Our journalism is powered by readers. The newsletter is the easiest way to keep up.
A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next.
Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/ccbvxykxtz
Our journalism is powered by readers. The newsletter is the easiest way to keep up.
A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next.
Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/ccbvxykxtz
Gamer silhouette facing a glowing monitor; headline about far‑right groups using gaming to recruit the next generation of Nazis.
🔴NEW: Far-right groups are increasingly using coded language and imagery on gaming platforms to bypass content moderators and radicalise young people, experts have warned.
Our latest investigation: www.theferret.scot/far-right-using-gaming-to-recruit/
Others would argue, however, that a company that is contracted by government do organic certification should be covered by the environmental information regulations, as should any organisation in a similar position. #FOI
27.02.2026 14:51 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Making Soil Association Certification responsible for environmental information requests would incur "significant cost" including legal fees, and "that poses a risk to the success of our organisation’s charitable work, and to the wider organic standard," it argued.
27.02.2026 14:51 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0In a release today, Soil Association Certification criticised the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for an "administrative error" in failing to release salmon farm inspection reports.
27.02.2026 14:51 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
This is the second time that Soil Association Certification has appealed against a decision that it should respond to requests for environmental information. I wrote about the first time @theferret.scot in January.
www.theferret.scot/organic-food...
The organic food company, Soil Association Certification, is seeking leave to appeal a tribunal ruling that it was covered by environmental information rules, and should consider releasing inspection reports on salmon farms.
27.02.2026 14:51 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Underwater image of a salmon swimming in green water, with other fish in the background. A red text box overlays the lower half of the image reading: “‘Weak’ salmon farm watchdog: 100 investigations and just two warning letters.” The Ferret logo appears in the top corner.
Investigations into allegations of poor fish welfare at salmon farms by the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency have risen by more than ten times in six years, while site inspections have decreased
https://www.theferret.scot/weak-salmon-farm-watchdog-100-investigations-and-just-two-warning-letters/
Our journalism is powered by readers. The newsletter is the easiest way to keep up.
A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next.
Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/fxvczoklna
Underwater image of a salmon swimming in green water, with other fish in the background. A red text box overlays the lower half of the image reading: “‘Weak’ salmon farm watchdog: 100 investigations and just two warning letters.” The Ferret logo appears in the top corner.
🔴 NEW: Is regulation of salmon farming "embarrassingly weak"?
Ahead of scrutiny of the sector by the rural affairs committee today, we find the UK's animal welfare regulator investigated 100 complaints about fish welfare - but only sent two warning letters 👉 https://bit.ly/4tQQ1PA
The agency is due to be quizzed by MSPs in their renewed inquiry into salmon farming in the Scottish Parliament this morning.
www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...
The UK Animal and Plant Health Agency has sent just two warning letters to salmon farms on poor fish welfare in the last six years. But it won't say which farms. My latest for @theferret.scot.
www.theferret.scot/weak-salmon-...
A quote attributed to Reform UK’s Richard Tice, pledging to strip powers from Holyrood and revive fracking in Scotland, has been widely shared online.
We traced it back to its source. We couldn’t find one. Here's the full fact check 👇
🔴NEW: Former tour guides have come forward with allegations of 'intimidation' and discrimination at Stirling Castle, adding to mounting scrutiny of Historic Environment Scotland.
Read: https://www.theferret.scot/intimidation-and-discrimination-allegations-keep-coming-at-scandal-hit-heritage-agency
Scales of justice and gavel on a decorative Sharia book with a question about Sharia's influence in Scotland.
A 2024 poll by Hope Not Hate found 37% of people believe parts of Britain are “under the control of Sharia law”. We’ve examined how accurate if at all that is in Scotland and what Sharia councils actually do
https://www.theferret.scot/does-sharia-law-have-an-influence-in-scotland/
Black-and-white image of the University of Edinburgh’s Old College courtyard, with a domed tower rising above stone buildings. The Ferret logo sits in the top left and a red label reads “REVEALED”. Large white text over the lower half says: “Edinburgh Uni staff are losing their jobs. Their boss has two”. Smaller text underneath adds that Sir Peter Mathieson has confirmed he is being paid for a board role at a university spin-off despite the university’s apparent financial crisis.
🔴NEW: The principal of the University of Edinburgh has confirmed he is working a paid second job while overseeing cuts that have seen hundreds of staff leave the institution.
Read the full story: https://www.theferret.scot/edinburgh-job-loss-mathieson/
"It’s a fine shame to all involved."
Britain's biggest salmon farm has the greenlight off Shetland, and it's making unlikely bedfellows of fishers and environmentalists.
w/ Karen McVeigh for Seascapes:
Scot Parl has voted for the general principles of Katy Clark MSP's FoI Reform Bill but amended by @suewebbermsp.bsky.social to 'highlight the time pressure in the current parliamentary session and the views in the stage 1 report, including that FoI reform should be addressed in the next parliament'
17.02.2026 20:53 — 👍 2 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Text reads: Support the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill Photo shows CFoIS Director Carole Ewart and Katy Clark MSP at the Scottish Parliament
Text reads: The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee concluded in its Stage 1 report on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill that “legislation is now needed to update the freedom of information regime in Scotland.” MSPs should show their support for this conclusion by voting for the Bill at Stage 1 and send a clear message that strong FoI rights and duties matter.
The SPPA Committee concluded in its Stage 1 report that “legislation is now needed to update the freedom of information regime in Scotland.”
MSPs should show their support by voting for the Bill at Stage 1 and send a clear message that strong FoI rights and duties matter.
#FoIReformNow
If you value journalism that’s sourced, careful, and Scotland-focused, subscribe to The Ferret newsletter for weekly reporting straight to your inbox.
Sign up: https://f.mtr.cool/nhvndchaqg
🔴NEW: We reveal behind-the-scenes lobbying over the controversial Coul Links golf plan — backed by two US businessmen.
The project was rejected in 2020 over environmental fears. But now transparency concerns are mounting over a revived bid 👉 bit.ly/4kYdMl3
🔴NEW: The Scottish Government has been secretly lobbied to give the go-ahead to one of Scotland’s most fiercely disputed planning applications, according to emails seen by The Ferret.
Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4kYdMl3
A Ferret investigation has found more than 20 Scottish wind farms are paying less money than expected to local communities. The shortfall could add up to more than £50m.
Critics have branded that an "acute injustice".
Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4rIcDzY
John Carroll says his nighttime rounds are protecting the community. Critics say his “abhorrent” views on Hitler, the Holocaust and race are incompatible with his adopted role.
https://www.theferret.scot/self-styled-nightwatchmen-patrol-a-scottish-village-their-leader-is-a-nazi
So I gather. I've asked the council for an update.
12.02.2026 10:10 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
How about the notoriously narrow pavement between a high stone wall and a railing on Belford Road, en route to the galleries of modern art?
11.02.2026 15:40 — 👍 16 🔁 2 💬 2 📌 1
🔴 Posts on social media claimed Swinney had stayed in Mandelson’s residence last year when on a trip to the US.
11.02.2026 09:40 — 👍 5 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 0
