Commissioned by Mainstream Renewable Power, the company behind the huge Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) wind farm off the Fife coast, the Institute renowned for its right-wing Unionist leanings reported that the wind farm will:
create 2,000 construction jobs in Scotland over a four-year period.
generate the equivalent of 0.6% of Scotland’s GDP
generate £827.4 million over the lifetime of the project.
generate £382million across the country’s construction sector,
feed £440.2million into the service industries.
Create 236 jobs annually during its operational lifespan.
This clearly won’t do. Who wrote this? Don’t they know there are several other even bigger windfarms? What will they do for the Scottish economy? Sack them before those separatists get wind (😊) of this.
Talking-up Scotland 
Oh! Oh!
Somebody’s gone ‘off-message’. But again, what plans has the Essen Pea for the 236 folk who’ll lose their jobs at the end of the project’s operational lifespan?
Off topic but not irrelevant, the BBC is still carrying the torch.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41086186
Pundits say the new bridge over the Forth ( I can’t quite get my head around the official name ) hasn’t been made wide enough. It only has the same number of lanes and a hard shoulder as the on and off motorways that feed it?? Also, it seems that having two road bridges instead of one won’t make a material difference to the traffic capacity of the crossing. You really couldn’t make this stuff up.
Then there’s the trams – the trams! They are really good. The extension is going to close Leith Walk for a couple of years while the local traders draw benefit.
Sigh!
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Hi all – Hi William. I clicked on the Douglas Fraser link and I see what you mean. What on earth is it with these guys? – One cannot fault their dedication to their cause can one? – Really and truly they are a case. Anything – anything at all – to undercut Scotland’s progress towards being a modern, ‘normal’ democracy. Despite their best efforts the Scots will make it over the line at Indyref.
Cheers, Ludo
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Ludo,
Glad you saw what was annoying me about the Fraser article. However, there’s more.
Last night the ownership of the new bridge was officially handed to the civic authorities of Scotland. This was an occasion to merit the laying on of a wonderful ‘son et lumiere’ display in a location that Hollywood would die for. How was this event built up beforehand in the news? How has it been reported after the event? Do search the small items with their nondescript headlines on the ‘news’ sites for the answers.
More sighs!
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Hi William – the beeb are determined to turn this fabulous structure and incredible engineering (and political – against all the odds) achievement into a ‘ bridge of sighs’ – Cheers, ludo
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ITV’s Alistair Stewart (6.30 bulletin) described the bridge as “The Pride of Scotland” and showed Nicola switching on the lights.
Whilst the BBC’s radio station in Scotland found an academic expert to tell the nation that. . . ” the money would have been better spent on high speed broadband. ”
The BBC are doing a marvellous job . . . Long may it continue!
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Interesting contrast with ITV. They are a business and don’t want to lose 50% of their viewers. BBC have a captive audience.
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The FoA Director is Prof. Graeme Roy. He was the former head of the First Minister’s policy unit, and a senior economic advisor to the Scottish Government
In this Sunday’s Herald , his interpretation of GERS was that the figures meant Scotland couldn’t be an independent country. Also stated ” But GERS does provide an accurate picture of where Scotland is in 2016-17″
After reading contributions from Prof. Richard Murphy, Gordon Macintyre-Kemp and Margaret Cuthbert. Prof. Roy’s last statement appears to be just plain Wrong.
Given his previous positions with the Scottish Gov. And his attitude towards GER’s, does this explain the SG’s reticence to criticise GERS?
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Perhaps. I’m still confused by the SNP stance on this.
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Certainly sounds like it, Clydebuilt, from what you say – I have been wondering why the Scottish government might blindly accept GERS figures, it’s not like it will help them plan anything even in a devolved state, or does it make them less complacent about keeping our economy vibrant?! You have to wonder at the advice they get, from spin people to all the other experts, but I wouldn’t have thought them complacent about accepting that advice. Perhaps I’m being naive?
I am wondering where all that money we gave the SNP for an independence campaign has gone, and what advice they have for spending it? I mean, I don’t mind if they’ve squandered it on fast cars and posh hotels, I gave what I gave freely, and it was hardly a fortune, and so it is up to them. But they now want to sell me raffle tickets, but I don’t know if the last lot did any good. Well, I do like a good raffle, so we’ll see. There is also the need to separate party politics from the independence campaign,,,
Well, I must admit I was surprised by radio Scotland this morning, GMS had a general bridges-are-great feature to lead up to the new bridge report (7am-ish) , and it started off with ‘the SNP government’ , I nearly choked on my coffee! So, even though it was muttered quickly in a choked voice, still, it must’ve been scripted, they used ‘the Scottish government’ throughout the rest of the piece – in a much more relieved and comfortable voice. They obviously didn’t repeat any of this report later in the day by the sounds of it. I thought to myself, well, we are going to get the really shit-stirring, sneering, patronising, storm of abuse tomorrow because of that little tiny small titchy bit of concession today. But must admit, I heard them say it. Not that anyone else listens to GMS anymore mind you!
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They said ‘The SNP Government’? Wow!
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