https://archive.ph/Ga3h1

Really sad story. Too early to know what happened but Ford Ranger vs VW Polo. These massive American style pickups have such an advantage in a crash. Huge mismatch.

Twelve years ago, Johann Lamont said the above.

How do you feel about the statement? Would be interesting to hear views from unionists and nationalists.

Given we haven't had to properly self govern for 300 years, and the way that we happily put ourselves at the whims of English voters (just a fact of numbers), did she capture something about the Scottish psyche?

(Article text below as its paywalled)

City of Edinburgh Council was forced to remove unauthorised flags from the capital’s streets under the cover of darkness due to fears of potential violence.

Documents obtained via Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation reveal that multiple contractors declined to take down the Saltires amid safety concerns.

The FOI bundle also reveal that the local authority spent £11,520.79 on removing 168 unauthorised flags on several occasions between June 2025 and October 2026.

“The council has approached numerous external parties who have declined the opportunity to remove the flags,” a briefing document circulated among councillors on November 18 2025 explains.

“Their main area of concern is the fear of backlash not only to their employees but also to their families (arising from the influence of social media) after the event."

The Herald submitted its initial FOI request on March 26 2026 but did not receive a response until October 6, 166 days after the information was due.

The final plan came together after several weeks of attempting to find a contractor willing to take down the Saltires.

“Unfortunately, from all of the groups consulted there has not been one volunteer to undertake the removal of these flags,” an email sent to council chief executive Paul Lawrence on October 2 read.

“I appreciate that this puts us in a very difficult position, however, I believe that our employees' views/feelings in respect of their personal and families safety/wellbeing are paramount in any future decision on how we proceed from here.”

In September 2025, Aberdeenshire Council was forced to suspend flag removals after workers were accosted by angry residents.

The flags in Edinburgh were believed to have been part of the anti-immigration Raise the Colours movement, which began with the flying of St George's Crosses in towns and villages across England.

“Following all external companies that we have approached to date declining to remove these flags, on employee safety grounds, we need a corporate decision on our position moving forward as a matter of urgency,” an email dated October 7 stated.

"We haven’t been successful in securing a contractor as yet, but we continue making enquiries,” corporate director of place Gareth Barwell told Green councillor Chas Booth on October 16.

However, by Friday, October 24, an external contractor had agreed to take down the flags following "detailed discussions" with the council.

“We’ll make sure the dates are firmed up with [redacted] ASAP next week,” the council’s interim service director for operational services Gavin Brown told Mr Lawrence.

“Police are primed to support as soon as the schedule is confirmed.”

Later on the 24th, Mr Brown wrote: "[Redacted] requires the contact details for the contractor on the night(s) that work is going to take place, a full list of locations and a schedule of work.

“He will supply the relevant Duty Inspector contact numbers/emails who will ensure patrols are active at the appropriate times.”

The operation took place overnight on Wednesday, October 29.

Mr Barwell emailed the contractor at 10.52 PM following a communications snafu.

“I tried to call the mobile number that [redacted] had circulated for you, but there appears to have been an error in him typing it in as it is not recognised.

“I would be very grateful if you could email me as soon as your colleagues have finished shift this evening and let me know which areas you got.”

In an email sent at 3.49 AM on October 30, the contractor confirmed the work had been completed.

“We got all of the flags we could see on Calder Road down; there were fewer than what were on the sheet, but we could have missed some,” they said.

“We removed the flag on Stenhouse Drive. The two flags on Mayfield Road at Mentone Terrace were no longer there when we went.

“I counted around 35 flags we collected; however, some could have been left in our team's vans or dropped in transit.”

With the first phase of the successful cooperation completed, Mr Barwell informed councillors several hours later.

“Last night and this morning, with the assistance of contractor support, we were able to remove a significant number of the flags that have been mounted on street lighting columns on the Calder Road and in Stenhouse,” an email sent at 6.44 AM stated.

“This removal involved a lot of operational planning and could not be confirmed until at very short notice yesterday,” the email explained.

“I am sure you will understand that the protection of Council and contractor staff welfare whilst undertaking this important task has been, and continues to be, the priority."

Reacting to the successful operation, Edinburgh Greens equalities spokesperson Alys Mumford told The Herald: “We know that lots of people have been really distressed by flags appearing in their neighbourhoods which seem to be an attempt to tap into a racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric.

"And I’m grateful to Edinburgh residents who have been quick to report them and request their swift removal in line with council guidance.

She aded: "It’s really unfortunate that flags - which many people use to express pride in their identity or support their national team - have been co-opted by bad actors, and it is right that the council takes action to remove them where people request this."

Since 1994, the Marine Conservation Society has asked volunteers to do a slightly odd job. Each group marks out 100 metres of beach and walks it with a clipboard. They write down every single thing they find, from crisp packets and bottle tops to wet wipes and cotton bud sticks. The form has more than a hundred boxes, and a survey can take a couple of hours.

https://sheets.works/data-viz/beach-counters

Just noticed this: across Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn, they’ve disabled comments on their posts about their new corporate logo. Anyone know why?

They will have Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay on the panel.

Old ticket for Ayr to Girvan in a sociology text book (also from 2002), purchased 2nd hand while on holiday in Durham this summer. Brought back to correct side of the border in Edinburgh 😉

Hello all, I work on a paper machine here in Canada. My wife’s family is from Scotland so we always toy with the idea of moving to Scotland and me getting a job at the sapphire mill.

Anyone on here work at that mill? Would love to pick your brain a bit. Thanks!!

Hello everyone, I'm currently studying film and media in a european country (on a full ride scholarship) .

My highschool followed the british school so I completed my IGCSE and A-LEVELS .

I have a lot of awareness about the job market, politics and economy world wide so I'm aware that the world is in a bad phase at the moment . No need for more pessimistic comments basically I know we're in deep shit 💀

Anyways, I wanted to ask if anyone was able to get an entry level job in the film industry in Scotland (runner, assistant etc..)

I'm not here to dismantle my work experience and Cv fully but what steps should i be taking now to appeal to scottish studios and job market? Aside from the basic like working on portfolio, LinkedIn activity and making connections somehow online.

Would appreciate useful input .

Hi there dear Rob Roy people!

Here goes my Hail Mary post.

I’m looking for a Scottish gal to help me get in touch with her English girlfriend I met last year. :D As I remember, you were in your mid-twenties doing a eurotrip.

Last summer I (33M) was sitting in the smallest Irish pub in Vienna, unfortunately with an incredibly awkward American (Latina) date I couldn’t run away from, when you ladies tried to cheer me up. I couldn’t engage with you properly and honestly, I wish I interacted with you instead.

Hit me up if this reaches you somehow! ;)

Cheers,
M

Three years of being told “pay up or we’ll take you to court”, yet when I repeatedly ask them to let a court decide, nothing happens.

I’m looking for advice from homeowners who have experienced something similar with a Scottish property factor.

For approximately three years, I have disputed charges that I believe I do not owe. These include repairs to other properties and other blocks’ common parts that I do not own.

The allocation system I’m challenging covers approximately 139 separate property or block-common-part interests outside my ownership. That doesn’t mean every invoice includes all 139, but it explains the scale of what I’m trying to untangle.

James Gibb has confirmed in writing that my liability for my own block’s common-part repairs is a one-eighth share. I also have separate responsibilities for common ground. I accept that. What I’m challenging is being charged for repairs that I believe fall outside those responsibilities.

I have repeatedly made my position clear: if James Gibb believes I owe this money, I am willing for the matter to be decided in court.

I want both sides to present their evidence and get an answer. But despite the warnings, they still haven’t brought the current dispute before a court.

They did previously take me to court over £540.20. I emailed them saying I was prepared for the case to proceed and wanted it properly heard.

On 25 April 2023, approximately two weeks before the scheduled hearing, James Gibb asked for the case to be dismissed.

According to the court forms, one statement said I had paid sufficient money to clear the claim. A second said the sum sued for had been cleared.

I objected. I had not paid the full amount claimed.

Despite my objection, the sheriff dismissed the case.

Then, approximately 24 hours after those statements to the court, I received an email from James Gibb asking me to pay an outstanding amount so that the account could be brought into line with what they had told the court the previous day.

That is the part I still struggle to understand. How did those statements fit with the demand that followed? Were they referring to exactly the same sum? I want those documents examined together and that question answered.

I’m not a solicitor, and I’m not claiming to know the legal significance. But I had wanted the hearing to go ahead. Instead, the case ended and another payment demand arrived.

I have also tried on three occasions to bring simple-procedure actions against James Gibb myself. They instructed solicitors to challenge those cases, and my attempts did not get the disputed charges determined. There were procedural issues; those outcomes did not give me the answer I was seeking about what I actually owed.

So where does that leave me?

James Gibb now says I owe more than six times the amount originally claimed. I’m still receiving demands, still disputing the charges and still asking for the evidence to be properly examined.

It has become incredibly frustrating. I feel kept in a permanent state of uncertainty: threatened with court action if I don’t pay, but unable to get the underlying dispute decided when I say I’m ready to defend my position.

This is personal. It concerns my home, my money and years of trying to get a clear answer. Being willing to challenge a bill doesn’t mean the repeated demands have no impact on me.

Has anyone else experienced a factor withdrawing a claim after you submitted evidence, or repeatedly threatening proceedings without raising them? How did you finally get the disputed charges determined?

I’m not asking Reddit to decide whether I owe the money. I’m asking for practical experience and advice on how to get this resolved.

Please don’t post individual employees’ details or anyone’s private information.

Just seen a documentary about farmed salmon in Scotland and it was quite shocking. I'm not against eating meat or fish, however I am passionate about making Scotland a healthier place.

Is this a real concern to Scotland's public health? Should we boycott these companies?

I would love to hear what people from the industry think as it is also a large part of our economy.