Latest news with #ex-SNP
Scottish Sun
18 minutes ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Wife-beater ex-SNP MSP blasted for blaming VICTIMS for ending his career
Disgraced Nat Bill Walker, 83, blamed the women he battered for ending his political career 'APPALLING' Wife-beater ex-SNP MSP blasted for blaming VICTIMS for ending his career A FORMER MSP who was jailed for domestic abuse has blamed his victims for ending his political career. Wife-beater Bill Walker, 83, also claims in his memoir he was the target of a 'vendetta'. 3 Disgraced former MSP Bill Walker leaves Dumfries Prison after serving half of his 12-month sentence for a catalogue of domestic abuse offences Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire 3 Domestic abuse campaigners rallied outside the Scottish Parliament after he refused to give up his seat Credit: Jeff3 Sneering Walker has blamed the victims of his violent crimes for ending his political career The ex-SNP member for Dunfermline was caged for 12 months in 2013 after being convicted of 23 charges spanning 30 years. They included battering three former spouses and a stepdaughter. But in his self-published book, the unrepentant brute says: 'My former wives succeeded in ending prematurely my political life.' He added that his victims had sought to 'discredit me and destroy the modest successes of my life'. He claimed he penned the book 'to set the record straight'. Danielle Secker bravely shares her story of horrific domestic abuse But Tory MSP Sharon Dowey hit out: 'These shameful comments are the worst type of victim-blaming. 'Walker alone ended his career through his dreadful criminal behaviour, not the poor women on the receiving end of his abuse.' A spokesman for the SNP, who expelled Walker in 2012, said last night: 'These are appalling comments. "He should apologise to all those he wronged.' Walker was contacted for comment.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Nicola Sturgeon was involved in 'political conspiracy' against Alex Salmond, claims ex-SNP minister
Nicola Sturgeon was involved in 'political conspiracy' against Alex Salmond, claims ex-SNP minister Kenny MacAskill renewed his calls for a public inquiry into the events surrounding an investigation into the late Alex Salmond. Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon after the SNP election win in 2011 Nicola Sturgeon was involved in a "political conspiracy" against Alex Salmond, a former SNP justice secretary has claimed. Kenny MacAskill warned today there must be "no cover up in Holyrood or in St Andrew's House" as he renewed his calls for a public inquiry to examine the circumstances of an investigation into the former first minister, who died in October last year aged 69. The Alba leader, who quit the SNP in 2021 to join Salmond's fledgling party, has regularly demanded answers over a botched Scottish Government probe into claims of harassment made against Salmond in 2018. Complaints were made by two female civil servants but an internal Government investigation was later ruled to be unlawful. Salmond was awarded over half a million pounds in costs after a judge ruled in 2019 the investigation had been "tainted with apparent bias". The former SNP leader was separately charged that same year with sexual assault against nine women. He was cleared of all charges in court in 2020. "I think there has to be an inquiry because what happened to Alex Salmond was fundamentally wrong," MacAskill said in an interview with Go Radio. Article continues below SNP MSPs call for Israeli Defense Forces to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation READ MORE: "I think what we are seeing is obfuscation, to put it mildly, by the Scottish Government. There can be no cover up in Holyrood or in St Andrew's House. We require to know who did what, what was done, if that impacts upon Alex so be it, but I don't believe it does. I believe it will vindicate him because a manifest injustice was done towards him." Pressed on on whether Sturgeon was at the heart of a "political conspiracy" MacAskill continued: "I believe so. There was a political conspiracy to do down Alex Salmond. "I have no doubt that was a factor in his early death. He wasn't even 70 but what he had to endure. But he was vindicated in the civil courts with the Scottish Government chastised in the highest court in our land and in the criminal court a jury of his peers exculpated him." Sturgeon, who was first minister at the time of the investigation, has previously denied any suggestion of a conspiracy. Salmond himself alleged that some people had wanted to "remove me as a political threat". She told MSPs in 2019: "It seems to me that I am being simultaneously accused of being involved in a conspiracy against Alex Salmond, and also of colluding with Alex Salmond. "Nothing could be further from the truth in both of those - neither of those things are true. Since I found out about the investigation I have tried to do the right thing in a situation which, no matter what happened, was never going to be easy for me." Alex Salmond leaves the High Court in 2019 (Image: Getty Images ) In a 2021 interview with STV, Sturgeon was again asked about a conspiracy against Salmond. She said: "He has made claims, or he appears to be making claims or suggestions there was some kind of conspiracy against him or concerted campaign against him, there is not a shred of evidence about that, so this is the opportunity for him to replace insinuation and assertion with evidence. "I don't believe he can because I know what he is saying is not true but the burden of proof is on him. If he can't provide that evidence he should stop making these claims about people because they're not fair and deeply distressing." The former first minister was later cleared of breaching the ministerial code over her involvement in the Salmond saga. An independent inquiry in 2021 by senior Irish lawyer James Hamilton examined whether the first minister misled the Scottish Parliament over what she knew and when. A separate inquiry by MSPs into the Scottish Government's handling of harassment complaints against Salmond found there were 'fundamental errors' in its harassment procedure. Article continues below The Record asked the SNP for comment.
The National
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Shetlanders raise £10k for Gaza through art exhibition
The pop-up event was organised by ex-SNP MSP turned painter Jean Urquhart and crofter Cilla Robertson. A total of £10,433 was raised in 2025 after local artists and craftspeople donated all sorts of hand-made goods from Shetland, including knitwear, ceramics, books, paintings, home-dried herbs and decorative mosaics. A similar amount – £10,072 – was also raised at a similar event organised by the pair in 2024. READ MORE: SNP minister responds to 'secret meeting to discuss John Swinney leadership' reports The exhibition was staffed by local artists and members of Palestinian Solidarity Shetland. An original song was also offered, with the buyer able to then name and dedicate it. It was subsequently dedicated to the Palestinian people and sent to Palestinian ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot. Two of the items that were donated (Image: Jean Urquhart) It has also been titled: 'Tae Palestine, Fae Shetland, Wae Love'. The money raised has been split between Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Zaynab Project, whose founder Mina Shakib said: 'We're truly honored by support from the Shetland Islands. Knowing that your community chose the Zaynab Project because of our focus on food, water, and orphan support in Gaza means so much to us. We are honored to have received such a large, generous donation from Palestinian Solidarity Shetland and your community.' Urquhart, meanwhile, said: 'There are groups like ours all across Scotland. All protesting against the Zionist Israeli government actions in Palestine and our own UK Government's complicity in the genocide. "History shows Britain's involvement in the lives of Palestinians since the days of the British Mandate – it's time to make amends and help the people of Palestine, not destroy them. We owe them'.
Scottish Sun
19-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development
Plans for the multi-million pound Flamingo Land resort have recently been put on ice SLEAZY DOES IT SLEAZY DOES IT Shamed ex-SNP chief Derek Mackay working with firm behind controversial Flamingo Land development Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHAMED ex-SNP minister Derek Mackay has been working with the firm behind the controversial Flamingo Land development. Mackay disappeared from Holyrood in February 2020 after The Scottish Sun revealed he had been pestering a 16-year-old schoolboy with creepy text messages. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Shamed ex-SNP minister Derek Mackay is understood to be advising the firm behind Flamingo Land plans Credit: PA 3 Flamingo Land proposals include a waterpark, monorail, more than 100 lodges, and a waterpark Credit: Lomond Banks It has now been revealed by the Daily Record that the former minister had been advising on the plans for the multi-million resort on the banks of Loch Lomond. Flamingo Land proposals include a waterpark, monorail, more than 100 lodges, and a waterpark in Balloch, Dunbartonshire. The controversial project has divided opinion, and the national park authority rejected plans last year. However, last month the Scottish Government overturned a refusal decision, but the development was recently stalled over "environmental concerns". Mackay is understood to have been advising Lomond Banks. Speaking about the former politician's involvement, a spokeswoman told the Daily Record that Lomond Banks "works with a range of specialists and advisers". A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government has had no contact from Derek Mackay on this." They also denied claims of any contact. Concerns have now been raised over Mackay's role - who was previously a planning minister. Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: 'It is extraordinary that Lomond Banks appears to have employed Derek Mackay as a consultant. John Swinney defends Gray's car use after minister was 'driven to pub' 'As a former SNP planning minister, questions need to be asked about whether he used his old party contacts to influence the outcome of this planning application.' Mackay left the SNP in March 2021 after The Scottish Sun revealed he had bombarded a schoolboy with 270 online messages. In the sleazy messages Mr Mackay called the lad 'cute' and invited him out for dinner, six months after contacting him out of the blue. In February, he set up Lochan Associates Ltd, which Companies House says offers 'management consultancy activities other than financial management'. Plans for the multi-million pound Flamingo Land resort have recently been put on ice. It comes days after the Scottish Green Party claimed more than 50,000 people have written to the Nats ministers demanding that the controversial theme park be scrapped. Their MSP Ross Greer said Planning Minister Ivan McKee must "listen to the public".
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scottish pensioners lose court challenge over winter fuel payment cuts after 'irrational' argument
Pensioners Peter and Florence Fanning had sought to challenge the decisions made by government ministers over the winter fuel payment. Sign up to our Politics newsletter 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... A pensioner couple have lost their legal challenge over government decisions to cut the winter fuel payment and its Scottish equivalent. Peter and Florence Fanning, from Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, raised the petition in the Court of Session in Edinburgh following the announcement in July last year from Chancellor Rachel Reeves of plans to cut the allowance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pensioners Florence and Peter Fanning from Coatbridge challenge the decision to scrap the winter fuel payments for pensioners | Lisa Ferguson The couple lost their entitlement to the financial assistance and became worried about their ability to afford their heating bills. They brought the legal action with the help of ex-SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC, who represented them as senior counsel. In April last year, the provision of a winter fuel-related payment was devolved to Scottish ministers who proposed a new benefit – the pension age winter heating payment (PAWHP) – causing an adjustment to the block grant funding provided to the Scottish Government by the UK government. Scottish ministers proposed the payment would be universal and not means-tested. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After Labour swept to power at Westminster in July last year, Ms Reeves announced the winter fuel payment would no longer be available to those not in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits, resulting in a reduction to the block grant estimated to be around £160 million. The court heard Scottish ministers considered they had no option, but to replicate the decision of the UK government. The Fannings, who received the winter fuel payment in 2023, but were not eligible for the Scottish equivalent last year, challenged both decisions, claiming neither government had considered the Equality Act 2010 and had both 'failed to consult' with pensioners. Peter and Florence Fanning, of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh. Picture: Craig Paton/PA Wire | PA They sought to quash the decisions of both governments and pursued a finding they both acted in a way that was 'irrational and unreasonable'. The Fannings also sought a finding that both decisions were unlawful under the Human Rights Act 1998. The judge's ruling - and reasons However, Judge Lady Hood rejected all six requests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In a U-turn earlier this week, the UK government announced the vast majority of pensioners in England and Wales will again receive the winter fuel payment this winter, and the Scottish Government said it was 'working through the options' in the wake of that decision. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given more detail about the UK government's plans for the winter fuel allowance | PA/The Scotsman In her decision, published on Friday, Lady Hood found neither government had failed to exercise their duties under the Equality Act 2010, and neither government was under a duty to consult. She also held the decisions were neither 'irrational nor unreasonable' and did not breach the Human Rights Act 1998, and she ruled they were 'in pursuit of a legitimate aim'. In a written judgment, Lady Hood said: 'It was a policy decision involving questions of the allocation of resources, and practical and political assessments that this court would not be well-placed to judge. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'That the policy decisions could result in hardship for those falling on one side of a brightline rule is not enough to render it irrational in the legal sense.' Lady Hood added: 'The petitioners asserted that elderly people suffering from disabilities rendering them vulnerable to cold temperatures constituted a group in our society which has suffered considerable discrimination in the past … however, mere assertion is not enough to bring a group within that definition, and the petitioners did not sufficiently demonstrate to the court that this cohort of the population did do so.'
