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Common Weal opposes call for Scottish tuition fees

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine has opposed calls for Scottish students to pay tuition fees, after the think-tank Reform Scotland urged the return of the graduate endowment, which would mean students have to pay back part of their fees once they are earning the average Scottish salary. McAlpine, formerly of Universities Scotland, backed criticism of the graduate endowment policy from UCU Scotland and the Scottish Greens, saying the crisis was being used as an opportunity to further “commercialise our universities”. (The National)

SNP call for Cabinet Office inquiry into Cummings

The SNP has called for a UK Government inquiry into the row over Boris Johnson’s special advisor Dominic Cummings. In a letter to the Cabinet Office, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford order Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill to reconsider his “initial reluctance to get involved in the matter”. Blackford said that Durham police’s confirmation that Cummings broke lockdown regulations means he has fallen foul of the government’s code of conduct for special advisers. (The National)

Easyjet announces massive job cuts despite state bailout

Easyjet, Scotland’s largest airline, has announced that it will slash 4500 jobs, despite being in receipt of a £600 million bailout from the UK treasury in April. Earlier in May the budget airline announced that it was increasing services on some of Scotland’s most popular routes in order to absorb capacity lost by competitor Flybe when it collapsed. (The National)

Fears over economic impact on shielders

Fears are mounting of a two-tier emergence from lockdown, with those more vulnerable to the virus and who are shielding suffering the worst losses of income. Citizens Advice research has found that 70 per cent of shielders who contacted them for help had not been furloughed under UK Government measures. (Guardian)

Scottish parliament to hear evidence on coronavirus homelessness

The Scottish Parliament Local Government Committee will today (28 May) hear evidence on how hundreds of rough sleepers have been re-homed during the pandemic in Glasgow. Campaigners are expected to urge parliamentarians to extend and maintain pandemic era measures to provide accommodation to Scotland’s thousands of homeless people. (Evening Times)

Calls for green recovery from Covid-19

The UK Government have been called on to create a ‘green recovery’ from Covid-19 ahead of the 2021 UN climate conference in Scotland. Speaking as talks commenced to re-organised the event, initially slated for this November in Glasgow, Mary Robinson, former UN climate envoy, said: “Very definitely we need to tie together a green recovery and Cop26 – that is imperative. UK leadership can and should urge forward a net-zero carbon transition from the Covid-19 crisis.” (Guardian)

Tory complaints mount on Cummings

61 Conservative MPs have now called on Dominic Cummings to stand down from his role as senior adviser, as constituents inundate their MPs over his lockdown breaches. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on his party and country to “move on” from the scandal. (Guardian)

Controversy has gripped the BBC over its response to Newsnight complaints

Controversy has gripped the BBC over its decision to suspend its Newsnight anchor Emily Maitlis on Wednesday (27 May) for a monologue critical of the UK Government’s handling of special adviser Dominic Cummings’ breaches of lockdown rules. A BBC statement said the segment “…did not meet our standards of due impartiality. Our staff have been reminded of the guidelines.” (BBC

A majority of Scots want an independence referendum within the next five years

A majority of Scots want an independence referendum within the next five years, according to an Ipsos Mori poll (27 May). 53 per cent desire the referendum, while only 34 per cent believe it should never take place. (Herald)

Decline in global energy investment expected to hit renewables hard

An unprecedented $400 billion decline in global energy investment is expected to hit renewable energy sources hard. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that any transition away from fossil fuels will be disrupted. (Guardian)