Featured

Public sector accused of paying ‘lip service’ to climate emergency

The public sector in Scotland is being urged to step up its efforts to tackle the climate emergency, after a survey revealed that most government bodies have done little or nothing in response.

Politics

Revealed: pro-Brexit Tory group working as ‘party within a party’

Ferret Journalists on July 22, 2019July 22, 2019

Documents released following a legal battle reveal the European Research Group’s “highly partial” taxpayer-funded output.

Environment, Politics

The Scottish Government’s first big climate conversation takes flak

Ferret Journalists on July 21, 2019July 21, 2019

The launch of the Scottish Government's public consultation on how to combat the global climate emergency has been condemned as “fiddling while the world burns”.

Environment

Video reveals damage by illegal scallop dredging off Jura

Billy Briggs on July 20, 2019July 22, 2019

Video footage of damage to the seabed by illegal scallop dredging off Jura has been obtained by The Ferret, prompting calls for urgent enforcement action to be taken against rogue fisherman.

Human rights, Privacy and surveillance

Big Brother surveillance could discriminate against workers, claim unions

Billy Briggs on July 17, 2019July 20, 2019

Big Brother-style CCTV planned for Glasgow is a "very significant" threat to civil liberties and workers' rights, according to trade unionists.

Fact check, Society

Claim ‘Welcome to Scotland’ slogan cost $162,972 is Mostly False

Ferret Journalists on July 16, 2019July 16, 2019

Ferret Fact Service looks at a viral claim that Scotland spent £125,000 coming up with the slogan ‘Welcome to Scotland’.

Environment

Scottish Enterprise urged to rule out ‘damaging’ deep sea mining

Joe Lo on July 15, 2019July 15, 2019

Environmental campaigners have called on the Scottish Government's economic development agency not to spend taxpayers' money subsidising a new form of underwater mining.

Environment

Scottish marine wildlife under threat from ‘smash and grab’ trawling

Rob Edwards on July 14, 2019July 17, 2019

Marine wildlife in a vast area of ocean to the north of Scotland is at risk from trawlers because of a gaping loophole in international fishing regulations

International

In pictures: the devastated city of Mosul two years on

Billy Briggs on July 10, 2019July 14, 2019

More than 300,000 people are unable to return to their homes in Mosul two years after the end of a military operation to retake Iraq's second largest city from Islamic State.

Housing and homelessness

Scottish Government failing to meet rural housing targets

James McEnaney on July 9, 2019July 10, 2019

The Scottish Government is failing to meet targets to boost the number of affordable homes for rural and island communities, according to documents obtained by The Ferret.