Chris Muir

Hundreds of Scottish call centre workers have been laid off after they refused to relocate to India as part of a cost-cutting move by their employer. The staff, who worked for a company that provides customer service for several UK brands, were given an ultimatum to either move to India or lose their jobs. Shocking decision amid pandemic The workers, who were based in Glasgow and Edinburgh, were shocked by the decision of their employer, which came amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Many of them had been working from home for the past two years and had no intention of…

Police officers in Scotland have saved 24 puppies from being smuggled out of the country in a van at Cairnryan ferry port. The puppies, which were of cockapoo and cavapoo breeds, were found hidden inside cardboard boxes and were in poor health condition. The Scottish SPCA took them into their care and are investigating the incident. Puppies were destined for Ireland The police officers were alerted by the sound of barking coming from the van, which was about to board a ferry to Ireland. They searched the vehicle and discovered the puppies, which were estimated to be between six and…

Celtic have completed their only signing of the January transfer window by bringing in Corkman Liam Scales on loan from Dundee United until the end of the season. The 23-year-old defender, who can play as a centre-back or a left-back, will add depth and versatility to the Hoops’ backline. Scales impressed by Celtic’s ambition Scales, who joined Dundee United from Shamrock Rovers in August 2023, said he was delighted to join Celtic and was impressed by the club’s ambition and history. “I’m over the moon to be here. It’s a massive club with a huge fanbase and a great history.…

Scottish farmers are calling on the First Minister Humza Yousaf to return the remaining £46 million of funding to the Scottish agriculture budget when he speaks at the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) Conference next week. The funding was deferred from the rural portfolio in 2022 and 2023, and only £15 million was returned in the 2024-25 budget. Farmers feel betrayed by the SNP The NFUS received a categorical assurance from deputy First Minister Shona Robison in June last year that the £33 million deferred from the agricultural budget in 2022 would be returned to the agricultural budget. However, instead…

Glasgow’s Southside is gearing up for a two-day techno extravaganza this spring, as the Queens Park Spring Weekender returns with a stellar line-up of local and international DJs. The festival, which is organised by Sub Club and Southside Weekender, will take place at the Queens Park Arena Bandstand on April 29 and 30, 2023. A Celebration of Electronic Music and Culture The Queens Park Spring Weekender is more than just a music festival. It is a celebration of electronic music and culture, bringing together some of the most influential and innovative artists in the scene. The festival aims to showcase…

Community in shock over young man’s tragic fate Gordon Stirling, a 23-year-old bus driver from Crosshouse, Ayrshire, died five days after a collision with a transit van on the A719 on Monday, August 14. Police are now treating his death as murder and have launched an investigation. The incident happened around 5.30pm, when Gordon was driving a Stagecoach bus and was hit by a white transit van. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but could not survive. The 42-year-old driver of the van was also injured and taken to hospital. Gordon’s neighbours and friends have expressed their shock…

The Edison Group, a Scottish-owned construction company, has announced a major expansion plan in South Lanarkshire, involving a £2 million investment in new premises and a rebranding of its largest subsidiary, GDC Design, as Principal Building Ltd. New state-of-the-art facility in East Kilbride The new facility is located in Langlands Business Park, East Kilbride and encompasses 16,500 square feet of modern workshops along with 3,500 square feet of office spaces. The site is expected to house around 80 employees in 2024 and position Principal Building for substantial, sustainable growth in the future. The new facility will host Edison Group companies,…

The Moray Council’s Trusted Trader scheme, which aims to boost consumer confidence and prevent doorstep crime, has seen a surge in membership since its launch in 2023. What is the Trusted Trader scheme? The Trusted Trader scheme is a local business partnership scheme that is managed and administered by Trusted Directory Services Ltd (TDS) on behalf of Moray Council’s Trading Standards Service. The scheme is also supported by Police Scotland and consumeradvice.scot. The scheme allows local businesses to display the Trusted Trader logo on their vehicles, letterheads, business cards, and other materials, as a sign of credibility and quality. The…

Rangers are on the verge of completing their third signing of the January transfer window, as they have agreed a deal with Lens for winger Oscar Cortes. The 20-year-old Colombian is expected to join the Ibrox club on loan until the end of the season, with an option to make the move permanent in the summer. Cortes set to join Silva and Diomande at Rangers Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been busy in the transfer market, as he looks to strengthen his squad for the second half of the season. The Belgian boss has already secured the services of Wolves…

Fashion designer Stella McCartney and her husband Alasdhair Willis have faced a major setback in their bid to build a £5 million modernist mansion on a remote plot in the Scottish Highlands. The Highland council has rejected their planning application after receiving more than 50 objections from local residents, environmental groups, and woodland experts. The controversial design The couple had bought the 12-acre site, known as Commando Rock, near Lochailort in 2022. They had hired Brown and Brown Architects to design an “unashamedly contemporary” house that would have a green roof, natural stone walls, and large glass windows to capture…