Lord Offord's historical immigration claim is Mostly False
Reform UK's Malcolm Offord claimed one million people came to the UK in the 20th century, and seven million people have come to the UK since 2000. This is not accurate.
Scotland's first minister backed Israeli sanctions, but met Airbnb while it promoted West Bank 'occupation tourism'
Airbnb’s business practices in the West Bank have long been in the spotlight, prompting criticism from human rights campaigners. We can now reveal that the firm has lobbied the Scottish Government 52 times since 2018.
Her husband was killed in West Bank settler violence. Now authorities are trying to bulldoze her family’s village
The residents of Umm al-Khair in the West Bank were already reeling from the loss of community leader and English teacher Awdah Hathaleen. Now they are fighting a mass demolition order on their homes. Human rights organisations say it’s become a symbol of the struggles of life under occupation.
A fish farm breached animal welfare rules. The regulator still took firms there on a PR tour
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council monitors standards at Scottish fish farms to help consumers choose “environmentally and socially responsible” farmed seafood. But it showcased a farm that had breached its rules on sea lice 11 times.
Why are Scottish wind farms paid billions to switch off?
Despite Scotland’s booming wind sector, turbines are still routinely paid not to spin. The Ferret unpacks why this happens, what makes it so costly, and what it means for your bills.
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Latest
Lord Offord's historical immigration claim is Mostly False
Reform UK's Malcolm Offord claimed one million people came to the UK in the 20th century, and seven million people have come to the UK since 2000. This is not accurate.
SNP claims about Rachel Reeves ‘chaos budget’ are Mostly True
Ferret Fact Service looked at SNP claims about the UK Government budget on energy bills, taxes and unemployment.
A multinational says a battery site in rural Kintyre will help tackle climate change. Locals claim it will spoil a "unique environment"
There have been hundreds of applications for battery energy storage schemes (BESS) across Scotland. They are part of the Scottish Government’s drive to meet net zero targets but some communities oppose them including villagers in Kintyre.
Fort William food bank faces down £24k bill from energy giant
The Lochaber food bank in Fort William claims energy multinational SSE tried to "rip them off". After a year of fighting – and questions from The Ferret – it has received an apology. But it's still being charged more than £10k.
Far-right agitators stand accused of stirring up trouble at asylum hotel protests. But anti-racists are standing firm
Following a sharp rise in far right activity, we’ve spent the last three months attending protests, speaking to activists under threat, and tracking anti-asylum seeker demonstrations across Scotland.
‘Nousferatu’: the notorious consultancy advising Edinburgh uni amid 'huge' cuts
Scotland’s largest university has turned to Nous Group at the same time as it is making savings that could lead to nearly 2,000 job losses. Staff say they were misled about the extent of its work.
Is there a link between migration and crime?
Migration's alleged link to increased crime has been back in the spotlight in recent years, so we looked at the evidence.
Navy made legal threats to try and keep nuclear pollution secret
Emails reveal that naval chiefs piled pressure on environment watchdog to hide details of radioactive contamination on the Clyde.
Investigations
A multinational says a battery site in rural Kintyre will help tackle climate change. Locals claim it will spoil a "unique environment"
There have been hundreds of applications for battery energy storage schemes (BESS) across Scotland. They are part of the Scottish Government’s drive to meet net zero targets but some communities oppose them including villagers in Kintyre.
Fort William food bank faces down £24k bill from energy giant
The Lochaber food bank in Fort William claims energy multinational SSE tried to "rip them off". After a year of fighting – and questions from The Ferret – it has received an apology. But it's still being charged more than £10k.
‘Nousferatu’: the notorious consultancy advising Edinburgh uni amid 'huge' cuts
Scotland’s largest university has turned to Nous Group at the same time as it is making savings that could lead to nearly 2,000 job losses. Staff say they were misled about the extent of its work.
Navy made legal threats to try and keep nuclear pollution secret
Emails reveal that naval chiefs piled pressure on environment watchdog to hide details of radioactive contamination on the Clyde.
Fact Checks
Lord Offord's historical immigration claim is Mostly False
Reform UK's Malcolm Offord claimed one million people came to the UK in the 20th century, and seven million people have come to the UK since 2000. This is not accurate.
SNP claims about Rachel Reeves ‘chaos budget’ are Mostly True
Ferret Fact Service looked at SNP claims about the UK Government budget on energy bills, taxes and unemployment.
Claim English drug deaths ‘written out of figures’ is False
The level of drug-related deaths in Scotland has been persistently high in recent years, with the Scottish Government facing criticism
Claim about the costs of asylum support, benefit fraud and tax avoidance is Mostly False
The cost of asylum support in the UK has become a febrile issue against a backdrop of a rising number
Long reads
Far-right agitators stand accused of stirring up trouble at asylum hotel protests. But anti-racists are standing firm
Following a sharp rise in far right activity, we’ve spent the last three months attending protests, speaking to activists under threat, and tracking anti-asylum seeker demonstrations across Scotland.
It takes a village: a new approach to living with flooding
Dr Fiona Work, a former nurse, remembers December 2012 vividly. “I had gone to my friends and had a call
Power struggle: The billionaire, the Chinese oil giant and Grangemouth’s forgotten workers
Grangemouth should have been Scotland’s big opportunity to realise its ambition for a just transition – moving workers into cleaner, greener jobs. But embittered power struggles got in the way, The Ferret finds.
This company owns some of Scotland’s biggest oil fields. It’s also accused of complicity in Israel’s war
Ithaca Energy is a growing force in UK energy with stakes in six of the UK’s 10 largest oil and gas fields. It's also been linked to Israel's war in Gaza.
Explained
FFS explains: why Grangemouth shut – and what happens next
The closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in April has cast a long shadow over Scotland’s plans for a
Explained: Scotland’s GERS controversy
The annual Scottish Government report on its revenue and spending, known as GERS, has been a lightning rod for controversy
Palestine Action: Why has the UK proscribed the group?
MPs have voted to ban activist group Palestine Action, after members broke into a UK military base in Oxfordshire last
Explainer: The Supreme Court gender ruling
The Supreme Court’s decision on how to legally define a woman under equality law is having a wide impact
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