Latest news with #ChrisLaw
The National
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
British airbase used by Israeli war planes involved in bombing Gaza
At least three Israeli Air Force (IAF) jets have landed at RAF Brize Norton since September 2024, Drop Site reports. KC-707 'Re'em' jets, which refuel other planes in the air, are said to have landed at the Oxfordshire base on at least nine occasions during trips between Israel and the US. Of these stops, eight reportedly lasted more between one to three hours potentially indicating that the planes were refuelling. Re'em military planes have been spotted refuelling Israeli F-35 bombers and two of those which stopped in the UK had also been observed providing refuelling and logistics support to planes engaged in bombing raids, Drop Site reports. One was reportedly in the sky over Gaza in October 2024 when the IAF bombed a residential complex in Beit Lahiya, killing 73 people. (Image: House of Commons/PA Wire) Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (above) told Drop Site: 'Israeli F-35 jets are bombing hospitals and civilians in Gaza. 'It is simply unconscionable that Britain would allow any Israeli warplanes to refuel on British bases – and implicates the government in the gravest breaches of international law.' It raises further questions about British complicity in war crimes committed by the Israeli military, with the country's leaders facing international arrest warrants and plausible accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice. READ MORE: Latest updates as MPs debate proscribing Palestine Action SNP MP Chris Law previously attempted to get the UK Government to reveal how many IAF planes had landed in Britain over the last year. Defence minister Luke Pollard (above) replied via a written answer: 'For operational security reasons and as a matter of policy, the Ministry of Defence will neither confirm, deny, nor comment on any foreign nations' military aircraft movement or operations within UK airspace or UK overseas bases.' (Image: none) The Conservatives had previously revealed the numbers while they were in power, with a previous defence minister James Heappey confirming that nine had landed since October 2023. Planes have arrived in Britain from the Hatzor airbase in central Israel and others that Drop Site was unable to confirm, while all the flights coming from America originated from the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, the US Department of Defence's largest air freight terminal. The Ministry of Defence and the Israeli military were approached for comment.
The Courier
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
STEVE FINAN: Why is modern road infrastructure right for everywhere but Dundee?
The last big traffic infrastructure project in Dundee was the construction of the Tay Road Bridge and creation of the inner ring road. The bridge was completed in August 1966, the last dualled section of the inner ring (linking Lochee Road and Victoria Road) opened in September 1975. There's been nothing that could be termed a major investment in the half century since. The city needs an energetic, forceful character to change that. Someone like Sir Douglas Hardie, who fought for the bridge and was never really given the credit he deserved. Much needs done. Dundee has an airport, train station and a poor excuse for a bus station that are ridiculously remote from each other. Dundee FC could do with high-powered help to cut through the red tape around their new ground's junction problems. We have the Swallow Roundabout debacle – which leaves the laughable situation of Glendoick Garden Centre having safer and quicker access from the A90 than Scotland's fourth biggest city. We have the main route serving the whole north-east of Scotland reduced to a single lane bottleneck at the Forfar Road turn-off. Only selfish cyclists – who think their hobby is more important than HGV access to a huge part of the country – think Dundee doesn't need a bypass. Forfar has a bypass. Perth, Brechin, Stirling, Dunblane, Kinross, Ayr, Dumfries, Kelty and Bridge of Earn have bypasses. Aberdeen got an impressive bypass. Edinburgh has had a bypass for 35 years. The village of Glamis (population 1,000) has a bypass. The M8, M77, M73 and M74 – easing traffic through the Glasgow area – have seen almost continual improvements in recent decades, costing hundreds of millions. Why is modern road infrastructure right for all those places but wrong for our city? Dundee never gets anything from Westminster or Holyrood. Let's name names. Trunk roads are managed at national level, so exerting pressure to improve them is a job for MPs. The Swallow Roundabout is in Chris Law's constituency. What are you doing about this, Chris? What do you ever say or do about anything in Dundee? What of our MSPs? Joe FitzPatrick has been virtually invisible his entire Holyrood career. It's pointless asking him. He's been treading water waiting for retirement since he was first elected in 2007. And Shona Robison long ago forgot Dundee put her into her job. None of them will do anything, we must look to the future. Heather Anderson is a prospective Dundee City West MSP. What are her thoughts on a bypass? In a recent interview she stated she was a 'proud Dundonian'. Here's a chance to prove it. Mind you, her time with the Ministry of Secrecy (some call it Dundee City Council) wasn't good training for speaking out on difficult subjects or challenging authority on the city's behalf. This is a godsend for any wannabe MSP. It's an easily understood issue to really get their teeth into. Something the whole city (except self-absorbed cyclists) can get behind. Anyone who wants to represent the city should take note. To any 2026 Scottish election candidate – what's your opinion on a bypass? Your answer could win, or lose, you thousands of votes.
The National
18-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish science firm slams Home Office over visa delay
Ocean Science Consulting (OSC) is a globally renowned marine science firm based in East Lothian that specialises in underwater noise – including assessing how marine wildlife is affected when offshore projects, such as wind farms, are constructed. But a new hire for the specialist firm, Professor Mario Rollo, has been unable to relocate to Scotland after the Home Office refused his visa, apparently due to a technicality surrounding financial documentation, which has since been corrected. READ MORE: Almost 50 homes could be built on ex-festival site near BBC HQ in Glasgow This has led to key contracts being at risk and threatens the delivery of major offshore-wind projects in Scotland. In a letter to SNP MP Chris Law urging him to confront the UK Government over the delay, the firm said it also affects 'critical work connected to the UK's net zero goals'. For example, Norwegian oil giant Equinor has commissioned OSC to conduct environmental reviews related to floating wind technologies. A senior research engineer in bioacoustics with more than 60 peer-reviewed studies and dozens of citations, Rollo (below) was hired to head OSC's new 'Advanced Acoustics & Modelling' unit. (Image: OSC/Mario Rollo) He is one of few experts in the world in this niche but important field that is qualified for the role according to Dr Victoria Todd, the firm's founder and managing director. 'There is, really, nobody qualified in the UK that can do this job,' she told the Sunday National. 'We've done everything on our end. We are the sponsor, we paid for the visa, we've done everything we could possibly do. But the Home Office is just dragging it along. They're not prioritising it in any way or form, and this is resulting in an incredible brain drain on the country.' Dr Todd also said that having him in person is crucial – for example, when leading the training of offshore personnel. READ MORE: Almost 50 homes could be built on ex-festival site near BBC HQ in Glasgow 'Effectively, we are the world leader in the training of offshore personnel to be able to detect and classify marine mammals in the field,' she said. 'We run a number of training courses that are accredited by the government, and these are very hands-on courses, so the course leaders would be taking the delegates into our warehouse. 'They would be, effectively, operating the equipment that we deploy into the water, the underwater hydrophones that detect the marine mammals, and they would be helping the delegates configure the equipment and software to do that.' East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan also hit out at the Home Office over the delay. 'It just shows the ridiculous position the UK Government are taking. There's no flexibility at all,' the MSP – who is also Scotland's Housing Minister – told the Sunday National. 'This is impacting on the company's viability, it's impacting, obviously, on the project timeline. The work that they do, they're going to need to get people in from different parts of the world because it's really specific.' McLennan added: 'So it's damaging their reputation but it's also damaging the reputation of Scotland to attract talent.' The Home Office has been approached for comment.
