Scotland's fire services at breaking point
Underinvestment and cuts have imperilled Scottish firefighters’ ability to adequately respond to all manner of emergencies, writes JOHN McKENZIE
The welcome news that Cuba has finally been removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list is tempered by the fact that Donald Trump, the man who put it there, is returning to the White House, warns NATASHA HICKMAN
Thanks to impressive progress in Britain with wind and solar generation, clean electricity now costs a fraction of the price of gas — yet the current system keeps bills artificially high to protect fossil fuels, writes TOM HARDY
By spreading race-based conspiracy theories, the billionaire tycoon turned right-wing provocateur has been seriously undermining the case against those who really did let victims of the grooming gangs down, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
Many Western countries are grappling with deep political instability. What are the causes of this, and what could be a possible way forward? asks MARC VANDEPITTE
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Nick Wright talks to photographer and author JANINA STRUK
LAST week the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) launched a consultation on the future of the fire and rescue service in Scotland.
This consultation follows the publication last year of the FBU’s groundbreaking Firestorm report which exposed the growing crisis in this vital emergency service.
Because, make no mistake about it, after over a decade of sustained underinvestment the SFRS is in crisis. Over 1,200 firefighter jobs have been cut since 2013 and a growing recruitment crisis within the retained service undermines the first line of emergency fire and rescue cover provided for over 80 per cent of Scotland’s landmass.
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