
Amazon drops 'sturdy' £108 paddling pool that 'lasts for years' down to £60
'Definitely buy this pool for the best summer ever, so impressed!'
While Scots bask in the glorious sunshine, many are looking for ways to keep cool without having to head back indoors. While fans can be effective, sometimes all people want to do is submerge themselves in water.
Thankfully, Amazon has just launched their Home and Garden Week shopping event, which means there will be plenty of products that will keep Scots cool in the heat for a bargain price. The sale started today, May 14, and will continue until Tuesday, May 20.
One cracking deal we found is on the Intex Rectangular Pool, which has received a massive 44 per cent discount. Normally retailing for £107.99, outdoor lovers can grab this pool for only £59.99 in a limited time deal.
Made with a puncture resistant three-ply material, the Intex pool is the perfect addition to a garden party or family gathering. As temperatures continue to soar, users will be able to keep cool while still getting that much needed Vitamin D.
With dimensions of 22L x 1.5W x 0.6H in metres, the pool also comes with four corner seats that can each hold up to 70kg in weight for added comfort. Shoppers will also be able to completely submerge themselves in the pool as it is said to hold up to 1662L of water.
With a sturdy zinc-plated and powder-coated frame that is rust-resistant, this pool is said to be 'easy to assemble' and should take up to 30 minutes to fully construct. For many afternoons splashing away in the glorious weather, this pool promises to give any household the 'best summer ever'.
For those looking for something inflatable, Amazon is also selling the Duerer Inflatable Swimming Pool for £79.99. Currently one of Amazon's top choices, this family-sized pool can take 162 gallons of water and can be inflated in three to four minutes.
A bit more on the pricier side but still a bargain in comparison to other models, Argos is selling the Bestway 9ft Rectangular Paddling Pool for £150. Featuring a corrosion-resistant steel frame, the pool is said to take 40 minutes to set up.
However, if shoppers are interested in the Intex Pool, they aren't the only ones. Currently the pool has an impressive 4.6 star rating from nearly 30,000 shoppers and over 400 people have snapped it up ahead of the heatwave.
One happy shopper wrote: "Fantastic and very sturdy pool, I would highly recommend this pool for anyone who is a bit restricted for space and it's probably the smallest metal frame pool avaliable. The sides are sturdy and thick so no leaks so far. Looks great in our garden."
While another added: "This pool is so much bigger than I thought!!! I might have to buy steps to fit into it properly it's so deep! Amazing quality product and such a good price! Very easy to assemble took me and my partner around 1 hour to put this together. Will take around 4 hours to fill! Definitely buy this pool for the best summer ever so impressed!"
However, a few shoppers had some issues with the pool, as one person wrote: "It's a great size does take a while to fill but that's expected given the size. The only fault if that one of the poles is rusty which means I probably won't be able to use it next year I will contact the seller to see if they can send replacement poles."
Another reviewer also grumbled: "The pool is good but it is a serious failure in the emptying process as the hole to drain it is about 20cm above the bottom of the pool, requiring a bucket and mop to remove all the water."
However, these issues weren't experienced by all shoppers, as a five-star reviewer said: "This pool has no signs of wear and should last for years to come. We pack it up each autumn and it does take about an hour to do from start to finish.
"The kids love it and when paired with 4 solar mats and water pump to push that hot water into the pool it raises the temperature up by about 4c. We get about 60 uses out of the pool during the summer and during those "2 weeks a year of real summer" the kids are in them every day after school ."
A sixth customer also chimed in: "Couldn't fault it quite frankly. Excellent quality, easy to assemble, looks the part, strong, non slip base, nice and deep and fits our garden a treat. We got rid of our round inflatable Polygroup pool in replacement of this and it was definitely the right decision. Very happy indeed."
For those who are looking for a pool to add some extra fun to their sunny afternoons, they can click HERE to buy the Intex Rectangular Pool.
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
'Digital photo frames are perfect for Father's Day - they're so good I got four'
Currently half price at Amazon, this is a gift that combines sentimentality and technology Father's Day is an opportunity to show the men in our lives how much they mean to us. And while whiskey, aftershave and grooming sets are all worthy gifts, they can sometimes feel a bit repetitive. Dor those looking for a gift a little outside of the usual suspects this June, I've got the perfect present idea. The Frameo 10.1 inch digital photo frame from Amazon, is the ultimate combination of thoughtful and practical. And the best part is that they're currently half price, making them cheaper than they were on Black Friday. And if you've left it last minute and happen to be a Prime member, next day delivery is free, too. Usually £99.98, the frames are currently reduced to £49.98, saving 50% on the RRP for the plain black frame. Those wanting something slightly more premium looking could opt for one of the wood effect frames for £69.98, but the sleek black version will fit in with most decor choices with ease. The frame is really easy to set up. After plugging it in, it walks you through the set up, which includes downloading the compatible free Frameo app, which is what the owner, and their family and friends can use to upload images to the frame. There are other similar apps available, for example Kodak has their own digital photo frame available at Argos for £79.99. Their version uses its own app, and has earned 14 reviews from shoppers, one of which wrote: 'Bought this as a christmas present for my parents and they love it, it's so nice to be able to share photos with them while I'm away from home.' Digital Photo Frame £99.98 £49.98 Amazon Buy here Product Description For a more premium option, the AURA Carver Mat 10.1 Inch Digital Photo Frame is £179 and uses Photo Match to share images. Personally, I've only ever used the Frameo app and find it really easy to navigate. So easy in fact, that when I gifted both sets of grandparents the frame, they were able to set it up themselves with no assistance. Once set up, the Frameo app allows unlimited user connections via a pin code, so each family member can send photos and videos to the frame from anywhere in the world. The frame has a large 32GB storage, which allows for approximately 60,000 photos. For context, I'm a content creator and serial photo taker and haven't quite hit that number on my camera roll in five years. It's ample for the average person. The quality of the photos is great, too, with a 1280x800 HD IPS screen with vibrant colours. It's also touchscreen, so you can browse through photos, delete pictures or videos, and pause the slideshow in seconds. Again, even the most tech-wary users can manage it. A few other standout features are that it can be freestanding or wall mounted, and auto rotates between portrait and landscape. Users can also choose how long each image stays on the screen, and can set it to turn on and off at certain times of the day. My nan recently told me hers comes on at around 5pm, and switches off when she heads to bed at 10pm. My grandparents loved their frames so much, I decided to get my mum one for Mother's Day this year and it was gratefully received. She loves how my brother, sister and I can send her photos of her kids, grandchildren, dogs, family days out, holidays and more. And for the security conscious, the Frameo app doesn't store or access your media either, ensuring it remains private - ideal for my sister-in-law who has her frame on her bedside displaying photos of her little boy. The Amazon frame has a 4.5 star rating based on more than 400 reviews, too. One said: 'This is the fourth Frameo picture frame I have purchased. They have all been excellent and I love the large screen on this model. The picture quality is outstanding. Everyone who sees it is captivated. I believe these offer good value for money. It is easy to use, has some useful features, and I appreciate the SD card slot which makes it easy to transfer images from my PC. I've never had a problem with the touch screen. The only downsides are: it takes a while to boot up; I would appreciate more options for display order, including the ability to remember where it left off when it goes to sleep (if you set a sleep interval); and the ability to display the file name or other selected metadata from the image.' Another said: 'This is my third Frameo digital frame. I bought the first one for myself and I was amazed by the quality of pictures and the product itself. The second one was a gift for my Dad and the third one a gift for my son's grandmother. Frame always comes in a very nice box, it looks already like a gift. The screen and photos look clear and bright. The Frameo app is quick and easy to use. I like the fact i can add photos and videos as well. Sleeping mode is a great advantage so you don't have to always turn it on and off. My family is more than happy that i can share with them live pictures in the app. We all admire modern design, I can also add that the wood style looks even more fancy than I expected. Overall I think its a great product and value for money.' While the Frameo app is free, there are some paid extras, which saw one shopper leave a three star review. They wrote: 'Brought this as a Xmas present, good clear picture, lots of settings, loses some stars as you can only transfer a few photos wirelessly at a time unless you pay for the premium software. Lots of storage built in! Finally the mains adapter could have been longer as if you're wall mounting it then it has to be fairly close to a mains plug.' For fathers in particular, this is a gift that combines family sentimentality and technology. I know my dad loves gadgets, and has often mentioned what a great gift mum's frame was, so for that reason, I think this is one of the best, most considerate and unexpectedly fabulous gifts you can get the father figure in your life this June. Shop the half price digital photo frame on Amazon here.


The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Regulator probes charity over funding of St Mirren execs' court claim
The ruling has been described by Mr Wardrop's lawyers as setting a "crucial precedent" for free speech in Scotland. The claim for damages surrounded comments made by Mr Wardrop around the legality of an application on behalf of Kibble for public funds for a regeneration project including a well-being centre on what appeared to be club land. There were claims that Mr Gillespie and Mr MacMillan had a conflict of interest. The total costs of the case are thought to run to over £400,000 - and a future hearing is expected to thrash out who pays. Mr Wardrop's legal team say they would be surprised if they do win their costs in the case as the Mr Gillespie and Mr MacMillan's damages claim was dismissed. Court papers seen by The Herald confirm that the action brought by Mr Gillespie and Mr MacMillan is being funded by Kibble, the charity that cares for children with complex needs at sites across Renfrewshire. Mr Gillespie is the chief executive of the charity, while Mr MacMillan is director of corporate affairs and both are Kibble representatives on the St Mirren board. According to court papers seen by The Herald, the judge Lord Clark said of the funding that "this rise to some degree of concern". READ MORE by Martin Williams St Mirren land dispute damages judgment a 'crucial precedent' for Scots free speech 'Cover up' over nine-year failure to probe Rangers fraud arrests & state power abuse Why the failed Rangers fraud case scandal has cost the taxpayer over £60m The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has said that it was "aware of the situation and is in the process of carefully considering the judgment as part of our ongoing inquiries into the charity". It is understood that there were concerns raised with the regulator about the funding of the case by the charity. And is believed that the regulator will look at whether the case funding was in the best interests of the charity. Alan Wardrop (Image: .) Kibble is one of two that has "significant control" of the Scottish Premiership club according to Companies House with more than 25% but not more than 50% of the shares. St Mirren became fan-owned in the summer of 2021 when the St Mirren Independent Supporters Association (SMISA) bought out the remaining shareholding of chairman Gordon Scott to become majority (51%) owners of the Buddies in what it called "a historic day". The move to fan ownership of the Paisley club came after Kibble became part-owners in March 2020. It purchased a 27.5% stake in the club. SMISA said the deal helped to safeguard the future of the club – formed in 1877 – by placing it in the hands of its supporters, "the people who care for it the most". An OSCR probe into the charity was believed to have been put on hold pending the outcome of the defamation case but has now been reignited. The judge dismissed Mr Gillespie and Mr MacMillan's claim for damages, which might have amounted to £80,000 because he believed that Mr Wardrop's comments were in the public interest and were honestly held based on the evidence he had at the time - both defences under the Scottish law around defamation damages. Mr Wardrop said: "I, like many, would question how it was ever appropriate for charitable funds to be used in that manner, particularly where the action was destined for failure because of the defences available to me. It is quite frankly an astonishing waste of charitable money." In a statement, David Nairn, chairman of Kibble said: "We are extremely pleased that the judgment underlines the facts in this case and vindicates the board's unanimous decision to support Jim and Mark in what was an important action to protect their reputations and that of Kibble. 'Kibble is a very highly regarded national charity, which takes its responsibilities extremely seriously. The board has acted with the utmost propriety in this matter at all times and has, of course, kept regulators fully abreast of our actions and will continue to do so.' Key to the case were remarks made by Mr Wardrop in a row over what was alleged was a "secretive" plan for the project including a well-being centre on St Mirren land. Part of the so-called 'St Mirren' regeneration plan (Image: NQ) Alan Wardrop, a lifelong Saints fan who made the step up to the club's board in July 2016 after championing club ownership spoke out two years ago as concerns arose over Kibble's partnership with St Mirren and an alleged plan to develop a wellbeing centre in Ferguslie Park. According to documents sent to the Scottish Government, Kibble – which cares for children with complex needs at sites across Renfrewshire – appeared to want to build a £13.4 million wellbeing hub next to St Mirren's SMiSA Stadium. A map of land supposedly earmarked for the Kibble project submitted by Renfrewshire Council was alleged to have pinpointed St Mirren land - while seeking £2m of public money by way of grant from the Scottish Government. But an email seen by The Herald from Mr Gillespie and shared with candidates standing for election to the board of the St Mirren Independent Supporters Association (SMISA) said that the council had "wrongly shaded in an area of land owned by St Mirren" and gave a "categoric assurance" that club land would not be used. As the dispute emerged, Kibble said Mr Wardrop's concerns over the legalilty of the bid titled "St Mirren Regeneration and Wellbeing Masterplan" were based on the "entirely false premise that there was ever any intention to build on land owned by St Mirren". The spokesman for the charity went on: "There simply was not." But Renfrewshire Council did not agree that areas of land indicated on a submitted map were produced in error and said the area earmarked in the application to Scottish Government was pinpointed by Kibble. St Mirren's board insisted at the time that the application was "unspecific" as to the precise location and that it was "not on land owned by St Mirren". But the row spilled over into an annual general meeting of SMiSA which is the majority owner of the club and which called for an investigation. The judge in a ruling decided it could not accept a council officer's evidence that said the Mr Gillespie and Mr MacMillan had identified St Mirren land for the project. He decided therefore that the "central claim" that Mr Gillespie and Mr MacMillan had a plan to build on St Mirren land was not established. He described it as a "false application" that was "in reality poorly worded and wrongly expressed but with no actual intention to gain public money on a false basis". Happier times: The St Mirren Championship-winning board. They are from left to right David Nicol, Gordon Scott (chairman), Mr Wardrop, Chris Stewart and Tony Fitzpatrick, But Mr Gillespie and Mr MacMillan failed in a bid to win a total of £80,000 in damages over what the judge decided were defamatory comments arising from the row after he decided that there were defences to breaches of the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021 which were met. They included that Mr Wardrop reasonably believed that comments complained of about the funding application made in a campaign statement and in the Herald were in the public interest. The judge said the issues around the applications for millions of pounds worth of public funds "certainly raised issues on matters of public interest" and that Mr Wardrop "reasonably believed" that published comments were "in the public interest". There was also a defence of "honest opinion" on other comments made in the Herald that was also met with the judge stating that it was "genuinely held" based on the evidence he had before him at the time. Details that the charity was funding the case emerged in evidence from Duncan Sloan, a Kibble trustee. According to the judge, Mr Sloan "confirmed that the pursuers' conduct of the present litigation is being funded by Kibble". He adds: "As submitted for [Mr Wardrop] this action has not been raised on behalf of Kibble, but charitable funds have been used to facilitate this action. This can also give rise to some degree of concern, but ultimately it is a matter for the board of Kibble to determine how and when to spend funds and the very fact of this financial involvement does not undermine the evidence given." In the wake of the land row, Mr Wardrop received a stadium ban by the club. He had previously been credited with making fan ownership possible by teaming up with SMISA to initially begin a buyout process in 2016. When SMISA became majority shareholders, they asked Mr Wardrop to remain on the board as one of their representatives and he willingly agreed. Mr Wardrop was the mastermind behind the 1877 Club in the main stand of the SMISA Stadium and has also contributed several items to the mini-museum inside the club from his personal collection of memorabilia. When he announced he was quitting the board in October 2022, a SMISA spokesman said: 'Everyone at SMISA would like to thank him for all his time and effort on the board, both before and after he agreed to become one of our representatives." 'Everything he ever did was undoubtedly with the best interests of St Mirren at heart.' It emerged that Mr Wardrop had resigned in a row over the project. At the time of the Kibble's share purchase in 2020, St Mirren said the charity which had been based in Paisley since 1840, "will bring its commercial expertise to St Mirren, helping bring in new income to be reinvested in the team, while working with the club to create new training and employment options for the young people in their care". Mr Gillespie said at the time: "This new partnership will allow us to grow the business of St Mirren and at the same time increase Kibble's opportunities for employment, training and education as well as access to sport, health and wellbeing support. "Kibble will bring our commercial expertise to St Mirren, creating a dynamic partnership and complementing the existing set up by offering the support and expertise that a large charity has in areas such as HR, finance, marketing and communications. The strength in this partnership will help bring in new income to be reinvested in the team, which in turn will generate more non-footballing income to create a sustainable business model for the club going forward." Video: How St Mirren became a fan-owned club... featuring interviews with Mr Wardrop and St Mirren chairman John Needham. Kibble's roots date back to 1840 upon the death of Miss Elizabeth Kibble, heiress to a large textile fortune. On her death she left a portion of her wealth to 'found and endow in Paisley, an institution for the purpose of reclaiming youthful offenders against the laws'. According to Kibble, it has evolved for more than a century and a half from this point and has "always stayed true to its original mission: supporting young people facing adversity". The OSCR is the independent regulator and registrar for Scotland's charities and plays a crucial role in maintaining public trust and confidence in the charity sector. A non-ministerial department of the Scottish Government, it is tasked with ensuring charities comply with the legal requirements under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Among its tasks is to ensure funds are used appropriately and that charities are governed properly. In 2023, OSCR investigated several charities following complaints of poor governance and spending irregularities. In some cases, trustees were suspended and funds were frozen while investigations were carried out.


Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
Keir Starmer's defence expansion plan 'will bring tens of billions of investment into Scotland'
Military intelligence experts say thousands of jobs will be created as billions are ploughed into key Scots locations. Keir Starmer's massive defence expansion plan will mean tens of billions of investment in Scotland's economy, leading military intelligence experts have told the Sunday Mail. Thousands of jobs will be created north of the border after the Prime Minister travelled to Glasgow last week to announce the largest sustained increase in MoD spending since the Cold War in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). One of the authors of the report, Fiona Hill, yesterday warned Russia is already 'at war' with the UK, and said America is no longer a reliable ally against Vladimir Putin. And to counter the threat Philip Ingram, a former senior intelligence and security officer in the British Army, has told the Sunday Mail Scotland will need to play a leading role in an 'always on' ship building drive on the River Clyde, upgraded nuclear capability at Faslane, and a massive RAF expansion at Lossiemouth. He revealed billions will also need to be invested with established Scottish tech companies to develop drones, satellites, battlefield communications systems, missiles and guidance systems over the next decade. Ingram said: 'This is the first review in recent history that has been about increasing capability rather than cutting it and there is also pressure now coming from NATO not to just increase defence budgets to 2.5per cent of GDP, but to go to 3.5per cent and even higher. 'To put that in number terms our current defence budget is around £65.6billion. If we even go up to three per cent that takes you to £85billion and 3.5per cent takes you to just short of £100billion. 'Given Scotland's established military ship building, the fact that it is already the base for our nuclear fleet, and Scotland's position in supporting our defence industry generally, this will definitely mean tens of billions of pounds of new money going into the Scottish economy. 'It is going to mean thousands of new jobs for the civilian labour market in very high tech industries and that will stimulate a lot more requirements for people coming through Scottish universities and schools with technology and engineering skills. 'It also means much more money coming into supply chain industries right down to the burger vans because there are more people going to work with more money in their pockets who will be spending it in local communities. 'In town and cities where the high street is suffering this can stimulate a turn around. This is why the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is saying that investing in defence will underpin her strategy for growth. 'You are effectively taking taxpayers' money and instead of spending it overseas you are spending it on British manufacturing and that money is filtering through into the service industry and local communities. 'Companies for example working with drones or novel materials or new ways of communicating - and there are a lot of these companies in Scotland and Scottish Universities are focussing on this - there is big money coming, it is win win.' Keir Starmer launched the SDR alongside Defence Secretary John Healey at BAE Systems in Govan, Glasgow, last week. He promised to implement all of its 62 recommendations which included multi-billion pound expnasions of the Army, Navy and Air Force, new nuclear submarines, more soldiers, new weapons and equipment. Scotland was described as a 'linchpin', with generations of skilled workers to benefit from apprenticeships, jobs and rewarding careers in defence as spending increases to 3.5per cent of GDP in the next parliament. Ingram added: 'It is definitely not wrong to see this as tens of billions coming into Scotland. They way things are going with the international community it is not unrealistic at all. 'America, who traditionally supply a lot of defence equipment, has effectively shot itself in the foot because the UK and everyone else has been until now been buying from America because they had the capacity and it was cheaper to rely on them. 'But Trump has at the same time as pressurising people to increase defence capacity also turned around and said we might not support you if it came to war, we may not supply you if you are not in Donald Trump's good books. 'That was a Gerald Ratner moment, like saying all my jewellery is s**t, so there is now an opportunity for us to not only to manufacture our own defence equipment but to also start taking over parts of the global market. 'The UK is already the second biggest defence exporter in the world and we can quite easily build on that, and a big slice of that pie would go to Scotland.' As part of the SDR commitment the UK Government will spend around £11billion on front line kit and build at least six new munitians factories with Scotland a likely base for some of the investment given its established weapons companies. Around 7000 long range weapons will be built and the UK's aircraft carriers are to become 'hybrid air wings' housing drones, jets and long-range weapons. A hybrid Royal Navy that uses aircraft, drones, warships, submarines to patrol the north Atlantic around Scotland and beyond will be created as part of a military which will become '10-times more lethal' according to ministers. New F-35 jets, Typhoon jets and autonomous aircraft will be commissioned alongside expanded warship building operations. Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: 'From Faslane to Lossiemouth, the importance of Scotland to our defence capabilities cannot be overstated; it provides vigilance and protection for everyone across the UK. 'With threats increasing, the SDR is clear on the need to move to warfighting readiness to boost deterrence and to grow our defence industry across the country. 'Scotland will be a linchpin in making Britain safer, with more generations of skilled Scottish workers benefiting from apprenticeships, jobs and rewarding careers in defence.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'Why defence announcement in legendary Govan shipyards felt personal for me' by Joani Reid, MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven and grand-daughter of legendary ship-building trade unionist Jimmy Reid Why does a political party like Labour exist? It's simple: to ensure that the wealth generated by working people, from electronic communication to shipbuilding and defence, is shared fairly and that the jobs created allow everyone to live decent, dignified lives. Our communities famously fought to keep the Upper Clyde shipyards open because they understood the dignity that hard, well-paid jobs brought to working people and their families. The UCS work-in wasn't about ideology but respect and survival. Tory ministers couldn't grasp why working people wouldn't quietly accept their jobs were surplus to requirements, and why they fought back against the devastating reality that closure would bring to their families and communities. This came into sharp focus for me this week as I stood in those same Govan shipyards at the launch of Labour's Strategic Defence Review. It felt personal. Here was Labour returning to Govan—not with empty promises but with real investment, real jobs, and a real future. For the first time in decades, government ministers came to announce billions in investment for Scotland, not just crumbs from an ever-shrinking cake. This investment will deliver thousands of high-quality, skilled jobs for our young people. But new defence industries don't appear overnight. To grow our industrial base, we need active government support and substantial investment in skills and infrastructure. Yet, incredibly, the SNP blocked a £2.5 million grant for a specialist welding centre in Glasgow last week due to their misguided opposition to defence-related spending. John Swinney's opposition is disgraceful. If he agrees Scotland needs armed forces, what exactly does he expect them to be armed with—paper darts? Investment isn't only about industry; it's also about properly caring for those who serve our country. The deplorable state of our defence estate urgently needs addressing. During my recent visit to Faslane, I saw condemned buildings riddled with unsafe concrete and personnel accommodation infected with legionnaires' disease—a regular occurrence, I'm told, due to outdated infrastructure. Service personnel described the poor conditions they endure daily, conditions that undermine morale and weaken our readiness. This shocking neglect from the SNP government and previous Tory administrations must end. The SNP must drop its ideological boycott of Faslane and ensure Scotland fully benefits from defence-related investments. Nobody wants conflict, but conflict may still find us. Putin's invasion of Ukraine shows that war in Europe isn't confined to the history books. It's a stark reminder that we live in unpredictable times, requiring vigilance and readiness. We must maximise our deterrent power and capacity to prevail in any potential conflict, whether on land, sea, air, or cyberspace. Protecting our way of life, values, and people demands this preparedness. Scotland must be at the heart of this renewal. Our people have always volunteered bravely for the front lines; now we must also lead in building advanced industries to counter the threats of the 21st century. Scottish innovation and ingenuity can position us as global leaders in cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and green defence technologies. Achieving this demands coordinated effort, targeted investment, and genuine commitment from our government. I'm immensely proud of our marine engineering heritage at Govan and Rosyth. But let's not overlook our broader industrial strength: manufacturing in Scotland is 60% higher in real terms than at the turn of the century. With world-class universities, skilled workers, and a robust industrial legacy, the foundations for becoming a global defence engineering powerhouse already exist—we just need to strengthen them further. Sixty years ago, strength in the shipyards meant muscle power—tough jobs for tough people. Today, it's about skills in chemistry, physics, maths, and cutting-edge technology. The Duke of Wellington once claimed the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. The next battles will be won in our high schools, colleges, and universities. Let's position Scotland at the forefront, leading the charge for jobs and opportunity. Our children deserve nothing less.