Leaving Union would be Brexit times ten, says Sturgeon adviser – The Times

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A leading economist appointed to Nicola Sturgeon’s panel of advisers has warned that the damage from tearing up the 300-year-old Union between Scotland and England risks being equivalent of “Brexit times ten”.

Mark Blyth, professor of international economics at the Watson Institute of Brown University in Rhode Island, was announced as a member of Sturgeon’s council of economic advisers in July amid claims that it would “bring forward bold ideas that will transform the economy”.

Hungry school children queue at Scots soup kitchen as they desperately seek dinner – Daily Record

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Hungry school pupils queued up for their dinner at a Scots soup kitchen, leaving the organisers “heartbroken.”

The two children, thought to be aged between seven and eight, were served at the Glasgow city centre soup kitchen on Tuesday night.

Run by Homeless Project Scotland, the service operates on Argyle Street and feeds hundreds of homeless people every week.

The two kids were brought there by their mum, and were said to be “excited” and “extremely grateful” for their food.

The heartbreaking scenes has prompted calls for urgent talks on child poverty.

Colin McInnes, who is the chairman at Homeless Project Scotland, said: “The queue was much bigger than normal on Tuesday night – there were around 130 people there.

“I started to see someone trying to push through the queue which obviously isn’t allowed to it caught our attention.

“It looked as though someone was trying to push their way down the middle.

Edinburgh pub refuses entry to customers from the Scottish Family Party – Edinburgh Live

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Exclusive: Staff from the Outhousebar in Edinburgh say they felt “uncomfortable” after finding out that a group of people affiliated with the Scottish Family Party had booked a table at the venue.

Three customers were refused entry to an Edinburgh pub after staff found out that they were affiliated with the Scottish Family Party.

The management team at the Outhousebar on Broughton Street Lane confirmed that they denied entry to the group – which included Scottish Family Party Leader Richard Lucas – as their political views ‘do not align with the venue.’

The Scottish Family Party policies include ’promoting marriage, opposing transgender ideology and abortions.’

Their website states: “We respect life, opposing both abortions on demand and assisted suicide, We promote marriage, We oppose transgender ideology, especially the confusing of children.”

Assistant Manager Rob told Edinburgh Live how the group booked their function room on Thursday night (September 2).

It is understood that they did not disclose to the venue that they were affiliated with the political party and instead described themselves as a ‘small group of academics.’

To see how Scotland has changed under the SNP since 2007, click here: https://www.scotlandmatters.co.uk/category/scotland-under-the-snp/

Letters to the press, 04/09/21: Scottish bigotry, Be Careful, Tess White was right.

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Events facing axe over vaccine passport plan – Daily Business

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Some events planned for Scotland may be cancelled or moved to other parts of the UK if the Scottish Government does not respond to concerns over vaccine passports.

A business chief says that losing big events just as the sector is getting back on its feet would be another blow for the economy.

Vaccine passports will become mandatory to enter nightclubs, big music concerts and top football matches under new plans unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon.

Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive Liz Cameron has issued a list of seven key concerns in a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Among them is a warning that vaccination certification “would add yet another layer of administrative burden to sectors that have already been amongst the hardest hit”.

Ms Cameron adds: “Through our initial conversations with businesses, we understand those operating in the live events sector are putting in place contingency plans including considering cancelling events or re-organising for elsewhere in the UK, putting Scotland at a further economic disadvantage.”

Events facing axe over vaccine passport plan

For more business news click here: https://www.scotlandmatters.co.uk/economy-matters/

Education experts say Curriculum for Excellence must be ‘radically simplified’ – Aberdeen Evening Express

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The Commission for School Reform said the implementation guidance around CfE ran to 20,000 pages and placed too heavy a burden on teachers.

In June, a report into CfE from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said CfE had suffered from failures of implementation.

Chaired by Dr Keir Bloomer, one of the architects of CfE, the Commission on School Reform has published a paper examining the OECD report.

Dr Bloomer’s group stressed the importance of the acquisition of knowledge as well as skills in education.

It called on the Government to “radically simplify” the implementation of CfE.

Education experts say Curriculum for Excellence must be ‘radically simplified’

For more education news click here: https://www.scotlandmatters.co.uk/education-matters/

RAF Lossiemouth’s £100m Poseidon facility named the ‘Atlantic Building’ as base marks double milestone – The Northern Scot

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RAF Lossiemouth marked a double milestone today as its £100 million Poseidon Strategic Facility was officially named as the “Atlantic Building” and a new Standard was presented to CXX Squadron.

With the Atlantic Building as a backdrop and flanked either side by two submarine-hunting Poseidon aircraft, 60 personnel from CXX Squadron formally paraded for the first time since re-forming last year.

The personnel on parade were accompanied by the RAF Lossiemouth Pipes and Drum Band as families, guests and local dignitaries looked on. VIP guests included Bill Robertson, CEO of locally-based Robertson Construction, which built the Atlantic Building.

For more defence news click here: https://www.scotlandmatters.co.uk/defence-matters/

Red Cross volunteers help nearly 164,000 people amid Covid-19 pandemic – STV news

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More than 7000 British Red Cross volunteers have helped nearly 164,000 people across Scotland amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures.

The charity said the ways their volunteers have assisted include delivering food and medicine to doorsteps, helping with vaccinations and manning a coronavirus support line to support people at their loneliest moments.

It published new data indicating 7418 volunteers took part in these efforts, assisting 163,782 people during the pandemic to date.

Ahead of Nicola Sturgeon announcing her Programme for Government next week, the Red Cross said its experience helping tens of thousands of people shows the Scottish Government must focus on addressing the challenges of loneliness, rising NHS waiting times and helping the most vulnerable.

Red Cross volunteers help nearly 164,000 people amid Covid-19 pandemic

Alarm as one in eight Scots teachers in temporary jobs, according to new figures – The Sun

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ONE in eight Scots teachers is now in temporary posts, new figures reveal.

Some 6,259 out of 52,672 teachers were not on full-time contracts in 2020, as the 12 per cent tally was up from eight per cent reported in 2006.

Ministers faced calls to end the “damaging overuse” of “zero-hours” supply contracts after the stats emerged in a parly written question by Tory MSP Stephen Kerr.

He said: “It’s vital that young people have permanent teachers.

“We should not be asking teachers to plug gaps in our system by taking temporary jobs, leaving them unable to plan long term or get a mortgage.

Village to lose only GP surgery after key posts go unfilled – BBC news

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The only GP surgery in a Borders village is to close after it was agreed it was no longer viable to operate.

If follows the failure to fill some “key posts” at the Coldingham site.

Eyemouth Medical Practice – which operates the branch surgery – said the decision was “regrettable” but would make its overall operations more sustainable.

NHS Borders said it recognised the disappointment the decision would cause in the Coldingham community.

The partners in the medical practice informed the health board of their difficulties in recruiting to fill vacant posts earlier this year.

They said this had “significantly impacted” on their ability to keep operating in Coldingham.

A public consultation was held throughout July and August.

A health board meeting has now endorsed moves to withdraw a dispensing service and close the branch surgery in the village.