Dayna Bass

In a significant political development, Thomas Kerr, the Scottish Conservative group leader on Glasgow City Council, has defected to Reform UK, marking a notable shift in Scottish politics. The move has raised questions about the direction of both the Scottish Conservatives and Reform UK as Kerr becomes the first Reform councillor in Glasgow. A Disillusioned Former Conservative Kerr, who was first elected as a 20-year-old in 2017 and became the Tory group leader in 2019, expressed deep dissatisfaction with his former party. He described himself as "annoyed and angry" over the past several months, criticizing the Scottish Conservatives for not…

Scotland’s tourism sector is facing a potential setback as the introduction of a visitor levy or tourist tax is seen as a threat to the country's competitiveness in the global tourism market. Lochs and Glens Holidays Sees Profit Surge Despite ongoing challenges, Lochs and Glens Holidays, a prominent Scottish coach tour and hotel operator, has reported a nearly threefold increase in profits for its most recent financial year. This comes even though passenger numbers have yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. The company's strong performance highlights the resilience of Scotland's tourism sector amidst difficult circumstances. However, Neil Wells, Managing…

This week, Scotland has been graced with striking natural phenomena, including fiery sunsets and unusual cloud formations. The skies have been alive with vibrant colors, and lenticular clouds—often likened to UFOs—have captured the attention of weather enthusiasts across the country. Red Skies at Night, Beautiful Mornings BBC Weather Watchers have witnessed dramatic red skies, both at night and in the mornings. The rural landscape of Bridge of Gaur in Perth and Kinross reflects the fiery hues of the sky, making for a breathtaking scene. Lenticular Clouds: UFOs in the Sky One of the standout features of this week’s weather has…

JetBlue is gearing up for an exciting summer in 2025, with a significant expansion of its network. The airline is introducing a variety of new destinations and routes, making it easier for travelers to explore new vacation spots, visit loved ones, or embark on exciting adventures. These additions highlight JetBlue’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its position as the premier leisure travel carrier on the East Coast. JetBlue’s Expanded Summer 2025 Routes JetBlue’s new summer routes are designed to offer greater flexibility, more destinations, and increased convenience for travelers. From the coastal charm of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the cultural vibrancy…

In partnership with Creative Scotland, Chamber Music Scotland has announced the recipients of the Classical EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) Development Fund for 2024/25. The fund supports innovative projects aimed at promoting greater inclusivity within Scotland’s classical music sector, providing artists and organizations the resources to expand diversity, equality, and opportunity within their practices. This year, four exceptional projects have been selected to receive funding, each focusing on addressing underrepresentation and creating new pathways for diverse voices in the arts. The initiatives, led by Scotland-based musicians, will highlight a range of topics including music mentorship, cultural narratives, and accessibility in…

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has made a significant step towards the UK’s net zero ambitions with its announcement of three large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Scotland. The three projects, which together will provide 1.5GW/3GWh of storage capacity, are poised to play a crucial role in supporting the UK’s clean energy transition, helping to reduce energy costs and bolster energy security. A Major Investment in Energy Storage The projects—Coalburn 1, Coalburn 2, and Devilla BESS—represent the largest BESS investments in Europe. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners reached final investment decisions (FID) on Coalburn 2 and Devilla BESS last week, following…

Scotland’s breathtaking landscapes are about to be seen from a unique perspective with the opening of a new exhibition this week at Fort George. Celebrating Scotland’s Landscapes will feature stunning aerial images from the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), offering an innovative way to explore the nation’s rich history and natural beauty. A Glimpse from Above: Scotland’s Landscapes Revealed This new exhibition invites visitors to view Scotland from a bird’s eye view, showcasing everything from ancient settlements to modern-day ruins. It’s an opportunity to see how the land has been shaped by human activity over the centuries, as well…

Lloyds Banking Group has announced a major shake-up in its banking network, allowing customers of Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland to access any of the branches within the group for in-person services. This decision, set to be implemented later in 2025, aims to provide customers with greater flexibility and convenience, though it has raised concerns over the potential for further closures of high-street branches. A New Approach to Customer Flexibility From later this year, customers of all three brands under the Lloyds Banking Group umbrella will be able to visit any of the branches for face-to-face banking services. This…

Cycleway improvements are coming to the A830 in Fort William as part of ongoing efforts to enhance transportation options for pedestrians, cyclists, and other users. The project, led by BEAR Scotland for Transport Scotland, is set to make significant changes along the stretch from the A82/A830 Road to the Isles Roundabout to the Banavie Swing Bridge. Resurfacing Delayed Due to Weather The planned resurfacing of the A830, initially scheduled to start earlier, has been delayed due to the impact of recent cold weather. The new start date for the resurfacing works is Tuesday, January 14, 2025. These improvements form part…

Lloyds Banking Group has revealed a new initiative allowing customers of Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland to access services at any branch of the three brands. The move aims to provide greater flexibility to customers, but has sparked concerns about potential future branch closures, especially as the trend toward online banking continues. New Network Shake-Up to Provide More Options for Customers As part of an ongoing restructuring effort, Lloyds Banking Group has announced that customers will soon be able to visit branches of any of the three banks—Lloyds, Halifax, or Bank of Scotland—offering them more choice when accessing in-person…