Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s not all a big love in for Scottish Labour just now, though.
And Keir Starmer isn’t the only member of the UK government coming under fire…
kieranandrews.substack.com/p/divided-ov...
Our @representingborder.bsky.social political leader interviews made headlines this week.
Here’s some behind the scenes analysis. What we've learned from Holyrood's first week back: passing the budget will be easy for John Swinney.
www.itv.com/news/border/...
Senior Scottish Labour source on leadership row: “Complete madness, irrational and stupid. No10 has very few members left in the cabinet they haven’t briefed against. They need an HR director not more policy wonks.”
Analysis for @representingborder.bsky.social
www.itv.com/news/border/...
The SNP has upgraded its campaigning operation but - despite being clearly ahead in the polls- still lags behind Labour on that front
Six months out from the Holyrood election, here’s some analysis for @representingborder.bsky.social in praise of unsung political heroes
www.itv.com/news/border/...
A photo of Dan Fisher giving his interview on ITV Representing Border, text reads Dan Fisher, Political Geographer, Glasgow University
A photo of Dan Fisher talking to Kieran Andrews
Watch Dr Dan Fisher @dx-fisher.bsky.social on ITV's Representing Border yesterday sharing expertise in immigration policy with @kieranandrews.bsky.social📹📣
From the UK Gov's proposed changes to Leave to Remain, to Scotland's shifting attitude on immigration.
Watch: www.itv.com/watch/news/c...
"Perhaps it is because she is still in politician mode and does not want to damage her party. Whatever the reason, 'Frankly' could do with a touch more frankness"
📚 @kieranandrews.bsky.social reviews Nicola Sturgeon's 'Frankly' | @panmacmillan.bsky.social
bit.ly/46eTuwj
Exclusive story from earlier today:
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has been charged with possession of indecent images.
He has been “administratively suspended” by Labour while the case progresses.
www.itv.com/news/border/...
Quite right. I was astonished to see well rehearsed books - like your own, or David Torrance’s - alongside total schlock claiming to offer the inside story on Sturgeon’s arrest.
Good to see Amazon removing inaccurate SNP biographies
If you want the real stories behind the party leadership, try Break-Up: How Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon Went To War
amzn.eu/d/fepBbiy
What can we expect from the Scottish govt's Medium Term Financial Strategy today? @stephenboydippr.bsky.social
spoke to @kieranandrews.bsky.social @itvborder.bsky.social
➡️ Enhanced level of detail on risks + plans to mitigate them, info that we can compare year upon year, tax increases & more.
EXC: Leader of Dumfries & Galloway Council steps down
Conservative Gail Macgregor quit less than an hour before vote of no confidence, saying she was doing so with 'the heaviest of hearts'
New administration - D&G’s *fourth* in three years - expected to be chosen at special meeting this afternoon
NEW: Not becoming a national park may cost Galloway millions of pounds of investment, the Rural Affairs Secretary has admitted.
Mairi Gougeon won't tell @kieranandrews.bsky.social whether Scot Gov will invest in the region instead.
She says they've 'not had those conversations'
BREAKING: The Scottish Government has dropped plans for a Galloway National Park.
It was one of the key commitments when the SNP formed a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.
@gregoryhoare.bsky.social explains how we got to this point 👇
🎶 WATCH: Conservative Borders council leader Euan Jardine is a rapper
He performs his debut single for @representingborder.bsky.social
www.itv.com/news/border/...
UK Gov could cut electricity bills by up to 30% by removing renewable subsidies, Climate Change Committee member Keith Bell says.
But the Professor adds that the move would lead to either higher gas bills or taxes
The Conservatives should NOT aim for a deal with Reform UK, Alister Jack says.
Former Scottish Secretary believes John Swinney and the SNP are 'secretly' trying to boost Reform's profile, to split the unionist vote.
STORY: www.itv.com/news/border/...
NEW: The Conservatives were wrong to get rid of Boris Johnson, Alister Jack says.
The former Scottish Secretary - a key political ally and friend of the former PM - says Johnson would have had a chance of winning the 2024 election.
STORY: www.itv.com/news/border/...
More from @kieranandrews.bsky.social exclusive interview with Alister Jack - who says the Tories made a mistake in ditching Boris Johnson, and suggests former PM might have been able to win 2024 General Election
In his first interview since quitting as MP, ex-Scottish secretary Alister Jack…
- Calls for gender apology from John Swinney+Nicola Sturgeon
- Says Boris Johnson should not have been forced out as PM and suggests could have won elex
- Rejects betting ban for MPs
www.itv.com/news/border/...
'I am disappointed in the UK government's performance so far' - General Secretary of STUC @scottishtuc.bsky.social
Roz Foyer (@rozfoyer.bsky.social) tells Kieran Andrews (@kieranandrews.bsky.social) Labour is in danger of lurching 'to the right'.
Full interview: www.itv.com/news/border/...
I’ll take this as a source of pride. 🇺🇦🏴🇪🇺
And myself, apparently - no doubt due to the Russian joke I made sitting behind Farage in the House of Commons a few weeks ago.
I am distraught, as you can imagine.
Scottish MPs @blairmcdougall.com, @stephengethins.bsky.social and Johanna Baxter have been added to the list of politicians banned from Russia for making what the Kremlin calls "hysterical statements...in which threats are interspersed with lies and outright rudeness"
Calling Reform UK far right is a 'lazy slur', according to party's Deputy Chair in Scotland.
David Kirkwood says he's happy with term 'populist', because it 'means we're doing what people want'.
Reform UK hasn't been invited to Scottish Government's anti-far right summit, taking place today
🎥 ICYMI: Watch the full report here
Moving testimony from Lynn Sweeney as @representingborder.bsky.social reveals that one in five people working for Scotland’s fire and rescue service say they have experienced or witnessed bullying or harassment
www.itv.com/watch/news/f...
NEW: 'There is absolutely no place for bullying'
John Swinney says he's 'concerned' by ITV Border's investigation into inappropriate behaviour in Scotland's fire service.
First Minister says SFRS 'has to address those concerns'
In a statement, Scottish fire and rescue service chief officer Stuart Stevens said a confidential service had been launched to allow staff to report issues anonymously.
He added that bullying and harassment were 'not tolerated'.
Story: www.itv.com/news/border/...
EXC: Scotland’s fire and rescue service is in the grip of a bullying 'crisis'.
'This didn't just affect my job, it impacted on who I was as a person', a former staff member tells @kieranandrews.bsky.social.
Full story: www.itv.com/news/border/...
Community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: “Bullying and harassment is unacceptable in any circumstances and any allegations must be taken very seriously.”
Chief fire officer Stuart Stevens said that no form of bullying, harassment or discrimination is tolerated “and action is taken where issues are reported”
He also said that one of his “top priorities is to improve the culture and leadership within the service”
