Latest news with #WillieRennie
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
FMQs: Douglas Ross ejected from chamber by presiding officer
Update: Date: 13:15 BST Title: FMQs: The headlines Content: That brings an end to a lively First Minister's Questions. If you're just joining us here's what you missed: That's all from the live page team today. The editor was Mary McCool. Megan Bonar and Craig Hutchison were the writers. Update: Date: 13:01 BST Title: Swinney commits to securing financial future of Dundee university Content: Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie asks about the lack of progress on financial recovery for the University of Dundee, which is cutting hundreds of jobs due to a £35m deficit. 'This has been agonising for university staff, a cloud has been hanging over them since November,' he said. The first minister says the university is an autonomous institution, and no request from the Scottish Funding Council has been received. Michael Marra MSP also asks about the issue, he asks Swinney to commit to a voluntary severance scheme being put in place by next week. Swinney replies that he cannot commit to that because he would be breaking the law by telling an independent institution how to go about business. He does however give his 'absolute commitment to securing the future of the university of Dundee.' Update: Date: 12:57 BST Title: Swinney says government will consider ecocide bill Content: The legislation would introduce tougher sanctions for people who cause pollution in Scotland Monica Lennon is the next MSP to enter the fray and she asks what the Scottish government is doing to maintain its policy aim of keeping pace with the EU on environmental protection. Swinney replies his government intends to remain aligned with the EU when it is possible to do so. The Labour MSP refers to her Ecocide (Scotland) Bill which contains proposals for a new law which could see the bosses of major polluters jailed for up to 20 years. "This is Scotland's time to act," adds Lennon who asks if the FM agrees with her bill's aims. John Swinney compliments Monica Lennon for her bill and he says the government will consider it and will have further dialogue with the Labour MSP. Update: Date: 12:47 BST Title: What's the background to Findlay's points on net zero? Content: Kevin KeaneBBC Scotland environment correspondent The Climate Change Committee says emissions need to fall by 57% in five years A word on the issue the Tories raised at the beginning of FMQs - climate change. Independent experts have proposed a new set of targets to tackle climate change in Scotland over the next 20 years. Annual targets were abandoned by the Scottish government last year after repeatedly being missed – but ministers retained the pledge to reach net zero by 2045. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) says that to meet that goal, emissions need to fall by an average of 57% over the next five years and by 69% to 2035, when compared with 1990 levels. The Scottish government says it will consider the report's recommendations carefully but is expected to adopt the targets in the coming weeks. The government had set its original climate change targets in 2019 – which included reducing emissions by 75% by 2030. Read more here. Update: Date: 12:45 BST Title: Ross questions neutrality of speaker after ejection Content: Philip SimBBC Scotland political correspondent Football referee Douglas Ross is no stranger to a red card. But he is arguing that he should have been shown a yellow before he was ordered out of the Holyrood chamber today. Mr Ross told BBC Scotland he struggled to accept that the presiding officer was acting neutrally, and that she allowed SNP and Green MSPs to behave in a way that she did not extend to Conservative members. He said he had 'serious questions about the conduct of the presiding officer', and that he would be seeking to speak with Alison Johnstone and her officials about the decision. Update: Date: 12:41 BST Title: Douglas Lumsden told to 'desist' by speaker during SNP question Content: It's a rowdy one today. Douglas Ross' Tory colleague Douglas Lumsden is also given a slap on the wrist for shouting from his seat during a question from the SNP's Christine Grahame. 'Where you trying to attract attention?' the speaker asks as she tells him to desist. Grahame follows up on the play parks issue, saying after the Covid pandemic "when children were isolated for so long", plans for renewals is "an excellent project that liberates them". Swinney says his colleague makes an "incredibly powerful point". Update: Date: 12:39 BST Title: Tory Stephen Kerr 'too excited for words' over play park renewal Content: Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr says the Scottish government has committed £60m to renew every play park in Scotland, but there are reports that less than half of the funding has been spent. The first minister highlights £35m allocated to local government since September 2021. He argues the £60m commitment will be met by his government. "That sounds like another Swinney broken promise to me," retorts Kerr. The chamber becomes raucous again as Kerr argues that the SNP government adopts gimmicks and fails to deliver. "I think Stephen Kerr needs to go to a play park to get rid of some of his excess energy," jokes the first minister to some laughter from his backbenches. "He seems just a little bit too excited for words." Update: Date: 12:36 BST Title: An unusual - but not the first - removal of an MSP Content: Philip SimBBC Scotland political correspondent I think Douglas Ross might be the first MSP to be kicked out of the chamber by Alison Johnstone. But it's not unheard of – his Tory colleague Oliver Mundell was ordered out by Ken Macintosh in 2020 for claiming Nicola Sturgeon had lied to parliament over the Salmond inquiry. Back in 2015, Labour's James Kelly was booted out by Tricia Marwick in a classic row about a point of order which she contended wasn't a point of order relating to the UK Trade Union Bill. Ms Johnstone has a reputation as a fairly mild-mannered presiding officer. But she has clashed quite frequently with Mr Ross in particular in recent weeks, with the former Tory leader always keen to pick away at the government's record – and the chances MSPs have to interrogate it in parliament. Update: Date: 12:35 BST Title: Moment Douglas Ross is told to leave the chamber Content: The former Scottish Conservative leader is asked twice by Alison Johnstone to leave the chamber - without warning - after talking over the first minister. This video can not be played Watch the moment Douglas Ross is excluded from the chamber at FMQs Update: Date: 12:33 BST Title: Swinney 'cherishes' Scotland's natural environment Content: As the appeal remains live he can't comment on the Flamingo Land proposal, replies Swinney, and he adds it is subject to 49 planning conditions. The first minister explains the reporter is required to make his decision on the planning merits of the case. Harvie argues the first minister is not even attempting to acknowledge the anger about this "unnecessary, unwanted, destructive" development The Scottish Greens co-leader asks if Swinney learned nothing from his "mistake" over Trump's golf course development. Swinney insists he values and cherishes the natural environment of Scotland. Update: Date: 12:31 BST Title: Opposition to Flamingo Land raised by Harvie Content: It's now the turn of Patrick Harvie to grill the first minister and he chooses to ask about protest outside parliament today against the Scottish government's intention to approve a resort by Flamingo Land on the shores of Loch Lomond. The Scottish Greens co-leader says the proposals have been opposed by 155,000 people. "It's the most unpopular development in the history of the Scottish planning system," he says. He argues there is still a chance to save Loch Lomond and he calls on the first minister to listen to the objections and recall this decision. Update: Date: 12:28 BST Title: Row on health will continue until election day Content: Philip SimBBC Scotland political correspondent This was a paint-by-numbers standard of the Anas Sarwar vs John Swinney FMQs exchange. Mr Sarwar loves to bring up NHS waiting times because he sees it as a great example of the government's handling of public services. He also frequently has a case study to hand of a patient who feels let down, to confront the first minister with a real voter. Mr Swinney meanwhile rarely misses an opportunity to criticise the record of the UK government, now run by Labour. He managed to link that back to health services by saying that any move to restrict immigration would affect the NHS's ability to attract international workers. To be honest they have this same exchange most weeks, and will continue to right up to polling day next May. Update: Date: 12:28 BST Title: Immigration plans will damage NHS - Swinney Content: Sarwar accuses the first minister of having no plan to fix Scotland's NHS. Swinney responds by saying the government has a plan in place to focus on expanding capacity. "We are working to make sure we have the staff and the resources in place to address this issue," he says. He adds that the UK's government's immigration policy will make tackling waiting times "ever more difficult". Swinney says: "The immigration policies will be damaging to our national health service and we do not want anything to do with them." Update: Date: 12:27 BST Title: Backround: Patients waiting more than two years for specialist appointments Content: Figures released this week showed that the number of patients waiting more than two years for to see an NHS specialist in Scotland has grown in the past year. Public Health Scotland said the waiting list for those referred to an outpatient clinic more than two years ago was at the highest level it had ever recorded, with the number more than tripling to 5,262. Government targets to provide treatment within 12 weeks were also still not being met for thousands of patients, with 24% of waits recorded going on for more than a year, the report found. More on this story here. Update: Date: 12:22 BST Title: Swinney defends government's actions on NHS Content: 'Week after week, John Swinney comes to this chamber and apologies. People don't want to hear sorry, they want treatment,' Sarwar says. He says thousands are waiting over two years for orthopaedic, ENT and neurosurgery treatment. Swinney says the government has made the largest investment in the NHS that has ever been made and by March had created over 100,000 additional appointments. Update: Date: 12:20 BST Title: There is a human cost to waiting times - Sarwar Content: Anas Sarwar is next up - he asks the first minister about new health statistics showing a growing number of people on NHS waiting lists. Sarwar says in total there are 860,925 people are on an NHS waiting list in Scotland, with over 13,000 people waiting over two years. 'There is a human cost', he says as he highlights the case of a woman who has waited over 100 weeks for surgery for an ovarian cyst. The first minister apologies to anyone who is on a waiting list and say the government is committed to tackling 'long waits'. Update: Date: 12:19 BST Title: Swinney accuses the Conservatives of 'cheap political opportunity' Content: Swinney wraps up on Russel Findlay's questioning saying Brexit has caused incalculable damage to agriculture. He says the 2045 target is the Scottish Parliament's, not the SNP's. Swinney accuses the Conservatives of "cheap political opportunity". Update: Date: 12:18 BST Title: Douglas Ross has just become far more memorable than his leader Content: Philip SimBBC Scotland political correspondent Russell Findlay ended up being eclipsed by his predecessor as Tory leader. Douglas Ross has persistently clashed with the presiding officer over recent weeks, and it seemed like Alison Johnstone had zero patience for his heckling today, ordering him out of the chamber without so much as a warning. Mr Findlay had been underlining the lack of a big story this week by leading off on a report published last Wednesday. He picked out various proposals from the climate change committee's report on carbon budgets, describing various things which the government has not committed to as 'utter madness'. But ultimately the government hasn't actually said what it is going to do, so it was hard for him to pin any particular policy on the first minister. And John Swinney seemed determined not to rise to the bait. His only real political barb was one about Brexit - which was what prompted Douglas Ross to blow his top. Ultimately that is going to be a far more memorable moment than anything prompted by Mr Findlay's questions. Update: Date: 12:13 BST Title: Eating a third less meat is 'utter madness' - Findlay Content: Prior to Ross' exit from the chamber, Russell Findlay says the number of cattle would need to fall by two million, around 25%, to achieve climate targets. The Scottish Tory leader says Scots would have to eat one third less meat. "This is utter madness, it's an act of national self-harm." John Swinney hits back reiterating his government will consider the proposals in the report. The Scottish Tory leader continues to look at those proposals, turning to heat pumps saying to meet the target would require 70% of homes to have one. "That proposal is simply not realistic," adds Findlay, who then calls on the first minister to reject it. Swinney insists agriculture is always in his priorities and he highlights the impact of Brexit. This leads to Douglas Ross's ejection. Update: Date: 12:08 BST Title: Former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross asked to leave chamber Content: There is a brief pause in proceedings as former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross is kicked out of the chamber. The speaker asks him to leave the chamber and tells him not to return for the rest of the day after raising his voice over the first minister.
The Courier
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University still to strike rescue deal with government
Dundee University chiefs are yet to strike a rescue deal with the government over funding their alternative recovery plan published almost a month ago, The Courier can reveal. Discussions are still being held between officials, the Scottish Funding Council and the university for the deal which is likely to exceed £40 million. Some £22 million has already been provided but insiders say the reduction in job losses will mean more financial support is required. The university's alternative plan proposes around 300 job losses through voluntary severance, a significant reduction of the original figure of 700. Intense talks are under way on the exact level of financial support which will be requested. The university's governing court is expected to discuss the proposals further next week. The 'ask' will then be made formally to the Scottish Funding Council and the government – who will then have to decide whether to stump up the cash. But more than a month since the alternative recovery plan was published, opposition politicians have questioned the delay. Dundee-based Labour MSP Michael Marra said: 'SNP Ministers set the specific target of job losses and asked the university to cost it. 'That work should have been completed weeks ago but I know the government are already aware of the costs of what they asked for. 'They must move now to expedite this grinding mess of a process.' The Labour MSP – his party's finance spokesman – said the situation could 'not be more urgent' for the city. He added: 'The education secretary was clear that the government was open to providing further funding via the SFC, and the first minister said directly that the original recovery plan was completely unacceptable. 'They must now be as good as their word and get a plan finalised immediately.' His concerns are shared by North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie, who serves as the Liberal Democrat education spokesman. He said the continued assurances the issue was being dealt with at the highest reach of government meant there was 'no excuse' for unnecessary delay. 'Staff at the university have been left to face mounting uncertainty for months, which has only been exacerbated by the lack of a clear response from ministers. 'So far there is little evidence of the determination which [First Minister] John Swinney promised. 'The government must stick to its word and the clear indication that it would step up with further support. They need to provide a response without prevarication. 'The longer the government's indecision continues, the greater the anxiety for staff, and the greater the damage to confidence in the institution will be.' A spokeswoman for the Scottish Funding Council said it was working closely with the university as it finalises the financial details. She said: 'While we recognise that staff will understandably be anxious, equally this is a complex process, and the necessary time is needed to ensure due diligence is carried out. 'The funding council is engaging intensively with the University of Dundee, and it is expected that there will be an announcement on funding requirements in the near future.' SNP universities minister Graeme Dey told The Courier the situation was being treated with 'urgency'. He said: 'We continue to hold regular meetings with the Scottish Funding Council, Dundee University and trade unions. 'The deputy first minister is also chairing a cross-Ministerial group to consider what further action the Scottish Government may be able to take. 'Work is continuing with the Scottish Funding Council on the further development of an alternative financial recovery plan.'
The Courier
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Elmwood cuts prompt vote of no confidence in SRUC management by college staff
Staff at Scotland's rural college have sent management an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the wake of Elmwood cuts. A lack of planning and investment at the Cupar campus was cited as one of the main reasons for the move. Lecturers say SRUC decisions have led to 'a shocking decline of Elmwood Campus and the removal of a viable programme'. All Elmwood animal care courses will cease at the end of this academic year and the Cupar campus main building will close. The vote was taken at a recent EIS teaching union branch meeting after last month's announcement. Pay grievances and uncertainty around other courses were also raised. North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie says he is not surprised by the outcome. And he revealed his confidence in SRUC management has also been knocked. Elmwood animal care courses were axed despite a high-profile campaign. College principal and chief executive Wayne Powell said on April 24 the main building, where animal care is housed, is structurally deteriorating and too expensive to fix. Mr Rennie, along with devastated students, then branded an eight-week staff consultation 'a sham'. On Thursday, the Liberal Democrat MSP added: 'This vote of no confidence in the management team at SRUC sends a very powerful message, especially as the level of support it received was so overwhelming. 'I'm not surprised staff across the SRUC feel this way as my confidence in the management has been knocked over their decisions around the future of Elmwood. 'The board must understand the anger and frustration that is widely felt.' An SRUC spokesperson says staff concerns are being taken very seriously. And he told The Courier new 'distance-learning' animal care topics are now being considered as a result of feedback. He added, however: 'The decision to close the animal care course and main building was taken following an open and meaningful collective consultation process during which we carefully considered feedback. 'Unfortunately, we were unable to identify a financially-viable alternative model for animal care in its current form.' The spokesperson acknowledged a pay and grading project that could lead to staff salary rises is behind schedule. Steps are now being taken to conclude this, he said.
The Courier
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
Willie Rennie names Newburgh rail station revival in pitch for Holyrood re-election in Fife
Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie hopes another five years representing North East Fife at Holyrood will allow him to see Newburgh re-connected to the rail network. The politician will ask voters to send him back to the Scottish Parliament again next May after 10 years in the job. And with polls predicting a split parliament and the likely election of Reform UK MSPs, Mr Rennie, who is originally from Kelty, says his party could be a stabilising force. He told The Courier: 'Using the experience I have gleaned over the last 15 years in the Scottish Parliament I hope I can try to bring opposing sides together and try to make some progress on really important issues rather than letting the parliament descend into paralysis. 'We've done it with the Scottish Government budget this year where we've reached out across the constitutional divide and come up with a package that delivered for a lot of areas including social care, offshore wind and Newburgh rail station potentially. 'We think we can do more of that.' First elected to represent Dunfermline and West Fife at Westminster in 2006, Mr Rennie made the switch to Holyrood in 2011 as a regional MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife. He went on to replace his party colleague Roderick Campbell in North East Fife in 2016. As well as reconnecting Newburgh to the rail network he also wants to push for the rebuilding of the specialist school in Cupar – which educates children with additional needs. He said: 'The Kilmaron School is just huts and is totally inadequate. I'd like to see that rebuilt into a new facility. 'If we can get the train station opened up and the Kilmaron School built those would be really important steps. 'But also just standing up for North East Fife when centrally they try to withdraw services. So there's the minor injuries unit just now, the Elmwood campus and the sorting office at Anstruther. 'Making sure we defend all of those services when things are tight, because people often think north east Fife is a place that you can cut services from. It's important you've got a strong voice to stand up against that.' Current polls suggest First Minister John Swinney's SNP will be the largest party in parliament after the next election but will fall short of a governing majority. It would mean they will require support from smaller opposition groups to pass key legislation. Mr Rennie says his party is more likely to work with whoever forms the next government on an issue-by-issue basis as opposed to a formal coalition. Mr Rennie won the North East Fife seat in 2021 with 55% of the vote and a majority of over 7,000. His nearest rival, the SNP, secured 36.6% of votes cast. And while it's likely to be a two-horse race between the nationalists and the Liberal Democrats against next year, North East Fife is currently the only constituency in the country without an SNP candidate.
The Courier
25-04-2025
- Health
- The Courier
Confusion over Cupar dentist closure as appointments cancelled
A Cupar dental practice is preparing to close, with scores of patients learning the news via social media. The Cupar Dentist is run by Edinburgh-based Real Good Dental, which recorded a £10.4 million loss in 2023. The Castle Street practice sent a text to some patients last week saying they are stopping all work apart from emergencies. It has since emerged it has been unable to recruit a dentist and will likely close at the start of May. A number of people reacted with shock and confusion as the news began to break on Facebook this week. Many said they had not been alerted and had only heard of the move from other patients. And others said they had been asked to settle bills for unfinished treatment without being told the practice is closing. One man said: 'It's a sad state of affairs when you have to learn this through social media.' The Cupar Dentist confirmed the closure when The Courier called but could give no further details. However, Real Good Dental has yet to respond to our enquiries. NHS Fife is urgently trying to clarify the situation. In the meantime, it is urging patients to call its dental advice line to find out which practices are taking on NHS cases. A spokesperson said: 'NHS Fife's Public Dental Service very recently became aware of intended changes at The Cupar Dentist. 'This followed contact from patients who had received a notification from the practice about the upcoming developments. 'We have urgently reached out to the practice operators to better understand their intentions and seek assurances that patients will continue to receive a good standard of care.' The spokesperson said a national shortage of dentists is having a significant impact, including in Fife. And they added: 'Several factors contribute to this, including recruitment challenges and the shift from smaller NHS-run practices to larger corporate entities, which means individual health boards have only very limited influence over practice decisions.' The upcoming Cupar dentist closure follows the demise of dental practices in Newburgh, Leven and Glenrothes. North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie blamed the situation on a low level of income for NHS work. He said: 'The dental crisis is only getting worse despite endless SNP Government promises that they have solved the problems. 'It means patients have to pay significant sums to go private or wait for a very long time to see an NHS dentist, if they manage to get registered in the first place.' Real Good Dental set up in Fife in 2012 and now runs dozens of clinics across the UK. Access to NHS Fife emergency care can be arranged by calling the dental advice line on 01592 226555. Further information is available on the NHS Fife website at
