Simeon Kerr
@simeonkerr.bsky.social
Scotland correspondent, former Gulf correspondent - Financial Times
Michael Marra wins Scottish Labour leadership election - as.ft.com/r/77bfb76c-1... via @FT
Michael Marra wins Scottish Labour leadership election
Party’s finance spokesperson pledges to ‘reconnect with the country’ in bid for political relevance
as.ft.com
Can Scottish Labour be revived by new leader? Candidates Michael Marra and Joe Fagan face a tough challenge despite Andy Burnham’s popularity
Can Scottish Labour be revived by new leader?
Candidates Michael Marra and Joe Fagan face a tough challenge despite Andy Burnham’s popularity
as.ft.com
Scotch producers fume over legal protection for English whisky
Scotch producers fume over legal protection for English whisky
Move by UK government risks adding to other challenges facing embattled sector, warns ruling Scottish National Party
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Scotland has a whisky problem The industry is grappling with chronic oversupply just as changing consumer habits hollow out demand
Scotland has a whisky problem
The industry is grappling with chronic oversupply just as changing consumer habits hollow out demand
as.ft.com
Glasgow, the UK’s asylum hub, finds itself a target for the far right Scottish city hosts more asylum seekers per population than anywhere else in Britain but campaigners say the mood has shifted
Glasgow, the UK’s asylum hub, finds itself a target for the far right
Scottish city hosts more asylum seekers per population than anywhere else in Britain but campaigners say the mood has shifted
as.ft.com
Scottish state bank records £138mn loss on back of failed investments Fifth consecutive full-year loss exposes tension in mandate of lender set up by SNP-led government
Scottish state bank records £138mn loss on back of failed investments
Fifth consecutive full-year loss exposes tension in mandate of lender set up by SNP-led government
as.ft.com
Edinburgh festivals demand more money from Scotland’s first tourist tax 5% levy charged on first five overnight stays is expected to raise £50mn for council
Edinburgh festivals demand more money from Scotland’s first tourist tax
5% levy charged on first five overnight stays is expected to raise £50mn for council
as.ft.com
Andy Burnham faces climate test over North Sea oil decision Prime minister expected to approve development of controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw projects
Andy Burnham faces climate test over North Sea oil decision
Prime minister expected to approve development of controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw projects
as.ft.com
Households near UK grid upgrade projects in line for lower electricity bills Government aims to boost support for pylons and power lines needed to meet net zero targets
Households near UK grid upgrade projects in line for lower electricity bills
Government aims to boost support for pylons and power lines needed to meet net zero targets
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BP North Sea exit presents wake-up call on Scottish energy Blow to oil and gas industry comes as renewables projects are faltering
BP North Sea exit presents wake-up call on Scottish energy
Blow to oil and gas industry comes as renewables projects are faltering
as.ft.com
UK wildfires spark calls for guaranteed access to aerial support Ongoing response to blaze in Scotland’s Cairngorms follows use of helicopters and drones in Suffolk last week
UK wildfires spark calls for guaranteed access to aerial support
Ongoing response to blaze in Scotland’s Cairngorms follows use of helicopters and drones in Suffolk last week
as.ft.com
Scottish data centre boom spurs backlash Communities fear they will squeeze access to electricity and water, spoil rural areas and boost tech giant profits with limited local job creation
Scottish data centre boom spurs backlash
Communities fear they will squeeze access to electricity and water, spoil rural areas and boost tech giant profits with limited local job creation
as.ft.com
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, former ruler of Qatar, 1952-2026 The ‘Father Emir’ transformed the Gulf nation into a financial and geopolitical heavyweight
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, former ruler of Qatar, 1952-2026
The ‘Father Emir’ transformed the Gulf nation into a financial and geopolitical heavyweight
as.ft.com
Former Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who oversaw the modernisation of the gas-rich Gulf state, has died in Doha aged 74.
Qatar’s Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani dies aged 74
Former ruler was known for modernising gas-rich Gulf state and pursuing regional dialogue rather than confrontation
as.ft.com
Saudi Arabia blocking payments to UAE accounts, businesses say - as.ft.com/r/c305a73a-c... via @FT
Saudi Arabia blocking payments to UAE accounts, businesses say
Transfers from kingdom to companies and individuals in Dubai repeatedly returned or delayed in a sign of economic tension
as.ft.com
Saudi Arabia blocking payments to UAE accounts, businesses say
Saudi Arabia blocking payments to UAE accounts, businesses say
Transfers from kingdom to companies and individuals in Dubai repeatedly returned or delayed in a sign of economic tension
as.ft.com
Shetland Islands backs £1.5bn tunnels to boost population Number of residents on outer islands of the Scottish archipelago has fallen by a quarter in forty years
Shetland Islands backs £1.5bn tunnels to boost population
Number of residents on outer islands of the Scottish archipelago has fallen by a quarter in forty years
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Peter Murrell sentenced to five years in jail for embezzling SNP funds Estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon pleaded guilty to charges last month
Peter Murrell sentenced to five years in jail for embezzling SNP funds
Estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon pleaded guilty to charges last month
as.ft.com
‘A referendum on oil and gas’: Britain’s other big by-election Voters in Aberdeen go to the polls with both Conservative and Reform candidates making energy a central issue of their campaigns
‘A referendum on oil and gas’: Britain’s other big by-election
Voters in Aberdeen go to the polls with both Conservative and Reform candidates making energy a central issue of their campaigns
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Investors warn Scottish government against using long-dated bonds in planned sale, saying independence risk premium in borrowing costs rises the "further out the curve you travel". Some conveyed this on Friday call with officials 300 clicks free, w @simeonkerr.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/68d53608-3...
Investors warn Scotland to avoid long-term debt to limit independence premium
Fund managers say market will be ‘wary’ of long-dated bonds as nation plots first issuance since 17th century
ft.com
Investors warn Scotland to avoid long-term debt to limit independence premium Fund managers say market will be ‘wary’ of long-dated bonds as nation plots first issuance since 17th century
Investors warn Scotland to avoid long-term debt to limit independence premium
Fund managers say market will be ‘wary’ of long-dated bonds as nation plots first issuance since 17th century
ft.com
Peter Murrell used false invoices and expense claims to hide £400,000 embezzlement Ex-SNP chief used party account and charge card to buy goods from vehicles to watches for personal use, court told
Peter Murrell used false invoices and expense claims to hide £400,000 embezzlement
Ex-SNP chief used party account and charge card to buy goods from vehicles to watches for personal use, court told
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Nicola Sturgeon under scrutiny over embezzled SNP funds Former husband of Scotland’s ex-first minister has pleaded guilty to taking £400,000 from party coffers
Nicola Sturgeon under scrutiny over embezzled SNP funds
Former husband of Scotland’s ex-first minister has pleaded guilty to taking £400,000 from party coffers
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How the SNP survived scandal to keep ruling Scotland Pro-independence party, now in its 20th year in power, is struggling to boost public services amid fiscal challenges
How the SNP survived scandal to keep ruling Scotland
Pro-independence party, now in its 20th year in power, is struggling to boost public services amid fiscal challenges
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Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,000 from SNP Former party chief executive and ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon will be detained until sentencing on June 23
Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,000 from SNP
Former party chief executive and ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon will be detained until sentencing on June 23
as.ft.com
🐸 Warm frogs 🍑 Peaches 💩/🤢 Poo in the post A deep dive into the metaphors and mess of the Holyrood election campaign www.itv.com/news/border/...
itv.com
UK private schools see jump in interest from pupils leaving Gulf Families look for safer options for their children’s education since the outbreak of war in the Middle East
UK private schools see jump in interest from pupils leaving Gulf
Families look for safer options for their children’s education since the outbreak of war in the Middle East
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Wild Scottish salmon catch drops by 40% in one year New data highlights ‘extremely concerning’ decline in fish population
Wild Scottish salmon catch drops by 40% in one year
New data highlights ‘extremely concerning’ decline in fish population
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Pro-independence parties bank on rethink of UK ‘status quo’ after May 7 Forecast gains for Scotland and Wales nationalists come even as no grouping has immediate roadmap for breaking away
Pro-independence parties bank on rethink of UK ‘status quo’ after May 7
Forecast gains for Scotland and Wales nationalists come even as no grouping has immediate roadmap for breaking away
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Ex-RBS banker sentenced over bribery linked to GRG scandal Stuart Holloway formerly worked as a relationship manager at bank’s infamous SME unit
Ex-RBS banker sentenced over bribery linked to GRG scandal
Stuart Holloway formerly worked as a relationship manager at bank’s infamous SME unit
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