Latest news with #Geissler
The National
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Furious Anas Sarwar clashes with BBC journalist over Labour policies
The Scottish Labour leader dodged questions about his previous comments on GB Energy and a bespoke Scottish visa, instead taking aim at the journalist and accusing them of 'letting the SNP off scot-free'. First Minister John Swinney would answer questions on the BBC Scotland Sunday Show immediately after Sarwar's tense appearance. Sarwar made the appearance after his party won a shock by-election victory over the SNP in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse on Friday. BBC journalist Martin Geissler appeared to spark Sarwar's ire after pointing out that he had said prior to the General Election that GB Energy would create 69,000 jobs. READ MORE: Scottish independence 'already begun as UK political culture diverges' Asked how many it has created now, a year later, Sarwar responded: 'Martin, I think you have to live in the real world rather than in a fantasy world.' Geissler pointed out: 'It's in your manifesto…' 'No, one second to set up the legislation, set up a company, make the appointments in terms of who runs that company, to then start making the investments, and then see the fruits of those investments,' Sarwar said. 'Any sensible person in the country will know that will take longer than 10 months if you are to get to that final outcome…' Geissler kept trying to interject but a furious Sarwar continued to talk over him, adding: 'It's a crazy suggestion for you to make that somehow a Labour government comes in, after 10 months, we clean up all the mess left by the Tories after 14 years and we build a utopia across our country. (Image: BBC) 'People didn't buy it in the run up to the by-election so that's why the SNP and Reform lost…' Later in the interview, as Sarwar tried to turn the focus on Scotland's NHS, Geissler tried to make a point about immigration policy impacting the health service's ability to get staff. Sarwar fired back: 'It's down to mismanagement of the SNP…' Geissler tried to finish his point, even going so far as to say 'no no no, I'm talking' and asking Sarwar to 'please' let him finish. But the Scottish Labour leader continued his rant, adding: 'The NHS is completely in the control of the SNP and you're falling for the exact same narrative that commentators had going into the by-election…' READ MORE: SNP must turn support for independence into 'real political action' 'Commentators embarrassed, pollsters embarrassed, pundits embarrassed and frankly your questions are embarrassing too, Martin.' Geissler fired back: 'I think you should be slightly embarrassed that you're not listening to my questions.' 'Go for it,' Sarwar said. An exasperated Geissler could be heard saying 'right', before asking Sarwar about his previous claims he was speaking to the Home Office about a 'bespoke visa system' for Scotland's needs. He then asked if Scotland would get its own immigration system. Sarwar replied: 'No, why would we have our own immigration system? We would have an immigration system that's tailored for the needs of individual parts of the country. That's what we said.' 'I thought you said you'd had talks with the UK Government about a bespoke Scottish visa system?' Geissler asked. 'Again, Martin, you are misleading in your characterisation,' Sarwar said. (Image: BBC) 'We have always said a single UK Border Agency, a single UK Home Office, but [an] immigration system that reflects the needs of different parts of the country. 'But again you want to talk about a UK Labour Government and let the SNP off scot-free' Geissler pointed out that the First Minister was due to be interviewed next and he wanted to talk about Labour policy. Again, talking over the journalist, Sarwar said: 'But talk about what we're going to do here in Scotland, talk about how we're the only party that can remove the SNP from office, talk about how we're going to fix the NHS, talk about how we're going to fix our schools..' Geissler pointed out that he had been trying to, while Sarwar continued to talk over him.
The National
04-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Anas Sarwar blames SNP and Tories for Grangemouth job losses
The Scottish Labour leader had previously said the party would intervene to protect jobs at Grangemouth, which stopped refining crude oil at the site on Tuesday. Around 430 jobs are expected to be lost as a result. Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman told the Sunday National that the closure could also risk fuel shortages and even rationing. READ MORE: Reform candidates in Scotland are 'nationalists', says Russell Findlay On BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Sarwar was confronted with previous comments he made stating jobs would be protected and hundreds of millions of pounds would be put into an energy transition hub at Grangemouth as part of the plan. He said: 'Well, the people that sat back and did nothing was the Tories across the UK, who knew for almost a decade…' Journalist Martin Geissler interrupted to point out that '400 jobs are going'. 'No, one second Martin, this is really, really serious,' Sarwar replied. 'For almost a decade, the Tories knew what was coming at Grangemouth. The SNP knew what was coming at Grangemouth, and they didn't lift a finger. 'In months, a Labour Party came in and has put 200 million pounds on the table to try and find those investigable propositions.' (Image: Andrew Milligan) Geissler pointed out that still did not amount to saving 400 jobs at the site. Sarwar continued: '…to try and find the investable propositions to get a long term future. And at no point has the SNP or the Tories claimed that they want to nationalise Grangemouth as much as they might want…' Pushed again on his promise to protect jobs, Geissler pointed out that Sarwar's party colleague Leishman, MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, was 'furious' about the closure and lack of action. Sarwar replied: 'Even John Swinney noted that a UK Labour Government tried consistently to prolong the life of the refinery, but there was an intransigence from the company.' When the Labour Government's decision to provide millions of pounds to keep British Steel running and save the Scunthorpe plant were raised, Sarwar said: 'Let's compare like for like, if we're talking about the steel industry, what has happened to our two steel sites here in Scotland, what's happened in Lochaber, the SNP sold off to a dodgy businessman. 'Look what's happened there.' READ MORE: Anti-immigration policies 'cutting jobs at Scottish universities' On his previous promises, Sarwar added: 'I promised we'd put in hundreds of millions of pounds, we have.' 'You promised to save jobs,' Geissler said. Sarwar replied: 'Look, we are trying to protect the site and the future of the site. That's part of the transition, and that's why we've invested that 200 million pounds for the National Wealth Fund.' Last week, bosses at Petroineos confirmed refining operations had ended at the Grangemouth site, which had been the only oil refinery in Scotland. The impending closure of the refinery, which first opened in 1924, led to fears for employment in the area. In recent months, hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies have also been made.
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Romanov interview will make Hearts fans 'laugh & cry'
The final episode of Romanov: Czar of Hearts will induce both laughter and tears, according to BBC Scotland presenter and Hearts supporter Martin Geissler. Former owner owner Vladimir Romanov sat down with Geissler for a feature interview, which lifts the lid on his tumultuous tenure at Tynecastle and airs on Saturday on BBC surprise episode was revealed last week and Geissler says some of Romanov's revelations are "downright crazy"."We didn't know we were going to do it, we didn't know where he was," Geissler explained. "James the producer got a lead, pursued it with vigour and it turned out Romanov was very happy to speak. "He's got a lot of things to say, all of which you will hear on Saturday. Some stuff we haven't been able to broadcast, some stuff we had to invite people back for a right of reply, and some stuff is downright crazy."Some stuff will make you laugh, some stuff if you're a Hearts supporter will make you cry."Geissler teased a big reveal in the final podcast episode and insists he can now look back fondly at the Romanov era despite the chaotic way it ended, with the club entering administration."I don't know how much I know now that I didn't know then, because you lose some memory over 20 years," Geissler said. "There are some revelations still to come, there's one in particular that comes out in the bonus episode."Hearts wouldn't be here without Vladimir Romanov, and then he took it on a decade-long rollercoaster and left it where he found it. What a ride that was. "There's a lot of me, looking back on the whole thing, that can't help but think 'good old Vlad'. It was bonkers, but it was great fun."
