News – Scotland and International

BBC rejects claims that it may be biased

By a Newsnet reporter The BBC has rejected suggestions that it is reporting Scottish issues in a less than impartial manner after a Newsnet Scotland article highlighted presentations by senior reporters that contained several criticisms of the SNP and Alex Salmond. The corporation was responding to questions posed by online magazine The Drum which had itself picked up the story following our … Read More

UK Government urged to reconsider devolving Air Passenger Duty to Scotland

By a Newsnet reporter The SNP will today lead calls for the
Blunder as Lamont launches Labour council election campaign by conceding defeat

By a Newsnet reporter Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont
Independence, Federalism and Sovereignty

By David Torrance The “sovereignty of the Scottish people”,

Lamont urged to end Labour council tax confusion

By Martin Kelly Labour’s Scottish Leader Johann Lamont has
Coalition benefit cut could hit half a million Scots

By a Newsnet reporter Over half a million Scots, could lose
Scottish Government responds to ‘Skintland’ jibe by outlining seven key strengths of the Scottish economy

By a Newsnet reporter The Scottish Government has outlined

Aberdeen bypass objectors cost taxpayer £1/4 million in legal fees

By Martin Kelly The Scottish taxpayer has had to cough up
Youtube videos cast doubt on the impartiality of senior BBC presenters

By G.A.Ponsonby Videos released on youtube have appeared to cast
Charity tax relief cap will damage third sector warns Swinney

Finance Secretary John Swinney has written to Chancellor George

Tory hopes for council elections: candidates who don’t want to be elected

By a Newsnet reporterSNP MSP Rob Gibson has said that the Tories
The Economist comes to the aid of the Party

By Russell Bruce Much furore has been generated by the latest
Al-Megrahi fights for life as health deteriorates

By Martin Kelly Mr Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the Libyan fighting

Glasgow MSP calls for Scottish Cup Final to stay at Hampden Cathcart MSP James Dornan has laid down a motion in the Scottish Parliament urging the Scottish Football Association to ignore … Read More	SNP launch North Lanarkshire manifesto The SNP has today (Monday) formally launched its campaign for the upcoming council elections in North Lanarkshire. Leader of the SNP … Read More
Council candidate totals rise for SNP whilst rivals show drop The SNP have today published an analysis of local election poll notices, which show it is the only party to … Read More	Scottish tourism boost Scotland’s tourism industry is continuing to grow as the number of overnight visitors to Scotland rose by 9 per cent … Read More
Pensions reforms imposed without consultation The UK Government is set to change the long term pensions arrangements of half a million Scots without consulting the … Read More	MSPs welcome progress on Inveramsay improvements Dennis Robertson MSP and Alex Salmond MSP have welcomed an announcement from Transport Scotland that the improvements at Inveramsay Bridge … Read More

Let’s start with the scaremongering – then move onto the facts.

By a Guest writer

That could be the epitaph of Scotland’s anti-Independence politicians. Particularly those who are now using the scare story that Scotland may not enjoy a AAA credit rating from all of the major rating agencies.

This – they say would put up the cost of borrowing for the Scottish Government and damage the prospect for future growth.

The dug’s own independence posters

By Paul T Kavanagh

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s not always true, given the choice between the 1995 Uzbekistan telephone directory or a framed photie of Labour’s front bench team, I’d go for the out of date phone book of furren pairts. I could at least put it on my bookshelf and pretend to be cosmopolitan.

Nicola Sturgeon: SNP delivers for Glasgow

By a Newsnet reporter

Giving the opening speech at the SNP’s spring conference, depute leader and health minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed delegates home to Glasgow, the city where the party was founded 78 years ago. Ms Sturgeon told the conference that the SNP could take control of Scotland’s largest local authority from the Labour party, which has ruled in the city since the 1980s.

Joan McAlpine is coming to get me

By Kenneth Roy

Gerry Hassan, that tireless commentator on where we were, where we are and where we could be, came to the airport yesterday to interview me. It seems I am one of 50 people whose impressions of life in Scotland he is gathering. His subjects are to be given a transcript of what they said. Please, don’t bother on my account.

We are in the last weeks of the winter timetable down here, so I expected to have the bar to ourselves. Instead it was full of jolly certain-age Scotswomen preparing for a midweek jaunt to Tenerife.

They Might Be Giants: Social Justice and the Forgotten Scotland

By Gerry Hassan, The Scotsman, March 10th 2012

A new vogue has swept across the globe: concern about inequality.

From the Davos World Economic Forum to Occupy Wall Street, from Barack Obama to David Cameron and Ed Miliband, there is an acute awareness of this issue, from talking about the superabundant wealth of the top 1% to the constant political chatter about ‘fairness’.

International Women’s Day – did Scots women have anything to celebrate?

By Hazel Lewry

International Women’s Day was on March 8th, so it is appropriate to look at the issue of UK gender equality in the run up to the independence referendum. Details in the polls show women rather more likely to support the status quo, the Union, than men. As a group women are perhaps more inclined to be conservative – with a small c – than men.

Labour isolated as Tories reverse stance on minimum pricing

By a Newsnet reporter

Welcoming the announcement that the Scottish Conservatives will now back the Scottish Government’s Alcohol (minimum pricing) (Scotland) Bill, SNP MSP Jim Eadie has said that Labour are now the last party in the Parliament not to back the proposals and are now completely isolated.

In a letter to Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson signalled a reversal of her party’s previous opposition to the minimum price proposals, saying that she accepted the plans would “command greater authority if given the widest political support”.

A new worrying tactic has emerged that threatens Scotland’s great debate

By G.A.Ponsonby

“I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it” … unless you are Scottish and support independence it seems.

It’s one of the defining aspects of our society, the freedom to express an opinion, to disagree, to criticise – in short, free speech is fundamental to who we are.

News – Scotland and International

BBC rejects claims that it may be biased

UK Government urged to reconsider devolving Air Passenger Duty to Scotland

Blunder as Lamont launches Labour council election campaign by conceding defeat

Independence, Federalism and Sovereignty

Lamont urged to end Labour council tax confusion

Coalition benefit cut could hit half a million Scots

Scottish Government responds to ‘Skintland’ jibe by outlining seven key strengths of the Scottish economy

Aberdeen bypass objectors cost taxpayer £1/4 million in legal fees

Youtube videos cast doubt on the impartiality of senior BBC presenters

Charity tax relief cap will damage third sector warns Swinney

Tory hopes for council elections: candidates who don’t want to be elected

The Economist comes to the aid of the Party

Al-Megrahi fights for life as health deteriorates

News in Brief

Glasgow MSP calls for Scottish Cup Final to stay at Hampden

SNP launch North Lanarkshire manifesto

Council candidate totals rise for SNP whilst rivals show drop

Scottish tourism boost

Pensions reforms imposed without consultation

MSPs welcome progress on Inveramsay improvements