/qresearch/ -  Q Research

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The awkward, stumbling and stuttering performance of the Scottish Government’s lead counsel, James Mure KC, when being questioned by the judge panel wasn’t the result of incompetence on his part. As a senior Scottish legal figure told Wings yesterday, “[Mure] is a mega brain. If he can’t answer a question, it’s because it is unanswerable”.

Now, admittedly the Scottish Government does have something of a track record of putting its legal representatives into impossible and intolerable positions. But even so, why would it spend a load of taxpayers’ money on getting itself humiliated in court, gifting front-page headlines to the right-wing Unionist tabloids and being slapped down in public by the Scottish Information Commissioner, if it had nothing to hide?

So that clearly isn’t the case. In order to establish what it IS trying to hide, we’ll direct you to a 2021 blog post by experienced lawyer Gordon Dangerfield, who is acting for Alex Salmond in his recently-announced case against the Scottish Government.

If you haven’t previously done so, Wings strongly recommends reading the entire blog linked from that image, and the follow-up here. But we needn’t concern ourselves with all the finer details in them right now – the part pertinent to this post is in the pic.

Because the only rational explanation for the Scottish Government’s actions in fighting so hard to conceal the evidence provided to James Hamilton is that that evidence would suggest the existence of a conspiracy – or as Alex Salmond put it, as reported by Philip Sim, “blow apart a cover-up”.

What else could they possibly be so desperate to hide? It’s already a matter of official record that Sturgeon misled the Parliament, so there’s no point trying to keep that on the QT. She’s already resigned, so it can’t be an attempt to protect her job. It’s not a general principle of secrecy, because the Scottish Government endlessly tells us how committed it is to transparency.

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And it’s not that the evidence would reveal the names of Salmond’s false accusers – we already know that those remain protected by Lady Dorrian’s anonymity order, and so anything that could identify them, if it existed, would be redacted no matter what.

Even a recently-arrived visitor from outer space who knew nothing of the events of the Salmond case could therefore discern that the only damaging material the documents could possibly bring to light that isn’t already publicly known would be evidence of criminal perjury and conspiracy at the highest levels of the Scottish Government, civil service and legal system.

Wings has trodden very delicately here. But we’re not the only ones standing on fragile ground, and the Scottish Government just got thrown another anvil.

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>>21790661

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13756782/police-chiefs-warn-funding-cut-risks-redundancies/

EXIT WARNING Police chiefs warn funding cut risks redundancies

Forces bosses insist they 'do not wish to take this step'

Lewis Mckenzie

25 Oct 2024

POLICE Scotland bosses have warned they will be forced to slash staff numbers and impose a pay freeze if SNP ministers squeeze their budget.

Top brass said that the scenario of a potential three per cent funding cut flagged to them by ministers would have “severe operational consequences”.

They also warned it would include compromising the ability of the force to “deliver effective policing services in Scotland”, with officer numbers dropping to below 15,000 by March 2026, based on current estimates.

Bosses also warned that the organisation would need to “break with established policy” and enforce compulsory redundancies across the workforce, while implementing a recruitment freeze.

But in a submission to Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee, Chief Constable Jo Farrell’s force stressed: “We do not wish to take this step”.

The Scottish Budget is due to be set out by Finance Secretary Shona Robison at Holyrood in December.

She has already announced that there will be up to £500million worth of cuts due to the “enormous and growing” financial pressures facing the public finances.

SNP ministers have sought to blame Westminster, inflation, the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine for the need to slash funding to frontline services across the country.

Ms Robison has called for the devolved nations to be given greater “fiscal flexibility”, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves due to set out the UK Budget in the House of Commons next week.

Earlier this year, official figures revealed that there were just 16,363 full-time equivalent police officers in Scotland as of December 31, 2023 - the lowest number since 2008.

As part of their pre-budget submission to the Scottish Parliament, Police Scotland bosses were asked to model two funding scenarios - one with a flat cash revenue funding settlement, and another where there was a three per cent cash terms funding reduction.

If there were to be a flat cash revenue funding settlement, force chiefs said, there would be a “significant slowdown” in police officer recruitment, with a reduction in officers to roughly 15,100 by March 2026.

They said that this would have an “immediate impact” on communities across the country, and “our ability to keep people safe now and in the future”.

Delivery of transformational programmes and business commitments would also be “severely hampered” in this scenario, they explained.

Modelling for a scenario where there is a three per cent cash terms revenue funding reduction, bosses said, would bring about the need for a “large-scale staff exit programme”, bringing with it cost pressures given the need for exit payments.

And they also warned that the combination of significant workforce reductions and a freeze on pay would have a damaging effect on staff morale, with increased workloads and challenges around retention.

Last night, Scottish Tory shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: “This stark warning from our police highlights the brutal impact more cuts would have on the force.

“Communities will inevitably be put at greater risk if the SNP slash funding even further.

“With officer numbers already at their lowest since the SNP came to power, ministers must show some common sense and deliver the resources the police need to protect the public.”

Scottish Lib Dem Justice spokesperson Liam McArthur added: "This is bad news for Scottish policing.

"The force is in a precarious position because the SNP have mismanaged the public finances so badly.

“It would be a new frontier for justice in this country if this SNP Government were to oversee the sacking of officers."

Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill also raised concerns.

She said: "With police officer numbers at a 17 year low, the unprecedented prospect of compulsory redundancies is deeply alarming, especially at a time when too many communities feel unsafe."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Work is underway on the Budget, which will be published on December 4.

"We will continue to work with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to identify options to address current financial challenges, whilst protecting service delivery to ensure we continue to have a safe, protected and resilient country."

>>21790661

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/motors/13752416/drivers-pay-higher-rate-tax-multi-billion-pound-firms/

PUMP PRESSURE Drivers told they pay higher rate of tax than multi-billion-pound firms – as Labour MP backs Sun’s Keep It Down campaign

Graham Stringer became the first Labour MP to back our crusade to freeze fuel duty

Kate Ferguson

25 Oct 2024

MOTORISTS were told yesterday they pay a higher rate of tax than multi-billion-pound firms — as the first Labour MP backed our Keep It Down campaign.

FairFuelUK’s Howard Cox said there was no excuse for targeting drivers in the Budget when duty accounts for 60 per cent of pump prices.

Businesses only pay 25 per cent tax on profits.

Mr Cox’s comments came as Graham Stringer became the first Labour MP to back our crusade to freeze fuel duty.

Mr Stringer, the MP for Blackley and Middleton South said: “It would be a mistake to put fuel duty up.

"It would impact the economy.

"If we want to improve productivity which we do, hiking fuel is not the way to do it as it would hit businesses and the cost of doing business.”

In a special Never Mind The Ballots episode on fuel duty, Mr Cox also said increasing fuel duty next week would breach Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise taxes on working people.

He blasted: “Something like 70 per cent of people drive, 37 million drivers need their car.

"They have got no choice, especially in rural areas and suburban areas.

“We have got a situation where corporation taxes are 25 per cent, income tax, the highest at 40 per cent, and fuel duty is 60 per cent so why put it up even more."

If Rachel Reeves axes the 5p cut and reinstates an inflationary increase next week, it could add £3.85 to the cost of filling up an average family car.

>>21790650

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/paedo-charity-worker-watched-marvel-33988094

Paedo charity worker watched Marvel movies with kids before molesting them

Charity worker Ryan Kinnear cried in the dock as he was found guilty of the sexual assaults after a three-day trial at Perth Sheriff Court.

Gordon Currie

28 OCT 2024

A predatory paedophile who molested teenage girls at his home after making them watch Marvel movies has been jailed for two years and five months.

Charity worker Ryan Kinnear's sexual assaults were said to have had a "significant and potentially lifelong impact" on his three victims.

Kinnear forced himself on his young victims, using a massage gun on one, and preying on another while she slept.

The 35-year-old joiner was found guilty of a series of charges by a jury after three days of harrowing evidence at Perth Sheriff Court.

Kinnear claimed his victims – aged 13, 15 and 18 – were lying to the court and he started crying in the witness box while he was giving evidence.

But he was found guilty and Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC sent him to prison for 30 months and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

She said: "Each was vulnerable and you abused your position of trust…for your own sexual gratification. One of the victims had sought refuge in your house.

"She went to your house because she was extremely upset. You abused the trust placed in you and your predatory behaviour had a significant and potentially lifelong impact on each of your victims.

"The abuse you perpetrated was serious. Given the number of charges and the ages of the complainers, there's no other way of dealing with you than imposing a custodial sentence."

The trial heard how Kinnear, Mull Place, Perth, had been trusted by his victims, who regarded him as a confidante.

He abused two of them while giving them massages, the court heard, convincing one girl - stressed about her exams - to remove her tights.

She went "stoney-faced" when he used a massage device on her private parts.

Afterwards he told her: "When you grow up to be a young woman, you have to know what you like."

He showed his younger victims the Marvel superhero movies, jurors heard.

Kinnear told prosecutor Andrew Harding he insisted on watching the films "chronologically".

"So you started with Iron Man?" asked the fiscal depute.

"No, Captain America: First Avenger, that's the first one to watch," Kinnear replied.

The trial heard how his eldest victim came to speak to him, upset that a close family member was in hospital.

The teenager fell asleep on his couch, but woke to see he had placed his hand on his genitals.

She froze, then rolled off the couch and went into the bathroom.

There, she sent a Snapchat message to a friend telling her what had happened.

The court heard how a police investigation was launched when one of Kinnear's victims spoke to a teacher after learning about sexual abuse in a Personal and Social Education (PSE) class.

In the witness box, Kinnear insisted the victims were making up stories about him.

As solicitor David Holmes read out the allegations, he sobbed: "Please don't."

People in the public gallery wept and hugged each other as the jury returned guilty verdicts to three out of four charges.

As Kinnear left the dock, a man shouted after him: "F** paedo."

Kinnear was found guilty of sexually assaulting and communicating with a 13-year-old, between August 2021 and October 2022.

He was further convicted of sexually assaulting and communicating with a 15-year-old between October 2021 and November 2021, and sexually assaulting an 18-year-old in May 2022.

Jurors found a further allegation from January to August 2021 not proven.

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https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/snp-ministers-warned-civil-servants-33991391

SNP Ministers warned by civil servants against claiming they "lifted" 100,000 kids out of poverty

EXCLUSIVE: SNP Ministers quietly dropped a high-profile claim about taking a huge number of children out of poverty.

Paul Hutcheon

29 OCT 2024

Civil servants have warned SNP Ministers about repeating their bogus claim to have “lifted” 100,000 children out of poverty. They issued the advice after the Government was pulled up by a UK statistics body on their language.

The 100,000 claim was first made by Humza Yousaf’s Government. The then First Minister declared in May: “I can hear the Conservatives saying that those anti-poverty measures are not working, but it is estimated that they will lift 100,000 children out of poverty this year, in stark contrast to what the Conservatives are doing.”

Days later, John Swinney said policies such as the Scottish Child Payment were “taking 100,000 children out of poverty today.”

Social Justice Cabinet Secretary Shirley Anne-Somerville also said in June: “We have been able to demonstrate that we have lifted 100,000 children out of poverty through the Scottish Government’s actions.”

However, the claim was widely challenged as relative child poverty rates have remained broadly unchanged since the SNP swept to power in 2007. The UK Statistics Authority got involved and Ministers have since stopped making the “lifting” claim.

Documents released under freedom of information laws reveal civil servants told Ministers they should avoid this word: “This conclusion underlines the need to use and describe the modelling outcomes carefully – both in terms of describing it as “keeping” 100,000 out of poverty (not “lifting” we do not know the prior circumstances of families), and that it is a comparison against an alternative “counter-factual” world where SG polices are not in place, rather than the position prevailing in, say, 2007.”

Labour MSP Paul O’Kane said: “It should not take interventions from civil servants to reinforce to Scottish Government Ministers the importance of being accurate in their statements about tackling poverty. The reality is that despite its spin, the SNP government has failed to shift the dial on poverty levels in Scotland.

“The UK Labour Government are determined to deliver where the SNP has not. Labour is taking action to tackle the scourge of low pay and has already established our Child Poverty Taskforce, which will come to Scotland next month.”

Scottish Ministers now talk about their policies stopping more children falling into poverty, rather than kids being taken out of it. Swinney said in a recent speech: "We already have a strong track record of improving the lives of children across Scotland, including through our game-changing Scottish Child Payment and expansion of early learning and childcare. This government's policies are estimated to keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty this year."

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https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinney-nicola-sturgeon-not-33990766

John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon will not attend funeral of Alex Salmond

A private service for the former first minister will take place today in his home village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire.

Chris McCall

29 OCT 2024

John Swinney will not be among the mourners at today's funeral for Alex Salmond, it has been confirmed.

A Scottish Government spokesman said the First Minister's absence from the event was "in line with the wishes" of Salmond's family.

It was previously reported that Nicola Sturgeon would also not be attending the funeral service, which takes place in the Aberdeenshire village of Strichen.

Salmond died suddenly from a heart attack aged 69 earlier this month while on a visit to North Macedonia.

His body was flown back to Scotland on a private plane paid for Sir Tom Hunter, the billionaire philanthropist.

When asked if Swinney would be attending today's funeral, a spokesman said: “In line with the wishes of Mr Salmond's family, the funeral is private.

"The thoughts of the First Minister and the Scottish Government remain with the family and friends of Mr Salmond.”

The Sunday Mail first reported Sturgeon would not be invited to attend the service for her predecessor or any other subsequent celebrations of his life.

Senior sources close to the late Alba Party leader said there was “not a chance in hell” of Sturgeon being on the guest list after the pair publicly fell out six years ago.

A source said: “It will be a very small private service with only family attending.

“There will be a larger memorial celebration later in the year, or possibly into January, for Alex’s supporters, friends and old colleagues.

“Nicola Sturgeon won’t be invited to either of them. Not a chance in hell.”

Salmond and Sturgeon fell out after allegations of sexual ­harassment were made against him in January 2018.

Two female civil servants made the complaints after Sturgeon, then first minister, ordered new Scottish Government policies on sexual harassment to be implemented in the wake of the the #MeToo scandal.

Salmond denied any wrongdoing and later claimed ­Sturgeon’s new policies were designed to target him.

He took the ­Scottish Government to court over its handling of their internal investigation into the complaints and won. Its lawyers admitted at the Court of Session that a senior employee overseeing the probe had already spoken to two complainants before it began.

The process was found to have been unlawful and “tainted by apparent bias” with the Scottish Government ordered to pay Salmond’s £512,000 legal fees.

Salmond also accused people close to Sturgeon, including her husband Peter Murrell and aide Liz Lloyd, of ­plotting against him and claimed there was a conspiracy in government to “banish him” from public life.

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>>21837062

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/secretive-snp-government-warned-not-33962066

Secretive SNP Government warned not to waste public cash on doomed court cases after £30k Nicola Sturgeon scandal

The Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton was victorious in his battle against the secretive Nat Executive, and has warned public bodies not to take costly court action in cases they know they may lose.

David Walker

24 OCT 2024

The secretive Scottish Government has been warned not to spend any more taxpayer cash on doomed court cases as it prepares to be transparent for once. SNP Ministers splashed out £30k of public cash on defending the right to refuse to publish damning evidence about Nicola Sturgeon's conduct during the Alex Salmond Inquiry.

Judges at the Court of Session took just seconds to dismiss the case and ruled that the government did hold the information it insisted it didn't. A member of the public used freedom of information legislation to ask for the evidence James Hamilton gathered in his report into the former First Minister.

The Adviser to the Ministerial Code ruled that it was up to MSPs to decide whether Ms Sturgeon breached the code when she failed to inform the Inquiry of a meeting she had with Mr Salmond's adviser Geoff Aberdein where she was told about harassment complaints against him. She told MSPs she had found out on a later date, claiming that she had not remembered this meeting.

Mr Hamilton's report was published but was almost completed redacted, with the government insisting that it did not hold the full report. But with judges ruling against them, concerns were raised that it failed to listen to its own legal advice, which will now need to be published by the end of the week after a public rebuke from the Scottish Information Commissioner.

David Hamilton was successful in his court case to demand the SNP Executive release the information and published his legal advice on Thursday. He told the Herald that he hoped the entire situation served as a warning to public bodies not to fritter away public cash on impossible court case.

He said: "A substantial amount of public money has already been spent on previous court action relating to this matter so I welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to comply with my decision and disclose this information.

"In the interests of transparency, I have also published the legal advice I received on this issue. I would, of course, urge all Scottish public authorities to think carefully about the merits of an appeal before pursuing an FOI case through the courts, given both the cost to the public purse and the inevitable delays that will arise for those who seek their information.”

SNP rebel Fergus Ewing has long called on the Scottish Government to publish the Hamilton report in full, and welcomed the decision to publish the legal advice. However, he blasted the culture of secrecy within the administration that led to the scandal rumbling on for years.

He said: "This whole exercise has not only cost huge amounts of taxpayers money but has also raised serious questions about the Scottish Government. We will see if they exercise their undoubted skills in redactions when the documents are finally made public."

SNP Ministers have been given a deadline of October 26 to hand over the legal advice to the original requestor and agreed to do this to avoid even more costly legal action. But it has still refused to publish the James Hamilton report in full, insisting it needs to protect its sources.

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https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/king-charles-gagged-uk-government-33993557

King Charles gagged by UK Government amid fears monarch could cost Britain billions

The monarch wants to issue an official apology for slavery but Foreign Office staff fear that would pave the way for reparations

Douglas Dickie

29 OCT 2024

King Charles has enjoyed a successful trip to Australia and Samoa this month as republican sentiment resides in parts of the Commonwealth. But one shadow has hung over the trip - slavery reparations.

Some Commonwealth leaders want the UK taxpayer to stump up billions to pay for Transatlantic slave trade, which ended around 200 years ago, mainly through the efforts of the Royal Navy. Sir Keir Starmer has already ruled out paying reparations and insisted it was not on the agenda at a recent Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

However, a statement was released suggesting there had been an agreement toward "a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity", suggesting the issue remains live. And the King could yet add to the PM's problems amid reports he is keen to issue a formal apology for slavery.

Accoridng to the Daily Mail, Charles has been left frustrated by the Foreign Office's view that a public apology would pave the way for reparations. The monarch is said to point to the example of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, who issued an apology last year, saying: "The monarchs and rulers of the House of Orange took no steps against [slavery]. Today, as King, I am asking for forgiveness."

No mention was made about reparations and the Dutch government has not had to cough up any money since the statement. Charles did address the issue during his Australian visit but did not mention reparations.

He called slavery one of "the most painful aspects of our past," adding: "None of us can change the past but we can commit with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right the inequalities that endure." Sir Keir had insisted the climate crisis had been the main focus of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa.

But a statement released after the CHOGM signed by Commonwealth leaders stated: "Heads, noting calls for discussions on reparatory justice with regard to the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement, and recognising the importance of this matter to member states of the Commonwealth, the majority of which share common historical experiences in relation to this abhorrent trade, chattel enslavement, the debilitation and dispossession of Indigenous People, indentureship, colonialism, blackbirding and their enduring effects, agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity.

"Heads further agreed to continue playing an active role in bringing about such inclusive conversations addressing these harms, paying special attention to women and girls, who suffered disproportionately from these appalling tragedies in the history of humanity."

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>>21848514

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13761070/bombshell-whatsapps-catherine-calderwood-ride-storm-covid/

'ANOTHER BETRAYAL' Bombshell WhatsApps reveal disgraced ex-chief medic Catherine Calderwood’s brazen bid to keep job

Covid bereaved have hit out at the "hypocrisy" of the top docs

Conor Matchett & Chris Musson

26 Oct 2024

DISGRACED top doctor Catherine Calderwood boasted she would try to “ride out” the storm over her infamous lockdown breach in a chummy WhatsApp chat with UK colleagues, we can reveal today.

The former chief medical officer was caught illegally visiting her holiday pad in Earlsferry, Fife, twice in 2020 while fronting Covid ads telling Scots to stay at home.

Maggie Waterton, whose mum and husband died in the pandemic, called it “another betrayal of trust”.

Britain's pandemic chiefs secretly rallied behind Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer after she flouted lockdown laws, The Scottish Sun can reveal.

Household names including Chris Whitty and Jonathan Van Tam urged Dr Catherine Calderwood, 55, not to resign after we exposed her visit to her holiday home at the height of the Covid crisis in April 2020.

The top medics even attacked our exclusive about her 44-mile jaunt to Earlsferry, Fife — which came as she fronted telly TV adverts ordering the public to “Stay home, protect Scotland’s NHS and save lives”.

Sensational WhatsApp messages also reveal Dr Calderwood boasting to fellow CMOs she’d “try to ride it out” as she faced calls to quit.

A timestamp suggests that she sent that text while standing beside then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in a dramatic TV media briefing.

At the time, the UK was under strict emergency lockdown laws banning people from going out without a “reasonable excuse”.

Hours after The Scottish Sun on Sunday hit the shelves on April 5, 2020, cops visited Dr Calderwood to warn her about her conduct.

But we can reveal the disgraced CMO was backed by her counterparts in the rest of the UK despite the facts of the story being known since 9.45pm on Saturday, April 4, when our story went online.

The following morning, Dr Calderwood texted a WhatsApp group of senior medical advisers with a link to a follow-up of our story.

They included Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, and his deputies at the time, Jonathan Van-Tam and Jenny Harries.

Northern Ireland’s CMO Michael McBride and Frank Atherton, from Wales, were also in the chat group.

On Sunday, April 5, at 11.51am, Dr Calderwood texted: “All — to be aware. I had a few hours off but this was clearly an error of judgement. I am issuing an apology now.”

Dr Atherton blasted the story at 12.45pm, saying: “Saw that earlier; worst of tabloid journalism. Don’t let them get to you.”

At 1.16pm, Professor Whitty replied to the attack on our story, telling Dr Atherton: “Agree.”

At 1.28pm, Professor Van-Tam wrote: “I find it deeply dispiriting to hear of these kinds of things. You are doing a fantastic job.”

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But it appears Dr Calderwood texted the group while she and Ms Sturgeon were being grilled about her lockdown breach.

During the 38-minute TV briefing, starting at 2.33pm on the Sunday, she stood at a lectern next to Ms Sturgeon and then Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.

And in a WhatsApp that appears to have been sent at 3.05pm — before the briefing ended — Dr Calderwood admitted: “It’s not good. Calls for me to resign. I will try to ride it out.”

But by 6.22pm, she seemed to be reluctantly accepting her fate, telling the CMOs: “I may not manage to survive it I’m afraid.”

Dr Calderwood then sent her final message to that group at 9.40pm.

But this was blanked out in a released transcript.

Her resignation was announced by the Scottish Government at 9.54pm.

In it, she said she was “deeply sorry” for her actions and “the mistakes I have made”.

The revelations were pieced together by The Scottish Sun from newly released WhatsApps, plus those handed to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry not published during the Scotland phase.

Every person who is named in the CMOs group, apart from Dr Calderwood, was later awarded a knighthood or damehood.

Aamer Anwar, lead solicitor for the Scottish Covid Bereaved group hit out at the revelations.

He said: “It is obscene hypocrisy that the most senior medical officers in the UK thought that Dr Calderwood should just ‘ride out’ her flouting of the rules. While ordinary mortals faced prosecution, couldn’t attend funerals, or were denied the right to be with loved ones taking their final breaths, time and time again, individuals like Dr Calderwood have been exposed for their shameful arrogance and double standards.

“Public trust has been so eroded by the actions of some of our officials and politicians, that it’s difficult to comprehend ordinary people obeying rules in that inevitable future pandemic.”

Maggie Waterton, who lost her 86-year-old mother Margaret, and husband David, 71, in the pandemic said: “For those of us in Scottish Covid Bereaved, this is yet another betrayal of our trust.

“We adhered to the guidance and the rules, even in the most devastating of times in our lives.

"We also endured being given a ‘Hobson’s Choice’ of being with our loved ones as they took their final breath or attend their funeral — but not both.

“We listened over the phone as life support machines were switched off. We couldn’t offer words of comfort or hold the hands of those we loved the most in the final moments. Those memories will haunt us forever.

“Sadly, this WhatsApp exchange, between the most senior doctors in the country, does not demonstrate they acted with honesty and integrity and has done untold damage to public trust and confidence in them.”

Last night Scots Tory leader Russell Findlay said: “Those who sneer at the Press are often completely disconnected from the real world.

“The truth is that this award-winning Scottish Sun on Sunday exclusive was a prime example of powerful and agenda-setting tabloid journalism.”

Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie — whose North East Fife seat includes Earlsferry — said: “The Scottish Sun on Sunday was absolutely right to expose this story.

“Local people were incandescent with Dr Calderwood’s behaviour.

"They were making sacrifices, following all the advice of leaders — only to discover those leaders thought the advice didn’t apply to them.”

Dr Calderwood did not give evidence at the UK Covid Inquiry’s Scotland phase this year after being excused due to ill health.

She now works as a Professor of Practice at the University of Strathclyde.

She and the other Chief Medical Officers who gave her their backing were approached for comment.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of evidence being considered by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.”

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland and the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment.

>>21856005

>>21790676

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-wants-britain-pay-33994181

Humza Yousaf wants Britain to pay slavery reparations as former FM continues obsession with 'fringe' issues

The SNP MSP for Glasgow Pollok has been accused of being 'disconnected' from the public who want to see their politicians standing up for their communities.

Douglas Dickie

29 OCT 2024

Humza Yousaf has been branded 'disconnected' from the Scottish public after wading into the debate over whether the UK should pay slavery reparations. The former first minister, who spent 13 just months at Bute House, reckons UK taxpayers should cough up for the actions of their ancestors.

It follows a pattern of the Glasgow Pollok MSP of focussing on foreign affairs as he attempts to position himself as a leading diplomatic voice. However, the Scottish Tories have told the ex-SNP leader to stop his obsession with "fringe" issues and start working for the people he represents.This wank represents nobody from here in Scotland other than himself.

Glasgow MSP Annie Wells told the Scottish Express: "No wonder many Scots feel disconnected from Holyrood when they see senior politicians focused on issues like this. Humza Yousaf’s constituents in Glasgow want him to focus on the real issues happening right now in their community, rather than trying to re-open old debates of the past.

"It is typical of the former First Minister who spent most of his time in the top job focused on fringe issues rather than delivering for the people of Scotland." The debate has re-emerged in recent days after a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in the Samoa.

Some countries, especially in the Caribbean, want the UK to fork out billions of pounds in reparations. While PM Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out payment, leaders did sign a communique saying they "agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity".

Mr Yousaf posted a video clip of himself on social media site X claiming we "quite astonishingly" don't talk about slavery, despite the well-publicised debate on reparations. He also claims the British Empire is not taught in schools, seemingly forgetting his own party has been in charge of Scotland's education system for 17 years, and it was not discussed at the Commonwealth summit despite evidence to the contrary.

He claims "so much of Britain's and Scotland's wealth is a product of slavery" and that talking about it "doesn't make you anti-British, it doesn't make you anti-Scottish". On the issue of reparations, he said: "There's no way that we're ever going to be able to compensate for the sins and crime of slavery in its entirety.

"But talking about reparations, reparatory justice, for example, that includes financial reparations, educational reparations, climate reparations, all of that can go in some small way to righting the wrongs of our past." Mr Yousaf has spoken in Holyrood on just four occasions since stepping down as FM in May, once to discuss slavery, once to talk about Palestine, once to ask about Cop29, and once to ask about cancer care funding.

>>21790676

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13776198/humza-yousaf-apologise-whatsapps-foul-mouthed-jibe-lawyer/

HUM-BLED Humza Yousaf forced into grovelling apology after calling top lawyer ‘Tory f***wit’ over WhatsApp

Read on for the full WhatsApp message

Lewis Mckenzie

29 Oct 2024

HUMZA Yousaf described a top lawyer as a “Tory f**kwit” in WhatsApp messages exchanged with Jason Leitch during the Covid pandemic.

Mr Yousaf, who was Health Secretary at the time, aimed the remark at Roddy Dunlop KC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, after he had earlier criticised Mr Leitch following a TV appearance.

Then-National Clinical Director Mr Leitch spoke with the BBC on May 31, 2021, about plans for a 3,000 capacity Euro 2020 fan zone, while the city remained under public health measures.

It prompted criticism from Mr Dunlop on Twitter, who sarcastically said it would be a “great relief” to the hospitality industry - who were still dealing with restrictions.

But, Mr Leitch responded on the social media platform, telling the lawyer: “Roddy, I think you know that’s not what I said or meant.”

Later that day, Mr Yousaf sent a WhatsApp message to Mr Leitch, telling him: “Dunlop is a Tory f**kwit. Remember Twitter isn’t real life!”

After the message was first reported by The Scotsman, Mr Dunlop laughed off the exchange as he said he had received an apology from ex-First Minister Mr Yousaf.

He said: “I know Humza well, having worked closely with him when he was cabinet secretary for justice.

“He contacted me this morning to apologise, and I have no difficulty in accepting his apology. No offence is taken and, on the contrary, I actually find this quite amusing.”

A spokesman for Mr Yousaf said: “The emergency phase of Covid, in particular, was a stressful, emotive and high-pressured time for everyone. These messages were intended to be private communications between two colleagues.

“Notwithstanding this, Humza regrets the language used, particularly given the professional and personal respect he has for Roddy Dunlop KC.”

Earlier this month, we revealed how Mr Yousaf told Mr Leitch in WhatsApp messages in June 2021 how he was “p***ed off” at being “asked all this crap about Rangers” after being quizzed by a journalist on his controversial call for Gers players to be sacked if they’d chanted sectarian slogans.

We also told how the pair slagged off their own civil servant press officers during the pandemic, blasting them for “driving us crazy”.

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “Humza Yousaf must be rueing the day he failed to follow the shameful Sturgeon/Swinney diktat to delete Covid WhatsApp messages.

“Each fresh revelation exposes him as comically out his depth, paranoid or both.”

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13740092/alex-cole-hamilton-lib-dem-campaign-kamala-harris/

ALEX FLAK Alex Cole-Hamilton slammed as Scottish Lib Dem leader ‘taking leave’ to campaign in US for Kamala Harris

'Mad you’ve never chapped my door and you are my MSP!'

Chris Musson

22 Oct 2024

THE leader of the Scottish Lib Dems faced a social media backlash after announcing he was “taking leave” to campaign in the US for Kamala Harris.

MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton posted a snap of himself on X/Twitter at Edinburgh Airport about to board a flight to New York to help bolster the Democrats push for the presidency on November 5.

He posted to social media: "Taking a week’s leave to go knock doors for Kamala in Pennsylvania."

But he faced a barrage of criticism, with some saying it wasn’t “appropriate” for elected representatives of other countries to “interfere” in another country’s election.

And others heaped abuse on the Edinburgh Western MSP for not focusing on issues at home.

One X user said: “Clearly there are no issues needing your attention in Edinburgh West you utter **.”

Mr Cole-Hamilton’s post on X said: “Taking a week’s leave to go knock doors for Kamala in Pennsylvania.” He also posted ‘strong arm’ and US flag emojis.

But among more than 1000 responses, one Scot replied saying: “Why? This is political interference in another country.”

One Edinburgh local said: “Mad you’ve never chapped my door and you are my MSP!

"Nowhere to be seen anytime we have issues with flooding…”

Responses were overwhelmingly critical but a handful of people praised Mr Cole-Hamilton, with one woman saying “Well done Alex!” followed by an applause emoji.

It comes after allies of Republican candidate Donald Trump last week blasted news that around 100 Labour activists planned to knock on doors for Ms Harris.

Ex-Trump aide Sebastian Gorka said it was a “bloody outrage”, while tech billionaire Elon Musk accused Labour of “illegal” election interference - even though US law appears to allow foreign citizens to campaign as long as they are unpaid.

Holyrood is currently in recess for a fortnight and returns next Tuesday, October 29.

A Scottish Lib Dem spokesman said Mr Cole-Hamilton would be back this weekend ahead of the Scottish Parliament returning.

He added that no other Scottish Lib Dem parliamentarians had gone to the US, but a “handful” of activists and staff had travelled too.

>>21860955

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13742775/donald-trump-kamala-harris-election-uk-labour/

AIR FAIR Trump accuses Labour of US Election meddling but Scots Lib Dem boss defends jetting out to campaign for Kamala Harris

Alex Cole-Hamilton will knock doors in Pennsylvania

Lewis Mckenzie

23 Oct 2024

SCOTTISH Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has defended his decision to fly out to the US to campaign for Kamala Harris in the run-up to the Presidential election.

The MSP said it was “no biggie” after getting in touch with local campaigners in Pennsylvania, which is a key battleground state in the race.

It is despite ex-US President and Republican nominee Donald Trump having accused Labour of “foreign interference” after reports that party members have also travelled to join the Harris campaign.

Mr Cole-Hamilton faced a backlash online earlier this week after posting a snap of himself at Edinburgh Airport before making the trip across the Atlantic.

But, on Wednesday, he said he could not “sit back and let something terrible happen” as he justified his reasoning for campaigning against Mr Trump.

He said: “I’m in upstate New York, staying with my sister. She lives an hour north of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and when Joe Biden pulled out in the summer, it felt for the first time in a long while that the race was in play, there was a real chance for the Democrats.

“And when Kamala Harris became the presumptive nominee, I sort of felt, well, this is a moment in time.

“I'm not one of those politicians who can kind of sit back and let something terrible happen without not actually having tried to achieve the opposite. So I decided to come over and volunteer and help her.

“So I paid for flights, phoned my sister and asked her if I could stay for a week in the run-up to the election. So that's why I'm here.”

Asked whether his party is paying for him to campaign in the US, he said: “No, not at all, and it wouldn't be proper for them to do so. So no, I paid for the flights. My sister is my accommodation.

“I'm just volunteering in the same way that I did in 2008 in Virginia for Obama when I went over then.

“This is something I've entirely taken on. During the recess of the Scottish Parliament, I've taken a week's leave. And yeah, I'm just literally just coming out to knock on doors.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said she “hadn’t met anyone” within the SNP intending to travel to the US to campaign for Ms Harris.

She added: “Irrespective of who wins in November, the UK Government has a long-standing, close relationship with the American people and it will be important to work with them.”

>>21807470

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13765850/new-snp-chief-dodgy-backing-ex-minister-former-reverand/

BAD BACKING New SNP chief receives ‘dodgy’ backing by disgraced ex-minister & sleazy former reverend

A source said that “Beattie would appear not to be a good judge of character"

Gordon Tait

27 Oct 2024

NATS’ new chief exec was backed by a shamed former minister and sex probe ex-reverend.

Carol Beattie got support from Michael Matheson and John Haston for a doomed council election bid earlier this month.

The interim SNP boss was campaigning in Falkirk this month with iPad row ex-Health Secretary Mr Matheson and trainee minister Mr Haston.

Mr Haston was booted out of the Church of Scotland following allegations of “inappropriate sexual conduct”.

Mr Matheson had to repay £11,000 in expenses after charging taxpayers for a data roaming bill racked up on holiday.

A source said: “Beattie would appear not to be a good judge of character if she has those two helping her.

“Matheson was caught out trying to claim £11,000 off the taxpayer and got a record parliament ban for his shifty behaviour.

“As for Haston, he hangs around the SNP like a bad smell even though he was shown the door by the Church of Scotland for sleazy behaviour.”

Ex-Stirling Council boss Ms Beattie is the Nats stand-in successor to Murray Foote who suddenly quit.

She was immediately involved in a row and apologised after sharing a vile social media post.

The post suggested the Royal Family should be executed.

She later deleted the posts, tweeting: “I apologise for any offence caused by the language I used and have removed the tweets.”

Scottish Tory chair Craig Hoy said: “Her shameful conduct and endorsement of offensive comments has no place in politics.

“Despite saying he would stay on until a permanent replacement was found, Murray Foote obviously couldn’t leave fast enough from the turmoil of the SNP.”

Ms Beattie lost to Labour in the Falkirk South by-election earlier this month.

However, she was parachuted into the interim chief executive position after the resignation of Mr Foote, 57.

>>21790655

>>21845554

>>21859039

>>21857256

>>21857270

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13776336/widow-betrayal-covid-officials-catherine-calderwood-lockdown/

'DEEPLY SHAMEFUL' Widow slams ‘betrayal’ of top UK Covid officials who urged Catherine Calderwood not to quit over lockdown breach

Maggie Waterton from the Scottish Covid Bereaved Families Group lost her 86-year-old mother Margaret and husband David, 71, in the pandemic

Conor Matchett

29 Oct 2024

THE UK’s chief medical officers were branded “shameful” by a Covid widow after they backed their disgraced Scots counterpart to “ride out” the storm over her lockdown-busting rule-breaking.

The Scottish Sun revealed on Sunday that Sir Chris Whitty, Sir Jonathan Van Tam and other senior medical officers who advised in favour of draconian lockdown laws urged Dr Catherine Calderwood, 55, not to resign.

Their messages of support came after we exposed her visit to her holiday home in Earlsferry, Fife at the height of the Covid crisis in April 2020.

Messages sent between the CMOs showed Dr Calderwood being backed by her colleagues after she said she would “try to ride it out” in the face of calls to quit.

But Maggie Waterton from the Scottish Covid Bereaved Families Group slammed the exchanges as a “betrayal of trust”.

Ms Waterton lost her 86-year-old mother Margaret and husband David, 71, in the pandemic.

She fumed: “Her error of judgement was breaching the rules that she had helped set for every other person in Scotland.

“That was the error of judgement and for her colleagues not to understand and recognise that breach of trust I think was shameful.”

Ms Waterton added: “I think they are deeply shameful, deeply disrespectful and they are a complete betrayal of the trust that not only me and Scottish Covid bereaved placed in Dr Calderwood, the other most senior medical leaders in our country, but also the people of Scotland.

“Covid-19 impacted on every citizen in Scotland and they placed their trust not only in Dr Calderwood, but the government of the day and this to us, to me, seems to be a betrayal of that trust.”

We also revealed how messages were sent by Dr Calderwood to the group of CMOs during the Scottish Government live Covid briefing on TV.

In a message, she sent: “It’s not good. Calls for me to resign. I will try to ride it out.”

Ms Waterton said: “That frankly beggars belief.

“For someone to be messaging about their own future during the course of that when people were dying in our hospitals were dying in our care homes with their relatives not beside them in those final moments I think is deeply shameful.”

And she added: “Whilst I absolutely understand the pressure Dr. Calderwood would have been under I do not understand why?

“There was no emergency as far as we can understand in her holiday home and it wasn’t one time that she did that, it wasn’t once that she did that, she did that at least on two occasions that we know about, and that’s unforgivable when the rest of us were really trying as hard as we could to understand and to stick to the guidance that she had set.”

>>21790650

>>21712147

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce31ly0zj2no

Police declare 'critical incident' over school's historic abuse

Chris Clements

BBC Scotland Social Affairs Correspondent

30 October 2024, updated 31 October 2024

An inquiry into alleged historical abuse at a former residential school has been declared a “critical incident” by Police Scotland.

Operation Chalk is examining claims of physical and sexual abuse at Kerelaw School between the 1970s and 2000s.

Police confirmed the operation was declared as critical earlier this year “due to the resources required and the complexity of the investigation”.

Ten people were arrested this year in connection with alleged abuses at the Ayrshire school, which closed in 2006.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said officers have been investigating since new allegations were reported in 2015.

He said: “As the inquiry has progressed additional specialist resource has been invested to ensure the best possible outcome for the victims in this case.

“There have been a number of further arrests made in recent months in relation to this investigation and we continue to work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.”

Council-run Kerelaw opened in 1970 and was run as a residential unit for boys before becoming co-educational. A mixed sex secure unit was added in 1983.

The Stevenston site catered for young people with complex behavioural, emotional and psychological needs – some of whom had been involved in petty crime or substance use.

The main school closed in 2004 but the secure unit stayed open until 2006.

What makes incidents 'critical'?

Police Scotland can declare an incident as critical when “the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and/or the community”.

The force’s critical incident management guide, external was published after a freedom of information request in 2021.

The guidance states that “major incidents” such as rapes and murders can sometimes be considered “critical” due to casualty numbers and media interest.

It adds: “However, critical incidents may only involve few people, few or no casualties and may well be a single agency response.

“Therefore a critical incident will not necessarily be categorised as a major incident.”

A police spokeswoman said the Kerelaw case has been declared critical due to “length of time the investigation has been running and the impact this may have on the victims and the community”.

Historic allegations

Last January, former teacher Matt George and care worker John Muldoon were jailed for a total of 28 years for physically and sexually abusing children at Kerelaw between the 1970s and 2000s.

It was the second time the pair had been convicted of abuse at the school.

Earlier this month, Police Scotland confirmed 10 new arrests had been made in connection with abuse allegations at the school.

The force confirmed seven men and three women – aged between 52 and 77 – were questioned about the treatment of youngsters there.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service later confirmed it had received reports relating 10 individuals.

A 2009 report by Glasgow City Council – which had taken over the school from the old Strathclyde Regional Council – found Kerelaw had been badly managed.

Evidence about the school was also heard by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in March. Evidence about council run residential facilities is still being heard.

>>21790661

>>21790670

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/fuming-police-scotland-officers-withdraw-34003889

Fuming Police Scotland officers to 'withdraw goodwill' as pay row with SNP escalates

The Scottish Police Federation say their members will begin the action – the strongest step police offiers can take as they are not allowed to strike – at 5pm on Friday evening

Richard Elias

30 OCT 2024

The Scottish Government has been accused of treating police with "contempt" after it was confirmed officers are to withdraw their goodwill in an on-going dispute over pay and conditions.

The action will start on Friday evening and see a variety of measures being introduced to highlight issues over pay and conditions. This will include finishing shifts at the allotted time, not beginning shifts early and not taking home protective equipment.

Police are not allowed to strike so these actions are the closest they can get to walking out. On Wednesday, the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) which represents rank-and-file officers, said the measures would begin at 5pm on Friday.

The SPF has labelled current pay and conditions as being tantamount to "free policing hours" which is simply being taken for granted. Reacting to the announcement, the Scottish Conservatives said Police Scotland was literally at "breaking point".

The party's shadow justice secretary, Liam Kerr MSP said: "This action highlights that relations between the SNP Government and hardworking officers have hit rock bottom. Given that they cannot legally go on strike, it is the most powerful step they can take to show how angry they are."

He added: "It is little wonder that they have reached breaking point, given the SNP’s sustained cuts to the police budget, which have left officer numbers at their lowest since the SNP came to power in 2007. This should be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to stop treating police officers with such contempt."

The move comes as the force has been asked by the Scottish Government to model the impact of a "flat cash settlement" - where the annual budget would not rise in line with inflation compared to last year. If introduced critics say it would have "significant operational consequences", including a potential reduction in officer numbers by up to 1,500 over the next 18 months.

Police Scotland has called for a 4.2% increase to its revenue budget - worth £59.1m, bringing the total to £1.48b - as well as a rise to £83m in capital funding. That equates to a 22.4% increase from this year's £67.5m forecast spend.

At Holyrood's Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday, it was suggested that there would be a "significant slowdown of police officer recruitment". If this was the case then it would bring numbers as low as 15,100 by March 2026.

'If we do see a reduction… we will have to review our services'

Police Scotland's Chief Constable Jo Farrell told the committee: "We need to, moving forward, be in a position where we can invest in our estate and move away from repair, repair, repair, because we are now repairing the repairs.

"When I was here last month, we talked about officer welfare and we talked of a thriving workforce and some of the estate our people are working in is, quite frankly, appalling and does not in any way portray the image of this organisation as one that can be trusted to deliver [for] communities or give our people the right environment to feel as though they're being cared for."

Also addressing the committee was Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors. She stated: "If we do see a reduction and we see a reduction in police officer numbers and equivalent police staff, then we have to review how we deliver our services and where those services are put in."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "We will continue to work with Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority to identify options to address current financial challenges, whilst protecting service delivery to ensure we have a safe, protected and resilient country. The Scottish Government is providing record police total funding of £1.55bn this year - an increase of £92.7m."

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/fuming-scottish-farmer-warns-labours-34013715

Fuming Scottish farmer warns that Labour's 'tractor tax' has put Britain's food production at risk

Jamie Blackett, who farms on the Solway Firth, said the 'vindictive' decision to axe inheritance tax relief on assets above £1m 'could at a stroke spell the end of the family working farm'

Ben Borland

1 NOV 2024

A Scottish farmer and political activist has joined the backlash against Labour's 'tractor tax', warning that Rachel Reeves "has taken the war on the countryside to a whole new level".

Jamie Blackett, who is the sixth generation of his family to farm at Arbigland in Dumfries and Galloway, said the Chancellor – who grew up in north London – doesn't even understand what she's done with her "vindictive" Budget.

Writing in the Scottish Daily Mail, he said: "She probably hasn't worked out the consequences of her astonishing removal of relief from inheritance tax on agricultural land, which could at a stroke spell the end of the family working farm.

"It is something that Gordon Brown, even in his most socialist of moments, did not implement - almost certainly because, when it was tried before in the Seventies, it was highly damaging to food production and the economy."

Blackett, a former Army officer who has written three books about farming life, said the "metropolitan" elite at the top of the Labour Party regards everybody who lives and works in rural Britain as "braying toffs".

But he pointed out that dairy farmers get up at 3 or 4am to milk the cows, before milking them again 12 hours later with a full working day in between. And it must be done seven days a week, with no possibility of a four day week promoted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

The Budget will remove the longstanding tradition that allowed farms to be freely passed on to the next generation by imposing 20% inheritance tax on assets above £1million from April next year.

Blackett writes: "One million pounds of assets tax-free may sound a lot. But, sadly, it is not where working farms are concerned. The bedrock of the nation's agricultural base is the small dairy farm of around 200 acres. With a farmhouse, a couple of farmworkers' cottages, stock, sheds and machinery, it would be worth at least £3m.

"That would leave the bereaved next generation having to find £400,000 or more in death duties out of taxed earnings that can be as little as £20,000 per year. Quite simply, impossible. In fact, the £1million threshold will actually benefit only rich hobby farmers with a nice house and a few fields with a couple of pet sheep and llamas."

Farming unions are warning that if the cost of food production will increase then that must be reflected in food prices, which could stoke inflation and "teach Labour that bad policies have unforeseen consequences". Blackett also says the "fabric of the countryside" will suffer as money is spent on accountants and life insurance, rather than hedges and drystone walling.

"Farming is hard enough," he concludes. "The weather, plant and animal diseases, turbulent world markets and high interest rates all make it one of the most stressful occupations with the highest suicide rate of any. It is devastating to find that the biggest threat now comes from the Government - and deeply upsetting to hear older farmers say, even in jest, that they are hoping to die before April 2026 when the new tax comes in."

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>>21894639

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-andrews-royal-lodge-woes-34028712

Prince Andrew's Royal Lodge woes as cracks and mould spread after King Charles 'cuts £1million allowance'

New photos show that the Royal Lodge, the 31-bedroom mansion in Windsor where Prince Andrew has lived since 2003, has been left in a state of disrepair

Joseph Wilkes & Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

4 NOV 2024

New images reveal that the Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew's 31-bed Windsor mansion valued at around £30 million, is showing signs of neglect. The exterior of the property, including outbuildings and the gatehouse, are suffering from black mould, dampness, and peeling paintwork, and outside walls are also mouldy and falling away, recent images have shown.

The Duke of York has resided at the estate since 2003, having received it after the Queen Mother passed away. These revelations come amidst reports that King Charles has ceased Andrew's annual £1 million allowance amid ongoing brotherly strife.

It is understood that King Charles has directed The Keeper of the Privy Purse to halt these payments. Andrew, 64, was believed to have spent ­£7million on repairs when he took on the Royal Lodge lease in 2003 after the Queen Mother's death.

Since ascending the throne, King Charles has reportedly made several attempts to persuade Andrew to leave the lodge in favour of Frogmore Cottage, previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Despite the financial cutbacks, the Duke of York is adamant about remaining at the Royal Lodge, as per a source speaking to The Sun on Sunday, who claims Andrew "is determined to stay in the Royal Lodge".

He also believes he can still cover his hefty private security costs, even after the King has withdrawn Royal funding for it. Situated within Windsor Castle's 'ring of steel', Andrew's residence also benefits from its own security detail, reports the Mirror.

The property is reportedly valued at £30million and Andrew lives there with his ex wife, Sarah Ferguson. It includes 40 hectares of woods and lawns, and eight cottages and accomodation for security guards and police.

In a revised edition of his book, 'Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story', author Robert Hardman suggests that Andrew will be responsible for the protection of several priceless and historic art pieces and furniture items borrowed from the Royal Collection. It is also alleged in the new chapters that Queen Elizabeth III would have compelled Andrew to vacate the Royal Lodge had she lived another year.

Buckingham Palace has chosen not to comment on the allegations made in the book. Since his removal as a working Royal in May 2020, the Duke of York has lost his charity patronages and military affiliations, and is effectively prohibited from using his HRH title publicly.

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>>21845170

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-ministers-spent-75k-hiding-34026945

SNP Ministers spent £75k hiding Nicola Sturgeon Hamilton Inquiry probe evidence from the public

John Swinney has been urged to return to the Scottish Parliament and come clean about what the Scottish Government have been hiding when it comes to the botched Alex Salmond Inquiry.

David Walker

3 NOV 2024

SNP Ministers spent almost £75,000 of taxpayers cash in an attempt to hide evidence about a probe into Nicola Sturgeon's conduct from the public. The former First Minister was investigated by the Independent Adviser to the Ministerial Code over claims she breached it during Holyrood's inquiry into the botched Alex Salmond investigation.

James Hamilton eventually decided that it was up to MSPs to decide whether she misled them over evidence she had given. She didn't inform them of a meeting she had with Mr Salmond's adviser Geoff Aberdein where she was told about harassment complaints against him. She told MSPs she had found out on a later date, claiming that she had not remembered this meeting.

Transparency concerns have been raised by opponents and even within the SNP as demands were made for John Swinney to come clean about what the Scottish Government is hiding. The Daily Mail reported that the legal bill for hiding documents containing details of Ms Sturgeon's behaviour has spiralled to £73,024.

This relates to the Nat Executive defending its claim that it did not "hold" documents relating to the probe, with a freedom of information request sent in for the evidence Mr Hamilton compiled. In December, the government suffered a thumping defeat at the Court of Session, with judges taking just seconds to decide they were in the wrong.

SNP Ministers took legal action against the Scottish Information Commissioner who had declared they did hold the documents. It cost them £73,024, including £27,470 to repay Commissioner David Hamilton's legal costs. John Swinney has been urged to "come clean" at Holyrood.

Veteran Nat MSP Fergus Ewing said that he must "reveal the evidence forthwith in order to end the disgraceful delays and costs." He added: "If he does that, then no doubt he can try to prove that I am wrong and he is right and he has absolutely nothing to hide."

Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said that it was "scandalous that the Scottish Government wasted such a huge sum of taxpayers' cash on doing everything possible to prevent the public finding out the truth about its conduct." Mr Hamilton previously confirmed that there was a number of open probes into similar information surrounding the Salmond Inquiry.

He added that it was "a wholly disproportionate amount of money to expend on a case where prospects were not strong." Opposition parties called for a public inquiry into the scandal and said that if it didn't go ahead, then it confirmed that Mr Swinney and his administration had "something to hide."

The First Minister rejected these suggestions, insisting that the legal advice said that the idea should have been tested in court. The advice was published last weekend and showed that legal counsel were concerned about the case and that they did not have much faith in victory.

Concerns were raised at Parliament that a civil servant involved in the probe had been feeding information to Mr Swinney at the time, while also working with Mr Hamilton on the "independent" probe. A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The decision to comply with the Commissioner's decision and release the legal advice was taken after careful consideration and does not set any legal precedent. This was a complex point of FOI law."

>>21659461

>>21405222

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-failing-scots-number-people-34027367

SNP 'failing' Scots as number of people not even looking for work increases AGAIN

Exclusive: The number of Scots deemed 'economically inactive' has increased once again under the stewardship of John Swinney and his Scottish Government.

David Walker

3 NOV 2024

The Scottish Government has been accused of failing young Scots after it was revealed that the number of people in Scotland not even looking for work has increased once again. The economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated to be 23.2% (780,999) between June and August 2024.

This was a hefty increase of 20,000 from the previous three month indicator of May and July 2024 where it was at 22.3% (761,021), according to figures from the Office for National Statistic. There was a record number of young people not in a job or looking to find paying work, with a new report highlighting a total of 52,700 youths being deemed "economically inactive" which is the largest total ever recorded in Scotland.

Scotland's rate is also well above the UK figure of 21.8%, and is up on the last report by 0.5%. For a yearly figure, between July 2023 and June 2024 an estimated 786,300 people aged between 16 to 64 were not seeking a job north of the border, with the two top reasons for this being long-term sickness and being in full-time education, i.e college or university.

The Scottish Government's record on growing the economy has come under fire in recent years as higher taxes and business rates have led to a number of businesses going bust. A more generous benefits system than the rest of UK has also been pinpointed as a reason for the lack of Scots seeking work.

A freedom of information request by the Scottish Daily Express also found briefing reports where officials bemoan economic inactivity as a "persistent issue for Scotland", while pointing out the rate is growing higher than the rest of the UK every year, and gotten substantially worse since the Covid pandemic.

Documents showed that the number of those not seeking any form of employment had increased in those in the younger and older age bracket. For those aged 16-24, it grew by 5,200 (from 199,300 to 204,400); And for those aged 50-64, it rose by 10,800 (from 313,500 to 324,300).

Officials also added: "Scotland's inactivity rate has been above the UK's since 2015. The inactivity rate for men in Scotland has been gradually increasing over time while the inactivity rate for men in the UK has been fairly constant."

The Scottish Tories insisted that the SNP Government had failed to help those not in work. Shadow Business, Economy, Tourism and Culture Secretary told the Scottish Daily Express: "This damning report shows that John Swinney and his SNP colleagues have abandoned Scotland’s young people, with record numbers not in work or even looking for employment.

“This SNP government has failed to provide our young people with the skills they need to secure jobs and contribute to the economy. Only the Scottish Conservatives have a plan to grow our economy, by providing young people with the skills they need to succeed.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “With consecutive growth over the last two quarters and close to record low unemployment, Scotland’s economy remains resilient. Economic inactivity due to illness is a problem across the UK, and a key concern for the Scottish Government.

“To help more people into work, the Scottish Government is introducing specialist employability support by next summer for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. Our devolved employability services are working with disabled people’s organisations, non-profit organisations and health services to help reduce economic inactivity.”