Latest news with #ex-SNP
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development
Plans for the multi-million pound Flamingo Land resort have recently been put on ice SLEAZY DOES IT SLEAZY DOES IT Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHAMED ex-SNP minister Derek Mackay has been working with the firm behind the controversial Flamingo Land development. Mackay disappeared from Holyrood in February 2020 after The Scottish Sun revealed he had been pestering a 16-year-old schoolboy with creepy text messages. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Shamed ex-SNP minister Derek Mackay is understood to be advising the firm behind Flamingo Land plans Credit: PA 3 Flamingo Land proposals include a waterpark, monorail, more than 100 lodges, and a waterpark Credit: Lomond Banks It has now been revealed by the Daily Record that the former minister had been advising on the plans for the multi-million resort on the banks of Loch Lomond. Flamingo Land proposals include a waterpark, monorail, more than 100 lodges, and a waterpark in Balloch, Dunbartonshire. The controversial project has divided opinion, and the national park authority rejected plans last year. However, last month the Scottish Government overturned a refusal decision, but the development was recently stalled over "environmental concerns". Mackay is understood to have been advising Lomond Banks. Speaking about the former politician's involvement, a spokeswoman told the Daily Record that Lomond Banks "works with a range of specialists and advisers". A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government has had no contact from Derek Mackay on this." They also denied claims of any contact. Concerns have now been raised over Mackay's role - who was previously a planning minister. Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: 'It is extraordinary that Lomond Banks appears to have employed Derek Mackay as a consultant. John Swinney defends Gray's car use after minister was 'driven to pub' 'As a former SNP planning minister, questions need to be asked about whether he used his old party contacts to influence the outcome of this planning application.' Mackay left the SNP in March 2021 after The Scottish Sun revealed he had bombarded a schoolboy with 270 online messages. In the sleazy messages Mr Mackay called the lad 'cute' and invited him out for dinner, six months after contacting him out of the blue. In February, he set up Lochan Associates Ltd, which Companies House says offers 'management consultancy activities other than financial management'. Plans for the multi-million pound Flamingo Land resort have recently been put on ice. It comes days after the Scottish Green Party claimed more than 50,000 people have written to the Nats ministers demanding that the controversial theme park be scrapped. Their MSP Ross Greer said Planning Minister Ivan McKee must "listen to the public".
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scottish pensioners lose court challenge over winter fuel payment cuts after 'irrational' argument
Pensioners Peter and Florence Fanning had sought to challenge the decisions made by government ministers over the winter fuel payment. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A pensioner couple have lost their legal challenge over government decisions to cut the winter fuel payment and its Scottish equivalent. Peter and Florence Fanning, from Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, raised the petition in the Court of Session in Edinburgh following the announcement in July last year from Chancellor Rachel Reeves of plans to cut the allowance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pensioners Florence and Peter Fanning from Coatbridge challenge the decision to scrap the winter fuel payments for pensioners | Lisa Ferguson The couple lost their entitlement to the financial assistance and became worried about their ability to afford their heating bills. They brought the legal action with the help of ex-SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC, who represented them as senior counsel. In April last year, the provision of a winter fuel-related payment was devolved to Scottish ministers who proposed a new benefit – the pension age winter heating payment (PAWHP) – causing an adjustment to the block grant funding provided to the Scottish Government by the UK government. Scottish ministers proposed the payment would be universal and not means-tested. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After Labour swept to power at Westminster in July last year, Ms Reeves announced the winter fuel payment would no longer be available to those not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits, resulting in a reduction to the block grant estimated to be around £160 million. The court heard Scottish ministers considered they had no option, but to replicate the decision of the UK government. The Fannings, who received the winter fuel payment in 2023, but were not eligible for the Scottish equivalent last year, challenged both decisions, claiming neither government had considered the Equality Act 2010 and had both 'failed to consult' with pensioners. Peter and Florence Fanning, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh. Picture: Craig Paton/PA Wire | PA They sought to quash the decisions of both governments and pursued a finding they both acted in a way that was 'irrational and unreasonable'. The Fannings also sought a finding that both decisions were unlawful under the Human Rights Act 1998. The judge's ruling - and reasons However, Judge Lady Hood rejected all six requests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In a U-turn earlier this week, the UK government announced the vast majority of pensioners in England and Wales will again receive the winter fuel payment this winter, and the Scottish Government said it was 'working through the options' in the wake of that decision. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given more detail about the UK government's plans for the winter fuel allowance | PA/The Scotsman In her decision, published on Friday, Lady Hood found neither government had failed to exercise their duties under the Equality Act 2010, and neither government was under a duty to consult. She also held the decisions were neither 'irrational nor unreasonable' and did not breach the Human Rights Act 1998, and she ruled they were 'in pursuit of a legitimate aim'. In a written judgment, Lady Hood said: 'It was a policy decision involving questions of the allocation of resources, and practical and political assessments that this court would not be well-placed to judge. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'That the policy decisions could result in hardship for those falling on one side of a brightline rule is not enough to render it irrational in the legal sense.' Lady Hood added: 'The petitioners asserted that elderly people suffering from disabilities rendering them vulnerable to cold temperatures constituted a group in our society which has suffered considerable discrimination in the past … however, mere assertion is not enough to bring a group within that definition, and the petitioners did not sufficiently demonstrate to the court that this cohort of the population did do so.'
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Nicola Sturgeon and Irvine Welsh join Edinburgh Book Festival line-up
The former first minister is preparing to launch a mammoth promotional tour ahead of the publication of her long-awaited political memoir. Nicola Sturgeon and Irvine Welsh are among the big names appearing at this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival, organisers have announced. The ex-SNP leader will appear at the event's venue in Chartlotte Square in August - just yards from Bute House, her official residence when she spent almost a decade as first minister. Sturgeon is preparing to launch a mammoth promotional tour ahead of the publication of Frankly, her long-awaited political memoir. The former first minister has said she "poured my heart" into writing the book, which hits the shops on August 14. Sturgeon, who will stand down as an MSP next year, is being paid a six-figure sum for the book deal. The Scottish Parliament's register of interests showed that she will earn £300,000. It comes after Scotland's top civil servant was this week accused of fawning over Sturgeon after wishing her success with her £300,000 memoirs. Permanent Secretary Joe Griffin cheered on the former First Minister after clearing the 464-page book, titled 'Frankly', for publication. In a letter telling her no changes were required for national security reasons, he gushed: "I wish you well with publication of the memoirs". Meanwhile, Trainspotting author Welsh will appear at the festival to promote his new book Men in Love, which continues the stories of classic characters like Sick Boy, Renton and Spud. It will follow the Edinburgh gang as they try to leave heroin behind and pursue romance in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 'I'm really, really excited about bringing these characters back', Welsh previously said. "It was that time at the end of punk and just before acid house, it was that quite fallow time of Thatcherism,' when the 'end of history' thesis was popular, said Welsh. 'Of course, that's really been shown to be nonsense.' Book festival bosses said the theme of this year's event is "repair". Festival director Jenny Niven said: 'This year's key theme of Repair starts from the belief that the brilliant ideas of writers and thinkers can help us repair a host of seemingly 'broken' things in our society, from the cycle of fast fashion and our relationship with the environment, to cultural reparations and the state of our politics. 'It's a statement of hope and resilience, and an invitation for our audiences to think about what 'repair' might mean for them. 'At a time when important conversations can feel impossible to have without igniting conflict and anger, we want the Edinburgh International Book Festival to provide a safe place for challenging but considered discussions. 'This year our programme features over 600 writers and artists from 35 countries, who have a wide range of perspectives on topics of personal, social and global importance. 'We invite you to come and learn something new, feed your curiosity and to broaden your horizons.' John Swinney previously quipped he had no plans to write his own tell-all book as he was focused on his job running the Scottish Government. The First Minister was asked if he planned to read the memoir written by one of his closest SNP colleagues. "I've not got a copy of it as it's not been published yet - but I'm sure it will be a good read," he told reporters. Asked if he had ever heard Nicola Sturgeon talk 'Frankly' - as per the title of her memoir - Swinney said: "I'm sure I have... maybe on the odd occasion". Swinney added: "Just for absolute clarity - I have no immediate plans to write my memoirs, as I intend to be in office for a long time to come."
Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Government chiefs' verdict after Nicola Sturgeon forced to hand over memoir
Documents reveal four copies of 'Frankly' were handed over and will be 'securely held' NIC ALL-WRITE Scottish Government chiefs' verdict after Nicola Sturgeon forced to hand over memoir CIVIL servants spent a month poring over Nicola Sturgeon's memoir for potentially reputation-damaging stories. The ex-SNP leader's book was submitted to the Scottish Government under vetting rules requiring ex-ministers not to write negatively about officials. 1 'Frankly' will hit the shelves on August 14 Credit: INSTAGRAM Documents reveal four copies of 'Frankly' were handed over and will be 'securely held' to avoid leaks before its August 14 release. A senior team including a top aide overseeing ethics reviewed the manuscript in April before signing it off that month. Records also show former First Minister Ms Sturgeon tried to ensure it was kept under wraps. She told the Government: 'I'd be grateful for an indication of what the circulation will be within SG and what steps will be taken to ensure confidentiality.' Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'The public will hope this forensic poring over of Nicola Sturgeon's memoir did not divert from crucial work — or this editing did not dilute it down from being as frank as she claims.' Ministers declined to comment. Ms Sturgeon's spokeswoman said she was 'looking forward' to her autobiography's launch. We told previously the ex-FM has pocketed another £76,500 for her upcoming book through her personal company, Holyrood records show. Sturgeon declared the second of four payments to the Scottish Parliament. Her register of interests states: "On 21 March 2025 my company NICOLA STURGEON LIMITED received a payment of £76,500 made via my literary agent, DHA. This represents the second of four instalments of a book advance from Pan Macmillan of £75,000 (plus VAT and minus agent commission)." She has promised her book will be open and honest about her time as First Minister and her fall-out with her former ally, Alex Salmond.
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Nicola Sturgeon lands more than £76K in SECOND book payment with two more fees still to come
More details about the ex-FM's company can be found below WRITE GOOD DEAL Nicola Sturgeon lands more than £76K in SECOND book payment with two more fees still to come Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NICOLA Sturgeon has pocketed another £76,500 for her upcoming book through her personal company, Holyrood records show. The former first minister, whose memoir 'Frankly' is due out in August, declared the second of four payments to the Scottish Parliament. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 3 Nicola Sturgeon has featured at literary events Credit: PA 3 The memoir is due out in August Credit: SUPPLIED Her register of interests states: "On 21 March 2025 my company NICOLA STURGEON LIMITED received a payment of £76,500 made via my literary agent, DHA. This represents the second of four instalments of a book advance from Pan Macmillan of £75,000 (plus VAT and minus agent commission)." She has promised her book, titled 'Frankly', will be open and honest about her time as First Minister and her fall-out with her former ally, Alex Salmond. Find out what's really going on Register now for our free weekly politics newsletter for an insightful and irreverent look at the (sometimes excruciating) world of Scottish Politics. Every Thursday our hotshot politics team goes behind the headlines to bring you a rundown of key events - plus insights and gossip from the corridors of power, including a 'Plonker' and 'Star' of the Week. Sign up now and make sure you don't miss a beat. The politicians would hate that. SIGN UP FOR FREE NOW Holyrood records also show the ex-SNP leader was paid another £600 for a book review for the New Statesman magazine, and declared almost £680 in travel and accommodation paid for by her company. Last year, Ms Sturgeon received £25,000 from broadcasters ITN after she appeared on ITV's general election results show. Scottish Tory MSP for Glasgow, Annie Wells, blasted the cash and said Ms Sturgeon had become a "part-time MSP". She said: "This confirms that since resigning as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has become a part-time MSP rather than properly representing Glasgow Southside. 'It will stick in the throat of Nicola Sturgeon's constituents that she is continuing to coin it in for her work away from Holyrood at a time when they are facing huge challenges. 'Since leaving Bute House it is clear the former First Minister has been more interested in writing her memoirs and touring the festival circuit, rather than turning up to Parliament. 'Nicola Sturgeon should be upfront about where her priorities lie given she doesn't seem interested in raising issues facing Glasgow Southside anymore.
