Latest news with #AndrewMilligan
Scotsman
a day ago
- Automotive
- Scotsman
How the humble bus shows why Scotland needs London, and vice versa
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... London's red buses might just be the most famous in the world. Today, their iconic design is an unmistakable symbol of the city. Behind it, though, hides a long history – a history that couldn't have been written without Scotland. When the first horse-drawn buses set off down London's streets almost two centuries ago, they weren't just carrying tired commuters. They brought with them an idea that was simple, but radical: affordable, accessible public transport for all. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Since then, technology has transformed the way we travel. Horses have given way to hydrogen fuel cells. Contactless payment means that, for many of us, digging into our pockets for a crumpled paper ticket is a thing of the past. But that fundamental promise – of cheap, regular, and reliable transport for everyone – remains just as important as ever. London is responsible for 30 to 50 per cent of all new bus orders in the UK each year (Picture: Tolga Akmen) | AFP via Getty Images A lifeline and a livelihood Buses are still the beating heart of our cities, connecting working people and many of the poorest and most marginalised members of our society with vital opportunities. Whether you are a child travelling to school, a parent commuting to work, or a grandparent going to hospital for a check-up, your local bus can be a lifeline. For some communities, though, buses are more than a way of getting around. They are a way of getting on and a source of good jobs that put money in working people's pockets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For generations, skilled Scottish workers have built many of London's buses. But Alexander Dennis's proposal to close its factories in Falkirk and Larbert means those jobs are now under threat. For a long time, the Scottish Government claimed it was powerless to prevent this. While the SNP was still trying to wash its hands of responsibility, Labour mayors in England were busy placing orders for buses made north of the border. Backed by a Labour government in Westminster, our partnership could save Scottish jobs. The Alexander Dennis site at Camelon near Falkirk is at risk of closure (Picture: Andrew Milligan) | PA London helping Scottish bus builders The Chancellor has already promised a £15.6 billion boost for transport in mayoral authorities, a decision that is expected to deliver a £1.5bn increase in the Scottish Government's budget. At the same time, the UK Government has agreed a new long-term funding settlement for Transport for London, giving London the certainty and stability it needs to invest and accelerate growth across the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As city after city follows London's lead, returning control of its buses to public hands to escape the disastrous consequences of privatisation and deregulation, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support one of Britain's great industries. That's why England's Labour mayors have agreed to put boosting British jobs at the heart of our approach to buying buses. By working together, we will build up a pipeline of orders for bus manufacturers in Scotland and across the UK, creating opportunities for generations of skilled workers to come. London – already responsible for 30 to 50 per cent of all new bus orders in the UK each year – is ready to use its purchasing power to rise to the challenge. Our agreement is more than just a reflection of the values we share. It is a testament to what we can achieve when we use those values to reimagine the relationship between London and Scotland, investing in our communities and creating good jobs for the people we serve. Interconnected economies The passengers on London's horse-drawn carriages couldn't have imagined what public transport would look like today. Like them, we cannot know how our cities' streets will change in the decades to come. But there is one thing we can be sure of: London's red buses aren't going anywhere, and nor are the British workers who build them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The supply chains which link London with Larbert and Falkirk are just one example of how closely connected our economies have become. From transport and tech to clean energy and finance, the industries that bring us together will define the decades ahead. Whether they flourish or fail will depend on the strength our collaboration. The truth is that when Scotland does well, London does well – and vice versa. When Scotland does badly, when its bus manufacturers get left behind, it's not just Scottish communities that suffer; Londoners lose out too. That's why London, together with Labour-run cities across England, is stepping up. Ignoring our economic ties will make working people poorer on both sides of the Border. It is only by embracing them, in a shared commitment to the common good, that we can build a better future for us both.
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Grangemouth closure hit Scottish economy hard as manufacturing plunges
THE closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery has hit the Scottish economy hard, new figures show. Statistics released by the Scottish Government show a drop-off of 0.4% in GDP growth in the three months up to May – effectively wiping out the 0.4% increase seen in the first three months of the year. In May, estimates by the Government found GDP contracted by 0.2%, following a boost of 0.1% the month before. The biggest drop-off in the three months up to May was seen in the manufacturing sector, which was hit by the closure of the refinery. READ MORE: Labour respond as 400k demand repeal of Online Safety Act Owner Petroineos announced last year the refinery would be turning into an import terminal, leaving Scotland without its own refinery and posing one of the first major tests of both the UK and Scottish governments in their push for a just transition away from oil and gas. Repeated attempts to halt the closure ultimately failed, with the loss of around 100 jobs, though plans for future use of the site have been put in motion as both governments seek external investment. As a result of the closure, manufacturing output in Scotland reduced by 4.1% in May. (Image: Andrew Milligan) Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (above) – who also has responsibility for the economy – said the figures show the UK economy to be 'less productive and more unequal than independent European countries comparable to Scotland'. 'While Scotland's GDP growth of 0.4% in the first quarter shows a positive start to the year, like the rest of the UK we have been affected by ongoing global challenges, including more difficult trading conditions,' she said. 'The latest monthly figure demonstrates the cessation of oil refining at Grangemouth has contributed to a reduced output in the manufacturing sector. READ MORE: Scottish Labour silent on support for Sandie Peggie after racist jokes made public 'Ministers are working closely to provide a just transition for the workforce and we have so far committed around £87 million to support the industrial cluster, including the £25m Grangemouth just transition fund and up to £450,000 to support affected workers to transition into new roles. 'By pursuing new investment opportunities and supporting entrepreneurship, the Scottish Government is taking steps to grow Scotland's economy. 'But these and other economic statistics increasingly show that the UK's economy is less productive and more unequal than independent European countries comparable to Scotland. 'Ultimately, only the powers of independence will allow us to create a wealthier and fairer nation for everyone in Scotland.'
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Why having a public inquiry into Sandie Peggie-NHS Fife case would be a terrible idea
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... How we will miss it when it is over. Over the summer, the Sandie Peggie employment tribunal has been as reliable a source of comedy as any end-of-the-pier show. If only the basis for it wasn't so important and serious. We will have to await the outcome but one thing is certain, someone will call for a wider inquiry. It might be into the policy or practice but some sort of investigation will be demanded. That would involve more lawyers and expense, only to produce some recommendations which would be ignored and then forgotten. That's how things work nowadays. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Figures from the Institute for Government show that before 1997, there were never more than three public inquiries running in the UK at the same time. At the moment, there are 21 – the highest number ever. A public inquiry into the case involving nurse Sandie Peggie, seen at the Scottish Parliament, and NHS Fife might prove to be an expensive waste of time (Picture: Andrew Milligan) | PA Trams inquiry lasted nine years From the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry to the Covid-19 Inquiry, on the surface they have become the natural means of establishing the facts in matters of public interest. Alternatively, they are a handy means of kicking the can down the road. Take the long-running Edinburgh Trams Inquiry. Lord Hardie's probe into why the city's tram project was £400m over budget and five years late was started in 2014 and ran longer than the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War. It took nine years to report and cost more than £13m. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The report concluded there had been 'a litany of avoidable failures' and that 'poor management and abdication of responsibility on a large scale have had a significant and lasting impact on the lives and livelihoods of Edinburgh residents, and the reputation of the city'. When the report was finally issued in September 2023, Lord Hardie wasn't available to answer questions from the media but he did issue a 48-minute video statement on YouTube. To date, it's been viewed a grand total of 694 times. Lessons learned? Of course that is no way to measure the success of these things. We should look instead at the changes made, the individuals punished and the lessons learned for the future. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What are they? The actions of some individuals were heavily criticised but no one lost their job. Instead City of Edinburgh Council said they'd already made changes to ensure the same thing couldn't happen again and the Scottish Government said: 'The inquiry took too long, was too costly and in some instances the evidence heard does not support the conclusion drawn.' So what was the point when the bungling and the hopeless duck and weave out of the way long before a conclusion and the competent have already changed things to avoid a repetition? Let's see where we get to with the Scottish Hospitals and the Covid-19 inquiries but the idea that ineptitude will be punished or processes will change feels like wishful thinking.
South Wales Argus
24-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Centrica calls for new customer ban on rival Octopus amid row over Ofgem rules
Chief executive Chris O'Shea claimed it was 'criminal' that Ofgem has not stepped in to take action against three firms that are understood to have failed to meet financial resilience targets – with Britain's biggest energy supplier Octopus among them. He demanded that the regulator stops the suppliers from taking on new customers, claiming that Ofgem is not properly enforcing the rule that came into force earlier this year. This could leave the sector at risk of another possible future wave of firms going bust, similar to that seen in the 2021-22 energy crisis, he warned. Centrica chief executive Chris O'Shea (Andrew Milligan/PA) On announcing half-year results, Mr O'Shea said: 'Ofgem is not applying its own rules. 'They're increasing the risk of systemic failure in the market.' He said it was 'criminal' that Ofgem is putting the industry in a 'situation where that could happen again'. 'It's simply about protecting customers and asking the regulator to enforce its own rules,' he added. Ofgem has not revealed which suppliers have failed the test, but Octopus – which supplies more than seven million households – has confirmed it did not meet the targets for capital adequacy by the April 1 deadline. It said it has, however, agreed a plan with Ofgem to reach the target, which means it is not in breach of the rules. An Octopus Energy spokesperson said: 'This is yet more naked self-interest from British Gas. 'They would do well to obsess about their customers rather than their rivals. They added: 'We fully comply with Ofgem's rules and our resilience meant we not only thrived through the energy crisis but bailed out Bulb – saving British billpayers billions.' Ofgem also confirmed that firms that have agreed a plan to meet resilience targets are not breaching its rules and therefore do not need to have sanctions put on them, such as being banned from taking on new customers. A spokesperson for Ofgem said: 'Our financial resilience controls are clear that where a supplier is not meeting the capital target but has a credible and agreed plan in place that is not a breach of the rules. 'Capitalisation plans come with restrictions and controls. We expect suppliers to deliver on those plans and adhere to their restrictions and are monitoring closely.'
Western Telegraph
24-07-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Centrica calls for new customer ban on rival Octopus amid row over Ofgem rules
Chief executive Chris O'Shea claimed it was 'criminal' that Ofgem has not stepped in to take action against three firms that are understood to have failed to meet financial resilience targets – with Britain's biggest energy supplier Octopus among them. He demanded that the regulator stops the suppliers from taking on new customers, claiming that Ofgem is not properly enforcing the rule that came into force earlier this year. This could leave the sector at risk of another possible future wave of firms going bust, similar to that seen in the 2021-22 energy crisis, he warned. Centrica chief executive Chris O'Shea (Andrew Milligan/PA) On announcing half-year results, Mr O'Shea said: 'Ofgem is not applying its own rules. 'They're increasing the risk of systemic failure in the market.' He said it was 'criminal' that Ofgem is putting the industry in a 'situation where that could happen again'. 'It's simply about protecting customers and asking the regulator to enforce its own rules,' he added. Ofgem has not revealed which suppliers have failed the test, but Octopus – which supplies more than seven million households – has confirmed it did not meet the targets for capital adequacy by the April 1 deadline. It said it has, however, agreed a plan with Ofgem to reach the target, which means it is not in breach of the rules. Our financial resilience controls are clear that where a supplier is not meeting the capital target but has a credible and agreed plan in place that is not a breach of the rules Ofgem An Octopus Energy spokesperson said: 'This is yet more naked self-interest from British Gas. 'They would do well to obsess about their customers rather than their rivals. They added: 'We fully comply with Ofgem's rules and our resilience meant we not only thrived through the energy crisis but bailed out Bulb – saving British billpayers billions.' Ofgem also confirmed that firms that have agreed a plan to meet resilience targets are not breaching its rules and therefore do not need to have sanctions put on them, such as being banned from taking on new customers. A spokesperson for Ofgem said: 'Our financial resilience controls are clear that where a supplier is not meeting the capital target but has a credible and agreed plan in place that is not a breach of the rules. 'Capitalisation plans come with restrictions and controls. We expect suppliers to deliver on those plans and adhere to their restrictions and are monitoring closely.'
