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How Thatcher’s policies affected Scotland’s economy and society Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female prime minister of the United Kingdom, is a controversial figure in Scottish history. Her economic policies, known as Thatcherism, aimed to reduce the role of the state, privatize public industries, deregulate the market, and curb the power of trade unions. While some argue that Thatcherism helped to modernize the British economy and restore its competitiveness, others contend that it caused widespread social and economic damage, especially in Scotland. Thatcher’s policies had a devastating impact on Scotland’s traditional industries, such as shipbuilding, steel, coal, engineering, and…

The need for a state-led approach Heating is one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, accounting for about 15% of the total. Most of the heating systems in the UK rely on fossil fuels, such as natural gas, oil and coal, which contribute to global warming and air pollution. To meet the net-zero target by 2050, the UK needs to rapidly decarbonise its heating sector and switch to low-carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps, heat networks and hydrogen. However, the transition to low-carbon heating is not easy, as it involves high upfront costs, complex technical…

The Labour leader’s controversial remark Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has sparked a backlash after he quoted and praised Margaret Thatcher in a speech on crime. He said that the former Conservative prime minister was “right” about the rule of law being the “first duty of government”. He made this remark while launching Labour’s second national mission, which aims to make the streets safer and stop criminals from escaping punishment. Many people, especially in Scotland, were outraged by Starmer’s endorsement of Thatcher, who is widely seen as a divisive and destructive figure. Thatcher’s policies of privatisation, deregulation,…

John Byrne, a Scottish artist, playwright, and author, passed away on December 3, 2023, at the age of 83. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential and original figures in the Scottish cultural scene, with a prolific and diverse body of work that spanned various genres and media. In this article, we pay homage to his remarkable life and legacy, and celebrate his contributions to the arts and society. A Self-Taught Genius with a Distinctive Style John Byrne was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on January 6, 1940, to a working-class family. He showed an early talent for…

The debate over wealth taxation has been reignited in recent years, as the gap between the rich and the poor has widened and the climate crisis has intensified. One of the proposals that has gained traction is to impose a levy on the owners of private jets, who are among the wealthiest and most polluting individuals in the world. In this article, we will explore the rationale, the benefits, and the challenges of implementing a wealth tax and a private jet levy, and how they could raise millions for the public sector. What is a Wealth Tax and a Private…

SNP slams Labour leader for praising former Tory PM The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has faced criticism from the Scottish National Party (SNP) for quoting and praising Margaret Thatcher in a speech on crime. Starmer said that Thatcher was “right” about the rule of law being the “first duty of government” in a speech at Port Vale FC in Burslem on Wednesday. He was unveiling Labour’s “mission to halve serious violent crime and raise confidence in the police and criminal justice system” . Mhairi Black, the SNP’s depute leader at Westminster, said that Starmer’s comments showed that his Labour…

Police make multiple arrests after weekend of violence Police Scotland have arrested and charged several people in connection with a series of violent incidents in the Auchinleck area of East Ayrshire over the weekend. Riot police were deployed to deal with a “hostile crowd” that threw fireworks and bricks at officers, injuring one of them. The disturbances started on Friday, November 24 and continued until Monday, November 27. One police officer was injured by a brick during the disorder and had to be treated in hospital before being released. Temporary chief superintendent Raymond Higgins said: "This type of disorder causes fear…

What is sextortion and why is it on the rise? Sextortion is a form of cyber-enabled extortion that involves the threat of sharing sexual information, images or videos with others, whether they exist or not. The perpetrators often coerce or manipulate their victims into sending them explicit photos or videos, or perform sexual acts on a webcam, and then demand money or more material to prevent exposure. Sextortion can have devastating consequences for the victims, such as emotional distress, anxiety, depression, shame, isolation and even suicide. According to Police Scotland, cases of sextortion have increased significantly across the country, especially…