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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Enough is enough: why the pointless virtue-signalling, Mr Swinney?
I could hardly believe what I was reading in the article that appeared in today's Herald on Sunday ('Swinney urges Starmer to engage with Scotland on evacuating Gaza children', July 20). This is our First Minister's latest attempt to divert attention away from his own serious lack of judgment at home concerning pressing issues of the day, amongst them our rail, ferry, healthcare, child poverty, education and most recently defending the indefensible Fife Health Board. From nowhere we note that our under-fire FM is now apparently offering to bring in wounded and maimed children from [[Gaza]] into our already stretched and failing health care system for expensive, long-term treatments. But this humanitarian 'offer' is apparently dependent on Keir Starmer's agreement and backing from Westminster? Surely no clear-thinking, sentient person will not have been sickened, disgusted and outraged by the footage and newsreels coming out of [[Gaza]] on a daily basis featuring the IDF's barbaric treatment of the indigenous population... but for John Swinney to pretend for one minute that airlifting a handful of injured and damaged children and bringing them to our shores is going to make an iota of difference to the overall carnage that is daily being perpetrated on the inhabitants of [[Gaza]], is preposterous. At best this is yet another poorly-thought-through impractical proposition: who decides which injured children should benefit? What will happen to them once they have been treated? Who will accompany them? Will they (and their relatives/carers) be allowed to remain in the UK afterwards? At worst it could be construed as an indirect way of trapping Westminster into refusing to cooperate with the SNP (again) and probably denying treatment to these poor unfortunate souls. If our FM genuinely wants to help, and I've no doubt he sincerely does, he should be calling out the perpetrators from the rooftops (the Israeli government and the IDF) of these heinous crimes against innocent children. He should be making representations to any and every organisation that could and should be intervening to help, using any means possible at his disposal. But of course, he already has his hands full with his own self-inflicted problems. So why the pointless virtue-signalling, First Minister? Colin Allison, Read more letters Talk on Gaza is cheap. Why not take some proper action? Did you forget about 60%, Mr Swinney? Well, we haven't What has Scotland gained from having voted in 37 Labour MPs? Stop demonising private landlords Ruth Gilbert's article on rent controls ("'Time to protect tenants': Are landlords trying to water down Scottish rent controls?", July 20) wrongly blames Scotland's housing crisis on private landlords, ignoring systemic failures and the unintended consequences of punitive government policies. Over 94% of Scottish landlords own fewer than five properties, often relying on rental income to supplement pensions. Since 2016, interventions like the Additional Dwelling Supplement, reduced mortgage interest relief, and stricter regulations have crushed margins, far outpacing post-Covid inflation's already steep 20%-plus rise in maintenance and compliance costs. Scottish Land & Estates reports 15% of landlords sold up in 2023, with more exiting in 2024, shrinking rental stock. Edinburgh's 12% drop in listings year-on-year has intensified competition, driving rents higher. Why did Ms Gilbert overlook this critical driver, focusing instead on landlord greed? Rent controls will amplify this exodus, deterring investment. Despite £1 billion UK-wide build-to-rent investment in late 2024, developers now call Scotland's regulatory climate 'uniquely hostile', stalling projects. Rent controls will accelerate this exodus, deterring investment. A prime example is the stalled BTR project at Buchanan Wharf in Glasgow, where Legal & General paused plans for 500-plus units in 2024 due to regulatory uncertainty and rising costs, as reported by Rettie. The mid-market sector, pitched as affordable for low- to middle-income tenants, is a flawed compromise – often unaffordable and diverting resources from social housing. Vilifying small landlords – often individuals who've invested life savings in a property – is misguided. Cumulative government interventions have made their businesses unviable, and rent controls will accelerate exits, worsening the crisis. Ms Gilbert's failure to acknowledge this suggests a one-sided narrative. Rent controls won't build homes. Scotland needs a balanced approach: streamlining development, encouraging investment, and supporting tenants without demonising landlords, who are part of the solution. Ian Lakin, New hope for postmasters Long before an ITV drama highlighted the failings the Post Office's Horizon IT system, I had followed the in-plain-sight scandal for many years, and much of the reporting of it filled me with rage. No computer system is fool-proof; participants acted in good faith; checks and balances did their best in challenging circumstances; how were communities to know better than our courts? Refreshingly, Andrew Tickell's column ("Despair as Post Office inquiry details scandal's human cost", July 13) indulged no such excuses. The surplus sentencing of, and hopelessly inadequate redress available to, postmasters was laid bare. "Even if you honestly believed these postmasters were guilty as charged, it was still you who stigmatised these people, still you who played an indispensable part of the great harm done to them", Andrew wrote. It is a scandal that keeps on giving. Prior to Horizon, the Post Office used the Capture IT system, and it was just as polluted with "bugs and errors". When Patricia Owen was charged with theft for a £6,000 shortfall at her branch under Capture, IT specialist Adrian Montagu turned up at her trial to testify to the fact that the earlier software too was "totally discredited". But, for reasons unknown, he was not called by Ms Owen's barrister, and the court was denied the opportunity of hearing that Capture was "an accident waiting to happen" . Ms Owen was convicted in 1998 and received a suspended jail sentence; she died in 2003. Her family assert that the conviction "wrecked" her life. However, the newly discovered specialist IT report commissioned for Ms Owen's defence could help quash the convictions of other postmasters. Archie Beaton, Don't give in to Putin I am pleased to say that I can finally say that I agree with George Morton (Letters, July 20). Britain and Russia are effectively at war. Russia had been murdering people on British soil and staging cyber-attacks on our infrastructure long before it attacked Ukraine. Berwick on Tweed has apparently been at war with it since about 1855, having never made peace after the Crimean War. This situation is clearly a grave cause for concern and vigilance, but I do not think that giving in to Putin is the way forward. We tried to appease Hitler in the 1930s and when we eventually had to fight him, he was stronger, and we were weaker. We must continue to do everything possible to support Ukraine. We should have done more earlier. If there is any comfort for Western European democracies in this horrible situation it is that Ukraine has come close to destroying Russia's war machine and they won't be ready for another big adventure for at least five years. Britain and three EU countries have bigger GDPs than Russia so should be able to outperform Russia in the flow of munitions and firepower. There are plenty of better things to spend the money on, but we dare not leave the eastern border of the EU poorly defended. Russians may learn to prefer butter to guns but Putin is unlikely to give them the choice, or us. Ronald Cameron, Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: PA) Marathon efforts I agree with much of what Susan Egelstaff says in her excellent column ('Why do we know so little about Glasgow 2026 with only a year to go?", July 20). However, I was disappointed that Susan is one of many sports journalists who failed to pursue my earlier request to report the exclusion of the Marathon from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. It is now well over six months since I first raised this matter. I have sought support from various bodies, including Team Scotland, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and even the King, in his position as Patron of the Commonwealth Games. In some cases I have experienced great difficulty in getting a response, particularly in the case of the CGF. I understand the financial constraints faced by Glasgow 2026 but, in my last letter to the CGF, I suggested that the Marathon could be self-financing if it were a mass participation event, financed by sponsorship and entry fees from the mass participants, as distinct from the elite athletes representing their countries. The latter could start, say, 20 minutes before the former. Thousands of runners could be willing to pay a substantial entry fee to participate in such a prestigious event, which would also help to showcase the city of Glasgow to a multi-million international TV audience. In my latest letter to the chief executive of the CGF I suggested that, if she and her team are incapable of organising such a Marathon for Glasgow 2026, they should investigate the possibility of hiring the organisers of the London Marathon or the Edinburgh Marathon or the Great Scottish Run. Three weeks later, I am still waiting on a reply or even an acknowledgement. Perhaps I should not be surprised, as it took her 14 weeks to reply to my previous letter. So far I detect a lamentable lack of efficiency, ambition and initiative on the part of the CGF. If they fail to raise their game, I fear that, in the longer term, the Commonwealth Games will be faced with an existential crisis. Dennis Canavan, Rail pricing is ludicrous Your Big Read article on ScotRail ("The great Scottish train robbery", July 20) quotes an Aslef official who states that "all that the travelling public want is clean, safe, reliable and affordable trains. That's what the [[pub]]lic are pushing for'. This is an incomplete list. We also want the opaque pricing of tickets to end. Last week I bought a return ticket from Glasgow to Dundee on a senior railcard. The price at the ticket machine was £33.00. But when I went to the ticket office I was offered a split ticket option: a ticket from Glasgow to Perth (£13.85) and a ticket from Perth to [[Dundee]] (£7.45) costing a total of £21.30. And without the need to change trains. [[ScotRail]]: please explain this ludicrous pricing. Colin Mason,
The National
18-07-2025
- Health
- The National
Sandie Peggie denies making racist comment as new allegation emerges
Witnesses Dr Elspeth Pitt, a consultant in emergency medicine, and Louise Curran, a senior charge nurse and Peggie's line manager, gave evidence on Friday. Pitt was the first person to see Dr Beth Upton after her altercation with Peggie, while Curran gave insight into Peggie's character. The Herald reported Curran told Ms Russell KC that she had heard Peggie had views on "religion, race and politics" through conversations with other staff members. She stated that she had heard Peggie was not happy about transgender staff using female facilities, before stating: "I believe there had been a racist comment to one of our junior doctors who is now a consultant." READ MORE: Pro-independence politicians respond to John Swinney's strategy She went on to reference a comment allegedly made by Peggie that she was unhappy with different types of food being cooked in the staff room by an Asian staff member. Bundles of evidence seen by The Herald said Peggie "strongly denied" claims of racism. She said: "The inference is I am racist and if Louise Curran is going to level such a serious allegation, then she should provide the names of the staff she states gave her this information." Peggie also pointed out that she works nightshift and would not be present during staff lunch periods. "I work night shifts only and so I'm never present at work when staff doctors are preparing their lunches. The team is extremely diverse from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and I have a good working relationship with all colleagues," she said. Peggie was suspended from work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on January 3 2024 after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, the tribunal heard earlier this year. Earlier this week it emerged she had been cleared of all internal disciplinary charges. Peggie's solicitor, Margaret Gribbon, said: 'On Tuesday, 14th July, the evening before the resuming of her tribunal, Sandie Peggie received confirmation from Fife Health Board that following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations against her were upheld. 'Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month-long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations.' Last week, it emerged NHS Fife had spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal, which is expected to last several more days. However, the amount the health board pays is capped at £25,000 because it is part of a Scottish Government scheme known as Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme (CNORIS). Taxpayers cover these costs.
South Wales Guardian
16-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Nurse at centre of row over trans doctor cleared of gross misconduct
Sandie Peggie was suspended from work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on January 3 2024, after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton. After Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment and cited concerns about 'patient care', Ms Peggie was suspended but was notified of safety allegations on March 28, 2024 in a letter, the tribunal heard earlier this year. Ms Peggie has taken the health board and Dr Upton to tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 regarding three incidents when they shared a changing room; indirect harassment; victimisation and whistleblowing. Employment tribunal hearings took place in Dundee in February and it was then adjourned until Wednesday. Hours before it was due to restart, Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon said the nurse had been cleared of gross misconduct allegations following a separate health board disciplinary hearing. The disciplinary hearing was held on June 25 and it considered four gross misconduct allegations: two relating to patient care failures, one of 'misgendering' Dr Upton, and one relating to her encounter with Dr Upton in the workplace female-only changing room on Christmas Eve 2023. Ms Gribbon said: 'The evening before the resuming of her tribunal, Sandie Peggie received confirmation from Fife Health Board that following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations against her were upheld. 'Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations.' In a statement, the health board said: 'NHS Fife can confirm that an internal conduct hearing has concluded in relation to a staff member in our emergency department, following allegations concerning conduct. 'The hearing was held in accordance with the national NHS Scotland conduct policy and followed an investigation into matters. It considered several allegations, including regarding interactions between colleagues and patient care. 'After reviewing the evidence presented, including written submissions and witness testimony, the panel found that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct. 'While no formal sanctions have been imposed, the panel concluded that a facilitated reflective practice discussion would be appropriate. 'NHS Fife acknowledges that this was a complex and sensitive matter, and we are satisfied that the process has been appropriately followed and is now concluded. 'We remain committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and safe working environment for all of our staff and patients. 'As this matter relates to an individual member of staff, NHS Fife will not be making any further comment on the outcome.' Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White said: 'This decision confirms what we've known all along – Sandie Peggie did nothing wrong. 'NHS Fife's credibility lies in tatters and senior bosses owe Sandie an immediate and unreserved apology. 'This dedicated nurse should never have been dragged through a distressing disciplinary hearing for expressing discomfort about sharing a changing room with a biological man. '(Health Secretary Neil Gray has repeatedly expressed confidence in the health board. We must urgently hear if that is still his view. 'This decision also raises further concerns about the conflict of interest resulting from the same lawyer representing NHS Fife and Beth Upton at the tribunal. 'Cases like this wouldn't need to continue if (First Minister) John Swinney finally stepped in and ensured NHS Fife and other public bodies were upholding the Supreme Court ruling and providing single-sex spaces for women.' The tribunal resumes after the UK Supreme Court ruled in April that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex', a ruling which has been publicly welcomed by Ms Peggie. The hearing starts again on Wednesday in Dundee and is expected to last 11 days. Last week, it emerged NHS Fife has spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal. The extent of the costs was uncovered following an intervention by Scotland's information commissioner.
Leader Live
16-07-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Nurse at centre of row over trans doctor cleared of gross misconduct
Sandie Peggie was suspended from work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on January 3 2024, after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton. After Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment and cited concerns about 'patient care', Ms Peggie was suspended but was notified of safety allegations on March 28, 2024 in a letter, the tribunal heard earlier this year. Ms Peggie has taken the health board and Dr Upton to tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 regarding three incidents when they shared a changing room; indirect harassment; victimisation and whistleblowing. Employment tribunal hearings took place in Dundee in February and it was then adjourned until Wednesday. Hours before it was due to restart, Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon said the nurse had been cleared of gross misconduct allegations following a separate health board disciplinary hearing. The disciplinary hearing was held on June 25 and it considered four gross misconduct allegations: two relating to patient care failures, one of 'misgendering' Dr Upton, and one relating to her encounter with Dr Upton in the workplace female-only changing room on Christmas Eve 2023. Ms Gribbon said: 'The evening before the resuming of her tribunal, Sandie Peggie received confirmation from Fife Health Board that following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations against her were upheld. 'Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations.' In a statement, the health board said: 'NHS Fife can confirm that an internal conduct hearing has concluded in relation to a staff member in our emergency department, following allegations concerning conduct. 'The hearing was held in accordance with the national NHS Scotland conduct policy and followed an investigation into matters. It considered several allegations, including regarding interactions between colleagues and patient care. 'After reviewing the evidence presented, including written submissions and witness testimony, the panel found that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct. 'While no formal sanctions have been imposed, the panel concluded that a facilitated reflective practice discussion would be appropriate. 'NHS Fife acknowledges that this was a complex and sensitive matter, and we are satisfied that the process has been appropriately followed and is now concluded. 'We remain committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and safe working environment for all of our staff and patients. 'As this matter relates to an individual member of staff, NHS Fife will not be making any further comment on the outcome.' Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White said: 'This decision confirms what we've known all along – Sandie Peggie did nothing wrong. 'NHS Fife's credibility lies in tatters and senior bosses owe Sandie an immediate and unreserved apology. 'This dedicated nurse should never have been dragged through a distressing disciplinary hearing for expressing discomfort about sharing a changing room with a biological man. '(Health Secretary Neil Gray has repeatedly expressed confidence in the health board. We must urgently hear if that is still his view. 'This decision also raises further concerns about the conflict of interest resulting from the same lawyer representing NHS Fife and Beth Upton at the tribunal. 'Cases like this wouldn't need to continue if (First Minister) John Swinney finally stepped in and ensured NHS Fife and other public bodies were upholding the Supreme Court ruling and providing single-sex spaces for women.' The tribunal resumes after the UK Supreme Court ruled in April that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex', a ruling which has been publicly welcomed by Ms Peggie. The hearing starts again on Wednesday in Dundee and is expected to last 11 days. Last week, it emerged NHS Fife has spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal. The extent of the costs was uncovered following an intervention by Scotland's information commissioner.
North Wales Chronicle
16-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Nurse at centre of row over trans doctor cleared of gross misconduct
Sandie Peggie was suspended from work at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on January 3 2024, after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton. After Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment and cited concerns about 'patient care', Ms Peggie was suspended but was notified of safety allegations on March 28, 2024 in a letter, the tribunal heard earlier this year. Ms Peggie has taken the health board and Dr Upton to tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 regarding three incidents when they shared a changing room: indirect harassment, victimisation and whistleblowing. Employment tribunal hearings took place in Dundee in February and it was then adjourned until Wednesday. Hours before it was due to restart, Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon said the nurse had been cleared of gross misconduct allegations following a separate health board disciplinary hearing. The disciplinary hearing was held on June 25 and it considered four gross misconduct allegations: two relating to patient care failures, one of 'misgendering' Dr Upton, and one relating to her encounter with Dr Upton in the workplace female-only changing room on Christmas Eve 2023. Ms Gribbon said: 'The evening before the resuming of her tribunal, Sandie Peggie received confirmation from Fife Health Board that following a disciplinary hearing, none of the gross misconduct allegations against her were upheld. 'Sandie is relieved and delighted that this 18-month long internal process has concluded and cleared her of all allegations.' In a statement, the health board said: 'NHS Fife can confirm that an internal conduct hearing has concluded in relation to a staff member in our emergency department, following allegations concerning conduct. 'The hearing was held in accordance with the national NHS Scotland conduct policy and followed an investigation into matters. It considered several allegations, including regarding interactions between colleagues and patient care. 'After reviewing the evidence presented, including written submissions and witness testimony, the panel found that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of misconduct. 'While no formal sanctions have been imposed, the panel concluded that a facilitated reflective practice discussion would be appropriate. 'NHS Fife acknowledges that this was a complex and sensitive matter, and we are satisfied that the process has been appropriately followed and is now concluded. 'We remain committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and safe working environment for all of our staff and patients. 'As this matter relates to an individual member of staff, NHS Fife will not be making any further comment on the outcome.' Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White said: 'This decision confirms what we've known all along – Sandie Peggie did nothing wrong. 'NHS Fife's credibility lies in tatters and senior bosses owe Sandie an immediate and unreserved apology. 'This dedicated nurse should never have been dragged through a distressing disciplinary hearing for expressing discomfort about sharing a changing room with a biological man. '(Health Secretary Neil Gray has repeatedly expressed confidence in the health board. We must urgently hear if that is still his view. 'This decision also raises further concerns about the conflict of interest resulting from the same lawyer representing NHS Fife and Beth Upton at the tribunal. 'Cases like this wouldn't need to continue if (First Minister) John Swinney finally stepped in and ensured NHS Fife and other public bodies were upholding the Supreme Court ruling and providing single-sex spaces for women.' The tribunal resumes after the UK Supreme Court ruled in April that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex', a ruling which has been publicly welcomed by Ms Peggie. The hearing starts again on Wednesday in Dundee and is expected to last 11 days. Last week, it emerged NHS Fife has spent more than £220,000 defending itself in the employment tribunal. The extent of the costs was uncovered following an intervention by Scotland's information commissioner.
