Environment Blog (Free subscription) | yesterday
Alex Salmond, the First Minister of Scotland, yesterday launched Aquamarine Power’s Oyster, which has already been hailed as the biggest hydroelectric wave-energy machine. Various tests conducted at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney near..
SUBROSA (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009
Artist's impression For those of you who don't know about the Edinburgh tram saga , here is a brief history. In 2004 the Scottish Parliament passed a Bill for two tram lines, one to Edinburgh airport, through Edinburgh. The SNP were always against this proposal as they felt the money could be better spent on other projects throughout Scotland and when they became the government in 2007 they offered...
News Scotsman (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009
FIRST Minister Alex Salmond was challenged yesterday on the "scandal" of malnourished children in Scotland.
Planet Politics (Free subscription) | 19/11/2009
At FMQs earlier today Labour's Iain Gray pushed the mantra that Alex Salmond is 'losing it', and in evidence cited the SNP's trouncing in last week's Glasgow North East by-election. Indeed, the victor in that contest just happened to be in the Holyrood chamber, and Mr Gray triumphantly said: Willie Bain, Scotland's newest MP, sitting in the public gallery, that says it all. Indeed, Mr Gray. That says...
SUBROSA (Free subscription) | 19/11/2009
Computerised image of revamped Hampden Park Glasgow is to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. These sporting events come at a price and the price of this one is presently more than the cost of the Scottish Parliament. Can you believe anything could ever be more than the cost of our Parliament? Eleven days of world-class competition will be held in July 2014 and according to Lord Smith , chairman of...
Perth FM news (Free subscription) | 19/11/2009
Public Meeting tonight in Loch Rannoch MP for Perth and North Perthshire Pete Wishart will tonight be holding a public meeting in the Loch Rannoch hotel. The meeting will be to discuss the public views on the proposed 'millionaire's playground' on the Dall Estate. Mr Wishart was concerned earlier this week, when it was revealed that neither the developer nor their agent had accepted his invitation....
Blether with Brian (Free subscription) | 19/11/2009
Perhaps it was the presence of Willie Bain, smiling wanly in the public gallery, but today's Labour/SNP exchanges at first minister's questions seemed notably antagonistic. Mr Bain, of course, is a living, grinning reminder that Labour thumped the SNP in the Glasgow North East by-election . Today, like an invited Banquo, he hovered over the pre-lunch feast of oratory that is the weekly question session....
SUBROSA (Free subscription) | 19/11/2009
Thursday High Noon and as usual Iain Gray was the first to step up to the plate at First Minister's Questions. This week he was concerned with the report that Scotland would have a deeper recession that the remainder of the UK and tried desperately to pin the blame on the First Minister. The FM, after graciously welcoming Willie Bain to the gallery, swept the allegations aside with the counterclaim...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 18/11/2009
Plans to increase the Scottish parliament's remit in doubt after Queen makes only fleeting reference to the proposals Alex Salmond will make Scottish devolution a key battleground in the general election after Labour resisted pressure to bring forward legislation to strengthen Holyrood's powers. Plans backed by Gordon Brown to increase the Scottish parliament's remit – including giving it greater...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 18/11/2009
Glasgow might be a good option What they said about Glasgow "The city has higher levels of poverty, deprivation and substance misuse than all other authorities in Scotland." Scotland's Social Work Inspection Agency. "Life expectancy in Glasgow East is lower than the Gaza Strip." Angus Robertson MP, July 2008. Population 584,240. Local politics Glasgow district council is controlled...
Wholly Rude (Free subscription) | 17/11/2009
Now the dust has settled after the Glasgow North East by-election I thought I'd have my last wee poke at the SNP - now what was it Alex said after the Glenrothes by-election? Let me remind you, courtesy of the Guardian on the 8th November 2008: Alex Salmond shouldered the blame for the Scottish National party's failure to beat Labour in the Glenrothes by-election, admitting he had been out of
Perth FM news (Free subscription) | 17/11/2009
Sainsbury announce plans for Pitlochry Supermarket chain Sainsbury's have announced plans for a new store in Pitlochry that could see 150 jobs come to the area. The supermarket has already put forward plans for a store in Perth on the site of the old Perth Mart. Sainsbury's are hoping to bring more competition between larger retailers to Perth and Kinross – with a smaller store in Kinross being...
Scottish Libertarians (Free subscription) | 16/11/2009
In a BBC report the original cost of £373 million for the 2014 games has just been raised to £454 million! That's an increase of 22%. We are being lead to believe by Alex Salmond that this is not that great and can be absorbed by the tax payers. Really? And will you be discussing this whilst out meeting with the head of the E.U. bank (possibly cap in hand)? Is there anyone in the Scottish...
Politics, PR & Marketing (Free subscription) | 16/11/2009
Labour's first good news story for a very long time is their victory in Glasgow North East. While the figures show an increased majority up to 60% and what could be described as a landslide endorsement of Brown's government, such indications may be erroneous. By-elections are strange beasts. It would be nice to see a resurgent Labour party, whatever your political persuasion it is a good thing for...
Valleys Mam (Free subscription) | 16/11/2009
There is bad blood after Peter Hain stood fast and vetoed Edinburgh as the seat of the permanent secretariat of the British and Irish council. Hain was representing the UK Government at the meeting. Why I wonder! Hain claimed there had to be a total consensus on the decision and simply refused to agree to it. In the first round of voting, Edinburgh received 5 votes, the Isle of Man 2 and Cardiff 1....
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