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Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Readers' Letters: George Street revamp money should be spent fixing roads
The latest pricey attempt by councillors to bring a European-style cafe culture to cold Edinburgh puzzles a reader who's just trying to avoid all the potholes Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... Edinburgh Council's Transport and Environment Committee have approved a revamp of George Street at an estimated cost of £35 million. Add to this a further loss of over £3m from parking charge revenue. Further costs to the city are bound to be incurred over the projected two-year period of the construction phase. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The council recently estimated that some £86m would be required to restore the Capital's roads from their current potholed-riddled state. Edinburgh councillors ideal vision for George Street would see the current parking down the centre of the street removed, buses rerouted, the pavement widened and vehicles excluded for most of the day Given that there is a constant claim of underfunding, council officials should concentrate on addressing current issues rather than proposing yet another vanity project – £38m would provide a good start for the restoration of the city's roads and pavements, making it safer for road users and pedestrians alike. Derek Stevenson, Edinburgh Go compare 'The mullahs, enmeshed in corruption and incompetence, have squandered the nation's wealth on funding terror and proxy militias. The Iranian economy now lies in ruins, strangled by mismanagement' (Struan Stevenson, Perspective, 24 June). There are some fascinating similarities here with another regime rather closer to home. Tehran preaches Islamic fundamentalism; the Scottish Government embraces such lunacy as gender identity politics, universal basic income and Green anti-nuclear ideology. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The mad mullahs blame Israel as well as that 'Great Satan' the United States and its allies for problems they themselves have created, while the Scottish Government does likewise by demonising England and Donald Trump. Following a mercifully brief stint as First Minister, former SNP leader Humzah Yousaf and his acolytes seem to spend most of their time nowadays criticising every Israeli air strike and military action in the region, calling for sanctions against the Jewish state. They're clearly far more concerned with the Middle East than tedious old domestic issues. Just as the ruling Iranian clerics have wasted their country's money on arming terrorist organisations, the separatists in charge at Holyrood have poured money down the drain by deliberately implementing policies that diverge from the rest of the UK purely for the sake of being different, no matter how ludicrous or unworkable. And let's not forget the cost of commissioning all those endless independence papers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and First Minister John Swinney: two clueless fanatics proudly running their respective countries into the ground. Martin O'Gorman, Edinburgh Follow the logic John Swinney believes that Professor Iain Gillespie, the disgraced former Principal of Dundee University, should hand back his £150,000 pay-off, stating: 'Given the awfulness of the handling of the finances of Dundee, it is the reasonable thing to do' ('Return £150K pay off, uni chief is urged', 27 June). Where to start with this total lack of self-awareness? Given the awfulness of Michael Matheson claiming for the astronomical internet bill from the taxpayer, is it not reasonable for him to return the almost £13,000 resettlement grant he pocketed when he stood down as a Minister? Given the awfulness of the ongoing ferry saga, is it not reasonable for a Minister (take your pick as to which one) to have been sacked? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Given the awfulness of the state of the Scottish NHS, is it not reasonable for Neil Gray to fall on his sword? Given the awfulness of the demise of the Scottish education system, is it not reasonable for Jenni Gilruth to step down? Given the awfulness of the handling of all these devolved issues, is it not reasonable for John Swinney and his Cabinet to step down and call an election so we can get a government of whatever persuasion that actually wants to make Scotland a better place and improve our services? They've been in power for 18 years and they have nothing to be proud of. Jane Lax, Aberlour, Moray Peace plea Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 120-plus Labour rebels who are prepared to vote against the Welfare Reform Bill reflect the ideals of the Party in standing up for the poor and the vulnerable. They must be dreading next Tuesday's vote. The cuts in PIP and the Disability Allowance are particularly cruel. It takes a former Conservative prime minister to dub them as 'callous'. I'm surely one of many disillusioned voters who feel betrayed by this Labour Government. Where money seems to be tight for welfare, it apparently is plentiful for defence. Largely to pacify Donald Trump, the recent Nato summit has agreed to raise the spending on defence to 5 per cent of GDP with only Spain abstaining, in the biggest increase since the Second World War. Surely a truly scary increase in firepower spells an increased likelihood of war, where the first victims are welfare, and aid to the poorest in the world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Never has the old cliche 'jaw, jaw, not war, war' sounded more reasonable. Before it's too late, there should be a world summit, convened to cease an arms race in which there is no winner. Only then can we usher in a stampede for peace. Ian Petrie, Edinburgh Welcome help Let's all stand together to make sure our elderly mothers, fathers, grandparents and friends have care in care homes when they need it. Without the dedicated immigrant staff working in care homes, almost all of them would have to shut, leaving nowhere for our relatives to go. Some with families would have to be looked after at home, and others, with no-one to care for them, would be in hospitals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sadly, this would cause major bed-blocking problems, and in turn lead to a lack of hospital places for ill patients. We need to accept – we need immigrants. Anne Wimberley, Edinburgh Breathe uneasy H Douglas Lightfoot heaps praise on carbon dioxide but doesn't mention that having too much of it is toxic (Letters, 27 June). High levels in the blood can cause narcosis and death, conditions which intensive care units in Scotland fight hard to prevent every day; and when a cloud of carbon dioxide was emitted from a volcanic lake in Cameroon in 1986 it killed1,700 people. And to opine that high levels of it in the atmosphere don't cause global warming is plain wrong. Scientific evidence caused the Swedish Nobel prize winner Svente Arrhenius to conclude in 1896 that atmospheric carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Subsequent research has not shown him to be wrong. Hugh Pennington, Aberdeen High hopes Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad George Herraghty gives a confusing message on the efficiency of wind turbines (Letters, 26 June). While it is true that the maximum efficiency of a turbine, given by Albert Betz, is 59 per cent, the actual working efficiency – which is what we are interested in – depends on how much wind is blowing, and this increases with height. So the SNP have got it absolutely right and they deserve praise, not denigration. H Belda, Edinburgh Broken system For once I can agree with Jill Stephenson, 'the problem in both Scotland and Wales is that we have devolved rule' (Letters, 27 June). What Ms Stephenson apparently fails to recognise, though, is that if the NHS in Scotland is considered to be 'dying' (to quote the seemingly headline-grabbing budding-politician chairing the British Medical Association in Scotland) then in Wales, and in many parts of England, the NHS is already on 'life support'. The demise of Britain's public services is not only reflected in certain NHS statistics and struggling care services but across the spectrum of local council services (Birmingham is already 'bankrupt'), education (lowest UK science and maths PISA scores since 2006 – without England following a wider curriculum as recommended by the OECD) and welfare (due to austerity and continuing cuts to UK budgets). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Efforts to revive Britain's economy are not helped by unfunded commitments for massive financial spending on more weapons and nuclear power, while interest payments are now exceeding £100 billion per year, but the UK Government could immediately begin to address our failing democracy. The first-past-the-post electoral system for Westminster underpinned by an unelected House of Lords as a Second Chamber is an anathema to anyone sincerely advocating truly democratic representation. Perhaps if Ms Stephenson and others are not prepared to support fundamental change to the current highly flawed UK electoral system, she will now support a constitutional referendum ensuring the end of devolved governance in Scotland by giving the electorate here a simple choice of real change. Either direct Westminster rule or independent Holyrood rule – I look forward to reading Ms Stephenson's arguments promoting a revised Independence Referendum. Stan Grodynski, Longniddry, East Lothian And finally... Evan if Iran did develop a nuclear bomb, it could never be delivered. They have a rotten postal system. Malcolm Parkin, Kinnesswood, Perth and Kinross Write to The Scotsman Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
SNP and Labour can't be anti-Reform choice; Scottish Greens can
Any SNP leader would struggle to make them credible as an anti-Reform option. They have been the party of government for the best part of two decades. The anger people feel about the decline in public services is squarely on them. But Mr Swinney's bland managerialism just adds to their problems. Patrick Harvie was absolutely right to call this out recently at his last ever FMQs as co-leader of the Scottish Greens. Since taking charge, John Swinney has watered down rent controls, stopped legislation to help get homes off expensive fossil fuels, abandoned human rights and equality laws, and ditched environmental action such as creating a new national park. Fighting Reform demands action, not inaction. Labour is no better, though. Despite having the keys to power in Westminster for a lot less time, Labour can't shake the self-inflicted harm of welfare cuts, winter fuel, and keeping the two-child cap that is driving their slump in the polls. Even more limiting in them being seen as an anti-Reform option is their penchant for lapping up Reform talking points. It is a fundamental error to think you can beat the far right by copying the far right. Reform's politics are poisonous and divisive and must be opposed head-on. Greens are ready and able to do this. We know that the millionaires behind Reform are not on the side of working people. We know the solutions they are selling are nothing but snake oil, scapegoating migrants for our problems when the real threat is those who are hoarding vast wealth. We know that the enemy of the people arrives by private jet, not by dinghy. Greens can also demonstrate a deep connection to communities when there is widespread distrust in the political establishment. In the last council elections in Glasgow, Green votes went up everywhere, but they went up the most where there already was a Green councillor. When people have a Green representative, they want to keep them. In contrast, Reform councillors just don't seem up to the job. This week, I called out Cllr Thomas Kerr. He defected to Reform in January but hasn't said a peep in Council meetings since. He's not asked a question on behalf of his constituents or spoken up in important debates, and he sat on his hands during the budget in February. All while taking a wage out of taxpayers' pockets. He has more time for the TV cameras than he does for his constituents. That's not good enough. As a party, the Greens have work to do. We are selecting our Holyrood candidates and that is a chance for us to present a fresh face to voters. We can also learn from others on the left who are sharpening how they communicate and connect on issues that matter. But it is increasingly obvious that the only credible anti-Reform option in Scotland is the Scottish Greens. Join us.
Newsroom
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsroom
The secret to-do list of David Seymour
Monday * Attend my first press conference as Deputy Prime Minister and speak solemnly about international affairs to strengthen the perception I am a world statesman worthy of respect. * Name some worthy academic no one has ever heard of and hold them to ridicule. * RSVP to the birthday party for a child of an influential donor from the Atlas Project. Tuesday * Take credit for the budget cuts to Radio New Zealand to strengthen the perception that Act is a powerful enemy of state-funded left-wing propaganda that attacks Act at every opportunity and gives Labour, the Greens and old scribble-face a free ride. * Increase state funding of Act's comms department. * Confirm that I will be happy to play pin the tail on the donkey at the Atlas Project children's birthday party. Wednesday * Ridicule Labour MP Willie Jackson for his comments that the Regulatory Standards Bill is set up for my mates from powerful corporations who are following their manifest destiny to despoil the countryside in exchange for massive profits which ought not be subject to tax. * Meet mates for drink. * Draw a line in the stand and decline invitation to actually play the donkey that gets a tail pinned to it at the Atlas Project children's birthday party. Thursday * Give Act's comms department the hard word to find someone who has made ridiculing remarks about me so I can whine and complain about it to strengthen the perception I am constantly under attack by the intelligentsia. * Find a way to undermine Luxon. * Find a way to undermine someone who votes Green and hugs trees. * Find a way to undermine somehow who can be described as a Māori fanatic. * Find a way to undermine someone who performs selfless acts for the betterment of society and gives hope to families doing it hard but who is associated with Labour. Friday * Seek private medical treatment for multiple puncture wounds inflicted by rich little brats wielding really sharp pins who seemed to take great pleasure in pinning a donkey's tail all over my body at the Atlas Project children's birthday party. Their parents seemed to enjoy it too. I can still hear their mocking laughter.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025: Astrological Predictions for All Zodiac Signs
Start your day with clarity! Today's horoscope highlights the opportunities and challenges for each zodiac sign. Whether it's career, love, or personal growth, let the stars guide you. Take the advice, stay positive, and make the most of what the day brings. Aries Daily Horoscope Today , June 28, 2025 Do not rush it today; check in deep within. Unfold that moment of silence before action is taken, even if your instinct says otherwise. Wisdom can flow in those moments when you slow down. In conversations, mostly with loved ones or colleagues, the ability to listen will deepen understanding. Trust that you need not voice your opinion all of the time; sometimes just your presence is enough. Cosmic Tip: Stillness brings the clearest answers. Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Colour: Maroon Taurus Daily Horoscope Today , June 28, 2025 You may feel like things are not moving along, but calm days are also part of progress. Trust in the space that lies between steps, for that is where growth occurs with depth. Your steady energy has a pacifying effect on the surroundings. Don't let your attention be on big and loud changes but instead on quiet little victories. May this slower rhythm lead your heart as well as your mind. Cosmic Tip: Growth hides in today's quiet rhythm. Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Colour: Olive Green Gemini Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 Your mind and thoughts are sharp, but today focus is where the magic is. No multitasking for you today-one hundred percent presence with whatever one thing it is! Work, conversations, aims-all equal the transformation of the mundane to meaningful through your presence. It's not that you need more time; rather, you need to be more present. Cosmic Tip: Focus is your real superpower today. Lucky Number: 5 Lucky Colour: Yellow Cancer Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 There is no need for any reason to be joyful. Let go of all guilt as you allow yourself to drift away in light and beauty. You have done enough, tried enough; now let life show you beauty without any effort from your side. Healing can come from little things, like a warm plate of food, an affectionate word, or a few minutes of solitude. Let your smile out! Cosmic Tip: Embrace joy like it's your right. Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Colour: Pearl White Leo Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 Today what you are putting off may weigh more than you realise. Avoiding this or that conversation, finishing a mundane task, or even having this thought appears easier now; but all that does is further delay your peace. You're stronger than anything waiting to slay you. The instant you confront yourself with honesty, relief will follow. Let courage be your guiding light because it paves the path along which your inner fire shall march. Cosmic Tip: Face it now, feel light later. Lucky Number: 9 Lucky Colour: Gold Virgo Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 You tend to wait for the perfect day, but the Universe wishes to push you toward starting, even if only in the smallest way. A single voluntary step, though full of clarity, counts much more than the best of plans. At work, towards a goal, or rekindling a broken relationship, small progress equally matters. Put down that pressure of having it all sorted out. Cosmic Tip: Small efforts build strong results. Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Colour: Light Brown Libra Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 There is wisdom in today´s inquisitiveness. When something feels off, or someone acts weird, stop rushing to judge. Ask questions, ask others, perhaps ask yourself. What you learn might trigger a change in your perception, garnering custom where there once was tension. Keep an open heart. Remain soft and willing to understand. Cosmic Tip: Ask more, assume less, stay kind. Lucky Number: 6 Lucky Colour: Sky Blue Scorpio Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 Today brings a subtle but powerful change. It can be an emotional release or an internal realisation-trust the gentle change-it is urging you towards peace. Do not force anything; allow yourself to bask in the calm that comes after acceptance. Sometimes healing will quietly soar and will rarely ever scream. Cosmic Tip: Quiet change is still true growth. Lucky Number: 1 Lucky Colour: Deep Indigo Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 You are usually the one that others lean on. But today it is your turn to reach out. Allowing yourself to ask for support is not weakness-it is honesty. There is someone willing and ready to be there for you-support is anything from emotional, mental to practical. Sharing lightens your load and deepens the connection. So be open and not just bold. Cosmic Tip: Let others be there for you. Lucky Number: 5 Lucky Colour: Maroon Capricorn Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 Your energy is precious; therefore, let your triad be tenderness, thoughtfulness, and quality of life. Today, little things will remind you to choose substance over appearance. You really need to prove nothing to anyone. Validate your accomplishments in privacy and not with the voice of approval or loud cheers. Inspirations count more to your soul. Cosmic Tip: Honour values, not outside validation. Lucky Number: 8 Lucky Colour: Forest Green Aquarius Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 You are undergoing a phase of becoming, and it's all right if it seems unfamiliar. There is an invisible side to growth; it cannot be seen from the outside. Be patient with your very own process; you never need to explain-it-before-another-just-go-with-what-is-being-unfolded-in-itself. This is a sacred transition. Cosmic Tip: Embrace your evolution without apology. Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Colour: Electric Blue Pisces Daily Horoscope Today, June 28, 2025 If today things feel unclear then it is a sign to take the step back. Such a forceful act will not take you closer to the answer you are looking for. Take a deep breath and let go of this sense of urgency. By giving yourself so much space, you are providing your next step with all the right vibes. Trust this pause; it is apparent. Cosmic Tip: Stillness clears confusion and reveals truth. Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Colour: Silver Grey Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
The secret diary of . . . David Seymour
There's a lot on the agenda for David Seymour. PHOTO: RNZ MONDAY — Attend my first press conference as deputy prime minister and speak solemnly about international affairs to strengthen the perception I am a world statesman worthy of respect. — Name some worthy academic no-one has ever heard of and hold them to ridicule. — RSVP to the birthday party for a child of an influential donor from the Atlas Project. TUESDAY — Take credit for the budget cuts to Radio New Zealand to strengthen the perception that Act is a powerful enemy of state-funded left-wing propaganda that attacks Act at every opportunity and gives Labour, the Greens and old scribble face a free ride. — Increase state funding of Act's comms department. — Confirm that I will be happy to play pin the tail on the donkey at the Atlas Project birthday party. WEDNESDAY — Ridicule Labour MP Willie Jackson for his comments that the Regulatory Standards Bill is set up for my mates from powerful corporations who are following their manifest destiny to despoil the countryside in exchange for massive profits which ought not be subject to tax. — Meet mates for a drink. — Draw a line in the sand and decline an invitation to actually play the donkey that gets a tail pinned to it at the Atlas Project birthday party. THURSDAY — Give Act's comms department the hard word to find someone who has made ridiculing remarks about me so I can whine and complain about it to strengthen the perception I am constantly under attack by the intelligentsia. — Find a way to undermine Luxon. — Find a way to undermine someone who votes Green and hugs trees. — Find a way to undermine someone who can be described as a Māori fanatic. — Find a way to undermine someone who performs selfless acts for the betterment of society and gives hope to families doing it hard but who is associated with Labour. FRIDAY — Seek private medical treatment for multiple puncture wounds inflicted by rich little brats wielding really sharp pins who seemed to take great pleasure in pinning a donkey's tail all over my body at the Atlas Project birthday party. Their parents seemed to enjoy it too. I can still hear their mocking laughter. By Steve Braunias
