Businessmen and wealthy donors are bankrolling Scottish politics. Who are they?
The Ferret did a deep dive into the Electoral Commission’s donation records to find out who was funding Scotland's political parties.
Businessmen and wealthy donors are bankrolling Scottish politics. Who are they?
The Ferret did a deep dive into the Electoral Commission’s donation records to find out who was funding Scotland's political parties.
Luxury hotels and dinner dates: A Ferret guide to lobbying
High end dinners are a fraction of over 29,000 lobbying meetings in the last parliamentary term. But campaigners argue that because the lobbying spend is not declared, their significance is underplayed.
Claim Scottish GP numbers are at record levels is Half True
First Minister John Swinney made the claim in an SNP election leaflet
Starmer plan to relax nuclear regulation opposed by Holyrood
UK Government plans which could “weaken” oversight of nuclear safety in Scotland have been rejected by the Scottish Government.
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Latest
The Scottish Government wanted to keep parts of its Israeli meeting secret. We’ve forced transparency
Scotland's information watchdog has ordered the release of hidden details of Angus Robertson’s meeting with an Israeli diplomat after a lengthy freedom of information battle.
Big tech should be held accountable in court for threats of violence against women, say campaigners
Women supporting refugees have been abused, followed and threatened by men in anti-immigration groups who claim they want to protect women. Now there are calls for big tech to do more.
These women were abused by far right groups who claimed to want to protect them. But they fought back
Women have been leading the fight against the far right in Scotland but anti-racism activism has come at a high personal cost with at least 14 having been publicly abused and threatened. But they are resolute in the face of intimidation and say they will continue defending human rights.
Trident problems hidden in ‘more volatile world’
The UK Information Commissioner is facing criticism for endorsing the Ministry of Defence’s insistence on concealing issues with nuclear weapons because of growing threats from other countries. Secrecy allows “fake news” to fester, say campaigners.
$1bn and counting: blacklisted Israeli company raking it in from North Sea oil
A firm linked by the UN to West Bank settlements has received the sum through its stake in a North Sea oil company.
Claim Scotland is ahead of UK in emissions reductions is True
The SNP election manifesto contained a claim about the performance of the Scottish Government in reaching 'net zero' emissions.
Scottish Government ‘rolling out red carpet’ for UAE despite human rights record
Documents show deputy first minister did not raise human rights once on trip to Gulf state accused of fuelling Sudan’s brutal war.
Sepa gave 400 Scottish lochs 'good' environmental status but only checked 54 of them
Lochs are classified as having a “good” environmental status based on samples from other lochs many miles away – and as much as a decade old – prompting concerns that environmental regulation isn’t “fit for purpose”.
Investigations
The Scottish Government wanted to keep parts of its Israeli meeting secret. We’ve forced transparency
Scotland's information watchdog has ordered the release of hidden details of Angus Robertson’s meeting with an Israeli diplomat after a lengthy freedom of information battle.
Big tech should be held accountable in court for threats of violence against women, say campaigners
Women supporting refugees have been abused, followed and threatened by men in anti-immigration groups who claim they want to protect women. Now there are calls for big tech to do more.
These women were abused by far right groups who claimed to want to protect them. But they fought back
Women have been leading the fight against the far right in Scotland but anti-racism activism has come at a high personal cost with at least 14 having been publicly abused and threatened. But they are resolute in the face of intimidation and say they will continue defending human rights.
Trident problems hidden in ‘more volatile world’
The UK Information Commissioner is facing criticism for endorsing the Ministry of Defence’s insistence on concealing issues with nuclear weapons because of growing threats from other countries. Secrecy allows “fake news” to fester, say campaigners.
Fact Checks
Claim 'abortion to birth' is now legal in the UK is Mostly False
Changes to abortion law in England and Wales have been misrepresented on social media.
Claim Scottish Labour built six houses in government is False
Online claims questioned Scottish Labour's house building in government between 1999 and 2007.
No evidence of viral Richard Tice quote on Reform's plans for Scotland
A quote attributed to Reform UK's Richard Tice has gone viral in recent weeks.
Claim that video shows bagpiper playing over call to prayer in Scotland is False
A video showing a man playing bagpipes during a Muslim call to prayer was widely shared on social media this
Long reads
These women were abused by far right groups who claimed to want to protect them. But they fought back
Women have been leading the fight against the far right in Scotland but anti-racism activism has come at a high personal cost with at least 14 having been publicly abused and threatened. But they are resolute in the face of intimidation and say they will continue defending human rights.
Poland's Jewish revival: In the shadow of Auschwitz
We visited the Polish city of Krakow ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day which is held to remember the millions murdered by the Nazis – including six million Jews. Krakow's Jewish population was decimated then but the city is now home to one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the world.
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
De-noiser
Has the Scottish Government changed its stance on oil and gas?
With a decision on the Rosebank oil field imminent – and lobbying around the windfall tax at fever pitch – some are questioning whether the Scottish Government's current stance on oil and gas is in step with their ambition to be a world leader in climate action.
Does Sharia law have an influence in Scotland?
Sharia law is a contentious issue in the UK. Some question whether it is compatible with so-called British values while claiming it's a separate legal system operating parallel to UK laws. In our latest De-noiser, we look at the facts.
Could AI misinformation sway the Scottish election?
Persuasive AI assistants, deepfakes and bots are now commonplace. But could they be used by bad actors to influence Scotland’s elections?
Why can’t I get an appointment with my GP?
The pressing need to address difficulties the Scottish public reports in getting an appointment with their GP was raised in last week’s budget. So will new funding and proposals for walk-in surgeries help? What are the underlying reasons for the issue?
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