Latest news with #TheStooshie
Press and Journal
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Exclusive: Huntly councillor becomes SIXTH Aberdeenshire Tory to join Reform
A Huntly councillor has become the SIXTH Tory in Aberdeenshire to join Reform as momentum continues to build for Nigel Farage's party. Lauren Knight became the latest Conservative in the north-east to make the switch just hours after leader Russell Findlay branded defectors 'opportunists'. Ms Knight said she believes the Conservative Party has 'left her' and she 'feels let down by so many broken promises'. 'I am honoured to have joined Reform UK', she exclusively told The Press and Journal. Ms Knight, who represents the Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford ward, previously battled Aberdeenshire Council over a deferral for her premature son starting school. Her son, Henry, was born three months early and spent five months fighting to survive in the neonatal unit while he was unable to breathe by himself. Ms Knight, who lives in Forgue, said: 'As the mother of a child with additional support needs, I have experienced firsthand the challenges families face when navigating a system that too often overlooks the most vulnerable.' Speaking to the P&J, the Aberdeenshire mum said local cuts to additional support needs services passed by the ruling Tory-led administration influenced her defection. Ms Knight felt she was unable to speak out against her own party on the topic. 'It wasn't an environment where you could have a voice,' she said. Ms Knight said she was 'sad' to leave behind some Tory colleagues, but said many of her allies were the councillors who had already left the party. She told the P&J: ' I realised of the people I aligned with and was friends with have all decided to move to Reform.' Her defection to Reform represents another blow for the Tories in a region where they are losing multiple councillors. Former Aberdeenshire council chief Mark Findlater and Mearns councillor Laurie Carnie became the first to join Reform in Scotland last year. Ellon councillor John Crawley and Dominic Lonchay, who represents East Garioch, later followed them over to Mr Farage's party. Robbie Withey, another councillor in Ms Knight's Huntly ward, continues to sit as an independent but has joined Reform. John Cox, a former SNP councillor, has also signed up to Reform UK – but also still sits as an independent. And Aberdeen councillor Duncan Massey announced his defection from the Tories last week when Mr Farage visited the city. The defection comes one day after Scottish Tory chief Mr Findlay exclusively told the P&J he 'despairs' at councillors leaving his party for Reform and believes they will later regret it. 'Some of them you know personally and you know their politics – you're left to conclude they're doing so because it's complete opportunism,' he said on our weekly politics podcast, The Stooshie. He added: 'A lot of our members are very angry at those who defect. 'Those who defect are only in the post they're in because of the fact they were wearing a Tory blue rosette. 'I just feel disappointed. I suspect what we'll see is some regret.' Reform councillor Thomas Kerr welcomed Ms Knight to the party. 'Lauren Knight brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to Reform UK,' he said. A Scottish Tory spokesperson said: 'Under Russell Findlay, we're reconnecting with common sense conservative values of enterprise, self-reliance, fiscal responsibility and the rule of law. 'Every poll shows that Reform will only help the SNP. 'As we saw in last year's general election, they handed several seats to the SNP which would have otherwise gone to a pro-UK party. 'Reform are likely to stand pro-independence candidates in the 2026 election and Nigel Farage has even said he's not worried about the SNP getting another five years in power.'
Press and Journal
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Exclusive: Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay blasts 'opportunistic' north-east Reform defectors
Russell Findlay said he 'despairs' at defections in the north-east to Nigel Farage's Reform party and warned councillors who have jumped ship will eventually regret their decision. The Scottish Conservative leader spoke exclusively to The Stooshie, The Press and Journal's weekly politics podcast, about the growing threat from Nigel Farage's party. Five Aberdeenshire councillors and another in Aberdeen have all made the switch to Reform in a Tory exodus across the region. But Mr Findlay said many of those who had defected were doing so due to opportunism. 'I despair when I see people defecting,' he told us. 'Some of them you know personally and you know their politics – you're left to conclude they're doing so because it's complete opportunism.' He added: 'A lot of our members are very angry at those who defect. 'Those who defect are only in the post they're in because of the fact they were wearing a Tory blue rosette.' Tory sources claim some councillors who switched allegiance only did so after failing vetting to stand for the next Holyrood election. We asked Mr Findlay for his thoughts about the calibre of those who had defected in the north-east. 'I'd be concerned to generalise, I'm not saying any of these people are bad people,' he said. 'I do know some failed their parliamentary assessment process. 'Their ambitions to become MSPs with our party were thwarted, and Reform looked like another vehicle to realise their ambitions. 'I just feel disappointed. I suspect what we'll see is some regret.' Dominic Lonchay, an East Garioch councillor who defected last month, faced accusations he 'threw his toys out the pram' after not being allowed to stand. He disputed this, saying the rejection was the 'last drop'. Mr Lonchay said: 'They turned around and said, 'you're not good enough for us.' 'Well, okay, fine, if I'm not good enough for you, I'll be good enough for somebody else.' Former Aberdeenshire Tory leader Mark Findlater and Mearns councillor Laurie Mearns were the first in Scotland to make the jump last year. They were later joined by Ellon councillor John Crawley. Huntly councillor Robbie Withey sits as an independent after leaving the Tories, but is now a Reform member. Meanwhile, Aberdeen councillor Duncan Massey announced his defection last Monday when Nigel Farage visited the city. Does Mr Findlay worry more could follow? 'I don't worry about it,' he told us. 'Frankly I don't know, I can't look inside the minds of these people. 'Reform are being so cynical about this. 'We'll just have to watch this space.' Thomas Kerr, a former Glasgow Tory councillor who joined Reform, said: 'All this attack shows is how desperate the Scottish Conservatives now are. 'Reform UK is delighted to be living rent-free in Russell Findlay's head.' You can listen to Mr Findlay's full interview on The Stooshie here.
Press and Journal
11-06-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Tories propose emergency law to speed up A9 dualling
Private investment and quicker environmental reviews can help fast-track A9 dualling between Inverness and Perth by up to four years, according to a Tory blueprint backed by an SNP veteran. Russell Findlay's party is plotting an emergency law to ensure upgrades to widen the busy route are finished in the next Scottish Parliament's lifetime – up to May 2031. 'Enough's enough,' he said, speaking exclusively on The Stooshie, the weekly political podcast from the P&J. 'People who use that road realise that the time for excuses is long gone.' The idea has already won the backing of Fergus Ewing, the MSP for Inverness and Nairn and vocal critic of SNP progress on the promised upgrade. 'I welcome this proposal,' Mr Ewing told the Press and Journal. 'The SNP government has plainly broken pledges, and lost trust.' The Conservatives want a portion of the Scottish Government's transport budget to be ringfenced for the dualling scheme to ensure work does not stall. Mr Findlay believes the private sector should be brought in to attract more funding for the road. This would involve using 'infrastructure investment partnerships' with individual businesses, aiming to reduce costs when finding contractors for sections of the project. 'I think that would do a lot to focus the minds of hard-headed investors to get the job done,' he said. The Tories also say environmental impact assessments carried out on each section of the A9 should be 'expedited'. 'We have to respect the impact on the environment of any infrastructure project, but these can take over a year,' Mr Findlay told The Stooshie. The SNP originally promised to complete A9 dualling by this year, but admitted in 2023 that was no longer. A new timetable to finish the project a full decade from now is in place. Laura Hansler, an A9 campaigner from Kincraig, backed the Tory proposals in principle. 'The suggestions are fantastic,' she said. But she warned 'further clarity' is needed over how exactly the emergency law would prevent further delays. The Scottish Greens are opposed. 'Environmental impact assessments are an important legal requirement,' said Mark Ruskell, a party MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife. A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'We are fully committed to dualling the A9 and have prioritised funding for this programme within our annual budgets. 'We are also actively considering whether there is any way that we can fast-track work, including opportunities for undertaking 'advance works' ahead of main construction contracts.' Tory leader Mr Findlay spoke to The Stooshie ahead of his party's conference in Edinburgh this weekend. On the latest episode he also told us: You can listen to Mr Findlay's full interview here.
Press and Journal
10-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Inverness doctor lifts lid on NHS struggles for patients and staff
A leading Highland doctor says patients used to get a better deal on an NHS which needs urgent action to avoid a downward spiral. Inverness GP Dr Iain Kennedy spoke out after the P&J revealed the findings of a survey across the north and north-east. He says our findings raise alarm about 'sleepwalking' into a two-tier service where people spend thousands going private to beat queues. And he claims rural access in places such as the Highlands where he works need much better access for rural patients. 'The NHS used to be the place in the world people wanted to work,' he said. 'Now I don't think any of us, me and my colleagues, are as proud as we used to be. 'That's not to say patients aren't getting good care – they are. 'When they access healthcare they are delighted with the care they receive.' Dr Kennedy is the chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish council. He hears from medical professionals across the country sounding the alarm. The GP outlined his thoughts in a full interview on the P&J's weekly podcast, The Stooshie. It's not about quality, it's about access, he says. And while no one would expect a hospital in every village, some distances appear shocking. One respondent to our survey talked about driving more than 100 miles for a baby scan. We reported recently that the only vascular surgeon was leaving Raigmore in Inverness. Dr Kennedy says some people with breast lumps may have to go to Forth Valley, which covers Stirling and Falkirk. 'The mantra has been about care closer to home,' he says. 'But at the same time, we're now moving to an expectation patients will travel. 'The noises I hear from government and from health boards is the public are quite happy to travel. I'm not convinced of that myself.' He adds: 'We know the remote and rural areas of Scotland are the most difficult to provide healthcare to, and things have got worse.' With all that pressure on staff, GPs are struggling to fill the demand. 'Being a GP is a fantastic job,' he says. 'But it's become too difficult.' On Tuesday, First Minister John Swinney set out a number of pledges to improve the NHS including more GP appointments. His renewed 'programme for government' promises a stronger NHS which will make it 'easier' for people to get the care they need, when they need it. Concerns about long waits were raised in our survey by people who felt they had no choice but to pay for private operations. We spoke to one Culloden gran who spent £17,000 for an operation after getting nowhere near an NHS waiting list. 'I think it's embarrassing and shameful,' Dr Kennedy told us. 'We have an NHS which is free at the point of need and delivery. That's what the public has been led to believe and clearly it's not happening. 'We have sleep-walked into a two tier service for people who can afford to pay. It's not been planned, or at least I don't think it has. 'We want an NHS that is free because we know the most needy suffer.' The next Scottish Parliament election is in May next year. Dr Kennedy says politicians need to have honest answers. 'Things are getting worse, they're not getting better, and we need to see some hope for the future,' he says. Listen to the full interview on the Stooshie podcast online here.
Press and Journal
30-04-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen jobs warning as anger grows at Grangemouth refinery closure
The closure of Grangemouth signals a warning for industrial jobs across the oil and gas heartlands of Aberdeen, according to worried union leaders. Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, outlined concerns about the knock-impact of refinery closure and the need for an urgent industrial strategy to save jobs. 'For us, Grangemouth was the test of a 'just transition',' she told the P&J's politics podcast, The Stooshie, published on Wednesday. The long-promised 'just transition' refers to government promises to ease the move from oil and gas-reliant jobs to greener energy. Ms Foyer said politicians need to step up efforts or risk livelihoods after a 'valiant' campaign by the Unite union, which offered cheaper solutions for Scotland's last refinery. 'What we've seen is our governments' utter failure, at UK and Scottish level, to keep that site open,' she added. 'If that's their idea of a just transition, our movement has grave concerns about the whole of oil and gas, and that's an awful position to be in.' Ms Foyer found positives in the Labour government's GB Energy utility investment project, but her confidence is 'at a low ebb'. Petroineos said in September that refining activities at Grangemouth would end in 2025. In recent months, hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies have been made. A significant report commissioned by the Scottish and UK governments, known as Project Willow, aimed to chart a future for the site in low-carbon energy. But the report said this would require around £3.5 billion of private investment. Petroineos has said the refinery is loss-making and has rejected claims from unions that the site could easily transition into a hub for producing sustainable aviation fuel. On Tuesday, First Minister John Swinney said the closure was a sad day for Scotland. 'The Scottish Government will work to secure a future for the Grangemouth community and agreement to the Acorn Carbon Capture project is essential,' he added. Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said Scotland is the 'victim of industrial vandalism'. Mr Leishman told the Commons: 'I don't want anyone in this chamber to dare mention a 'just transition', because we all know that the Conservatives when in power and the SNP currently in Holyrood did nothing to avert this catastrophic decision happening.' Listen to the full 20-minute interview on The Stooshie.
