8chan/8kun QResearch SCOTLAND Posts (7)
#21311668 at 2024-07-28 22:34:21 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13228776/new-underworld-threat-russell-findlay-acid-attack/
GANG ATTACK FEARS 'Underworld kill threat' made against Scots Tory leadership hopeful Russell Findlay - decade after doorstep acid attack
It is feared the threat is linked to a caged gangster
Chris Musson
27 Jul 2024
THE former crime reporter tipped as the next Scottish Tory leader has been warned of a new underworld threat to kill him, it emerged today.
Police visited MSP and ex-Scottish Sun investigations editor Russell Findlay this month and disclosed intelligence about a possible attack on him by a serial violent criminal.
The details emerged just days before a parole hearing where gangster William "Basil" Burns could be freed early from his jail term for a notorious acid attack on Mr Findlay in 2015.
It's feared the new threat may be linked to Burns, 63, who was jailed for ten years in 2017 after being found guilty of assault to the danger of life after the vicious assault on Mr Findlay's doorstep in Glasgow.
Last night, Mr Findlay thanked police for flagging the new threat and called for intimidation tactics to be met with a "robust response".
He told the Scottish Sun on Sunday: "I am grateful to Police Scotland for sharing this information with me, which I am taking seriously.
"Thuggish organised crime gangs in Scotland increasingly appear to think they can intimidate and attack those in mainstream society but this should not be tolerated and cannot be allowed to become normal.
"These cowardly tactics must be met with a defiant and robust response."
Mr Findlay, 51, became an MSP in 2021 after a 27-year career in journalism, during which he specialised in investigative and crime journalism, and penned books exposing gangland figures.
Last week, he became the first person to declare they would stand to replace Douglas Ross, who announced his resignation as Scottish Conservative leader in the early stages of the General Election campaign.
#20998769 at 2024-06-10 13:29:35 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
>>20998447
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12858847/douglas-ross-to-quit-as-scottish-tory-leader/
ROSS QUITS Douglas Ross to quit as Scottish Tory leader after election backlash
He announced the news in a lengthy statement
Chris Musson
10 Jun 2024
UNDER-fire Douglas Ross today announced he is quitting as Scottish Tory leader after nearly four years in the job.
The Conservative chief revealed he is to stand down after the General Election amid fury among his colleagues over claims he elbowed out a sick colleague to grab the nomination for a key seat.
He also faced pressure this weekend over his travel expenses claims.
A spokesman for the Scottish Tories confirmed Mr Ross will leave his post as leader regardless of whether he wins on July 4.
In a statement this morning, Mr Ross - an MSP, and an MP until the election - said he's quit regardless of whether his wins the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat on July 4.
Mr Ross - Scottish Tory leader since 2021 - said: "I have served as MP, MSP and leader for over three years now and believed I could continue to do so if re-elected to Westminster, but on reflection, that is not feasible.
"I am committed to fighting and winning the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.
"Should I be given the honour to represent the people and communities of this new seat, they should know being their MP would receive my complete focus and attention.
"I will therefore stand down as leader following the election on July 4, once a successor is elected.
"Should I win the seat, I will also stand down as an MSP to make way for another Scottish Conservative representative in Holyrood.
"My party has a chance to beat the SNP in key seats up and down Scotland, including in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.
"We must now come together and fully focus on doing exactly that."
Rishi Sunak said he respected Douglas Ross's decision to quit as Scottish Conservatives leader.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters: "You can read Douglas's statement about his reasons and I respect his decision. It's been a pleasure to work with him over the time that I've been Prime Minister, he has been a steadfast champion of the union."
A string of Scottish Tory MSPs and MPs are furious at the way Mr Ross u-turned on his long-standing position that he wouldn't stand for Westminster at the General Election.
Mr Ross announced last week that David Duguid was unfit to stand - despite Mr Duguid disputing this - and he was to stand himself instead.
Until last month, Mr Duguid, who is recovering in hospital after an illness, was MP for the old Banff and Buchan seat which overlaps with the new Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.
A source close to Mr Ross denied he had quit specifically because of the fury over his treatment of Mr Duguid, but said the decision was due to "all of the fallout from that".
The source said: "Douglas felt that the Scottish leader needs to have all of their focus on the Scottish Parliament, and by saying he was standing for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East that signalled that his priority was not to dedicating all of his energy on the Scottish Parliament.
"It became clear that colleagues were not going to accept him continuing as an MSP and MP and continuing as leader."
Asked why Mr Ross would have to quit as leader even if he loses - and us an MSP only - the source said that by saying he wanted to return to Westminster he was sending a "signal" to colleagues that his priority was not on Holyrood and therefore the party leadership.
We told at the weekend how Mr Ross was urged to follow suit with three of his MSPs and vow to quit Holyrood if he wins a Westminster seat on July 4.
Sources said Tory MSPs who run for election to Westminster do so with the expectation they will stand down from the Scottish Parliament if successful.
#20972775 at 2024-06-05 20:31:57 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
>>20905039
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12751572/john-swinney-poverty-pledge-claptrap-Chris-Musson/
'UTTER CLAPTRAP' John Swinney's poverty pledge is a claptrap but politicians will never change(Quelle surprise)
That strategy of slogans over substance looks to be alive and well in 'new' SNP Government
Chris Musson
26 May 2024
VOTERS will swallow any old rubbish if you repeat it enough times.
It's one of the golden rules of political propaganda - a rule that will be tested to destruction by all sides up to the July 4 General Election.
The Tories will go on and on about "hard earned economic stability". The SNP - for years, the masters of the repeated message - will tell you to "put Scotland first".
Labour's mantra is of course "Change" - the simplest possible soundbite, and one which will see both the SNP and the Tories on the receiving end.
Perhaps it's about time the SNP had a taste of their own medicine, given the contrast between their deft sloganeering and inability to keep promises.
That strategy of slogans over substance - repeating a pledge time and again, while not delivering - looks to be alive and well in John Swinney's "new" SNP Government.
While the oxygen will be sucked up over the next six weeks by the election, we can't forget that we are in the first weeks of a new First Minister.
What he has pledged merits scrutiny.
Swinney's big promise, which he has barely stopped going on about, is his mission to "eradicate child poverty".
For the avoidance of doubt, eradicate means "to get rid of something completely". This tells you all you need to know. This promise is utter claptrap.
If you believe he will wipe out child poverty - or even thinks he can - then I'm afraid he's just taken you for a fool.
But why change the habit of a lifetime?
Promise after promise was made by SNP ministers including Swinney over the years.
As I mentioned in this column last week, promise after promise has turned to dust. When a pledge is made, I'm genuinely unsure if they have any intention of delivering it.
More likely, it was made to milk the PR from the promise itself, or with no proper thought on how they might deliver it. I'm not sure which is worse.
But as politicians know well, a promise is one hell of a campaigning tool.
And the great thing about the SNP and their promises is that they have a ready-made excuse if they can't deliver. They blame Westminster for not giving them the cash.
This relies on people not considering there are constraints on spending, the world over. There is no magic money tree, not now or under independence.
But he seems to be hooked on this way of governing.
#20941647 at 2024-05-30 23:45:34 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
>>20905029
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12769701/taxpayers-pay-ferguson-marine-boss-travel-canada/
BOATLOAD BILL Public paying for boss of scandal-hit shipyard to travel to and from home in Canada
The latest twist in the long-running ferry fiasco
Chris Musson
30 May 2024
TAXPAYERS are picking up the tab for the new boss of the Scottish Government's scandal-hit shipyard to travel to and from his home in Canada, MSPs were told today.
John Petticrew took over as Ferguson Marine interim chief executive in March after former CEO David Tydeman was ditched amid mounting delays in the long-running Holyrood ferries fiasco.
The yard at Port Glasgow has been dogged by scandal with taxpayers facing a bill of around ?400 million - four times over budget - with two undelivered CalMac vessels at least six years late.
And today the cash effectively being paid by the public to the new boss came under scrutiny, weeks after it emerged Mr Tydeman got a ?100,000 "golden goodbye" despite the firm's board sacking him.
At Holyrood's public audit committee - where MSPs are meant to scrutinise the use of public funds - Tory MSP Graham Simpson said he'd previously asked in a written question about Mr Pettricrew's relocation expenses but was told he wasn't getting any, as he lived in Canada.
The MSP said: "I was told his remuneration package includes a 'travel and subsistence allowance'.
"So is the government paying for Mr Petticrew to travel from Canada to Scotland?"
Dermot Rhatigan, the Scottish Government's deputy director for strategic commercial assets, who was being quizzed by MSPs, responded that it was "a contractual matter between the business and Mr Petticrew".
But he said: "He hasn't received a relocation package. He hasn't relocated from Canada to Scotland. He lives in Canada and he's got an appointment as an interim chief executive for six months.
"And like all other employees at the yard, he's entitled to claim for travel and subsistence."
Mr Simpson then said: "Travel expenses - from Canada?"
Mr Rhatigan responded: "The details of that, I don't know, .. what he would be claiming for under his expenses, I don't have the detail of that.
"But he would be entitled to claim for expenses that he'd incurred as part of needing to be here to undertake his duties in Scotland."
Labour MSP and committee convener Richard Leonard asked if Mr Petticrew was "going to be flying backwards and forwards every weekend".
He said: "How regularly would you expect somebody in that position to draw down the expenses they're contractually entitled to?"
Mr Rhatigan replied: "We can take that to the business, or if you want to write to the business they would give you details on that. But it is a contractual matter.
"As far as I understand he's not travelling weekly between Scotland and Canada, but I don't know the details of how often he's made that journey."
Mr Petticrew had been a non-executive board member of Ferguson Marine since 2022 but took over as interim CEO in March.
SNP cabinet minister Mairi McAllan told parliament at the time that Mr Petticrew was "temporarily relocating to the United Kingdom".
The two vessels for public-owned Calmac were meant to cost ?97 million and be delivered in 2018, with the delays hitting island communities left to rely on a creaking fleet.
In September, it emerged the price tag had risen to ?368.25 million - plus "contingency" spend of up to ?30.6 million.
In April, it emerged the first of the two ferries being built for CalMac - the Glen Sannox - would not be handed over until the end of July, in the latest delay to the project.
Mr Petticrew accepted the delay would be a "disappointment", particularly for locals on the Arran, which the ferry is due to serve.
#20805647 at 2024-05-01 21:23:12 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
>>20800120
>>20794507
>>20795711
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/12587989/john-swinney-kate-forbes-secret-snp-talks/
SECRET SUMMIT John Swinney & Kate Forbes hold 'secret talks' to avoid SNP leadership bloodbath by striking power deal
It comes amid a plan by senior Nats to install Mr Swinney as leader - uncontested
Chris Musson
1 May 2024
THE two contenders tipped to replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister have held secret talks about cutting a deal, The Scottish Sun can reveal.
Sources told how John Swinney and Kate Forbes met face to face amid a plan by senior SNP politicians and officials to install Mr Swinney as leader - uncontested.
An insider said that during the discussions, Ms Forbes did "not rule out" a deal where she takes a top job in a Swinney-led cabinet.
The secret summit took place at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, but no agreement was reached, The Scottish Sun understands.
An insider close to talks said both camps were keen not to be seen to be briefing against each other, but confirmed the pair did talk about whether a deal could be done.
And the source said: "A deal has not been ruled out.."
On Wednesday evening a spokesman for Ms Forbes confirmed the meeting took place.
He added: "We can confirm Kate spoke to John yesterday. It was a purely informal meeting.
"Kate is continuing to weigh up whether to run and is grateful for the growing outpouring of support."
The Scottish Sun revealed earlier today how Ms Forbes was being urged to strike a deal with Mr Swinney in order to avert a "bloodbath" battle to succeed Mr Yousaf.
The First Minister quit suddenly on Monday after a crisis triggered by his unceremonious ditching of the Scottish Greens from the Scottish Government power-sharing pact known as the Bute House Agreement.
I'd suggest his resignation is more down to the work of Roger Livermore as evidenced by Silver Fox.
>>20772674
>>20772721
We revealed how party chiefs want the ex-Holyrood Finance Secretary to roll in behind stalwart former Deputy First Minister Mr Swinney and give him a clear run at becoming First Minister.
On Tuesday, a source said: "The hope is that Kate takes a job offered by John, and we can get on with governing. The last thing we need now is a bloodbath contest."
Neither Mr Swinney nor Ms Forbes have yet declared they will run ahead of the nominations deadline on Monday at noon.
A snap poll for Ipsos suggested Forbes is the most popular candidate to succeed Mr Yousaf among the public - but Mr Swinney is better liked among SNP voters.
Ipsos Scotland's Emily Gray said Mr Swinney "does look better placed to unite the party" but said: "When you look at both candidates appeal to the wider electorate in Scotland, there Kate Forbes has a six-point lead over John Swinney.
"So she is a little more popular among the wider public when it comes to who might be the best first minister for Scotland."
#20791731 at 2024-04-29 00:18:54 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #10: Humza In Hot Water Edition
>>20791697
>>20791710
>>20791718
…………………………………………………………………….continued………………………………………………….
No confidence votes explained
By Chris Musson, Associate Editor (Politics), The Scottish Sun
Tories have lodged a motion of confidence in the First Minister.
Labour then lodged a motion of confidence in the Scottish Government.
Parliament bureau is not due to meet until Tuesday and usually there is two days' notice of a confidence vote (meaning vote next Thurs). It's possible they could meet ahead of this and/or timetable could be accelerated.
If there is a vote of no-confidence in the FM it would be up to the First Minister how they responded once the will of the Parliament had been made clear.
If there is a vote of no-confidence in the Government both the FM and Ministers are required to resign. In that case the Parliament is not automatically dissolved, instead the Parliament has 28 days to choose a new FM (by simple majority) (Section 46 of the Scotland Act). If it cannot do so, Parliament is dissolved.
A vote of no confidence in a Minister, the First Minister or even the Government as a whole requires only a simple majority in the Parliament for it to be agreed.
A simple majority in relation to votes of no confidence in Ministers or in the Government requires only the number of members voting 'for' to be greater than those 'against' - no account is taken of any members who abstain.
#14549011 at 2021-09-09 22:45:35 (UTC+1)
Q Research Scotland #5: Humanity Rising Edition
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/7678621/scotland-vaccine-passports-october-nightclubs-football/
Breaking
Scottish News
VAX VOTE PASSED Scots WILL need vaccine passports for nightclubs and large events after Holyrood vote passed
Ewan MowatDan VeversChris Musson
18:02, 9 Sep 2021Updated: 23:30, 9 Sep 2021
SCOTS WILL need vaccine passports for nightclubs and large events from next month after a proposal was passed in Holyrood.
MSPs backed the move by 68 to 55, after most SNP and Greens politicians voted in favour of the plans - but rivals warned businesses are being "chucked under the bus".
The controversial app-based scheme will kick in on October 1 to "give businesses time to prepare and more people to get vaccinated", and to allow time for the technology to be finished.
Scots face being locked out if they can't show a QR code to prove they've had both vaccines - and those who can't use the app will be able to "request a secure un-editable paper record of vaccination".
Businesses will be required under law to "take all reasonable measures" to "restrict entry only to those fully vaccinated", unless they are exempt.
And firms "will require a hardware mechanism (such as mobile phones) to verify the certificates" - but they will need to meet any additional staffing or infrastructure costs for this themselves.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the move earlier this month, but it was met with opposition by rival parties.
The Scottish Government said the aim of the scheme was to "increase vaccine uptake", with around one in four 18-29s still shunning first doses, and around one in five of 30-39s.
The scheme means that in order to enter specific venues or events, punters must be double vaccinated.
The plans include nightclubs and "sexual entertainment venues", as well as unseated live events with more than 500 people indoors and 4,000 outdoors. All events with over 10,000 people, such as big football matches, will also be included.
However, the government admitted it had not yet defined what a "nightclub" is, after warnings from industry that late bars could fall under the description.
The confusion comes after a row last year over the definition of a cafe, after it was the only kind of hospitality venue allowed to stay open during a Covid shutdown of the sector in the central belt.
Hospitality chiefs were less than impressed with the approval of the passports, amid concerns over potential infringements on freedom and privacy, and the technology not being proven.
The Night Time Industries Association Scotland Commission warned the scheme would "further cripple an industry that has already borne so much".
NTIA Scotland chairman Mike Grieve added: "We are warning the First Minister that by going down the vaccine passports route she is making a serious error."
UK Hospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson said: "The Scottish Government has not listened. Our businesses face three weeks in which to prepare for a policy that will put further economic and resourcing pressures on them.
"The government has not consulted with hospitality or produced credible plans for the introduction of passports. It has not even defined what a nightclub is."
Tory leader Douglas Ross said: "Businesses are being chucked under the bus by these plans.
"There seems to be no financial support or assistance available to help them administer and enforce this policy. It will hit them with considerable costs but the SNP don't even know how much."
'RAPID ACTION'
Opening the debate today, Covid Recovery Secretary Mr Swinney said domestic passports were a necessary measure to avoid future lockdowns - despite previously shooting down the scheme.
He told MSPs weekly virus cases had risen from 26,167 to 44,198 in the past fortnight, while hospital patients had soared from 391 to 883.
Mr Swinney said: "The choice we face just now, because of the escalating challenges of Covid, is that we may have to consider further restrictions. We are trying to avoid that consequence."
He said he accepted the timeframe of three weeks until the launch is short but added: "To be effective in the current fragile context we believe we need to take rapid action."
Green minister and party co-leader Patrick Harvie was mocked for backing the policy after blasting the UK version in July as a "dangerous precedent".
Defending his position, he said: "There is a big difference between thinking this policy should be approved when cases were running at a few hundred a day to thinking it is worth considering when cases are running at around 7,000 a day."
This despite many protesters outside in opposition to the dystopian decision making plenty of noise. Maybe this will be the spark to light under the arses of all the thick Celtic and Rangers fans who don't seem to get it and they are all targetted with the death jabs!