Martin Williams
@martin1williams.bsky.social
Personal account of Herald Scotland (& on Sunday) journalist who likes a bit of a deep dive into the issues of public concern. And a laugh. Tweets on @Martin1Williams and tips to martin.williams@theherald.co.uk
EXC - "There can be no excuse from the Scottish Government for not delivering". McAllan warns UK cuts could choke off funding to meet affordable homes pledge after Scotland hits 12-year low in new starts. #HousingCrisis #ScotPol #AffordableHousing #Homelessness
'No excuses': McAllan warns UK housing shift could derail Scotland’s emergency plan
The Scottish housing secretary has cast doubt over her ability to deliver a pledge to build thousands of affordable homes to stem a homelessness…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
EXC - "There can be no excuse from the Scottish Government for not delivering". McAllan warns UK cuts could choke off funding to meet affordable homes pledge after Scotland hits 12-year low in new starts. #HousingCrisis #ScotPol #AffordableHousing #Homelessness
EXC "It is just deluded to believe that there is a 'nothing to see' situation regarding these charters". £50,000 every day on emergency ferries… and it’s the Isle of Man Government bailing us out 🤯 #Scotland #CalMac #FerryFiasco
Scotland paying £50k a day as Isle of Man government ship keeps ferry services afloat
Scottish Government-owned ferry operator CalMac is being bailed out with the help of the Isle of Man Government as it spends £50,000-a-day on…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
EXC "It is just deluded to believe that there is a 'nothing to see' situation regarding these charters". £50,000 every day on emergency ferries… and it’s the Isle of Man Government bailing us out 🤯 #Scotland #CalMac #FerryFiasco
EXC - ScotGov housing pledge “at risk” as McAllan sounds alarm over UK cuts. Scotland already 10,000 homes behind target. #HousingCrisis #Scotland #AffordableHomes #Politics
'No excuses': McAllan warns UK housing shift could derail Scotland’s emergency plan
The Scottish housing secretary has cast doubt over her ability to deliver a pledge to build thousands of affordable homes to stem a homelessness…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
EXC - ScotGov housing pledge “at risk” as McAllan sounds alarm over UK cuts. Scotland already 10,000 homes behind target. #HousingCrisis #Scotland #AffordableHomes #Politics
EXC - Scotland’s ferries now being kept afloat by the Isle of Man Government — with charters costing £50k a day 😬🚢 #CalMac #FerryFiasco
Scotland paying £50k a day as Isle of Man government ship keeps ferry services afloat
Scottish Government-owned ferry operator CalMac is being bailed out with the help of the Isle of Man Government as it spends £50,000-a-day on…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
EXC - Scotland’s ferries now being kept afloat by the Isle of Man Government — with charters costing £50k a day 😬🚢 #CalMac #FerryFiasco
EXC - A blunt warning from the regulator: Scotland needs a surge in new homes and a coordinated national response in the homelessness crisis. #HousingEmergency #Homelessness #Scotland #ScotGov #ScotPol
Regulator demands 'systemic intervention' as Scots landlords retreat in homes crisis
Scotland's housing regulator has pressed for a rise in the building of new homes as part of a "systemic intervention" to end Scotland's…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
EXC - A blunt warning from the regulator: Scotland needs a surge in new homes and a coordinated national response in the homelessness crisis. #HousingEmergency #Homelessness #Scotland #ScotGov #ScotPol
EXC - Landlords are pulling back from building new homes while legal breaches skyrocket. The regulator says only a systemic overhaul will stop the crisis. #HousingCrisis #Scotland #Homelessness #SocialHousing #ScotPol
Regulator demands 'systemic intervention' as Scots landlords retreat in homes crisis
Scotland's housing regulator has pressed for a rise in the building of new homes as part of a "systemic intervention" to end Scotland's…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM
EXC - Landlords are pulling back from building new homes while legal breaches skyrocket. The regulator says only a systemic overhaul will stop the crisis. #HousingCrisis #Scotland #Homelessness #SocialHousing #ScotPol
'It is perhaps for Audit Scotland to look at what is happening and consider the way it is financed going forward.' Rising CEO pay and massive cash reserves put SPT in the spotlight #SPT #PublicSpending
'Obscene': Cash-strapped Scots transport body hikes CEO pay by £35k and hoards £180m
Scotland's biggest regional public transport planner is under fire for a £35k rise in a top executive's pay while hoarding nearly £160m as local…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM
'It is perhaps for Audit Scotland to look at what is happening and consider the way it is financed going forward.' Rising CEO pay and massive cash reserves put SPT in the spotlight #SPT #PublicSpending
EXC - Cash-strapped Scots transport authority criticised for rising CEO pay and £180bn hoard amid concerns over financing services #Scotland #Transport #SPT
'Obscene': Cash-strapped Scots transport body hikes CEO pay by £35k and hoards £180m
Scotland's biggest regional public transport planner is under fire for a £35k rise in a top executive's pay while hoarding nearly £160m as local…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
EXC - Cash-strapped Scots transport authority criticised for rising CEO pay and £180bn hoard amid concerns over financing services #Scotland #Transport #SPT
EXC👽 “It all started there.” Nearly 70, still the future — #GaryNuman brings #Telekon back to life in the Scots city that made him. #Numanoids #LiveMusic
'It all started here': Why a pop icon was reborn in the Scots city he cannot forget
It was September 20, 1979, at the long-lost Glasgow Apollo, when Gary Numan first felt the full force of pop stardom. Cars had just hit number one…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
EXC👽 “It all started there.” Nearly 70, still the future — #GaryNuman brings #Telekon back to life in the Scots city that made him. #Numanoids #LiveMusic
EXC👀 'It's difficult to establish exactly what progress has been made to date and what progress is anticipated.' Pensions boss faces reckoning at Holyrood in wake of £1.7bn age discrimination remedies scandal. #SPPA #McCloud #Pensions #Scotland
Revealed: Pensions boss to be hauled before MSPs over £1.7bn scandal
The under-fire head of the Scottish Government's pensions agency is set to be hauled before MSPs over a £1.7bn age discrimination scandal that has…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
EXC⚡ From synth pioneer to industrial icon — #GaryNuman returns to the city where it all began. Glasgow still hums with electricity. 🔥 #Numan #Telekon #MusicLegend
'It all started here': Why a pop icon was reborn in the Scots city he cannot forget
It was September 20, 1979, at the long-lost Glasgow Apollo, when Gary Numan first felt the full force of pop stardom. Cars had just hit number one…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
EXC⚡ From synth pioneer to industrial icon — #GaryNuman returns to the city where it all began. Glasgow still hums with electricity. 🔥 #Numan #Telekon #MusicLegend
EXC 🚨 Scotland’s pensions chief to be hauled before MSPs over £1.7bn age discrimination scandal as fury grows over delays to compensation. #SPPA #PensionsCrisis #ScotlandNews #Holyrood
Revealed: Pensions boss to be hauled before MSPs over £1.7bn scandal
The under-fire head of the Scottish Government's pensions agency is set to be hauled before MSPs over a £1.7bn age discrimination scandal that has…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
EXC 🚨 Scotland’s pensions chief to be hauled before MSPs over £1.7bn age discrimination scandal as fury grows over delays to compensation. #SPPA #PensionsCrisis #ScotlandNews #Holyrood
EXC🚨 "How can we possibly spend public money on supporting our services and yet still deliver fewer ferry sailing hours to help us." Island anger grows as #CalMac delivers 3,400 fewer hours despite new vessels and massive subsidies. #ScotGov #FerryFiasco #Ferries #Scotland
Millions spent, services cut: CalMac hours slump fuels fury at Scottish government
Scotland's lifeline ferry fleet operated thousands of fewer hours last year, despite two new ships joining the service, as pressure mounts on the…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
EXC🚨 "How can we possibly spend public money on supporting our services and yet still deliver fewer ferry sailing hours to help us." Island anger grows as #CalMac delivers 3,400 fewer hours despite new vessels and massive subsidies. #ScotGov #FerryFiasco #Ferries #Scotland
EXC🚨 Millions spent and new ships equals sailing cuts. #CalMac operated 3,400 fewer hours last year despite £1m-a-month emergency charter. #CalMac #FerryFiasco #ScotGov #IslandLife
Millions spent, services cut: CalMac hours slump fuels fury at Scottish government
Scotland's lifeline ferry fleet operated thousands of fewer hours last year, despite two new ships joining the service, as pressure mounts on the…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM
EXC🚨 Millions spent and new ships equals sailing cuts. #CalMac operated 3,400 fewer hours last year despite £1m-a-month emergency charter. #CalMac #FerryFiasco #ScotGov #IslandLife
⚓ Why is CalMac being penalised, and where does the money go? We explain how it breaks it down. #FerryFiasco #CalMac #ScotGov
Why has CalMac been been hit with millions in fines over its lifeline ferry services?
CalMac was fined more than £20m for failing to meet performance standards - before being given a new £4 billion deal to continue running lifeline…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
⚓ Why is CalMac being penalised, and where does the money go? We explain how it breaks it down. #FerryFiasco #CalMac #ScotGov
EXC 🤯 CalMac’s ferry fines hit record highs — "If there are significant penalties, then people have to lose their jobs." #CalMac #ScotlandFerries #Accountability #FerryFiasco
CalMac fined £21m then handed £4bn: ScotGov sparks outrage over ferry deal
CalMac was fined over £20m for poor performance before being handed a £4bn ferry deal - sparking anger and calls for accountability from islanders.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
EXC 🤯 CalMac’s ferry fines hit record highs — "If there are significant penalties, then people have to lose their jobs." #CalMac #ScotlandFerries #Accountability #FerryFiasco
EXC🚨 CalMac fined £20m — and then handed a £4bn contract by ministers. Some call it a scandal. #CalMac #ScotlandFerries #Accountability
CalMac fined £21m then handed £4bn: ScotGov sparks outrage over ferry deal
CalMac was fined over £20m for poor performance before being handed a £4bn ferry deal - sparking anger and calls for accountability from islanders.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
EXC🚨 CalMac fined £20m — and then handed a £4bn contract by ministers. Some call it a scandal. #CalMac #ScotlandFerries #Accountability
EXC🚨 🚨 34 organisations with one message: stop a system that forces a massive rise in the number of refugees forced into homelessness in Scotland.#RefugeeCrisis #Scotland #Homelessness #housingemergency
Dozens of groups demand government action as homeless refugee numbers double
A coalition of over 34 groups and charities have warned that government policies are “causing homelessness by design”, as the number of newly…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
EXC🚨 🚨 34 organisations with one message: stop a system that forces a massive rise in the number of refugees forced into homelessness in Scotland.#RefugeeCrisis #Scotland #Homelessness #housingemergency
Scotland pledges billions to solve housing emergency: Where's the delivery?
Scotland pledges billions to solve housing emergency: Where's the delivery?
A coalition of 34 leading charities has accused the UK and Scottish governments of running a system that “causes homelessness by design”, as the…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Scotland pledges billions to solve housing emergency: Where's the delivery?
EXC 🚨 “Homelessness by design.” 34 groups tell government asylum policies are forcing refugees onto the streets as number of homeless in Scotland doubles #RefugeeCrisis #Scotland #Homelessness #housingemergency
34 groups demand government action as number of homeless refugees double in Scotland
A coalition of over 34 groups and charities have warned that government policies are “causing homelessness by design”, as the number of newly…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:00 AM
EXC 🚨 “Homelessness by design.” 34 groups tell government asylum policies are forcing refugees onto the streets as number of homeless in Scotland doubles #RefugeeCrisis #Scotland #Homelessness #housingemergency
From turbines to tyranny?'Basically we're supplying the south. The time has come for a moratorium on further onshore wind.'#Scotland #WindPower #RenewableEnergy #EnergyExploitation #NESO #UKPolitics
Revealed: Scotland to supply 70 of UK wind energy in new exploitation storm
Scotland is expected to generate nearly three quarters of Britain’s onshore wind power with in five years — sparking fears the country is facing…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:47 PM
From turbines to tyranny?'Basically we're supplying the south. The time has come for a moratorium on further onshore wind.'#Scotland #WindPower #RenewableEnergy #EnergyExploitation #NESO #UKPolitics
EXC - Scotland is set to supply 70% of UK wind energy by 2030, sparking fears it is being exploited to fuel England #Scotland #WindPower #RenewableEnergy #EnergyExploitation #NESO #UKPolitics
Revealed: Scotland to supply 70 of UK wind energy in new exploitation storm
Scotland is expected to generate nearly three quarters of Britain’s onshore wind power with in five years — sparking fears the country is facing…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM
EXC - Scotland is set to supply 70% of UK wind energy by 2030, sparking fears it is being exploited to fuel England #Scotland #WindPower #RenewableEnergy #EnergyExploitation #NESO #UKPolitics
Households are paying the price for a green energy bottleneck. But why? #EnergyNews #Scotland #WindPower #Renewables #EnergyCrisis
Why is Scotland at the centre of a £6.6bn energy switch off payments row?
Households are paying the price for a green energy bottleneck — with a staggering £6.6 billion handed to energy firms for not producing…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Households are paying the price for a green energy bottleneck. But why? #EnergyNews #Scotland #WindPower #Renewables #EnergyCrisis
'It's perverse that operators are paid a premium to keep the turbines switched off, at a time when folk who can see them from their front doors are unable to turn the heating on in their homes' #EnergyCrisis #Scotland #Renewables
Revealed: Households foot 'absurd' £6.6bn bill to switch off green energy
Households have been hit with a soaring bill of over £6.6bn to pay energy firms for not producing electricity from mainly wind farms while the…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
'It's perverse that operators are paid a premium to keep the turbines switched off, at a time when folk who can see them from their front doors are unable to turn the heating on in their homes' #EnergyCrisis #Scotland #Renewables