Also in the news / Also in the news 30 January 2026
- Wishart’s WASPI disappointment
- Support payment reminder
- Lifetime achievement award
- Scord quarry extension
- Brewery’s festival sponsorship
LOCAL MSP Beatrice Wishart has expressed her disappointment after the UK Government announced that it would not compensate millions of women impacted by changes to the state pension age.
The Labour government had already said last year that the £10 billion compensation bill could better be spent on improving public services, despite committing to compensation while in opposition.
The government has now reiterated its earlier decision after considering new information that had come to light.
The Lib Dem MSP said: “This announcement will anger and devastate the millions of women caught in the middle of this government-made mess. False hope was given in the autumn at the announcement that the UK Government would look at this again.”
SOCIAL Security Scotland is urging parents and carers to apply for a more than £300 support payment for primary school children.
The Best Start payment is being paid to support children born between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021.
The deadline for applications is 28 February, and the money can be spent on anything a child needs for school, including clothes, school trips and stationery.
The applicant or their partner must get one of a range of qualifying benefits to be eligible.
An application form can be accessed here.
TRUSTEE of the Swan Trust and Sail Training Shetland, Peter Campbell, has been honoured with a Tall Ships Races lifetime achievement award.
Race director Magda Makowska presented Campbell with the award at the organisation’s annual conference.
His involvement with sail training began in the early 1990s when he first crewed on the Swan training vessel and then continued for many years as secretary and trustee of the Swan Trust.
He was also chair of Sail Training Shetland for 12 years from 2011 to 2023.
Swan Trust chair Mary Irvine said: “Peter’s service to the Swan Trust has been outstanding.
“In recent years he has been less active due to caring responsibilities at home, but he has always been willing to do what he could to promote sailing, particularly to young people. He is a tireless advocate for the benefits sailing can bring in terms of life skills and personal development.”
SHETLAND Islands Council (SIC) has now lodged a ‘proposal of application’ planning notice for extending the Scord Quarry.
Shetland News reported last year how the SIC is considering extending the site by 4.9 hectares on its north-east side.
A proposal of application notice highlights what pre-application public consultation may take place, with the Scord documents suggesting there could be two public meetings.
LEWICK Brewery has been named as the main sponsor of the second annual Hounds of Love music festival in Glasgow, which has announced a significant expansion following a sell-out inaugural event last year.
The partnership is rooted in the Shetland heritage of festival organiser Zack Manson, frontman of Glasgow-based band Hound.
The festival will take place at the Rum Shack in Shawlands on Saturday 7 February.
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