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The Herald Scotland
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Yes to Flamingo Land, no to National Parks: what's the SNP playing at?
Scotland's landscape dares best the poetry of the glens, rivers, mountains and loughs that run from Antrim's coast to the foot of Cork. We Irish pride ourselves on the natural splendour of our island, so it's quite the step for one of us to admit Scotland takes the prize. I've lived here 30 years, however, so that cauterises my self-inflicted wound somewhat. In a way, I feel as Scottish as I do Irish. It's this love that's grown in me towards the beauty of Scotland which makes me shake my head at the behaviour of the SNP government. Right now, I'm mystified that the custodians of this country behave so carelessly towards our landscape. Here's two events which demand that you question whether our government ministers take the same pride in Scotland's natural beauty as the rest of us. Read more on the Loch Lomond Shores / Flamingoland saga: First, there's the go-ahead for Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond despite local opposition and concerns among experts. Then secondly, there's the scrapping of plans for a new Scottish national park. It does seem that beauty, landscape and the environment aren't exactly top of the SNP's priorities. Let's look at Flamingo Land first and the refusal by the Scottish government to intervene to stop the development. The plans will see more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and a monorail built at Balloch. It's quite simply vandalism. There is overwhelming local opposition to this development. A Scottish government reporter has upheld an appeal from the Yorkshire-based theme park operator for the plans. SNP ministers rejected calls to step in and block it. The Balloch and Haldane Community Council is demanding the SNP reverse the decision to recommend planning permission. The Green MSP Ross Greer pointedly referred to SNP ministers stepping in to help Donald Trump build his Aberdeenshire golf course, despite the local council throwing out the application. 'Ministers have the power to reject and recall this decision but they won't do it despite having done so previously for developers like Donald Trump,' Greer said. 'They won't do it when it is Scotland's natural environment that needs protecting.' This article features as part of our Unspun newsletter, delivered nightly to your inbox and containing the best political insight and analysis from our writers. Sign up to Unspun for FREE here. He said the government seemed 'willing to stand up for American billionaires … but won't stand up for Scotland's communities'. The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority rejected the proposals. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the National Trust for Scotland, and the Woodland Trust are also all opposed. Additionally, more than 155,000 citizens have registered their opposition. You can see why the government's position has been described as an 'anti-democratic outrage'. Residents in Balloch say the entire community is against the plan. Opponents are so incensed they have even gathered outside Holyrood to protest. One study showed that the development could lead to a net increase of just 61 full-time jobs. Meanwhile, John Swinney says he'll always 'cherish' Scotland's natural environment. SNP public finance minister Ivan McKee claims it's not 'appropriate' for him to comment as the application technically 'remains live'. Yet he found himself able to say: 'I do not intend to recall this appeal.' Further south in Scotland, plans for the country's third national park have been scrapped. Galloway would have joined the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon axed the idea. Labour's south Scotland MSP Colin Smyth says the area is a 'forgotten corner' of the country and worries it will become a 'dumping ground' for wind turbines. The camp opposed to the new national park hired what's been described as a 'large, slick PR consultancy' to fight their corner with the government. Kat Jones, director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, said the decision to drop the plans was a 'tragedy'. Rob Lucas, chair of the Galloway National Park Association, called it 'a big loss'. Actions speak louder than words, right? We all know that. The SNP - the self-styled party of Scotland - can claim until the cows come home that they are committed environmentalists who cherish this country's natural beauty and wish to be good custodians of the land. However, it doesn't look like that. It looks like the government puts big business before the land and before the people who live on the land. Of course we need investment and development; of course we need job and wealth creation; and of course we need to improve our tourism infrastructure. But is this the way to go about it? What other country would take an area like Loch Lomond - known across the world for its beauty, celebrated in song - and allow a waterpark to be built there? A new national park in Galloway would have been a magnet for tourists, whilst still protecting the land. Government is about hard choices, and that inevitably means not everyone will be happy. But there's a pattern here, and it's a pattern which seems to reinforce the suspicion that the party which boasts most about loving this country of ours does far too little to back up its big but empty talk. In the end, you feel compelled to ask yourself: does the SNP really give a damn about Scotland's natural beauty? Neil Mackay is The Herald's Writer-at-Large. He's a multi-award winning investigative journalist, author of both fiction and non-fiction, and a filmmaker and broadcaster. He specialises in intelligence, security, crime, social affairs, cultural commentary, and foreign and domestic politics
The Herald Scotland
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Yes to Flamingoland, no to National Parks: what is the SNP playing at?
Scotland's landscape dares best the poetry of the glens, rivers, mountains and loughs that run from Antrim's coast to the foot of Cork. We Irish pride ourselves on the natural splendour of our island, so it's quite the step for one of us to admit Scotland takes the prize. I've lived here 30 years, however, so that cauterises my self-inflicted wound somewhat. In a way, I feel as Scottish as I do Irish. It's this love that's grown in me towards the beauty of Scotland which makes me shake my head at the behaviour of the SNP government. Right now, I'm mystified that the custodians of this country behave so carelessly towards our landscape. Here's two events which demand that you question whether our government ministers take the same pride in Scotland's natural beauty as the rest of us. Read more on the Loch Lomond Shores / Flamingoland saga: Protesters warn Scottish ministers over Flamingo Land in Loch Lomond The SNP has a park problem. Both Flamingoland and Galloway First, there's the go-ahead for Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond despite local opposition and concerns among experts. Then secondly, there's the scrapping of plans for a new Scottish national park. It does seem that beauty, landscape and the environment aren't exactly top of the SNP's priorities. Let's look at Flamingo Land first and the refusal by the Scottish government to intervene to stop the development. The plans will see more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and a monorail built at Balloch. It's quite simply vandalism. There is overwhelming local opposition to this development. A Scottish government reporter has upheld an appeal from the Yorkshire-based theme park operator for the plans. SNP ministers rejected calls to step in and block it. The Balloch and Haldane Community Council is demanding the SNP reverse the decision to recommend planning permission. The Green MSP Ross Greer pointedly referred to SNP ministers stepping in to help Donald Trump build his Aberdeenshire golf course, despite the local council throwing out the application. 'Ministers have the power to reject and recall this decision but they won't do it despite having done so previously for developers like Donald Trump,' Greer said. 'They won't do it when it is Scotland's natural environment that needs protecting.' This article features as part of our Unspun newsletter, delivered nightly to your inbox and containing the best political insight and analysis from our writers. Sign up to Unspun for FREE here. He said the government seemed 'willing to stand up for American billionaires … but won't stand up for Scotland's communities'. The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority rejected the proposals. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the National Trust for Scotland, and the Woodland Trust are also all opposed. Additionally, more than 155,000 citizens have registered their opposition. You can see why the government's position has been described as an 'anti-democratic outrage'. Residents in Balloch say the entire community is against the plan. Opponents are so incensed they have even gathered outside Holyrood to protest. One study showed that the development could lead to a net increase of just 61 full-time jobs. Meanwhile, John Swinney says he'll always 'cherish' Scotland's natural environment. SNP public finance minister Ivan McKee claims it's not 'appropriate' for him to comment as the application technically 'remains live'. Yet he found himself able to say: 'I do not intend to recall this appeal.' Further south in Scotland, plans for the country's third national park have been scrapped. Galloway would have joined the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon axed the idea. Labour's south Scotland MSP Colin Smyth says the area is a 'forgotten corner' of the country and worries it will become a 'dumping ground' for wind turbines. The camp opposed to the new national park hired what's been described as a 'large, slick PR consultancy' to fight their corner with the government. Kat Jones, director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, said the decision to drop the plans was a 'tragedy'. Rob Lucas, chair of the Galloway National Park Association, called it 'a big loss'. Actions speak louder than words, right? We all know that. The SNP - the self-styled party of Scotland - can claim until the cows come home that they are committed environmentalists who cherish this country's natural beauty and wish to be good custodians of the land. However, it doesn't look like that. It looks like the government puts big business before the land and before the people who live on the land. Of course we need investment and development; of course we need job and wealth creation; and of course we need to improve our tourism infrastructure. But is this the way to go about it? What other country would take an area like Loch Lomond - known across the world for its beauty, celebrated in song - and allow a waterpark to be built there? A new national park in Galloway would have been a magnet for tourists, whilst still protecting the land. Government is about hard choices, and that inevitably means not everyone will be happy. But there's a pattern here, and it's a pattern which seems to reinforce the suspicion that the party which boasts most about loving this country of ours does far too little to back up its big but empty talk. In the end, you feel compelled to ask yourself: does the SNP really give a damn about Scotland's natural beauty? Neil Mackay is The Herald's Writer-at-Large. He's a multi-award winning investigative journalist, author of both fiction and non-fiction, and a filmmaker and broadcaster. He specialises in intelligence, security, crime, social affairs, cultural commentary, and foreign and domestic politics
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Is Swinney serious about tackling child poverty?
Eradicating child poverty has been the 'moral compass' of John Swinney's government this past year. And in his Programme for Government (PfG) last week, he maintained that it remained the number one focus. It would be fair to assume, then, that the legislative agenda for the year ahead would be filled with fresh ideas to achieve those ambitions. But there were none. Read more from Unspun: The First Minister was right to say that child poverty is estimated to rise in every part of the UK except for Scotland, with the 'game-changing' Scottish Child Payment praised by anti-poverty organisation the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Scotland's child poverty rates are projected to be 10 percentage points lower than England's by 2029. The benefits of the Scottish Child Payment should not be ignored for the contribution it will make towards this. But under the vision Swinney has for Scotland, do we simply strive to be better than other parts of the UK, or do we go further and lift as many children out of poverty as possible? Looking through the PfG, one policy stands out as new – and the impact it will make on children's lives in Scotland is limited. From September this year, peak rail fares on ScotRail trains will be scrapped for 'good' to drive people out of their cars, while putting money back into the pockets of commuters. Swinney was asked by journalists why he opted to announce discounted rail fares over child poverty action. 'In any policy programme, you have got to strike a balance in the commitments that you bring forward,' he said. He said higher earners in Scotland were already being asked to contribute more through higher taxes to allow families on lower incomes to receive the Scottish Child Payment. Children's charities had hoped the Programme for Government would bring bold action that would help the Scottish Government meet its ambitious targets on child poverty. By 2030, the Scottish Government must reduce relative child poverty to under 10% and absolute child poverty to under 5%. Current projections suggest that, while the SNP can be commended for being the only country in the UK not making child poverty worse, it is not on track to meet these targets. Some 22% of children are in relative poverty, with the 18% interim target missed. Absolute poverty is at 17%, just short of the 14% goal. Addressing child poverty, Swinney told MSPs in his speech: 'If we want to truly eradicate child poverty in Scotland, we must go further, and I recognise that.' The PfG included commitments to expand free school meals to pupils in S1 to S3 who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment. It was announced in January already as a sweetener for the Scottish Greens to ensure the budget was passed. That means that within the PfG, there were no new initiatives to tackle child poverty. While eradicating child poverty may not be a huge driver in encouraging people to vote, the charities who took Swinney at his word to go further will not forget it – and they will be disappointed.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Was Swinney sincere in response to child poverty campaign?
The sincerity of politicians is always called into question when real life issues like child poverty are focused on. For John Swinney, there was extra pressure. In taking up the office of First Minister almost a year ago, he made his central mission the eradication of child poverty. At the outset of The Herald's series, we could not have foreseen how the Scottish Government would respond, particularly after the campaign element – calling for the Scottish Child Payment to be increased to £40 per week – was unveiled. An open letter setting out this ask was sent to the First Minister on Tuesday evening, backed by 23 of the country's biggest anti-poverty charities or organisations. Under 24 hours later, the First Minister had responded, committing to 'going further' in the effort to combat the devastating levels of child poverty in the country. It cannot be understated how swift a response this was – and evidenced the First Minister wanted to engage on the issue. Of course, the call to increase the Scottish Child Payment was not specifically addressed in Mr Swinney's letter but it is clear the door is open for a discussion. I sat down with the First Minister in Bute House on Friday, hours before he made the trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis - a pontiff known for his work in helping the poor. There, I saw the First Minister in a way I had never seen him before. When we spoke of the hardship facing families in Scotland, he was visibly moved. I distinctly remember thinking that this was the reaction families wanted to see. Politicians often offer buzzwords and soundbites to the media as a way to get around the difficult questions. The First Minister is no different. He is a skilled politician with decades of experience. Read more from Unspun: Has John Swinney's special summit in Glasgow backfired? Time for NHS Fife to admit defeat in Sandie Peggie row? Waiting on EHRC guidance creates dangerous limbo for trans people Scottish Government's new policy programme faces big challenges And yet here he was, probably the sincerest I have ever seen him. The First Minister reflected on how his perception of poverty had changed over the years, from witnessing how it impacted his classmates, to meeting school children in his capacity as education secretary. It can only be a positive to have a political leader willing to engage on the big issues. But if his sincerity is to matter to the 23 charities that worked with The Herald to call for change, there must be action to follow it. He has angered charities claiming any further increases from £27.15 per week, for each child, could remove the incentive for parents to work. The Herald has also written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished. Sir Keir has not yet responded to the calls and Scotland minister Kirsty McNeill was unable to find the time to speak to us this week on the issue. In his letter to The Herald, Mr Swinney said eradicating child poverty should be an effort across the political spectrum – and with a Holyrood election just a year away, it's time to see how sincere politicians are willing to be on this.
Scotsman
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Soaring Fringe costs mean comedy 'becoming more elitist', comedian Matt Forde warns
The 'Edinburgh model' is making it 'almost impossible' for working class people to become comedians Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers 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... The cost of performing at the Edinburgh festival Fringe is making comedy 'more elitist', a leading stand-up has warned. Comedian Matt Forde said the 'Edinburgh model' is making it 'almost impossible to become a working-class, successful comedian in this country'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Giving evidence to a Westminster select committee on the live comedy sector, Mr Fforde, 42, who presented political satire programme Unspun, said: 'A lot of comedy clubs, the money has gone backwards since when I first started gigging. The money has got worse.' 'People face higher costs and less money for the work that they're doing, and then, really, until the birth of TikTok and social media, the main way really to get discovered as a comedian, to really get a career on the whole – and this isn't true for everyone – was to really have a successful Edinburgh Festival. 'And performing at the Edinburgh Festival costs a fortune, and the single biggest cost is accommodation.' Last year, the Fringe Society submitted evidence to the Scottish Government warning of an accommodation crisis in the city during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The organisation said the costs faced by performers and companies trying to book long-term accommodation in August had soared by up to 300 per cent in the space of six years, with up to £9,000 now being charged to stay in a one-bedroom flat in the city for the entirety of the event. Mr Forde added: 'The single biggest barrier to be able to perform, and indeed visit the Edinburgh Festival, is the exorbitant rents that landlords charge. 'And year after year it has gone up and up and up, and I think performers and audience members are prepared to pay a bit of a premium for staying in someone's house that they've had to vacate for a month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But it is growing exponentially year on year on year, and that is meaning that comedy at that level is becoming more elitist.' Mr Forde said that the 'only people' who can afford to do hours of unpaid work in the hopes that comedy will become a full-time job 'are privileged people'. Comedian Matt Forde giving evidence about the state of play in live comedy, before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the House of Commons, London. | PA 'And then the only people that can afford to perform at Edinburgh, and indeed visit Edinburgh, are privileged people,' he said. Last year, ex-BBC presenter Gail Porter said she had been 'priced out' of attending the festival in her hometown due to 'the soaring costs of B&Bs'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Forde said: 'The Edinburgh model is making it almost impossible to become a working-class successful comedian in this country, and the lack of recognition from Government, I should add, is part of that problem.' He also discussed the benefits of Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels bringing a British version of the long-running US sketch comedy show to Sky - warning that the show would not 'dramatically change the culture' in the UK. 'I'm really excited that SNL is coming to the UK. I think it's a very good thing,' he said. 'I think we need more topical comedy on telly. We need more sketch on telly. 'You go to the Edinburgh Festival, you see amazing sketch shows, it's a real breeding ground for talent. It's a different discipline to individual stand-up, and there should be more of it on telly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But I think SNL in itself isn't going to dramatically change the culture here.' Edinburgh Festival Fringe has helped to launch the careers of numerous comedians and writers. Phoebe Waller-Bridge premiered her play Fleabag at the festival and Richard Gadd performed Baby Reindeer there, before it was transformed into a hit Netflix series.
