SNP criticised for deductions as party scrapes in just below legal spending limit for Shetland by-election
The SNP has come under fire after scraping in just below the legal spending limit in the recent Shetland by-election.
Tavish Scott
New Shetland MSP aims to tackle ’empty promises’ made by Scottish Government
Shetland's new MSP Beatrice Wishart yesterday said she was honoured to become the islands' first female parliamentarian after successfully defending the seat for the Lib Dems.
Nicola Sturgeon accused of only caring about Shetland when votes are on offer
Nicola Sturgeon faced criticism when it emerged she made as many trips to Shetland during the by-election as she has done over her five-year term as first minister.
Renewable energy specialist Tom Wills to fight Shetland for SNP
A renewable energy expert has been selected as the SNP’s candidate for the upcoming Shetland by-election.
Tavish Scott triggers Shetland by-election by stepping down as a MSP
Tavish Scott yesterday triggered a by-election in Shetland as he resigned as an MSP to take up a high-profile role with Scottish Rugby.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott to leave Scottish politics
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott has announced he is stepping down from politics.
John Swinney faces more calls to scrap primary one tests
Education Secretary John Swinney is facing fresh calls to scrap primary one tests after a damning Holyrood report into the controversial assessments.
Tavish Scott hits out at rising water bills for village halls
Community halls in Shetland have been threatened by this month’s rising water bills, according to MSP Tavish Scott.
Calls for public inquiry into helicopter safety on Super Puma crash anniversary
SNP ministers yesterday faced renewed calls to back a public inquiry into helicopter safety in advance of the 10th anniversary of the SuperPuma crash off Peterhead.
Nicola Sturgeon says it is ‘shameful’ that French firefighters have to apply to stay on Fair Isle
Nicola Sturgeon yesterday said it was “shameful” that three part-time Fair Isle firefighters from France have had to apply to stay on the island because of Brexit.
Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes signals Shetland could use bond finance for inter-island links
Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes has signalled that Shetland Islands Council could use bond finance to pay for bridges or tunnels between islands in the archipelago.
Michael Matheson extends Air Discount Scheme for remote areas
A scheme for cheaper flights to and from Scotland’s remote areas has been renewed and extended.
Top-level talks as case for £200m Islands Deal progresses
Top-level talks have taken place at Holyrood as the case for an ambitious multi-million-pound investment in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles took another step forward.
Workload adding to teachers’ struggle with mental health
Exhausted and overworked teachers are struggling more and more with stress, a survey has revealed.
Almost 33,000 school staff days lost in north and north-east for mental health reasons
Almost 33,000 school staff days were lost in the north and north-east in 2017/18 as teachers struggled with mental health, new figures have revealed.
Michael Matheson declines to give HIAL management vote of confidence
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson yesterday declined to say that he had confidence in Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) management when challenged over its performance yesterday.
Scotland benefits agency attacked for excluding the islands in new logo
The logo for Scotland’s new benefits agency, which is supposed to based on the Scottish map, has been attacked for failing to include the islands.
Shetland dog owners criticise Loganair’s pet price hike
Shetland dog owners have criticised a move by airline Loganair to increase the cost of taking a pet on flights from £10 to £50 without warning.
Call for inquiry into 2013 Shetland helicopter crash
A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) into a helicopter crash that claimed four lives in 2013 should be held “without any further delay”, an MSP has said.
North-east teacher vacancy advertised six times… Only two applications sent in
A secondary school has advertised six times for an English teacher in the last six months, prompting fresh claims the government is presiding over a “crisis” in education.
North teaching crisis deepens: Almost 900 jobs had to be re-advertised
Nearly 900 teaching jobs in the north of Scotland have had to be re-advertised since 2014.
Ferry fares reduction still does not go far enough, says MSP
A row over ferry fares has blown up again after Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said the proposed reductions to “exorbitant” prices should go further.
Calls for joint emergency service control room for Shetland
The Scottish Government has been urged to consider a joint emergency service control room covering all Shetland's blue light services.
‘Saving money by forcing people on a 14-hour ferry instead of a quick flight to Aberdeen not acceptable’
An MSP has insisted that funding must increase for NHS Shetland rather than making cuts to patients' travel.
Swinney pledges to prioritise maintaining teacher numbers in councils pitch
Education Secretary John Swinney said maintaining teacher numbers and pupil-teacher ratios would be a priority as he unveiled five pledges for SNP councils today.
Scottish Government accused of “ducking responsibility” on HIE
A north MSP has accused the Scottish Government of "ducking responsibility" after they refused to release ministerial correspondence about Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Lib Dems call for review of teacher training scheme
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a review of a Scottish Government scheme aimed at helping oil and gas workers retrain as teachers.
Tavish Scott: Has the SNP learned nothing from the botched centralisation of Scotland’s police forces?
A defeat in Parliamentary is a true test of any government.
Row continues over future of HIE board
Northern Isles Liberal Democrats have branded SNP efforts to settle the bitter row over the scrapping of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise board as a "panicked attempt to save face".
Scottish Government admits it can’t name a single body that supports HIE changes
The Scottish Government has admitted it cannot provide a list of organisations that support the controversial scrapping of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) board.
Opposition say “chronic shortage” of teachers is responsible for low standards in the north
Opposition politicians have blamed the dire state of education in the north of Scotland on a "chronic shortage" of teachers.
Tavish Scott: Fish talks in Brussels a ‘charade’
Tavish Scott gives his views on the Brussels fishing charade.