Alastair Brian
@alastairbrian.bsky.social
Fact-checking @theferret.scot
Reposted by Alastair Brian
📢 We've been nominated for a British Journalism Award for our environmental reporting.
Well done to @billybriggs24.bsky.social, @paul.theferret.scot
and @robedwards5.bsky.social 🎉
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
Well done to @billybriggs24.bsky.social, @paul.theferret.scot
and @robedwards5.bsky.social 🎉
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
British Journalism Awards 2025: Finalists revealed
Press Gazette is proud to reveal the shortlist for the British Journalism Awards 2025, with links to all of the winning work.
pressgazette.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 4:39 PM
📢 We've been nominated for a British Journalism Award for our environmental reporting.
Well done to @billybriggs24.bsky.social, @paul.theferret.scot
and @robedwards5.bsky.social 🎉
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
Well done to @billybriggs24.bsky.social, @paul.theferret.scot
and @robedwards5.bsky.social 🎉
pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
Our explainer on GERS has been updated to correct a section relating to income tax in Scotland, and a note has been added. Thanks to those who alerted us to the error.
The GERS report is widely quoted by both sides of the independence debate. But what is it? What does it actually show? And what doesn’t it?
theferret.scot/expla...
theferret.scot/expla...
Explained: Scotland's GERS controversy
GERS, which stands for ‘government expenditure and revenue Scotland’, is usually published at this time every year.
theferret.scot
August 21, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Our explainer on GERS has been updated to correct a section relating to income tax in Scotland, and a note has been added. Thanks to those who alerted us to the error.
A power of work has gone into telling this knotty, extremely difficult story @theferret.scot
Superb stuff from @karingoodwin.bsky.social and Juliana da Penha.
theferret.scot/migrant-moth...
Superb stuff from @karingoodwin.bsky.social and Juliana da Penha.
theferret.scot/migrant-moth...
A teen took his own life in foster care. His migrant mother says cultural bias led to her family being ripped apart
A migrant mother says cultural bias in Scotland’s child protection system led to her family’s separation. Campaigners call for urgent reform.
theferret.scot
August 3, 2025 at 10:30 AM
A power of work has gone into telling this knotty, extremely difficult story @theferret.scot
Superb stuff from @karingoodwin.bsky.social and Juliana da Penha.
theferret.scot/migrant-moth...
Superb stuff from @karingoodwin.bsky.social and Juliana da Penha.
theferret.scot/migrant-moth...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🛠️ Our website is temporarily down for maintenance. We're working to get everything back up and running as soon as possible. Thanks for bearing with us!
June 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
🛠️ Our website is temporarily down for maintenance. We're working to get everything back up and running as soon as possible. Thanks for bearing with us!
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔴 NEW: First minister John Swinney has been rapped by the UK statistics regulator for making a misleading claim about Scottish education, following a fact check from The Ferret.
Find out more: theferret.scot/john-...
Find out more: theferret.scot/john-...
June 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🔴 NEW: First minister John Swinney has been rapped by the UK statistics regulator for making a misleading claim about Scottish education, following a fact check from The Ferret.
Find out more: theferret.scot/john-...
Find out more: theferret.scot/john-...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
First minister John Swinney claimed there has been a sustained fall in knife crime over the last 15 years. We looked at the statistics.
theferret.scot/claim...
theferret.scot/claim...
Claim knife crime has reduced is Half True
Ferret Fact Service examines a claim from John Swinney on knife crime.
theferret.scot
June 5, 2025 at 12:37 PM
First minister John Swinney claimed there has been a sustained fall in knife crime over the last 15 years. We looked at the statistics.
theferret.scot/claim...
theferret.scot/claim...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔴 EXCLUSIVE: A far right group branded as neo-Nazi has been condemned for using children to promote its white nationalist politics ahead of the by-election in South Lanarkshire next week.
Read the full story: theferret.scot/neo-n...
Read the full story: theferret.scot/neo-n...
May 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
🔴 EXCLUSIVE: A far right group branded as neo-Nazi has been condemned for using children to promote its white nationalist politics ahead of the by-election in South Lanarkshire next week.
Read the full story: theferret.scot/neo-n...
Read the full story: theferret.scot/neo-n...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
At The Ferret, we believe transparency builds trust. That’s why we’ve just updated our transparency page with new details on funding, governance, and editorial independence.
Take a look: bit.ly/3KNLCbq
Take a look: bit.ly/3KNLCbq
Transparency Data
As The Ferret is a cooperative, our members are also part owners of the project.
theferret.scot
April 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
At The Ferret, we believe transparency builds trust. That’s why we’ve just updated our transparency page with new details on funding, governance, and editorial independence.
Take a look: bit.ly/3KNLCbq
Take a look: bit.ly/3KNLCbq
Reposted by Alastair Brian
Not one of the seven companies that own the most-read Scottish titles are incorporated in Scotland
theferret.scot/third...
theferret.scot/third...
April 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Not one of the seven companies that own the most-read Scottish titles are incorporated in Scotland
theferret.scot/third...
theferret.scot/third...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔴 Whisky, oil and gas and salmon farming are some of Scotland's most powerful and influential industries. But who runs them?
We've taken a look 🧵
theferret.scot/whisk...
We've taken a look 🧵
theferret.scot/whisk...
April 23, 2025 at 7:55 AM
🔴 Whisky, oil and gas and salmon farming are some of Scotland's most powerful and influential industries. But who runs them?
We've taken a look 🧵
theferret.scot/whisk...
We've taken a look 🧵
theferret.scot/whisk...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
Amid job cuts and financial strain across Scotland’s universities, hundreds of senior staff continue to earn six-figure salaries. What role does high pay play — and who decides what’s justified?
theferret.scot/unive...
theferret.scot/unive...
April 20, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Amid job cuts and financial strain across Scotland’s universities, hundreds of senior staff continue to earn six-figure salaries. What role does high pay play — and who decides what’s justified?
theferret.scot/unive...
theferret.scot/unive...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔴 Salmon farming industry leaders pressured a UK Government minister to serve more farmed salmon at government receptions, The Ferret can reveal.
theferret.scot/salmon-at-go...
theferret.scot/salmon-at-go...
April 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
🔴 Salmon farming industry leaders pressured a UK Government minister to serve more farmed salmon at government receptions, The Ferret can reveal.
theferret.scot/salmon-at-go...
theferret.scot/salmon-at-go...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔴 Organisations with special powers to investigate the general public reported nearly 40,000 alleged crimes to the Crown Office in four years.
Read the full story 👉 theferret.scot/organ...
Read the full story 👉 theferret.scot/organ...
April 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
🔴 Organisations with special powers to investigate the general public reported nearly 40,000 alleged crimes to the Crown Office in four years.
Read the full story 👉 theferret.scot/organ...
Read the full story 👉 theferret.scot/organ...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
"The revolving door embeds a culture of groupthink, of chumminess and game-playing."
For Who Runs Scotland we investigated the revolving doors of influence between PR, politics and media.
For Who Runs Scotland we investigated the revolving doors of influence between PR, politics and media.
April 14, 2025 at 11:45 AM
"The revolving door embeds a culture of groupthink, of chumminess and game-playing."
For Who Runs Scotland we investigated the revolving doors of influence between PR, politics and media.
For Who Runs Scotland we investigated the revolving doors of influence between PR, politics and media.
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔴 Open for business: Our latest Who Runs Scotland piece reveals the opposition MSPs who met most often with corporate interests.
theferret.scot/which...
theferret.scot/which...
April 10, 2025 at 7:00 AM
🔴 Open for business: Our latest Who Runs Scotland piece reveals the opposition MSPs who met most often with corporate interests.
theferret.scot/which...
theferret.scot/which...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔴 Who’s lobbying Scotland? Fossil fuel giants, influential PR firms and the short-term lets industry are among the top lobbyists influencing the Scottish Government since John Swinney became first minister, The Ferret has found. theferret.scot/lobby...
April 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🔴 Who’s lobbying Scotland? Fossil fuel giants, influential PR firms and the short-term lets industry are among the top lobbyists influencing the Scottish Government since John Swinney became first minister, The Ferret has found. theferret.scot/lobby...
Reposted by Alastair Brian
So, Who Runs Scotland in 2025?
We'll be answering that question in our new month-long series, starting this Sunday.
theferret.scot/so-wh...
We'll be answering that question in our new month-long series, starting this Sunday.
theferret.scot/so-wh...
April 4, 2025 at 10:02 AM
So, Who Runs Scotland in 2025?
We'll be answering that question in our new month-long series, starting this Sunday.
theferret.scot/so-wh...
We'll be answering that question in our new month-long series, starting this Sunday.
theferret.scot/so-wh...
Come talk to us about Donald Trump's impact in Scotland, and get involved in The Ferret's AGM.
How will Trump's second presidency impact Scotland?
We'll be discussing this at our special AGM event this Saturday in Edinburgh.
Tickets available ⤵️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trump-20-w...
We'll be discussing this at our special AGM event this Saturday in Edinburgh.
Tickets available ⤵️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/trump-20-w...
Trump 2.0: What Does It Mean for Scotland (plus AGM 2025)
Help shape The Ferret’s future as we prepare to celebrate our 10th anniversary!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 1, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Come talk to us about Donald Trump's impact in Scotland, and get involved in The Ferret's AGM.
Reposted by Alastair Brian
Self-harm at Scotland’s only private prison, Addiewell, has soared to nearly 600 incidents in under four years, sparking urgent concerns over safety.
February 20, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Self-harm at Scotland’s only private prison, Addiewell, has soared to nearly 600 incidents in under four years, sparking urgent concerns over safety.
Reposted by Alastair Brian
The Ferret has been investigating how the 'culture war' is influencing Scotland and the UK.
We have mapped some of the connections between organisations across the world. 🌏
theferret.scot/mappe...
We have mapped some of the connections between organisations across the world. 🌏
theferret.scot/mappe...
Mapped: The connections of the 'culture war'
An interactive map tracking the groups connecting around 'culture war' issues.
theferret.scot
February 19, 2025 at 9:09 AM
The Ferret has been investigating how the 'culture war' is influencing Scotland and the UK.
We have mapped some of the connections between organisations across the world. 🌏
theferret.scot/mappe...
We have mapped some of the connections between organisations across the world. 🌏
theferret.scot/mappe...
We did this last year. Another example of how US culture warriors are using Scotland as a talking point to push their agendas.
Does Scottish abortion law ban silent prayer in your own home? We fact-checked this claim and found it to be False. Here’s why 👇
theferret.scot/scott...
theferret.scot/scott...
Claim Scottish law bans praying silently in home is False
A new Scottish law was controversial among anti-abortion activists and condemned by Christian groups who claimed it made prayer illegal.
theferret.scot
February 15, 2025 at 10:13 PM
We did this last year. Another example of how US culture warriors are using Scotland as a talking point to push their agendas.
Reposted by Alastair Brian
With protests planned across Scotland, UK farmers are voicing anger at tax changes. But there are concerns some groups are using the protests to fuel conspiracies about net-zero and more.
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/are-conspiracy-groups-hijack-farmers-protests/
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/are-conspiracy-groups-hijack-farmers-protests/
January 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
With protests planned across Scotland, UK farmers are voicing anger at tax changes. But there are concerns some groups are using the protests to fuel conspiracies about net-zero and more.
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/are-conspiracy-groups-hijack-farmers-protests/
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/are-conspiracy-groups-hijack-farmers-protests/
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🔍 FACT CHECK: A viral claim shared by Elon Musk alleges that UK MPs voted against a measure to deport foreign-born individuals convicted of rape. But is this true?
We looked into it and found this claim to be False. Here’s why 👉 https://bit.ly/4fRkxAL
We looked into it and found this claim to be False. Here’s why 👉 https://bit.ly/4fRkxAL
January 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🔍 FACT CHECK: A viral claim shared by Elon Musk alleges that UK MPs voted against a measure to deport foreign-born individuals convicted of rape. But is this true?
We looked into it and found this claim to be False. Here’s why 👉 https://bit.ly/4fRkxAL
We looked into it and found this claim to be False. Here’s why 👉 https://bit.ly/4fRkxAL
Reposted by Alastair Brian
🎧 Missed our panel on the impact of online misogyny on young people? We’ve turned it into a podcast episode! Listen here: https://theferret.scot/for-facts-sake-podcast-how-tackle-online-misogyny/
For Fact's Sake podcast LIVE: How do we tackle online misogyny?
Missed our panel on the impact of online misogyny on young people? We’ve turned it into a podcast episode!
theferret.scot
January 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
🎧 Missed our panel on the impact of online misogyny on young people? We’ve turned it into a podcast episode! Listen here: https://theferret.scot/for-facts-sake-podcast-how-tackle-online-misogyny/
Reposted by Alastair Brian
Hate crime laws, ‘illegal prayers,’ and even chickens — what makes Scotland a global lightning rod in the 'culture war'?
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/how-scotland-became-a-culture-war-lightning-rod/
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/how-scotland-became-a-culture-war-lightning-rod/
January 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Hate crime laws, ‘illegal prayers,’ and even chickens — what makes Scotland a global lightning rod in the 'culture war'?
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/how-scotland-became-a-culture-war-lightning-rod/
Find out more: https://theferret.scot/how-scotland-became-a-culture-war-lightning-rod/