Is the coalition unfairly targeting Scotland for cuts?
In echoes of the trialing of the poll tax in Scotland, the coalition has selected Aberdeen as one of only two cities for an “attack on incapacity benefit”.
Ed Jacobs
Ed writes on devolved and local government. He works as a political consultant at the only Northern based consultancy, The Public Affairs Company. Ed has previously helped establish and run a student news website therundown.co.uk.
Cuts will hit the poorest, most vulnerable and disabled in Scotland
The Coalition’s welfare cuts will hit the “poorest, most vulnerable and those with disabilities” in Scotland, a new report out today reveals.
SNP u-turn on class sizes
Scottish Labour have dubbed a “disgrace” education secretary Michael Russell’s announcement on class sizes for primary school children in year one.
Dissidents hid cameras at MI5 base
The army have uncovered a sophisticated spying operation on the secret service by the dissident republican group, Oglaigh na Heireann. According to the Belfast Telegraph, members of the organisation planted digital cameras in woodland bordering MI5’s base in Northern Ireland, Palace Barracks.
Labour launches concerted effort to tackle Scotland’s alcohol “time bomb”
Scottish Labour has launched a concerted effort to cap the amount of caffeine in some alcoholic drinks such as Buckfast wine.
The week outside Westminster
Ed Jacobs looks back at the week’s events in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scots Labour leader: Alex Salmond “in office but not in power”
Alex Salmond has pledged to put his Government’s budget at the heart of the SNP’s programme leading up to next May’s elections to the Scottish Parliament.
Welsh Tories express “great concern” over Coalition’s constituency shake-up
Two Welsh Conservative MPs have expressed their concerns over coalition plans to cut the number of Parliamentary constituencies. The Government plans which are contained within the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill passed its second reading in the Commons on Monday.test
UUP seek to keep Sinn Fein away from the top job
The Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Danny Kennedy has called for the rules by which the First Minister is chosen to be amended, in an attempt the block the prospect of either Gerry Adams or Martin McGuniess takingtest
Scottish Conservative cut loose by Cameron
When David Cameron took the reins of government, within a week of doing so, he made a point of visiting each of the devolved governments, seeking to highlight his new mantra of respect between Westminster, Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont. Little did they know; it now transpires that the respect is not, it seems, applicable to relations between Conservatives in London and Scotland.