National Focus

Stories from Scotland

Row over list mandates as shadow justice secretary quits Reform

Amanda Bland, an MSP for Central Scotland and Lothians West, has resigned from the Scottish Reform Party to sit as an independent politician, following high staff turnover in her office and a scheduled meeting with Reform UK Scotland’s chief whip, Max Bannerman.

Despite her role as Shadow Justice Secretary, Bland was considered one of the more unknown members of the Reform parliamentary group. Party sources described her as “difficult to work with,” according to the BBC. Malcolm Offord, the Leader of Reform UK Scotland, characterised Bland as “squatting in her seat,” seeking to occupy a “place won by Reform for four and a half years.” The resignation has reignited debate over whether MSPs elected on the “list” — the proportional representation component of the additional member system — should be bound to represent their party on pain of disqualification from Holyrood.

Bland’s move puts Reform Party Scotland one seat behind Scottish Labour. The parties had both emerged with the second-most seats (seventeen) after a tight fight for runner-up in May’s election. 

Swinney acting like “next Mugabe” over bus policy, say furious Easdales

The announcement of a policy to bring bus services under state control has ignited a war of words between the Easdale brothers — who own the major transport firm McGill’s — and the first minister, John Swinney, who unveiled the plans at the annual SNP conference a fortnight ago.

Hours after the new “franchising” system — in which public Regional Transport Partnerships will dictate routes businesses will be contracted to run — was floated, Sandy Easdale said publicly that “mild-mannered” Swinney had “transformed into the next Idi Amin or Robert Mugabe […] who bankrupted their countries through catastrophic financial policies.”

The First Minister called the language “over the top,” “more than a little ludicrous,” and suggested that all parties should “watch our language.” McGill’s derided the “sensitive” response of “Field Marshal Swinney.”

BBC Scotland to move online as broadcaster reserves shrink

BBC Scotland, BBC Three, and Radio 4 Extra will close as linear networks in the spring as part of a £500 million package of cuts undertaken by the state broadcaster.

It was reported that around 60 jobs would be lost across BBC Scotland. The confirmation last week added a further ten losses at the linear channel. The cuts come as the BBC struggles to maintain its cash reserves, with just £125 million remaining compared to last year’s £369 million.

BBC director-general Matt Brittin said he was aware the move “followed media speculation.” Some of the most striking included the Daily Mail’s 10 October report that, amongst others, Martin Geissler, Gary Robertson, Hayley Millar, and “all the Lauras” — Goodwin, Maciver, Maxwell, and Miller — were vulnerable to redundancy.

BBC Scotland will remain online on BBC iPlayer. BBC One Scotland, the regional arm of the BBC’s network coverage, will not be affected.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons