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The Courier
a day ago
- The Courier
Dundee violence fears as footage of another street fight emerges
Fears have been raised about the levels of violence on Dundee's streets after footage emerged of another fight in the city. The incident, recorded on Craigowan Road in Charleston, is understood to have happened earlier this month. A video of the fight has been posted on social media. The footage shows two men, a woman and four masked youths in an altercation outside the community centre. Several of the youths then attack one of the men, pushing him to the ground and kicking him. A car window is also smashed. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are aware of footage showing a disturbance in the Craigowan Road area of Dundee, believed to have been filmed during May 2025. 'Inquiries are ongoing.' It comes just days after footage of another street fight in St Mary's, where vehicles and weapons were involved, was shared online. An investigation into that incident – which left a 24-year-old man in hospital – is continuing. There have been several other incidents across the city of late, including an alleged serious assault on a 14-year-old girl in Broughty Ferry. Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative MSP for north-east Scotland, is calling for authorities to come together and tackle 'escalating incidents of violence' in the city. He said: 'This is becoming all-too-common a sight on social media. 'It's all too easy to dismiss these acts as those of 'little boys acting the big man' or to make light of violence happening in more deprived areas. 'But this is happening in daylight, outside people's homes, and even next to a cornerstone of the community in Charleston. 'This explosion in violence on Dundee streets, played out in real time and for thousands of people to see online, needs tackled before someone dies.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ross accuses Johnstone of ‘constitutional bias' after being kicked out of FMQs
Douglas Ross has accused Holyrood's Presiding Officer of constitutional bias after being kicked out from the Scottish Parliament's chamber during a boisterous First Minister's Questions. The former Scottish Tory leader claimed Alison Johnstone — who was elected in 2021 as a Scottish Green MSP — treats pro-union parties more harshly than those who backed Yes in the 2014 independence referendum. However, a spokesperson for Holyrood said the MSP had been repeatedly warned about his heckling. READ MORE: Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross kicked out of Holyrood chamber Soaring welfare bill, ScotRail fares and tax gap heap pressure on Scottish Budget Bid to add 'Second Hampden' to list of nationally important historic sites The row began after Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay questioned the First Minister on the impact of net zero policies on agriculture. In response, John Swinney said Brexit had harmed farmers, prompting Mr Ross to shout: 'Swinney deflecting again.' Ms Johnstone halted proceedings and said: 'Mr Ross, you have persistently refused to abide by our standing orders and I would ask you to leave this chamber and you are excluded for the rest of the day.' Mr Ross did not initially leave, forcing the Presiding Officer to pause proceedings again to insist he depart. Here is the moment Douglas Ross was kicked out of the Chamber today during FMQs @heraldscotland — Hannah Brown (@HannahMargBrown) May 29, 2025 Speaking to journalists afterwards, Mr Ross said he was 'very frustrated' by the decision. 'For a member to be expelled from the chamber without being warned at all, I think may be unprecedented. I have been warned in the past, as has John Swinney. I have been warned quite a lot recently, as has John Swinney, for shouting and heckling and others and asking questions, as have many SNP backbenchers and frontbenchers.' Asked if he was questioning the Presiding Officer's neutrality, Mr Ross replied: 'Yes.' He said MSPs from other parties had messaged him to express concern about Ms Johnstone's conduct. 'They were just surprised by the actions of the Presiding Officer. We are a legislature here — we are not a library. "There is going to be some discussion from the benches around the respective party spokespeople. That is what people watch politics for. Now, sometimes it goes beyond the pale and action has to be taken. "But I do not recall ever seeing a Presiding Officer take no action to try to minimise that behaviour or to warn any members before excluding them — and she reached straight for that option today, which for me raises serious concerns. "The speed at which she did it made me almost think it was premeditated. 'It did not matter what I did today. I wonder if she was just going to go straight for that. And certainly, by looking at it, there was no hesitation from Alison Johnstone to reach for that straightaway.' He added: 'I think we have got to look at her actions against Conservatives in general, and how she has responded to comments from SNP ministers. "For example, the First Minister is apparently allowed to call the Conservatives a disgusting party with no sanction. "But Russell Findlay was making comments about the Green Party, which she immediately slapped down. "So it does raise questions about the consistency in her decision-making and how she is treating members of different parties.' He said: 'Alison Johnstone, formerly being a Green Party member, said that she would leave her party allegiances at the door, but [she is] taking very different approaches to nationalist politicians who step out of line compared to unionist politicians who step out of line.' The Scottish LibDems said they continued to support Ms Johnstone. Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'If Douglas Ross does not want to be in the Scottish Parliament any more he should just resign. 'Anyone watching First Minister's Questions will know that for weeks and weeks Douglas Ross has been provoking the Presiding Officer in the hope that he would get thrown out, in a cynical bid for relevance. 'The Presiding Officer was quite right to eject him and my party has full confidence in her impartiality.' A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: "The Presiding Officer has warned Mr Ross on repeated occasions recently about his behaviour in the Chamber. 'Due to his persistent refusal to respect the rules of Parliament, the Member was asked to leave the Chamber. This suspension is for the remainder of the day.' On 8 May the Presiding Officer told the MSP, Mr Ross, "if I hear you once more, you will leave this chamber.' On 22 April she said: "Mr Ross, I will not ask again that you refrain from shouting from your seat when you have not been called to speak. That is the last time that I will ask you.' Later that same day, Ms Johnston said: "Mr Ross, would you like to leave the chamber? If you wish to remain here, you must adhere to our standing orders.' Standing Order 7.3 of Scottish Parliament Standing Orders sets out that MSPs "shall at all times conduct themselves in an orderly manner" and that any member who breaks this rule "may be ordered by the Presiding Officer to leave the chamber and may be excluded from the chamber."
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Why won't Angela Rayner speak to Scottish print journalists?
The party promised access to senior UK Government ministers would never be restricted under their leadership. There will be better relations with the Scottish press, we were enthusiastically told. And yet, 10 months into the Labour administration and the examples of officials coming to Scotland and dodging journalists are mounting up. This time, it is Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. She is not here on official government business, it is important to note. Instead, she was supposed to participate in a walkabout with Davy Russell, the party's candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill also did not speak with press despite visiting Edinburgh University on Thursday afternoon. Reade more Unspun: Top concerns of Scots ahead of Holyrood election must be heeded Scottish by-election: Constituents deserve a race to be their MSP I studied abroad. Here's why re-joining Erasmus+ is welcome Three weeks ago, Chancellor Rachel Reeves was in East Lothian on official business and the invitation to print journalists, including The Herald, was pulled hours before the event. Why? Officials said the Chancellor's schedule had been unexpectedly 'squeezed', meaning she had no time to take questions – other than five minutes from broadcasters. On that visit, she had a dram of whisky as she toured the distillery, presenting ample time for a five minute print huddle. This also is not the first time the Chancellor has ventured north of the border without taking questions from Scottish newspaper journalists. Her sister Ellie Reeves - a Cabinet Office minister - also came to Glasgow a fortnight ago, without a word to the print media. Before entering government, Labour was desperate to avoid a Rishi Sunak style disaster. In April 2023, the then-Prime Minister was in Glasgow for the Scottish Conservative conference. The story of the day was not what the former Tory leader said in his speech. It was instead the No 10 press team's short lived attempt to restrict access to Mr Sunak. Read more: Angela Rayner's Hamilton visit derailed by protesters Just seven journalists from selected outlets were invited to meet with the PM - a request resoundingly rejected by the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists' Association (SPJA), before the offer was extended to all journalists in the room. Dismissing print journalists is not a new trend for UK Government officials. It was also repeatedly done by No 10 while Boris Johnson was in office. But it is frustrating given that we were promised it would be different under Labour. And it is time it stopped. Labour has told The Herald the press event in Hamilton was restricted because of time and space constraints. Are senior Labour officials - and the UK Government, by extension - afraid to speak to the Scottish media? In the midst of a crucial by-election, when Labour's message is how powerful it is to have a local candidate - Davy Russell - I challenge them to prioritise the print journalists who are working as hard as broadcasters to cover the vote. We are on the ground in Hamilton every day. It's time we were treated the same.
STV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Who are the Labour, Reform, SNP and Tory candidates in crucial by-election?
Candidates from SNP, Scottish Labour, Tories, and Reform are battling it out in the final week before the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. The vote will take place on Thursday, June 5 with polling stations open between 7am and 10pm. But who are the candidates and what do they stand for? Reform UK Reform candidate Ross Lambie Reform UK candidate Ross Lambie is fighting to win the first MSP seat in Scotland for his party. Lambie began his career as a Conservative, only defecting to Reform UK in March. He was elected as a local councillor in South Lanarkshire for Clydesdale South in 2022. However, he has run for multiple other seats in the region. He ran as a Tory in the 2021 Holyrood election for Central Scotland and in the UK General Election in 2024 – losing both races. He's hoping the third time's the charm for breaking into national politics in Hamilton. Lambie said he was 'born and raised' in a small mining village of South Lanarkshire, and worked in London as an architect before moving back to the area. SNP SNP candidate Katy Loudon SNP candidate Katy Loudon is fighting to hold the seat for her party. She's currently a local South Lanarkshire councillor for Cambuslang East. She was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. Loudon has previously run for other seats in the region. At the last Holyrood election in 2021, she lost out on a Glasgow region seat, and she lost both the Rutherglen MP by-election and General Election in 2023 and 2024. She is also hoping that the third time's the charm for breaking into national politics in Hamilton. Loudon comes from a family of educators. Prior to politics, she was a primary school teacher for ten years. She said she has lived in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West region for nearly 14 years, raising her family in the area. Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Tory candidate for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election Richard Nelson Scottish Conservative is currently a South Lanarkshire councillor for Larkhall. He was first elected in 2017 and was re-elected in 2022. Nelson ran in the UK General Election in Hamilton and Clyde constituency last year and came third. This is his first attempt to get a seat at the Scottish Parliament. He said he was 'born and raised' in South Lanarkshire and currently lives there with his wife and two young children. Prior to joining politics, Nelson worked for the NHS and has more than 20 years of experience within the health and care sector. Speaking about his platform, Nelson said he wants to 'put that experience to good use' as an MSP for the region. Equipped with first-hand experience of the issues facing residents, he said he wants to make sure South Lanarkshire Council delivers a better future for the town and enhances the sense of community for everyone who calls it home. Scottish Labour Scottish Labour candidate for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election Davy Russell Running in his first ever election, Davy Russell is Scottish Labour's candidate. In a campaign video, Russell says he is 'not a politician'. 'I've never stood for election before,' he says, 'But I'm standing in this by-election because this is where I was born, where I live, and where I've raised my family.' Russell has called himself a dad and grandad who wants to 'be a champion in parliament' for the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse constituency. Prior to getting involved in politics, Russell began his career as a roads trainee in 1980 and ended up as a director at Glasgow City Council. He also helps run a local hospice and represents King Charles as Deputy Lord Lieutenant in Lanarkshire. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Former Tory leader Douglas Ross kicked out of First Minister's Questions at Scottish Parliament
Mr Ross has been excluded from the parliament's chamber for the entirety of Thursday Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has been kicked out of First Minister's Questions after heckling John Swinney. Holyrood's presiding officer, Alison Johnstone, said Mr Ross had 'persistently' flouted the parliament's standing orders. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former Tory leader has been excluded from the chamber for the entirety of Thursday. Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross | PA It followed an exchange at FMQs over the cost of reaching net zero by 2045, which Russell Findlay, the current Tory leader, insisted would be 'crippling' for groups such as farmers. In his response, the First Minister said there was 'parliamentary consensus' about the importance of reaching net zero by this date, and highlighted the 'damage' caused by Brexit, which led to Mr Ross heckling. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Mr Ross, you have persistently refused to abide by our standing orders, and I would ask you to leave this chamber and you are excluded for the rest of the day,' Ms Johnstone said. After the former Tory leader remained seated, she said: 'Mr Ross, I have asked you to leave the chamber. Please do so.'
