Swinney offends all by refusing to answer the transgender question
It seems worth quoting Swinney's reply in full: 'I've set out that the Scottish government accepts the judgment of the Supreme Court which ruled that a woman in the Equality Act (2010) is defined by biological sex.'
This is the kind of hopeless answer that cannot possibly please anyone. As far as the first minister is concerned, a woman is a kind of Schrödinger's cat and the only way to
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Leader Live
12-06-2025
- Leader Live
Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences
The energy profits levy was put in place under the previous Conservative government but extended when Labour entered power. Designed to fund interventions to bring down household bills, the policy has been criticised by those in the industry. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh on Friday, Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. She will add: 'When the oil and gas windfall tax, the energy profits levy, was brought in, the oil price was near a historic high, at the exact time as energy bills for the British people were sky-rocketing. 'But there is no longer a windfall to tax. It has long gone. And the longer this regressive tax on one of our most successful industries remains, the more damaging it becomes. 'Labour have extended and increased this tax. They are killing this industry.' If the measure remains in place to 2030 as intended, Mrs Badenoch will say 'there will be no industry left to tax'. She will add: 'So, today, I say enough. Labour must remove the energy profits levy. Labour must speed up the process of replacing it with a system that rewards success and incentivises investment. 'Because we shouldn't have this energy profits levy at all. 'We must scrap the ban on new licences. 'We must overturn the ban on supporting oil and gas technology exports. 'And we must champion our own industry. 'We must let this great British, great Scottish industry thrive, grow and create jobs – ensuring our energy security for generations to come, driving growth and making this country richer in the process.' Mrs Badenoch will address her first Scottish party conference as leader on Friday while her counterpart north of the border Russell Findlay will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday. Responding to Mrs Badenoch, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said her comments were 'out of touch', adding: 'Even with the windfall tax in place, the energy industry made over £115 billion in profits in 2024 alone. 'Meanwhile, average household energy bills remain hundreds and hundreds of pounds higher than they were before the energy crisis started. 'While the Government is right to be consulting on reform of the windfall tax, maintaining a profits levy could help fund home upgrades and a social tariff which would bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable in society.' SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'The Tories wrecked our economy, presided over soaring household bills and ripped Scotland from the EU against our will. 'And now they're lurching further to the right as they haemorrhage votes to Nigel Farage. 'This weekend will be an important reminder of how Westminster has failed Scotland. Only the SNP is offering hope and a brighter future as an independent nation.' Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'While the Tories and SNP let energy workers down by failing to plan for the future, Scottish Labour is committed to taking action towards reaching net zero, creating jobs and cutting energy bills. 'The Tories are on the side of oil and gas giants rather than working Scots, but Scottish Labour will work with the UK Government and use devolved powers to deliver a just transition for the industry. 'With Kemi Badenoch desperately attempting to rally the few remaining Scottish Tories, it seems like it won't be long until they can fit all of their MSPs in a single taxi.'
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax
Designed to fund interventions to bring down household bills, the policy has been criticised by those in the industry. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh on Friday, Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. She will add: 'When the oil and gas windfall tax, the energy profits levy, was brought in, the oil price was near a historic high, at the exact time as energy bills for the British people were sky-rocketing. 'But there is no longer a windfall to tax. It has long gone. And the longer this regressive tax on one of our most successful industries remains, the more damaging it becomes. 'Labour have extended and increased this tax. They are killing this industry.' Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) If the measure remains in place to 2030 as intended, Mrs Badenoch will say 'there will be no industry left to tax'. She will add: 'So, today, I say enough. Labour must remove the energy profits levy. Labour must speed up the process of replacing it with a system that rewards success and incentivises investment. 'Because we shouldn't have this energy profits levy at all. 'We must scrap the ban on new licences. 'We must overturn the ban on supporting oil and gas technology exports. 'And we must champion our own industry. 'We must let this great British, great Scottish industry thrive, grow and create jobs – ensuring our energy security for generations to come, driving growth and making this country richer in the process.' Mrs Badenoch will address her first Scottish party conference as leader on Friday while her counterpart north of the border Russell Findlay will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday. Responding to Mrs Badenoch, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said her comments were 'out of touch', adding: 'Even with the windfall tax in place, the energy industry made over £115 billion in profits in 2024 alone. 'Meanwhile, average household energy bills remain hundreds and hundreds of pounds higher than they were before the energy crisis started. 'While the Government is right to be consulting on reform of the windfall tax, maintaining a profits levy could help fund home upgrades and a social tariff which would bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable in society.' READ MORE: SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'The Tories wrecked our economy, presided over soaring household bills and ripped Scotland from the EU against our will. 'And now they're lurching further to the right as they haemorrhage votes to Nigel Farage. 'This weekend will be an important reminder of how Westminster has failed Scotland. Only the SNP is offering hope and a brighter future as an independent nation.' Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'While the Tories and SNP let energy workers down by failing to plan for the future, Scottish Labour is committed to taking action towards reaching net zero, creating jobs and cutting energy bills. 'The Tories are on the side of oil and gas giants rather than working Scots, but Scottish Labour will work with the UK Government and use devolved powers to deliver a just transition for the industry. 'With Kemi Badenoch desperately attempting to rally the few remaining Scottish Tories, it seems like it won't be long until they can fit all of their MSPs in a single taxi.'
Irish Daily Star
29-04-2025
- Irish Daily Star
Kneecap breaks silence on counter terrorism investigation as they blast 'smear campaign'
Members of Kneecap have broken their silence after a clip from a concert was referred to counter-terrorism police in the U.K. The Northern Irish rap group have been in the headlines in recent weeks following their performance at Coachella during which they expressed their support for Palestine and called out Israel. The band displayed messages which read, "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F--- Israel. Free Palestine." After their gig, Kneecap received the support of fans but they were also criticized by figures including Sharon Osbourne, who called for their U.S. work visas to be revoked. The group also faced condemnation by the British government and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch when footage emerged from a gig appearing to show one member of Kneecap urging support for the killing of Members of Parliament. Read More Related Articles Scott Pelley speaks out on 60 Minutes turmoil as producer resigns amid Trump lawsuit Read More Related Articles Bono reveals his favorite song of all time - and it's a Bob Dylan deep cut In the video from the November 2023 concert, the band member appeared to say, "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." Counter-terrorism police in London are examining the footage, along with a video clip from another concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" - groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the U.K. The band performing at Coachella (Image: Getty Images for Coachella) Late last night, Kneecap issued a statement on social media in which they rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual." They said the footage was "deliberately taken out of context" and said it is now being weaponized as "a transparent effort to derail the real conversation" - the fact that two million Palestinians are enduring tremendous suffering at the hands of Israel. The group said the British government is continuing to supply arms to Israel despite the deaths of at least 20,000 children in Gaza. Kneecap said "real anger and outrage" should be directed towards those who "have abetted slaughter and famine." For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters here . Kneecap apologized to the families of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, two British MPs who were killed, saying they didn't intend to cause any harm. Labour MP Ms Cox was stabbed and shot in 2016, while Conservative Sir David was stabbed to death in 2021. Sir David's daughter Katie criticized the band after the footage from the concert emerged. On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said the Prime Minister believed the recent comments attributed to the band in the footage were "completely unacceptable" and "condemns them in the strongest possible terms." Mrs Badenoch said Kneecap's "anti-British hatred has no place in our society" and that it is "good" the police are looking into the allegations, adding, "Kneecap's glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society. After the murder of Sir David Amess, this demands prosecution." The group faced criticism after expressing support for Palestine (Image: Getty Images for Coachella) Kneecap insisted it has never supported Hamas or Hezbollah and it condemned all attacks on civilians. In their statement, the band - which is composed of Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin), and DJ Próvaí (J.J. Ó Dochartaigh) - said they promote a message "of love, inclusion, and hope" and vowed that "no smear campaign will change that." Kneecap wrote, "They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide. Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria. "Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever." The band apologized to the Cox and Amess families (Image: Getty Images for BFI) They added, "An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action. This distortion is not only absurd - it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation. All two million Palestinian people in Gaza are currently being starved to death by Israel. At least 20,000 children in Gaza have been killed. "The British government continues to supply arms to Israel, even after scores of NHS doctors warned Keir Starmer in August that children were being systematically executed with sniper shots to the head. Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of international law, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine. This is where real anger and outrage should be directed towards." The group continued, "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt. Kneecap's message has always been - and remains - one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that. The group said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah (Image: PA) "Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain. The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power. Shame on them." Counter-terrorism police are assessing footage reportedly from the November 2024 gig in London's Kentish Town Forum and the November 2023 concert. On Sunday, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said, "We were made aware of a video on April 22, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required. We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023." He also said the force "are assessing both to determine whether further police investigation is required." The counter-terrorism internet referral unit (CTIRU) is based within the Met's Counter Terrorism Command which is dedicated to identifying terrorist and extremist material online. Police will carry out an investigation if the material breaches the law. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
