Neil Pooran

"CRISIS-HIT GPS STUCK WITH IT SYSTEMS 'FROM THE DARK AGES'"

@neilpooran.bsky.social / @alistairkgrant.bsky.social for @scotsman.com.

GPs in #Scotland are using IT systems that are more than two decades old amid an ongoing crisis.

#TheScotsman
#TomorrowsPapersToday
#IBPAPERS

"I called it like I saw it" - John Swinney defends his comments about the Hamilton by-election being a 'two-horse race' between the SNP and Reform.

Tense exchange in Holyrood as Douglas Ross continues to accuse Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone of failing to act with impartiality. She ejected him from the chamber last Thursday.

'ScotRail’s new 'Iona' AI announcer uses my voice without permission' The government-owned train operator recently rolled out “Iona”, an AI voice on some routes, which replaced older messages recorded by a human.

Could be a significant case here on how the public sector uses AI. www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...

Ferguson Marine shipyard confirms new delay and cost rise for MV Glen Rosa ferry The ferries fiasco has been rumbling on for years - with repeated delays and increased costs.

The Conservatives said Glen Rosa had been 'cannibalised to prevent further delays to the Glen Sannox'
news.sky.com/story/fergus...

McArthur hopeful ahead of crucial assisted dying vote on ‘historic day’ Supporters say there is a groundswell of public support for changing the law.

The vote this evening on Liam McArthur's assisted dying Bill is expected to be close
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

One year to go until the next Scottish Parliament elections. Discussing how the landscape looks on Politics Scotland today.

The SNP have unveiled their new slogan ahead of the election in a year’s time - ‘On Scotland’s side’. Most of their candidates have gathered here in Edinburgh, with John Swinney giving a speech.

Snus-style pouches will be included in ‘smokefree generation’ law, says minister The pouches are placed between the user’s lips and gum to release nicotine.

'Snus is sus even though it doesn't combust' - seems to be the main message MSPs on the Health Committee were told today www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

John Swinney condemned an ‘unacceptable’ tifo display from Rangers fans showing Graeme Souness holding a shotgun www.heraldscotland.com/sport/uk-spo...

Green MSP Maggie Chapman has survived a vote on Holyrood's Equalities Committee to remover her as deputy convener. It follows her remarks about the Supreme Court's gender ruling earlier this month. The committee voted down a motion from Tess White by four to three.

Hi, there aren’t really any rules which prevent MSPs switching parties after being elected. Political parties have their own mechanisms (whips etc) but ultimately its up to the MSP.

NEW - MSP Jamie Greene has defected to the Scottish Liberal Democrats, just a day after dramatically quitting the Tories.
The West Scotland MSP has been unveiled as a Lib Dem at the party’s spring conference in Inverness.

Fascinating polling from @yougov on how Scotland sees itself re the British Empire.

Speaking at a poverty summit in Stirling, John Swinney says the Scottish Government will mitigate the two-child benefit cap policy this year, if talks with UK Gov progress well.

Swinney voices concern at Meta changes and will ‘keep considering’ use of X Meta has announced that Facebook and Instagram will stop using third-party fact-checkers.

John Swinney said he'll 'keep considering' whether the Scottish Government will continue to use the Other Place

‘That’s one I laid’ – How ex-Taliban are helping IED clear-up in Afghanistan Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the Halo Trust is gathering information on dangerous explosives littering the country.

It was a pleasure to speak to Callum from the HALO Trust, who shared an amazing story from a Kandahar roadside in 2021.

She told me her Bill would focus solely on ecocide rather than changing the wider system of environmental regulation.

Bill to jail bosses of major polluters set to be introduced in Scotland The Ecocide Prevention Bill would impose harsh penalties on executives responsible for major environmental damage.

Monica Lennon's proposed law on ecocide is a step closer after it cleared the hurdle of MSP signatures. Scotland could be the first part of the UK to have such a law. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Glen Sannox ferry still needs permanent fix for anchor system problem, MSPs told Holyrood’s Transport Committee was also told that Ferguson Marine is struggling to find a permanent chief executive officer.

Glen Sannox has been handed over to CMAL, but it seems it still needs a long-term fix for anchor problems.

Big milestone in the long-running saga of the Glen Sannox, as it is finally handed over to ferry owning agency CMAL more than six years late. Ferguson Marine's interim CEO admits it's been a 'long haul'.

Just prior to his SpAd role, Stephen Noon co-authored an interesting report on constitutional change www.heraldscotland.com/news/2461008...

Marco Biagi has become the latest new addition to John Swinney’s SpAd team. Other recent hires include former Yes Scotland strategist Stephen Noon. They’ll give advice on ‘political messaging’.

More clarity needed on government plans for rent controls, MSP committee says A Holyrood committee said there is uncertainty around how the law would operate in practice.

Those supporting the Housing Bill recognise ‘it is not in itself the answer to the housing emergency’ news.stv.tv/scotland/mor...

Humza Yousaf ‘certain’ Elon Musk has access to his private messages on X Humza Yousaf said he checked his private messages to make sure he had not made an “off-colour joke” but says “unsurprisi...

Humza Yousaf is ‘certain’ the boss of the Other Place is able to read his DMs www.holyrood.com/news/view,hu...

Scottish Government’s nature fund money redirected to council pay awards The Government has also confirmed it is reviewing its plans to open an international office in Warsaw.

The Scottish Government has also confirmed it is reviewing plans to open an international office in Warsaw.

news.stv.tv/politics/sco...

Views wanted on 25p ‘latte levy’ on all single-use cups The Scottish Government's consultation runs until 14 November

A consultation on the ‘latte levy’ is running until November 14. The charge would be pretty comprehensive across almost all single-use cups sold in Scotland.
www.insider.co.uk/news/views-w...

Threads was a bit bare and Mastodon is all but extinct… so I’m giving BlueSky a try.