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Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
South Ayrshire Council slammed for day of shame as MSP says residents 'deserve better'
Siobhian Brown hit out at the spectacle which took place in County Buildings this morning. South Ayrshire Council has humiliated itself on the public stage and left residents "dismayed and disillusioned," according to one MSP. Siobhian Brown, herself a former councillor with the local authority, slammed this morning's antics at County Buildings which led to Provost Iain Campbell quitting during remarkable exchanges. A day of high drama also saw the council's depute leader, Bob Pollock, demoted during a vote by members - and leader Martin Dowey was forced to fall on his own sword just hours later. It leaves the council rudderless with three of its main positions now unfilled. Members of the public witnessed today's key meeting descend into chaos when one councillor, taking part in the session remotely, was heard over a microphone referring to someone as a "wee c**t". That sparked a furious reaction from the Provost who then walked off the job, slamming the behaviour of "despicable people whose egos are better than their ability." And Ms Brown says the people of South Ayrshire deserve better. She hit out: "At a time when leadership should be grounded in honesty and accountability, what we witnessed was anything but. Integrity in public office matters. "Even more disturbing was the internal chaos on display: the Conservative group turning on their own Depute Leader, rather than upholding public confidence or serving the people who elected them. What's clear from today's events is the sheer desperation of the Tory leadership to hold onto power at all costs, no matter the damage to public trust, staff morale, or the reputation of the council itself. "The chaos reached a boiling point when Provost Iain Campbell resigned at the end of the meeting, stating he'd had enough of the backstabbing and infighting. This only highlights the utter dysfunction within the Conservative group, whose internal conflicts seem to take precedence over the needs of the public. "This meeting, broadcast live for the public to witness, was a spectacle and a shameful misuse of council time and taxpayer money. Residents tuned in expecting clarity. What they got was self-interest, infighting, and a complete lack of leadership. "The people of South Ayrshire deserve better than this, they deserve representatives who put public service before personal survival."
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
South Ayrshire Council in chaos says top councillor after Provost quits in "farcical" meeting
Chris Cullen says the local authority must quickly get its act together following a week in which it has threatened to fall apart. South Ayrshire faces a "governance crisis" according to one leading councillor. Chris Cullen, the authority's only Alba Party member, slammed this morning's "farcical" meeting at County Buildings which was cut short when furious Provost Iain Campbell quit in the chair. Campbell slammed "despicable people in this place whose egos are better than their ability" as he chucked the ceremonial chains. It followed an ill-tempered and, at times, chaotic meeting which came at the end of a disastrous week for the council in which leader, Martin Dowey, has pledged to step aside from his role. Earlier, councillors had voted narrowly to remove current depute leader, Tory Bob Pollock, from his position before the meeting exploded after alleged slurs were heard over the speaker systems being used by councillors taking part dialling in remotely. Now Cllr Cullen, who represents Ayr East, admits the council faces a power vacuum. He said: 'The situation we find ourselves in today is nothing short of a governance crisis. Our constituents deserve a working council, not a chamber where elected members throw childish insults at each other and walk away. "It is deeply disappointing that colleagues have resorted to this level of infighting over appointments. The council's leaders must have respect for the job and for the public, not trade immature barbs across the chamber.' The Alba Party councillor expressed grave concern that, amid the bickering and leadership vacancies, South Ayrshire is left effectively ungoverned. He added: 'This kind of chaos is unacceptable. Residents have pressing issues – from cuts to services to housebuilding delays – all of which is impacted by a council consumed by scandal. "The handling of this crisis has been far from satisfactory, and it's time for disputes and personal agendas are put aside putting the residents of South Ayrshire first. 'I remain fully dedicated to my constituents. I will continue working hard for Ayr East and across South Ayrshire, raising local concerns and pushing for solutions in every way I can. "Voters may see disagreements in council, but I promise them that this Alba councillor will not let partisan fighting interrupt our duty to the people we serve.'
Daily Record
25-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Provost visits Sea Cadets' new premises at Foresters Hall
South Ayrshire Provost Iain Campbell recently visited Foresters Hall in Ayr – the new premises of Ayr Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets. Provost Campbell congratulated the Ayr Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets on their recent move to their new home within Foresters Hall, the purchase of which was supported by South Ayrshire Council's Community Empowerment Fund. The Community Empowerment Fund supports community groups in delivering services that meet local needs while contributing to community-led regeneration. The fund was established using money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Ayr Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets received a grant of £15,000 to assist in the purchase of their new Ayr premises. South Ayrshire Provost, Iain Campbell said: "I was delighted to have been invited along to visit the Cadets and to see them thriving in their new home in Foresters Hall. "I'm glad the Council could assist towards reaching this wonderful milestone in their history, and securing a space that will benefit not only the Cadets, but the wider community." South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Councillor Bob Pollock said: "The Community Empowerment Fund is a fantastic way that the Council can support local community groups. This includes facilitating opportunities to enhance or take ownership of premises. I would encourage community groups who are interested in applying to this fund to visit the Council's website to find out more about the application process." South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment, Councillor Martin Kilbride said: "Foresters Hall is ideal to meet the needs of the Cadets. It will be great to see the hall in frequent use and I'm sure the Cadets will breathe new life into the facility." Ayr Sea Cadets Commanding Officer, Lt (SCC) Duncan McKechnie RNR said: "The Community Empowerment Fund was a key factor in the success of the project. "The hall has given Ayr Sea Cadets & Royal Marines Cadets a firm foundation for the future without having to worry about having a home, and we will continue to engage and work with the community as the hall isn't just for us - we welcome a varied group of different users with more always welcome." Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Bipolar Disorder Study Shows that a Ketogenic Diet Leads to Mental and Physical Health Benefits
First-of-its-Kind European Pilot Study Shows Improvement in Mood, Energy, and Anxiety—Fueling Hope for a New Mental Health Treatment SAN MATEO, Calif., February 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baszucki Group today announced a new pilot study on a ketogenic diet in bipolar disorder. "For the first time in years, I felt like my brain was finally running on the right fuel," said one of the study participants. Published today in BJPsych Open, the study is the first to use neuroimaging to demonstrate that a ketogenic diet may improve brain metabolism in individuals with a bipolar disorder diagnosis. With over 100 years of evidence of efficacy in epilepsy, a ketogenic diet is now being studied around the world for a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. The first-of-its-kind European study, supported by Baszucki Group, used advanced brain imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), to measure changes in brain metabolism. The imaging revealed reductions in excitatory neurotransmitters typically elevated in bipolar disorder, suggesting a potential mechanism behind a ketogenic diet's effectiveness. The study also showed that ketone levels correlated with symptom improvement in a subset of individuals who reported daily ratings. This pilot trial points to an important new direction for research and offers hope for innovative treatment options for individuals living with this serious mental illness. Co-led by University of Edinburgh scientists Iain Campbell, PhD, a Baszucki Metabolic Psychiatry Research Fellow, Daniel Smith, MD, FRCPsych, Chair of Psychiatry, and Harry Campbell, MD, FRSE, FMedSci, the research team enrolled 27 participants with bipolar disorder into a 6-8 week pilot trial of a ketogenic diet. Twenty participants completed the study, demonstrating that the intervention was safe and tolerable in this population. Most reached and maintained ketosis, with 91% of readings positive for blood ketones. Among participants who provided reliable daily ketone and mental health data assessments, increased ketone level was correlated with improvements in mood, energy, impulsivity, and anxiety, with some describing the intervention as life-changing. "A ketogenic diet gave me a lifeline, restoring my energy and sense of hope," said a study participant. "I felt like I was finally healing my mind, not just managing my bipolar symptoms. It opened me up to new possibilities and a brighter future." "Using a ketogenic diet is like giving my mind a warm bath," said another participant. "The edginess is gone. I feel calmer, clearer, and my brain is working again." Markers of metabolic function also improved. Nineteen of 20 participants lost an average of 9.3 pounds (4.2kg) and saw improvements in body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. These findings suggest that a ketogenic diet may help mitigate common metabolic health risks associated with bipolar disorder and its pharmacological treatments, which can lead to shortened life spans. "We observed markers of reduced excitotoxicity in two key brain areas: the anterior cingulate cortex and posterior cingulate cortex—both implicated in bipolar disorder. We also observed effects on a marker which has been associated with Lithium and insulin signaling in the posterior cingulate cortex " said Dr. Iain Campbell, who also lives with the disorder and follows a ketogenic diet to alleviate his symptoms. "These results add to a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that a ketogenic diet may be an effective adjunctive metabolic intervention for bipolar disorder. There is an urgent need for larger replication studies and carefully designed randomized clinical trials to build on these findings." These changes align with the metabolic overdrive hypothesis, a theory Drs. Campbell have proposed, which posits that energy dysregulation is central to the mechanism of bipolar disorder and that addressing this dysregulation may be key to the success of ketogenic diet therapy. A New Frontier in Mental Health This pilot study paved the way for a broader initiative at the University of Edinburgh, made possible by a competitive research grant from the UKRI Medical Research Council that established the first European Metabolic Psychiatry Hub. The hub, to which Baszucki Group also contributed funding, is a collaboration of over 100 scientists dedicated to accelerating research into the connections between metabolism and mental health. Its focus is to explore the potential of ketogenic therapy and other metabolic interventions for treating severe mental illnesses. This study is the second recently published pilot trial to demonstrate the safety and potential efficacy of ketogenic therapy in improving both metabolic and mental health markers in serious mental illness. The first trial, also funded by Baszucki Group, was conducted at Stanford University and also suggested that systemic metabolic changes from a ketogenic diet may help stabilize the brain in serious mental illness. "This trial is another important step forward in establishing ketogenic therapy as a standard treatment for serious mental illness," said Jan Ellison Baszucki, co-founder and President of Baszucki Group. "We're proud to have supported this research and remain hopeful that ongoing studies will continue to advance our understanding of the metabolic intervention that saved our son's life." As awareness grows about the deep connection between metabolic function and brain health, this study advances the global scientific movement toward neurometabolic approaches to understanding and treating mental illness. About Baszucki Group Launched in 2021 by Roblox founder and Chief Executive Officer David Baszucki and best-selling author Jan Ellison Baszucki, Baszucki Group leverages private giving, impact investing, advocacy, storytelling and community building to drive foundational change. A primary objective of Baszucki Group is to transform mental health outcomes by supporting initiatives at the intersection of metabolism, psychiatry, and neuroscience. To learn more about metabolic approaches to mental disorders, including ketogenic therapy, visit Metabolic Mind, a nonprofit initiative of Baszucki Group. View source version on Contacts Colby Zintl colby@ Sign in to access your portfolio
