
Scots union boss Roz Foyer in second home 'hypocrisy' row
The union boss was said to be the owner of a flat in Edinburgh, a terraced house in Glasgow, a Spanish flat which she rents out for £1,000 a week and a holiday cottage on Jura
She also owns a four-bedroom family home in the leafy suburbs of north-west Glasgow, and a plot of undeveloped land.
Ms Foyer, who earns up to £100,000 a year, has publicly blaming second home owners for exacerbating the housing and cost-of-living crisis.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay (Image: Jane Barlow) Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has questioned how she can continue in her role. He said: 'Scotland's leading trade unionist appears to have been more inspired by Donald Trump than Jimmy Reid.
'To secretly build a £1million property empire while railing against the supposed sin of second home ownership is hilariously hypocritical.
'Just another example of Scotland's self-righteous socialist establishment telling the rest of us how to behave – while doing the complete opposite.'
He added: 'How Roz Foyer thinks she can continue in her role as self-styled workers' champion is a mystery and I expect her comrades might have something to say about it.'
Mr Findlay joked on Friday that Ms Foyer shared his party's values of working hard and reaping the rewards – and invited her to defect to his party.
Ms Foyer was the first woman appointed to the top trade union job in Scotland and represents 500,000 workers.
READ MORE: STUC general secretary accused of 'champagne socialism' over second home Roz Foyer: It's 'Awful April' and the cost of living crisis continues
She has repeatedly spoken out about the impact second homes have on communities amid Scotland's 'housing emergency'.
In July 2023, she called for a 300 per cent council tax premium on second and empty homes to tackle homelessness.
Months later, she said: 'Scotland is facing a simultaneous housing and cost-of-living crisis putting an unbearable strain on working people.

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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
SNP's Fergus Ewing to stand as an independent in 2026
The veteran MSP and former minister said his decision was 'not an easy one' but was driven by disillusionment with the direction of his party and the state of the Scottish Parliament. READ MORE Mr Ewing said his party had "deserted many of the people whose causes we used to champion". 'I have taken [the decision to stand as an independent] because I love the people of Inverness and Nairn and the people of Scotland more than my party, which I have been in for more than half a century,' he said. 'I believe the SNP has lost its way and that devolution itself, presently, is letting Scotland's people down.' Mr Ewing, first elected in 1999, served in the governments of both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. In recent years, however, he has become one of the SNP's most vocal internal critics, repeatedly challenging party bosses, particularly around the failure to dual the A9. He also criticised party policy on North Sea oil and gas, the proposed deposit return scheme, gender recognition reform, and plans for Highly Protected Marine Areas. He was suspended from the SNP Holyrood group in 2023 after voting against then Green minister Lorna Slater in a motion of no confidence, defying party whips. In March this year, he announced he would not stand for re-election as an SNP candidate, but threatened to stand as an independent. In a statement confirming that he would now contest the vote, Mr Ewing criticised what he described as the increasingly 'fractious and tribal' nature of the Scottish Parliament. 'Too much power rests unchecked in the hands of party leaders, free to choose candidates who will slavishly support them rather than stand up for the people who sent them to Holyrood,' he said. 'Choosing the pliant over the talented.' He added: 'It's time for Holyrood to live up to the high expectations people rightly held for it, when my mother, Winnie, reconvened our own Parliament in 1999. It came of age some years ago; surely now it's time for it to grow up.' Mr Ewing urged politicians in the main parties to work together, "whether in a grand coalition or a less formal arrangement", to reform public services and maximise economic growth. When approached by The Herald, Mr Ewing said he had not quit the SNP. However, in a statement, First Minister John Swinney said it "was with real sadness and deep regret that I heard of Fergus Ewing's decision to leave the Scottish National Party". The SNP constitution states that a member "may not contest or be a member of any organisation contesting elections in opposition to the Party", and that the National Secretary has the power to suspend a member who does. A party source said Mr Ewing's membership ceased when he declared their intention to stand against the party. In his statement, the First Minister said: "We have both served the SNP and the cause of independence for many years, and I commend him for all that he achieved while serving in the SNP Government until 2021. 'Fergus had the option of standing at the forthcoming election for the SNP, given his status as an approved candidate. He chose not to accept that opportunity, and I regret that he has ultimately decided instead to leave the party. 'The SNP approaches the 2026 election ahead in the polls, with growing support for independence, and I am looking forward to taking our positive, ambitious vision for Scotland's future to the people.' Earlier this year, there was speculation that Mr Ewing could be barred from standing for the SNP again. Although he ultimately passed vetting, the episode sparked tensions within the party. Former cabinet secretary Alex Neil said any move to deselect Mr Ewing would have triggered 'a massive revolt from both the public and within the party', describing him as 'one of the most effective MSPs in Scotland'. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, a close ally of Mr Ewing, also intervened in the row, urging the SNP to consider his 'long-standing contribution' to the party and its values. READ MORE Ms Roddick took to social media shortly after Mr Ewing's announcement to say the election was "about one person or one issue." She said: "I'm honoured to have been overwhelmingly backed by local members to stand as the SNP candidate for Inverness and Nairn. This is my home, and I care deeply about making it the best place to live, work and study. "I know how tough things are for many families right now and the scale of the challenges ahead of us. I've never stayed silent on the issues that matter and I won't start now. "I'm SNP because I believe a better future for the Highlands is possible with Scotland as an independent country - and that we only get there by working together. "This election isn't about one person or one issue - it's about who will actually deliver on housing, healthcare, the cost of living, and, of course, infrastructure like the A9. "You'll always get energy, hard work, and honesty from me because I believe the people of Inverness and Nairn deserve nothing less." 🧵 I'm honoured to have been overwhelmingly backed by local members to stand as the SNP candidate for Inverness and Nairn. This is my home, and I care deeply about making it the best place to live, work and study. — Emma Roddick MSP (@EmmaRoddickSNP) June 20, 2025 Shaun Fraser, Scottish Labour candidate for Inverness and Nairn, said he was not surprised by Mr Ewing's decision. He said: "It must have taken a lot of deliberation and heartbreak for Fergus to decide to stand against the SNP next year. His family pedigree runs through the history of the party like a stick of rock. "I can't say that I'm surprised by his decision, however – it's been a long time coming. Inverness and Nairn need a change of government at Holyrood; only Scottish Labour can deliver that. I wish Fergus well for his retirement after the election." Mr Ewing won the constituency in 2021, with 48% of the vote, and a majority of 9,114. Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain came second. He said: 'By standing as an independent Fergus Ewing has made it clear he simply cannot defend his party's record to voters while out on the campaign trail. 'The SNP have shamefully abandoned the Highlands over their 18 years in power. They continue to put lives at risk with their broken promises on dualling the A9 and A96. 'Countless public services have been downgraded or centralised away from rural and remote areas and there is a chronic lack of housing available to ensure local people can stay in these communities. 'Given someone who was born into the SNP won't stand under their banner, the anger among local voters will be palpable. Next year's election offers those in the Highlands and across Scotland a chance to remove the SNP from office and ensure the focus is finally on people's real priorities.' The Lib Dem candidate for Inverness and Nairn, Neil Alexander, said Mr Ewing should not be allowed to "walk away from the big part he has played" in the SNP's "record of failing the Highlands." He added: "While the two nationalists try to turn our constituency into a battleground for their party feud, I'm focused on what really matters to people here. 'I'm listening to residents across Inverness and Nairn, and the message is clear - we need real action on dualling the A9 and A96, proper investment in Raigmore Hospital, urgent improvements in mental health services and an end to the sewage scandal affecting our rivers and beaches."

The National
an hour ago
- The National
The numbers prove the world is ignoring those who talk Scotland down
Despite persistent global headwinds, recent data from EY highlighted Scotland's attractiveness to global investment, and comparatively greater resilience in the face of general economic turbulence. EY's data places Scotland firmly as the UK's top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) outside of London – for the tenth year in a row – while Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow remain among the top six UK cities for FDI projects. Although the total number of new projects in Scotland fell 4.9% from record figures in 2023, that number is marginal compared to a drop of 13% in the rest of the UK, 14% in France and 17% in Germany. READ MORE: Scottish Government announces £23.5 million for active travel programmes Despite a slight dip in the total number of projects in 2024 (135 projects, down from a record 142 in 2023), Scotland's share of overall UK projects actually increased to 15.8% (from 14.4% in 2023). This shows Scotland's relative strength compared to broader declines in FDI across the UK and Europe. EY's survey of global investors found that a quarter of those planning to invest in the UK are targeting Scotland, maintaining the country's long-standing position in investors' eyes as the UK's preferred FDI destination outside of London. I recently visited the Glasgow offices of Canadian IT and business consulting services firm CGI Inc, which employs around 750 people across its Glasgow, Edinburgh, Borders and Aberdeen offices, and has nearly 100,000 employees globally. CGI Inc is one of the many thriving international businesses choosing to call Scotland home. The fascinating ZeroAvia, hailing from the US (and developing full hydrogen-electric aircraft engines), is another new resident, along with the Australian not-for-profit ticketing hub Humanitix, who recently opened an office in Edinburgh. 2025 is bringing further significant investment and exciting projects to Scotland. I realise some may be wondering why this is important, or what Scotland's leading place in FDI means. How does FDI benefit the people of Scotland? FDI plays a crucial role in Scotland's economy, contributing significantly to job creation, economic growth, innovation and exports. Quite simply, foreign-owned companies in Scotland, although representing a smaller percentage of all businesses, have a disproportionately large impact on the economy. READ MORE: Scottish Government launches new 'milestone' plan for disability equality These companies account for a substantial share of employment in Scotland, contributing significantly to job creation. These jobs often offer higher average wages than those in domestically owned businesses. Foreign-owned businesses contribute a disproportionately high percentage to Scotland's Gross Value Added (GVA), indicating that these companies possess high productivity and make an outsized economic impact. Inward investors have outstripped domestic businesses in investing in business research and development spending, which fosters innovation and technological advancement within the nation. These innovators also generate a large portion of the total business turnover in Scotland and become major drivers behind Scottish exports. FDI can bring new skills and management practices, which can 'spill over' and benefit domestic Scottish businesses through supply-chain opportunities, hiring and knowledge sharing. Geopolitical headwinds are clearly affecting investor confidence globally. Scotland's FDI resilience in the face of this crisis of confidence is an incredible endorsement of Scotland as a destination for global investment. Scotland's ability to maintain high project numbers and even increase its share of UK projects comes against a backdrop of a marked decline in FDI across Europe and the UK overall. READ MORE: Scottish Labour drop below Alba and Greens as by-election results called A huge amount of work, across both the private and public sectors, goes into securing these projects, which are vital for economic growth, job creation and bringing benefits across our towns and cities. It's a privilege to work with Team Scotland to secure these global opportunities, and the Scottish Government will continue to work with business partners to build our country's reputation as a world-class location for investment. In this digital and hyper-connected world, the continued pursuit of strategic inward investment will propel Scotland towards being a fairer and more prosperous nation. It's also a sign that investors from abroad don't listen to the relentless whingeing of the opposition in the Scottish Parliament about Scotland. Where the opposition see weakness, international allies see strengths.


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
'This is awful' say shoppers as Iceland closes supermarket store today
Iceland is closing its Margate, Kent, store today and will also shut up shop in Inverness, Scotland, on July 12 Iceland is closing one of its stores today - with another branch set to follow shortly after. The frozen food supermarket is closing its Margate, Kent, store. Meanwhile, Iceland will also shut up shop in Inverness, Scotland, on July 12. The grocer has said affected staff will be offered alternative roles within the company where possible. Shoppers have reacted to the news on social media. One said: 'Wow they been there as long as I can remember they one of the original shops in that area such a shame.' Another commented: 'This is awful all the elderly people that use this and Morrisons to do the weekly shops will now suffer once again.' A third said: 'Such a shame I remember when it opened.' Iceland, which has over 900 stores across the UK, has not confirmed the reason behind the closures. The supermarket has closed a handful of stores over the last few months, including its Welling branch in London. Its shops in Shenley Road, Borehamwood and Alphington Road Retail Park in Exeter have also been shut down. But it isn't all bad news. The retailer has also opened new stores. Last month, Iceland opened a new city centre supermarket in Derby and another shop at Victoria Chambers on London Road Earlier this year, the company announced plans to open 20 Iceland and Food Warehouse stores, and the supermarket has also opened a new 500,000 square foot £100million distribution centre in Warrington. The Omega Park Site in Warrington - which opened in partnership with GXO in February - supplies around 350 Iceland stores across the north west of England, the Scottish borders and Wales. It comes after Poundland confirmed 68 stores will close as part of a major restructure. The budget chain will also seek rent reductions at a number of other locations. On top of this, Poundland will also look to close its distribution centre at Darton, South Yorkshire and its national distribution centre at Bilston in the West Midlands in early 2026. Poundland will also stop selling frozen food, and its website will stop taking orders, although shoppers will still be able to browse products and deals online. The restructuring plan, which would put more than 1,000 jobs at risk, would need to be approved by the High Court before it can go ahead. Poundland, which is owned by Pepco Group, currently has 792 stores and employs around 16,000 people. It expects its total store number to eventually be reduced to between 650 to 700, meaning further closures could be announced in the future as leases expire.