied ever accessing them online.

He said: “I have never seen these images. I didn’t know they were there. I would have been crazy to have something illegal on my laptop that the authorities look for.”

Following the evidence, the jury deliberated for around four hours before returning a majority guilty verdict of Mayer possessing indecent images of children between August 9, 2019 and January 28, 2021. The jury also him convicted of a charge of taking, or allowing to be taken, indecent images of children at his Edinburgh home between the same dates.

Sheriff Iain Nicol said: “Having regard to the verdict of this jury I am going to defer sentence for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment. It is fair to forewarn you that a custodial sentence is a possibility.”

Mayer was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and sentenced was deferred to February next year.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:14:15 efbe90 No.129887

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20150767 (300149ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP 'can't be trusted' with housing crisis as more than 16,000 children were left homeless last Christmas

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-cant-trusted-housing-crisis-31743977

SNP 'can't be trusted' with housing crisis as more than 16,000 children were left homeless last Christmas

Edinburgh had the highest number of children and adults who were forced to apply for homes

PA & Jessica North

24 DEC 2023

The SNP "cannot be trusted to tackle this issue" said an MSP in response to figured highlighting the prevalence of homelessness.

Figures provided by the Scottish Government in response to a parliamentary question from the party found that there were 28,154 live homelessness applications on December 25, 2022 - an 11% increase on the 25,458 in 2021.

The data showed 32,749 adults and 16,493 children were in temporary accommodation on Christmas day last year.

Edinburgh has the highest number of live applications, with 6,128 covering 7,465 adults and 3,902 children.

That was followed by Glasgow, with 4,863 covering a combined 9,394 individuals.

In Fife, 3,259 individuals were homeless on Christmas, followed by 2,634 in West Lothian and 2,260 in South Lanarkshire.

It means 49,242 people in Scotland were without a permanent home on Christmas 2022.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that 9,500 children - and 15,000 families - face the festive season without a permanent home

Liam McGarry, housing spokesman for the Scottish Lib Dems, is using his own experience of being made homeless at 16 to urge ministers to take action.

The party is urging the Scottish Government to build 60,000 affordable homes to address homelessness, while bringing forward legislation that would strengthen the duties on public bodies to prevent the crisis.

Mr McGarry said: "At Christmas time, most of us will have the security of a roof over our heads, but we now know that tens of thousands of Scots are not so lucky.

"A lack of availability, skyrocketing prices and poor-quality housing are all playing a part in making life miserable for far too many.

"Temporary council accommodation is stretched to breaking point, pushing people into unstable situations, sofa-surfing or even living on the streets.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats want to build more homes of every kind, re-establish social renting as a viable option and strengthen our commitment to ending homelessness across Scotland."

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:14:29 efbe90 No.129888

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20154627 (302118ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP Government destroy massive batch of files after Alex Salmond legal defeat

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/19969605 Alex Salmond suing the Scottish Government for £3m following 'unlawful' sexual misconduct probe

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-government-destroy-massive-batch-31755001

SNP Government destroy massive batch of files after Alex Salmond legal defeat

The latest transparency revelation comes amid ongoing legal battles between Alex Salmond and the SNP Government he used to lead

Jessica North

27 DEC 2023

The SNP has been told to "urgently come clean" after it was revealed that hundreds of official records were destroyed following a legal battle with Alex Salmond.

During the month that followed the 2019 judicial review defeat at the hands of the former First Minister and now Alba leader at the Court of Session, a total of 1,058 files were deleted. Tory MSPs are calling it "very suspect".

The day after the case ended on January 9, 2019, 251 records were destroyed. Mr Salmond is now expected to use this new information in his new legal case against the Scottish Government.

Earlier in the year he lodged a petition at the Court of Session alleging “misfeasance” by various past and present officials at the SNP led government.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy told the Daily Mail: "This massive batch of deletions looks very suspect and the SNP must urgently come clean over this staggering number of files that were wiped in a single day.

"The public will be asking serious questions about why this decision was taken only a day after they bowed to the inevitable and conceded the Alex Salmond judicial review.

"The murkiness at the heart of the SNP government only continues to grow. With almost a quarter of the entire files that they deleted that year being wiped on one date, they cannot try and typically cover this up."

Mr Salmond's lawyer, Gordon Dangerfield, accused the Scottish Government of previously withholding documents from the judicial review case and the parliamentary inquiry into the handling of complaints about the former First Minister.

He added: "It is too early to say whether this latest cache is part of that litany of deception or just a coincidence of dates."

The latest controversy follows a landmark transparency case that rules against the Scottish Information Commissioner who sought to withhold evidence into Nicola Sturgeon's ministerial code investigation during the Salmond saga. The deleted documents were not able to be submitted as evidence in this instance.

Details released by the Scottish Government in response to a freedom of information request showed that among the first 251 files was a document from the human resources (HR) team about guidance and procedures from 2005 onwards. Other files included correspondence with an HR helpdesk and details of 'special bonus' payments to staff in 2007 and 2008.

In the whole of 2019, some 1,096 files were deleted, with nearly a quarter of them destroyed the day after Mr Salmond's legal victory and the vast majority removed in the same month as the case concluded. In its FOI response, the Scottish Government said the records were destroyed in line with its agreed "record retention schedule" in 2019.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Information saved in line with the Scottish Government's record management plan is subject to formal retention schedules that results in deletion after a set period of time, in common with other governmental bodies and organisations.

"Scottish ministers and special advisers do not have direct access to the electronic record and document management system used by the Scottish Government and have never requested the deletion of any records."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:14:47 efbe90 No.129889

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20154754 (302146ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Kate Forbes admits the SNP's overseas offices promote Scotland as separate to the UK

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/kate-forbes-admits-snps-overseas-31764362

Kate Forbes admits the SNP's overseas offices promote Scotland as separate to the UK

The £7.8million-a-year network of 'pretend embassies' are using 'soft power' to promote 'Scottish Government values' and send a message that 'Scotland wants to align with the EU'... but they aren't getting involved in politics, of course!

Ben Borland

29 DEC 2023

MSPs at Holyrood recently heard from three of the leading lights of the SNP's so-called 'Foreign Legion', as they described how they use "soft power" to promote "brand Scotland" across the globe.

The network of nine 'overseas' offices has been given a bumper budget of more than £7.8million next year, despite growing concern at the Scottish Government running a 'shadow' foreign affairs strategy at odds with that of the UK. There is also frustration in Whitehall at SNP ministers using foreign trips to promote Scottish independence.

Some suspect the plush offices in some of the world's major capital cities – dubbed 'pretend embassies' – are a key part of this long-term effort to portray Scotland as 'ready-made state in waiting' that is already semi-detached from the UK.

Kate Forbes, one of the most influential figures in the SNP, did little to correct this impression when she said "obviously, I would not ask you to comment on political matters" before adding that it was "fascinating to see people relate to Scotland as an entity in and of itself rather than one that is subsumed within the wider United Kingdom".

Her comments came at a meeting of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee shortly before Christmas. It heard from Chris Thomson – the outgoing head of the Washington DC office – along with Katrine Feldinger and Catriona Radcliffe, the heads of the Copenhagen and Beijing offices.

They all said their role involved the use of "soft power" through cultural events such as Burns Suppers, St Andrew's Day dinners, concerts and ministerial visits in order to give a positive impression of "brand Scotland".

SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown also brought up the subject of politics, despite the fact that civil servants are supposed to be scrupulously neutral. He described recent attempts by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Foreign Secretary David Cameron to stop the Scottish Government setting its own agenda on foreign affairs as "a cross between a juvenile huff and some control freakery".

Mr Thomson – whose office is based in the British Embassy in Washington and whose successor will earn £83,000 a year – said: "Things can happen at home, and in the political sphere, that will have an impact on what we do but, as officials, our job is to get the work done."

He added: "The situation is really positive. We watch the politics and try to stay as far from them as possible, but we work well with our colleagues. That is not something that you will find me complaining about. I do not have to wear a hard hat at work and we do not have any fights in the office; it is genuinely very positive."

Ms Feldinger added, somewhat cryptically: "We are, of course, all aware of the context that we operate in and we have conversations about how best to manage that because, as Chris said, that is our job. So far, that is going very well."

Discussing Brexit and the Scottish Government's relationship with the EU, she declared that "Scotland... still wants to be part of the EU's work". Ms Feldinger added: "We still get a very friendly welcome, and it is incredibly important that we maintain that during the next decade to ensure that Europe is still aware that Scotland wants to align with it. There is a lot of global and geopolitical instability, and wanting to be part of something stable sends a really strong message."

Ms Radcliffe also appeared to suggest there was a political side to her role, when she spoke about External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson's recent visit to China. She said: "We posted on our social media channels every day at the end of each visit to update people on what the cabinet secretary had done, what he had said and who he had met, and to share Scottish Government values in relation to what we do here."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:15:02 efbe90 No.129890

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20154866 (302211ZDEC23) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf's 'Foreign Legion' expands to 54 - more than the budget, tax or strategy teams!

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>>129889

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/world-news/humza-yousafs-foreign-legion-expands-31764065

Humza Yousaf's 'Foreign Legion' expands to 54 – more than the budget, tax or strategy teams!

There are now nearly five times as many staff working in the SNP's network of overseas offices as there are in the 'Directorate for Propriety and Ethics'... which maybe won't come as a surprise to many people!

ByBen Borland

28 DEC 2023

The SNP Government has given a detailed breakdown of the number of staff working in its controversial network of 'overseas' offices. The headcount now stands at 54, with many of those on the top salary bands.

Seven of the nine offices in Beijing, Washington DC, Ottawa, Paris, Dublin, Berlin and Copenhagen have a Head of Office supported by a Deputy Head. Although their pay grades are not given, the new Head of Office in the States will be paid a salary of £83,000 a year.

The civil servants in charge of the 'Scotland House' offices in Brussels and London are paid at Director and Deputy Director level, which is understood to be in excess of £90,000 a year.

Of the 54 employees in the international offices, some 36 are employed directly by the Scottish Government with the remaining 18 recruited by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in each country.

Remarkably, the headcount is now larger than the Directorate For Propriety And Ethics (12 staff), the Directorate For Offshore Wind (23 staff), the Directorate For Tax And Revenues (26 staff), the Directorate For Strategy (27 staff), the Directorate For Budget & Public Spending (37 staff), the Directorate For Digital Health And Care (43 staff), and the Directorate For Chief Nursing Officer (53 staff).

There are now as many people working in the SNP's overseas offices – dubbed the 'Foreign Legion' by cynics who believe the money could be better spent at home – as there are in the Directorate For Culture And Major Events (54 staff).

The budget for maintaining the nine offices is set to rise by nearly 12 per cent next year, soaring from £7,004,000 in the current year to £7,824,000 in 2024/25. This increase is despite the swingeing cuts imposed on other parts of the public sector by Finance Secretary Shona Robison.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Daily Express revealed the number of staff working in the foreign 'embassies' had increased just eight in 2016/17 to its current record high. And there are plans to further expand the network with another office due to open in Warsaw before the end of the parliamentary term in 2026.

At the time, Alexander Stewart MSP told the Scottish Daily Express: "This huge expansion in overseas staff will dismay the public, particularly given the SNP Government are imposing swingeing cuts on essential services."

The Scottish Government said the international office budget represented just 0.02 per cent of the overall spending plans, adding: "This is an investment which has delivered outsized benefits, connecting to the global Scottish diaspora, boosting trade and investment, and sharing Scotland's distinctive voice on the global stage."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:15:21 efbe90 No.129891

File: 2944158e64a4795⋯.png (655.04 KB,814x897,814:897,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20154983 (302236ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Fury as SNP overseas office spending to rise by 12 per cent while public services suffer

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>>129890

>>129889

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/fury-snp-overseas-office-spending-31726181

Fury as SNP overseas office spending to rise by 12 per cent while public services suffer

Exclusive: The budget allocation for the SNP's 'pretend embassies has increased by over £1million in just two years, despite swingeing cuts to services at home in Scotland

Jessica North

21 DEC 2023

The Scottish Conservatives say taxpayers will be "furious" to hear that spending on the SNP's overseas offices will increase while other budgets are set to be slashed.

The SNP/Green Government has increased the budget for its controversial network of nine hubs – dubbed 'pretend embassies' by critics – by more than £1million in the space of just two years.

In 2022-23, the figure was £6,823,000 which then rose to £7,004,000 in the current year. Now it is set to soar to £7,824,000 for all nine offices, an increase of £820,000 when compared to last years – a rise of nearly 12 per cent.

"It's very telling that while SNP ministers impose swingeing cuts to essential services, they have increased their spending on overseas offices by a whopping £800,000," said Tory deputy spokesman for the constitution, external affairs and culture Alexander Stewart.

Meanwhile, Shona Robison's budget saw tax hikes and cuts to rail services and energy transition funds, as well as frontline services like housing, social justice and child poverty schemes.

Mr Stewart added: "Scottish taxpayers, who are being squeezed even more by Shona Robison's brutal budget, will rightly be furious. The millions being lavished on these offices highlight that the SNP’s priorities will always be skewed towards promoting their independence obsession in any way they can.

"The millions being lavished on these offices highlight that the SNP's priorities will always be skewed towards promoting their independence obsession in any way they can."

Pretend embassies... and you're paying

The nine offices are located in Beijing, Washington, Ottawa, Paris, Copenhagen, Brussels, Dublin and Berlin – as well as another so-called 'overseas' base at Scotland House in London. Only Paris has seen its budget reduced for next year.

The offices in Brussels, the US and China were opened under Scottish Labour, before the SNP launched a huge expansion programme under Nicola Sturgeon. The Scottish Government has opened six offices in almost seven years with another in Warsaw due to be opened by the end of this parliamentary session.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “International offices are maintained by all devolved governments and Scotland’s network has served and been supported by Ministers from a range of administrations for decades.

“Scotland’s international network attracts investment and creates domestic opportunities and benefits for the people of Scotland. We will continue to work with our friends and partners in Europe and beyond to reaffirm diplomatic ties, improve our global networks and unlock new economic and trading opportunities.

“Scotland has long benefitted from the inward investment our international network has helped to secure. As EY reported earlier this year, Scotland remains the most attractive place in the UK to invest after London, and outpaced the UK for foreign direct investment for a second year running, with a record 126 inward investment projects secured last year.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:15:37 efbe90 No.129892

File: 062bff057040dc6⋯.png (526.55 KB,798x898,399:449,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20155166 (302311ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Poll hammer blow for SNP as support for independence DROPS in 2023 despite claims

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>>129891

>>129890

>>129889

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/poll-hammer-blow-snp-support-31769278

Poll hammer blow for SNP as support for independence DROPS in 2023 despite claims

Exclusive: Analysis of every independence poll using the 'yes/no' question in 2023 shows support for leaving the UK has actually dipped compared with 2022

Douglas Dickie

29 DEC 2023

Support for Scexit dropped in 2023 despite Nationalist claims it is on the rise, the Scottish Express can reveal. With hopes of a second independence referendum dashed, the SNP has been pushing alternative ways to break up the UK, including using the next UK general election as a "de facto" plebiscite.

But analysis of every poll using the 'yes/no' question asked to voters in 2014 shows support for independence has actually decreased over the past 12 months. The average 'yes' percentage out of the 47 polls taken in 2023 is 43.3 per cent.

That is down from almost exactly 45 per cent in the 26 surveys conducted during 2022. And support for the Union has risen slightly over the past 12 months.

In 2022, it averaged 45.9 per cent. But that has risen to 46.9 per cent in 2023. If don't knows were excluded, the corresponding result in a referendum would be 53.5 per cent for the union and 46.5 per cent for breaking up the UK.

The figures will be a hammer blow to the nationalist movement which has insisted for months that support for Scexit was rising. Others have . Just six polls in 2023 gave independence a lead - less than 13 per cent of the survey conducted. In comparison, there were seven polls with a 'yes' lead in 2022 - 27 per cent of all those conducted.

Three of this year's 'yes' leads were in polls carried out by Find Out Now with two being conducted by Ipsos Mori. The other was carried out by Opinium. It comes with the SNP struggling in the polls ahead of the next general election. Other polling also suggests a heavy bias towards 'yes' in the question, with the gap even wider if a 'remain/leave' question is asked.

Reacting to the data, Scottish Conservative deputy constitution spokesman Alexander Stewart said: "For all the SNP’s spin, Scots have repeatedly made it clear they are sick and tired of their independence obsession. They want Humza Yousaf and his colleagues to be focused on their real priorities, rather than aiming to turn the next General Election into a proxy referendum.

"The SNP should be spending time and resources on issues such as reducing NHS waiting times and restoring educational standards in Scotland’s schools." It comes as Alex Salmond took a pop at his former party, saying Scotland had endured a "decade of drift" under the SNP.

Mr Salmond, who quit the SNP in 2018, claimed the "foundation" of the case for independence had been the apparent competence of the government that he had led, this had been "badly eroded" under his successors. He also went on to accuse the SNP, now led by Humza Yousaf, of having "given up the ghost on presenting a coherent independence strategy".

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:16:00 efbe90 No.129893

File: af3dfa2fc36e1f9⋯.png (637.32 KB,841x894,841:894,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20155226 (302327ZDEC23) Notable: Final Law and Disorder Bun / Scotland's top prosecutor welcomes US court date for Libyan accused of being the Lockerbie 'bomb maker'

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/world-news/scotlands-top-prosecutor-welcomes-court-31728181

Scotland's top prosecutor welcomes US court date for Libyan accused of being the Lockerbie 'bomb maker'

As memorial services to the 270 people murdered on this day 35 years ago take place on both sides of the Atlantic, a court in Washington DC has set a date for the start of the second Lockerbie trial

Ben Borland

21 DEC 2023

The Lord Advocate has welcomed the fixing of a trial date for the man suspected of building the bomb which brought down a plane over Lockerbie as she paid tribute to the victims.

Libyan Abu Agila Masud, 72, is to go on trial in Washington DC on May 12, 2025 facing three charges which he denies. He is alleged to have helped make the bomb which killed all 259 passengers and crew on board the jumbo jet bound to New York from London 35 years ago on December 21, 1988.

Another 11 people were killed in Lockerbie when wreckage destroyed their homes in what remains Britain’s deadliest terrorist attack. Former Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is so far the only man convicted in relation to the bombing.

Speaking on the 35th anniversary of the atrocity, Dorothy Bain KC said: “For 35 years now the families of the 270 people murdered on the night of December 21 1988 have borne their losses with huge dignity and my thoughts are with them.”

The Lord Advocate, who is attending a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery in the US, added: “The court in Washington DC has now fixed a date of May 12 2025 for the Masud trial. I welcome this development and am encouraged with the progress in the court process.

“Scottish and US authorities have worked together since 1988 to bring those responsible for this atrocity to justice. That work continues as a dedicated team of Scottish prosecutors and officers from Police Scotland support the US Department of Justice and the FBI in this prosecution.”

After he was found guilty in 2001 by three Scottish judges sitting at a special court in the Netherlands, Megrahi was sent to prison in Scotland but was controversially granted compassionate release in 2009 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, returning home to Libya where he died in 2012.

Police Scotland’s Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham is also the 35th anniversary service in Washington, which he said was a “great honour”. “Time is no barrier to justice and Police Scotland remains committed to bringing those responsible for this atrocity to justice,” he added.

Kara Weipz, from a group representing 400 US relatives and friends, also welcomed the court date, saying: “It’s finally justice in this country and it’s something that members of the group have waited a very long time to see. It’s what we’ve wanted. We’ve wanted justice, and it’s coming. Hopefully.”

The mood in the town is 'sombre'

A further memorial was held at Tundergarth Church outside Lockerbie, which sits opposite the field where the nose cone of the plane fell to the ground. The service was led by Jeff Brown, Moderator of the Presbytery of Annandale and Eskdale, who said: “We remember all those taken in a senseless act of violence 35 years ago.”

Wreaths were also being laid at Rosebank Crescent, which became the site of a huge crater, and Sherwood Crescent, where houses were also destroyed. Later, a minute’s silence was held at the Garden of Remembrance at Dryfesdale cemetery just outside Lockerbie.

Pupils from Lockerbie Academy gave readings and a piper played as the wreaths were laid. Local MP David Mundell, a former Scottish secretary, was among those attending and described the mood as “sombre” as the town marked the anniversary.

He said: “I wasn’t in the town that night but obviously I remember it very, very well as news unfolded as to what had happened, I think everybody can remember where they were, obviously I had lots of friends and family still here. I remember vividly the days afterwards.

“But it’s always been about the stoicism people here displayed when that event happened, the way they stepped up to the mark and helped not just the victims but the armed forces, police, the emergency services who were involved afterwards, it was a remarkable effort by the community.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:16:16 efbe90 No.129894

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20155328 (302353ZDEC23) Notable: Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Updated Humza Yousaf Bun | Updated Michelle Mone Bun / Glasgow's 'botched' low emission zone blamed for 20 per cent drop in business

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038124 Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/glasgows-botched-low-emission-zone-31698146

Glasgow's 'botched' low emission zone blamed for 20 per cent drop in business

The controversial car ban is due to hit other big cities next year despite backlash in Glasgow from local businesses who say the impact is 'alarming' for businesses struggling to get back on top after the pandemic

Jessica North

18 DEC 2023

Glasgow's businesses have reported a 10 per cent drop in footfall due to the council's Low Emission Zones (LEZ) with some saying they are experiencing a 20 per cent drop in business.

Leon Thompson from UK Hospitality said "still very fragile" businesses have been hit by a "marked spike in the downturn of footfall into the city centre" since the rules were introduced back in June. The hospitality boss also took aim at the poor provision of late-night public transport.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland he said: "We really need to have our businesses to be able to trade at their optimal level and at the moment, that's proven to be a challenge. And if you look at Glasgow City's performance against other cities and in Scotland, it really is trailing and that's obviously a concern for cities who will have the experience at least coming in next next summer."

Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister Graham Simpson MSP said: "These stark remarks from the hospitality industry highlight yet again the deeply damaging impact Glasgow's botched low emission zone has had since it was imposed by the SNP-Green council six months ago."

The SNP-led local authority became the first to implement restrictions on older vehicles being driven into the city centre with Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen in line for similar schemes to be enforced next year.

Mr Thompson said: "The issue that we have with the scheme is that there's really no evidence that it's doing much more than that threatening the viability of businesses in Glasgow City Centre."

He added: "Footfall has been reported as being down 10 per cent. Some businesses are saying that they're 20 per cent down on their own business, which is really quite alarming, particularly at this point, when hospitality businesses need to be trading at an ultimate level to to try and break even, so it just another burden and difficulty for our businesses right now."

Addressing the other challenge for late-night venues, he said public transport plays a role. "A lot of it is about how long the services run for that because if you look at most affected parts of the hospitality industry, it's the late-night elements."

He added: "And that's because bus services finish earlier, the underground stops, trains, sisters cease to run. So really, it's about opening up public transport so it's available for much longer. into the evening than it currently is."

Mr Simpson said the SNP "cannot ignore that businesses are openly saying it is threatening the economic viability of the city2.

"While everyone wants to improve the air quality in the city, this scheme was rolled out in the wrong manner at a time when businesses were still struggling after Covid and with rising bills due to the global cost-of-living crisis," he added.

"Glasgow is now lagging behind other cities in terms of economic performance and Leon Thompson is right to urge the council to get on with improving public transport options.

"Coupled with the low emission zone, that is putting many people off coming into the city centre, which is a double whammy for businesses. Other cities who are planning their own low emission zones must learn lessons from the major errors made by the SNP-Green council in Glasgow."

The city council say it will be some time before the benefits of the LEZs can be reported particularly as the main expected benefit relates to the long-term average pollution concentrations.

They state "this is a statutory process we're monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of any Scottish LEZ" adding that "the council will follow the process and report back to our new transport strategy that has a substantial focus on improving bus travel."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:16:32 efbe90 No.129895

File: 77524d100a24a3b⋯.png (645.51 KB,823x899,823:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20155676 (310054ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Nationalist MP admitting he uses fake quote to boost separatist argument shows how low they'll go

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/nationalist-mp-admitting-uses-fake-31768878

Nationalist MP admitting he uses fake quote to boost separatist argument shows how low they'll go

Neale Hanvey reckons Tories ignore a quote by Margaret Thatcher - probably because it's made up. But the Nat penchant for fake news is a very real problem

Douglas Dickie

29 DEC 2023

The SNP setting up its own rebuttal unit to tackle fake news has emitted many a laugh from anti-Nationalists. Given the independence movement's penchant for just making things up, there was a definite feeling of 'pot kettle black' about the whole thing.

But perhaps we shouldn't dismiss Nats' use of fake news with a roll of the eyes and shrug of the shoulders. This isn't just confined to the fringes of Scexit supporters, it is a very real problem among elected politicians.

The use of fake energy statistics was a fantastic example. Trumpeted by the likes of 'Air Miles' Angus Robertson to big up the independence cause abroad, anyone correcting it was met with accusations of 'talking Scotland down'. Humza Yousaf casually throws around untrue facts and figures at FMQs yet responds without a hint of humility when this is pointed out to him.

The situation came to mind again this week when Alba MP Neale Hanvey admitted to using a fake Margaret Thatcher quote to push his argument. He was responding to a meme on social media featuring the completely debunked quote from the former PM that the SNP sending a majority of Scottish MPs to Westminster was grounds for breaking up the UK.

Hanvey, who faces electoral humiliation at the next general election after jumping into bed with Alex Salmond's motley crue of has-beens and never-weres, responded to a comment asking if the Tories still stood by Thatcher's words. He said: "They ignore it. I have asked them repeatedly in debate. This is the one thing she was right about, and they know it."

There's a good reason they ignore it. Most of us tend not to offer much of an opinion on completely made-up quotes.

Only Mr Hanvey knows if he's aware the meme is a lie - although he should do now with many people correcting him. Does it even matter to him? It's true in the mind of Nationalists, and that's all that matters.

And while Mr Hanvey represents Alba, he has company. We've previously told of how the SNP's deputy leader Keith Brown used the fake quote in his party conference speech a few months ago. We've pointed this out to the SNP. Twice. Yet, it remains on their website to this day.

A new Yes website launched by the SNP is littered with factual inaccuracies. It includes infographics Nats can use online that feature out-of-date information, and yet it was heralded by Humza Yousaf.

The SNP, Alba and independence movement in general have a major dishonesty issue. They inhabit the world of 'post truth' they would claim to rally against. It exposes the utter sparseness of their argument that they are reduced to taking things out of context or simply inventing them to further their cause.

It proves that they will stoop to any low in their pursuit of breaking up the UK. And it begs the question if we can trust anything they say given lying seems to be second nature to them.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:16:49 efbe90 No.129896

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20155767 (310110ZDEC23) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Secretive SNP Government refuse to reveal what Humza Yousaf spoke about in controversial meeting with Icelandic Prime Minister

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/secretive-snp-government-refuse-reveal-31774670

Secretive SNP Government refuse to reveal what Humza Yousaf spoke about in controversial meeting with Icelandic Prime Minister

Exclusive: The First Minister was rebuked by then-foreign secretary James Cleverly for meeting the Icelandic Prime Minister without a Foreign Office diplomat present and his government have refused to reveal what was said in that summit.

David Walker

30 DEC 2023

The Scottish Government have been caught up in a new secrecy row after officials refused to reveal what Humza Yousaf spoke about in his controversial meeting with Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. The pair's summit in New York came under scrutiny after the First Minister refused to allow a UK Government diplomat to sit in on it.

It is the rules that a Foreign Office official must be present when SNP ministers meet with foreign politicians but this has been breached numerous times by the nationalists. Most recently, Mr Yousaf was rebuked by Lord Cameron after chatting with Turkish President Erdogan without being accompanied by the UK Government.

But a similar row broke out in October when it was claimed that the First Minister blocked a Foreign Office representative from his meeting with the Icelandic PM at New York's Climate Week. It provoked an angry reaction from then-foreign secretary James Cleverly who threatened to pull his department's support for these summits.

He warned the SNP that his officials will "communicate to host governments that we do not judge it appropriate for them to meet" with Scottish Government ministers unless a diplomat is present. He penned a letter to Angus Robertson where he expressed his disappointment that they had contravened "longstanding" guidance.

This guidance applies to both the Westminster and Holyrood administrations and states that a senior Foreign Office official must be present at all meetings between devolved governments and foreign diplomats. The UK Government have accused the nationalists of attempting to undermine UK-wide messages, including on Brexit and Scexit.

Mr Cleverly added that if SNP ministers continue to prevent attendance by UK diplomats he will instruct Foreign Office officials to "withdraw from facilitating meetings between Scottish government ministers and ministers of foreign governments".

The Scottish Daily Express asked the SNP Executive for minutes from the meeting between Mr Yousaf and the Icelandic PM but were rebuffed, as they cited a loophole in the freedom of information rules. They claimed it would affect section 32, international relations.

This legislation states: "Its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially— relations between the United Kingdom and any other State; relations between the United Kingdom and any international organisation or international court; the interests of the United Kingdom abroad; or the promotion or protection by the United Kingdom of its interests abroad."

A briefing note for the meeting was provided though, which highlighted that the two politicians would be discussing on and offshore wind projects. And the SNP even offered to give advice to the Icelandic government when it comes to climate change.

The First Minister was told to ask Ms Jakobsdóttir whether Iceland has "considered providing funding on Loss and Damage?" If not, his officials were "happy to provide advice/support on this. We could have a briefing ready for your Climate Minister to consider ahead of the COP28 meeting in Reykjavik."

Mr Yousaf was forced to plead with the UK Government not to shut his international embassies after Lord Cameron was furious when he met Turkish President Erdogan without a UK diplomat present. He called the former Prime Minister "petty" despite him not following the rules.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:17:06 efbe90 No.129897

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20162088 (010334ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Shona Robison jets off to exclusive ski resort frequented by George Clooney and Kylie Minogue days after clobbering Scots with tax hikes and funding cuts

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/shona-robison-jets-exclusive-ski-31777108

Shona Robison jets off to exclusive ski resort frequented by George Clooney and Kylie Minogue days after clobbering Scots with tax hikes and funding cuts

The Scottish Government finance secretary enjoyed a festive break to Chamonix, an exclusive resort in the French Alps, just days after subjecting Scots to one of the worst budgets since devolution.

David Walker, John Ferguson & Hannah Rodger

31 DEC 2023

Shona Robison has been blasted after it was revealed she jetted out to an exclusive ski resort frequented by celebrities just days after presenting a brutal budget which included tax hikes and funding cuts. The finance secretary spent Christmas in a luxury spa hotel in the French Alps, where rooms cost up to £520 a night.

The four-star Heliopic Hotel and Spa is based in Chamonix which is a favourite winter retreat for huge names such as George Clooney and Kylie Minogue. And the SNP minister was pictured enjoying drinks and dinner at the Michelin-recommended Ashokan restaurant where a £78 three-course menu includes foie gras, black truffle and scallops.

Her lavish getaway came just days after she presented a budget which "clobbered" Scots due to more tax hikes and refusal to hand over business rates cash. Mental health and housing funds were also slashed to fill a £1.5bn black hole.

The Sunday Mail reported that "eyebrows were raised" when she announced she would be flying out to Chamonix after delivering the bad news. A source told the the paper: "For the vast majority of families struggling through the cost of living crisis a skiing holiday is a completely unattainable dream.

“Many will be having to think whether they can afford to turn the heating on this winter never mind go to a luxury Alpine spa. A decade ago part of the appeal of the SNP was that they seemed to understand what ordinary people were going through compared with Westminster elites. But after all these years in power it now feels like they are out of touch and drunk on power.”

Her budget was described as a "tax and axe" one, with experts warning that it could destroy jobs and devastate public services. Councils were not given enough money to fund a council tax freeze, and high earners were battered with another tax hike a year after the last one.

The source added: “Ironically it is businesses like Scotland’s ski resorts at Glencoe and Aviemore that are finding it tough at the moment due to Robison’s failure to introduce rates relief available in England.”

A number of other big celebrities also holiday in Chamonix including singer Katy Perry and actors Penelope Cruz and Michael Fassbender. The resort the SNP minister enjoyed her time in is at the foot of Mont Blanc and is classed as one of Europe's best spas.

Luxurious rooms rocket in price over Christmas and the hotel also offers a swimming pool, ice cave, Japanese bath and a jacuzzi with stunning mountain views. On the hotel’s website it says guests can “ski through immaculate snowy landscapes” in one of the “most beautiful ski resorts in the Alps”.

The children’s menu at the Ashokan costs £39 while the plush hotel bar serves Jeeper and Domaine Frank Verlet champagnes for up to £112 a bottle along with £14 cocktails and £34 glasses of cognac. Guests can also enjoy luxury spa treatments at the Nuxe basement spa which offers massages for up to £125 and deluxe anti-ageing facials for £160.

A spokeswoman for Robison said: “Ms Robison had a short, three-night family break over Christmas.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: “The thought of Shona Robison living it up at an elite ski resort will stick in the craw of Scots clobbered by her devastating budget. While politicians, like everyone else, are entitled to a holiday, it’s tone deaf of the finance secretary to jet off on a luxury break just days after hiking taxes on hard-working Scots and imposing eye-watering cuts on key public services.”

Her fellow Tory MSP Murdo Fraser described the situation as "all a bit Marie Antoinette" referencing the late French queen who enjoyed luxury while the French people toiled in poverty.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:17:23 efbe90 No.129898

File: 70d722abb035aa0⋯.png (538.01 KB,835x881,835:881,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20165408 (012024ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf humiliatingly snubbed by Scottish Government who rejected request to publicise his Time magazine front cover

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-humiliatingly-snubbed-scottish-31774916

Humza Yousaf humiliatingly snubbed by Scottish Government who rejected request to publicise his Time magazine front cover

Exclusive: The First Minister proudly asked his administration to share the Time magazine on their social media but was told this could not be done due to the article mainly focusing on the SNP.

David Walker

30 DEC 2023

Humza Yousaf faced a humiliating snub by his own government after he tried to make them publicise his Time magazine front page. The First Minister was proud to appear on the cover of the prominent international publication as he was lauded as the country's first Muslim leader.

In the puff piece, the journalist for the article was given unrivalled access to the newly crowned SNP leader back in August when they accompanied him on a number of photoshoots, including in Largs and at a Ukrainian flower-laying ceremony. They declared him as one of TIME's Next Generation Leaders, which was rubbished by critics.

This front page became a familiar sight on the SNP's social media as they boasted about him being chosen for this article. But now the Scottish Daily Express can reveal that the Scottish Government were not quite so keen on the entire ordeal.

A lot of preparation work went into the magazine article, with a number of photo shoots taking place, including on the balcony in his office. The actual article lavished praise on him, describing him as "the first Muslim politician ever elected to lead a Western democracy" – although in fact he is merely the leader of a devolved administration.

In emails seen by this website, the First Minister instructs his office to ask the Scottish Government to publicise the front page on their social media accounts. One of his private secretaries emails the SNP Executive to say "The First Minister had asked that our comms teams do some follow up when this is live please?"

The article is then published on October 5, but his request is rebuffed by the civil servants working within the administration. They write: "Just to flag that the Time Magazine feature has now published. Time have shared a link to the article on Twitter here which the FM may wish to share to his personal account: TIME on X: "Meet the newest class of Next Generation Leaders: 10 trailblazers shaping our future.

"Unfortunately given the party political content and focus throughout the article it’s not one we are able to post to SG social channels. Apologies."

This humiliating rejection came due to the fact that the article focuses massively on Mr Yousaf's dreams of breaking up the UK, and also on the turmoil which had engulfed the SNP during his short reign at the top. It covered Scexit, gender reforms and also the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election which ended in a thrashing for the nationalists.

He told Time that if he can get independence support to a consistent high- so far an impossible feat despite more than 16 years in power for the Nats- then "it'll be impossible for the UK government" to continue to say no. But this has culminated in a plummeting support for the SNP.

The First Minister also added: "Being attached to this unequal union is what is holding us back and I believe that weaves its way through every single issue that people are grappling with today."

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy was scathing in his assessment of the interview at the time. He said: "He's chosen to defend the worst errors of his predecessor and ignore Scotland's real priorities by continuing to focus on separatist obsessions. He may not have long to enjoy his exposure in publications such as Time magazine before the electorate call 'time' on his leadership."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:17:38 efbe90 No.129899

File: 8b8a29813a11c10⋯.png (610.94 KB,820x899,820:899,Clipboard.png)

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File: 9dc5def59b27b1a⋯.png (322.22 KB,553x864,553:864,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20165784 (012208ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf hits out at 'cronyism' in Honours system weeks after ex-SNP president handed plum role as 'impartial' government adviser

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-hits-out-cronyism-31772642

Humza Yousaf hits out at 'cronyism' in Honours system weeks after ex-SNP president handed plum role as 'impartial' government adviser

The First Minister was quick to criticise the fact Liz Truss gets to appoint new peers but his comments come weeks after Michael Russell was appointed as Chair of the Scottish Land Commission (SLC), a taxpayer-funded impartial role.

David Walker

30 DEC 2023

Humza Yousaf has moaned about the long-standing Honours tradition, describing it as "naked political cronyism at its worst." He comments came after former Prime Minister Liz Truss was allowed to nominate 11 of her allies for honours, despite only lasting 49 days in office.

This list included Tory donor Jon Moynihan, her deputy chief of staff in Number 10 Ruth Porter and former chief executive of the Vote Leave Brexit campaign Matthew Elliott, with all three being recommended for peerages. Two Conservative MPs were also honoured, with Alec Shelbrooke receiving a knighthood and Jackie Doyle-Price becoming a dame.

Novelist Shirley Conran was the only non-political figure on the list as she became a dame for services to mathematics education as founder of the charity Maths Anxiety Trust. Ms Truss's list was published at the same time as the King's New Year honours and over a year after she left office.

The announcement has annoyed the SNP, despite one former adviser wanting the nationalists to start accepting positions in the House of Lords. The First Minister took to social media to outline his anger as he said: "The Honours system isn't fit for purpose.

"Naked political cronyism at its worst. We should have a system that rightly recognises the excellent contribution people make to their communities and to trailblazers in their respective fields. Not political donors & cronies.'

But some social media commentators highlighted that cronyism is something which is rife within the nationalist party as well, as evidenced by the appointment of former president Michael Russell to an apparently impartial Scottish Government adviser role. He stepped down from his job to take on the role of Chair of the Scottish Land Commission (SLC).

This is a taxpayer-funded job which is meant to be unbiased but concerns were raised about Mr Russell as he has previously labelled non-Nats as "enemies" and "anti-Scottish." He will be expected to advise ministers about land reform in Scotland, and may need to be critical.

His appointment was voted through at Holyrood in the last week before recess, with the SNP and Scottish Green majority ensuring he won. But opposition critics blasted this as "jobs for the boys" pointing out how volatile the former MSP was to anyone outwith his own party.

Scottish Tory rural affairs spokeswoman Rachael Hamilton said: “The last thing the Scottish Land Commission needs is an SNP yes man, but that is exactly what Mike Russell is. He will do anything for independence, but the evidence is clear he cannot be independent in this role. Mike Russell has called political opponents enemies and anti-Scottish.

“Only last month he ludicrously blamed my party for Michael Matheson’s iPad scandal. He is beyond repair and his judgement is skewed. As we are about to embark on important land reform, Mike Russell’s uncompromising and entrenched views will undermine that work.

“Jobs for the boys will only compromise land reform, not facilitate it. Mike Russell will only act in the SNP’s interests at every turn, rather than acting in Scotland’s interests as the new chair of the SLC.”

Scottish Tory MSP Roz McCall responded to Mr Yousaf and said: "Like giving the former SNP President one of the top jobs at the Scottish Land Commission you mean?"

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:17:52 efbe90 No.129900

File: 92e75e6de52083a⋯.png (621.15 KB,816x898,408:449,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20166060 (012317ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Michael Russell suddenly steps down as SNP president weeks after being re-elected

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>>129899

Pretty sure I posted this on the last board, but will re-post...

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/michael-russell-suddenly-steps-down-31576496

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.”

However, Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: “It speaks volumes for the state of the feuding, scandal-ridden SNP, that Mike Russell would want to desert a sinking ship in favour of a cushy job with a Scottish government quango.

“But many people will question whether someone so partisan and tribally devoted to Humza Yousaf’s party is the right person to lead the Scottish Land Commission.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:18:07 efbe90 No.129901

File: 631a3f5e051ea02⋯.png (624.7 KB,828x899,828:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20166380 (020008ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP Government kept eye on cronyism row after it handed £405k to Islamic group linked to Humza Yousaf

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>>129900

>>129899

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-government-kept-eye-cronyism-31783085

SNP Government kept eye on cronyism row after it handed £405k to Islamic group linked to Humza Yousaf

New documents released by the National Records of Scotland showed that Alex Salmond's cabinet were kept up-to-date on the scandal surrounding the handing of taxpayer cash to the Scottish Islamic Foundation which included his former aide as chief executive and the now First Minister as a director.

David Walker

1 JAN 2024

Alex Salmond's SNP government kept a close eye on a cronyism row involving an Islamic group with links to Humza Yousaf. He handed the Scottish Islamic Foundation (SIF) £405,000 in grants to help it run events which never actually came to fruition.

This caused a scandal back in 2008 as the organisation had no track record of being able to put on events of the scale it promised, and its founding chief executive was the now First Minister's cousin Osama Saeed who was a former aide to Mr Salmond and stood as an SNP candidate in the 2010 general election.

Ministers in the cabinet were kept abreast of the row surrounding this cash as they were updated on a growing number of parliamentary questions and freedom of information requests about the SIF. This is shown in newly released papers published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The SNP government were told that Mr Salmond's special advisers were helping to field queries from rival MSPs due to the high "media interest" surrounding the group and the payment. Mr Yousaf himself was a director of the SIF from May 2008 until September 2009 with his then girlfriend Gail Lythgoe being a director from June to December 2009.

They were later married before divorcing, with the First Minister now wedded to Nadia El-Nakla. At the time of the scandal, he was a parliamentary assistant to SNP MSP Bashir Ahmad, while Ms Lythgoe was the national secretary of SNP Students.

The SIF claimed it would hold the country's biggest ever celebration of Islamic culture in Glasgow in June 2009 and labelled it IslamFest. However, the project collapsed and the group had to repay £128,000 after spending £72,000 on development, with Mr Salmond predicting that it would be an "enormous event" for the city and Scotland.

It also failed to hold an Islamic financial event called Etisal which it pencilled in for November 2009 but this also never happened. Half of the original £400,000 in grants was withheld.

The SIF was included in a Scottish Cabinet Analysis of News and Current Events (SCANCE) report on 19 August 2008. It said: “A number of media reports over the past month have claimed that Scottish Government funding has been provided to the Scottish Islamic Foundation because their chief executive (Osama Saeed) has strong links to the SNP.

“A total of just over £400k has been provided: £200k (of an estimated £1.4m) for IslamFest; £190k for a partnership project to develop and promote education and personal development for young Muslims and encourage greater community involvement; and small amount for set up costs for the organisation.

“All grants were subject to normal funding processes and scrutiny. Political and media interest remains high, with 20 Parliamentary Questions and 16 Freedom of Information requests due to be answered.

“Audit Scotland is reviewing the grant assessment and payment process at the request of George Foulkes MSP and Frank McAveety MSP has written to ask for an independent inquiry.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:18:20 efbe90 No.129902

File: d6c76906e392f28⋯.png (456.3 KB,556x676,139:169,Clipboard.png)

File: 3bc38b251536bd6⋯.png (153.81 KB,541x501,541:501,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20166409 (020011ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP Government kept eye on cronyism row after it handed £405k to Islamic group linked to Humza Yousaf

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/departing-snp-mp-philippa-whitford-31772343

...............................................................................................................................................................continued............................................................................................................................................................

The SIF was discussed again two weeks later in the SCANCE report for 2 September. This said: “Following media reports over the past months claiming that Scottish Government funding had been provided to the Scottish Islamic Foundation (SIF) because its chief executive (Osama Saeed) has strong links to the SNP, the Scottish Government has received 26 Parliamentary Questions (PQ) and 21 Freedom of Information requests (FOI).

“Audit Scotland has been asked by George Foulkes MSP to review the grant assessment / payment process for some of the monies paid to SIF. Frank McAveety MSP has also written to the First Minister with a series of questions and calling for an inquiry. Audit Scotland's reply to Mr Foulkes will issue on Monday, 1 September.

“Correct procedures were followed in providing the grants and it is expected that this will be reflected in the response. Outstanding PQs/FOls will issue concurrently, followed by the response to Mr McAveety.

“Special Advisers were involved in preparing the responses to the PQs/FOls and it is believed that the information going into the public domain will be uncontroversial. However, media interest remains high. Communications Health will be provided with lines and briefing has been put forward for the legislative programme statement and FMQs.”

The SIF collapsed in January 2013 after spending £203,000 in government grants, with Mr Saeed quitting as chief executive in March 2010 following a damning audit report which showed that it went almost £5,000 into the red in its first year. Auditors reported “significant doubt” about its ability to continue as a going concern.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:18:35 efbe90 No.129903

File: 2615e06e1301b65⋯.png (550.46 KB,832x867,832:867,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20166834 (020120ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Departing SNP MP Philippa Whitford blames bad press headlines for Humza Yousaf's poor performance as First Minister

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

Departing SNP MP Philippa Whitford blames bad press headlines for Humza Yousaf's poor performance as First Minister

The Central Ayrshire MP also admitted that the sudden resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, and lack of natural successor for her, had been a mistake and could have prompted the party's collapse in the polls.

David Walker

30 DEC 2023

A departing SNP MP has blamed the Scottish press for the shockingly poor start to Humza Yousaf's reign as First Minister. Dr Philippa Whitford is one of eight Nat MPs who are retiring at the next general election amid an exodus following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon.

And she claimed that newspapers in Scotland were having a negative impact on the Scottish Government, despite numerous mistakes from Mr Yousaf himself building up his poor reputation. In his nine months in Bute House, he has become embroiled in a number of scandals.

These range from Operation Branchform, which saw the arrest of Peter Murrell, Ms Sturgeon and Colin Beattie to his deputy Shona Robison being forced to correct the record on Covid WhatsApps after falsely claiming that the UK Inquiry had only asked for correspondence in September.

He has also refused to sack his good friend Michael Matheson who lied to journalists and MSPs about why he racked up a £11k data roaming bill in Morocco. He claimed there was no personal use after his kids admitted to him they had watched Scottish football games while abroad using his data.

Despite this, Ms Whitford claimed that it is the press's fault that Mr Yousaf has not had a good time as First Minister, while also admitted that Ms Sturgeon's resignation also had a big impact. She told the National: "I think the loss of Nicola was significant.

"I think people are very impressed at how Humza is speaking about the war in Israel and Palestine. His nuance and his humanity are showing through. But his initial time, including the leadership election, was overshadowed with the police investigation into party finances which is still hanging there.

“What we have that is very noticeable in Scotland is relentless headlines that are always pitched in a negative way, instead of actually [for example] the Scottish NHS, while struggling post-pandemic, is outperforming the other three, or we are making progress at the end of secondary in closing the attainment gap.

“Nothing in Scotland is ever reported positively, and so I think all of that builds up, but it [the SNP dipping in the polls] started from losing Nicola and particularly the police investigation.”

We previously told how pollster Sir John Curtice said how the resignation of Ms Sturgeon had prompted the collapse in the polls for the SNP. He described how Mr Yousaf was much more unpopular than his predecessor and this was a key reason why support for the party had plummeted from 43 per cent to 36 per cent.

Ms Whitford also hit out at the fact that the SNP had not groomed a successor to the former First Minister, causing the fractious leadership contest and ending with the elevation of a failed health secretary. She said: “I think maybe a weakness of the party was, with the strength and also the relatively young age of Nicola, there hadn’t been any succession planning.

“When Alex Salmond stood down, albeit very suddenly, Nicola had been deputy first minister and she had clearly been groomed as a strong successor and I don’t think we had a field of people that were already in that sort of position. Therefore for any of them to be elected, frankly, it was going to be a big step up."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:18:53 efbe90 No.129904

File: f26f978410160d5⋯.png (490.74 KB,660x871,660:871,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20177972 (032324ZJAN24) Notable: Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Updated Humza Yousaf Bun | Updated Michelle Mone Bun / Michelle Mone & billionaire hubby launch £80m sale of luxury villa, jet & yacht after accounts frozen in PPE probe

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>>129883

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/11739904/michelle-mone-doug-barrowman-sale-accounts-frozen/

>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038127 Michelle Mone Bun

BRA-GAIN HUNT Michelle Mone & billionaire hubby launch £80m sale of luxury villa, jet & yacht after accounts frozen in PPE probe

It was reported the bra tycoon discovered the freeze on her accounts when her card was declined at a petrol station just before Christmas.

Harry Williamson

3 Jan 2024

MICHELLE Mone and her billionaire husband Doug Barrowman are selling their luxury house, private jet and superyacht worth £80m at slashed prices.

Baroness Mone had her bank accounts frozen by the National Crime Agency amid a probe into the PPE firm MedPro.

The NCA is said to be investigating claims of fraud and bribery surrounding PPE Medpro.

The firm, run by Barrowman, got more than £200 million in government contracts during the pandemic.

It was reported the bra tycoon discovered the freeze on her accounts when her card was declined at a petrol station just before Christmas.

Tory peer Mone and Barrowman are now flogging luxury items for millions.

A six-bedroom villa on the Caribbean island of St Barthelemy belonging to Barrowman has been on the market since 2021 but the price tag has been slashed from £63m to £41m, the Daily Record reports.

Barrowman's luxury yacht, the Lady M, has been up for grabs for over a year.

But the 39-metre vessel is now on sale for a reduced price of just under £7million.

The megarich couple are also understood to have sold their £7.5m Cessna private jet, a £7million villa in Portugal's Algarve and their London townhouse for £19million.

A spokesperson for Barrowman told The Daily Record: “The media’s ridiculous obsession with every tiny detail of Michelle and Doug’s personal life continues to reach desperate levels.

"They have both been very successful in business for decades, so if they plan to write about every asset that they own, might be buying or could be selling, journalists would be writing for a very long time.

"This is a futile attempt to distract from Doug Barrowman’s robust fightback against the PPE Medpro allegations over the last few weeks.”

Last month, we told how Baroness Mone owned up to personally benefitting from a £200m PPE contract after lying to the press for months about her involvement.

In an interview with the BBC, Baroness Mone admitted she had lied about her links to PPE firm Medpro, but insisted that she and her husband have "no case to answer".

Lady Mone insisted that lying to the media is "not a crime", but that it had been an “error”.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:19:06 efbe90 No.129905

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20178308 (040011ZJAN24) Notable: Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Updated Humza Yousaf Bun | Updated Michelle Mone Bun / Michelle Mone & billionaire hubby launch £80m sale of luxury villa, jet & yacht after accounts frozen in PPE probe

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>>129881

>>129882

>>129904

>>>>/qresearch/20038127

https://youtu.be/D7-nXeHPSPY?si=CNSaNB5rOO9xNN7I

Michelle Mone and billionaire husband launch £80m fire sale of luxury homes, jet and superyacht

Daily Record

55.5K subscribers

Jan 3, 2024 #DailyRecord #michellemone #ppe

Tory peer Michelle Mone and her billionaire husband Doug Barrowman are having an £80million fire sale of their luxury houses, private jet and superyacht.

It comes as Baroness Mone revealed her bank accounts have been frozen during a two-year NCA police investigation.

The couple’s PPE Medpro business faces a £133million High Court claim from the Department for Health over gowns rejected by the Government.

The Record can reveal that the couple have slashed the price of some of their prized assets, owned through a string of offshore companies.

As well as the yacht – named Lady M – there is a £7.5million Cessna Citation CJ4 private jet and a £41million six-bedroom villa on the Caribbean holiday island of St Barts.

Barrowman’s spokesman attacked the “media’s ridiculous obsession with every tiny detail of Michelle and Doug’s personal life”.

Last month, PPE Medpro funded a 70-minute documentary released on YouTube and the couple appeared on Laura Kuenssberg’s BBC politics show. On New Year’s Day, Barrowman issued a statement complaining that he and his wife had been made “scapegoats”.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:19:15 efbe90 No.129906

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20213193 (091655ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SCOTTISH BUDGET: New 45% tax band for higher earners (video)

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>>>/qresearch/20209585

https://youtu.be/hS4Q5twgovk?si=iqxvqwoh3rmjTrmc

SCOTTISH BUDGET: New 45% tax band for higher earners

The Scottish Sun

232K subscribers

14,377 views Dec 19, 2023 #scotland #snp #shonaRobison

A new tax band of 45p in the pound will be created in Scotland, the Deputy First Minister has announced.

Shona Robison said in her Budget statement at Holyrood on Tuesday that the “advanced” band will apply to those earning between £75,000 and £125,140.

The top rate of tax, levied against those earning above this figure, will rise by 1% next year to 48p in the pound.

>>>/qresearch/20210174

In other areas of tax, the three lowest rates will see no increase to their rates while the starter and basic rate bands will increase by the level of inflation.

The changes will bring in another £1.5 billion to Scotland’s finances next year, Ms Robison said.> If they are dedicated to serving the Public then what a great way to prove it

Good idea using ZOOM or something to negate the "need" for 2nd homes. The only problem is that they don't want to serve anyone other than self.

Yours would be an idea for the future for sure. Right now we need people to stop paying tax as a priority- to close down governments and for people to come together under Article 61 of the Magna Carta and seize all crown properties, all lands given or sold to corporations foreign or domestic and any personality from any foreign land. We have to do that across the world. Nobody should be able to own any part of any nation belonging to any other people.

It's time for this crap to end. There should be enough people questioning the legitimacy of governments by now surely for the numbers to be available?

We can't have individuals buying up housing and renting back to the people. That really needs to end. Why should the native of any land have to pay rent to live in the lands of their forefathers?

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:19:29 efbe90 No.129907

File: 59fb9eb57643bac⋯.png (587.63 KB,826x899,826:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20213313 (091713ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Why Nicola Sturgeon can dodge SNP's 45 per cent income tax rate when she finally finishes her book

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>>129906

>>>/qresearch/20209585

>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038129 Updated Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part Four

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/nicola-sturgeon-can-dodge-snps-31829581

Why Nicola Sturgeon can dodge SNP's 45 per cent income tax rate when she finally finishes her book

The former First Minister signed a £300,000 book deal with Pan Macmillan but will only need to pay 19 per cent tax on any profits after setting up her own company

Douglas Dickie

8 JAN 2024

Nicola Sturgeon could dodge paying the SNP's new 45 per cent income tax rate on any profits relating to her new book. Instead, the former First Minister would be liable to pay just 19 per cent while hard-working Scots are hammered by her friend Shona Robison.

The Finance Secretary announced increases in income tax for middle and high earners at last month's Scottish budget. But Ms Sturgeon need not worry after she set up her own private limited company to manage the income from her memoirs.

The former SNP leader signed a book deal with publishers Pan Macmillan last year worth up to £300,000. As a backbench MSP, Ms Sturgeon currently earns £67,662 - below the new £75,000 tax rate.

But even if the profits from the book take her above that, she would be liable to pay just 19 per cent after creating the company on September 7. Speaking to the Sunday Mail, tax adviser at the Chartered Institute of Taxation Chris Thorpe said: "If you ask people why they’re doing it most would say it’s for tax reasons if they’re being honest about it but there are some good commercial reasons too.

"That’s rarely the only reason, I’d say tax is the biggest reason why people do it but sometimes people need to set up a company for regulation reasons or in order to get work if it's public sector contracts." He added: "With a limited company you’re taxed on your profit - 19 per cent corporation tax - but you are only then taxed as an individual on whatever you take out.

"So you can sort of choose then how much to take out. People can also pay themselves through dividends which is a lower rate of tax than income tax and they don’t pay National Insurance on this as well.

"You’ve got that flexibility with the company. I’d say you’ve got this double bonus in Scotland whereby you’re subject to not only a lower dividend tax rates but you’re also subject to UK bands and corporation tax levels."

Ms Robison introduced a new advanced rate of 45 per cent for income between £75,000 and £125,140 together with the increase in the top rate to 48 per cent when she set out her spending plans in December.

Ms Sturgeon is the sole shareholder and director of Nicola Sturgeon Limited, which is registered in Kinghorn, Fife. Her MSP Register of Interests states she holds an ordinary £1 share in the company which "does not yet have any income, but future book and related earnings will be made to it".

It also confirms she received £75,000 from Pan Macmillan in August, the first of four installments as part of the deal. She states she will work on the book for around 10-15 hours a month.

Pan Macmillan claims the book will be a "deeply personal and revealing memoir from one of Britain’s most significant political leaders of recent times".

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:19:45 efbe90 No.129908

File: 926e2f0d9680906⋯.png (514.4 KB,851x878,851:878,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20213565 (091802ZJAN24) Notable: Final Law and Disorder Bun / Police Scotland exodus as THIRD top cop to quit crisis-hit organisation in less than a year

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/19990428 Police Scotland loses another senior officer as former interim chief constable stands down

>>>/qresearch/20038157

>>>>/qresearch/18399774 Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone to retire after five years in job

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/police-scotland-exodus-third-top-31836029

Police Scotland exodus as THIRD top cop to quit crisis-hit organisation in less than a year

Deputy chief constable Malcolm Graham has become the third top cop after Sir Iain Livingstone and Fiona Taylor to announce their retirement amid a funding crisis in the force.

David Walker

8 JAN 2024

A third top cop is set to quit Police Scotland, joining an exodus of experienced staff from the crisis-hit organisation. Deputy chief constable Malcolm Graham has announced his intention to retire from policing in just three months' time, after almost 30 years' service.

He joins fellow deputy chief constable Fiona Taylor and former chief executive Sir Iain Livingstone in exiting the force in just under a year. Sir Iain retired back in August last year, while Ms Taylor will also be hanging up her uniform next month.

The exodus of top staff comes as Police Scotland faces a funding crisis and a new leader, with Jo Farrell joining from Durham Constabulary. But her reign got off to a bumpy start when she was forced to apologise for making an on-duty cop drive her home to Northumberland from Edinburgh after trains were cancelled due to Storm Babet.

Mr Graham was a candidate to replace Sir Iain as the country's top cop but lost out to Ms Farrell and has now decided to exit the force as well. He leads the Local Policing portfolio, and notified the Scottish Police Authority on Monday and will leave Police Scotland on April 8.

He said: “After almost 30 years in policing, including more than 11 as a chief officer, I have decided the time is right to leave Police Scotland and take up new challenges. It has been a privilege to serve the people of Scotland as a police officer and I hope to be able to do so in some other capacity in the future. I want to thank my colleagues and friends in Police Scotland, in partner agencies, and in communities across the country, for the support they have given me throughout my career.”

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “I want to thank Malcolm for his outstanding leadership throughout a distinguished career defined by integrity and commitment. Malcolm has driven high standards of compassion and professionalism in Police Scotland, establishing our Major Investigations Team and enhancing our response to Violence Against Women and Girls. He played a vital role in the policing response to the Covid pandemic and following the death of Her Majesty The Queen."

Mr Graham announced last month that the force was looking at closing 29 police stations across the country, including two busy stations in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow city centre. A recruitment freeze was also put in place over the festive period to free up cops to help out in communities over the busy time.

Cops are also investigating Scotland's governing party over alleged embezzlement and misuse of funds, with Operation Branchform leading to the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell and Colin Beattie. Police Scotland have been criticised for the alleged glacial pace of the operation, with no charges brought since the probe started in summer 2021.

Mr Graham became Deputy Chief Constable in 2019 and took on the remit of Crime and Operational Support, where he was responsible for specialist policing functions including major crime investigations and major incident response. He also led the policing response to the Covid=19 pandemic and the policing operation for the funeral of Her Majesty The Queen.

The Scottish Police Authority is currently recruiting to replace Ms Taylor, with the Authority now being forced to consider whether a separate process is necessary to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Graham's retirement.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:19:56 efbe90 No.129909

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20213630 (091819ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP Nicola Sturgeon has a very dubious past. This is old news but not widely known (video)

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https://youtu.be/JvUE7X-2mjY?si=5omte-oj5Ll3wb6c

SNP Nicola Sturgeon has a very dubious past. This is old news but not widely known.

Craig Houston Talks To

7.79K subscribers

43,288 views Jan 8, 2024

For more info on this incredible incident click link below

https://caltonjock.com/2022/05/04/con...

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:20:11 efbe90 No.129910

File: 400968dc24694ef⋯.png (735.37 KB,812x899,28:31,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20215117 (092301ZJAN24) Notable: Final Law and Disorder Bun / Scottish Epstein victim claims sex tapes were filmed of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Richard Branson

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/world-news/scottish-epstein-victim-claims-sex-31836271

Scottish Epstein victim claims sex tapes were filmed of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Richard Branson

The bombshell – and strenuously denied – allegations by Sarah Ransome, who grew up near Inverness and went to school in Grantown-on-Spey, were revealed in the latest tranche of court documents to be unsealed in New York

Josh Payne, PA Chief Reporter

8 JAN 2024

A Scottish victim of Jeffrey Epstein claimed sex tapes were taken of the Duke of York, former US president Bill Clinton and billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson, court documents have disclosed.

Sarah Ransome, who gave a victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell for sex-trafficking, appeared to write communications claiming the three were filmed by the paedophile financier.

On behalf of Mr Branson, a Virgin Group spokeswoman said: "In a New Yorker report published in 2019, Ransome admitted that she had 'invented' the tapes. We can confirm that Sarah Ransome's claims are baseless and unfounded." The extracts were flagged by a firm representing Epstein's lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, to demonstrate Ms Ransome "manifestly lacks credibility".

Ms Ransome's father is Lord Gordon Macpherson, the second baron of Drumochter, and she moved from South Africa when she was a teenager to live with her aunt and uncle in the Highlands. They lived just south of Inverness and she attended grammar school in Grantown-on-Spey.

Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met. He was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. The duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

A US judge ordered hundreds of documents to be unsealed as part of Ms Giuffre's previously settled civil claim against Maxwell, which was filed in 2015. Images were also released as part of the latest tranche of documents, including a resurfaced photo of former Labour minister Lord Mandelson with Epstein on his private island, Little St James.

Other pictures, all taken on the island in 2006, included one of Maxwell with disgraced French model scout Jean Luc-Brunel and various girls posing for photos. Also accused in the email extracts from Ms Ransome was former US president Donald Trump who, according to the Epstein victim, "liked flicking and sucking" her friend's nipples "until they were raw".

Ms Ransome wrote: "They looked incredibly painful as they were red and swollen and I remember wincing when I looked at them. I also know she had sexual relations with Trump at Jeffery's NY mansion on regular occasions."

Addressing the claims about Andrew and Mr Branson in the document released as part of another tranche published on Monday, Ms Ransome wrote: "When my friend had sexual intercourse with Clinton, Prince Andrew and Richard Branson, sex tapes were in fact filmed on each separate occasion by Jeffrey.

"Thank God she managed to get a hold of some footage of the filmed sex tapes, which clearly identify the faces of Clinton, Prince Andrew and Branson having sexual intercourse with her. Frustratingly enough Epstein was not seen in any of the footage but he was clever like that!

"When my friend eventually had the courage to speak out and went to the police in 2008 to report what had happened, nothing was done and she was utterly humiliated by the police department where she went to report what had happened with Epstein, Clinton, Branson and Prince Andrew."

'Ms Ransome... manifestly lacks credibility'

In the letter from Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP to the court, the firm said allegations against Mr Dershowitz were categorically false. The firm said: "Her (Ms Ransome) testimony was fabricated from whole cloth. Ms Ransome's testimony also contains a slew of other incendiary claims concerning the sexual proclivities of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals.

"The emails are a necessary antidote to Ms Ransome's deposition misstatements because they demonstrate she manifestly lacks credibility."

The email extracts from Ms Ransome also saw her take aim at Hilary Clinton, with one saying: "I will make sure that neither that evil bitch Hillary or that paedophile Trump gets elected. I will also make sure that everyone on the God damn planet see's [sic] that footage and photo's [sic] and will release them to Wiki leaks by Sunday."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:20:23 efbe90 No.129911

File: ba7dcc6031f2270⋯.png (477.42 KB,628x854,314:427,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20215123 (092302ZJAN24) Notable: Final Law and Disorder Bun / Scottish Epstein victim claims sex tapes were filmed of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Richard Branson

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>>129910

................................................................................................................................................................continued...........................................................................................................................................................

Ms Ransome, who has written a memoir about her ordeal called Silenced No More: Surviving My Journey to Hell and Back, also appeared to say she had "reached out to the Russians for help" after claiming her emails had been hacked.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020 despite attempts by her defence counsel to have her released on bail. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June 2022.

The socialite indicated her desire to appeal shortly after her conviction, with her lawyers claiming victims had "faded, distorted and motivated memories". Her appeal is scheduled to be heard in November next year.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:20:36 efbe90 No.129912

File: fb54b5ebba5b026⋯.png (693.93 KB,832x899,832:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20221564 (102235ZJAN24) Notable: Final Law and Disorder Bun / Scots aristo who made dubious Prince Andrew 'sex tape' claims was trapped on 'Epstein Island' by shark-infested waters

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>>129910

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/world-news/scots-aristo-who-made-dubious-31839802

Scots aristo who made dubious Prince Andrew 'sex tape' claims was trapped on 'Epstein Island' by shark-infested waters

Sarah Ransome has previously said she made up the sex tapes to protect herself from 'harm' by Jeffrey Epstein... but that does not discount her harrowing story of rape and abuse at his hands in New York and the Caribbean

Ben Borland

9 JAN 2024

Sarah Ransome, the Scottish Epstein victim at the centre of the latest claims to emerge in the case, once told how she tried to escape his notorious island by swimming through shark-infested waters.

Court documents have disclosed that she previously alleged that sex tapes were taken of Prince Andrew, former US president Bill Clinton and billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson during visits to the shamed financier's private island, Little St James in the Caribbean.

On behalf of Sir Richard, a Virgin Group spokeswoman said: "In a New Yorker report published in 2019, Ransome admitted that she had 'invented' the tapes. We can confirm that Sarah Ransome's claims are baseless and unfounded." According to the interview, Ms Ransome told the New Yorker that "she had invented the tapes to draw attention to Epstein's behavior, and to make him believe that she had 'evidence that would come out if he harmed me'."

In previous testimony, however, she told how she spent was repeatedly raped and abused by Epstein – who died in prison awaiting trial in New York in 2019 – and others before trying to make her dramatic escape from Little St James by racing away from his compound on a quad bike and jumping off a cliff.

Ms Ransome's father is Lord Gordon Macpherson, the second baron of Drumochter, and she moved from South Africa when she was a teenager to live with her aunt and uncle near Grantown-on-Spey in the Highlands. She says she was introduced to Epstein aged 22 in 2006 after being approached by a woman named Natalya Malyshev in a nightclub in New York, shortly after dropping out of university in Edinburgh and moving to the US.

In a victim impact statement provided to assist with the sentencing of Epstein's 'fixer' and girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, she said: "Over the next seven to eight months, I became, against my will, nothing more than a human sex toy with a heartbeat and soul for the entertainment of Epstein, Maxwell and others. Sometimes I was subjected to sexual predation multiple times per day, both in his New York mansion and on his private island, St Little James in the US Virgin Islands.

"On one visit to the island, the sexual demands, degradation and humiliation became so horrific that I tried to escape by attempting to jump off a cliff into shark-infested waters, but was caught by Maxwell and company moments before jumping. At the time, the extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time."

Speaking outside court in New York in 2022 after Maxwell was jailed for 20 years for sex trafficking, Ms Ransome said she had spent the "past 17 years in her own prison". She told Sky News: "I've been to hell and back."

Her statement added: "In several instances, Ghislaine by her own hand forced me into Epstein's room to be raped. Epstein and Maxwell were masters at finding young, vulnerable girls and young women to exploit. Upon targeting a vulnerable girl/young woman, they would ingratiate themselves to her, giving her compliments and small gifts, telling her how special she was.

"They would tell her that Epstein was a very wealthy, generous man whose primary purpose was to help the less fortunate. He and Maxwell were sophisticated, worldly adults with deep ties to important people, world leaders and institutions who could give her the lifeline she needed to make her dreams reality.

"However, soon after lulling me and others into a false sense of comfort and security, they pounced, ensnaring us in their upside-down, twisted world of rape, rape and more rape. Like Hotel California, you could check into the Epstein-Maxwell dungeon of sexual hell, but you could never leave."

The latest release also includes photos of Ms Ransome on the island that were used in evidence when she sued Epstein, Maxwell, and other suspected co-conspirators in the year 2017 under the alias 'Jane Doe 43'. However, a firm representing Epstein's lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, said the sex tape claims show Ms Ransome "manifestly lacks credibility".

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:20:52 efbe90 No.129913

File: 60bde44c4a9a194⋯.png (672.85 KB,855x899,855:899,Clipboard.png)

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File: cd0eb8ddcdddb08⋯.png (148.87 KB,581x483,83:69,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20222461 (110108ZJAN24) Notable: Final Law and Disorder Bun / Police Scotland shambles as complaint lodged against beleaguered new top cop Jo Farrell

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>>129908

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/police-scotland-shambles-complaint-lodged-31849758

Police Scotland shambles as complaint lodged against beleaguered new top cop Jo Farrell

The Scottish Police Authority have been caught up in a new secrecy row after refusing to confirm or deny whether a probe has been launched into new chief constable Jo Farrell.

David Walker

10 JAN 2024

Police Scotland's top brass is suffering another crisis as an official complaint has been made against the new Chief Constable Jo Farrell. Her time in the hot seat has been beset with issues, and the latest has sparked concerns about infighting within the centralised force.

It is understood that deputy chief officer David Page, who is the force's top civilian staff member, has lodged a grievance against her which dates back to October. He is currently on leave while this is investigated.

Ms Farrell was forced to apologise publicly after demanding to be driven home to Northumberland from Edinburgh after trains were cancelled during Storm Babet. Her and another English-based cop were taken down south by an on-duty police officer in a patrol car.

And now her conduct is being investigated after Mr Page lodged a complaint just weeks after she officially started her job in October. He is a former army intelligence officer and earns around £200,000 a year for his top job at Police Scotland, where he oversees departments such as finance, procurement, and estates.

The Scottish Police Authority refused to confirm or deny the existence of this probe, leading to a secrecy row. Mr Page is said to have been angered by Ms Farrell's move to bring in a senior official from her former Durham Constabulary, Gary Riddell, to advice on issues such as finance. He was the cop given a lift home to England.

Sources confirmed that Mr Page had been off work for several months and that he felt undermined due to the new appointment. Two of Scotland's most senior cops have already confirmed that they will be seeking retirement in the next few months, with deputy chief constables Fiona Taylor and Malcolm Graham quitting.

Ms Farrell has already provoked bad headlines due to her "error in judgement" in getting an on-duty traffic officer give her a lift home on a 120-mile trip where they also dropped Mr Ridley off at his home in Gateshead, Tyneside.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: “Since being created by the SNP government a decade ago, Police Scotland has often been accused of lacking transparency, which is unhealthy, unhelpful, and undermines public confidence. All public bodies have a duty to be candid about such important issues, and I would urge ministers, Police Scotland, and the SPA to come clean about exactly what is going on.”

Police Scotland said: "Any enquiries of this nature about chief officers should be directed to the Scottish Police Authority." But the Scottish Police Authority refused to comment about the incident. A spokeswoman said: "The Authority does not confirm or comment on this type of enquiry. Any complaints or concerns of that nature would be confidential."

Ms Farrell became the first woman to be appointed to lead Police Scotland last year when she won the race to replace Sir Iain Livingstone who also retired last year. Deputy chief constable Malcolm Graham is understood to have also been a candidate but lost out.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:21:09 efbe90 No.129914

File: a63eb21c04d37cc⋯.png (515.66 KB,821x835,821:835,Clipboard.png)

File: 45748ed88567b9c⋯.png (529.66 KB,782x855,782:855,Clipboard.png)

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File: e2249c126422e6e⋯.png (287.57 KB,558x860,279:430,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20222886 (110221ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Secretive SNP Government sat on news about new Chief Constable’s police taxi home to England for three weeks

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>>129913

>>129908

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/secretive-snp-government-sat-news-31653888

Secretive SNP Government sat on news about new Chief Constable’s police taxi home to England for three weeks

Scottish Government justice secretary Angela Constance confirmed to Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay that officials found out about Jo Farrell's police ride home to England three weeks before it was published in the press.

David Walker

12 DEC 2023

The “secretive” SNP Government has been blasted after it was revealed that ministers knew about the scandal surrounding the new Chief constable being given a lift home by a on-duty cop three weeks before it became public. Jo Farrell was forced to apologise after she was driven back to England by a patrol car in October.

This was just months into her reign as Scotland’s new top cop and was labelled a misuse of police resources by critics. The £249,000 role was vacated by Sir Iain Livingstone in August, with Ms Farrell joining from the Durham force.

She was slated after getting an on-duty traffic cop to take her and a male colleague - also from her former Durham force- 120 miles from Edinburgh to the north of Edinburgh. This was during Storm Babet when cross-border train services were cancelled due to bad weather.

Now, the Scottish Sun reports that the Scottish Government actually found out about this October 20 incident on November 1, but kept it under wraps until it was reported by various papers on November 23. It sparked an outcry of anger and forced Ms Farrell to give a public apology.

(in-)Justice Secretary Angela Constance answered a number of parliamentary questions about the scandal, but also stonewalled attempts to publish correspondence between her and the chief constable about the “taxi” home. She confirmed that they were “notified about this matter by the Scottish Police Authority on the 1st November 2023.”

She added: “This was for information only as the governance and scrutiny of Police Scotland is for the authority and not ministers. No engagement with Police Scotland was required.”

Scottish Tory Justice spokesman Russell Findlay also asked about the Durham cop who reportedly accompanied Ms Farrell on the trip. He was told: “It is good practice for police organisations to share their knowledge and experience. Police Scotland routinely collaborates and works in partnership with police forces across the UK and beyond.”

But the SNP minister refused to answer other questions from the Conservative MSP, including whether she would provide details of “any discussions that it has had with Police Scotland, including the Chief Constable” about the journey.

Mr Findlay hit out at Ms Constance for keeping the entire scandal a secret for so long. He said: “This confirms that the SNP government knew for weeks about the chief constable’s use of a police car as a private taxi but decided to keep a lid on it.

“This smacks of secrecy and suggests that they hoped that the Scottish public and police officers would never find out. Frontline officers deserve to know the full circumstances of what happened yet the SNP justice secretary continues to stonewall me with non-answers to a series of important questions.

Ms Farrell apologised for her actions and admitted to an “error of judgement” for taking the trip. It was claimed that the traffic cop that escorted her home was one of just two on shift in the east of Scotland that night.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:21:25 efbe90 No.129915

File: 27de25f429da08c⋯.png (669.4 KB,840x859,840:859,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20228123 (112359ZJAN24) Notable: Final Operation Branchform Bun / Joanna Cherry raises Salmond affair and Operation Branchform as MPs prepare to strip Lord Advocate of dual role

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>>>/qresearch/20038157

>>>>/qresearch/19873271, >>>/qresearch/19873606 SICK OUTBURST Former top sheriff admits making sexual & racist comments after forgetting to turn mic off on video call

>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038115 Updated Operation Branchform Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/joanna-cherry-raises-salmond-affair-31858985

Joanna Cherry raises Salmond affair and Operation Branchform as MPs prepare to strip Lord Advocate of dual role

The SNP in Edinburgh has failed to act for years and years to tackle the conflict of interest in the role held by Dorothy Bain – who is both a member of the government AND the country's top prosecutor

Ben Borland

11 JAN 2024

The Scottish Government is to be finally forced to act to split the dual role of the Lord Advocate – after years of the SNP "sitting on the hands" over what many see as a clear conflict of interest.

One of the main flaws in the devolution set-up is the fact that the Lord Advocate acts as both the head of Scotland's prosecution service, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and the Scottish Government's top legal adviser, which is a ministerial role with a seat in Cabinet meetings.

Despite promising reforms, the issue was never dealt with by Alex Salmond or Nicola Sturgeon during their time in office – and Humza Yousaf equally showed no desire to tackle the problem. Now rebel SNP MP Joanna Cherry has acted to force the decision with the full backing of cross-party MPs at Westminster.

She has introduced a private member's Bill which would allow Holyrood to split the role of Lord Advocate into "two separate jobs. One as head of Scotland's prosecution service, and the other as a minister of the Scottish Government and its chief legal adviser."

Speaking at Westminster on Wednesday, Ms Cherry said: "Concern about potential conflicts in the role of the Lord Advocate has increased in recent times because of some high-profile cases, including the Scottish Government’s handling of complaints against Alex Salmond, the malicious scandal in relation to prosecutions over the takeover of Rangers football club, and the police investigation into SNP finances."

She added that it was not a new problem, with the previous Labour executive under Jack McConnell, Henry McLeish and Donald Dewar also running into issues surrounding the Lockerbie trial. "There was considerable disquiet back in 2000 that the Lord Advocate was performing the role of politician, prosecutor and judge-maker," the MP added.

That triple role was removed in 2002 and judges in Scotland are now appointed by an independent panel. But Scotland remains almost unique in Europe in having a chief prosecutor who is also a member of the government. EU rules say that members states must have "prosecution systems [that] are seen to act independently of Parliament and Government".

Ms Cherry added: "Elsewhere in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, the two roles are held by different people, which avoids any possible conflict of interest or the perception of one. In England, there is an Attorney General, who is a member of the Government of the day, and, quite separately, a Director of Public Prosecutions, who is appointed by a public appointment process completely independent of Government.

"Of course, there is the third office of the Lord Chancellor, who performs some constitutional functions. The experts advising the Scottish Government might want to think about something akin to that third role for some of the Lord Advocate's functions under the Scotland Act."

The Edinburgh South West MP said both Scottish and UK ministers have accepted there is a case for separating the two roles, while her Bill has cross-party support. The Bill was introduced with support from members of all parties including the SNP and Alba as well as Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and his Labour shadow Ian Murray.

Ms Cherry added: "I hope that the existence of cross-party support means that this private Member's Bill has a chance of becoming law, leaving the final decision on the role of Scotland’s Law Officers where it should be: with the Scottish Parliament."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:21:40 efbe90 No.129916

File: 66b3f8373d39d93⋯.png (587.03 KB,847x816,847:816,Clipboard.png)

File: a616e03314d0b2b⋯.png (251.29 KB,808x488,101:61,Clipboard.png)

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File: 612f6e07e55ef21⋯.png (128.84 KB,562x423,562:423,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20228372 (120035ZJAN24) Notable: Final Operation Branchform Bun / Dorothy Bain has attended 40 Cabinet meetings during Operation Branchform

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>>129915

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/dorothy-bain-attended-40-cabinet-30111774

Dorothy Bain has attended 40 Cabinet meetings during Operation Branchform

The revelation has sparked further calls for the Lord Advocate's dual role to be split, with the head of Scotland's prosecution service also serving as a member of the government

Ben Borland

30 MAY 2023

The Lord Advocate has attended 40 Cabinet meetings during the ongoing police investigation into SNP finances.

Dorothy Bain's seat at the top political table has been branded "conflicting" and further calls have been made for her unique dual role to be broken up.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "The fact that our most senior law officer and prosecutor is not independent from the government has been an ongoing cause for concern and the need to change this has been clear.

"If we are to truly have confidence in the outcome of the investigation into the SNP, the Lord Advocate must not be seen to be compromised in any way."

And Scots Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: "This revelation underlines the need for the dual roles of the Lord Advocate to be split. It's not right - and unfair on Dorothy Bain herself - that the Lord Advocate is both a member of the cabinet and head of the Crown Office.

"The current probe into SNP finances - like the Alex Salmond case before it - highlights how compromised and conflicting the twin roles are."

Ms Bain, who took up her post as Lord Advocate after the 2021 Holyrood election, is head of the Crown Office as well as being a minister and chief legal officer in the Scottish Government.

Police Scotland launched a fraud investigation in 2021 into claims that around £600,000 in 'ringfenced' donations to the SNP to pay for an independence campaign had vanished from the accounts.

The Daily Record reports that a freedom of information request reveals that Ms Bain has attended Cabinet 40 times, mostly when Nicola Sturgeon was in charge.

Cabinet met 24 times in 2021 following her appointment and the Lord Advocate was there on 17 occasions. In 2022, she attended 18 of 41 Cabinet meetings and was at five of 14 this year.

In total, she has been at over half of Cabinet meetings since becoming Lord Advocate. Her deputy, the Solicitor General, has attended Cabinet 14 times in the same time period.

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who is married to Ms Sturgeon, and one-time party treasurer Colin Beattie, were arrested this year as part of the investigation.

Both men were later released without charge pending further enquiries.

Although the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General have played no role in the SNP police investigation, the Crown Office has faced scrutiny of its actions during the probe.

Police asked the Crown Office for a search warrant for Nicola Sturgeon's home during the SNP leadership race in March, but only got approval after the contest ended.

The Crown Office were made aware of the request on March 20, but it wasn't until April 3 that they gave the green light to the warrant bid and sent it to a sheriff.

'The SNP have been slow to do anything about it'

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur said: "Scottish Liberal Democrats have long argued that the Lord Advocate role should be split.

"The current role increasingly feels like an anachronism. An independent director of prosecutions would go some way to ending the perception of conflicting loyalties that the current set up seems to invite."

And Ms Baillie added: "During the parliamentary inquiry into the Scottish Government's Handling of Sexual Harassment complaints, the Committee recommended that the role of Lord Advocate should be separate from the Scottish Government. Whilst appearing to accept this, the SNP have been slow to do anything about it."

A spokesperson for the Lord Advocate said: "The independence of the Lord Advocate is explicitly protected by law.

"The Lord Advocate exercises their authority independently of political pressure, and indeed of any other person.

"As is standard practice in any matter regarding politicians, Operation Branch form is being dealt with by independent prosecutors without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:21:55 efbe90 No.129917

File: 23e5bb85daca62e⋯.png (890.95 KB,799x899,799:899,Clipboard.png)

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File: 3826e3cd3a30179⋯.png (349.28 KB,563x866,563:866,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20228475 (120051ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP ministers accused of 'sitting on their hands' over pledge to reform powers of Scotland's top law officer

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>>129916

>>129915

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-ministers-accused-sitting-hands-27038943

SNP ministers accused of 'sitting on their hands' over pledge to reform powers of Scotland's top law officer

The role Scotland's Lord Advocate has been under the spotlight after the Alex Salmond scandal and malicious prosecutions linked to the Rangers takeover saga

Richard Percival

23 MAY 2022

SNP ministers have been accused of "sitting on their hands" over moves to curb the powers of Scotland's prosecution chief.

The Scottish Government had agreed to consult on splitting the Lord Advocate’s dual role into a separate legal adviser to the government and head of Scotland’s prosecution service.

Currently, the person in the office acts as the Government's top legal adviser and a Cabinet member.

But the current layout of the position came under fire after the Alex Salmond scandal and malicious prosecutions linked to the Rangers takeover saga raised possible conflicts of interest.

Former Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC advised Scottish ministers over the government's botched probe into harassment claims against Mr Salmond, who was cleared following a court trial.

However, almost a year on, UK Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he hadn't had any representations on the issue as changes to the role would require altering the Scotland Act.

Dorothy Bain QC, replaced Wolffe as Lord Advocate last year.

Kenny MacAskill, former Scottish Justice Secretary said the centuries-old dual role was "unfit for modern society" and called for urgent changes.

Speaking a year on after the initial pledge was made, the Alba Party MP told the Scottish Sun: “Cases such as the Rangers administrators and Alex Salmond never mind cover-ups in government show the urgent need to separate the roles of chief prosecutor and top government lawyer.

“Just because it's aye been, doesn't mean it's right."

Mr MacAskill continued: "It's clear blame for delay rests with the Scottish, not UK, Government.

"It's perverse when they're willing to change the Scotland Act that the Scottish Government sit on their hands. This needs changing, and fast."

In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We intend to publish a consultation.

"The First Minister has made clear it's vital to take time to get it right."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:37:10 efbe90 No.129918

File: d741c2777582c00⋯.png (654.2 KB,805x818,805:818,Clipboard.png)

File: 3360e30cef134c4⋯.png (242.01 KB,558x456,93:76,Clipboard.png)

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File: 179bac8a1adeab8⋯.png (192.89 KB,550x481,550:481,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20228765 (120144ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Lord Advocate refuses to say if Nicola Sturgeon home search was delayed in new twist to 'murky saga'

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>>129915

These older stories posted to show this issue up for the festering sore that it is....and is the Scottish Judiciary by and large. John Halley's book A Judicial Monstering goes in to some detail on this along with the connections of individuals involved in the cover up of establishment child abuse and prostitution rings. Some chapters been posted here in pdf and are well worth looking at. I'll try to comment on the content of those chapters in the coming weeks.

>>129916

>>129917

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/lord-advocate-refuses-say-nicola-29995208

Lord Advocate refuses to say if Nicola Sturgeon home search was delayed in new twist to 'murky saga'

Dorothy Bain KC was questioned by reporters as she left Humza Yousaf's Cabinet meeting at Bute House... and stayed silent on reports the Police Investigation was held up until after the SNP leadership contest

Ben Borland

16 MAY 2023

The Lord Advocate today refused to comment on reports the Crown Office had delayed the police search on Nicola Sturgeon's home in Glasgow.

Police Scotland reportedly requested a warrant on March 20 when the SNP leadership contest was still in full swing. However, they were not granted until April 3.

Dorothy Bain KC was approached by Sky News after leaving Humza Yousaf's Cabinet meeting at Bute House on Tuesday. She refused to answer when asked if the delay had been "deliberate".

Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay said: "There appears to be no evidence of any undue influence or interference in this process.

"However, the lack of answers to these question only serves to fuel public concerns about the decision-making taking place behind closed doors.

"There have already been seen some crass and unacceptable interventions from the SNP camp about the legitimacy and integrity of Police Scotland’s investigation.

"The whole murky saga brings into sharp focus the untenable dual role of the Lord Advocate, both as head of the prosecution service and the Scottish government’s most senior lawyer with a place at the Cabinet table."

The two-day search of Ms Sturgeon's home in Uddingston was part of Operation Branchform, the long-running investigation into allegations of fraud relating to £600,000 'missing' from the SNP's accounts.

Her husband Peter Murrell, the SNP's former chief executive, was arrested and questioned by officers before being released without charge. Officers also searched the SNP's HQ in Edinburgh and removed boxes of documents from both premises.

Two weeks later, the SNP's former treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested, questioned and released. At the weekend, it emerged that detectives are looking at 1,000 individual transactions through an Amazon account.

Also on Tuesday, former SNP justice secretary Kenny MacAskill called for a judge-led inquiry into the role of the Crown Office in the investigation.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:37:29 efbe90 No.129919

File: 8d37f43e6900305⋯.png (575.21 KB,804x871,12:13,Clipboard.png)

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File: 2ae3a9e0f30cea5⋯.png (135.85 KB,566x469,566:469,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20231616 (121635ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf requested meeting with Turkish President Erdogan and had 'ample' time to inform Foreign Office about summit

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-requested-meeting-turkish-31849121

Humza Yousaf requested meeting with Turkish President Erdogan and had 'ample' time to inform Foreign Office about summit

The First Minister was forced to plead with Lord Cameron not to shut down his Scottish 'embassies' as he claimed that a Foreign Office official did not attend the meeting at Cop28 due to it being rearranged at short notice.

David Walker

10 JAN 2024

Humza Yousaf's excuse for breaking UK Government protocols during his meeting with Turkish President Erdogan was blown apart after it was revealed that there was an hour-and-a-half window where the Foreign Office could have been told about the summit. And it was the First Minister who requested the controversial meeting.

The SNP leader claimed that a UK Government official could not attend as it had been arranged with "just a few minutes' notice." The lack of Foreign Office diplomat sparked a row between Lord Cameron and the SNP executive as he accused them of breaching guidance once again.

But the Herald reports that there was plenty of time for Mr Yousaf's entourage to organise for this to happen, as a meeting was confirmed as "possible" at 1.19pm that day, with this being relayed to the Foreign Office at 2.46pm through an email which read: "Turkey is happening now."

The First Minister also went into the meeting without a proper briefing as it was “never finalised” and “was not cleared by senior officials or used to brief the First Minister ahead of his meeting with President Erdoğan." He also reached out in the first place on November 30 by getting in touch with the Turkish consulate in Edinburgh.

Lord Cameron accused the Scottish Government of breaching protocols as a Foreign Office official needs to sit in on any meetings a SNP politician holds with foreign diplomats. He threatened to shut down the Scottish embassies if breaches happen again.

A Holyrood government source claimed that a Foreign Office official had been told in person about the Erdogan meeting but were not around when it happened. The summit was criticised by many in Scotland, including Nationalist councillor Roza Salih who claimed that the Turkish President "killed Kurds" and that she was disgusted by it.

Mr Yousaf claimed that the meeting had been "rearranged at short notice by the Turkish president’s team." He told PA: "The FCDO official chose not to stay with the Scottish delegation the whole day, and because of that they ended up missing the meeting. Nothing was discussed that hadn’t been discussed at other meetings, such as the climate crisis, and in this particular meeting the issue of the Israel-Gaza conflict.”

Critics blasted his original excuse. Scottish Conservative shadow secretary for constitution, external affairs and culture Donald Cameron said: “Despite protestations to the contrary, this shows there was ample time for Humza Yousaf’s entourage to have a Foreign Office official present at his meeting with Turkey’s president.

“One-and-a-half hours is not most people’s definition of ‘a few minutes’ notice’, so it seems the First Minister was determined not to follow protocol for a reserved policy area. This FOI vindicates Lord Cameron’s response to the SNP Government and proves that Humza Yousaf was wilfully freelancing at COP on a policy area for which he’s not responsible.”

A UK Government spokesman said: “Foreign affairs is reserved under the Scotland Act and in such turbulent times, the need for the UK to speak on the world stage with one consistent voice is more important than ever. Our embassies and high commissions overseas have a strong track record of working collaboratively with the Scottish Government to promote the interests of the whole UK.

“We hope that we can resolve this without the need for further action, including the possibility that we no longer host Scottish Government offices in UK Government posts.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister met a number of world leaders at COP28 to discuss issues of shared interest, this meeting was no different. Due to late notice of this meeting, the brief was not cleared in advance by senior officials or used by the First Minister and he was instead briefed by officials and advisors in person on the day of the meeting.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:37:45 efbe90 No.129920

File: 6282c6128a0ea21⋯.png (613.97 KB,816x899,816:899,Clipboard.png)

File: 0652f0a6816643e⋯.png (335.71 KB,552x864,23:36,Clipboard.png)

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File: f101cc27415966e⋯.png (172.36 KB,524x765,524:765,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20231777 (121716ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / David Cameron threatens to close SNP's 'pretend embassies' after Humza Yousaf's Erdogan meeting

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>>129919

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron-threatens-close-snps-31642536

David Cameron threatens to close SNP's 'pretend embassies' after Humza Yousaf's Erdogan meeting

The furious Foreign Secretary says it is vital that 'we speak with one voice' on foreign affairs after the First Minister met the Turkish president without a minder – and discussed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza

Ben Borland

10 DEC 2023

Foreign Secretary David Cameron has threatened to close the SNP’s network of ‘pretend embassies’ after Humza Yousaf met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The First Minister met the Turkish president at COP28 in Dubai without a UK official present and discussed calls for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

In a letter to External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, seen by the Scottish Daily Express, Lord Cameron said that was a clear breach of the protocol agreed by the Scottish and UK governments.

He wrote: “It is critical that the UK presents a consistent message to our international partners and that the devolution settlements are respected. We must ensures that UK foreign policy, a reserved matter, is coherent and that we speak with one voice to the international community.

“I remain open to discussing a constructive way forward. However, any further breaches of the protocol... will result in no further FCDO facilitation of meetings or logistical support. We will also need to consider the presence of Scottish Government offices in UK Government posts.”

It comes amid ongoing tensions between Westminster and Holyrood over SNP ministers meeting foreign officials. The Nats are accused of straying beyond the boundaries of devolved politics to discuss issues such as Scottish independence and foreign affairs.

In his letter, Lord Cameron said the Scottish Government had assured the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) that it would give “sufficient advance notice” of the meeting with Mr Erdogan. He said this was to allow one of his officials to attend the meeting and “was not done”.

Lord Cameron’s predecessor James Cleverly also warned Mr Yousaf after he met the Icelandic prime minister in August, again without UK diplomats. The rules were introduced after Mr Robertson held a number of meetings where the UK constitution was discussed.

But Whitehall sources said the new foreign secretary was keen to take a tougher line with the SNP over their “meddling” in reserved matters.

The SNP Government has a network of eight overseas costing the taxpayer more than £9million a year to run. Most of them are based in British embassies and are understood to be largely rent-free. The executive also has a base in London described as being ‘overseas’, despite the fact it is in the UK capital.

A UK Government spokeswoman said: "Foreign affairs is reserved under the Scotland Act and in such turbulent times, the need for the UK to speak on the world stage with one consistent voice is more important than ever.

"Our embassies and high commissions overseas have a strong track record of working collaboratively with the Scottish Government to promote the interests of the whole UK. We hope that we can resolve this without the need for further action, including the possibility that we no longer host Scottish Government offices in UK Government posts."

Israel has withdrawn diplomats from Turkey over comments

After his meeting with Mr Erdogan and the Lebanese prime minister, Mr Yousaf tweeted that they had discussed “the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza”. He added: “An immediate & permanent ceasefire is needed now.”

The Turkish president has accused Israel of acting like a “war criminal”, prompting Tel Aviv to respond by withdrawing diplomats from Turkey.

The meeting between Mr Yousaf and Mr Erdogan had already proven controversial within the SNP. Glasgow councillor Roza Salih said she was “disgusted” by the meeting, as Turkey had stepped up attacks on Kurdish groups in Syria. The Kurdish-born politician was elected in 2022 and became the first councillor to have moved to Scotland as a refugee.

A spokesman for the first minister said a UK official was aware of and invited to the meeting, and that the same arrangements were in place for Mr Yousaf’s engagements with other world leaders.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:37:56 efbe90 No.129921

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20231790 (121718ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / David Cameron threatens to close SNP's 'pretend embassies' after Humza Yousaf's Erdogan meeting

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...............................................................................................................................................................................continued..............................................................................................................................................................................

They added: “The nature of events such as COP is that timings can change at the last minute, and the FCDO representative was elsewhere at the time it was convenient for the Turkish president to meet. Any threat by the UK government to curtail the Scottish Government’s international engagement is misguided and would work against Scotland’s interests.”

A Scottish Government source said Lord Cameron’s letter was a “gross overreaction”, adding: “You can hardly say to a president, ‘Can you wait a second while we find our chaperone?’”

The Express says

THE SNP Government have been reminded – repeatedly – that foreign affairs is reserved to Westminster. Yet the Nats pay no attention to the rules, as evidenced by Humza Yousaf’s meeting with Turkish president Recep Erdogan.

In the past, globetrotting Holyrood ministers have been keen to talk up the supposed benefits of breaking up the UK. Now, however, the First Minister has gone too far by discussing the war in Gaza with one of Israel’s most outspoken opponents.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron is right to reprimand the SNP leader for straying out of his lane. And while the SNP may wail about the threat to close their network of overseas offices, many Scots will be delighted.

These ‘pretendy embassies’ are nothing more than a vanity exercise conducted at great expense to the taxpayer. Shut them down, Lord Cameron – and force the SNP to put our money to better use at home.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:38:11 efbe90 No.129922

File: 40ee2e2e50d1fd4⋯.png (684.3 KB,837x896,837:896,Clipboard.png)

File: 537d545a021a0cd⋯.png (243.02 KB,560x511,80:73,Clipboard.png)

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File: 7010877e4c7a42f⋯.png (270.71 KB,555x863,555:863,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20232598 (121957ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf's wife Nadia El-Nakla admits Turkish government helped her family leave Gaza

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>>>/qresearch/20232482

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/astonishing-humiliation-snp-turkish-shipyard-31869090

>>129919

I can't help but feel this story about a Turkish firm providing a ferry to Scotland belongs with these other stories. It has a very strong stench coming from it. Scotland is a ship-building nation for fuck sake.

'Astonishing humiliation' for the SNP as Turkish shipyard set to launch new ferry after just two years of construction

CMAL announced that Cemre Marin Endustri would be launching its MV Isle of Islay ferry in March and that it would be setting sail in October while the two Ferguson Marine ships have been languishing at the Port Glasgow shipyard since 2017.

David Walker

12 JAN 2024

The SNP have been left "humiliated" after it was revealed that a CalMac ferry being built in Turkey will be launched just two years after being ordered. This was compared to the two over-budget and five-years late vessels being built at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow.

In 2022, the Scottish Government announced that Cemre Marin Endustri beat out the nationalised shipyard to construct two boats for Scotland's west coast routes. And now the first of those ferries is being launched on March 16, it has been confirmed.

The MV Isle of Islay is scheduled to arrive in Scotland in October this year and will serve Islay and Jura. It has been a quick turnaround as the contract for the vessel was only awarded in March 2022.

At Ferguson Marine, the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa should have been built and serving passengers in 2019 but remain unfinished. The budget for them has also sky-rocketed from £97m to £360m and could cost the public purse even more, with the shipyard being nationalised after plunging into administration.

The overall cost of the new Islay ferries project is £91m, with two being handed over in the next year and a half. A further two ferries are also being built in Turkey. The Isle of Islay's sister ship Loch Indall is estimated to be ready by February 2025, with both vessels having the capacity for up to 450 passengers and 100 cars.

They will be followed by two as-yet unnamed boats in June and October next year. Jim Anderson, director of vessels at CMAL, said the announcement of the Isle of Islay's launch in March marked a "major milestone" in its commitment to providing new ferries for islanders. He said: "Work at the Cemre shipyard continues to progress well, with the project coming in on time and on budget."

Transport minister Fiona Hyslop said delivering six new vessels to serve Scotland's ferry network by 2026 was a priority for the Scottish government. She added: "People will welcome a more resilient and modern ferry service for Islay and Jura, and further vessels will soon bring similar and highly-anticipated improvements for island communities across Scotland."

But the Scottish Tories pointed out the shambolic handling of the boats being built on the Clyde as they labelled it "an astonishing humiliation for the SNP's original ferries strategy". The procurement process for Ferguson Marine has been roundly criticised due to the waste of taxpayer cash, with Nicola Sturgeon handing the contract to nationalist pal Jim McColl.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: “While this is great news for islanders, it is an astonishing humiliation for the SNP’s original ferries strategy, which still hasn’t delivered two vessels that are six years late and hugely over budget.

“I predicted that when the Turkish shipyard was awarded the contract to build the ferries that they may well be ready before the ill-fated ones being built at the Ferguson yard. That is, sadly, turning out to be the case. I only hope that no SNP minister is anywhere near the launch. Their very presence may hex the project.”

The Glen Sannox was launched by Ms Sturgeon back in November 2017 but became infamous for having painted on windows as it was nowhere near completion. It has still yet to set sail six years on.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:38:28 efbe90 No.129923

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20233450 (122308ZJAN24) Notable: A chip off the old block? Pete Wishart calls for 'lost' splinter to be reunited with Stone of Destiny (video)

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>>>/qresearch/20038157

>>>>/qresearch/19255246 Coronation Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/chip-old-block-pete-wishart-31844151

A chip off the old block? Pete Wishart calls for 'lost' splinter to be reunited with Stone of Destiny

After it emerged that the 'very, very small' fragment of the Stone of Scone has now turned up in a cupboard at SNP HQ (although the party insists it was never lost), there are calls to put it back where it came from

Neil Pooran & Ben Borland

9 JAN 2024

A "missing" fragment of the Stone of Destiny found at the SNP's headquarters should be taken to Perth Museum when the artefact is relocated there later this year, an MP has said.

The SNP's Pete Wishart said the ancient stone should be "displayed in its entirety" when it moves from its current home in Edinburgh Castle. The fragment is said to be a "very, very small" chip from the sandstone block, which has been used in ceremonies to crown Scottish and British monarchs for centuries.

Recently released archive papers revealed that, in 2008, former first minister Alex Salmond was given a chip from the stone by the late Sir Neil MacCormick. Sir Neil's father, John MacCormick, was among a group of nationalist students who famously stole the stone from Westminster Abbey in 1950.

After Mr Salmond faced calls to return the ancient piece of sandstone, he revealed that he'd left it in the keeping of the SNP – and on Monday it emerged the fragment had been "found" in a cupboard.

Mr Wishart, who represents Perth and North Perthshire, said: "The Stone of Scone is undoubtedly one of Scotland's most iconic artefacts, and its arrival at Perth Museum will mark the first time it has returned to its home region in over 700 years. This will be a huge moment for Perthshire, not just symbolically, but economically too."

He added: "In order to maximise the opportunity that the museum presents for the city, and to honour the stone's long awaited return to the region, it is important for it to be displayed in its entirety. As such, I very much hope that the missing piece can be given to the museum ahead of its opening in March."

Back in 1950, the Stone spent several months being moved around various nationalist hideaways in Scotland before being dumped at Arbroath Abbey in two parts. The chip is said to have been created then but the SNP says its provenance has not been completely established.

The First Minister's official spokesman was also asked about the fragment. He said that in 2008 civil servants had advised there was no need to return the "very, very small fragment" to Historic Scotland, the keepers of the artefact, as they had not requested it. As a result, it has apparently stayed in a cupboard in the SNP's HQ in Edinburgh.

The stone was associated with royal inaugurations at Scone, at nearby Perth, before it was taken to Westminster Abbey in London as war loot by King Edward I. The Stone of Destiny was moved to Edinburgh Castle in 1996 and was used in the coronation of King Charles last year.

When the artefact was moved south to be installed in the Coronation Chair, it was piped out of Edinburgh Castle in a special ceremony organised by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms.

The SNP said the party's chief executive, Murray Foote, would respond to a letter from Mr Wishart in due course. A spokeswoman said: "The SNP has a small stone chip in storage. The fragment - gifted to the party by Professor Sir Neil MacCormick - has been held securely by the SNP for the past 15 years and has never been considered lost at any point."

>>>/qresearch/20038157

>>>>/qresearch/19468898, >>>/qresearch/19769042 Protester who bit police officer in bizarre bid to 'seize' Edinburgh Castle under Magna Carta walks free

All hail King Richard the Lionheart. We would be better "served" by this man. King sausage fingers isn't the guy for us, neither is his sprog or grand sprog. If they're even his.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:38:43 efbe90 No.129924

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20233760 (130002ZJAN24) Notable: Final Horizon Post Office Scandal Bun / The five key questions Dorothy Bain MUST answer in relation to Horizon Post Office scandal

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/five-key-questions-dorothy-bain-31867176

The five key questions Dorothy Bain MUST answer in relation to Horizon Post Office scandal

The Lord Advocate will be grilled by MSPs at Holyrood and Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay has set out the key details that must be addressed - including Humza Yousaf's actions as justice secretary

Douglas Dickie

12 JAN 2024

Dorothy Bain KC has been told she has five key questions to answer in relation to the Horizon Post Office scandal. The Lord Advocate will appear in front of MSPs to explain the Crown Office's role in wrongfully prosecuting subpostmasters in what has been described as the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history.

Hundreds of people across Britain were prosecuted because of a dodgy computer system with the UK Government now working at exonerating those involved. While in England, the Post Office was the prosecutor, the cases were taken forward by the Crown Office in Scotland.

Ms Bain, who sits in the Scottish cabinet, confirmed she will appear at Holyrood to be grilled after Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross raised the issue at First Minister's Questions on Thursday. Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay has now written to Ms Bain, who is Scotland's top law officer, setting out the questions she needs to answer.

Among the queries is when the Crown Office first became aware of issues with the Horizon computer system. It follows claims it knew there could be a problem as early as 2013.

Mr Findlay also wants to know if the Crown Office reviewed any cases that had already been prosecuted after learning of these problems, how many people were prosecuted after the Crown Office learnt of the issues relating to Horizon, whether the Crown Office contested any of the appeals from wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters, and if the Lord Advocate will publish all correspondence between Scottish Government ministers and the Crown Office relating to the scandal?

Mr Findlay said that while the scandal predates Ms Bain's time in the role it was "imperative" that she "provides answers to Scottish victims of this appalling miscarriage of justice". He added: In Scotland it was the Crown Office, rather than the Post Office, that was entirely responsible for all Horizon prosecutions, so they must explain and be held accountable for their actions.

"We know the Crown Office dropped a case against a sub-postmaster because of ‘issues with Horizon’ which they knew about in January 2013, yet it was September of that year before guidance was issued warning against reliance on Horizon for evidence – and 2015 before prosecutions stopped. Those who were wrongly branded as thieves and had their reputations trashed and lives ruined are owed an explanation for these – and other – delays, discrepancies and failings."

He added that victims, who were wrongly accused of stealing money from the Post Office, deserve "full transparency". Mr Findlay believes that would include "all correspondence between the Crown Office and SNP justice secretaries, including Humza Yousaf, on this subject".

The Crown Office, which has been approached for comment, has queried the 2013 date put forward by the Tories. A spokesman said: "COPFS has provided a statement to the Public Inquiry which details the timeline of awareness we had of issues with the Horizon software, and the action we took to preserve the proper administration of justice.

"We are committed to public understanding of the role of Scotland’s prosecutors in these cases, and will provide information when it is appropriate to do so, respecting the ongoing legal processes. The Lord Advocate intends to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament and it would be inappropriate to comment further ahead of that."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:38:54 efbe90 No.129925

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20233845 (130017ZJAN24) Notable: A chip off the old block? Pete Wishart calls for 'lost' splinter to be reunited with Stone of Destiny (video)

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>>129923

https://youtu.be/saQSh8GCkCQ?si=0J46TbFJZddgMwEZ

Penny Mordaunt mocks SNP for finding missing Stone of Destiny piece

The Scottish Sun

235K subscribers

49,528 views Jan 11, 2024 #politics #snp #pennyMordaunt

At Westminster today Penny Mordaunt got chuckles from the MPs present as she congratulated the SNP for finding a missing piece of The Stone of Destiny.

The lost fragment was found in a cupboard at SNP HQ.

Ms Mordaunt also managed to mock the SNP on the state of the Scottish budget, saying: 'It is easy to lose things, I know, like a couple of billion quid from your budget.'

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:39:05 efbe90 No.129926

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20233952 (130041ZJAN24) Notable: Final Horizon Post Office Scandal Bun / Post Office acted 'like the mob' in Scotland as Inverness postmaster 'menaced' into handing over cash amid Horizon scandal

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/post-office-acted-like-mob-31861050

Post Office acted 'like the mob' in Scotland as Inverness postmaster 'menaced' into handing over cash amid Horizon scandal

The Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain confirmed that she would be providing a statement about the Crown Office's role in the Horizon scandal next week, and would take questions from MSPs.

David Walker

11 JAN 2024

The Post Office was accused of acting "like the mob" in Scotland after one Inverness sub-postmaster was "menaced" by two security officers into handing over money he allegedly owed them. Peter Worsfold described how two staff members showed up at his house and told him he needed to refund the cash or face criminal charges.

In evidence he gave to the Horizon Post Office Inquiry in 2022, he said that the two people told him that they "had the same jurisdiction as the police" and that they "cautioned" him and said he was being "charged with false accounting, theft and fraud" which "worried and devastated" him.

They told him that if he signed a statement "admitting to false accounting" and if he paid the shortfalls then "the other charges would be dropped." They warned that he could be imprisoned unless he managed to come up with the money, forcing Mr Worsfold to ask his family and friends for cash, which he combined with his funds and gave to the two security officers after they gave him two hours to round it up.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar mentioned this evidence as he demanded that Humza Yousaf make sure victims like Mr Worsfold are given the chance to clear their name and get compensation. He said it was “behaviour reminiscent of the mob.”

He added: “These stories show that the Post Office behaved like a private police force and showed little regard for the law in Scotland. Sub-postmasters were pressured into accepting accusations of false accounting and forced to hand over thousands of pounds that day or face imprisonment.

“If any other organisation had behaved like this in Scotland we would expect to see criminal investigations into their conduct.”

Mr Worsfold signed the document provided to him by the Post Office staff in a panic without being given access to a lawyer. He told the Inquiry: "After 22 years we continue to struggle due to paying back the losses incurred through the failure of the Post Office and the accounting system Horizon."

We previously told how the First Minister admitted that the Crown Office have urgent questions to answer about how it dealt with Horizon prosecutions as it convicted up to 100 postmasters wrongly on evidence provided by the Post Office. He said he empathised in the "strongest way possible with the harrowing tales that we’ve heard from subpostmasters and subpostmistresses right up and down the country.”

The Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain confirmed that she would face MSPs to explain its role in the scandal after calls were made for her to do so. She released a statement on Thursday which said that she was finalising timings with parliamentary authorities to make a statement, after which she will take questions from MSPs.

It said: “The Lord Advocate is willing to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the Horizon IT prosecutions. She hopes to come to an agreement with parliamentary authorities about the timing of this at the earliest possible opportunity.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:39:21 efbe90 No.129927

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20252427 (161733ZJAN24) Notable: Final Horizon Post Office Scandal Bun / Humza Yousaf faced with empty SNP seats at FMQs as he admits Crown Office has questions to answer over Horizon scandal

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>>129924

>>129926

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-faced-empty-snp-31857491

Humza Yousaf faced with empty SNP seats at FMQs as he admits Crown Office has questions to answer over Horizon scandal

The First Minister faced questioning by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross over the Crown Office's role in the scandal as demands were made for Lord Advocate to face a grilling from MSPs.

David Walker

11 JAN 2024

Humza Yousaf was forced to admit that Scotland's Crown Office has pressing questions to answer over its role in the Horizon Post Office Scandal. Calls were made by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross for Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain to be grilled by MSPs on the situation.

The First Minister was faced with swathes of empty seats at First Minister Questions as more than a dozen SNP MSPs dodged the flagship interrogation of their leader. And he faced tough queries about the Scottish Government's position on the scandal which has gripped the nation.

It was pointed out that the Crown Office prosecuted innocent postmasters due to the dodgy Fujitsu system, with about 100 being wrongly convicted of stealing money. This is different to England and Wales where the Post Office acted as the prosecutor.

Mr Ross pointed out that there were important questions that the Crown Office needed to answer publicly as he demanded that Ms Bain appear in front of MSPs. She has yet to publicly state her position on the scandal, except for a doorstep interview with Sky News.

He said: "The Horizon Post Office scandal is a horrendous miscarriage of justice that ruined hundreds of lives. Politicians of all parties will rightly reflect on what they should have done sooner. The UK Government has now acted to overturn the wrongful convictions of innocent victims. In Scotland however, prosecutions were handled by the Crown Office, not the Post Office.

"Blame starts with the Post Office but people are understandably looking at what others could have done. Scotland’s Crown Office were made aware of concerns with the Horizon system in 2013, more than 10 years ago. The actions of the Post Office were despicable and probably criminal. But the actions of the Crown Office here in Scotland should trouble us greatly.

"There was a sudden spike in cases involving people who were some of the most trusted in their communities. But the Crown Office proceeded anyway. That was until 2013. Suddenly, they decided not to proceed with a case in the Gorbals."

Mr Yousaf claimed that the Crown Office found out about the Horizon issues in September 23 2013, but Mr Ross pointed out that on January 29, the procurator fiscal refused to go ahead with a case due to “issues with Horizon.” He added: "As soon as the Fiscal became aware of concerns about the reliability of Horizon, that should have been disclosed.

"Does the First Minister agree Scotland’s Crown Office has serious questions to answer here? The Crown Office must be transparent. Prosecutors were aware of issues with the flawed Horizon system more than ten years ago. We don’t need meetings or briefings from the Lord Advocate, we need her here in Parliament to answer questions about this scandal."

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also called on Mr Yousaf to make sure that those wrongfully convicted get justice as he called on him to explain his role as justice secretary at the time. The First Minister explained that it would be "wholly inappropriate" for him to ask to see evidence about the Horizon prosecutions as a minister, and confirmed that he would be working with the UK Government over exonerating them.

He also said that the Lord Advocate is willing to answer questions from MSPs about the Crown Office's role in the scandal.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:39:37 efbe90 No.129928

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20252739 (161838ZJAN24) Notable: Final Horizon Post Office Scandal Bun / Lawyer says SNP and Crown Office have been 'very slow indeed' in dealing with PO Horizon scandal

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>>129924

>>129926

>>129927

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/lawyer-says-snp-crown-office-31883630

Lawyer says SNP and Crown Office have been 'very slow indeed' in dealing with PO Horizon scandal

Stuart Munro, Convener of the Law Society of Scotland's Criminal Law Committee, was scathing about the pace of the justice system under the Nats when he appeared on the Today programme on Monday

Ben Borland

15 JAN 2024

One of Scotland's top lawyers – who has overturned one of only two convictions quashed in court so far – has said the Crown Office has been "very slow indeed" in tackling the Post Office Horizon miscarriage of justice scandal.

Stuart Munro, managing director at Livingstone Brown, also called for the Scottish Government to provide more resources for Scotland's courts and the rest of the justice system to deal with the scandal (and other miscarriages of justice) in a more timely fashion.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday, he said: "I think its fair to say that Scotland has been very slow indeed in correcting these wrongs. The position really began when the English courts looked at first of all the Mr Bates civil case and then criminal appeals that followed on from that, that led the SCCRC to carry out an investigation, they identified six cases that they referred back to the High Court in November 2022.

"There was a lengthy process in part because the Crown required time to consider whether or not to challenge the conviction appeals and eventually two appeals, including one of the client I represented, were granted at end of September 2023. Two more were granted administratively last week and two which remain contested by the Crown have been set down for full appeal hearings in February and March. So really, out of around 100 cases involving Horizon prosecutions, Scotland has been pretty slow in only getting to the point of having four of those convictions overturned."

At the High Court in Edinburgh in September, Susan Sinclair, now 58, who was previously a sub-postmaster in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, saw her conviction for embezzlement quashed. She was sentenced to 180 hours of community service following a trial in 2004.

At the time, a statement from Livingstone Brown said: "This is the first such successful appeal in Scotland. She should never have been accused of any wrongdoing, far less convicted. Lessons must be learnt from this national scandal to ensure that these events never happen again. But the question remains as to why it has taken so long to get to this point, four years after the High Court in England issued a damning verdict on the Horizon computer system."

On the Today programme, Mr Munro said that Ms Sinclair had always maintained her innocence – but added that people who had pled guilty or admitted guilt faced a more difficult challenge to overturn convictions in Scotland.

He said: "There are people who supposedly made admissions in interview and accepted doing something wrong, albeit given what we've heard about the way in which some of these interviews took place, one wonders how reliable that can be seen to be, or they have pled guilty... again that could be because they were guilty or it might be they were advised or led to believe that accepting responsibility they would face a lesser sentence or something of that nature."

The mass exoneration announced last week by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is yet to be replicated north of the Border, although Mr Munro added that he expected people will still need "to demonstrate they were convicted on the back of Horizon evidence".

He continued: "Part of the problem is some of these cases go back 20 years, case papers aren't necessarily available and I just wonder this will place very significant pressures on individuals to come within the criteria. Another way of doing it frankly would be to resource our current system better, to have a proper understanding of the number of cases involved, to support our CCRCs to urgently review those cases and to resource the court to deal with these cases quickly.

The Crown Office told the Today programme it had provided a statement to the public inquiry including a timeline adding: "We're committed to public understanding to role of Scotland's prosecutors in these cases." It added that Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain intends to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament this week.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:39:50 efbe90 No.129929

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20254257 (162334ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf's brother-in-law arrested after man falls from flat in Dundee

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/humza-yousafs-brother-law-arrested-31891957

Humza Yousaf's brother-in-law arrested after man falls from flat in Dundee

A 36-year-old and 41-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the incident on Morgan Street earlier this month

Scottish Express reporter & Douglas Dickie Content editor

16 JAN 2024

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf’s brother-in-law has been arrested after a man fell from a block of flats in Dundee. A 36-year-old man was discovered with serious injuries on Morgan Street in the city on January 10. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police Scotland confirmed Mr Yousaf’s brother-in-law, 36, a 50-year-old man and 41-year-old woman were yesterday arrested in connection with the incident. They have since been released pending further enquiries.

Officers said enquiries were still ongoing. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Two men, aged 50 and 36, and a 41-year-old woman were arrested on Monday January 15 in connection with an incident on Morgan Street, Dundee, on Wednesday January 10. Around 8.20am on January 10, officers received a report that a man had fallen from a flat.

"The 36-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:40:06 efbe90 No.129930

File: 2b6e3b67ce0eb09⋯.png (563.93 KB,808x865,808:865,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20254454 (170005ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP to raid pockets of tourists in latest tax wheeze as visitors to be charged for visiting Scotland

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-raid-pockets-tourists-latest-31897072

SNP to raid pockets of tourists in latest tax wheeze as visitors to be charged for visiting Scotland

The Scottish Government passed the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill through at Holyrood which will give councils the power to charge tourists for staying overnight in cities and towns.

David Walker

16 JAN 2024

The SNP is now targeting the pockets of tourists as MSPs passed through legislation which allows councils to bring in a tourist tax. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill passed stage one at Holyrood on Tuesday, despite protests from critics that it would damage the industry which brings in millions each year for the economy.

A number of European countries already have a similar mechanism with tourists charged a sum of money when they stay overnight in hotels in some cities. Now, cash-strapped Scottish local authorities will receive the power to introduce the punitive charge which rises for every night a person stays in the region.

But if any council chooses to go ahead with this, it will be forced to wait 18 months before it can start collecting to allow businesses time to set up how to collect it on its behalf. And the cash will have to used to promote the area, with Edinburgh and Glasgow already considering bringing this in.

There will be no set fee across the country, and exemptions will vary as well due to the uniqueness of the landscape. But critics believe that this will have "damaging" consequences for tourism in Scotland, with less money spent on attractions, restaurants and bars.

Scottish Tory chairman Craig Hoy described it as a "bad law" which is aimed at "making up for SNP mishandling" as local authorities have been starved for cash. He added that he thinks it may be used as "backfill for SNP cuts" as the party "taxes more and delivers less."

He added that it would have an impact on "overall spend" as often tourists come to Scotland on a "fixed budget" with this tax removing even more money from them that now won't be spent at restaurants or bars, who are already struggling with high taxes and a lack of support from the Scottish Government.

His party colleague Miles Briggs said: “Scotland’s tourist sector is world class. It is estimated to be worth £4.5bn to the Scottish economy and directly supports over 250,000 jobs across the country – including rural and island communities.

“Many tourism businesses have not fully recovered from the pandemic and in recent years have had significant additional costs, thanks to this SNP-Green government. Many fear that this Bill – as with the botched the short term lets legislation – will lead to unintended harm.

“If this legislation is passed, it’s important there are exemptions, for example for people visiting family members in hospitals or prisons, business travellers, or those staying for work purposes. That’s why the Scottish Conservative will propose amendments to provide clarity and limit the costs.

“Our Scottish tourist sector already faces one if the highest tax burdens anywhere in the world. A visitor levy should not be used to cover up the SNP government’s underfunding of councils, or for services that should be provided as a matter of course.”

But public finance minister Tom Arthur defended the proposals. He said: "21 out of 27 EU countries have some kind of visitor levy and they are commonplace in other locations throughout the world. I strongly believe that a visitor levy can be a force for good, supporting the visitor economy and bringing benefits to visitors, residents, and businesses. It offers councils this opportunity to use the proceeds to invest in their local economy, bringing benefits to residents and visitors alike."

Due to the SNP/Green majority, the bill passed by 86 votes to 30.

Total joke. Having squandered all of your money (predominantly on themselves) government now wants to tax visitors, but don't worry ¯_(ツ)_/¯ it's for you the taxpayer they are doing this. They are going to spend it on your dilapidated villages, towns and cities that until now have prioritised themselves and "New Scots" for grants, housing and all manner of other services. The humble Scot pays all the tax and gets nothing in return, except the promise of more tax and fewer services.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:40:19 efbe90 No.129931

File: 5de859e15cc3df3⋯.png (596.67 KB,801x898,801:898,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20254535 (170015ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf branded the 'First Minister of Gaza' by Leo Kearse who says Nat leader 'doesn't care' about Scotland

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-branded-first-minister-31885036

Humza Yousaf branded the 'First Minister of Gaza' by Leo Kearse who says Nat leader 'doesn't care' about Scotland

The SNP leader's wife Nadia El-Nakla, a Dundee councillor, has family in the war-torn Palestinian exclave with the couple wanting Israel to stop its assault on Hamas

Douglas Dickie

15 JAN 2024

Humza Yousaf has been branded the "First Minister of Gaza" by comic Lea Kearse, who accused the SNP leader of caring more about the Palestinian exclave than Scotland. Kearse accused the First Minister of "tweeting about Gaza all day long" during a segment on GB News.

Mr Yousaf has called on Israel to stop its assault on terror group Hamas since war broke out in October. His wife, Dundee councillor Nadia El-Nakla, has family in the strip and her parents had been visiting when the conflict was triggered by Hamas attacks on Israel.

Over 20,000 people have died in the fighting, according to Hamas. Kearse was discussing a story that broke on Sunday that Ms El-Nakla's brother had been charged in connection with alleged drug offences.

He said she had become a "prominent figure in recent months, regularly appearing in the media" since the war started. And turning on Mr Yousaf, he said: "Humza just tweets about Gaza all day long.

"You would think he's the First Minister of Gaza rather than the First Minister of Scotland." Kearse added: "Scotland has got escalating drug deaths, there's 1400 babies born addicted to drugs in Scotland, we've got record levels of drug deaths, they've just been soaring over the past few years under the SNP and I thought Humza had just taken the eye off the ball in Scotland because he just doesn't care, he cares about Gaza more."

Ms El-Nakla last week called for a re-settlement scheme, similar to that for Ukrainian refugees, to be set up for those fleeing Gaza for the UK. Her sister-in-law has taken refuge in Turkey with the couple’s four children, who are aged between six months and nine years.

But she said her brother’s name was removed from the list provided by the Turkish administration – meaning the emergency doctor must remain in the war-torn region alongside his 93-year-old grandmother, who requires round-the-clock care. Ms El-Nakla said: "The Ukrainian resettlement programme saved so many lives.

"Gazans should also have that opportunity, especially those with family in Britain. I feel like a second-class citizen in my own country, because I don’t have the right to bring my own brother to stay in my own home.

"I can see people across the street hosting Ukrainian families, and rightly so, But I can’t host my own brother, to me that feels beyond upsetting."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:40:35 efbe90 No.129932

File: ba2bc80ff45c878⋯.png (648.94 KB,842x899,842:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20257068 (171127ZJAN24) Notable: Final Horizon Post Office Scandal Bun / Scotland's Lord Advocate apologises to victims of the Horizon Post Office scandal but Rangers prosecution parallels pointed out

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/scotlands-lord-advocate-apologises-victims-31895106

Scotland's Lord Advocate apologises to victims of the Horizon Post Office scandal but Rangers prosecution parallels pointed out

Dorothy Bain was told by MSPs that the Crown Office still have pressing questions to answer about why it has taken so long to clear potential victims of 'miscarriage of justice.'

David Walker

16 JAN 2024

Scotland's Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain apologised to Scots who were victims of the Horizon Post Office scandal but failed to answer key questions about the Crown Office's role in prosecuting sub-postmasters. She confirmed that 73 cases were being reviewed but that the process could be long.

But opposition critics asked why it took so long for the public to be told about concerns with the Fujitsu system amid claims concerns were first raised in 2013. Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay compared the situation to the Rangers prosecution scandal where the Crown Office claimed not to be at fault before compensating those wrongly arrested.

Ms Bain said at Holyrood that she wanted to apologise to those who "suffered a miscarriage of justice” and "acknowledge the harm caused to the people in these cases who have suffered a miscarriage of justice”. She also revealed that she was looking at whether to remove Post Office as a reporting organisation in the country.

She said: "The wrongly accused and convicted subpostmasters and postmistresses are due an apology from those who have failed them, and I do that today as head of the system of criminal prosecution in Scotland. The Post Office is part of that system and I apologise for the failures of those in the Post Office who were responsible for investigating and reporting flawed cases.”

But the Lord Advocate claimed that not every case she was looking at would be a "miscarriage of justice" due to Scotland's "corroboration" rules. This is why they could not offer a blanket exoneration to every Scot who was convicted due to evidence from Horizon.

Mr Findlay said: "While the Crown's apology will be welcomed, many questions remain unanswered. The Post Office Horizon scandal is a disgraceful mass failure of justice, innocent people branded thieves, hounded, wrongly convicted, some going to their graves, reputations destroyed.

"Every single Scottish prosecution was undertaken by the Crown Office. We know in 2013 Crown prosecutors refused to put at least one suspect in the dock due to concerns about Horizon evidence. But it was two years later before they abandoned all prosecutions.

"When the full extent of the scandal emerged, the Crown had the legal duty to disclose this to victims, but they did not. The public should also have been alerted to the damage inflicted on innocent Scots. They were not.

"This is the same Crown Office which denied wrongdoing over the Rangers prosecutions only to then compensate victims with more than £60m of taxpayer money. During both these scandals, the Lord Advocate was Frank Mulholland. Why did the Crown not come clean as soon as they discovered the Horizon evidence was fundamentally flawed, and should Frank Mulholland also face MSPs?"

Ms Bain rejected suggestions that the Crown Office was not up front about these issues, pointing out that it stopped prosecuting cases by 2015 and that officials had been "misled" by the Post Office who provided independent evidence which confirmed there was no "systemic" issue with Horizon.

And she also refused to admit that her organisation had "completely failed those wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters" as it was unaware of issues with the Horizon system due to a lack of disclosure from the Post Office.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:40:50 efbe90 No.129933

File: f588553f345bcc5⋯.png (736.46 KB,824x885,824:885,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20257090 (171140ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP 'standing by' as thousands more Scots predicted to become homeless in next two years

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-standing-by-thousands-more-31896024

SNP 'standing by' as thousands more Scots predicted to become homeless in next two years

'We can't just sit back and watch as more people are forced onto the streets, to sleep in cars or garages, or spent months or years trapped in emergency accommodation'

Ben Borland

17 JAN 2024

SNP ministers are accused of being "bystanders" as Scotland's homelessness epidemic in the next two years. Research for the charity Crisis suggested the number of households experiencing "core homelessness" could rise by 33% by 2026.

In 2022, some 18,400 Scottish households were homeless and the report by Heriot-Watt University projected the total would increase by 6,100 by 2026. The core homelessness figure – sleeping rough, in hostels or in temporary accommodation – has gone up by 11% since 2020.

Scottish Conservative shadow housing secretary Miles Briggs called for the Scottish Government to declare a "national housing emergency", following similar declarations by Glasgow, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute councils.

He said: "Scotland is in the grip of a housing emergency, yet the SNP are bystanders as homelessness soars and more and more people become trapped in temporary accommodation. The SNP have refused to prioritise housing and failed to meet their own housebuilding targets, despite the desperate shortage of homes.

"Thousands of vulnerable people have been left languishing in temporary accommodation – including thousands of children – due to the SNP starving local councils of essential funding to tackle the spiralling problem of homelessness.

"Glasgow, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute have already declared housing emergencies. Too many lives have already been lost due to homelessness. We need urgent action from the SNP Government before this crisis deepens – starting with them declaring a national housing emergency."

Scottish Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin added: "This damning report lays bare the impending catastrophe Scotland is facing. Homelessness is already at record levels, and without action it will soar by a third – but the SNP and the Greens insist there is no housing emergency."

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said the Scottish Government could "stop that future from becoming reality" by investing in homelessness services and pushing on with adequately-resourced plans to prevent homelessness.

He said: "The risk of a significant rise in homelessness over the coming years should worry us all. We can't just sit back and watch as more people are forced onto the streets, to sleep in cars or garages, or spent months or years trapped in emergency accommodation that just isn't fit for their basic needs. It doesn't need to be that way. Scotland has proven good policy can make a difference in the past, and it can do it again."

Housing Minister Paul McLennan welcomed the report and said: “We have already committed to many of these measures in our homelessness strategy.” He added: “The UK Government should heed the calls from Crisis to increase Housing Benefit and other working age benefits. It is also concerning that another Local Housing Allowance freeze is on the horizon.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:41:05 efbe90 No.129934

File: 19c7c4b7fae0379⋯.png (499.19 KB,843x848,843:848,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20257121 (171202ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP government forks out £4m of taxpayer money on 'diversity officers' despite huge public spending cuts

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-government-forks-out-4m-31885430

>>129899

SNP government forks out £4m of taxpayer money on 'diversity officers' despite huge public spending cuts

The number of officers being used by the SNP administration has skyrocketed in the past year from 42 to 74 with some being paid almost £118,000 a year

Douglas Dickie

15 JAN 2024

Scotland's nationalist government is under fire amid reports it is spending more than £4 million a year on equality, diversity and inclusion officers. The spend comes against a backdrop of huge spending cuts, with public services set to be badly affected.

SNP Ministers have complained about the lack of funding from Westminster. But the new figures have raised questions on whether Scots are getting the best value for money.

According to a report in The Times, the number of employees in these roles has increased from 42 when they were collated last year, to at least 74. The figure includes directors of equality and inclusion who receive annual salaries of almost £118,000.

The true number of these officials may be even higher as the figure does not include other public bodies like the Crown Office. Based on a maximum salary, spending on the roles will have almost doubled from £2.3m in 2022 to £4.3m this year.

The scale of spending has been questioned by the Scottish Conservatives. The party's deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: "While the principle of equality, diversity and inclusion is vital, many people will question the scale of government spending on this area at a time when eye-watering cuts are being made by SNP ministers to essential public services, due to their gross mismanagement of Scotland’s finances.

"The SNP Government must ensure they allocate money and civil service resources in line with the most pressing priorities." The Scottish Government is also said to take part in three workplace diversity schemes at a cost of £9,210 a year.

That includes over £3,000 for controversial LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall which has been criticised for its extreme stance on transgender issues. The likes of Police Scotland, the House of Commons and the BBC have left the scheme.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "The figures referred to include policy work such as addressing health inequalities. We are committed to ensuring civil servants receive every opportunity to upskill and attend training courses to better serve the people and interests of Scotland."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:41:21 efbe90 No.129935

File: 2cb227a5ca73086⋯.png (493.03 KB,851x899,851:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20257141 (171217ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP 'higher taxes for free tuition' boast in tatters as less Scots to be accepted on university courses due to budget cuts

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-higher-taxes-free-tuition-31891187

SNP 'higher taxes for free tuition' boast in tatters as less Scots to be accepted on university courses due to budget cuts

The Scottish Government was blasted after it was revealed that ministers plan to cut funding handed to universities to allow Scottish students free places, meaning less space for them at prestigious establishments.

David Walker

16 JAN 2024

The SNP's boasts about higher taxes paying for free university tuition has been left in tatters as ministers are set to slash places reserved for Scottish students due to massive budget cuts. Humza Yousaf used his speech on Friday to claim that his "progressive" tax system pays for "tens of thousands of young people attending some of the world’s finest universities right on their doorstep without paying a penny."

But it has been revealed that hidden in Shona Robison's budget documents was a cut of £48.5m of financial support in the 2024/25 budget. This is the second year of damaging cuts to the sector.

Education chiefs are already struggling to fund places for Scottish youngsters to attend universities, so they are increasingly looking to overseas students for funding. And this issue could be set to get worse due to plans by SNP ministers to remove more cash in order to balance the budget.

Bombshell government documents revealed buried notes from officials which outlined the need for "additional" savings to be made in the [higher education] sector including from reducing first year university places." Free tuition is one of the Nats most treasured policies despite not being the architects of it.

Former First Minister Alex Salmond once proclaimed that "rocks will melt with the sun" before his party would take away the right to free tuition for Scots. This has led to widespread criticism from rivals who pointed out that Scots were already struggling to get into top universities, with current education secretary Jenny Gilruth facing criticism over this decision.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liam Kerr said: "The SNP need to be fully upfront about these cuts, buried deep within their disastrous Budget. Scotland's university sector is already facing huge challenges thanks to the failures of SNP ministers to support it, and this would be another hammer blow.

"It would also be deeply damaging for many young people - who are already facing barriers to university entry due to the SNP's arbitrary cap on student places - if even fewer places were available. The SNP need to urgently explain why university places are set to bear the brunt of cuts when they've wasted so much money elsewhere on their own pet projects."

Mr Yousaf and Ms Robison have claimed that widening the tax divide with England for anyone in Scotland earning about £28,500 is to pay for policies specific to the country, including free university tuition, prescriptions and the Scottish child payment.

The Scottish Government pays for funded places at universities so Scots students are not charged fees. This means that further education establishments need to make money from students from around the world who pay to attend, including from England.

Ms Robison's budget reduced funding to support "core teaching activities" at universities by six per cent, with Universities Scotland, the umbrella body for the sector, saying that proposed cuts equate to a reduction of £48.5m in funding for teaching Scottish students.

The SNP did legislate to scrap the graduate "endowment" when it came to power in 2007 but universities in Scotland are said to have only £7,610 a year available to educate each Scot. This comprises a teaching grant which works out at £5,790 per pupil plus a 'shadow' tuition fee (paid by the Scottish Government rather than the student) of £1,820 a year.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:41:34 efbe90 No.129936

File: 1f488d1fdab7f01⋯.png (297.22 KB,555x819,185:273,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20257142 (171218ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP 'higher taxes for free tuition' boast in tatters as less Scots to be accepted on university courses due to budget cuts

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>>129935

......................................................................................................................................................................continued......................................................................................................................................................................

Students from the rest of the UK pay annual fees of up to £9,250 in Scotland, with this cash going into its coffers. Opposition critics blasted the decision, with Scottish Tory MP Andrew Bowie saying: "When the SNP tell Scots they're paying higher taxes to 'protect free education...' But fail to mention there are fewer places for Scots at Scottish Universities than ever before. (Oh & if you're from a deprived background you're now more likely to get to university in England).

Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr added: "One of the retorts the SNP will provide to accusations of rampant uselessness is 'Well we're providing free tuition.' Yes, but to a diminishing number of Scottish students. Now to diminish even further."

The Scottish Government said the "most challenging Budget' under devolution had 'allocated nearly £2billion to universities and colleges" in 2024-25. A spokesman added: "Our student support offering and policy on free tuition supports more than 120,000 students every year and we have seen record numbers of full-time first degree entrants to universities coming from the most deprived communities in Scotland."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:41:50 efbe90 No.129937

File: beafa651e69532e⋯.png (553.26 KB,820x899,820:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20257160 (171228ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Shona Robison blames UK Government Covid cuts for SNP's plans to axe 1,200 free tuition places for Scots students

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>>129935

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/shona-robison-blames-uk-government-31894034

Shona Robison blames UK Government Covid cuts for SNP's plans to axe 1,200 free tuition places for Scots students

The Scottish Government's finance secretary confirmed that more than a thousand Scots students will miss out on places at Scotland's universities.

David Walker

16 JAN 2024

Shona Robison confirmed that there would be 1,200 fewer places at universities for Scottish students as funding has been cut by the SNP Government. And she faced claims that this would mean that the country would struggle to keep high-earning graduates due to an influx of foreign students.

We previously told how the Scottish Government was blasted after slashing the budget for universities by £28.5m, meaning that the establishments will need to bring in money in other ways. Foreign students need to pay up to £9,250 to be taught north of the border, with this helping to sustain finances.

The finance secretary was giving evidence at Holyrood on Tuesday and confirmed that an estimated 1,200 places for Scottish students would be cut next year, and claimed that this is because the UK Government took away Covid funding two years ago which helped fund this.

Scottish Labour MSP Michael Marra had suggested that 3,800 less local spaces would be offered, but Ms Robison claimed that the Scottish Funding Council did not have any estimates, before then saying that there would be 1,200 that they can no longer fund. She underlined that the Scottish Government was providing a "substantial investment" to universities in £2bn.

The SNP Executive created an extra 1,200 places during the Covid pandemic in the wake of improved school leaving grades due to no exams taking place. Ms Robison said: "If you go back to the origins of this, essentially during Covid, due to the assessment processes put in place for assessing Highers.

"At the time of Covid, if you remember, they became a different process of continual assessment and therefore there was a big spike in those who were gaining university entrance. We used some of the Covid monies to fund those additional 1200 places for universities in order to address that spike.

"We've maintained those places for two years without the Covid funding available, so that Covid funding ended from the UK Government, and we've managed to keep those places going for two years, but the position is not a sustainable one. So that spike in places due to Covid is going to have to return to the pre-Covid levels of university places."

She refused to admit whether this would lead to fewer Scottish students attending university, and claimed it was up to universities to create that space. And she added that it was up to the government to persuade graduates to remain in Scotland after they leave.

But she did say that the SNP had warned Westminster about not leaving a funding cliff edge once it stopped providing extra cash to deal with the pandemic. She could not confirm whether there would be even less spaces available for Scots at universities, saying these details had to be thrashed out by the Scottish Funding Council.

She said: "The only number I am aware of is the 1,200 Covid places which is the bubble we have sustained funding for out of Scottish Government funding, we kept them going for two years. but can no longer sustain that, There is no figure agreed with the university sector, it is all about what can they deliver."

Speaking afterwards, Scottish Labour Finance Spokesperson Michael Marra said: “The Deputy First Minister’s lacklustre appearance before Finance Committee this morning was a new low from this chaotic government and its shambolic budget. Despite the Government’s own budget document outlining a plan to reduce first year university places, the Deputy First Minister could not say how many places would be cut.

“The fact is that this is an SNP government mired in incompetence and economic illiteracy that is simply making it up as they go along. The ineptitude of this SNP Government has serious consequences for people’s lives and livelihoods. Every day this SNP-Green government reaches a new low. For the sake of our country, they need to get a grip.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:42:05 efbe90 No.129938

File: d1f122238758faa⋯.png (668 KB,818x890,409:445,Clipboard.png)

File: 2cefad4d814a8a5⋯.png (402.72 KB,851x575,37:25,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20282961 (221619ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf's brother-in-law arrested after man falls from flat in Dundee

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>>>/qresearch/20257002

>>129929

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/man-who-fell-window-dundee-31910576

Man who fell from window in Dundee dies after Humza Yousaf's brother-in-law was arrested in connection

Ramsay El-Nakla. Stephen Stewart and Victoria McGowan were all arrested in connection with an incident which saw a man fall from a window in Dundee. Police have confirmed the male has now died

Mark Connor

18 JAN 2024

A 36-year-old man who fell from a flat in Dundee has died a week after the incident. The fall led to the arrest of the first minister’s brother-in-law in connection with the incident.

His death comes a week after police were called to the block of flats on Morgan Street, Stobswell. Emergency services raced to the scene last Wednesday morning and the man was taken to Ninewells Hospital, where he died a week later.

First Minister Humza Yousaf’s brother-in-law, Ramsay El-Nakla, is one of three people who have been arrested in connection with the incident. El-Nakla, 36, Stephen Stewart, 50, and Victoria McGowan, 41, were all arrested in relation to the matter.

All three made no plea and will appear in court again at a later date.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.20am on Wednesday January 10, we received a report a man had fallen from a block of flats in the Morgan Street area of Dundee. A 36-year-old man was taken to Ninewells Hospital for treatment to serious injuries, where he died on Wednesday January 17.

“The death is being treated as unexplained, and officers are supporting his family as an investigation continues to establish the full circumstances. Two men, aged 50 and 36, and a 41-year-old woman were arrested on Monday in connection with the incident and later released pending further inquiries.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:42:20 efbe90 No.129939

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20283152 (221659ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP wants to 'empty prisons' as Angela Constance admission exposes 'weak justice agenda'

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-wants-empty-prisons-angela-31924292

SNP wants to 'empty prisons' as Angela Constance admission exposes 'weak justice agenda'

The Scottish Conservatives' Russell Findlay have blasted the Justice Secretary for comments she made to a penal reform group

Douglas Dickie

21 JAN 2024

The SNP has been accused of wanting to "empty Scotland's jails" after bombshell comments from the justice minister emerged last night. Angela Constance said the country had to "stop sending more people to prison" in a conversation with a penal reform group.

And minutes from the meeting show she was "exploring a range of actions" in a bid to reduce the prison population. The comments have been slammed by the Scottish Conservatives, who obtained the documents through Freedom of Information legislation.

Justice spokesman Russell Findlay said it exposed the SNP's "weak justice agenda, which puts criminals first". Ms Constance met with Howard League Scotland on August 16 last year to discuss "key issues relating to justice within Scotland" including the prison population, which rose by over 600 last year.

The minutes record Ms Constance "highlighted that the crux of the problem is we need to stop sending more people to custody". She is also minuted as having said "there are range of actions we are doing for prison population and looking at short-, medium- and long-term solutions".

Mr Russell said: "This memo reveals the SNP’s real agenda when it comes to criminal justice. In public, they claim to be on the side of victims.

"But in private, they admit their true intention, which is to empty Scotland’s prisons and put criminals back on our streets. The justice secretary’s confession behind closed doors will come as no surprise to crime victims or the law-abiding majority of Scots who suffer the impact of the SNP’s pursuit of weak justice, which puts criminals first."

Data suggests there were 7,303 people in Scottish prisons at the end of last year. This rose steadily and peaked on December 1 when 7,981 inmates were recorded. The number has subsequently fallen to just above 7,900.

Despite the rise, the proportion of criminals being sent to prison plummeted to a seven-year low in 2020.21 with just 14 per cent handed a custodial sentence.

The Scottish Government and SNP-created Scottish Sentencing Council have faced accusations of being soft on crime. Data released earlier this month suggests a record number of criminals are avoiding any type of punishment for committing crimes.

Criminal Justice Social Work statistics showed 4,784 people were handed diversion from prosecution referrals while over 30 per cent of those sentences to community payback orders actually carried out any work.

And in four years between 2018 and 2022, 1,400 convicted criminals were handed an absolute discharge from court, including 17 thugs found guilty of serious assault and attempted murder and 12 convicted of sexual assault. Over 60,000 recorded crime warnings have also been handed out injust three years as yobs are let off with a "slap on the wrist".

Sentencing guidelines have also been implemented to ensure more lenient punishments for those under the age of 26.

Ms Constance said her opinion on the use of prisons was "crystal clear". She added: "They are necessary in society to punish, to protect, and to rehabilitate and reduce reoffending.

"It is clear that action is needed to address Scotland’s high prison population. Community interventions are more effective than short prison sentences at addressing offending behaviour and breaking the cycles of reoffending.

"The removal of an offender’s liberty must always be available for our independent courts. To reduce reoffending we will continue to invest in our prisons as well as justice in the community, ultimately shifting the balance between custody and community."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:42:35 efbe90 No.129940

File: 1ea301d934b6184⋯.png (435.71 KB,835x895,167:179,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20283715 (221843ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Scotland's chief medical officer Sir Gregor Smith told colleagues to delete WhatsApp messages daily (video)

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038122 Updated Covid Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/scotlands-chief-medical-officer-sir-31938744

Scotland's chief medical officer Sir Gregor Smith told colleagues to delete WhatsApp messages daily

Sir Gregor Smith was questioned by KC Jamie Dawson at the UK Covid Inquiry and claimed that he followed Scottish Government guidance to regularly delete his 'informal' messages, joining Jason Leitch, Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney in doing so.

David Walker

22 JAN 2024

Scotland's chief medical officer Sir Gregor Smith admitted that he deleted his WhatsApp messages regularly, and advised his officials to do the same during the Covid pandemic. He becomes the latest high-profile Scottish Government figure to confess to not keeping correspondence while the deadly virus was active.

We previously told how Nicola Sturgeon, Jason Leitch and John Swinney all wiped their messages, with the UK Covid Inquiry confirming this last week. And now evidence has been presented that Mr Smith done similar as he protested that this was due to government guidance on informal messaging.

He replaced Catherine Calderwood during the early days of the pandemic after she was caught visiting her second home despite lockdown rules. UK Covid Inquiry lead counsel Jamie Dawson KC presented messages from a weekly WhatsApp group where Mr Smith is joking with a colleague about freedom of information requests.

Graham Ellis asks him "hope this isn't FOI able" to which the chief medical officer responds "delete at the end of every day..." Mr Ellis then comments with a sideways crying emoji and a thumbs up emoji.

Mr asked Mr Smith if it was his "practice to delete messages at the end of every day?" He replied: "The Scottish government advice in relation to this was not to retain information for longer than was necessary."

He added that he made sure that any information that was pertinent to decisions was kept on the corporate record, with his practice being to make sure that any information which was important was captured in e-mail form. He said: "My practice was when information was no longer useful it should not be retained."

Mr Dawson asked Mr Smith to expand on his definition of pertinent, and whether this meant a decision, to which the chief medical officer said: "Once a consensus has been achieved, what that consensus was." He says he would delete his messages frequently, if not every day.

He then explained that there was advice given to Scottish Government employees which specifically dealt with informal message and the need to delete messages on a regular basis. He said: "There was also advice we were given in discussion with the then director general, reminding us that official business shouldn't be done within these mediums and there should be regular deletion, partly for security purposes and that it shouldn't be seen as a secure medium."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:42:48 efbe90 No.129941

File: 9f1752cd5a2ccf1⋯.png (201.86 KB,737x790,737:790,Clipboard.png)

File: 7fee999d7241b16⋯.png (292.73 KB,814x487,814:487,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20283742 (221847ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Scotland's chief medical officer Sir Gregor Smith told colleagues to delete WhatsApp messages daily (video)

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...........................................................................................................................................................................continued..........................................................................................................................................................................

The top doctor then said that informal communications were usually used to arrange meetings and that any information thought to be pertinent would be captured in e-mail form. Questions have been raised about why government officials got to decide what information was relevant.

Mr Smith was also asked about the credibility of the expertise of Scotland's clinical advisers. He, Mr Leitch and Ms Calderwood were compared to England's Dr Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, who both have extensive careers in public health which hey could rely on.

Mr Dawson added that there had been commentary about the fact that he was a GP, Mr Leitch and dentist and Ms Calderwood an obstetrician, meaning they were not experts in public health or infectious diseases. Mr Smith claimed that this wasn't an issues that was raised at all due to public confidence in messaging from "authentic" clinical leaders being "very, very high".

Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: “Scots will be appalled that senior figures in the Scottish Government were effectively sneering at them during the Covid crisis. This shows the contempt those in charge felt towards ordinary people.

“We know this shocking culture of cover-up, and edicts to delete messages, came from the very top – Nicola Sturgeon and her senior SNP ministers. The nod-and-a-wink sniggering that went hand in hand with the industrial-scale deletion of messages points to the incriminating or embarrassing content contained within them.

“The SNP government were shamefully pre-occupied with covering their own tracks through the deletion of messages, rather than focusing on protecting people from a deadly virus. Those responsible for such decision-making cannot continue to remain silent and must urgently explain their shameful, secretive and scandalous behaviour."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: "While families grieved, the Scottish Government destroyed evidence of what was going on behind the scenes and behind the decisions which gripped all of our lives.

“It's disturbing to see some of Nicola Sturgeon’s closest advisers and officials joking about transparency and how to dodge it in the remnants of WhatsApp groups. From the First Minister downwards, there was a pattern of people covering their own backs and limiting what would be available to the inquiries everyone knew would follow.

“At Nicola Sturgeon’s helm, bereaved families may forever be denied the understanding, the justice and the closure they deserve. There are major questions for her to answer, and I hope that she will agree to make a personal statement in Parliament to address them.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:43:02 efbe90 No.129942

File: 2153ef33e928b59⋯.png (564.27 KB,827x887,827:887,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20283866 (221916ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Nicola Sturgeon breaks silence on Covid WhatsApp scandal as she insists she 'acted properly'

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-breaks-silence-covid-31928657

Nicola Sturgeon breaks silence on Covid WhatsApp scandal as she insists she 'acted properly'

The former first minister insisted she followed Scottish Government guidelines at all times but admitted messages had 'not been retained on my own device'

Douglas Dickie

20 JAN 2024

Nicola Sturgeon has broken her silence on the Covid WhatsApp scandal as she insisted she acted in "line with Scottish Government policy". The former first minister has faced criticism after it emerged she had not been able to submit WhatsApp messages or written notes to the UK Covid Inquiry.

She insisted the Inquiry does have access to "messages between me and those I most regularly communicated with through informal means". She claimed she was "able to obtain copies which I submitted to the Inquiry last year" even though they had "not been retained on my own device".

But Ms Sturgeon was accused of taking the Scottish public for "fools". Scottish Conservative party chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: "The former First Minister appears to have deliberately and repeatedly deleted her WhatsApp messages and she must have done so for a reason.

"Rather than apologising to the country, she is cynically seeking to deflect attention from the mass deletion of key messages by top ministers and officials. If there are no minutes of key Covid meetings, no notes and no messages, how were any decisions made? How are any inquiries supposed to understand the motives, disagreement and discussion behind them?

"Saying there's no decisions sent by WhatsApp does not inform the public at all. This statement is just another instalment in the unravelling of the SNP. The addiction to spin and secrecy must come to an end now."

In a statement on social media, the former SNP leader said: "To be clear, I conducted the Covid response through formal processes from my office in St Andrews House, not through WhatsApp or any other informal messaging platform. I was not a member of any WhatsApp groups.

"The number of people I communicated with through informal messaging at all was limited. Also, any handwritten notes made by me were passed to my private office to be dealt with and recorded as appropriate. Throughout the entire process, I acted in line with Scottish Government policy."A policy they created to cover up in advance

Ms Sturgeon claimed she "did my level best to lead Scotland through the pandemic as safely as possible". She said she "did not get every decision right" but was " motivated only, and at all times, by the determination to keep people as safe as possible".

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:43:18 efbe90 No.129943

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20284131 (222003ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Nicola Sturgeon deleted ALL her WhatsApp messages and texts during the pandemic

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>>129942

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/nicola-sturgeon-deleted-whatsapp-messages-31920723

Nicola Sturgeon deleted ALL her WhatsApp messages and texts during the pandemic

The UK Covid Inquiry hears the former first minister's messages were 'deleted in routine tidying up of inboxes or changing of phones' while John Swinney and Jason Leitch also routinely cleared out their phones – leaving us in the dark about Scotland's pandemic decision makers

Ben Borland

19 JAN 2024

Nicola Sturgeon deleted her pandemic WhatsApp messages, despite being told to retain them by the UK Covid Inquiry. This is despite her promise in August 2021 that all messages would be handed over.

The bombshell evidence was heard at the inquiry's hearings in Edinburgh on Friday and ends weeks of speculation over what had happened to the former first minister's texts and messages. She has so far refused to confirm or deny reports that she had routinely deleted her WhatsApps.

Disclosing evidence received from the Scottish Government, lead counsel to the inquiry Jamie Dawson KC said: "Under the box marked Nicola Sturgeon, it says that messages were not retained, they were deleted in routine tidying up of inboxes or changing of phones, unable to retrieve messages."

Grilling top civil servant Lesley Fraser, the director-general of corporate, he asked if it was correct that "Nicola Sturgeon had retained no messages whatsoever in connection with her management of the pandemic"? Ms Fraser replied: "That is what that indicates to me."

The Scottish Government has also been unable to retrieve any of her messages from the corporate record, with Mr Dawson asking: "Does that mean that we have no access to the former first minister's messages in connection with her management of the pandemic?"

With the former SNP leader due to give evidence in the coming days, Ms Fraser said "Ms Sturgeon will be able to explain that much better..." before she was interrupted by Mr Dawson, who said: "I think that's just a matter of logic."

The inquiry team had requested Ms Sturgeon's informal messages between January 20, 2020 and April 30, 2022. In its reply to say there were none, the SNP administration added that "all substantive issues were recorded by Private Office emails." and claimed that "auto delete was not active" on her phone.

It also emerged that former Deputy First Minister John Swinney also deleted his messages. The submission states: "During the period communicated via WhatsApp, text and/or telephone with Nicola Sturgeon, Jeane Freeman and Humza Yousaf for the purposes of raising urgent information and preparing for formal meetings. Messages would have been deleted by auto-delete functions or by themselves manually deleting them as they do on a regular basis."

'WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual'

Ken Thomson, the former director general for constitution and external affairs and manager of the Covid Co-ordination Directorate of the Scottish Government, was the next to face questioning.

Mr Thomson said the use of electronic messaging grew "very rapidly" at the start of the pandemic as people switched to working at home but he insisted that all major decisions were taken in Cabinet meetings, which are formally minuted. Mr Thomson said: "The first minister did not take a decision in informal messaging. It would be very rare that she would message me at all, never mind to make a decision."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:43:31 efbe90 No.129944

File: db2ea9d077a73d4⋯.png (382.69 KB,798x792,133:132,Clipboard.png)

File: 204d2dcec95852a⋯.png (155.62 KB,564x482,282:241,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20284142 (222004ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Nicola Sturgeon deleted ALL her WhatsApp messages and texts during the pandemic

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>>129943

..........................................................................................................................................................................continued......................................................................................................................................................................

However, Mr Dawson turned the 'Covid outbreak group' which included Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nicola Steedman and the National Clinical Director Jason Leitch, and shows Mr Thomson calling for messages to be cleared.

The inquiry is shown a series of WhatsApp group exchanges from 13 May 2021 in which Mr Thomson posts: "I feel moved at this point to tell you that this chat is FOI-recoverable." He includes an emoji with a zipped mouth. Two minutes later, Prof Jason Leitch responds: "WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual."

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: "Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney have huge questions to answer over their conduct in the wake of this devastating revelation. By deleting all their WhatsApp messages, they defied the inquiry’s clear instructions from June 2021 that all relevant messages had to be retained.

"Their actions may be illegal and beg a very simple question: what were they trying to hide? Shamefully and outrageously for families of those who died during the pandemic, we may never know. Nicola Sturgeon’s reputation, which has been tarnished by a series of scandals in the last year, now lies in tatters.

"Secrecy and evasion were the hallmarks of her government – and this shameful cover-up, which amounts to a digital torching of vital evidence, is the most scandalous example of it. Both Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney must urgently answer questions in parliament on this."

Dame Jackie Baillie said the news was "nothing short of horrifying" and a "shocking betrayal". She added: "Despite giving assurances to keep all correspondence, Nicola Sturgeon has completely broken her promise to the people of Scotland."

A spokeswoman for Ms Sturgeon said: "In the interests of everyone who has been impacted by the Covid pandemic, Nicola is committed to full transparency to both the UK and Scottish Covid inquiries.

"Any messages she had, she handled and dealt with in line with the Scottish Government's policies. Nicola has provided a number of written statements to the UK inquiry - totalling hundreds of pages - and welcomes the opportunity to give oral evidence to the inquiry again this month when she will answer all questions put to her."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:44:23 efbe90 No.129945

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20284228 (222021ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / ScottishSun: Nicola Sturgeon DELETED all Covid WhatsApp messages, UK inquiry reveals (video)

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>>129943

>>129942

https://youtu.be/x0aK0hFuzz0?si=kt3XUEnFKLDImwhO

Nicola Sturgeon DELETED all Covid WhatsApp messages, UK inquiry reveals

The Scottish Sun

245K subscribers

29,873 views Jan 19, 2024 #scotland #politics #nicolasturgeon

NICOLA Sturgeon deleted all of her WhatsApp messages from during the pandemic, the UK Covid Inquiry's lead council has confirmed.

Jamie Dawson KC referred to a rundown from the Scottish Government about what WhatsApp messages it could provide to the probe.

He said: “Under the box ‘Nicola Sturgeon’, it says that 'Messages were not retained, they were deleted in routine tidying up of inboxes or changing of phones … Unable to retrieve messages'.

“So, what that tends to suggest is at the time that request was made Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland, had retained no messages whatsoever in connection with her management of the pandemic.”

The confirmation of the mass deletions comes after reports in October that Ms Sturgeon and other senior Scottish Government figures had wiped messages, sparking anger at the time from Covid bereaved families and opposition politicians.

https://youtu.be/Oc-Fe3c45g4?si=jQroBGcWLV63uCcH

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:44:32 efbe90 No.129946

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20284363 (222051ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / DailyRecord: Nicola Sturgeon deleted all WhatsApp messages relating to covid pandemic, inquiry told (video)

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>>129945

Nicola Sturgeon deleted all WhatsApp messages relating to covid pandemic, inquiry told

Daily Record

57.6K subscribers

18,416 views Jan 19, 2024 #DailyRecord #covid #nicolasturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of a "shocking betrayal" over the deletion of all her WhatsApp messages during the pandemic.

Jamie Dawson KC, counsel to the UK Covid Inquiry, told the probe the former First Minister had retained no messages "whatsoever”.

At a hearing today, Dawson said: “Under the box ‘Nicola Sturgeon’, it says that messages were not retained, they were deleted in routine tidying up of inboxes or changes of phones, unable to retrieve messages.

“What that tends to suggest is at the time that request was made Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister of Scotland, had retained no messages whatsoever in connection with her management of the pandemic.”

Lesley Fraser, the director general corporate of the Scottish government, agreed saying: “That’s what that indicates to me.”

Sturgeon, who led Scotland through the pandemic, has previously refused to say whether her messages were deleted.

Sturgeon has been under huge pressure after it was reported last year her WhatsApp messages during the pandemic had been deleted.

The messages are believed to be crucial in gaining a full understanding of why key pandemic decisions were made.

Original Article: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/po...

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:44:41 efbe90 No.129947

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20284523 (222122ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Jason Leitch deleted messages in ‘pre-bed WhatsApp ritual’ during pandemic exposed (video)

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>>129946

>>129945

https://youtu.be/P90Eqs2sD_0?si=8nO_Y-TA_kswlo7_

Jason Leitch deleted messages in ‘pre-bed WhatsApp ritual’ during pandemic exposed

The Scottish Sun

245K subscribers

38,799 views Jan 19, 2024 #scotland #politics

DAMNING screenshots have exposed Jason Leitch's "pre-bed ritual" on WhatsApp during the coronavirus pandemic amid a row over SNP secrecy.

It emerged during today's UK Covid Inquiry hearing that Nicola Sturgeon's pandemic official prof encouraged everyone to DELETE their WhatsApp messages before going to bed each night.

In October, Prof Leitch was blasted for going to ground over the deleted Covid messages scandal, as anger mounted amid reports Ms Sturgeon and her national clinical director were among around 70 Scottish Government figures who wiped pandemic-linked WhatsApps.

The following month, counsel Mr Dawson revealed at an earlier hearing that “generally very few messages appear to have been retained” by around these 70 key figures.

And now damning messages have exposed the Scottish Government for planning to delete their messages to prevent them from being recovered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoSN6-HHzTQ

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:44:51 efbe90 No.129948

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20284750 (222203ZJAN24) Notable: Final SNP WhatsApp Scandal Bun / Scotland's chief medical officer Sir Gregor Smith told colleagues to delete WhatsApp messages daily (video)

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>>129947

>>129945

>>129946

Scotland’s chief medic told Covid officials to wipe messages ‘every day’ amid cannabis banter

The Scottish Sun

245K subscribers

Jan 22, 2024 #scotland #politics #gregorSmith

SCOTLAND's Chief Medical Officer told fellow pandemic officials to wipe messages "at the end of every day" amid banter about cannabis in a Scottish Government WhatsApp group.

CMO Professor Sir Gregor Smith’s remark was shown on screen at the UK Covid public inquiry today, amid mounting anger about ministers’ and civil servants’ deleting potential evidence.

Taking to the stand at today’s hearing, Sir Gregor - knighted for his service during Covid - admitted routinely wiping messages, days after it was confirmed Nicola Sturgeon had done similarly.

https://youtu.be/RO3y6awpDEo?si=pDdNsJDHHG1O8v8a

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:45:00 efbe90 No.129949

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20285623 (230018ZJAN24) Notable: Covid and other Pestilence Bun Part One / Covid Inquiry - STUC General Secretary on BBC1 (video)

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Covid Inquiry - STUC General Secretary on BBC1

Scottish Trades Union Congress STUC

129 subscribers

48 views Jan 17, 2024

www.stuc.org.uk

This cow takes on a whole new level of cuntishness with her big gripe being that the government didn't make kids wear masks in school to protect their members fast enough. CUNTS like her should never be allowed in any job representing any group of people. This woman is a fucking idiot.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:45:12 efbe90 No.129950

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20285989 (230122ZJAN24) Notable: Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun | Updated Humza Yousaf Bun | Updated Michelle Mone Bun / Six months on, drivers STILL paying £350,000 a month in Low Emission Zone fines

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038124 Updated Glasgow LEZ Bun

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12987099/Six-months-drivers-paying-350-000-month-Low-Emission-Zone-fines.html

Six months on, drivers STILL paying £350,000 a month in Low Emission Zone fines

Paul Drury For The Scottish Mail On Sunday 22:13 20 Jan 2024

* Motorists punished for driving into centre of Scotland’s biggest city

Motorists were last month hit with fines worth an astonishing £350,000 for driving into the centre of Scotland’s biggest city.

Latest figures show that during December, Glasgow City Council issued 3,471 penalties for breaching the country’s first Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Yesterday drivers staged a protest against the LEZ, with many waving placards describing the scheme as ‘Highway robbery’.

The LEZ was introduced in June last year – banning certain older diesel and petrol vehicles from a square mile of the city centre.

Similar schemes are set to be introduced this year in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

The stated aim is to reduce pollution levels. When the Glasgow LEZ was set up, officials rejected claims it was money-making scheme for the council.

However, six months after it was first enforced, figures show that motorists are still paying a heavy price – with a total of 3,471 fines handed out last month, worth around £349,020.

Incredibly 98 drivers in December were hit with the maximum possible monthly fine of £960 –which is imposed only if a motorist breaches the LEZ on five separate occasions, with each breach attracting an ever greater penalty.

In November only 60 drivers received the maximum penalty.

Yesterday dozens of placard-waving protesters gathered at Glasgow Green to show their objection to the LEZ.

Some urged ‘Do not comply’, while others complained about the council, stating ‘Public servants are now tyrants’.

Another sign suggested LEZ should stand for ‘Local Exclusion Zone’.

Recent figures suggest the LEZ may have affected the number of shoppers in Glasgow.

The Scottish Retail Consortium reported that the number of people hitting the shops at Christmas had fallen across Scotland by 2.2 per cent – but had dropped 9.6 per cent in Glasgow.

Spokesman David Lonsdale said it was too early to assess what impact the first LEZ Christmas had on shop visits but the council should reconsider if its policies are making city centre visits less attractive.

He said: ‘Our figures show shopper footfall in Glasgow remains over a tenth below pre-pandemic levels.

‘Councils needs to consider carefully the overall economic impact of policies which might make their city centres less accessible and more costly to visit, and whether the potential revenue raised from new congestion levies measures up against the likely impact on retail and hospitality businesses trading in the city.’

He added: ‘One in every six stores in Scotland is lying vacant, so the focus should be on measures to bring the energy and footfall back into our larger cities rather than deterring people further from coming back.’

Many motorists escaped fines in October and November because of a tribunal ruling which said penalty notices should be sent by recorded delivery.

As a result, more than 1,300 drivers dodged LEZ fines after they had to be written off by Glasgow City Council. During the transition from non-tracked to tracked post, 1,388 fines ‘timed out’ as they were not served within 28 days of the LEZ breach.

These fines were then not issued but a council spokesman said there was no obligation to refund penalties that have already been paid.

All LEZ fines are now sent by tracked post, the council said, making them legally enforceable.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:45:26 efbe90 No.129951

File: 23ebc8c93b9fb99⋯.png (589.17 KB,839x899,839:899,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20288374 (231422ZJAN24) Notable: Covid and other Pestilence Bun Part One / NHS campaigners question whether Jason Leitch was qualified for Covid pandemic role

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038122 Updated Covid Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/nhs-campaigners-question-whether-jason-31924340

NHS campaigners question whether Jason Leitch was qualified for Covid pandemic role

The National Clinical Director – who has previously admitted he felt like a 'fraud' due to his lack of experience – took part in unminuted 'Gold Command' meetings with Nicola Sturgeon to discuss policy

Ben Borland

19 JAN 2024

A leading NHS campaign group has written to the Scottish Covid Inquiry to raise questions about the role of Professor Jason Leitch in advising Nicola Sturgeon during the pandemic.

At the UK public inquiry hearings in Edinburgh this week, it emerged that Ms Sturgeon and her deputy John Swinney frequently gathered to discuss policy before the weekly Cabinet meetings. No minutes were taken at these gatherings, which were dubbed 'Gold Command meetings'.

The Action for A Safe and Accountable People's NHS (ASAP-NHS) has now written to Scottish Inquiry, along with advocate Dr Claire Mitchell KC who is representing bereaved family members, to say this raises issues that must be explored at future hearings. The letter – released exclusively to the Scottish Daily Express – quotes the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance on 'Managing Epidemics', which states that "pre-training" of "skilled" health professionals is "essential".

The campaigners say: "From the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic, it soon became clear that even those with infectious diseases knowledge, training and experience in their relevant fields, had to draw upon and share every ounce of their authoritative expertise in the effort to save lives : indeed nothing less than a 'gold standard' of well honed, medical/scientific and other skills were required to meet the WHO 2018 directive.

"With no mention in Jason Leitch's public biography of professional skills and experience in the realm of infectious diseases or epidemic planning, it was of some concern, when in March 2020, former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, appointed National Clinical Director, as Senior Clinical Covid Advisor."

During 2020, ASAP-NHS attempted to find out more about Prof Leitch's qualifications for the role and was told by the Scottish Government that "it held neither information on the infectious disease training or experience of the senior, clinical advisor appointed to lead Scotland's pandemic response nor that it deemed it a business requirement to do so".

The letter states that this "can only be viewed with total incredulity". It goes on to say: "Although during the last 18 months or so, Jason Leitch has been at great pains to distance himself from the Covid decision making, there is plenty of evidence from his earlier boasts, which confirm a pivotal role in 'Gold Command' eg. re. leadership/lockdown, 'I was in the room when that decision was made. I gave the advice with which to make the decision.'

"In Parliament, May 2020, the First Minister dismissed an MSP's claims with regard to criticism of her senior clinical advisor's series of Covid misjudgments, as an 'unwarranted, invidious attack', affirming her reliance on Jason Leitch for the 'life and death decisions' she took.

"Jason Leitch has also made some shock admissions about feeling a 'fraud' and not being 'equipped for the role', which must raise questions about why he was ever entrusted with senior clinical advisory responsibilities... while Covid was raging and so many dying?"

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:45:37 efbe90 No.129952

File: 32c1c0ddc3f56a7⋯.png (81.63 KB,876x246,146:41,Clipboard.png)

File: 85e5fc78c7fe5f3⋯.png (110.91 KB,573x493,573:493,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20288377 (231423ZJAN24) Notable: Covid and other Pestilence Bun Part One / NHS campaigners question whether Jason Leitch was qualified for Covid pandemic role

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>>129951

..............................................................................................................................................................................continued..............................................................................................................................................................................

'I'm a dentist... who did public health as a hobby'

The Scottish Inquiry is running in tandem with the UK inquiry, although it is only investigating policy areas under the control of the Scottish Government. The campaigners are now asking "whether or not [Prof Leitch] informed the FM that he felt so out of his depth".

According to ASAP-NHS, Prof Leitch "has no medical qualification, is not GMC registered, has no licence to practise medicine or to give medical advice. He has no known scientific qualification in infectious diseases or pandemic management. All his UK qualifications lie within the field of dentistry/GDC registration: a dentist with post-grad qualification in oral surgery ie licence limited to perform oral cavity surgery".

In 2021, Prof Leitch told Holyrood magazine: "After all, I'm a dentist who then became a surgeon who then did public health as a hobby so I genuinely do feel a bit of a fraud in that environment, which is why we've got a public health leader at Public Health Scotland, who's the clinical lead for that bit.

"All the public health leaders in the country also come together, and we’ve got a national group too. I just happen to have become like one of the familiar faces of that public health response. But I'm not stupid, I understand where my limits are, but I think it is the moment for public health to give the best advice it can and if I can be part of that in communicating those messages effectively, then all to the good."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:45:49 efbe90 No.129953

File: 421311be102e9db⋯.png (451.29 KB,825x899,825:899,Clipboard.png)

File: 85cde197d2d778b⋯.png (362.13 KB,846x509,846:509,Clipboard.png)

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File: 81ef7a3ac5cae17⋯.png (261.42 KB,557x803,557:803,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20288620 (231517ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Nicola Sturgeon wanted to use Covid pandemic to 'reboot' Scexit campaign, 'bombshell' evidence reveals

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038122 Updated Covid Bun

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-wanted-use-covid-31932175

Nicola Sturgeon wanted to use Covid pandemic to 'reboot' Scexit campaign, 'bombshell' evidence reveals

Senior Scottish Government officials considered using the crisis to restart its campaign for a second independence referendum - on the same day the former FM angrily denied she was playing politics

Douglas Dickie

21 JAN 2024

Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish Government wanted to use the Covid crisis to reboot its push to break up the United Kingdom, bombshell new documents have revealed. With restrictions in place and hundreds of Scots already having died from the virus, the paper reveals Sturgeon's top team looking to restart a push for a second independence referendum.

Ironically, it was discussed on the same day Ms Sturgeon spikily insisted she was only focused on dealing with the pandemic. But the revelations cast new doubt on how focussed the Nationalist executive was on the coronavirus in June 2020.

Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: "It is hard to imagine Nicola Sturgeon's star falling any lower than it has, but we are still in the early days of this inquiry. People were dying, the NHS was on the verge of collapse, care homes were on their knees, and this is what the SNP were more concerned about."

It comes after it also emerged the UK Covid Inquiry had not been handed 'informal' messages relating to the pandemic from Ms Sturgeon and senior civil servants. Ms Sturgeon insists she did present information but concedes it did not exist on her devices.

The Scottish Government minutes from June 2020 were referred to by Jamie Dawson KC in an exchange with former civil servant Ken Thomson during the Inquiry, which is currently sitting in Scotland. He said: "It says that cabinet agreed that consideration should be given to restarting work on independence and a referendum with the arguments reflecting the experience of the coronavirus crisis and developments on EU exit.”

The discussion took place at a time Scots faced stringent restrictions on their liberties, although the rules had been eased slightly. That day, Ms Sturgeon had reacted angrily to a question about the politics behind her reluctance to ease restrictions compared with Boris Johnson.

She said: "Your last question was an accusation that I had been somehow divisive in language I used. I want to just come back to basics here. We're not dealing with politics at the moment.

"We are dealing with a virus, a virus that we know poses a real risk to health and to life." She added: “Frankly, anybody who is trotting out political or constitutional arguments is in the wrong place completely and has found themselves completely lost.”

Mr Fraser added: "This damning memo proves the SNP ignored tragedy to further their separation obsession - and then belittled journalists who cottoned on to that. One advantage of the former first minister's almost-daily Covid briefings is that the SNP's dishonesty can now almost be pinpointed to the minute. In the weeks and months ahead, there will almost certainly be more of this scandal to come."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex-Cole Hamilton said it was a "bombshell revelation" after it was flagged by think tank These Islands. He added "People were dying and one of their first thoughts was political advantage."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is committed to responding to both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 inquiries, as learning lessons from the pandemic is vital to prepare for the future. It would be inappropriate to comment on any matters being considered by the UK Covid Inquiry while hearings are ongoing."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:46:05 efbe90 No.129954

File: 6691352018f4236⋯.png (523.37 KB,843x899,843:899,Clipboard.png)

File: 64ad44948552f5e⋯.png (338.04 KB,817x552,817:552,Clipboard.png)

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File: 9ef555f1f8acaee⋯.png (29.88 KB,436x767,436:767,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20288761 (231543ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / The league of shame: All those present when SNP restarted Scexit push at height of Covid

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>>129953

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/comment/league-shame-those-present-snp-31940919

The league of shame: All those present when SNP restarted Scexit push at height of Covid

June 30, 2020 – when we were still getting to grips with this terrifying new disease that had changed our world – was the date when SNP ministers and civil servants decided to get back to work on breaking up the UK

Ben Borland

22 JAN 2024

At 9.30am on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, the SNP Cabinet held at meeting at Bute House in Edinburgh. In the four months since March 1, there had been 4,173 deaths registered in Scotland with Covid-19 on the death certificate.

The front page headline in the Scottish Daily Express that day read, 'I can't rule out quarantine for English visitors'. It was a report based on a press conference given by Nicola Sturgeon the previous day, at which she insisted she did not view the pandemic "through the prism of Scottish politics or the Scottish constitutional debate".

The following day's paper also carried the story on page 1, under the headline 'Tourists say they'll snub Scotland' as Sturgeon warned she may have to take "really tough and unpopular decisions". She pledged that if quarantining English visitors was "necessary we won't shy away from doing it".

Lurking behind all this unpleasant sabre-rattling, however, was the conclusion agreed by the First Minister and her Cabinet that this was the perfect time – in the earliest months of a devastating global pandemic – to restart the campaign for Scottish independence and a second Scexit referendum.

We know that now, thanks to the UK Covid Inquiry, which obtained and published the Cabinet minutes. They state that Cabinet "agreed that consideration should be given to restarting work on independence and a referendum, with the arguments reflecting the experience of the coronavirus crisis and developments on EU exit".

In other words, from that day forward – June 30, 2020 – every single thing the Scottish Government did or said was with the aim of furthering the cause of breaking up the United Kingdom. Remember this was months before the vaccine roll-out began, when it still seemed possible that a second wave of Covid might have a death toll far more terrifying than the first.

We have recorded the names of all those who were present at that meeting – both politiicans and civil servants – and have no hesitation in publishing them here.

Present:

Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP - First Minister

John Swinney MSP - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

Aileen Campbell MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government

Roseanna Cunningham MSP - Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform

Fergus Ewing MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism

Kate Forbes MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Finance

Jeane Freeman MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport

Fiona Hyslop MSP - Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fair Work and Culture

Michael Matheson MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity

Michael Russell MSP - Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People

Humza Yousaf MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Justice

In attendance:

Leslie Evans - Permanent Secretary

Rt Hon James Wolffe QC - Lord Advocate

Graeme Dey MSP - Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans

Dr Gregor Smith - Interim Chief Medical Officer

Jennie Barugh - Director, Performance and Strategic Outcomes

Dominic Munro - Director, Exit Strategy

David Rogers - Director of Constitution and Cabinet

Shirley Rogers - Director, Organisational Readiness

John Somers - First Minister's Principal Private Secretary

Tim Ellis - Head of Performance and Outcomes

James Hynd - Head of Cabinet Secretariat

Mairi Macpherson - Deputy Director, Creating Positive Futures

Ewan Crawford - Special Adviser

Liz Lloyd - Special Adviser

Colin McAllister - Special Adviser

Stuart Nicholson - Special Adviser

Aileen Easton - First Minister's Official Spokesperson

REDACTED - UNCRC Bill Team Leader

Peter Creevy - PS/Special Advisers

REDACTED - Head of Children's Rights

Chris Mackie - FM Covid Briefing Unit

REDACTED - Economy Covid Hub

REDACTED - First Minister's Policy and Delivery Unit

Kieran Watson - Head of Intelligence and Analysis for Negotiations

REDACTED - Cabinet Secretariat

What's with the redactions?

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:46:20 efbe90 No.129955

File: 661c718e80d6080⋯.png (626.82 KB,816x899,816:899,Clipboard.png)

File: 9a6b353df9c37a8⋯.png (239.58 KB,848x605,848:605,Clipboard.png)

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File: 1987f960cde1c38⋯.png (342.73 KB,568x793,568:793,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20288956 (231617ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / Humza Yousaf must come clean over his role in 'scandalous' SNP Government pushing for Scexit at height of Covid pandemic

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>>129954

>>129953

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-must-come-clean-31938311

Humza Yousaf must come clean over his role in 'scandalous' SNP Government pushing for Scexit at height of Covid pandemic

The First Minister has been urged by rivals to explain why the Scottish Government under Nicola Sturgeon wanted to restart its Scexit conversation during the first few months of the Covid pandemic, with him being the justice secretary at the time.

David Walker

22 JAN 2024

Humza Yousaf has been urged to explain his role in the Scottish Government's "scandalous" decision to push for independence at the height of the Covid pandemic. We previously told how bombshell documents published by the UK Covid Inquiry showed that during a Cabinet meeting, ministers and officials discussed restarting work on breaking up the UK.

Retired civil servant Ken Thomson was confronted with this evidence during a hearing on Friday and failed to answer when quizzed about whether the SNP executive had attempted to politicise the deadly virus. In Cabinet minutes from June 2020, officials "agreed that consideration should be given to restarting work on independence and a referendum with the arguments reflecting the experience of the coronavirus crisis and developments on EU exit".

The current first minister was justice secretary at the time and has now been urged to explain this "shameful" decision and whether he was involved in it. Scottish Tory shadow constitution secretary Donald Cameron submitted a Topical Question to the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer about this scandal.

He has called on Mr Yousaf to come clean about what was discussed at the meeting, why, and whether he voiced any concerns about “scandalous decision to focus on SNP political objectives during a public health emergency”. He said: “This astonishing and shameful revelation from the UK Covid inquiry explains why Nicola Sturgeon and many of her senior colleagues were so keen to delete their WhatsApp messages.

“If a discussion on pushing their independence obsession was talked about around the cabinet table, we can only imagine the extent of the SNP’s crass constitutional opportunism on private messaging. The Scottish people are entitled to know why a government that assured us public safety was its sole focus was gaming its push for another independence referendum while the death toll mounted.

“Humza Yousaf was a senior figure around the cabinet table at the time. Did he voice any objections to this disgracefully skewed priority? If not, why not? I have this morning submitted a Topical Question on this. If it’s selected, I would urge the First Minister, in the interests of his own credibility and integrity, to respond on behalf of his government.

Ms Sturgeon is also facing growing pressure to explain her actions during the pandemic and her decision to delete her WhatsApps dating from that time period. She insisted that all relevant information has been passed to the Inquiry, but admitted wiping her messages.

And her involvement in attempting to restart the conversation about breaking up the UK despite hundreds of people dying due to coronavirus daily will also be scrutinised in the coming weeks. She is scheduled to give evidence to the inquiry next week.

On the day that the cabinet discussed Scexit, the then-first minister reacted angrily to a question at her daily briefings about whether politics was behind her reluctance to ease restrictions compared with Boris Johnson. She said: "Your last question was an accusation that I had been somehow divisive in language I used. I want to just come back to basics here. We're not dealing with politics at the moment.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is committed to responding to both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 inquiries, as learning lessons from the pandemic is vital to prepare for the future. It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of evidence being considered by the UK Covid Inquiry while hearings are ongoing.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:46:35 efbe90 No.129956

File: 1e9b218b1ad4a78⋯.png (651.38 KB,848x899,848:899,Clipboard.png)

File: 8cdc8894643edfb⋯.png (421.57 KB,882x556,441:278,Clipboard.png)

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File: 4ac491735842f29⋯.png (156.02 KB,570x508,285:254,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20289066 (231633ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / BBC Scotland news broadcast got just 200 viewers as station bosses obsess over the SNP

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/tv/bbc-scotland-news-broadcast-just-31887233

BBC Scotland news broadcast got just 200 viewers as station bosses obsess over the SNP

The figures have prompted claims that bosses at Pacific Quay are wasting licence fee payers' money on 'parochial' coverage of Scotland and the 'SNP's political ambitions'

Ben Borland

15 JAN 2024

The BBC in Scotland has been accused of a "deplorable waste of money" as its flagship news programmes lose viewers. The Seven, a 15-minute news programme, only pulled in 200 viewers last Sunday.

Meanwhile, the station's hour-long news show The Nine reached just 1,700 people, which was about 0.1% of those watching television at the time. It pulled in 750,000 viewers for its 2019 launch but had only 8,200 viewers on its most successful day this year, Monday, January 8.

Viewers of the BBC Scotland channel, which last year cost the BBC £35million to run, declined by a quarter between 2021 and 2023. Figures also suggest the broadcaster's evening news show Reporting Scotland has also been struggling. STV News at Six was watched by about a third of viewers on the average day in 2023, compared with around a quarter for Reporting Scotland.

Former BBC editor and academic Professor Tim Luckhurst told The Times: "The viewing figures for The Seven and The Nine are atrocious. Indeed, BBC Scotland appears to be spending licence fees on output that achieves a statistically insignificant reach. It should stop. The pursuit of non-existent viewers is a deplorable waste of money."

He added: "BBC Scotland's commitment to news output for which there is no public demand suggests that senior staff may be paying too much attention to the SNP's political ambitions and too little to their licence payers' interests. The BBC's UK leaders should pay close attention to these figures... Scots are interested in UK and international affairs. The parochial audience the BBC has targeted is an expensive fiction."

Donald Cameron, the culture spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: "While the BBC continues to enjoy a strong reputation among many Scots, these viewing figures will give bosses some cause for concern. As Scots continue to grapple with the global cost of living crisis, the BBC must ensure that their output is representing them and delivering value for money.

"Resources are stretched for BBC Scotland, but they should endeavour to continue investing in quality programming in Scotland to attract more viewers going forward."

A BBC spokesman said: "Against a background of declining audiences for all linear channels in recent years, the BBC in Scotland continues to provide market-leading services. The BBC Scotland channel continues to reach more viewers than any other digital channel in Scotland — its weekly reach in 2023 was 13.5 per cent or 701,000.

"The channel was launched as a multi-platform service, and we have seen considerable growth in iPlayer viewing of BBC Scotland content. It has risen from 1.6 million weekly requests to 2.4 million, a growth rate of 45 per cent year on year. During 2023, Reporting Scotland’s bulletins had a weekly TV reach of 1,575,000 — which is ahead of other commercial news providers in the country.

"The Nine had a weekly reach of 106,000 between January and November 2023 and its journalism extends beyond the nightly show into other parts of our news output. And consumption of BBC news on digital platforms by Scottish audiences continues to grow. BBC Scotland news online has 5.6 million unique visitors each week, a year on year rise of 18 per cent."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:46:48 efbe90 No.129957

File: 416c7fb617aca43⋯.png (678.17 KB,847x899,847:899,Clipboard.png)

File: cffd0708a16633c⋯.png (329.69 KB,823x517,823:517,Clipboard.png)

File: 3d8beac0af3b18e⋯.png (170.63 KB,595x563,595:563,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20289152 (231652ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / BBC boss defends 'atrocious' viewer numbers for Scotland's flagship news shows

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>>129956

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/bbc-boss-defends-atrocious-viewer-31911310

BBC boss defends 'atrocious' viewer numbers for Scotland's flagship news shows

The viewing figures were last week described as 'atrocious' but the BBC boss has come out to say it is unfair to view figures 'in isolation'

Mark Connor

18 JAN 2024

Low viewing figures for some programmes on the BBC Scotland channel should not be taken in isolation, the corporation’s director north of the border has insisted. Steve Carson was questioned by MSPs on “really low” TV audiences for news shows The Seven and The Nine, which are both broadcast on BBC Scotland.

It comes after it was revealed The Seven attracted an audience of just 200 viewers on Sunday January 7 while one episode of The Nine - the channel’s flagship news programme - had just 1,700 people watching. With the BBC Scotland director appearing before MSPs on Holyrood’s Culture Committee, Tory Donald Cameron asked: “Those figures showing really quite a low reach, do they not worry you?”

Mr Carson said: “Figures like 200 being quoted in isolation don’t represent the actual performance of those titles.” He stressed the importance of not “putting things in isolation” as he added average audience figures for the programmes were higher.

Mr Carson insisted taking viewing figures for one show at a “certain timeslot, a certain period of the year, doesn’t represent the totality of the view”. While he claimed that “audiences vary from show to show”, Mr Carson said: “The Nine reaches over 100,000 viewers every week and The Seven reaches over 20,000 every week.

“On its own, that puts news on the Scotland channel ahead of any other news provider on digital TV in Scotland. The average audience for The Seven is about 8,000. The Nine can get some low figures of 1,700. I think on Monday night it was 23,000.”

Last week, former BBC editor and academic Professor Tim Luckhurst told The Times: "The viewing figures for The Seven and The Nine are atrocious. Indeed, BBC Scotland appears to be spending licence fees on output that achieves a statistically insignificant reach. It should stop. The pursuit of non-existent viewers is a deplorable waste of money."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:47:05 efbe90 No.129958

File: 443dcd51dfb4ba9⋯.png (704.52 KB,862x899,862:899,Clipboard.png)

File: 29c2659ee78e001⋯.png (442.45 KB,805x533,805:533,Clipboard.png)

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File: 0d77449386fb64b⋯.png (360.05 KB,572x825,52:75,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20290494 (232119ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP soft touch justice blasted as more criminals than ever before avoid any punishment

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>>129939

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-soft-touch-justice-blasted-31896382

SNP soft touch justice blasted as more criminals than ever before avoid any punishment

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay blasted the Scottish Government's for its over-reliance on using diversion from prosecution on criminals.

David Walker

16 JAN 2024

The SNP's soft touch approach to justice was blasted after it was revealed that a record number of criminals are avoiding any type of punishment for committing crimes. The Scottish Government was accused of failing victims as the number of yobs being "diverted from prosecution" hit the highest level since records began.

This is usually given to younger criminals who are convicted for the first time for smaller crimes such as theft or assault. But it has also been used for some accused of sexual assault, although this was paused after an intervention by the Lord Advocate following complaints from alleged victims.

According to new Criminal Justice Social Work statistics published on Tuesday, 4,784 people were handed diversion from prosecution referral, which is higher than any other year since at least 2007-08, which is as far back as published statistics go. It is a small bit higher than 2021-22 where 4,776 were recorded.

The figures also revealed that nearly a third of all community sentences fail to impose any work requirement on criminals, with only 68.4 per cent of those sentenced to a community payback order being required to carry out "unpaid work or other activity" as punishment.

Pre-Covid pandemic, at least seven in 10 cons had to go to work in the community. Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay also pointed out that there was a lack of drug and treatment testing orders handed out in Scotland, with only 301 being directed, the lowest number given out since 2013/14.

He said: “These statistics lay bare the reality of the SNP’s relentless weakening and under-funding of Scotland’s criminal justice system with a record number of criminals dodging justice, to the dismay of victims. “n cases where there was a conviction, victims may question why one in three criminals are not required to do unpaid work as part of their community sentences.

“The low number of Drug and Treatment Testing Orders is also concerning, given that they should be a critical in tackling Scotland’s drug deaths crisis.”

In other figures, the number of community payback orders (CPOS) issued by Scottish Courts increased by a fifth on the previous year, with 14,700 of them commencing. The figure is up 20% from 2021-22 when 12,200 were issued. However, pre-pandemic years from 2013-14 to 2019-20 saw figures ranging between 16,500 and 19,500.

Of the CPOs issued, 68% were for unpaid work, compared to 67% as supervision requirements. The official data also showed that 1,100 bail supervision cases commenced last year – the highest in the last decade.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Community Payback Orders (CPOs) are a robust and credible community sentence which make individuals pay back to the community or fulfil other requirements decided on by the court, while addressing the underlying causes of their offending behaviour, helping to prevent further crime and victimisation and keeping our communities safer.

“The reconviction rate for those given CPOs in 2018-19 was 30% compared to 52% for those completing custodial sentences of one year or less.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:47:22 efbe90 No.129959

File: 25e4a38359573ee⋯.png (614.77 KB,820x879,820:879,Clipboard.png)

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20290936 (232235ZJAN24) Notable: Nicola Sturgeon & SNP Bun Part One / SNP soft touch justice Scotland as just 51 fly-tippers prosecuted despite almost 300,000 incidents being reported

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>>129958

>>129939

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-soft-touch-justice-scotland-31871019

SNP soft touch justice Scotland as just 51 fly-tippers prosecuted despite almost 300,000 incidents being reported

The Scottish Lib Dems demanded that the Scottish Government get tougher on people who dump their rubbish and household items in public places.

David Walker

13 JAN 2024

The SNP's soft touch justice was highlighted by the Scottish Lib Dems who revealed that just 51 fly-tipping cases were sent to prosecutors despite almost 300,000 incidents being reported since 2019/20. The party urged Scottish Government ministers to introduce a restitution order.

New fly-tipping rules came into force from Monday which could see culprits receive on-the-spot of fines of up to £500 which is more than double the previous £200. But communities spokesman Willie Rennie believes that this move is not enough to curb the plague of dumped rubbish.

Figures showed that local authorities received 284,762 reports of illegal rubbish dumping since 2019-20. However, only 51 were referred to the procurator fiscal, while 3,317 fixed penalty notices were issued.

Glasgow City Council received the highest number, with 88,357 reports across the four-year period – but just 335 fines were issued. And cases were only passed to the procurator fiscal in seven local authorities, with convictions obtained in just two – East Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire.

Mr Rennie welcome the fine increase, but said Scottish Government ministers must now introduce a new rule ordering offenders to contribute to the clean-up, with the money then put towards a national fund to help farmers. He said: “Fly-tippers are increasingly brazen. From back lanes to main roads, most communities across Scotland are blighted by other people’s rubbish.

“It’s ugly, dirty and smelly, yet only a tiny fraction of cases ever result in a fine or a trip to court. I am relieved that, after years of pressure from my party, the government has finally increased the level of fines available.

“However, there is still a fundamental unfairness in the system which leaves farmers and other owners with the responsibility for clearing up waste dumped on their properties. More needs to be done to clamp down on this disgusting behaviour and to ensure that repeat offenders feel the full force of the law.

“Alongside a robust fixed penalty system, Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see the introduction of a new restitution order, enabling the courts to require contributions from offenders to cleaning up their mess. These contributions could then go towards a national fund which would help support farmers and all those who bear the brunt of fly-tipping.”

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:47:37 efbe90 No.129960

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294017 (240941ZJAN24) Notable: Covid and other Pestilence Bun Part One / SNP Government should 'sack' Jason Leitch as nationalists accused of 'mocking' Scots behind the scenes of Covid pandemic

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>>129951

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-government-should-sack-jason-31948675

SNP Government should 'sack' Jason Leitch as nationalists accused of 'mocking' Scots behind the scenes of Covid pandemic

Deputy first minister Shona Robison was torn apart at Holyrood as Nicola Sturgeon's government was accused of 'shameful' behaviour during the pandemic and she refused to apologise to the Covid bereaved.

David Walker

23 JAN 2024

Calls have been made for Jason Leitch to be sacked as national clinical director as the SNP Government was accused of "mocking" Scots "behind the scenes" of the Covid pandemic. His damning evidence at the UK Covid Inquiry was described as "inappropriate."

We previously told how Professor Leitch was forced to defend his deletion of messages, and even gave Humza Yousaf advice on how to dodge face mask rules in a social setting. Messages from WhatsApp groups also revealed he had been joking about how deleting WhatsApps was a "pre-bed routine."

The Scottish Government was quizzed about the evidence given at the UK Covid Inquiry, with deputy first minister Shona Robison refusing to apologise to bereaved Scots who have outlined their anger over revelations over the past few days. Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "Ken Thomson, the man who drafted the Scottish Government's records management policy was advising people on how to avoid complying with it."

She was referencing the evidence shown on Friday where the former deputy director of the government advised his colleagues in WhatsApp groups to wipe their messages. He told others to "delete this thread" and in a separate message wrote: "Just to remind you (seriously), this is discoverable under FOl. Know where the ‘clear chat’ button is.”

Ms Baillie added: "The national clinical director Jason Leitch, who helped shape the Covid regulations, was advising the current First Minister how to avoid the rules. And Nicola Sturgeon, who promised transparency has, alongside John Swinney and senior civil servants, deleted WhatsApp messages on an industrial scale. No lessons learned there.

"Deputy first minister, whether messages were deleted nightly or weekly, it is clear that Jason Leitch wiped his messages completely and seemed to find the period during the pandemic quite funny. Judging from the messages we have seen, this isn't just a matter for the Inquiry, it's a matter for the Scottish Government to see if the Scottish Government agrees that Jason Leitch was inappropriate, is it not time he was sacked?"

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane demanded that Ms Robison apologise for her administration's behaviour during the pandemic, and he added: "The shameful culture of secrecy came from the very top, with Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney deleting all their messages, the same Nicola Sturgeon who stood at the daily briefings with a pretence of moral superiority.

"And yet behind the scenes it is clear that the Scottish Government was mocking us, believing none of this would ever come to light. The government is shameful." His colleague Graham Simpson asked whether Police Scotland should be investigating "the activities of the message deleting Covid cabal."

Ms Robison rejected all these notions, and claimed that MSPs must allow the Inquiry to "do its job in scrutinising all of the decision-making" during the pandemic, including the deletion of messages. She claimed that any deletion was in line with the government's policy.

The Scottish Covid Bereaved group gave a press conference following Prof Leitch's evidence, with member Margaret Waterton blasting his comments, saying "there is nothing flippant about the death of my mother and my husband from Covid." This referenced his claim that his "pre-bed ritual" deletion of WhatsApps was just a flippant text.

She said: "It is quite clear that messages were deleted and therefore we have no real idea about the context or the nuance around the critical decisions being made by our senior clinical advisers and our Government ministers during the height of the pandemic. This is not what we expect from our senior politicians and clinicians."

Caroleanne Stewart, who lost her brother to the disease in 2020, told journalists: “I would just like to say he (Prof Leitch) was a very confident man, but when he left, he wasn’t so confident because he was caught out, not only by King’s Counsel and the judge, and we are very grateful for that.

“I would like him to be answering: why are people still dying from Covid in hospitals (and) in care settings? If he’s still in that job, let him answer that question: what is he doing now to stop the death from Covid-19?”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:47:52 efbe90 No.129961

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294062 (241020ZJAN24) Notable: Final Operation Branchform Bun / Crown Office yet to consider Operation Branchform case despite two-and-a-half year probe into the SNP

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>>>/qresearch/20038158

>>>>/qresearch/20038115 Updated Operation Branchform Bun

>>129873

>>129874

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/crown-office-yet-consider-operation-31941129

Crown Office yet to consider Operation Branchform case despite two-and-a-half year probe into the SNP

Police Scotland have been probing the SNP since July 2021 when a complaint was made about whether the nationalists had illegally spent about £600k of ring-fenced Indyref2 cash.

David Walker

22 JAN 2024

The Crown Office have yet to even look at whether charges should be brought in Operation Branchform despite the probe being ongoing since summer 2021. The SNP have been under investigation by cops for two-and-a-half years but it has yet to be passed to prosecutors.

Social media rumours insisted that there would be new action within the probe but this has been shot down by the Crown Office. There has been no public arrests since June when Nicola Sturgeon was grilled by detectives looking into whether about £600k of ring-fenced Indyref2 funds have been spent elsewhere illegally.

Her arrest came hot on the heels of her husband Peter Murrell and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie also being taken into custody. All three were released without charge, with police also raiding Sturgeon's marital home, as well as the Edinburgh HQ of the nationalist party in April, the week after she officially exited Bute House.

A luxury motorhome costing about £110k was also seized during the series of raids, with this being in the driveway of Mr Murrell's elderly mother's home in Dunfermline. The SNP claimed that this vehicle was purchased for campaigning purposes but it was never insured or used.

The Crown Office confirmed in a new statement on Monday that it had yet to even assess a potential report of criminality from Police Scotland. A spokesman said: “We haven’t received a Standard Prosecution Report from police in this investigation so the question of if there should be a prosecution has not been considered.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: "As the investigation remains ongoing we are unable to comment further." The probe was launched in July 2021 after Scexit campaigner Sean Clerkin reported that £600k of ring-fenced Indyref2 funds had apparently disappeared from the party accounts.

This cash was raised through a number of campaigns where it was claimed that it would be spent on a second independence referendum which has never happened. The whereabouts of this money is part of a number of issues detectives are probing.

Former Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone suggested last July that cops were also looking into "potential embezzlement" and "misuse of funds." He said: “It’s moved beyond what some of the initial reports were, and that’s not uncommon in investigations such as this.

“Investigations into the finances of an organisation, the finances of an individual are often complex. Investigations around fraud, or investigations around potential embezzlement, investigations around the misuse of funds take time.”

The arrests of Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie sent shockwaves through the political world and ensured Humza Yousaf's reign as First Minister got off to the rockiest of starts. He had repeatedly defended his predecessor, but admitted that the ongoing probe has had a damaging impact on the SNP's polling, with support plummeting since the turn of 2023.

The former first minister has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and made a number of media appearance to cement the fact she believes she is innocent, including an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. But Mr Murrell has not been in the public eye since his arrest.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:48:08 efbe90 No.129962

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294106 (241108ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf facing growing SNP criticism for promoting relationship with China as Scotland 'too heavily reliant' on country

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-facing-growing-snp-31939451

Humza Yousaf facing growing SNP criticism for promoting relationship with China as Scotland 'too heavily reliant' on country

Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald attacked the First Minister for attempting to boost trade links with China as he pointed out that its value do not match Scotland's like its support for Vladimir Putin in Russia.

David Walker

22 JAN 2024

Humza Yousaf was attacked by one of his own MPs as criticism grows about his approach to foreign policy. The First Minister faced criticism for promoting Scotland's links with China despite the country's poor human rights record.

The SNP leader already stoked a diplomatic row through his secret summit with Turkish President Erdogan during Cop28 which happened without a UK Government official in attendance. He was forced to deny claims that the meeting had anything to do with Turkey helping his wife Nadia El-Nakla's family flee Gaza, and had to defend inviting the politician to Scotland.

And now he faces pressure from inside the nationalists after glad-handing a Chinese diplomat and inviting him to Bute House. We previously told how he faced questions after posting on social media about a meeting with Zhang Biao, the Chinese consul general in Edinburgh.

This raised eyebrows within the SNP, with senior MP Stewart McDonald urging him to row back on his trade relationship with China as Scotland is becoming too heavily dependent on the country. This is despite the state "actively promotes a vision of the world diametrically opposed to our own".

Internal criticism of Mr Yousaf's foreign policy has already built up due to his relationship with Erdogan, with one councillor, Roza Salih, publicly calling the COP28 meeting "disgusting." When quizzed, the first minister claimed that all countries were on a "human rights journey."

Writing for the Times, Mr McDonald re-iterated his pleas for the Scottish Government to "work on a national strategy to de-risk our economic relationship with China" as he said it had "fallen on deaf ears." He added: "The Chinese government makes no secret of the fact that its vision of the world is anti-democratic, repressive and authoritarian.

"From covertly monitoring dissidents, seeking to suppress anti-Chinese Communist Party sentiment, to pledging a 'no-limits friendship' with Vladmir Putin as he wages his illegal war of colonial conquest in Ukraine, its words and deeds could not be more strongly at odds with the Scottish government's desire to be a good global citizen."

He also urged the SNP Executive to follow the lead of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in its relationship with China. She made a speech at the World Economic Forum where she criticised China and said: "Freedom in business relies on the freedom of our political systems. This is why I believe strengthening our democracy and protecting it from the risks and interference it faces, is our common and enduring duty."

Her speech followed the Chinese premier Li Qiang who was said to have made a sales pitch to multinational companies to invest in the Chinese economy. Mr McDonald called on Mr Yousaf to have the same "clear-eyed" approach to China that he displayed in a speech earlier this month on industrial policy for Scotland.

We previously told how the Glasgow South MP was mocked after comparing this speech to famed political titans Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson. Concerns have been raised about the financial situations at Scottish universities who rely heavily on fee-paying Chinese students and they may be withdrawn if the Scottish Government publicly pull away from China.

Mr McDonald added that Scotland was "more heavily reliant on China than any government should be comfortable with" across multiple sectors, including education and energy. But the Scottish Government said its position on China "is resolute and in keeping with the values of Scotland".

A spokeswoman added: "Like the UK government, the Scottish government considers that China's global importance and impact means it is essential we maintain economic, political, cultural, educational and social relationships with the people of China. A key focus for this work is engaging constructively on global priorities such as tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, but also addressing areas of concern, such as human rights."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:48:24 efbe90 No.129963

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294134 (241140ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf meets with Chinese diplomat about 'trade and tourism' amid fears over human right abuses in China

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>>129962

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-meets-chinese-diplomat-31903732

Humza Yousaf meets with Chinese diplomat about 'trade and tourism' amid fears over human right abuses in China

The First Minister boasted about welcoming a Chinese diplomat into Bute House in Edinburgh and was asked if he was as vocal about human rights abuses in the communist country as he was about issues in the Middle East.

David Walker

17 JAN 2024

Humza Yousaf has been urged to be as vocal about alleged human right abuses in China as he is about events in the Middle East as he revealed he met a Chinese Diplomat on Tuesday. The First Minister welcomed Zhang Biao, the Chinese Consulate General in Edinburgh to Bute House.

China's relationship with the UK has been rocky in recent years, with the UK Parliament issuing a report last July which warned that the Westminster government had been slow to come to terms with the security risks from Beijing. It said: "It appears that China has a high level of intent to interfere with the UK government, targeting officials and bodies at a range of levels to influence UK political thinking and decision-making relevant to China.

A parliamentary researcher was also one of two men arrested in September for allegedly spying for China, which led to calls for the country to be categorised as a threat. These accusations were rebuffed by China, who called it "malicious slander".

But Mr Yousaf boasted on social media that he had "welcomed" Zhang Biao to Bute House for their first meeting. His account added: "They discussed ways to build on the valuable relationship between Scotland and China, specifically in the areas of education, tourism, climate change and trade."

Opposition rivals have queried this summit and urged him to reveal what else had been discussed, including whether human rights abuses reported in China had been talked about. This includes a civil right crackdown in Hong Kong and the imprisonment of democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told the Scottish Daily Express: "The First Minister has been vocal about the situation in the Middle East. I hope that he used this meeting to be equally vocal about the horrific abuses taking place in Xinjiang, the imprisonment of prominent democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai and the intimidation of pro-Hong Kong activists in Scotland.

"It's right that the First Minister engages with international partners but reducing this relationship to trade and tourism is to sell human rights down the river. Last year I led the first Scottish Parliament debate on Chinese state surveillance, because I believe that it is time for a comprehensive investigation into the reach of the Chinese state in Scotland to take place."

Mr Yousaf has been outspoken on a number of worldwide issues, including the war between Israel and Hamas. He has repeatedly demanded that Rishi Sunak call for a ceasefire, and attacked the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of going "way beyond a legitimate response" to the October 7 atrocities.

He has also attacked the UK Government for launching air strikes on the Houthis in Yemen without consulting him, after the rebels threatened UK trade ships. He added: "The UK's record on military intervention, particularly in the Middle East, is not a good one."

Scottish Government constitution secretary Angus Robertson headed out on a trade trip to China late last year where he was wined and dined by Beijing politicians. He was labelled a "useful idiot" by one expert and he was also urged to condemn the human rights abuses in China.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister discussed ways to build on the valuable relationship between Scotland and China, specifically in the areas of education, tourism, climate change and trade. He also raised concerns about human rights.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:48:39 efbe90 No.129964

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294164 (241155ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf defends inviting Turkish president Erdogan to Scotland and denies asking about getting family out of Gaza

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>>129919

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-defends-inviting-turkish-31912979

>>>/qresearch/20232482

>>129922

Humza Yousaf defends inviting Turkish president Erdogan to Scotland and denies asking about getting family out of Gaza

The First Minister invited the Turkish President to visit Scotland when he met with him at Cop28 and claimed that he would raise human rights violations with him if he did so.

David Walker

18 JAN 2024

Humza Yousaf defended inviting the controversial Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Scotland as he denied claims that he discussed helping his relatives flee Gaza during their meeting at Cop28. Questions were raised about the nature of their discussions after the UK Government rebuked him for undertaking them without a Foreign Office official present.

A readout from the summit was published by the Scottish Government which revealed that the First Minister urged his counterpart to visit the country next time he is in the UK. This is despite the human rights abuses which the Turkish politician has been accused of, including killing Kurds.

Mr Yousaf was forced to defend this invite at Holyrood on Thursday where he also faced accusations that the discussions prompted Turkey to agree to take his wife's family in as refugees from Gaza. Nadia El-Nakla revealed her sister-in-law and her children were now in Turkey, but that her brother-in-law remains in Israel.

He said: "I said next time he is in the UK, why not come up to Scotland? Turkey is a Nato ally, why would we not wish to have a Nato ally here in Scotland? The UK Government regularly engages with Turkey as a Nato ally and as an important regional player.Why would Scotland not seek to engage with a Nato ally, and of course with someone we seek to do business with?”

Journalists then asked him whether he would raise concerns about human rights violations in Turkey if Erdogan does come north of the border to which he responded: "Yes, I would raise human rights, as I tend to do whenever I have meetings with international leaders, but I should say we do that in a way that recognises we are on a human rights journey, as are other countries.”

He denied claims put to him by journalists that the meeting had been about getting his relatives out of Gaza. His wife met the president's wife Emine Erdogan during a First Ladies and Spouses of Leaders Summit on Gaza in Turkey, with Ms El-Nakla confirming that Turkey had provided a haven to her family who were stuck in Gaza.

The minutes disclosed by the government detailed the invitation which was extended to Erdogan and notes that the pair discussed the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Mr Yousaf told the Turkish president about his in-laws' ordeal after being trapped in Gaza when the war broke out, saying it had been a “frightening time given the lack of communication”, but reassured the president they were “safe at home and recovering”.

During the meeting, the First Minister also reiterated his calls for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and the pair discussed what could be done to resolve the situation. The note reads: "If the two state solution were to remain alive, both sides needed to prioritise lives of civilians.

"The FM said that the attacks on October 7th were unacceptable. He called for an immediate ceasefire as too many innocent civilians had already been killed in Gaza. FM mentioned that war not only destroys lives and communities but also the environment and biodiversity – what could be done to resolve the situation?"

But there were also a number of redactions, with the government citing the international relations loophole, so the full conversation between the pair has been kept secret.

Scottish Conservative shadow external affairs secretary Donald Cameron said: "The public will question if Humza Yousaf’s invitation to President Erdogan to visit Scotland overstepped the mark, especially given his record on a number of topics. We already know that Scottish Government officials dithered in informing the Foreign Office about the First Minister’s meeting at COP, and now it appears he was freelancing even further.

“He should be fully up front as to why he invited a head of state to a part of the United Kingdom without Foreign Office officials present, and what purpose he intended this meeting to serve.”

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:48:51 efbe90 No.129965

File: b3e1fa0c583e524⋯.png (159.09 KB,570x525,38:35,Clipboard.png)

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294167 (241156ZJAN24) Notable: Final Humza Yousaf Bun / Humza Yousaf defends inviting Turkish president Erdogan to Scotland and denies asking about getting family out of Gaza

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>>129964

...........................................................................................................................................................................continued......................................................................................................................................................................

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "The First Minister has been vocal about the situation in the Middle East. I hope that he will be equally vocal about President Erdogan's oppression of his Kurdish minority and his use of the tools of state to initiate baseless investigations, prosecutions and convictions against human rights defenders, journalists and opposition activists.

"It's right that the First Minister engages with international partners but he must be careful not to turn a blind eye to human rights abuses. One way of reassuring people that this is not simply a bid to play the international statesman for the cameras would be to publish a list of occasions on which he has previously raised human rights concerns with foreign dignitaries."

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:49:01 efbe90 No.129966

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294221 (241219ZJAN24) Notable: Covid and other Pestilence Bun Part One / Covid Inquiry: Jason Leitch denies deleting WhatsApps daily and kept no informal pandemic messages (video)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6eCt1lBFkQ

>>129960

>>129951

Covid Inquiry: Jason Leitch denies deleting WhatsApps daily and kept no informal pandemic messages

Daily Record

57.9K subscribers

950 views Jan 23, 2024 #DailyRecord #covidinquiry #jasonleitch

Scotland’s national clinical director did not retain any informal, one-to-one messages relating to management of the pandemic but denies deleting WhatsApps daily in a “pre-bed ritual”, an inquiry has heard.

Professor Jason Leitch told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that he deleted WhatsApp messages in line with the Scottish Government’s policy on the use and retention of informal messaging.

He also told the inquiry that the idea that deleting WhatsApp messages was a “pre-bed ritual” was a “flippant exaggeration” and that he did not do so every day.

He is appearing at the inquiry amid a storm over WhatsApp messages after it emerged that the messages of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and her deputy, John Swinney, were among those whose messages were not retained.

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Anonymous 09/16/24 (Mon) 02:49:11 efbe90 No.129967

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Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/20294942 (241530ZJAN24) Notable: Covid and other Pestilence Bun Part One / Jason Leitch secretly advised Humza how to bend Covid rules in WhatsApps (video)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmvUkSnwJHE

Jason Leitch secretly advised Humza how to bend Covid rules in WhatsApps

The Scottish Sun

246K subscribers

6,818 views Jan 23, 2024 #scotland #politics #jasonLeitch

TOP pandemic official Jason Leitch advised Humza Yousaf how to "exempt" himself from Covid mask rules while Health Secretary - by clutching a drink while standing up.

The National Clinical Director was forced to deny giving the now First Minster a “workaround” for laws that ordinary Scots were ordered to follow by the Scottish Government.