Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Fraserburgh and Peterhead now 'strongest candidates in Scotland' for new rail links

1 1 2

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Aug 14

If it all looks too expensive and never gets off the ground, it is a very big lesson in the very big list of woeful infrastructure decisions.

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Aug 14

I grew up near the route of the old Aberdeen-Ellon-Fraserburgh railway - it would have made my life a lot easier.
Freight was still using the line after oil was struck, and towns mushroomed.
Maybe a pipe dream, but this would be great for the region.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Campaigners say it’s more important than ever to reverse historic railway cuts in north Aberdeenshire - ahead of a major energy conference.

Party crasher: accidental oilman Guy Ingerson's mission to clean up his old industry

1 1 5

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jul 21

5 years on, the P&J and Courier's 'generation next' crystal ball continues to prove its worth.
Here's our profile from 2020 on Guy Ingerson, the Green who has just beaten Maggie Chapman off the top of the North East Scotland list for Holyrood next May.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/education...

Guy Ingerson wants to see an end to the economic reliance on North Sea oil and gas, but he knows just how complex the issue is in the north-east. Because

The boat was denied entry to the Granite City due to her captain's nationality.

Reposted by Andy Philip

The Press & Journal @pressandjournal.co.uk · Jul 21

Shunned Tall Ship spotted floating near Buckie Harbour after ban from Aberdeen festival

dlvr.it

What does the future hold for towns like Portlethen as oil and gas declines?

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jul 21

Meanwhile, @justinbowie1997.bsky.social has been taking a close look at what the shift from oil and gas actually means for communities built on the industry.
Here's his report from Portlethen, just outside Aberdeen.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/...

The sector has long been a huge employer locally - but how do residents and businesses feel as the industry declines?

EXCLUSIVE: NHS Fife chief faces internal revolt over 'disastrous' handling of Sandie Peggie case

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jul 21

Back from some mighty fine holidaying, and looking over some great reporting of the big stories across @pressandjournal.co.uk and @thecourier.co.uk .
Straight back into the Sandie Peggie/NHS Fife story with a primer here from @alasdairclark.bsky.social
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Carol Potter has faced external calls to quit but confidence in her leadership has also been dented internally.

Interim Dundee University finance chief quits after eight days in job

1 1 2

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jul 2

How it ended today:
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Chris Reilly left his post by mutual consent as a staff merry-go round at the troubled institution continues.

New Dundee University boss says he wouldn't have paused retirement for any other job

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jul 2

How it started today:
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

In an exclusive sit down with The Courier, interim Dundee University principal Nigel Seaton sets out how he plans to win back trust and stabilise the troubled institution.

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Dundee University principal Iain Gillespie resigned by text

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 28

Trigger warning: hipsterism, old man, dad posts.
Listening to Pulp at Glastonbury on radio telling my kids about being there in 1994 whether they like it or not. I've obviously chucked in stuff about seeing Oasis before they were famous.

3

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 26

And here's a bonus story from last night as @thecourier.co.uk reveals how the last principal announced his abrupt departure.
Dumped by text, no less.
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

The circumstances around Professor Iain Gillespie's abrupt exit can be revealed for the first time.

5 key moments from Dundee University former bosses grilling in parliament

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 26

Yesterday was a full-on four-hour ordeal for three former senior staff.
You can catch up on the highlights here too.
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Former leaders at the crisis-hit Dundee University faced four hours of questioning from MSPs on parliament's education committee.

Dundee University live updates as ex-principal faces Holyrood grilling

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 26

Morning! We're here for day two of full coverage in the Dundee University saga at the Scottish Parliament.
You can follow all the updates here as ex-principal Iain Gillespie faces the education committee on what went wrong.
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Former Dundee University principal Iain Gillespie is set to face MSPs in front of Holyrood's education committee. Follow our live coverage.

SNP feels 'betrayal' as Fergus Ewing plans election bid against his former office worker

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 21

"The party's National Secretary has written to Fergus Ewing to indicate that his decision to stand as an independent candidate against the SNP has invalidated his party membership"
My take on a twisting, then sudden, end to a long life in the SNP.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Highlands MSP Emma Roddick, who used to work for Mr Ewing, told the P&J she’s saddened at the move – but her Holyrood election campaign rolls on.

Fergus Ewing will stand against SNP candidate in Inverness and Nairn at Holyrood election

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 20

An interest dynamic brewing in the Inverness and Nairn constituency at next year's Scottish election.
Fergus Ewing tells us he'll stand as an independent, in a seat the SNP hope to hold.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/...

The Highland veteran previously told The Press and Journal he would not be running for the nationalists at the next Holyrood election.

BREAKING: Dundee University principals blamed for catalogue of failures that led to financial crisis

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 19

Here's the big one: Full report on Dundee University now published, and looks devastating for the leadership group.

www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

A major independent probe has revealed ex-principal Iain Gillespie and other senior leaders – including current chief Shane O'Neill – breached ethics rules and operated in 'isolation of facts'

Dundee University live updates as institution braces for findings of major probe into crisis

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 19

We're expecting a big day in the future of Dundee University today, and @thecourier.co.uk will have it all covered right here.
Follow each development and get a handle on all the background with our in-depth analysis, updated through the day.
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

The findings of Professor Pamela Gillies's independent probe will be revealed on Thursday.

Raac live debate with council chiefs and homeowners: All the explosive highlights

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 16

Post Office campaign hero Alan Bates has now joined in with some words of encouragement for Aberdeen Raac residents too.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/...

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 16

This is well worth a moment of your time.
We put politicians in front of Aberdeen residents caught up in the Raac housing crisis for what turned out to be a brutal Q&A.
The P&J has been doing tremendous work on this.
Read Lindsay Bruce's report here.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6780...

Aberdeen homeowners came face-to-face with city leaders and politicians in an emotionally charged Q&A.

Exclusive: Huntly councillor becomes SIXTH Aberdeenshire Tory to join Reform

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · Jun 12

Yet another Tory councillor has switched to Reform in Aberdeenshire.
That's 6.
Plus another in Aberdeen.
An ex SNP cllr also joined in Aberdeenshire.
Latest here:
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Lauren Knight made the switch to Nigel Farage’s party as a Conservative crisis in the north-east continues

St Andrews University, Israel and Gaza | The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · May 28

We also look at the human cost of tough political choices, in this case the upheaval facing one 85-year-old in sheltered housing in Aberdeenshire.
thestooshie.podbean.com/e/st-andrews...

This week's episode focuses on our in-depth coverage of the fall-out from the St Andrews University rector's comments on Israel. We reveal the behind-the-scenes efforts to secure £2m from a spooked do...

thestooshie.podbean.com

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · May 28

We talk through the lows and lows of the upcoming Holyrood by-election in the latest Stooshie politics podcast.
But the focus is on our in-depth coverage of what’s happening at St Andrews Uni as the fallout from the rector’s Israel/Gaza comments continues.
thestooshie.podbean.com/e/st-andrews...

St Andrews University, Israel and Gaza | The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

This week's episode focuses on our in-depth coverage of the fall-out from the St Andrews University rector's comments on Israel. We reveal the behind-the-scenes efforts to secure £2m from a spooked do...

thestooshie.podbean.com

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · May 28

Inspirational stuff.

Gamrie grandmother has stayed in village her whole life - sheltered housing closures could force her to leave

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · May 27

At the @pressandjournal.co.uk, we've been digging into the human impact of policy choices while budgets are evaporating.
This is how it feels to be on the sharp end of potential cost cutting in sheltered housing.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Margaret Murray, 85, sold her family home to move into Gamrie Court Bay just three months before it was earmarked for closure.

Could Rosyth-Europe ferry set sail thanks to Brexit reset?

Andy Philip @andydphilip.bsky.social · May 27

We've been on each twist and turn of the campaign to reinstate Scotland's last ferry link to the rest of Europe.
Much of it has been on the efforts of the project backers.
But this time there might be some unexpected help through Starmer's EU reset.
www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

Hopes have been raised for a simple solution to a cross-border problem.