Scotland’s junior doctors voted to accept a pay offer from the Scottish government, which includes a 12.4% pay increase for 2023-24.
The result of the consultative vote of BMA Scotland members saw 81.64% vote in favour of the offer with a turnout of 71.24% and contrasted starkly with the situation in England, where junior doctors have so far taken part in five rounds of industrial action this year as a result of an ongoing pay dispute.
Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: “This is the single biggest investment in junior doctor pay since devolution [in 1999].”
Keir steers clear of Aberdeen
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer made a quick trip to Scotland, but still avoided returning to Aberdeen since his controversial plan to scrap oil and gas production.
However, responding to his decision, the former Labour provost of the city, Barney Crockett, was scathing about the man whom the polls rate as favourite to be next PM.
He said: “The message is very clear. It’s drop dead as far as he is concerned.”
Fancy a bite for the night?
It emerged that a number of paid midgie “volunteers” are wanted in Argyll to stand outside for eight hours to find out if a new product works.
The initiative in the middle of “midgie season” might represent a triumph of hope over experience, but the participants will be given a chance to protect themselves.
Smidge, which already creates one popular brand of midgie repellent, is looking for intrepid souls to test themselves against the blighters with a penchant for blood.
Harrison’s happier with a snake
Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones character is famously terrified of snakes, but the veteran actor now has a real reptile – Tachymenoides harrisonfordi – named after him.
Ford, who is the vice-chairman of Conservation International, called it “humbling”, but expressed bemusement that he also has an ant and a spider called after him.
He said: “These scientists keep naming critters after me, but it’s always the ones that terrify children. I don’t understand that. I spend my free time cross-stitching. I sing lullabies to my basil plants, so they won’t fear the night.”
England waltz to win over Matildas
The Lionesses are on the cusp of football greatness, following their 3-1 win over Australia in Sydney to reach the World Cup final for the first time in their history.
After Sam Kerr cancelled out Ella Toone’s opener for England, it was Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo who stole the show with the decisive goals as they broke the host nation’s hearts and booked a showdown with Spain today.
Their male counterparts last won the competition in 1966, so Sarina Wiegman’s team are on the threshold of going where no British players under 75 have ever gone before.
Does it merit a Bank Holiday?
Politicians don’t normally jump on a bandwagon on these occasions – ha! – but there was disagreement between Rishi Sunak and Starmer over whether the country – erm, England – should get a day off if Wiegman’s players go on to lift the trophy.
Starmer called for a celebratory bank holiday, should England be successful in capturing the FIFA Women’s World Cup, but Sunak resisted the idea.
As one former player responded: “The fact we are even discussing these things shows how far the women’s game has progressed.”
Another ‘nail in coffin’ for the Deen
Bill Gates might be stinking rich, but bus gates are a filthy subject in Aberdeen and new council plans for more have been described as “the final nail in the coffin” for the city.
Sections of both Bridge Street and Guild Street were closed last week while work began to install the final two bus gates.
The controversial project has been met with mounting anger from the public and three different petitions have been launched, urging councillors to scrap the new gates as well as allowing blue badge holders to use them.
Historic cache scandal in London
The British Museum in London sacked a member of staff and it was confirmed that police are investigating after treasures were reported “missing, stolen or damaged”.
Items including gold, jewellery and gems of semi-precious stones were among the items removed from the museum, which is one of the UK’s largest tourist attractions.
The PA news agency said it understood that the items had been taken before 2023 and the matter had happened over a “significant” period of time.
New price hike to cut queues
Organisers of Belladrum have revealed plans to introduce a parking charge in an attempt to avoid a repeat of this year’s traffic chaos.
Hundreds of gig-goers were forced to queue for hours to gain entry to the popular event at Belladrum Estate, with cars backing up along all the local roads.
Now, just days before the 2024 tickets go on sale, organisers have announced they are re-introducing a £12 parking pass for the whole weekend.
A farewell to Parky
Tributes were paid to the king of chat shows, Michael Parkinson, who died aged 88. During the 1970s, the Yorkshireman became famous for his interviews with the likes of Billy Connolly and Muhammad Ali and being attacked by Rod Hull’s Emu.
He also talked to Hollywood legends such as James Stewart, Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall and was also a prolific journalist and author.
His one great regret was not managing to persuade Frank Sinatra to chew the fat. But Parky still did most things his way.
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