Brown tackles rumours and gossip over premiership
Gordon Brown yesterday insisted he was the right person to guide Britain through difficult economic times, as he continued his effort to reassert his authority in the wake of the worst weeks of his premiership.
Published: 16/05/2008
Disbelief over housing proposal for city flood plain
A PROPOSED housing development on an Aberdeen flood plain has been labelled “astonishing” by people in the city.
Published: 16/05/2008
Defiant Cherie Blair refuses to quit
Cherie Blair yesterday insisted she would not quit as a judge — despite being accused of bringing the legal profession into disrepute.
Published: 16/05/2008
Senior councillor’s absence at inquiry raised eyebrows
A senior Aberdeen councillor and a powerful financial watchdog were at odds with one another last night over claims that he did not request to give evidence at an inquiry this week.
Published: 16/05/2008
Renewed calls for leader to leave post
Aberdeen City Council must take “urgent action” to address major weaknesses in its social work services, the latest damning report into the local authority concludes.
Published: 16/05/2008
SNP move to cut fuel tax rejected by the Treasury
A new SNP attempt to slash fuel taxes was rejected by the Treasury last night.
Published: 16/05/2008
Kirk’s General Assembly gets under way
THE Church of Scotland’s annual General Assembly began in Edinburgh yesterday.
Published: 16/05/2008
Big pat on the back for prosecution service teams
The prosecution service in Grampian “performed remarkably well” despite a growing caseload and staff shortages, according to a watchdog report.
Published: 16/05/2008
Probe into care home ‘closure’ communication breakdown
A council is investigating a “breakdown of communication” after relatives of vulnerable old people at a care home were wrongly told it would have to close.
Published: 16/05/2008
SNP accused of ‘acrobatics’ over school PE pledge
A Scottish government minister will not be carpeted for causing “confusion” over the policy for physical education in schools, First Minister Alex Salmond indicated yesterday.
Published: 16/05/2008
Moray Council praised for backing road signs appeal
Supporters of efforts to keep alive the old county name of Banffshire have welcomed moves by Moray Council to put up road signs on the former boundaries.
Published: 16/05/2008
Special-needs pupils may lose learning support staff
Hundreds of special-needs pupils in Aberdeen could be left without learning support as city schools struggle to cope with budget cuts, it emerged last night.
Published: 16/05/2008
Isles girls pull out over Sabbath final
A Western Isles girls football team look likely to miss out on playing in a national tournament because it is being held on a Sunday.
Published: 16/05/2008
Councils told to scrap meal charges now
Pressure is growing on Scottish councils to stop charging for preparing meals for people who get free personal and nursing care.
Published: 16/05/2008
Row erupts over Crossrail link
An MSP has been criticised for comments she made regarding the proposed Crossrail link in the north-east.
Published: 16/05/2008
Crofting’s future faces ‘clear danger’
Radical action is needed to save the crofting industry in Scotland from its “perilous state”, Environment Minister Mike Russell has warned.
Published: 16/05/2008
Help on way for councils to enforce bans
LOCAL authorities will get extra help enforcing a ban on selling tobacco products to under-18s.
Published: 16/05/2008
Scottish house prices continue to go on rising
House prices continue to rise across Scotland despite an overall drop in sales, official records revealed yesterday.
Published: 16/05/2008
Inquiry call after rampage by Scots fans
First Minister Alex Salmond called for a full inquiry as police south of the border last night defended their response to a rampage by Rangers fans.
Published: 16/05/2008
Former MSP takes up post as Queen’s representative to General Assembly
A FORMER MSP arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse yesterday to take up his post as Queen’s representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Published: 15/05/2008
Speaker’s wife has £2,500 taxi allowance
The wife of Commons Speaker Michael Martin is allowed to spend thousands of pounds a year on taxis to go shopping for the couple’s groceries, it emerged yesterday.
Published: 15/05/2008
Waiting for Westminster . . . Scots in limbo over elections
Time is running out for Westminster to hand over control of the Scottish Parliament elections to Edinburgh, an SNP minister said yesterday.
Published: 15/05/2008
First minister sets out next year’s plans for government
Alex Salmond’s government plans for the next 12 months were dismissed as “positively flyweight” by the opposition yesterday.
Published: 15/05/2008
Scots round on Brown’s new deal
Gordon Brown was accused last night of “double counting” a £300million package of aid for hard-pressed home-buyers hit by the credit crunch.
Published: 15/05/2008
£70million council shock
Around £70million has been drained from Aberdeen City Council’s reserves over the last three years, it was claimed yesterday.
Published: 14/05/2008
Darling ends 10p tax dilemma with £2.7bn for low and middle earners
Chancellor Alistair Darling announced £2.7billion worth of help yesterday for low-paid and middle-income workers hit by the scrapping of the 10p income tax rate.
Published: 14/05/2008
Wendy faces new U-turn farce on SNP measures
Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander came under renewed fire last night following claims that the party has staged yet another “humiliating” U-turn on its controversial independence referendum policy.
Published: 14/05/2008
City boss decides to quit as watchdog launches inquiry
The chief executive of crisis-hit Aberdeen City Council dramatically quit yesterday as government watchdogs gathered to question his leadership.
Published: 14/05/2008
