Latest news with #IainMcNicol
The Herald Scotland
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
NHS provides wonderful treatment. Increase taxes and fund it properly
This has returned me to a functioning state only requiring continuous supervision; I can only guess at the cost of the chemotherapy, the 22 units of blood I've received, the constant blood tests and the care. Herein lies the problem for the NHS; when I was a medical student all those years ago acute myeloid leukaemia was fatal within a very short timescale. However, thanks to all the wonderful treatment I am still here and am now on a number of NHS waiting lists. My ageing prostate requires investigation and treatment; my routine "free" eye test revealed a cataract, so onto another waiting list; the haematologists put me onto a chiropody waiting list because of the risk of infections; breathlessness needs to be checked out by a cardiologist. So that is four waiting lists I'm contributing to as well as my "routine" haematology appointments. As an addendum I had a marvellous experience with a knee replacement at the Inverness National Treatment Centre two years ago. It is not the NHS that is failing but the huge increase in demand as old c like me are given wonderful treatment. Finish building the National Treatment Centres, increase my taxes and fund the NHS properly. A friend, who recently had an operation, said to me: "I never believed in angels until I had my knee replaced; now I know they all work in the NHS." I can't stress enough how lucky we are to have our Health Service. Iain McNicol, Port Appin. Read more letters Dear Glasgow: think smaller Glasgow is the Dear Green Place – a city of science and invention, of strength, music, humour, class, and difference. It has given the world steam power, radical thinkers, antiseptic surgery, art movements and fierce working-class and community solidarity. So how has Glasgow ended up imagining an urban future as one of lookalike towers in glass and concrete ("Change to Glasgow skyline on horizon as tall buildings policy agreed", The Herald, June 4)? The city council's new Tall Buildings Design Guide may offer developers clarity, but it offers the public little vision. These towers will be high enough to disrupt the best of what Glasgow has built – its tenements, its laneways, its layered civic history – but not high enough to create something distinctively new or transformative. Not radical. Just rentable. We've seen this elsewhere. In Adelaide, Australia, where I live, one of the world's best low-rise, planned cities is now facing a proposal for its tallest-ever skyscraper: a 160-metre commercial tower to be erected next to the modest but magnificent 30-metre South Australian Parliament. That building is where, in 1894, full women's suffrage was first legislated. Now it risks being cast into permanent shadow. The lesson is this: once the high-rise model takes hold, private developers will not stop. Height becomes ambition. Overshadowing becomes inevitable. Distinctiveness is lost, and sameness rises in its place. Glasgow still has a choice. It can honour its green character, its historical depth, and its civic soul. It can grow with distinction, not duplication. Capture of government by property developer interests becomes normalised. Let Glasgow not be remembered as the city that forgot who it was in the race to be what others already are. Stewart Sweeney, Adelaide, South Australia. Lynx are not a danger to humans Wild animals they may be but lynx were killed off by man armed with nothing more sophisticated than sticks, spears and arrows; the bulk of their extinction may be down to habitat destruction, which only needed the ability to light fires and use an axe. These animals are to be pitied, not feared. Malcolm Parkin (Letters, June 5) is indulging in solipsism much as those influenced by the book and films of Jaws falsely labelled sharks as malevolent killers rather than relatively harmless apex predators that humans would do well to give a wide berth to. In the wild lynx and wolf avoid contact with humans; we should return the favour if they are ever reintroduced to Scotland. The main hazards in the US are hunters with maybe bears a distant second, as Tom Lehrer sang: "People ask me how I do it And I say, "There's nothin' to it You just stand there lookin' cute And when something moves, you shoot!" And there's 10 stuffed heads in my trophy room right now, Two game wardens, seven hunters, and a pure-bred Guernsey cow." David Bradshaw, Kilcreggan. Should the lynx be reintroduced to Scotland? (Image: Getty) First off the tee Kristy Dorsey writes well about The Golf Lounge ("Behind the scenes at Scotland's original indoor golfing facility", The Herald, June 6). Whether it is Scotland's first indoor golf facility is, however, open to doubt. Sixty and more years ago, Lumley's in Sauchiehall Street employed Bill Jessiman, a well-known professional, who was available for tuition in the Golf department, pupils hitting balls into nets. I also recall, perhaps about that time, using a golf simulator in the old Central Hotel in Glasgow. That facility was short-lived. Why is there always such a desire to be first? David Miller, Milngavie. Below the belt Recently some readers have complained about the inappropriate timing of television adverts for bowel medication and incontinence products being shown around teatime. The latest adverts for 'Low Body Spray' are really offensive. It seems anything goes these days. Eric Macdonald, Paisley. A matter of priorities Well said Stuart Neville (Letters, June 5) regarding tourist buses in Glasgow. Mazing my way through all the city centre road closures today, it struck me that while there seems to be plenty of money to spend on projects which are not much liked by Glaswegians there seems to be none available for those such as The People's Palace which we really love. Dave Henderson, Glasgow.
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Labour peer apologises for writing to Treasury to promote crypto firm he advised
A Labour peer and trade envoy for Keir Starmer has apologised for breaking the House of Lords code of conduct by writing to the Treasury to promote a cryptocurrency firm that was paying him. Iain McNicol, a former general secretary of the Labour party, was found to have breached the rules by offering a paid parliamentary service on behalf of Astra Protocol in June 2023. His actions were reported to the standards commissioner following the Guardian's months-long investigation into the House of Lords examining the commercial interests of peers. The reporting revealed that the Labour peer wrote to the Treasury while he was a paid adviser to Astra Protocol, saying the company had assembled an 'esteemed team of industry veterans and high-profile political advisers, with extensive experience in crypto'. In a late submission to a Treasury consultation, Lord McNicol wrote to officials that Astra Protocol's team was 'uniquely placed to provide meaningful insights into the challenges and opportunities that come with regulating DeFi [decentralised finance] and other crypto assets'. He cautioned in the letter against allowing regulation to 'stifle innovation'. His email and letter to the Treasury were released under freedom of information laws. At the time, McNicol was paid a monthly retainer by Astra Protocol, which had launched a token that subsequently plunged in value by more than 99%. He later sat on Starmer's frontbencher, from autumn 2023 to July 2024, and was made a trade envoy to Jordan, Kuwait and the occupied Palestinian territories by the prime minister in January this year. The Lords commissioner, Margaret Obi, in her findings wrote: 'I consider that by writing a letter to HM Treasury officials in his own name on behalf of Astra Protocol, Lord McNicol provided a paid parliamentary service to Astra Protocol. 'Although Lord McNicol stated he was not paid specifically for providing this submission to HM Treasury, he was paid a monthly retainer by Astra Protocol. I therefore consider that this retainer can reasonably be understood to cover the various tasks he undertook for the company at that time, including his submission to HM Treasury. I therefore find Lord McNicol breached paragraph 9(d) of the code of conduct.' This clause states members 'must not seek to profit from membership of the house by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services'. The report said: 'Although the letter responded to the questions posed in HM Treasury's call for evidence, it was also used to promote the work of Astra Protocol. In the letter, Lord McNicol refers to Astra Protocol's 'unique offering'.' The commissioner said she did not find it to be a significant breach, because it was a single letter and did not make use of any special access or contacts gained by being a peer. But she added: 'Nevertheless, this was a clear example of providing a parliamentary service in return for payment. It is also not clear why the letter was sent specifically in Lord McNicol's name, instead of in the name of senior member of staff within the organisation, for example the CEO or chairman. I therefore consider remedial action to be appropriate and propose a letter of apology to the chair of the conduct committee.' In a letter to Lord Kakkar, chair of the Lords conduct committee, fully accepting the findings, McNicol said: 'I would like to offer my full and unreserved apology for breaching the code.' Two other peers are under investigation – Lord Evans and Lord Dannatt – following reporting by the Guardian. Both have denied wrongdoing. The complaint about McNicol was submitted to the commissioner by Tom Brake, the director of Unlock Democracy and a former deputy leader of the House of Commons, who had raised questions over whether McNicol's approach to Treasury officials fell foul of Lords rules. Peers are allowed to take on paid roles and must list them on a public register, but unlike MPs they do not have to declare how much they earn unless working for a foreign state.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: JEF, UK trade envoy discuss investment opportunities, growth indicators
AMMAN — The Jordan Economic Forum (JEF) has held a meeting with new UK Trade Envoy to Jordan Lord Iain McNicol to explore prospects for enhanced cooperation and investment. JEF Chairman Mazen Homoud, members of the board of directors, general assembly members, British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall and a representative from the UK Department for Business and Trade attended the meeting, according to a JEF statement. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic research and identifying high-value investment opportunities, emphasising the importance of building strategic partnerships to stimulate economic growth. During the session, the forum presented a comprehensive overview of Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), which aims to stimulate growth and attract investment to create sustainable jobs, thereby reducing unemployment and supporting both economic and social stability. The forum also highlighted the 'strength and resilience' of Jordan's banking sector, noting its positive growth trajectory, which reflects 'strong' investor confidence. The sector plays a vital role in financing economic activities, especially investments that support sustainable development. Homoud welcomed the UK delegation and reaffirmed the forum's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with international institutions aimed at positioning Jordan as a leading regional hub for investment. He expressed appreciation for the UK's 'consistent' economic support to Jordan, most notably exemplified by the 2016 London Conference, which marked a 'pivotal' moment in boosting economic cooperation between the two countries. He stressed that the current phase requires intensified cooperation in advancing economic research to produce practical solutions for development challenges and to meet the economic goals of both kingdoms. Homoud reiterated the forum's commitment to 'actively' connecting investors with real opportunities, pointing to Jordan's competitive investment environment, supported by advanced infrastructure and a business-friendly legal framework. He invited British investors to explore new projects in renewable energy, technology and education. For his part, Lord McNicol praised the economic reforms recently implemented by the Jordanian government, describing them as 'crucial' steps towards enhancing economic stability and growth. He expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts to improve the business climate, affirming that Jordan holds significant potential to attract international investment. He noted the Jordan-UK Free Trade Agreement, which facilitates 'ambitious' bilateral trade cooperation, along with the free trade deals with the US, the European Union, countries of the Arab League and several others around the world, which offer valuable opportunities to Jordanian-based manufacturers and exporters. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
JEF, UK trade envoy discuss investment opportunities, growth indicators
The Jordan Economic Forum holds a meeting with new UK Trade Envoy to Jordan Lord Iain McNicol to explore prospects for enhanced cooperation and investment (Photo Courtesy of Jordan Economic Forum) AMMAN — The Jordan Economic Forum (JEF) has held a meeting with new UK Trade Envoy to Jordan Lord Iain McNicol to explore prospects for enhanced cooperation and investment. JEF Chairman Mazen Homoud, members of the board of directors, general assembly members, British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall and a representative from the UK Department for Business and Trade attended the meeting, according to a JEF statement. The meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in economic research and identifying high-value investment opportunities, emphasising the importance of building strategic partnerships to stimulate economic growth. During the session, the forum presented a comprehensive overview of Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), which aims to stimulate growth and attract investment to create sustainable jobs, thereby reducing unemployment and supporting both economic and social stability. The forum also highlighted the 'strength and resilience' of Jordan's banking sector, noting its positive growth trajectory, which reflects 'strong' investor confidence. The sector plays a vital role in financing economic activities, especially investments that support sustainable development. Homoud welcomed the UK delegation and reaffirmed the forum's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with international institutions aimed at positioning Jordan as a leading regional hub for investment. He expressed appreciation for the UK's 'consistent' economic support to Jordan, most notably exemplified by the 2016 London Conference, which marked a 'pivotal' moment in boosting economic cooperation between the two countries. He stressed that the current phase requires intensified cooperation in advancing economic research to produce practical solutions for development challenges and to meet the economic goals of both kingdoms. Homoud reiterated the forum's commitment to 'actively' connecting investors with real opportunities, pointing to Jordan's competitive investment environment, supported by advanced infrastructure and a business-friendly legal framework. He invited British investors to explore new projects in renewable energy, technology and education. For his part, Lord McNicol praised the economic reforms recently implemented by the Jordanian government, describing them as 'crucial' steps towards enhancing economic stability and growth. He expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts to improve the business climate, affirming that Jordan holds significant potential to attract international investment. He noted the Jordan-UK Free Trade Agreement, which facilitates 'ambitious' bilateral trade cooperation, along with the free trade deals with the US, the European Union, countries of the Arab League and several others around the world, which offer valuable opportunities to Jordanian-based manufacturers and exporters.
Arab News
03-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Jordan, UK explore deepening trade ties under partnership agreement
AMMAN: Jordan and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic and trade cooperation under the framework of their 2021 bilateral partnership agreement, the Jordan News Agency reported. During talks in Amman on Saturday, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Yarub Qudah met with British Trade Envoy to Jordan, Kuwait, and Palestine, Iain McNicol, to discuss progress made under the deal and explore further avenues of collaboration. Philip Hall, the British ambassador to Jordan, also attended the meeting. According to a statement from the Jordanian Ministry of Industry, the discussions touched on efforts to streamline rules of origin and the development of mechanisms to monitor the agreement's implementation; chief among them the launch of a Partnership Council and technical committees. Qudah highlighted several ongoing challenges, including the complexity of the rules of origin, and the comparatively high costs of compliance and export for Jordanian producers. He stressed the need to review the terms of the current agreement to ensure Jordanian products are granted preferential access to UK markets— particularly in light of the United Kingdom's Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which offers more favorable terms to other nations. McNicol affirmed Britain's 'keenness' to deepen trade ties with Jordan and expressed support for improving the Kingdom's investment environment. He also emphasized the UK's commitment to sustainable trade initiatives, including support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and stimulating British investment in Jordan's 'vital' productive sectors. Looking ahead, both sides agreed to accelerate preparations for the upcoming Jordanian-British Business Forum, which they said would provide a key platform to strengthen private-sector ties and explore new areas of economic cooperation.
