Latest news with #KevinStewart
The National
13-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Labour 'wasted' thousands on GB Energy logo blunder, FOI reveals
A Freedom of Information request has revealed £10,710 was spent on the new GB Energy logo – with the SNP accusing the UK Government of not doing its due diligence with regards to the initial design. It was previously reported that the initial logo (below) was a stock image used by a US-based advertising firm. (Image: Canva) The newer version (below), meanwhile, has been designed since – with SNP MSP Kevin Stewart saying it is 'absolutely ridiculous'. (Image: Canva) It comes after The National also revealed that GB Energy formally has no employees. Asked how many people are currently employed by GB Energy, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero responded that it 'does not hold the information you have requested'. 'This is because Great British Energy is currently being established,' it went on. READ MORE: Scottish unemployment rate grows but still below UK average, statistics show 'The company does not formally have 'employees' at this stage.' There is also uncertainty and doubts over how many jobs GB Energy will actually bring to Scotland – or the rest of the UK. For example, GB Energy chair Jurgen Maier admitted last month that Keir Starmer's General Election pledge to create 1000 new energy jobs in Scotland though GB Energy could take as long as '20 years'. 'Labour talked a good game on GB Energy, but with no jobs, no office, and now over 10 grand wasted on a logo – this is yet another example of careless spending and a lack of seriousness when it comes to delivering real energy reform,' Stewart said. 'Tragically, what this really shows is that GB Energy is nothing more than a shopfront for the UK Government, with no substance behind it. 'Once again, Scotland and the North East is being treated as an afterthought by the UK Government – with the full powers of independence, we could create an energy policy which serves Scotland and the people who live here.' A UK Government spokesperson said: 'These claims are false. Great British Energy's logo was designed by our in-house communications team and the only external costs were for legal advice and to trademark the brand – an essential legal process for every new organisation. 'Backed by £8.3 billion over this parliament, Great British Energy has already committed £350 million to help unlock major clean energy projects that will revitalise the UK's industrial heartlands with new jobs, alongside securing Britain's energy supply.'
Press and Journal
13-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
GB Energy spent over £10,000 on new logo after being mocked for 'copying'
GB Energy shelled out more than £10,000 on its new logo after a previous version was mocked for copying one used by a US advertising firm. Aberdeen SNP MSP Kevin Stewart says it is 'ridiculous' the cash was spent after officials failed to check the original version. A Freedom of Information request revealed the UK Government spent £10,710 (plus VAT) on legal and copyright fees surrounding the new GB energy logo. The redesign was unveiled last year after it was revealed the original logo – which included a cartoon lightbulb – appeared to be an inverted version of one used by a New York-based firm. The SNP says the incident is the latest in a 'long line of embarrassments' for Labour's flagship energy policy. GB energy reportedly still has no 'formal employees', and is headquartered in an office already occupied by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The boss of the government-owned energy first previously suggested it could take 20 years to fulfil Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's pre-election pledge of 1,000 jobs in the company. Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'Labour talked a good game on GB energy, but with no jobs, no office, and now over 10-grand wasted on a logo – this is yet another example of careless spending and a lack of seriousness when it comes to delivering real energy reform. 'Tragically, what this really shows is that GB energy is nothing more than a shopfront for the UK Government, with no substance behind it.' A spokesman for the UK Government's department for energy security and net zero said it was 'false' to say the fees were a result of the first logo. He added: 'Great British Energy's logo was designed by our in-house communications team and the only external costs were for legal advice and to trademark the brand – an essential legal process for every new organisation. 'Backed by £8.3 billion over this parliament, Great British Energy has already committed £350 million to help unlock major clean energy projects that will revitalise the UK's industrial heartlands with new jobs, alongside securing Britain's energy supply.'
Axios
05-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Philadelphia gets an F on air quality metrics
Philadelphia's air quality is worsening and exposing people to potentially dangerous levels of pollution, per a new report. Why it matters: Air pollution threatens everyone's health — especially children, older people and people with asthma or heart and lung conditions. The big picture: 46% of Americans — just over 156 million people — are living in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, per the American Lung Association's 2025 State of the Air report. Meanwhile, the Philly region ranked poorly among U.S. cities for pollution, per the 2021-2023 data. Zoom in: Philly proper received an F grade for the number of days with high ozone and particle pollution, per the report. The city was one of the few areas that received failing grades for ozone smog and particle pollution. By the numbers: The city had short-term spikes in particle pollution, with an estimated 5.8 unhealthy days per year on average. Last year, Philly received a C. Another measure: The Philly region ranked 43rd-worst in the nation for ozone smog. Threat level: The lung association says that "short-term exposure, such as from peaks or spikes in particle pollution that lasts from hours to days, can kill." Context: The Philly region, per the report, is vast and includes northeastern Maryland, parts of Pennsylvania's Delaware, Berks and Bucks counties, and South Jersey down to Cape May. What they're saying: Philly's ranking was particularly impacted by the 2023 wildfire smoke. But even without the worsening effects of wildfires, Philly had failing grades for air quality conditions, Kevin Stewart, director of environmental health at ALA and co-author of the report, tells Axios. "We know that as climate change has its influence, it will make these [wildfire] events more likely to occur," he said. How it works: The report uses local air quality data to grade and rank locations based on ozone pollution, daily particle pollution and annual particle pollution. Zoom out: California's Los Angeles, Visalia and Bakersfield lead the lung association's new rankings of U.S. metros most affected by ozone pollution.
Press and Journal
28-04-2025
- Press and Journal
Widow of stabbing victim hopes to bring Knife Angel to Aberdeen
An Aberdeen woman who lost her husband in a stabbing attack is calling for the city to host an artwork designed to help combat knife crime. Linda Taylor's husband Keith was murdered in Tillydrone in July 2016 along with her neighbour Tracy Gabriel. Haunted by that loss, Linda recently vowed to use her personal tragedy to help ensure fewer people will be forced to endure the loss of a loved one to violent crime. After calling on the police and government to introduce a viable and ongoing knife surrender scheme to encourage people to ditch potentially deadly weapons, Linda has now turned her attention to Aberdeen City Council. The widow is asking the local authority to launch a bid to host The Knife Angel – a 27ft tall statue designed to help combat knife crime. Her call for action comes just days after a 12-year-old girl was slashed in an alleged knife incident at Hazlehead Academy in Aberdeen. Also known as The National Monument Against Violence, The Knife Angel is made from more than 100,000 seized blades from police forces across the UK, some of which have been engraved by those affected by knife crime. The statue has now travelled to more than 50 cities since 2018, spreading awareness and prompting conversation wherever it goes. Linda said she was encouraged to approach the council after learning about the impact seeing a knife sculpture had had on someone she knew. 'I was talking about amnesties and he told me about being taken to see a knife sculpture as a child and how that affected him,' she said. After learning about the Knife Angel, Linda decided she wanted to bring the artwork, along with a knife amnesty bin, to Aberdeen, in memory of her husband. Linda, who has also been speaking to representatives from Police Scotland about using her experiences to educate others on the impact of knife crime, hopes that being confronted by the powerful artwork will help to prompt both conversation and action. She hopes that bringing the artwork to Aberdeen would allow families and schools to visit, creating an opportunity for conversation around the topics of violence and knife crime. 'I think the earlier you start, the better chance you have,' she said, noting that recent events at Hazlehead Academy underline how her mission is more important than ever. 'It is crazy that it is happening in schools,' she said. Asked what effect she hoped the presence of the sculpture might have, Linda said: 'If people see what good can be done instead of using the weapons then you might actually have an impact. 'All those weapons could have been used – now look at how beautiful it is.' Linda has already enlisted the help of Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart and is lobbying the police and council to bring her idea to fruition. Kevin Stewart told the Press and Journal: 'I think it's a great idea to host the Knife Angel statue here in Aberdeen. 'Knife crime has a devastating impact on families and communities and all credit to Linda for using her heartbreaking story to raise awareness and continue conversations. 'I'm fully supportive of this initiative and will continue to engage with Linda and stakeholders to try and make this a reality'. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Knives can have a devastating impact on our communities. 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to offensive weapons and knife crime and are committed to making our communities safer. 'We are working with partners through enforcement and education and will continue to target those who choose to carry weapons. 'We are aware of a potential opportunity for Aberdeen to host the Knife Angel and will liaise with partners.' An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman told us: 'We are in discussions partners as we seek to move forward with a bid.' Linda said: 'Let's make it happen.'
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Erie-Meadville air quality drops two letter grades
The Erie-Meadville metro area's air quality has declined and Canadian wildfires in 2023 are at least partially to blame. That, according to a state of the air report recently released by the American Lung Association. Erie celebrates Arbor Day with community tree planting event The area's grades have dropped from 'A' to 'C' for high ozone days and 24-hour particle pollution. The report noted that wildfire smoke contributed to the worsening air quality. 'Anyone who remembers June of 2023, the wildfire smoke from Canada came across and that was enough to push grades into the C range for both of these pollutants,' said Kevin Stewart, director of environmental health at the American Lung Association. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. tours Penn State Behrend, eyes new center The report ranks the Erie-Meadville area 130th worst for high ozone days and 104th worst for 24-hour particle pollution. That's out of about 225 metropolitan areas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
