24/07/2017

The Pagoda Perspective 24.07.2017

 

BREXIT

  • The body representing Scottish farmers has given a cautious welcome to plans for a new deal on support after Brexit.
  • Former First Minister, Alex Salmond, has claimed that IndyRef2 will come right because Brexit will go wrong.

POLITICS

  • Scottish Conservative Leader Ruth Davidson has warned the UK government it must show greater leadership if it wants to survive, calling for a “reboot” of Conservatism.
  • One in five of Scotland’s new MPs have “little or no” work experience outside of politics, analysis from the Herald has found.

HEALTH

  • The UK Supreme Court is due to begin hearing the Scotch Whisky Association’s (SWA) appeal on Minimum Unit Pricing today and tomorrow. The industry body has argued that the measures, passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2012, contravene EU law.
  • Scottish Labour has launched its Health and Social Care Workforce Commission aimed at investigating and tackling the NHS staffing crisis
  • The Scottish Government has announced the current deferral period for gay and bisexual men to give blood after having sex with another man will be reduced from 12 to 3 months.

ECONOMY

  • The IMF has predicted the UK economy will grow more slowly than previous predictions, expecting 1.7% growth this year (downgraded from 2%).
  • Edinburgh and south east Scotland are to receive a multi-million pound boost after the latest City Deal was agreed, with the UK and Scottish Governments each investing £300m.

ENERGY

  • The world’s first full-scale floating wind farm has started to take shape off the north-east coast of Scotland. The trial is expected to bring power to 20,000 homes.
  •  According to WWF Scotland, a new record has been set by Scotland’s wind power generation, with data from June 2017 showing that wind provided the equivalent of 118% of Scottish households’ energy needs.

 EDUCATION

  • A study from the University of Dundee has warned that reading standards in Scotland are falling behind those of UK .

TOURISM

  • Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary has warned that Brexit could cause it to ground flights and cancel holidays unless a deal with the European Union is struck.

COMING UP

  • Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is to tour SNP-held constituencies in Scotland next month as he seeks to keep his party on an election footing.

 

 

 

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