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Green Party co-leader accused of lobbying for private company Lorna Slater, the co-leader of the Scottish Green Party and the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, has been accused of lobbying for a private company in which she holds shares. Slater made a phone call to the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit on behalf of Orbital Marine Power, a tidal energy company where she worked as an engineer before becoming a minister. Slater claimed that she was only seeking information on the status of Orbital’s application for a marine licence, which was delayed due to a legal challenge…

PM booed and jeered by protesters outside the inquiry venue Prime Minister Boris Johnson was met with a chorus of boos and jeers as he left the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Thursday, December 7, 2023. The inquiry, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Lord Reed, is investigating the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the country. Johnson, who testified for more than four hours, defended his decisions and actions during the crisis, saying he acted with “the best of intentions” and followed the scientific advice. He admitted that there were “things we could have done differently”…

Taylor Swift, one of the most influential and successful pop stars of the 21st century, has been widely criticized for her lack of comment on the ongoing crisis in Palestine. Despite being known for her activism and advocacy on various issues, such as LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, voting rights and climate change, Swift has remained silent on the plight of the Palestinian people amid the escalating conflict in Gaza. This has disappointed and angered many of her fans, who have urged her to use her voice and platform to support Palestine and condemn the Israeli occupation and aggression. Swift’s silence…

President Joe Biden has made foreign policy a central pillar of his administration, emphasizing the need to restore America’s global leadership and alliances. However, some experts warn that his ambitious agenda could face serious challenges and risks, both at home and abroad, that could undermine his chances of re-election in 2023. Biden’s Foreign Policy Vision Biden has outlined his foreign policy vision in several speeches and documents, most notably in his first address to the State Department staff in February 2022 and in his National Security Strategy released in November 2022. In both, he stressed the following themes: Democracy: Biden…

A small community with a big heart The residents of the Isle of Canna, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, have raised more than £2500 for the people of Ukraine, who are facing a humanitarian crisis amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The islanders, who number only 18, decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign after learning about the plight of the Ukrainian people from one of their own, Olena Mysnyk, who moved to Canna from Kyiv three years ago. Olena, who runs a small business making bookmarks, said she was touched by the generosity and compassion of…

The complaint against Alex Cole-Hamilton The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alex Cole-Hamilton, could be subject to a probe by the Scottish Parliament over his election expenses. The National reported that a complaint was lodged against Cole-Hamilton by a member of the public, alleging that he had breached the rules on spending limits and reporting during the 2021 Scottish Parliament election campaign. The complaint claims that Cole-Hamilton failed to declare some of his campaign costs, such as leaflets, posters, and social media advertising, and that he exceeded the spending limit of £16,087 for his constituency of Edinburgh Western. The complaint also…

The Scottish Government has lost a legal battle to keep secret the documents that led to the resignation of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2023. A judge at the Court of Session ruled that the government must release the documents to the public under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. The background of the case Nicola Sturgeon stepped down as First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in March 2023, after she was arrested and questioned by police over allegations of financial misconduct by the party. She was accused of misusing more than £600,000 in donations…

Jenrick cites “strong disagreements” with the government’s plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda Robert Jenrick, the minister of state for immigration, has announced his resignation from the cabinet, citing “strong disagreements” with the government’s plan to deport illegal migrants who cross the English Channel to Rwanda. Jenrick, who was seen as an ally of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said he could not support the emergency legislation that the government is preparing to introduce to bypass human rights laws and enable the Rwanda scheme to go ahead. Jenrick said in his resignation letter that he had “serious concerns” about the…

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of being insensitive, irresponsible and incompetent after shocking details emerged from the Covid inquiry. The inquiry, which is investigating the government’s handling of the pandemic, has revealed that Johnson made controversial remarks about the elderly, changed his mind frequently about lockdown measures, and ignored scientific advice. Johnson’s attitude towards the elderly questioned One of the most disturbing revelations from the inquiry was that Johnson allegedly asked why the economy was being destroyed “for people who will die anyway soon” in the days before the country went into lockdown in March 2020. This…