The Ferret

The Ferret is a renowned platform dedicated to investigative journalism, serving Scotland and beyond.

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the revolving door between politics and PR

1 week ago | theferret.scot | Karin Goodwin

Scotland’s most influential public relations companies are staffed by former politicians, government ministers, spin doctors and newspaper editors, The Ferret has found, exposing the “revolving door” between politics, the media and lobbying. These well-connected figures are now being paid to represent the interests of the UK’s largest businesses including fossil fuel and energy multinationals, big finance, and arms firms.
Salmon farms file 210 appeals to 'sabotage' lice controls

4 weeks ago | theferret.scot | Rob Edwards

Salmon farms across Scotland have lodged 210 appeals against controls on lice infestations imposed by the Scottish Government’s environment watchdog, prompting outrage from campaigners. The appeals are the latest and most dramatic move in the multinational salmon industry’s long-running campaign to block lice controls being introduced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) to protect wild fish.
MoD under fire over nuclear clean-up in Scotland

1 month ago | theferret.scot | Rob Edwards

The Ministry of Defence has been accused of trying to avoid responsibility for cleaning up a military nuclear site on the north coast of Scotland by making it “someone else’s problem”. The Ferret can reveal that discussions to transfer ownership of Vulcan, a former submarine reactor testing site next to Dounreay in Caithness, to the UK and Scottish governments’ Nuclear Decommissioning Authority are at an advanced stage. The aim is to complete the deal in 2027-28.
Star wars: alarm at space agency’s 130 meetings with MoD

1 month ago | theferret.scot | Rob Edwards

Senior officials from the UK Space Agency held over 130 meetings with the Ministry of Defence in 2024, prompting renewed concerns about the “weaponisation” of space. The meetings discussed the spaceport being built at SaxaVord on Shetland, using nuclear reactors in space and collaboration with the US, NATO and arms companies. Two members of the agency’s advisory board also work for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Private prison records highest level of self-harm

2 months ago | theferret.scot | Karin Goodwin

Almost 600 incidents of self-harming were reported at Addiewell – Scotland’s only private prison – in less than four years, almost double that of any other Scottish jail. The number of incidents, revealed in a freedom of information request, were for self-harm by cutting, which is associated with emotional distress and poor mental health and wellbeing. In total Addiewell recorded 590 incidents from January 2021 until the end of August 2024, an average of 13 every month.
Private prison profits: Addiewell pays £3m to shareholders amid safety fears and rising deaths

2 months ago | theferret.scot | Karin Goodwin

The company which owns Scotland’s private Addiewell prison has paid more than £3m to shareholders in less than two years despite serious concerns over prisoner and staff safety amid high levels of deaths and violence, The Ferret has found. In total almost £20m has been paid out in dividends to shareholders since the prison opened in 2008. Yet in half of the years it has been open it has failed to meet agreed Scottish Prison Service standards, paying penalties as a result.
Trident project rated “unachievable” third year running

2 months ago | theferret.scot | Rob Edwards

A £4bn project to help replace nuclear-armed Trident submarines on the Clyde has been branded as “unachievable” for the third year running by a UK government watchdog. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has again given the manufacture of new reactors to power replacementsubmarines its lowest rating of “red” for 2023-24. There are “major issues” that do not seem to be “manageable or resolvable”, it said.
Alone, at risk and afraid: urgent action needed to stop care leavers becoming homeless

2 months ago | theferret.scot | Karin Goodwin

Young people leaving care are still being left homeless and at risk, in unsuitable hostels surrounded by drugs, or too afraid to sleep at night despite a Scottish Government “promise” to ensure they are given a safe and loving home for as long as needed, The Ferret has heard. The failures are being highlighted by a new report – due to be released this week – which calls for urgent action to be taken to prevent homelessness for care leavers.
Neglected 'banana flats' breach human rights, say residents

2 months ago | theferret.scot | Karin Goodwin

Residents of Leith’s famous “banana flats” claim Edinburgh City Council is breaching their human rights after persistent issues with toxic black mould, faulty lifts, drug dealing, and problems with rats and mice. A new report by the campaign group residents have formed alleges that the council, which owns all but four of the flats, has failed to invest in the building, depriving those in the block of their human right to decent housing.
More than 100 environmental breaches at fish farms

Jan 23, 2025 | theferret.scot | Rob Edwards

Fish farms have broken environmental rules more than 100 times in the last two years, according to Scottish Government regulators. Figures released by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) suggested that the industry’s record was one of the worst in Scotland. Breaches included waste discharges, pesticide misuse, seabed pollution, misplaced fish cages and excessive numbers of fish. The biggest offender was Norwegian-owned salmon farming company, Mowi, which had 60 breaches at 40 sites.