THE DOUBLE DANGER THAT COULD WRECK RECOVERY

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 22:20:29 +0000

SCOTBUZZ editor BILL JAMIESON thinks Finance Minister John Swinney has good cause to be pleased with Scotland’s economic performance these days. Employment is at an all-time high. Exports are at a record. Scotland’s GDP has risen for nine consecutive quarters. But, says Bill, all this could come juddering to a halt over the next 12 months...

POWERS IN OUR TIME: Honey McBee's Buzz Round the Media

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 22:05:01 +0000

This week we're back to more powers, EVEL, the debates and the endless constitutional permutations. Only another ten weeks and it'll be over? Some hopes. For light relief we ask if politicians can do sums, if climate Armageddon is coming, and whether anyone can stop Alex. There's the demise of a much-loved moggy and a fracking good row. And haggis...

WHY AUSTERITY HAS BEEN A GREEK TRAGEDY

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:38:22 +0000

We now know the result of the Greek election. A new government promising to end austerity. But, says JOHN MCGURK, the irony about the Greek austerity programme which brought the country to its knees these last six years, is that it hasn't worked. The danger, says John, is that anti-austerity will create a domino effect across Europe. Light the blue touch-paper...

ALL ABOARD THE MURPHY MALLARD

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:19:49 +0000

Here comes the ‘People’s ScotRail’. Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy clearly needs no lessons from the SNP and the Lib Dems in making outlandish promises ahead of the Westminster election. A Labour press release last week claimed to map out a better future for public transport. That just leaves the small matter of paying for it...

HOT FROM THE MODERN CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:09:20 +0000

Only 100 campaigning days to GE2015, and GEORGE KEREVAN has thrown his hat into the ring as a candidate. Here's the first of his epistles from the front line - George's step-by-step guide to becoming a candidate and all the pitfalls - the tricky questions, the You Tube presentations. Prepare, says George, to have your illusions shattered...

IS SCOTLAND READY FOR FRACKING?

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:54:56 +0000

DAVID LEE says the recent intervention by Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has taken the already febrile debate on fracking in Scotland up another notch. The Scottish Government has already taken a ‘precautionary approach' to fracking in Scotland, voting for a moratorium. Will it ever be safe? A major Edinburgh conference next month will look for answers...

THE BEST WEE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD - PERHAPS

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:49:13 +0000

KEN HOUSTON is impressed by a Scottish politician. It doesn't happen often, so Fergus Ewing's performance on Radio 4 last week must have been really something. 10/10 says Ken, but only 6/10 for John Swinney's Land Tax U-turn. And in times of austerity, can we really afford to build a new school for LGBT pupils? Ken can think of better uses for public money...

HEADS UP FOR A BETTER RETAIL CLIMATE

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:38:57 +0000

RUTH MCKAY was at the Scottish Retail Consortium’s annual parliamentary reception at Dynamic Earth. The gathering, she says, saw an impressive turn out of retail businesses, industry leaders, consumer groups and politicians hear about the group's commitment to environmental sustainability...

SOARING SWISS FRANC PROMPTS DAVOS MOVE TO AVIEMORE

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 21:48:02 +0000

In a world exclusive, Scot-Buzz editor BILL JAMIESON reveals a dramatic move sparked by the sudden leap in the Swiss franc. The World Economic Forum, due to begin at the ski resort of Davos, has been switched this week to the Ardlogie Guest House, Aviemore. As world leaders gather and the press hog the best hotels, Scotland's premier ski resort is bursting at the seams...

TIME TO WAKE UP TO ‘WHO PAYS’

Bill Jamieson — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 21:37:11 +0000

This week KEN HOUSTON queries the benefits of keeping people on benefits. It doesn't help them, he says, and it doesn't help business; welfare wasn't intended to be a lifestyle choice and it's often a complete waste of talent. People-trafficking is despicable, but will it soon become a reason to claim asylum - and what's in a name? Quite a lot, says Ken...