🔴NEW: Kate Forbes tried to attract UAE government investors to Scotland by offering them “rapid access” to policymakers and “bespoke” tours, despite allegations the state armed a militia accused of genocide in Sudan.

Our latest: https://f.mtr.cool/aaeompsnof

SEPA gave 400 Scottish lochs 'good' environmental status but checked only 54, raising doubts about the regulation.

🔴NEW: The monitoring of marine pollution by the Scottish Government’s green watchdog has been dubbed a “scandal” following the discovery that it rates 400 of Scotland’s coastal waters as being environmentally fine based on wildlife samples from just 54 of them.

Sepa gave 400 Scottish lochs 'good' environmental status but only checked 54 of them Lochs are classified as having a “good” environmental status based on samples from other lochs many miles away – and as much as a decade old – prompting concerns that environmental regulation isn’t “fit for purpose”.

"There seems to be far too little money put into monitoring the health of the sea, even though so many people’s jobs and communities depend on it"

Group of red deer standing on a grassy hill. Overlaid text: “Deer management cost public purse at least £135m in a decade.”

🔴NEW: Scotland’s publicly-funded forestry bodies have spent more than £134m controlling deer over the last decade, The Ferret can reveal.

Find out more: www.theferret.scot/deer-management-cost-pub...

AI, misinformation and the Holyrood elections (plus AGM 2026) How does misinformation now spread in Scotland, who benefits, and what it could mean for voters and the result?

Holyrood 2026 will be fought in an AI-driven misinformation era. What does that mean for voters?

Join The Ferret’s online AGM followed by our panel with Dr Paul Reilly (University of Glasgow) and Dr Digdem Soyaltin-Colella (University of Aberdeen).

More info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-misinfo...

Follow the money and you end up in unexpected places.

This is the reporting that got our reporters shortlisted for Journalists of the Year by the Wincott Foundation for high quality financial journalism 👇

Dozens charged for supporting loyalist paramilitary groups banned under terror laws A freedom of information response revealed there have been 193 charges in Scotland under the Terrorism Act 2000. The alleged offences link to banned groups like the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters, the IRA, and neo-Nazi group, National Action.

Experts say paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland remain involved in organised crime, including extortion and drug-related activity, with links to Scotland

Dozens charged for supporting loyalist paramilitary groups banned under terror laws A freedom of information response revealed there have been 193 charges in Scotland under the Terrorism Act 2000. The alleged offences link to banned groups like the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters, the IRA, and neo-Nazi group, National Action.

New figures show 66 alleged offences in Scotland involving support for banned loyalist paramilitary groups since the Terrorism Act 2000 came into force

Black-and-white image of a marching band drummer in uniform, with a large drum in the foreground. Overlaid text reads: “Revealed: Dozens charged for supporting loyalist paramilitary groups banned under terror laws,” with additional text explaining that 193 charges have been recorded in Scotland under the Terrorism Act 2000, linked to banned groups including the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters, the IRA, and National Action.

Five charges related to National Action, a banned neo-Nazi group that plotted to kill Labour MP Rosie Cooper in an act of “white jihad”, and celebrated the murder of the MP Jo Cox
www.theferret.scot/loyalist-paramilitary-gr...

Half of all Scotland’s terror support cases tied to Palestine Action ban Most other Scottish cases related to UVF and other loyalist paramilitary groups

More than half of all terror display cases in Scotland relate to Palestine Action.

There were also more cases involving loyalist paramilitary displays (66) than republican ones (13), the reverse of N Ireland - 83 republican v 11 loyalist

With @billybriggs24.bsky.social & @karingoodwin.bsky.social

Black-and-white image of a marching band drummer in uniform, with a large drum in the foreground. Overlaid text reads: “Revealed: Dozens charged for supporting loyalist paramilitary groups banned under terror laws,” with additional text explaining that 193 charges have been recorded in Scotland under the Terrorism Act 2000, linked to banned groups including the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters, the IRA, and National Action.

🔴NEW: There have been 66 alleged offences in Scotland regarding support for banned loyalist paramilitary groups like the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters, and Red Hand Commando since the Terrorism Act 2000 came into force
www.theferret.scot/loyalist-paramilitary-groups-terror-laws/

🔴NEW: Scottish prosecutors have received more than 100 reports of alleged terrorism related to Palestine Action in seven months, more than for any other proscribed group in the 26 years since the Terrorism Act was introduced
theferret.scot/more-palestine-action-su...

Wincott shortlists – winners to be announced at awards lunch on May 21 - Wincott The Wincott Foundation received almost 150 entries for its 2025 awards with a host of great videos and podcasts, detailed written investigations, and data analysis. The entries covered all aof 2025's biggest thems with subjects ranging from bond vigilantes and broken Britain to the Epstein files, Trump's tariffs, chinese chipmaking, the AI boom and crypto

We’re delighted to announce that our reporters have been shortlisted for journalists of the year by the Wincott Foundation in the nations and regions category

This 'natural' golf course could help shape the future of the sport The Ferret visited a Scottish golf course that's won plaudits for its eco-friendly management to learn about the relationship the industry can have with nature and the environment.

A Scottish golf course is trying to prove the sport can work with nature — not against it. We visited Machrihanish Dunes, where there’s no irrigation or chemicals, and sheep help manage the land

Circular offshore salmon pens and service boats; headline notes salmon farms criticised over animal welfare.

🔴NEW: A UK government watchdog has named two salmon farms in Scotland which have been reprimanded on animal welfare, following an appeal by The Ferret.

Our latest: www.theferret.scot/salmon-farms-rapped-over...

The Ferret visited a Scottish golf course that's won plaudits for its eco-friendly management to learn about the relationship the industry can have with nature and the environment.

www.theferret.scot/natural-golf-course-could-help-shape-future-sport/

I park my wheelchair next to David’s armchair, lean on it... After my husband developed dementia our caring roles reversed. I thought I would be prepared for his death, but nothing prepares you for this

observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Black-and-white image of a man in golf clothing walking on a course, with text headline: “Revealed: Trump golf resort the only one among Scotland’s top courses to breach environmental rules.”

🔴NEW: We asked about the environmental records of Scotland’s top-rated golf courses. Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire resort was the only one found to have breached its environmental licence in the last three years.

Our latest: www.theferret.scot/trump-golf-scotland-envi...

Hundreds of North Sea licences granted by Conservatives have ‘so far produced only 36 days worth of gas’ Exclusive: Findings cast doubt on claims new drilling would help cut bills and boost energy security, researchers say Hundreds of licences granted for new oil and gas projects in the North Sea under the Conservatives have so far produced only 36 days’ worth of gas, according to analysis. Research by the energy consultancy Voar and the campaign group Uplift found that between 2010 and 2024, the government handed out hundreds of new North Sea oil and gas licences in seven licensing rounds. Continue reading...

Hundreds of North Sea licences granted by Conservatives have ‘so far produced only 36 days worth of gas’

FACT CHECK: Campaigners and online posts say new legislation around abortion recently passed by the House of Lords means "abortion up to birth" is now legal in the UK. 

This is Mostly False

www.theferret.scot/claim-abortion-to-birth-...

MSPs have criticised the Scottish Government for making too little progress on salmon farming reform. The Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs committee says key recommendations on fish welfare, transparency and protecting wild salmon have still not been delivered.

Nazi-obsessed teenager described herself as 'embodiment of hell' before launching axe attack Alina Burns, 18, has admitted attempted murder after attacking an Iranian Kurd outside a barber's shop in Bristol.

18-year old neo-Nazi Alina Burns has pleaded guilty to attempted murder after launching an axe attack on an Iranian man in Bristol.

She was a member of Patriotic Alternative (PA), the UK's largest neo-Nazi group.

news.sky.com/story/teenag...

A resident in Montrose told The Ferret the dunes he played on as a child are gone and the coast is being carved away by the sea. We looked at how climate change is affecting Scotland’s east coast 
www.theferret.scot/scotlands-disappearing-golf-courses/

🔴NEW: More than 100 golf courses in Scotland are at risk from coastal erosion. We visited Montrose, where locals say the sea has advanced dramatically in recent decades.

Find out more: www.theferret.scot/scotlands-disappearing-golf-courses/

Two men shake hands; Reform UK rosette; text: party reselected people with far-right ties, COVID myths and ableist slurs.

🔴NEW: The Ferret exposed the extreme views of Reform UK’s Scotland’s candidates before Nigel Farage promised to improve his party’s “poor” vetting processes, but many of them have been re-selected to fight the Holyrood election.

Read our latest: www.theferret.scot/reform-uk-kn...

🔴 NEW: Anas Sarwar's party accepted £7,200 from Stonehaven, a lobbying firm which represents the owner of Scotland's last nuclear power station. Scottish Labour has sought to make nuclear power a battleground in the May election
www.theferret.scot/scottish-labour-astrotur...

Newly unearthed Nigel Farage videos reveal support for rioter, neo-Nazi event and far-right slogans Exclusive: Analysis of more than 4,000 of Reform UK leader’s paid-for Cameo videos also shows they contain misogynistic remarks and antisemitic conspiracies

Newly unearthed Nigel Farage videos reveal support for rioter, neo-Nazi event and far-right slogans | Nigel Farage | The Guardian share.google/AgWpBtOivgkh...

This pro-nuclear group claims to be 'grassroots'. So why are its directors industry lobbyists? Britain Remade has appointed two directors from a lobbying firm which represents EDF, the owner of Scotland’s last nuclear power station.

🔴NEW: A group leading the push to overturn Scotland’s opposition to new nuclear power says it is “independent” and “grassroots”. But we found links between campaign and a lobbying firm representing EDF, which owns Torness nuclear station

www.theferret.scot/britain-rema...

Claim Scottish Labour built six houses in government is False Online claims questioned Scottish Labour's house building in government between 1999 and 2007.

🔴 Posts online claimed Scottish Labour only build six houses between 1999 and 2007. This is false. 

Entry Shortlists - Amnesty Media Awards Entry Shortlists - Amnesty Media Awards

We're delighted to share that The Ferret has been shortlisted for an Amnesty Media Award for our reporting on the far right in Scotland by co-editor Billy Briggs and journalist director Jamie Mann.