Latest news with #RussellFindlay
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-Highlands and Islands Tory MSP Sir Jamie McGrigor dies aged 75
Sir Jamie McGrigor, the former Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has died aged Jamie was elected to the first devolved Scottish Parliament in served as an MSP for 17 years and later as a Tory councillor in Argyll and Conservative leader Russell Findlay described Sir Jamie as "a true champion of the Highlands and Islands". He added: "I'm deeply saddened to hear of Sir Jamie's death, and, on behalf of everyone in the Scottish Conservatives, send my condolences to his family and friends."Sir Jamie excelled in a number of frontbench roles, including fisheries, and was popular and respected by colleagues from across the political spectrum."First Minister John Swinney also paid tribute to the veteran posted on X: "Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jamie McGrigor."We came from different political traditions and often held opposing views, but as an MSP, Jamie was a warm, engaging presence and was deeply committed to the Highlands and Islands."My thoughts are with his family and friends." Political career Sir James Angus Rhoderick Neil McGrigor was born in London in 1949, to a family with connections to Argyll, where he was raised, and educated at Eton graduated with a degree in commercial French at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, before working in finance in London, and in the commodities sector in was also a farmer, and started a trout farm in Argyll in the Jamie stood as the Conservative candidate in the Western Isles in the 1997 general election, before being elected to the Scottish Parliament two years was a Scottish Conservative spokesman on fisheries, communities and stood down in 2016, becoming a councillor for the South Oban and Islands Ward on Argyll and Bute Council between 2017 and 2022.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Tory leader calls for resignations at NHS Fife over Sandie Peggie tribunal
Senior managers at NHS Fife should step down over the board's handling of the Sandie Peggie tribunal, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has said. Ms Peggie was suspended from her job as an A&E nurse at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy in 2024 after complaining about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton. Ms Peggie took the board to an employment tribunal which began earlier this year. But this week, Ms Peggie was cleared of a bullying and harassment complaint from Dr Upton, as the tribunal reconvened. Mr Findlay has called for NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter to resign, along with the authority's board, and if they refuse, the Scottish Government should step in and sack them, he said. 'This ongoing slow-motion car crash from NHS Fife confirms that Carol Potter and her entire board can no longer remain in post,' the Scottish Tory leader said. 'In their zeal to embrace the SNP's bonkers belief in gender ideology, they were willing to destroy the career of a nurse and waste huge sums of taxpayers' money.' Mr Findlay claimed the board was 'smearing Sandie Peggie and the campaigners who have stood with her'. On Friday, the board released a lengthy statement claiming there had been a threat of 'physical harm and sexual violence' in relation to the tribunal, but clarified this is not believed to be related to any of Ms Peggie's supporters. An earlier version of the statement had referenced the involvement of the campaign group Sex Matters. 'The claimant's case is being supported by Sex Matters, whose chief executive officer and co-founder was called as a witness by the claimant in the earlier hearing. 'The claimant's barrister is also chair of Sex Matters. 'Other members of the organisation's 'advisory group' have provided commentary to the media on a number of occasions where no reference is made to their direct involvement.' The updated version of the statement removed reference to the group's involvement in the tribunal and inserted two notes saying the board 'is not seeking to suggest that Sex Matters have contributed to the behaviour or issues mentioned'. Mr Findlay added: ' John Swinney, Neil Gray and their SNP colleagues appear to be the only people left in Scotland who think this is OK. 'If the NHS Fife board won't do the right thing and quit, then they should be sacked.' A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: 'As this is an active legal case, it would be inappropriate to respond to these comments.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'It would be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Tory leader calls for resignations at NHS Fife over Sandie Peggie tribunal
Senior managers at NHS Fife should step down over the board's handling of the Sandie Peggie tribunal, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has said. Ms Peggie was suspended from her job as an A&E nurse at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy in 2024 after complaining about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton. Ms Peggie took the board to an employment tribunal which began earlier this year. But this week, Ms Peggie was cleared of a bullying and harassment complaint from Dr Upton, as the tribunal reconvened. Mr Findlay has called for NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter to resign, along with the authority's board, and if they refuse, the Scottish Government should step in and sack them, he said. 'This ongoing slow-motion car crash from NHS Fife confirms that Carol Potter and her entire board can no longer remain in post,' the Scottish Tory leader said. 'In their zeal to embrace the SNP's bonkers belief in gender ideology, they were willing to destroy the career of a nurse and waste huge sums of taxpayers' money.' Mr Findlay claimed the board was 'smearing Sandie Peggie and the campaigners who have stood with her'. On Friday, the board released a lengthy statement claiming there had been a threat of 'physical harm and sexual violence' in relation to the tribunal, but clarified this is not believed to be related to any of Ms Peggie's supporters. An earlier version of the statement had referenced the involvement of the campaign group Sex Matters. 'The claimant's case is being supported by Sex Matters, whose chief executive officer and co-founder was called as a witness by the claimant in the earlier hearing. 'The claimant's barrister is also chair of Sex Matters. 'Other members of the organisation's 'advisory group' have provided commentary to the media on a number of occasions where no reference is made to their direct involvement.' The updated version of the statement removed reference to the group's involvement in the tribunal and inserted two notes saying the board 'is not seeking to suggest that Sex Matters have contributed to the behaviour or issues mentioned'. Mr Findlay added: 'John Swinney, Neil Gray and their SNP colleagues appear to be the only people left in Scotland who think this is OK. 'If the NHS Fife board won't do the right thing and quit, then they should be sacked.' A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: 'As this is an active legal case, it would be inappropriate to respond to these comments.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'It would be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
NHS Fife bosses should step down over Sandie Peggie tribunal, says Russell Findlay
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has called for the NHS Fife board to be removed over their handling of the Sandie Peggie tribunal. NHS Fife bosses should step down over the board's handling of the Sandie Peggie tribunal, according to Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay. Last year, Sandie Peggie was suspended from her job as an A&E nurse at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy after she complained about having to share a changing room with trans medic Dr Beth Upton. Ms Peggie took the board to an employment tribunal which started earlier this year. However, this week Ms Peggie was cleared of a bullying and harassment complaint from Dr Upton, as the tribunal reconvened. Russell Findlay has now called for NHS Fife chief executive Carol Potter to resign, along with the authority's board, and if they refuse, the Scottish Government should step in and sack them, he said. "This ongoing slow-motion car crash from NHS Fife confirms that Carol Potter and her entire board can no longer remain in post," the Scottish Tory leader said. "In their zeal to embrace the SNP's bonkers belief in gender ideology, they were willing to destroy the career of a nurse and waste huge sums of taxpayers' money." Mr Findlay claimed the board was "smearing Sandie Peggie and the campaigners who have stood with her". On Friday, the board released a lengthy statement claiming there had been a threat of "physical harm and sexual violence" in relation to the tribunal, but clarified this is not believed to be related to any of Sandie Peggie's supporters. An earlier version of the statement had referenced the involvement of the campaign group Sex Matters. "The claimant's case is being supported by Sex Matters, whose chief executive officer and co-founder was called as a witness by the claimant in the earlier hearing. "The claimant's barrister is also chair of Sex Matters. "Other members of the organisation's 'advisory group' have provided commentary to the media on a number of occasions where no reference is made to their direct involvement." The updated version of the statement removed reference to the group's involvement in the tribunal and inserted two notes saying the board"is not seeking to suggest that Sex Matters have contributed to the behaviour or issues mentioned". Scotland who think this is okay. "If the NHS Fife board won't do the right thing and quit, then they should be sacked." A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: "As this is an active legal case, it would be inappropriate to respond to these comments." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "It would be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Now Auditor General stands ready to probe NHS Fife chiefs over their handling of trans battle
Scotland's Auditor General could launch a probe into NHS Fife, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. In an exclusive interview, Stephen Boyle refused to rule out taking a deep-dive into the health board's finances and governance structures. It comes as Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay last night demanded First Minister John Swinney 'sack' NHS Fife's CEO and board if they did not 'do the right thing and quit'. Sandie Peggie, 51, was suspended from her role at Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, last year after she objected to 30-year-old male-born Dr Beth Upton using the female facilities. She is also suing the Royal College of Nursing union, a fact first revealed by MailOnline in May. Last night, Mr Boyle - who assesses public bodies' value for money as well as their governance structures and accountability - said he would make a decision on whether to probe NHS Fife after his auditors complete their usual reports. Asked about the use of taxpayer funds to pay for legal costs relating to the tribunal so far, Mr Boyle said he understood why the public might be concerned over the spending. He said: 'Without commenting on the specifics of the case... I understand across the piece why the public will want to be satisfied absolutely that public money is spent properly consistent with the roles and responsibility of public bodies who are tasked with implementing government policy.' Probed over whether he had concerns NHS Fife might not be complying with the law on single sex spaces - clarified by a Supreme Court ruling that a woman is defined by her biological sex in April - he said he would await the auditor's usual report of the health board. He said: 'How I discharge my responsibilities, particularly when it comes to individual public bodies, is through the annual auditors. I appoint auditors for all public bodies, with the exception of local government and they'll conduct an audit of the expenditure. 'In public sector context, we don't just look at the numbers, we also look at governance, accountability and value for money, and I'll await the auditor's report. 'That's something that they will refer to, and it's something that I can then take a decision, as I do in many cases, whether to proceed with a statutory report to the Scottish Parliament on the back of that.' And pushed on whether he will investigate NHS Fife's handling of the case, he said: 'It's not something I have made a decision on yet. I will await the auditor's report.' Mr Boyle's comments come after Scottish Tory leader Mr Findlay yesterday said the tribunal was unfolding like an 'ongoing slow-motion car crash'. He said NHS Fife's chief executive Carol Potter, who earns at least £147,700 a year, and her 'entire board can no longer remain in post'. And he condemned a media statement released by the health board on Friday evening which took a swipe at human rights organisation Sex Matters, which is supporting Mrs Peggie. The statement read: 'Sex Matters have been very active, making statements which it would appear are aimed at steering public opinion in a way that NHS Fife as a public body clearly cannot.' It added: 'There has been significant and very polarised debate on social media regarding the case and associated issues, throughout. In some cases, however, what began as debate has evolved into much more worrying behaviour, including a threat of physical harm and sexual violence, which has required the involvement of Police Scotland.' NHS Fife later tweaked the release, adding: 'NHS Fife is not seeking to suggest that anyone involved with Sex Matters have contributed to the behaviour or issues mentioned above.' However the move backfired spectacularly, drawing criticism and ridicule in equal measure. Last night, Mr Findlay said: 'In their zeal to embrace the SNP's bonkers belief in gender ideology, they were willing to destroy the career of a nurse and waste huge sums of taxpayers' money. 'But instead of taking any responsibility for their own conduct, they've now resorted to smearing Sandie Peggie and the campaigners who have stood with her.' He added: 'John Swinney, Neil Grey and their SNP colleagues appear to be the only people left in Scotland who think this is okay. 'If the NHS Fife board won't do the right thing and quit, then they should be sacked.' NHS Fife's statement also made reference to a freedom of information battled between the health board and The Mail. However that also caused concern, and sparked a warning from the Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton who said it had cast doubt on its compliance with FOI legislation. In May, he ordered NHS Fife to review what information it held about its legal bill for the tribunal after it failed to supply the costs to The Mail. Earlier this month, NHS Fife published data saying the case had cost £220,500 as of the end of May - although that had soared to £258,831 by the end of June. Mr Hamilton said: 'The petulant tone of NHS Fife's latest statement is quite remarkable, but it is the contents that concern me most. They have now cast doubt upon the assurances they gave me regarding compliance with my Decision Notice.' If the authority had not complied, he said he may 'report the matter to the Court of Session as a contempt of court'. According to the health board's communications policy, Press releases are approved by the 'relevant Executive Director and Chief Executive before release', meaning Mrs Potter was likely aware of the statement. The tribunal battle between the veteran nurse, the health board and the doctor continues. A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Ministers have been clear they have confidence in the board. It would however be inappropriate to comment further while judicial proceedings in an Employment Tribunal are ongoing.' A spokeswoman for NHS Fife said: 'To date, NHS Fife has had no contact from the Auditor General on this matter.'
