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National Focus: Stories from Scotland




BBC Panorama finds Tesco price-match Aldi, but products do have the same quantity of ingredient


An investigation by BBC’s Panorama found that many frequently purchased foods in Tesco, such as chicken nuggets, cottage pies, and blackcurrant squash, have significantly less of the core ingredients than found in Aldi, despite being the same price. For example, in Aldi, chicken nuggets are 60 per cent chicken, whereas in Tesco they are 39 per cent. Chicken Kievs are 57 per cent chicken in Aldi, and 44 per cent in Tesco. Apple and blackcurrant squash are 20 per cent fruit juice in Aldi, compared with 6 per cent in Tesco as analysed in August.


There are some products where Tesco produces a higher quality percentage than Aldi, but of 122 Tesco products, 38 had at least five percentage points less of the main ingredient. Consumer expert Kate Hardcastle told BBC Panorama that this is an example of “value engineering,” where supermarkets change quantities in products to reduce the prices. Across Scotland and the rest of the UK, supermarkets have seen large increases in profits. For Aldi, pre-tax profits have tripled to £536.7 million in the year to the end of December 2023. For Tesco, profits increased to £2.3 billion from £882 million, as reported in April.


Scotland bans protests outside abortion clinics after Safe Access Zones Bill comes into law


The Member’s Bill, introduced by Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackey, will create safe access zones around places offering abortions in Scotland. It is now an offence for a person to try to dissuade someone from getting an abortion around the clinics. Anyone breaking the law could receive a fine of up to £10,000 with Police Scotland enforcing the legislation.


Mackey said on X, “This is a crucial day for reproductive rights and healthcare in Scotland. I hope that it will be the end of the intimidation and harassment we have seen of people who are accessing healthcare.” However, the law has faced criticism from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, who held protests, as well as SNP MSP John Mason, who said the Bill was “very disappointing.”


ScotRail drivers accept pay deal with the Scottish Government


75 per cent of the train drivers’ union Aslef voted in favour of the deal negotiated by the Scottish Government to give staff a 4.5 per cent pay rise. Since July, ScotRail has been running a reduced timetable as many drivers refused to work overtime. The TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association) union, which represents managerial and technical staff, has also accepted the deal.


However, they stated on X, “Our dispute regarding on-call working, which led to industrial action last Christmas, continues. We urge ScotRail to come back to the table and engage in meaningful negotiations with us.” The previous timetable saw a reduction of 26 per cent, from 1,660 services daily from Monday to Saturday, instead of the usual level of 2,250. ScotRail state that they need to establish the revised rotas, given drivers can now work overtime. Normal services are unlikely to resume before 7 October.


MP for North East Fife, Wendy Chamberlain, reappointed as Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats


 “I am delighted to have been reappointed as Chief Whip and am honoured to get to work with our amazing group of new MPs,” said Wendy Chamberlain, following the Lib Dems’ success at the general election. As Chief Whip, she is responsible for the whipping system which makes sure party members vote in accordance with the desires of party leadership.


Photo from BBC





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