All posts tagged: Scotlands

Scotland’s Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, Rum Igneous Complex and Barrow Zones join list of world’s top geology locations | UK News

Scotland’s Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, Rum Igneous Complex and Barrow Zones join list of world’s top geology locations | UK News

Published by skeptic

Three Scottish sites have been included in a new list of internationally important geological locations. The Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, the Rum Igneous Complex, and the Barrow Zones have been selected for the International Union of Geological Sciences’ second list of 100 geological heritage sites. As with the first 100, these sites are deemed to be of high scientific value and are the world’s best demonstrations of geological features and processes. “They are the sites of fabulous discoveries of the Earth and its history,” NatureScot explained. Image: Glen Roy National Nature Reserve. Pic: NatureScot The Parallel Roads of Glen Roy can be found within NatureScot’s Glen Roy National Nature Reserve. It is home to a suite of glacial lake shorelines that informed the development of glacial theory in the 19th century. Three shorelines, or ‘parallel roads’, are evidence that glaciers were once in an area where none exist today. Image: The Rum Cuillin. Pic: Lorne Gill/NatureScot The Rum Igneous Complex is within NatureScot’s Rum National Nature Reserve. It is regarded as the “internal plumbing” …

Kelp help? How Scotland’s seaweed growers are aiming to revolutionise what we buy | Environment

Kelp help? How Scotland’s seaweed growers are aiming to revolutionise what we buy | Environment

Published by skeptic

Think sun, sea, Skye – and seaweed. It’s early summer off the west coast of Scotland, and Alex Glasgow is landing a long string of orangey-black seaweed on to the barge of his water farm. It emerges on what looks like a washing line heavy with dirty rags, hoicked up from the depths. And yet, this slippery, shiny, salty substance might, just might, be going to save the planet. When it comes to sustainability, seaweed is about as shipshape as it gets. Minimal damage to the environment, check. No use of pesticides, check. Diversifies ocean life, check. Uses no land, check. And, in the case of Skye’s seaweed farm, spoils no one’s view, check. Indeed, a few minutes earlier, as we sped across the Inner Sound between Skye’s second-biggest settlement, Broadford, reputedly the birthplace of Drambuie, and the tiny island of Pabay, it was hard to work out the seaweed farm’s location. Eventually the boat slows as we near a few floats bobbing around on the water. They are the only visible sign that anything …

Scotland’s new leader John Swinney: Gender recognition reforms ‘cannot be implemented’ | Politics News

Scotland’s new leader John Swinney: Gender recognition reforms ‘cannot be implemented’ | Politics News

Published by Sam

Scotland’s new first minister has told Sky News that the controversial gender recognition reforms “cannot be implemented.” John Swinney, who became first minister this week, has faced questions over his stance on gender recognition after MSPs voted in 2022 to pass a bill to make it simpler for people to change their gender without having to obtain a medical diagnosis. The UK government blocked the bill from being made into law and the Supreme Court rejected a request by the Scottish government for a judicial review. Politics latest: Starmer sets out plan to tackle small boat crossings Asked if he would be fighting to push the bill through, Mr Swinney told Sky News: “The reality of the situation we face is that the Supreme Court has said that we can’t legislate in that area. We can’t take forward that legislation.” His predecessor Humza Yousaf had previously suggested he wanted to work with the UK Labour Party to amend the laws ahead of the general election, but Mr Swinney was clear he will not be pushing …

Scotland’s reluctant new leader didn’t really want the job – POLITICO

Scotland’s reluctant new leader didn’t really want the job – POLITICO

Published by skeptic

She opted not to stand and instead backed Swinney — and was rewarded with the position of deputy first minister, bringing two of the party’s brighter lights from different political wings together and avoiding a costly, and likely acrimonious, leadership contest. Party chiefs were delighted. “Swinney and Forbes together is the last thing either the Tories or Labour wanted,” a senior SNP official said.  Others in the party welcomed the fact that Forbes’ allies — who were often critical of Yousaf — are now in the same tent as Swinney’s leadership, and hope this will unite a party where differing strands of opinion have become more pronounced since Sturgeon’s departure. The Scottish Greens, whom Swinney may need to rely on in some parliamentary votes, were considerably less delighted about her appointment, however, while the SNP’s official LGBT wing has said it has concerns about Forbes’ socially conservative views. But beyond bringing in Forbes and ditching the largely symbolic role of “minister for independence,” Swinney made no other changes to the governing Cabinet he inherited from Yousaf. …

John Swinney sworn in as Scotland’s first minister | UK News

John Swinney sworn in as Scotland’s first minister | UK News

Published by skeptic

John Swinney has been legally sworn in as Scotland’s seventh first minister. The 60-year-old is now Keeper of the Scottish Seal, also known as the Great Seal, after taking the oath of office and pledging his allegiance to the King. The seal allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each one. As Keeper of the Scottish Seal, Mr Swinney now has the authority to make decisions on behalf of the crown, which effectively means he can lead the country with the support of the Scottish parliament. Image: Mr Swinney taking the oath. Pic: PA Image: Pic: PA The ceremony took place at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in front of Scotland’s most senior judge, the Lord President Lord Carloway. Image: Pic: PA Mr Swinney’s family, including his wife Elizabeth, brother David, and 13-year-old son Matthew, accompanied him to court. Image: Mr Swinney with his wife Elizabeth Quigley on the steps of Bute House on Tuesday. Pic: PA Mr Swinney, who has replaced Humza Yousaf as SNP leader, is now expected …

Humza Yousaf formally resigns as Scotland’s first minister with letter to King | UK News

Humza Yousaf formally resigns as Scotland’s first minister with letter to King | UK News

Published by skeptic

Humza Yousaf has formally tendered his resignation as Scotland’s first minister to the King. It now paves the way for MSPs to vote on who should take his place, with new SNP leader John Swinney expected to win Holyrood’s backing. The vote is expected to take place at the Scottish parliament later on Tuesday. Image: Pic: PA Image: Pic: PA In his letter to the King, Mr Yousaf wrote: “With my humble duty, I write as anticipated in my letter to Your Majesty of 29 April to tender to Your Majesty my resignation from the office of first minister. “I propose that my resignation take effect from the start of Scottish parliamentary plenary business on Tuesday 7 May 2024. “Throughout my time as first minister, I have been most grateful for your counsel and the kindness you have shown to both Nadia and I. “It has been my pleasure to serve Your Majesty and the people of Scotland since March 2023.” Image: Pic: PA Image: Pic: PA Following his resignation, Mr Yousaf said: “Being the …

John Swinney to become Scotland’s new first minister after Holyrood vote | UK News

John Swinney to become Scotland’s new first minister after Holyrood vote | UK News

Published by skeptic

John Swinney will become Scotland’s new first minister after being backed by a majority of MSPs. Following his victory in the SNP leadership race on Monday, the 60-year-old faced a vote at Holyrood to confirm him as Humza Yousaf’s successor. The Scottish Greens abstained from the vote, with Mr Swinney able to fend off challenges from Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton. His name will now be submitted to the King, with an official swearing-in ceremony expected to take place at the Court of Session in Edinburgh as early as Wednesday. Mr Swinney will then be able to appoint his cabinet. Image: New first minister John Swinney with former first ministers Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon. Pic: PA Mr Yousaf was forced to step down last week in the face of two votes of no confidence after terminating the power-sharing Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens. During his final speech as first minister, Mr Yousaf said his heart would “forever belong to Scotland” …

Kate Forbes not running in SNP leadership race to replace Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister | UK News

Kate Forbes not running in SNP leadership race to replace Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister | UK News

Published by skeptic

Kate Forbes has announced she is not entering the race to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister. The former finance secretary had been tipped as a potential frontrunner after narrowly failing to beat Mr Yousaf in last year’s leadership election to replace then first minister Nicola Sturgeon. The search is currently on to find a new leader for the SNP and Scotland following Mr Yousaf’s resignation on Monday. Former deputy first minister John Swinney is the first to join the race. In a statement following his announcement, Ms Forbes confirmed she would be throwing her support behind Mr Swinney following a “frank and constructive” discussion with him over the future of the SNP and Scotland. She said: “What emerged was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country. That includes a passion to revitalise our party, reach out to those who feel disempowered and reinvigorate the independence movement. “It also includes an understanding that economic growth and tackling poverty must again be key priorities, and that a just transition …

‘There is despair’: fears for Scotland’s green policies as power-sharing ends | Scottish politics

‘There is despair’: fears for Scotland’s green policies as power-sharing ends | Scottish politics

Published by skeptic

From the collapse of its ambitious target to cut carbon emissions by 75% by 2030, to the mothballing of a world-leading deposit return scheme for drinks containers, the much-heralded environmental objectives of the Scottish government appear to be falling apart. As political opponents gather to exploit the fallout from Humza Yousaf’s departure as first minister, amid admissions he mishandled his Green party coalition partners, more long-term but pressing climate and environmental policies risk being sidelined at best, and buried at worst. Patrick Harvie, who, along with his Scottish Green party co-leader Lorna Slater, was dumped unceremoniously from the power-sharing government by Yousaf, said many key environmental bills were at risk, including the natural environment bill to restore and regenerate biodiversity across Scotland by 2045; the introduction of more and better public transport; and the heat in buildings bill, to move all homes and businesses to a clean heating system by the end of 2045. As a result, the optimism that greeted the 2021 SNP power-sharing deal – which put the Green party into ministerial positions …

Scotland’s government fell apart in a week – here’s what happened

Scotland’s government fell apart in a week – here’s what happened

Published by skeptic

Contrary to popular belief, coalition governments are generally stable and usually last their full term. What has unfolded in Scotland therefore requires some explaining. Broadly, first minister Humza Yousaf, of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), abruptly terminated an agreement with his governing partners, the Scottish Greens, before they had a chance to do the same. The move backfired almost immediately and Yousaf ended up resigning. But how did he get into this situation in the first place? In the Scottish election of 2021, the SNP won 64 out of 129 seats in parliament – one shy of an overall majority. A minority government was a feasible option (and had been how the SNP governed following similar results in 2007 and 2016). However, the party, under then-leader Nicola Sturgeon, chose instead to form a coalition with the Greens. The Greens are also supportive of Scottish independence and had collaborated frequently with the SNP in the 2016-2021 parliament. While this term had not been a disaster, the SNP had grown tired of seeking opposition support for …