UK ‘escalating nuclear tensions’ with Trident submarines
Observations by campaigners suggest that three of the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines are currently at sea. This is the first time this has happened since 2022, and it’s caused concerns.
UK ‘escalating nuclear tensions’ with Trident submarines
Observations by campaigners suggest that three of the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines are currently at sea. This is the first time this has happened since 2022, and it’s caused concerns.
Departing Edinburgh uni boss says he’s committed to the job – but still won’t say what his second role pays
As staff at Scotland’s largest university continue strikes over sweeping cuts, their boss still won’t say what his second job pays on top of his £425,000 salary.
More than one million animal experiments in Scotland since 2021
Scientists argue that research using animals is vital for the treatment and cure of human diseases like cancers. But experimenting on dogs and monkeys is controversial and critics say alternative methods should be used.
The UK is targeting firms linked to illegal Israeli settlements. One is still receiving millions from North Sea oil
Ithaca Energy announced a major dividend on the eve of UK sanctions against companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements. A few weeks later it paid out £100m to a shareholder the UN says has ‘direct links’ to the occupied territories.
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Piloted flights protecting Scotland's waters from illegal fishing have more than halved due to cutbacks
The Scottish Government is selling surveillance planes to save money and says drones are used to prevent illegal fishing. But critics argue that losing experienced pilots could mean criminality goes unchecked.
Police assessing whether Reform UK Holyrood candidates broke campaign spending laws
Prospective MSPs are legally required to evidence their election spending and confirm the records are correct. Following an investigation by The Ferret, Police Scotland is examining whether nine Reform UK candidates failed to do so.
Oil watchdog faces 'conflict of interests' row over directors’ Shell and BP shares
Board members at the North Sea oil regulator hold Shell and BP shares. Critics say the investments raise questions about the body's independence.
New salmon farmers scheme condemned as “greenwashing opportunity”
A new scheme to penalise salmon farmers when fish escape has been launched. But we found it is controlled by the industry prompting criticism.
The Tory treasurer, an offshore company and Scotland’s biggest data centre plan
Scotland may be set to host one of the world’s most powerful data centres. The Conservative Party’s money man stands to benefit.
Dundee University taxpayer bailout refused after probe into £80m cash balance
The Scottish Funding Council has determined that the university has too much cash to receive a taxpayer bailout. Unions say it shows the level of cuts at Dundee is unnecessary.
Ministry of Defence under pressure on Trident balloon accident
Local people filmed a large balloon meant to provide last-ditch communications in a nuclear war deflating and crashing. But the Ministry of Defence won’t say anything about it.
Scotland’s abandoned buildings leave communities to bear the burden
Derelict buildings across Scotland are creating a plethora of problems. Local communities are bearing the brunt.
Investigations
Piloted flights protecting Scotland's waters from illegal fishing have more than halved due to cutbacks
The Scottish Government is selling surveillance planes to save money and says drones are used to prevent illegal fishing. But critics argue that losing experienced pilots could mean criminality goes unchecked.
Oil watchdog faces 'conflict of interests' row over directors’ Shell and BP shares
Board members at the North Sea oil regulator hold Shell and BP shares. Critics say the investments raise questions about the body's independence.
The Tory treasurer, an offshore company and Scotland’s biggest data centre plan
Scotland may be set to host one of the world’s most powerful data centres. The Conservative Party’s money man stands to benefit.
Dundee University taxpayer bailout refused after probe into £80m cash balance
The Scottish Funding Council has determined that the university has too much cash to receive a taxpayer bailout. Unions say it shows the level of cuts at Dundee is unnecessary.
Fact Checks
Claim Glasgow City Council put up posters of ‘high risk’ areas for sexual assault is False
Posters appeared on social media purporting to be from the local authority, but they are fake.
Claim SNP government only increased teacher numbers by 75 is Mostly True
Conservative candidate Meghan Gallacher made the claim in a special education debate hosted by the BBC.
Claim Scottish GP numbers are at record levels is Half True
First Minister John Swinney made the claim in an SNP election leaflet
Claim 'abortion to birth' is now legal in the UK is Mostly False
Changes to abortion law in England and Wales have been misrepresented on social media.
Long reads
Revealed: Scotland and Northern Ireland's rapidly expanding anti-immigration network
This summer we revealed that convicted loyalists from Belfast travelled to Glasgow for a far right protest. Further digging has unearthed a rapidly expanding anti-immigration network between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Is this former Viking outpost a model for a fairer Scotland?
The tiny Danish island of Bornholm was the site of one of the world’s first offshore wind turbines back in the 1940s. Now its citizens are fighting to build one of the largest community wind farms ever, and raise the benchmark of what’s possible for locally owned energy.
These women were abused by far right groups who claimed to want to protect them. But they fought back
Women have been leading the fight against the far right in Scotland but anti-racism activism has come at a high personal cost with at least 14 having been publicly abused and threatened. But they are resolute in the face of intimidation and say they will continue defending human rights.
Poland's Jewish revival: In the shadow of Auschwitz
We visited the Polish city of Krakow ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day which is held to remember the millions murdered by the Nazis – including six million Jews. Krakow's Jewish population was decimated then but the city is now home to one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the world.
De-noiser
The Guga Hunt: Why a centuries-old Hebridean tradition is facing renewed scrutiny
The Ferret did a deep dive to explain why a bird cull on Lewis dating back centuries is causing outrage amid claims it's a "blood sport"
Businessmen and wealthy donors are bankrolling Scottish politics. Who are they?
The Ferret did a deep dive into the Electoral Commission’s donation records to find out who was funding Scotland's political parties.
Luxury hotels and dinner dates: Who is lobbying our politicians?
High end dinners are a fraction of over 29,000 lobbying meetings in the last parliamentary term. But campaigners argue that because the lobbying spend is not declared, their significance is underplayed.
Has the Scottish Government changed its stance on oil and gas?
With a decision on the Rosebank oil field imminent – and lobbying around the windfall tax at fever pitch – some are questioning whether the Scottish Government's current stance on oil and gas is in step with their ambition to be a world leader in climate action.
“I turn to The Ferret far more than what you might call the mainstream news to find out what's really going on.”
CHRIS PACKHAM, BROADCASTER AND NATURALIST“We need more independent media asking the questions that the powerful don't want to answer. It's vital that The Ferret succeeds.”
PAUL WOOD, WEST HIGHLAND FREE PRESS