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Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,Scottish Firefighters Memorial,Parliament Square,Edinburgh,Scotland,United Kingdom,JAS BALFOUR ACCOUNTANT,benefactor,memorial railing,wrought iron,metal railing,ironwork,inscription,commemoration,remembrance and commemoration,public safety,frontline services,community resilience,civic pride,historical interpretation,urban heritage,editorial,documentary,UK travel,Scotland travel,Edinburgh attractions,charity donor,benefaction,occupational history,accountant,named donor,James Braidwood,firefighting heritage,emergency services,public art,civic memorial,historic city centre,heritage
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3DK77C6 - A tight, documentary close-up of the Scottish Firefighters Memorial railings on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, photographed in Parliament Square within the Old Town. The black wrought-iron panel is both functional and symbolic: a protective barrier at street level and, at the same time, a small piece of public art that quietly signals remembrance. At the centre is a stylised firefighter figure, rendered in simple lines and surrounded by curved framing that gives the panel a badge-like feel. The eye is pulled to the crisp, readable donor inscription, JAS BALFOUR ACCOUNTANT, integrated into the ironwork as a permanent acknowledgement of benefaction and civic generosity.
The setting feels unmistakably Edinburgh: time-worn stone, a slight sheen of moisture on the paving, and small traces of moss that hint at the city's cool, damp climate. The overall light is soft and flat, consistent with overcast Scottish daylight, which helps reveal fine detail in the metalwork without harsh shadows. Behind the railings, the memorial structure sits within a compact urban space where passers-by might pause briefly, read a name, then move on. That everyday flow is part of what gives the image its emotional weight: commemoration embedded into normal city life, rather than separated behind gates or inside a building.
As an editorial photograph, it works on several levels: as a literal record of a specific memorial feature on the Royal Mile
as a visual hook for stories about emergency services, public safety, and occupational heritage
and as a broader comment on how cities honour frontline workers through durable materials that can withstand weather and time. The donor wording adds a second narrative layer about philanthropy and local patronage, suggesting the quiet networks of support that sit behind many public monuments. The composition, textures, and legible text make it suitable for travel, history, culture, and remembrance themes, as well as Scottish identity and Edinburgh Old T
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,city centre,Scotland,election,Scottish Parliament Building,Scottish Parliament,Holyrood,Edinburgh,Horse Wynd,EH99 1SP,United Kingdom,parliament building,modern architecture,contemporary architecture,public entrance,winter,Holyrood area,UK politics,Scottish politics,governance,democracy,constitutional affairs,national legislature,public engagement,cultural tourism,destination marketing,architecture photography,editorial travel image,winter city break,landmark building,European city travel,public sector,civic pride,Enric Miralles,postmodern architecture,civic architecture,public building,political institution
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 3DM99BP - A wide, documentary winter view of the Scottish Parliament Building at Holyrood, Edinburgh, showing the public approach to the main entrance and the bold, modern facade of the parliamentary complex. The architecture has a distinctly contemporary, sculptural feel: curved roofline, strong geometric window rhythm, and mixed materials that read as stone, metal and timber tones. In the foreground, the open paved public space creates a sense of scale, with scattered stone bollards and the clean lines of the approach guiding the eye toward the glazed entrance.
A prominent purple visitor sign in the scene reads Explore the Parliament Building, reinforcing this as an accessible civic destination as well as the working home of Scottish democracy. A few pedestrians add human scale and a calm, everyday atmosphere, typical of Edinburgh's winter season when daylight is bright but low and the air often feels crisp. The light is clear and cool, with long, gentle shadows and a pale sky, suggesting cold weather conditions without snowfall.
The image works strongly for editorial themes around governance, politics, devolution, civic life and public institutions, as well as travel and architecture coverage focused on Holyrood, the Canongate and central Edinburgh. It also suits broader storytelling about how modern national buildings sit within historic European cities, and how public engagement is encouraged through free exhibitions, tours and visitor access at the Scottish Parliament
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,in,concept,letter,letters,on,a,name,region,politics,political,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,LGBT,LGBTQ+,trans,debate,SNP,policy,revolt,law,legislation,gender,recognition,reform,reforms,Canongate,EH8 8DX,Scottish,parliament,National Party,rights,veto,legal challenge
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RXHHBH - The Scottish and UK governments are going to court in a row over reforms that would make to make it easier for people in Scotland to change their legally recognised gender.
MSPs voted in December last year to pass the controversial Gender Recognition (Reform) Bill by 86 votes to 39.
But in an equally contentious move, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack then used UK government powers to veto the bill, saying it could interfere with equalities law across the whole country.
The legal arguments over Scotland's gender reforms
Scottish ministers have lodged a legal challenge at the Court of Session in a bid to overturn that decision and to have the reforms come in to law.
Presentational grey line
What is the current system?
The Scottish government wants to simplify and speed up the existing process by which people can obtain a gender recognition certificate - the legal recognition of a trans person's acquired gender.
At present, people apply to a UK gender recognition panel and typically must present a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
This is defined by the NHS as being caused by a mismatch between their biological sex (whether they were born physically male or female) and their gender identity (the way in which they see and describe themselves).
Applicants need to provide two medical reports, one from a specialist detailing their diagnosis and another listing any treatment or surgery they may have had to change their sexual characteristics.
They must also prove they have lived full-time in their acquired gender for at least two years - for example showing they have used a different name in official documents, or changed their gender on their driving licence or passport - and swear an oath that they intend to continue for the rest of their lives.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,atlas,letter,letters,word,words,Scot,Scots,parliament,HMRC,reduced,rate,rates,tax,taxation,purchase,taxes,parliaments,the,goods,spelled,out,in,on,a,Great Britain,UK,standard,zero,rated,fiscal,finance,revenue,consumption,services,vat returns,Making Tax Digital,Rachel Reeves,Keir Starmer
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RWW5R3 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,atlas,letter,letters,word,words,HMRC,reduced,rate,rates,tax,taxation,purchase,taxes,Wales,Welsh,parliament,parliaments,the,goods,spelled,out,in,on,a,Great Britain,UK,standard,zero,rated,fiscal,finance,revenue,consumption,services,vat returns,Making Tax Digital,Rachel Reeves,Keir Starmer
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RWW5R6 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,history,heritage,brands,firms,companies,trademarks,old,historic,products,product,cake,cakes,branding,tins,branded,tearoom,Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate,Group,Limited,lady,woman,feminine,tearooms,Yorkshire,Bettys Confectionery,by,post,HG1,1 Parliament St,Harrogate,England,UK,HG1 2QU
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RWDK0A - Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, also known as Bettys and Taylors Group Limited, is a family company based in Yorkshire, England. The company's brands are Bettys (with no apostrophe), Taylors of Harrogate (also with no possessive apostrophe), and Yorkshire Tea. Bettys Caf?? Tea Rooms are traditional tea rooms serving traditional meals with influences from both Switzerland and Yorkshire. Taylors of Harrogate was a family tea and coffee merchant company, founded in 1886, which blended Yorkshire Tea and Taylors of Harrogate Coffee
the owners of Bettys acquired Taylors in 1962. The chairman of the company is Clare Morrow, a former journalist.
In 1986 Bettys by Post was developed, initially a mail-order company, but later moving online. In 2001 Bettys opened a cookery school on the same site as their craft bakery, at Plumpton Park near Harrogate.
Bettys marked their 90th anniversary in July 2009 with afternoon tea of patisseries, fancies and cakes from the past served by waitresses dressed in period costumes
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,London,England,UK,the,prince,theatre,venue,halls,proms,BBC Proms,British,Kensington,SW7 2AP,SW7,in,seat,concerts,Ed Sheeran,seats,investors,icon,iconic,history,historic,heritage,seat-holders,selling,unwanted,tickets,touts,prices,pricing,parliament,bill
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2T35C20 - The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272.
Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres have appeared on its stage. It is the venue for the BBC Proms concerts, which have been held there every summer since 1941. It is host to more than 390 shows in the main auditorium annually, including classical, rock and pop concerts, ballet, opera, film screenings with live orchestral accompaniment, sports, awards ceremonies, school and community events, and charity performances and banquets. A further 400 events are held each year in the non-auditorium spaces. Over its 152 year history the hall has hosted people from various fields, including meetings held by suffragettes, speeches from Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein, fights by Lennox Lewis, exhibition bouts by Muhammad Ali, and concerts from regular performers at the venue such as Eric Clapton and Shirley Bassey.
The hall was originally to have been called the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, but the name was changed to the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences by Queen Victoria upon laying the Hall's foundation stone in 1867, in memory of her husband, Prince Albert, who had died six years earlier. It forms the practical part of a memorial to the Prince Consort
the decorative part is the Albert Memorial directly to the north in Kensington Gardens, now separated from the Hall by Kensington Gore.
The Hall was designed by civil engineers Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y. D. Scott of the Royal Engineers and built by Lucas Brothers. The designers were heavily influenced by ancient amphitheatres but had also been exposed to the ideas of Gottfried Semper while he was working at the South Kensington Museum
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,London,England,UK,the,prince,theatre,venue,halls,proms,BBC Proms,British,Kensington,SW7 2AP,SW7,in,seat,concerts,Ed Sheeran,seats,investors,icon,iconic,history,historic,heritage,seat-holders,selling,unwanted,tickets,touts,prices,pricing,parliament,bill
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2T35C24 - The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272.
Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres have appeared on its stage. It is the venue for the BBC Proms concerts, which have been held there every summer since 1941. It is host to more than 390 shows in the main auditorium annually, including classical, rock and pop concerts, ballet, opera, film screenings with live orchestral accompaniment, sports, awards ceremonies, school and community events, and charity performances and banquets. A further 400 events are held each year in the non-auditorium spaces. Over its 152 year history the hall has hosted people from various fields, including meetings held by suffragettes, speeches from Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein, fights by Lennox Lewis, exhibition bouts by Muhammad Ali, and concerts from regular performers at the venue such as Eric Clapton and Shirley Bassey.
The hall was originally to have been called the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, but the name was changed to the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences by Queen Victoria upon laying the Hall's foundation stone in 1867, in memory of her husband, Prince Albert, who had died six years earlier. It forms the practical part of a memorial to the Prince Consort
the decorative part is the Albert Memorial directly to the north in Kensington Gardens, now separated from the Hall by Kensington Gore.
The Hall was designed by civil engineers Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y. D. Scott of the Royal Engineers and built by Lucas Brothers. The designers were heavily influenced by ancient amphitheatres but had also been exposed to the ideas of Gottfried Semper while he was working at the South Kensington Museum
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cardiff,Wales,Cymru,UK,city,centre,night,statue,statues,dusk,evening,of,1897-1960,founder,founded,the,Welsh,famous,CF10,by,Queen St,CF10 2BU,MP,member,parliament,Minister of Health,most,influential,left-wing,socialist,Sylfaenydd y Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol,British,1987,sculptor,sculpture,bronze,icon
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RFER1H - A statue of Aneurin Bevan stands at the western end of Queen Street, Cardiff, Wales in recognition of Aneurin Bevan (1897 ? 1960) who is credited with founding the National Health Service (NHS). It has been described as perhaps one of Wales' most iconic statues
Aneurin Nye Bevan PC (15 November 1897 ? 6 July 1960) was a Welsh Labour Party politician, noted for tenure as Minister of Health in Clement Attlee's government in which he spearheaded the creation of the British National Health Service. He is also known for his wider contribution to the founding of the British welfare state.
Bevan is widely regarded as one of the most influential left-wing politicians in British history.
The statue was erected in 1987, designed by Robert Thomas.
Bevan became Labour MP for Ebbw Vale in 1929, subsequently an effective public speaker known for his left wing views and being temporarily expelled from the party on two occasions (one of them for his opposition to nuclear weapons). He was elected to the Labour's National Executive and became Minister for Health in the post-war Labour government, where he was behind the nationalisation of healthcare and founding of the NHS. As Minister for Housing he took steps to solve the post-war housing shortage. Bevan remained MP for Tredegar until his death in 1960.
The statue was commissioned by South Glamorgan County Council and designed by Welsh sculptor, Robert Thomas, who also created a number of other sculptures in Cardiff city centre. The statue was erected in 1987 at the far end of Queen Street. It is the only statue of Bevan (as of 2021) in the United Kingdom.
The figure of Bevan, wearing a suit and leaning forward in a typical pose, is cast in bronze and stands on top of a polished granite pedestal. The statue is 1.83 metres (6.0 ft) in height, while the pedestal is 2.14 metres (7.0 ft) high. In gold on the front of the pedestal are the words Founder of the National Health Service.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,WA16 6BQ,WA16,Tory,Tories,Conservatives,majority,election,elections,boundary,changes,wards,safe,seat,seats,Esther McVey,constituency,safe-seat,Esther Louise McVey,GB News,GBNews,Tatton Conservative Association,Tatton,Neil Hamilton,right,wing,far,parliament,Westminster,MP,MPs,House of Commons,01565632181,political parties,Kemi Badenoch
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2RAP38K - Tatton is a constituency in Cheshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Esther McVey, a Conservative.
Constituency profile
Tatton comprises the north-western part of the Cheshire East unitary authority, including the towns of Knutsford and Wilmslow, and a number of villages such as Alderley Edge, Chelford, Handforth and Mobberley, in Cheshire. It also covers a small, north-east, part of the Cheshire West and Chester unitary authority, including some of the outskirts of Northwich.
The seat largely comprises prosperous villages and small towns, many of which have high property prices, set amidst Cheshire countryside, featuring country parks, hills, recreation grounds and golf courses. The area was previously dominated by countryside
however, since the 1950s, it has developed a largely built-up, suburban character, being located on the fringes of Greater Manchester. The largest centres of population are Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Knutsford. Its proximity to Manchester means Tatton forms part of the commuter belt to the city.
The constituency was created for the 1983 general election following the major reorganisation of local authorities under the Local Government Act 1972, which came into effect on 1 April 1974. It was formed from parts of the seats of Runcorn, Cheadle, Northwich and Knutsford. The constituency is named after Tatton Park, a stately home in this area.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,British,English,Houses of Parliament,UK Parliament,London landmark,British politics,historic architecture,Gothic Revival,London skyline,Elizabeth Tower,Big Ben,Victoria Tower,Westminster Palace,Thames riverside,central London,government buildings,constitutional monarchy,tourism London,bridge over river,blue sky clouds,daytime,travel photography,documentary photography,editorial image,UK heritage,voting,history,heritage,architecture,union,flag,flying,flags,Nigel Farage,Reform
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2R55J7R - This image shows the Palace of Westminster, home to the UK Parliament, viewed from the River Thames in central London. The Gothic Revival complex dominates the skyline, with the Elizabeth Tower and the Victoria Tower rising above the riverside trees.
In the foreground, Lambeth Bridge spans the Thames, providing a strong visual lead-in across the river toward Westminster. The bridge connects the City of Westminster with Lambeth on the south bank and is a key transport crossing in this part of London.
The Palace of Westminster is one of the most recognisable symbols of British democracy and governance. Originally rebuilt in the 19th century after a catastrophic fire, it now serves as the meeting place for the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Its riverside setting reinforces the historic relationship between the Thames and the development of London as a political and administrative centre.
Photographed in daylight under a blue sky with scattered clouds, the image combines heritage architecture, river transport, and urban infrastructure. It is well suited to editorial use covering British politics, government institutions, London landmarks, heritage tourism, constitutional history, and the River Thames as a defining feature of the capital.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,bingo,casinos,slot machines,and,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,legislation,Westminster,government,parliament,Welsh,bank,Smartphone,Ladbrokes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEFP9 - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
Read more
A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,bingo,casinos,slot machines,and,lotteries,vulnerable,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,cost,Holyrood,parliament,legislation,Smartphone,Ladbrokes
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEFPC - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
Read more
A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,casinos,slot machines,and,lotteries,vulnerable,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,cost,Holyrood,parliament,legislation,Smartphone,excitement,live
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEGC2 - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
Read more
A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,bingo,casinos,slot machines,and,lotteries,vulnerable,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,cost,Holyrood,parliament,legislation,Smartphone,Bet365
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEGW4 - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
Read more
A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,bingo,casinos,slot machines,and,lotteries,vulnerable,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,cost,Holyrood,parliament,legislation,Smartphone,Paddy Power
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEH0G - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
Read more
A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,centre,at,evening,WA1,the,lodged,here,lodging,now,timber,framed,Indian,restaurant,Tudor,1599-1658,following victories at,Preston,Winwick,&,logged by this cottage on 20th August 1648,From where he sent his dispatches to parliament,to report his victories,against king Charles Army,Roundhead,Church Street,Church St,Cromwells,16th century,1600,history,historic,English Civil War
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PGRW6T - The Tudor building on Church Street, Warrington is one of the town's oldest and most famous landmarks.
Here, we take a look at its centuries of fascinating history.
The grade two-listed building now houses an Indian restaurant ? aptly named the Cottage ? which opened following a lengthy, National Trust approved renovation of the premises in the early noughties.
Whilst frequently referred to as Cromwell's Cottage, Oliver Cromwell is only thought to have stayed the night at the now demolished General Wolf close by on August 20, 1648.
However, the cottage is where he sent dispatches proclaiming victories over Scottish Royalists during battles at Preston, Winwick and Warrington itself.
Today, a plaque commemorates that fact ? with Cromwell's victory at the Battle of Winwick Pass leading to the surrender of Scots forces on August 25.
The defeat of Royalist armies in the north of England ultimately hastened the end of the second English Civil War, and led to the execution of Charles I in January 1649.
It is believed that the cottage dates back to roughly the 16th century, according to a 2007 Warrington Borough Council report ? which states that the building was constructed in a ?late medieval style' after the road's original middle-age structures were destroyed.
Similar characteristics can be attributed to the other Tudor cottages on Church Street, with the nearby Bull's Head and Marquis of Granby pubs remaining as the street's oldest surviving buildings.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,centre,at,evening,WA1,the,lodged,here,lodging,now,timber,framed,Indian,restaurant,Tudor,1599-1658,following victories at,Preston,Winwick,&,logged by this cottage on 20th August 1648,From where he sent his dispatches to parliament,to report his victories,against king Charles Army,Roundhead,Church Street,Church St,Cromwells,16th century,1600,history,historic,English Civil War
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PGT8YE - The Tudor building on Church Street, Warrington is one of the town's oldest and most famous landmarks.
Here, we take a look at its centuries of fascinating history.
The grade two-listed building now houses an Indian restaurant ? aptly named the Cottage ? which opened following a lengthy, National Trust approved renovation of the premises in the early noughties.
Whilst frequently referred to as Cromwell's Cottage, Oliver Cromwell is only thought to have stayed the night at the now demolished General Wolf close by on August 20, 1648.
However, the cottage is where he sent dispatches proclaiming victories over Scottish Royalists during battles at Preston, Winwick and Warrington itself.
Today, a plaque commemorates that fact ? with Cromwell's victory at the Battle of Winwick Pass leading to the surrender of Scots forces on August 25.
The defeat of Royalist armies in the north of England ultimately hastened the end of the second English Civil War, and led to the execution of Charles I in January 1649.
It is believed that the cottage dates back to roughly the 16th century, according to a 2007 Warrington Borough Council report ? which states that the building was constructed in a ?late medieval style' after the road's original middle-age structures were destroyed.
Similar characteristics can be attributed to the other Tudor cottages on Church Street, with the nearby Bull's Head and Marquis of Granby pubs remaining as the street's oldest surviving buildings.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Cheshire,England,UK,centre,at,evening,WA1,the,lodged,here,lodging,now,timber,framed,Indian,restaurant,Tudor,1599-1658,following victories at,Preston,Winwick,&,logged by this cottage on 20th August 1648,From where he sent his dispatches to parliament,to report his victories,against king Charles Army,Roundhead,Church Street,Church St,Cromwells,16th century,1600,history,historic,English Civil War
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PGT8YP - The Tudor building on Church Street, Warrington is one of the town's oldest and most famous landmarks.
Here, we take a look at its centuries of fascinating history.
The grade two-listed building now houses an Indian restaurant ? aptly named the Cottage ? which opened following a lengthy, National Trust approved renovation of the premises in the early noughties.
Whilst frequently referred to as Cromwell's Cottage, Oliver Cromwell is only thought to have stayed the night at the now demolished General Wolf close by on August 20, 1648.
However, the cottage is where he sent dispatches proclaiming victories over Scottish Royalists during battles at Preston, Winwick and Warrington itself.
Today, a plaque commemorates that fact ? with Cromwell's victory at the Battle of Winwick Pass leading to the surrender of Scots forces on August 25.
The defeat of Royalist armies in the north of England ultimately hastened the end of the second English Civil War, and led to the execution of Charles I in January 1649.
It is believed that the cottage dates back to roughly the 16th century, according to a 2007 Warrington Borough Council report ? which states that the building was constructed in a ?late medieval style' after the road's original middle-age structures were destroyed.
Similar characteristics can be attributed to the other Tudor cottages on Church Street, with the nearby Bull's Head and Marquis of Granby pubs remaining as the street's oldest surviving buildings.
-and-Lymm-(to-the-right)-villages--Warrington--Cheshire--England--UK--WA4-1NN-2KG46KA.jpg)
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,signs,ward,WA4,unitary authority,Warrington,Cheshire,WA4 1NN,road,roads,route,routes,congestion,local,travel,jam,delays,delay,queue,commission,voters,removed,elect,election,MP,Tatton,electoral,map,Thelwall,consultation,parliament,borough,council,Gropenhale
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2KG46KA - Lymm voters set to be removed from Warrington election map
Voters in Lymm will no longer elect an MP for Warrington should a new scheme be approved.
But revised proposals for new electoral boundaries will mean residents of Thelwall will still be in the Warrington South constituency.
The Boundary Commission is currently reviewing all boundaries across the country.
Its initial suggestion was that Lymm and Thelwall move to the Tatton ward covering Knutsford and other parts of Cheshire.
However following a long consultation period, a final plan has been revealed. It means Lymm will still be moved from Warrington South to Tatton on the electoral map.
Thelwall will stay in Warrington South, where Conservative Andy Carter is currently MP.
With an electorate of 86,422, the number of voters in Warrington South is considerably above the permitted electorate range.
A new month-look consultation will now take place before a final report is sent to Parliament to consider in the summer.
Tim Bowden, Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said: Today's publication is the culmination of months of analysis and we have revised nearly half of our initial proposals based on what people have told us. We now believe we are close to the best map of constituencies that can be achieved under the rules we are working to.
However, we still want people to tell us what they think of this latest map before we submit our final recommendations to Parliament next year. This is our final consultation and I encourage you to participate in the 2023 Boundary Review.
Objections were received about Lymm no longer being included in a Warrington constituency but also 'appreciable support' for the proposals.
Andy Carter provided evidence that 'Thelwall is an integral part of central Warrington, and has limited connections or community ties with Lymm, despite parts being in the same ward'.
He proposed that the Lymm North & Thelwall ward be split in order to retain more electors
Description
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Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K967K5 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Gloucestershire,England,UK,lucky,casino,FOBT,FOBTS,gamble,addiction,game,gaming,machines,GL50,GL50 3HF,260-264 High Street,parliament,parliamentary,review,addicted,addict,to,Peers for Gambling Reform,gambling,reform,bill,bills,slot,slots,machine,Be Lucky,BeLucky,logo,brand,money laundering
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M6W9G6 -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Yorkshire,England,UK,LS24 9AP,LS24,17,high St,North Yorkshire,member of parliament,MP,for,offices,office,at,Selby and Ainsty,Selby,Ainsty,Westminster,elected,general election,2010,union flag,falg,union jack,window,UKIP,Tories,Selfservative,Conservatives,poll,polling,general,local,election
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2K3JX8G -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,affordable,Social housing,social,socialhousing,property,cheap,homeless,people,Edinburgh,Holyrood,parliament,planning,Monopoly,sterling,houses,flats,house,flat,bank,Clydesdale,Royal,of,issue,association,council,rent,control,caps,capped,low,policy,controls,on,crisis,shortfall,cost of living
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JY557T -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Blackpool,Lancs,Lancashire,England,UK,street,centre,FY1,paper,back,town,graffiti,Boris Johnson,Boris,has,image,printed,Deansgate,FY1 1BN,resign,resigned,MP,PM,Spaffer,Johnson,BoJo,Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson,Alexander,de,Pfeffel,PartyGate,No10,parties,disgraced,Member of Parliament,Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JRFF5R -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,falgs,flagpoles,flagpole,summer,blue,sky,skies,of,flying,London,W1,view,views,Big Ben,clock,and,house,houses of parliament,from,HOC,HOL,panorama,wide,image,tourist,tourism,attraction,evening,building,buildings architecture,colour,colourful,color,colorful
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JJEPMG - Parliament Square is a square at the northwest end of the Palace of Westminster in the City of Westminster in central London. Laid out in the 19th century, it features a large open green area in the centre with trees to its west, and it contains twelve statues of statesmen and other notable individuals.
As well as being one of London's main tourist attractions, it is also the place where many demonstrations and protests have been held. The square is overlooked by various official buildings: legislature to the east (in the Houses of Parliament), executive offices to the north (on Whitehall), the judiciary to the west (the Supreme Court), and the church to the south (with Westminster Abbey).
Location
Buildings looking upon the square include the churches Westminster Abbey and St Margaret's, Westminster, the Middlesex Guildhall which is the seat of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Government Offices Great George Street serving HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs, and Portcullis House.
Roads that branch off the Parliament Square are St Margaret Street (towards Millbank), Broad Sanctuary (towards Victoria Street), Great George Street (towards Birdcage Walk), Parliament Street (leading into Whitehall) and Bridge Street (leading onto Westminster Bridge)
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,icon,iconic,palace,of,sign,Bigben,clock,time,architecture,building,renovated,London,parliament,house of commons,house of lords,HOC,HOL,colouring,hands,conservation,renovate,Great,Britain,political,parties,party,MPs,Members of,transport,expense,tube,landmark,history,Keir Starmer,Nigel Farage
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JJG0EM - The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The Electoral Commission's Register of Political Parties lists the details of political parties registered to fight elections in the United Kingdom, including their registered name. These include:
Conservative and Unionist Party,Labour,Liberal Democrats,Scottish National Party,DUP Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Fein,Plaid Cymru,The Greens
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England, and the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower. The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style. When completed in 1859, its clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. The tower stands 316 feet (96 m) tall, and the climb from ground level to the belfry is 334 steps. Its base is square, measuring 40 feet (12 m) on each side. Dials of the clock are 22.5 feet (6.9 m) in diameter. All four nations of the UK are represented on the tower on shields featuring a rose for England, thistle for Scotland, shamrock for Ireland, and leek for Wales.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,England,UK,icon,iconic,palace,of,sign,clock,time,architecture,building,renovated,Houses of Parliament,London,parliament,house of commons,house of lords,HOC,HOL,colouring,hands,conservation,renovate,Great,Britain,political,parties,party,MPs,Members of,metro,historic,Gothic Revival style,Keir Starmer,Nigel Farage
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JJG0EN - The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Informally known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London, England.
Its name, which derives from the neighbouring Westminster Abbey, may refer to several historic structures but most often: the Old Palace, a medieval building-complex largely destroyed by fire in 1834, or its replacement, the New Palace that stands today. The palace is owned by the Crown. Committees appointed by both houses manage the building and report to the Speaker of the House of Commons and to the Lord Speaker.
In the subsequent competition for the reconstruction of the Palace, the architect Charles Barry won with a design for new buildings in the Gothic Revival style, specifically inspired by the English Perpendicular Gothic style of the 14th?16th centuries.
Part of the New Palace's area of 3.24 hectares (8 acres) was reclaimed from the River Thames, which is the setting of its nearly 300-metre long (980 ft) fa??ade,called the River Front
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England, and the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower. The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style. When completed in 1859, its clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. The tower stands 316 feet (96 m) tall, and the climb from ground level to the belfry is 334 steps. Its base is square, measuring 40 feet (12 m) on each side. Dials of the clock are 22.5 feet (6.9 m) in diameter. All four nations of the UK
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,London,Westminster,England,UK,GB,Great British,flags,United Kingdom,flies,flying,outside,government,dept,departments,department,patriotic,patriotism,flag waving,flagwaving,British,empire,Great Britain,offices,home office,ornate,history,historic,architecture,flag pole,flagpole,the,parliament,administration
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M07A7Y - Whitehall is a road and area in the City of Westminster, Central London. The road forms the first part of the A3212 road from Trafalgar Square to Chelsea. It is the main thoroughfare running south from Trafalgar Square towards Parliament Square. The street is recognised as the centre of the Government of the United Kingdom and is lined with numerous departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, Horse Guards and the Cabinet Office. Consequently, the name Whitehall is used as a metonym for the British civil service and government, and as the geographic name for the surrounding area.
The name was taken from the Palace of Whitehall that was the residence of Kings Henry VIII through to William III, before its destruction by fire in 1698
only the Banqueting House has survived. Whitehall was originally a wide road that led to the front of the palace
the route to the south was widened in the 18th century following the destruction of the palace.
As well as government buildings, the street is known for its memorial statues and monuments, including the UK's primary war memorial, the Cenotaph. South of the Cenotaph the thoroughfare becomes Parliament Street.
The name Whitehall was used for several buildings in the Tudor period. It either referred to a building made of light stone, or as a general term for any festival building. This included the Royal Palace of Whitehall, which in turn gave its name to the street
Numerous London bus routes run along Whitehall, including 12, 24, 88, 159 and 453
Downing Street leads off the south-west end of Whitehall, just above Parliament Street. It was named after Sir George Downing, who built a row of houses along the street around 1680 leading west from Whitehall.
Richmond House, at No. 79, has held the Department of Health since 1987. The building is scheduled to be a temporary debating chamber from 2025, while the Houses of Parliament undergo a refurbishment and modernisation programme
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,London,England,UK,SW1A,70,PMs,office,offices,parliament,British,Labour,MP,MPs,Tories,Cabinet,committees,committee,His Majestys,departments,department,delivery,home,civil,service,Independent,Parliamentary,Standards,Authority,government,Commercial Function,Commercial Organisation,digital,data and technology,DDaT,function,work
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M07A9B -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,London,England,UK,BigBen,clock,tower,HOC,HOL,Houses,British,GB,Great,Britain,seat,power,time,face,iconic,London Bus,icons,icon,flags,flag,red,SW1,commonwealth,Victorian,gothic,bong,bongs,evening,Elizabeth Tower,Houses of Parliament clock,London landmark,iconic London clock,British parliament tower,timekeeping symbol
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2M0MBAT - This image shows the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster in London, England, featuring the iconic clock faces often referred to collectively as Big Ben. Strictly, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell housed within the tower, while the structure itself has officially been known as the Elizabeth Tower since 2012, renamed in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. The close-up view highlights the ornate Gothic Revival detailing and the distinctive clock face that has become one of the most recognisable symbols of the United Kingdom.
The tower was completed in 1859 as part of Charles Barry's redesign of the Palace of Westminster, with architectural detailing by Augustus Pugin. Rising over 96 metres above the Thames, the Elizabeth Tower has played a central role in British public life, with its clock and chimes marking time for Parliament and the nation. The clock mechanism is renowned for its accuracy and durability, remaining operational through wars, political change, and extensive restoration.
The image conveys themes of British heritage, governance, architecture, and national identity. It is suitable for editorial and commercial use relating to London landmarks, political institutions, historic architecture, travel and tourism, timekeeping, and the visual identity of the United Kingdom.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Wigan & Leigh Council,Greater Manchester,England,Lancs,Lancashire,tories,red wall,constituency,office,Leigh,Wigan,for,summer,37-39,UK,WN7,WN7 1BY,Selfservatives,blue,redwall,selfservative,selfservatives,sunny,blue sky,blue skies,official,offices,ward,wards,Grundy,member,of,Westminster,parliament,candidate
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2JH0714 - James Nelson Grundy (born 8 December 1978) is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Leigh since 2019.
Early life
Grundy was born in Warrington, and raised on the family farm in Lowton, where he still resides. Grundy was also educated locally, having attended both Lowton St Mary's Primary School and Lowton High School.
Political career
Grundy was elected to represent the Lowton East ward on Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council as a councillor in the 2008 local elections. He was elected to Parliament at the 2019 general election, taking the seat from Labour's Jo Platt. This made Grundy the first ever Conservative MP to represent the Leigh constituency since its creation.
Grundy's general election campaign pledges included respecting Leigh's vote to leave the EU in 2016
fighting for vital local transport infrastructure, such as the completion of the Atherleigh Way Bypass, and the re-opening of Golborne and Kenyon Junction stations
and securing investment for Leigh's town centres.
In 2020, Grundy put forward two bids to the Government's Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund, progressing his pledge to get Kenyon Junction and Golborne Station reopened, following their closure after the Beeching Report. The outcome of these bids was due to be announced in autumn 2020.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,HotpixUK,Merseyside,North West England,England,UK,building site,at,Tower block,block,tower,homes,flat,flats,building,buildings,development,developments,crane,cranes,scaffold,scaffolding,site,sites,luxury,high,specification,apartments,and,market-leading,on-site,amenities,real estate,Parliament Square,Parliament Sq,L1,L1 0BS
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2CC79NG -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,train,public transport,Waverley,station,railway,Scotland,UK,platform,rail,Edinburgh,terminate,rolling stock,rail passengers,Scottish Government,Scottish Parliament,early,failing,privatised rail,substandard,renationalise,renationalisation,nationalise,running late,late trains,mismanagement,punctuality,cancellations,capacity,targets,fail,failing to achieve,breach level,SQUIRE targets,Dominic Booth,Abellio UK,Auld Reekie
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBDX - Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years early
Abellio ScotRail's contract to run train services in Scotland will end early, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has announced.
The Dutch firm has been running the franchise since 2015 but had faced criticism over cancellations and performance levels.
The contract, worth more than ?7bn over 10 years, was due to last until 2025.
But Mr Matheson said a so-called break clause would be used to end the franchise three years early, in 2022.
He told MSPs he was looking at other options for the future, including the franchise being run by the public sector.
What is the ScotRail franchise?
ScotRail operates about 2,400 train services a day, and covers all services in Scotland except those run by other operators which cross the border.
It is not responsible for the maintenance of the track, which falls under Network Rail nor the operation of the main rail routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London.
There had been political pressure on ministers over the service with complaints over a high number of cancellations, overcrowding and the cost of tickets.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson said a proposed increase in government subsidy for the service would not deliver sufficient benefits to passengers or the economy.
Image caption Mr Matheson told the Scottish parliament a break clause will be used to end the franchise early
Mr Matheson said Abellio had successes and challenges over the first five years of the ScotRail franchise, but that his decision was the right one for passengers, communities, the economy and taxpayers.
He confirmed the contract would now run until 31 March, 2022.
It is of course necessary to plan for the future provision of ScotRail services and I can confirm that work is already under way to examine the options open to the Scottish ministers after the current contract comes to an end, he said.
The franchise system for Britain's railways is grinding to a halt.
Description
Keywords: @HotpixUK,public transport,railway,rail,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,platform,station,train,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Waverley,terminate,rolling stock,rail passengers,Scottish Government,Scottish Parliament,early,failing,privatised rail,substandard,renationalise,renationalisation,nationalise,running late,late trains,mismanagement,punctuality,cancellations,capacity,targets,fail,failing to achieve,breach level,SQUIRE targets,Dominic Booth,Abellio UK,RMT
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBE2 - Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years early
Abellio ScotRail's contract to run train services in Scotland will end early, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has announced.
The Dutch firm has been running the franchise since 2015 but had faced criticism over cancellations and performance levels.
The contract, worth more than ?7bn over 10 years, was due to last until 2025.
But Mr Matheson said a so-called break clause would be used to end the franchise three years early, in 2022.
He told MSPs he was looking at other options for the future, including the franchise being run by the public sector.
What is the ScotRail franchise?
ScotRail operates about 2,400 train services a day, and covers all services in Scotland except those run by other operators which cross the border.
It is not responsible for the maintenance of the track, which falls under Network Rail nor the operation of the main rail routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London.
There had been political pressure on ministers over the service with complaints over a high number of cancellations, overcrowding and the cost of tickets.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson said a proposed increase in government subsidy for the service would not deliver sufficient benefits to passengers or the economy.
Image caption Mr Matheson told the Scottish parliament a break clause will be used to end the franchise early
Mr Matheson said Abellio had successes and challenges over the first five years of the ScotRail franchise, but that his decision was the right one for passengers, communities, the economy and taxpayers.
He confirmed the contract would now run until 31 March, 2022.
It is of course necessary to plan for the future provision of ScotRail services and I can confirm that work is already under way to examine the options open to the Scottish ministers after the current contract comes to an end, he said.
The franchise system for Britain's railways is grinding to a halt.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,December 2019,winter,2019,polls,polling,politics,political,party,election,parliament,atlas,letters,letters on a map,scrabble letters,government,GotonySmith,Westminster election,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,spelling,Johnocchio,Nigel Farage,ReformUK
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE34GA -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,December 2019,Dec 2019,UK,winter,2019,polls,polling,politics,political,party,Westminster,election,parliament,map,atlas,letters,letters on map,letters on a map,scrabble letters,government,GotonySmith,Westminster election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,spelling
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE34GD -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,December 2019,Dec 2019,UK,winter,2019,polls,polling,politics,political,party,election,parliament,map,atlas,letters,letters on map,letters on a map,scrabble letters,GotonySmith,Westminster election,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,spelling
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE34GF -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,December 2019,Dec 2019,UK,winter,2019,polls,politics,political,party,Westminster,election,parliament,map,atlas,letters,letters on map,letters on a map,scrabble letters,government,GotonySmith,Westminster election,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE34GK -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,December 2019,Dec 2019,UK,winter,2019,polls,polling,political,party,Westminster election,Westminster,parliament,GotonySmith,government,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,Johnocchio
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE34KA -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,December 2019,Dec 2019,UK,winter,2019,polls,polling,politics,political,party,election,parliament,map,atlas,letters,letters on map,letters on a map,scrabble letters,GotonySmith,Westminster election,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,spelt,spelled,Marginal Seats,ReformUK
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE34KC -
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,December 2019,Dec 2019,UK,winter,2019,polls,polling,politics,political,party,Westminster,election,parliament,map,atlas,letters,letters on map,letters on a map,scrabble letters,government,GotonySmith,Westminster election,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,leaders,parties,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,Johnocchio,ReformUK,Nigel Farage
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE34KE -
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Westminster,party,polls,Dec 2019,GoTonySmith,December 2019,UK,polling,Westminster election,election,parliament,politics,winter,2019,political,government,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE3688 -
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Westminster,party,polls,Dec 2019,GoTonySmith,December 2019,UK,polling,Westminster election,election,parliament,winter,2019,political,government,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,Johnocchio
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE36C8 -
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Westminster,party,polls,Dec 2019,GoTonySmith,December 2019,UK,polling,Westminster election,election,parliament,politics,winter,2019,political,government,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,Johnocchio
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE36CN -
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Westminster,party,polls,Dec 2019,GoTonySmith,December 2019,UK,Westminster election,election,parliament,politics,winter,2019,political,government,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE36D1 -
Description
Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Westminster,party,polls,Dec 2019,GoTonySmith,December 2019,UK,Westminster election,election,parliament,politics,winter,2019,political,government,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,Fishing industry
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE36DK -
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Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Westminster,party,polls,Dec 2019,GoTonySmith,December 2019,UK,polling,Westminster election,election,parliament,politics,winter,2019,political,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,regional
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE36G9 -
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Keywords: GotonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,Westminster,party,polls,Dec 2019,GoTonySmith,December 2019,UK,polling,Westminster election,election,parliament,politics,winter,2019,political,scrabble letters,letters,letters on map,map,letters on a map,atlas,Scrabble letters on a UK map - General Election,elections,party political,leaders,parties,claims,doubts,promises,belief,Labour,Tory,Conservative,LibDem,Brexit,SNP,Plaid Cymru,regional
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AE36GN -
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Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Somerset,SDC,Sedgemoor,Sedgemoor District Council,South West England,England,UK,South West,town,TA6,The Spirit of Carnival,art,artwork,Spirit of Carnival statue Bridgwater,sculptor David Faulks,sculptor,David Faulks,2005,Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival,Bridgwater Carnival,400th anniversary,Gunpowder Plot,parliament,lighted Bridgwater squib,squib cosh,blow up the Houses of Parliament,blow up,the Houses of Parliament,TA6 3BY,Gunpowder Plotter Guy Fawkes,Gunpowder plot,Plotter,Guy Fawkes,Bridgwater,dusk,night,night time
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AFMK0K - Spirit of Carnival statue, Bridgwater
The town centre bank branch on the left is at 9 York Buildings, Cornhill, Bridgwater.
The work of sculptor David Faulks, the statue on the right was erected in 2005 by Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival to mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. It depicts a masquerader dressed in early 17th century clothing, holding aloft a lighted Bridgwater squib attached to a squib cosh. For centuries on November 5th, residents of Bridgwater gathered around a bonfire located here in Cornhill to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
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Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Somerset,SDC,Sedgemoor,Sedgemoor District Council,South West England,England,UK,South West,town,TA6,The Spirit of Carnival,art,artwork,Spirit of Carnival statue Bridgwater,sculptor David Faulks,sculptor,David Faulks,2005,Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival,Bridgwater Carnival,400th anniversary,Gunpowder Plot,parliament,lighted Bridgwater squib,squib cosh,blow up the Houses of Parliament,blow up,the Houses of Parliament,TA6 3BY,Gunpowder Plotter Guy Fawkes,Gunpowder plot,Plotter,Guy Fawkes,Bridgwater,dusk,night,night time
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AFMK0X - Spirit of Carnival statue, Bridgwater
The town centre bank branch on the left is at 9 York Buildings, Cornhill, Bridgwater.
The work of sculptor David Faulks, the statue on the right was erected in 2005 by Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival to mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. It depicts a masquerader dressed in early 17th century clothing, holding aloft a lighted Bridgwater squib attached to a squib cosh. For centuries on November 5th, residents of Bridgwater gathered around a bonfire located here in Cornhill to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Somerset,SDC,Sedgemoor,Sedgemoor District Council,South West England,England,UK,South West,town,The Spirit of Carnival,art,artwork,TA6,Spirit of Carnival statue Bridgwater,sculptor David Faulks,sculptor,David Faulks,2005,Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival,Bridgwater Carnival,400th anniversary,Gunpowder Plot,parliament,lighted Bridgwater squib,squib cosh,blow up the Houses of Parliament,blow up,the Houses of Parliament,TA6 3BY,Gunpowder Plotter Guy Fawkes,Gunpowder plot,Plotter,Guy Fawkes,Bridgwater,dusk,night,night time
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AFMKCX - Spirit of Carnival statue, Bridgwater
The town centre bank branch on the left is at 9 York Buildings, Cornhill, Bridgwater.
The work of sculptor David Faulks, the statue on the right was erected in 2005 by Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival to mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. It depicts a masquerader dressed in early 17th century clothing, holding aloft a lighted Bridgwater squib attached to a squib cosh. For centuries on November 5th, residents of Bridgwater gathered around a bonfire located here in Cornhill to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Bridgwater,Somerset,SDC,Sedgemoor,Sedgemoor District Council,South West England,England,UK,South West,town,TA6,artwork,sculptor David Faulks,David Faulks,Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival,Bridgwater Carnival,400th anniversary,2005,sculptor,Spirit of Carnival statue Bridgwater,The Spirit of Carnival,art,Plotter,Gunpowder Plotter Guy Fawkes,the Houses of Parliament,blow up the Houses of Parliament,lighted Bridgwater squib,Gunpowder Plot,parliament,squib cosh,blow up,TA6 3BY,Gunpowder plot,Guy Fawkes,squibbing
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AFMJTW - Spirit of Carnival statue, Bridgwater
The town centre bank branch on the left is at 9 York Buildings, Cornhill, Bridgwater.
The work of sculptor David Faulks, the statue on the right was erected in 2005 by Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival to mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. It depicts a masquerader dressed in early 17th century clothing, holding aloft a lighted Bridgwater squib attached to a squib cosh. For centuries on November 5th, residents of Bridgwater gathered around a bonfire located here in Cornhill to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Somerset,SDC,Sedgemoor,Sedgemoor District Council,South West England,England,UK,South West,town,TA6,The Spirit of Carnival,art,artwork,sculptor David Faulks,sculptor,David Faulks,2005,Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival,Bridgwater Carnival,400th anniversary,Gunpowder Plot,parliament,lighted Bridgwater squib,squib cosh,blow up the Houses of Parliament,blow up,the Houses of Parliament,TA6 3BY,Gunpowder Plotter Guy Fawkes,Gunpowder plot,Plotter,Guy Fawkes,Bridgwater,woke,culture wars,war on woke
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AFMKD0 - Spirit of Carnival statue, Bridgwater
The town centre bank branch on the left is at 9 York Buildings, Cornhill, Bridgwater.
The work of sculptor David Faulks, the statue on the right was erected in 2005 by Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival to mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. It depicts a masquerader dressed in early 17th century clothing, holding aloft a lighted Bridgwater squib attached to a squib cosh. For centuries on November 5th, residents of Bridgwater gathered around a bonfire located here in Cornhill to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,UK,Great Britain,British,NI,Ireland,Ulster,community,politics,politicians,Stormont Estate,devolved,legislature,castle,Arnold Thornely,architect,building,baronial,castellated,house,listed,Greek classical,style,road,up,home rule,BT4,Stormont Ct,BT4 3LP,sunny,summer,A20,Upper Newtownards Road,parliament,terrorism threat level,raised,anniversary,1932
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PM649H - Parliament Buildings, often referred to as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont Estate area of Belfast, is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for the region. The purpose-built building, designed by Arnold Thornely, and constructed by Stewart & Partners, was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), in 1932.
The Executive or government is located at Stormont Castle. In March 1987, the main Parliament Building became a Grade A Listed building.
The scene at Stormont in Belfast, for the opening of the new Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales 16 November 1932.
The need for a separate parliament building for Northern Ireland emerged with the creation of the Northern Ireland Home Rule region within Ulster in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Pending the construction of the new building, the new Parliament of Northern Ireland met in two locations
one in Belfast City Hall, where the state opening of the first Parliament by King George V took place on 22 June 1921, and the other in the nearby Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Assembly's College
After the shelving of plans to build a Ministerial Building', the headquarters of government was in effect Stormont Castle, a baronial castellated house in the grounds and which was originally meant to have been demolished to make way for the Ministerial Building. Stormont Castle served as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and was the meeting place for the Northern Ireland Cabinet
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,UK,Great Britain,British,NI,Ireland,Ulster,community,politics,politicians,Stormont Estate,devolved,legislature,castle,Arnold Thornely,architect,building,baronial,castellated,house,listed,Greek classical,style,road,up,home rule,BT4,Stormont Ct,BT4 3LP,sunny,summer,A20,Upper Newtownards Road,parliament,terrorism threat level,raised,anniversary,historic,history
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PM64E2 - Parliament Buildings, often referred to as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont Estate area of Belfast, is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for the region. The purpose-built building, designed by Arnold Thornely, and constructed by Stewart & Partners, was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), in 1932.
The Executive or government is located at Stormont Castle. In March 1987, the main Parliament Building became a Grade A Listed building.
The scene at Stormont in Belfast, for the opening of the new Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales 16 November 1932.
The need for a separate parliament building for Northern Ireland emerged with the creation of the Northern Ireland Home Rule region within Ulster in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Pending the construction of the new building, the new Parliament of Northern Ireland met in two locations
one in Belfast City Hall, where the state opening of the first Parliament by King George V took place on 22 June 1921, and the other in the nearby Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Assembly's College
After the shelving of plans to build a Ministerial Building', the headquarters of government was in effect Stormont Castle, a baronial castellated house in the grounds and which was originally meant to have been demolished to make way for the Ministerial Building. Stormont Castle served as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and was the meeting place for the Northern Ireland Cabinet
Description
Keywords: SW,south,west,Bridgewater,town,market,levels,politically,tendency,radicals,Bridgwater,Guy,Fawkes,Carnival,movie,ban,slavery,slave,trade,Taunton,Canal,forks,Somerset Levels,Battle of Sedgemoor,Guy Fawkes,Carnival Flag,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,problem,with,problem with,issue with,Bonfire,night,parliament,westminster,gunpowder,plot,sedition,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,Bonfire Night,gunpowder plot
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H9PM20 - Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 35,886.
Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country
to the north are the Mendips and to the west the Quantock hills. The town lies along both sides of the River Parrett, 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth, has been a major port and trading centre and maintains a large industrial base. It is linked to Taunton by the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. Bridgwater is between two junctions of the M5 motorway and Bridgwater railway station is on the main railway line between Bristol and Taunton.
Historically, the town had a politically radical tendency. The Battle of Sedgemoor, where the Monmouth Rebellion was finally crushed in 1685, was fought nearby. Notable buildings include the Church of St Mary and the house in Blake Street, largely restored, which was the birthplace of Admiral Blake in 1598, and is now the Blake Museum. The town has an arts centre and plays host to the annual Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival.
Description
Keywords: train,line,track,platform,Scotrail,Scot,rail,Abellio,transport,co,company,Ned,Nedrailways,privatised,subsidy,subsidised,network,Dutch,national,operator,Nederlandse,Spoorwegen,Serco-Abellio,Serco,GB,Great,Britain,British,BR,Station Road,Annan,Dumfries and Galloway,Scotland,UK,Humza,Yousaf,GoTonySmith,anainn,gaelic,national,cycle,network,interchange,Glasgow,Carlisle,Abelio,poor,service,battle,with,Scotish,Scottish,Parliament,Govt,Government,political,pressure,mounts,2025,Alba,Abellio,transport,operator,Dutch,company,performance,late,fined,delay,delays,regulation,strip,viable,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Franchise Battle,political pressure,transport operator Abellio,Humza Yousaf,Rail passengers,public sector bid
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RM6 - Telegraph News from Nov 2016 - Abellio braces for Scotrail franchise battle as political pressure mounts
Transport operator Abellio is bracing for a battle with the Scottish Government to hold on to its Scotrail franchise as fresh data showed the number of delayed trains is increasing.
The Dutch company has admitted that its performance is not good enough but said after a scathing attack at the weekend from the Scottish Government that it would have no problem competing with a public-sector bidder for Scotrail.
Abellio won the franchise to run Scotland's train services until 2025 two years ago, but has since been fined ?438,000 due to continued delays on its trains.
More info, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/21/abellio-braces-for-scotrail-franchise-battle-as-political-pressu/
Description
Keywords: train,line,track,platform,Scotrail,Scot,rail,Abellio,transport,co,company,Ned,Nedrailways,privatised,subsidy,subsidised,network,Dutch,national,operator,Nederlandse,Spoorwegen,Serco-Abellio,Serco,GB,Great,Britain,British,BR,Station Road,Annan,Dumfries and Galloway,Scotland,UK,GoTonySmith,operated,by,Abelio,poor,service,battle,with,Scotish,Scottish,Parliament,Govt,Government,political,pressure,mounts,2025,Alba,Abellio,transport,operator,Dutch,company,performance,late,fined,delay,delays,regulation,strip,viable,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Franchise Battle,political pressure,transport operator Abellio,Humza Yousaf,Rail passengers,public sector bid
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RM8 - Telegraph News from Nov 2016 - Abellio braces for Scotrail franchise battle as political pressure mounts
Transport operator Abellio is bracing for a battle with the Scottish Government to hold on to its Scotrail franchise as fresh data showed the number of delayed trains is increasing.
The Dutch company has admitted that its performance is not good enough but said after a scathing attack at the weekend from the Scottish Government that it would have no problem competing with a public-sector bidder for Scotrail.
Abellio won the franchise to run Scotland's train services until 2025 two years ago, but has since been fined ?438,000 due to continued delays on its trains.
More info, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/21/abellio-braces-for-scotrail-franchise-battle-as-political-pressu/
Description
Keywords: train,line,track,platform,Scotrail,Scot,rail,Abellio,transport,co,company,Ned,Nedrailways,privatised,subsidy,subsidised,network,Dutch,national,operator,Nederlandse,Spoorwegen,Serco-Abellio,Serco,GB,Great,Britain,British,BR,Station Road,Annan,Dumfries and Galloway,Scotland,UK,GoTonySmith,Abelio,poor,service,battle,with,Scotish,Scottish,Parliament,Govt,Government,political,pressure,mounts,2025,Alba,Abellio,transport,operator,Dutch,company,performance,late,fined,delay,delays,regulation,strip,viable,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,rural,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Scotlands Railway,Franchise Battle,political pressure,transport operator Abellio,Humza Yousaf,Rail passengers,public sector bid
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RMB - Telegraph News from Nov 2016 - Abellio braces for Scotrail franchise battle as political pressure mounts
Transport operator Abellio is bracing for a battle with the Scottish Government to hold on to its Scotrail franchise as fresh data showed the number of delayed trains is increasing.
The Dutch company has admitted that its performance is not good enough but said after a scathing attack at the weekend from the Scottish Government that it would have no problem competing with a public-sector bidder for Scotrail.
Abellio won the franchise to run Scotland's train services until 2025 two years ago, but has since been fined ?438,000 due to continued delays on its trains.
More info, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/21/abellio-braces-for-scotrail-franchise-battle-as-political-pressu/
Description
Keywords: Jhoots Pharmacy is an independent,community pharmacy with branches nationwide retail Walsall,West Midlands for Jhoots pharmacy,England,UK,United,Kingdon,Black,Country,01215265555,building,construction,hire,crane,newbuild,growth,construction,chemists,shop,outlet,Gigaport,area,business,gotonysmith,Walsall,Advertiser,reported,on,the,ministers,visit,centre,center,PARLIAMENTARY,Under,Secretary,of,State,for,the,Department,of,Health,Earl,Howe,clinic,being,built,Manjit,Jhooty,managing,director,of,Jhoots,Pharmacy,Group,council,skyline,Jessup,Build,Develop,S.P.,Faizey,Chartered,Architects,local,authority,corridor,private,office,investment,enterprise,partnership,blackcountry,developing,a,vibrant,business,sector,Brum,greater,north,Birmingham,area,Black,Country,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Black Country,Walsall Black Country
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EBFWH7 - The Walsall Advertiser reported on the ministers visit to mark the start of the new build.
PARLIAMENTARY Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health, Earl Howe, has visited the site of a new pharmacy headquarters in Walsall.
Mr Howe has marked the commencement of work on the new ?3 million Jhoots Pharmacy headquarters in Walsall's Gigaport.
The new headquarters is set to create 31 jobs at the 20,000 sq ft complex.
Description
Keywords: Jhoots Pharmacy is an independent,England,UK,United,Kingdon,Black,Country,01215265555,building,construction,hire,crane,newbuild,growth,construction,chemists,shop,outlet,Gigaport,area,business,gotonysmith,Walsall,Advertiser,reported,on,the,ministers,visit,centre,center,PARLIAMENTARY,Under,Secretary,of,State,for,the,Department,of,Health,Earl,Howe,clinic,being,built,Manjit,Jhooty,managing,director,of,Jhoots,Pharmacy,Group,council,skyline,Jessup,Build,Develop,S.P.,Faizey,Chartered,Architects,local,authority,corridor,private,office,investment,enterprise,partnership,blackcountry,developing,a,vibrant,business,sector,Brum,greater,north,Birmingham,area
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EBFWH8 - The Walsall Advertiser reported on the ministers visit to mark the start of the new build.
PARLIAMENTARY Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health, Earl Howe, has visited the site of a new pharmacy headquarters in Walsall.
Mr Howe has marked the commencement of work on the new ?3 million Jhoots Pharmacy headquarters in Walsall's Gigaport.
The new headquarters is set to create 31 jobs at the 20,000 sq ft complex.
-in-Warrington--Cheshire--England--UK-ED9ETG.jpg)
Description
Keywords: Bridgefoot,Bridge foot,Bridge-foot,famous,historic,history,Warrington Academy,Warrington,Academy,Guardian,Newspaper,Guardian Newspaper,Cheshire,England,UK,Oliver Cromwell,military,political,figure,famous,town,WBC,borough,council,independent,puritan,religious,men,man,tourist,attraction,GoTonySmith,United,Kingdom,United Kingdom,GB,great,Britain,Great Britain,army,cheshire,civil,English Civil war,dawa,england,English,leader,lord,model,new,oliver,parliament,protector,statue,war,Member of Parliament,Parliament,MP,member,New Model Army,new,model,army,monument,outside,palace,of,Westminster,Palace of Westminster,Cromwells,troops,Cromwells Troops,public statues of Cromwell,public,statues,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED9ETG - Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 ? 3 September 1658) was an English military and political leader and later Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The Academy, a dissenters' institute where Joseph Priestley once taught. After being moved from their original location, the building now houses the offices of the local newspaper The Warrington Guardian. A statue of Oliver Cromwell stands in front.
-in-Warrington--Cheshire--England--UK-ED9ETH.jpg)
Description
Keywords: Bridgefoot,Bridge foot,Bridge-foot,famous,historic,history,Warrington Academy,Warrington,Academy,Guardian,Newspaper,Guardian Newspaper,Cheshire,England,UK,Oliver Cromwell,military,political,figure,famous,town,WBC,borough,council,independent,puritan,religious,men,man,tourist,attraction,GoTonySmith,United,Kingdom,United Kingdom,GB,great,Britain,Great Britain,army,cheshire,civil,English Civil war,dawa,england,English,leader,lord,model,new,oliver,parliament,protector,statue,war,Member of Parliament,Parliament,MP,member,New Model Army,new,model,army,monument,outside,palace,of,Westminster,Palace of Westminster,Cromwells,troops,Cromwells Troops,public statues of Cromwell,public,statues,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy ED9ETH - Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 ? 3 September 1658) was an English military and political leader and later Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The Academy, a dissenters' institute where Joseph Priestley once taught. After being moved from their original location, the building now houses the offices of the local newspaper The Warrington Guardian. A statue of Oliver Cromwell stands in front.
Description
Keywords: Scots,Scottish,Scotch,independance,independence,devolution,seperate,country,separate,nation,currency,sign,outside,a,window,shopwindow,city,tourist,tourism,parliament,gov,government,Holyrood,patriot,patriots,popular,souvenirs,souvenir,printed,items,from,Gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DDXRN6 -
Description
Keywords: say,failed,a,load,of,ball,satire,cross,independent,independant,proud,for,sale,gift,cheap,steal,vote,ballot,edinburgh,parliament,government,hollyrood,Holyrood,politic,politics,politicians,SNP,Scottish,National,Party,Great,Britain,GB,British,leaves,leaving,UK,Gotonysmith,the,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DDXRYM -
Description
Keywords: Royal,Mile,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,signage,parliament,SNP,choice,choices,arrow,on,path,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,or,castle,up,down,for,tourist,tourists,travel,signs,attraction,attractions,High Street,city,centre,old town,history,historic
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DED029 -
Description
Keywords: on,beermat,in,a,pub,Scottish,Scots,Scotland,mat,scene,CAMRA,public,house,bar,pure,enjoyment,alcohol,alcoholic,focus,DOF,depth,of,field,bottle,cool,bottled,drink,drinks,drinking,minimum,price,pricing,prices,unit,of,units,not,introduce,block,plans,Scotlands,supermarket,industry,legal,gotonysmith,EC,legal,opinions,opinion,restrict,Scottish,Parliament,in,May,2012,Scotch,Whisky,Association,SWA,and,two,other,trade,bodies,spiritsEUROPE,and,the,Comit??,Europ??en,des,Entreprises,Vins,which,represent,European,spirits,and,wine,producers,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8HD49 - Minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland.
Five European wine-producing nations are trying to block Scotland's plans for minimum alcohol pricing.
France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Bulgaria have said the policy is illegal, unfair and ineffective and could have a devastating impact on the wine and spirits industry.
They argue that it breaches European free trade law by discriminating against imported alcohol products.
The Scottish government insisted minimum pricing was perfectly legal.
The European Commission (EC) is currently considering the Scottish government's request to be granted an exemption from trade regulations to enact the minimum price law which was approved by the Scottish Parliament last year.
Description
Keywords: isle,Lewis,Isle Of Lewis,Stornoway,outer,Hebrides,Scotland,Port,harbour,dusk,dawn,evening,town,street,Cromwell,Murdo,Maclean,sons,limited,ltd,highlands,highland,scene,urban,UK,SNP,parliament,stornaway
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 8298101010 - 'View this whole set of away from home images here. If you do Twitter add me here.
Murdo Maclean and sons is Stornoway's premier department store. A kind of Outer Hebrides Jenners or Kendals, not yet swallowed up by the House of Fraser.
Locals tell me that a trip there was an experience as a child, maybe getting whipped up to the 1st floor for school shoes, sunday best or uniform. I have certainly taken a few shots of it over the years, its a Stornoway icon, (almost as famous as butchers Macleod &
MacleodsBlack Pudding or Irn Bru Sausages).
As you walk in there is bric-a-brac downstairs with soft furnishings at the rear. Upstairs are the wearables, shoes, clothes etc. I am told that they stock some quite posh stuff too. I did spot some people sporting Tommy Hilfiger tops in The Thai Cafe, although that might have been from a stall on Inverness Market. They did have mainland accents!
An on-line review I read said 'There\u2019s a nice selection of Posh womens hats and bags (Think weddings and church) and a range of womens wear and underwear which is mostly suited to the more mature lady but sometimes you can find a great modern \u201cyoung person\u201d piece'.
Here's a shameless plug for them
Murdo Maclean &
Sons Ltd
25 Cromwell Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2DD,
Tel: 01851 703416, Fax: 01851 706362
Stornoway was originally a Viking settlement its said and developed around its well sheltered natural harbour. Reflecting this, the name Stornoway itself is derived from 'Stj\u00f3rnav\u00e1gr', an Old Norse word for 'steering bay'.
Medieval development of the town was spurred by the construction of the original castle in the High Middle Ages by the Nicolson (or MacNicol) family, themselves of Viking descent. Infighting between rival clans continued throughout the Late Middle Ages and resisted an attempt by the then King of Scotland James VI to colonise Lewis in 1597.
The castle was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell's forces in the aftermath of his Scottish campaign in the mid 17th century, and the ownership of Stornoway - and by extension, Lewis - passed from the MacKenzies of Kintail through the Seaforth family and Sir James Matheson (and his descendants) to William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme. Lord Leverhulme finally gifted the town's parish to the Stornoway Trust, whose ownership remains to this day.
Thanks to BenFD for commenting:
The town hall clock of Stornoway
Chimes its message everyday
Heaven can't be far away
From lovely Stornoway.
I don't know if that rhyme reflects the Christian values of Lewis, but people do take the Sabbath seriously. Only recently were Sunday newspapers available, Sunday boat sailings and flights were resisted.
The Christian religion has deep roots in the Western Isles, but owing mainly to the different allegiances of the clans in the past, the people in the northern islands (Lewis, Harris, North Uist) have historically been predominantly Protestant, and those of the southern islands (Benbecula, South Uist, Barra) predominantly Roman Catholic. There are also small Episcopalian congregations in Lewis, though many of their members originate outside the island.
It has also generally been considered unacceptable for people to appear in church improperly dressed, although this is slowly changing. Violations of this nature might include the failure by women to wear a hat, or trousers being worn instead of a skirt, or the wearing of informal clothing such as jeans. In December 2005 the local council refused to conduct ceremonies for same-sex couples wishing to register under the Civil Partnerships Act 2004.
(c) Hotpix / HotpixUK Tony Smith - tone@Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC',
Description
Keywords: Dave,Cammeron,Cameroon,satire,at,the,August,Edinburgh,Festival,UK,mono,b/w,black,white,respected,not,hated,collation,Nick,Clegg,Cleg,cuts,crash,broken,promises,tory,leader,GB,great,british,witney,PM,Prime,Minister,politician,joke,jokes,joker,jokers,comedian,comedians,royal,mile,high,st,Gotonysmith,street,fringe,office,offices,parliament,Scotland,scots,Scottish,independence,hates,hater,of,Alex,Salmond,government,homerule,home,rule,SNP,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8HWG6 - Leave a message for the British MP David Cameron , satire at the August Edinburgh Festival UK
A politician not keen on Scottish independence , everyone in the UK from whatever country will surely have an opinion for him.
Description
Keywords: people,boys,girls,woman,women,men,underground,sign,symbol,transport,train,trains,tourists,tourist,commuter,traveler,mind,the,gap,travelers,seat,of,government,houses,of,parliament,rail,circle,district,jubilee,line,lines,surface,deep,level,platforms,platform,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DD4JBJ -
Description
Keywords: HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,ignore me,ignore,alone,let me alone,let me be,lonely,leave me in peace,give me some peace,anti-social,antisocial,little,men,man,holding,sign,signs,GoAway,please,please go away,a,message,to,politicians,parliament,immigration,small boats,border,control,border-control,issue,Brexit,illegal,illegals,Tories,Conservatives
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2BKC2CP -
Description
Keywords: shot,tripod,reflections,bluehour,blue,hour,Shore,EH6,6SZ,Scotlands,scotland,port,of,reflections,special,wide,shot,landscape,water,old,dock,tram,trams,hotel,Malmaison,tourist,tourism,Fishers,ship,on,the,of,waterofleith,capital,city,independence,nation,town,suburb,Kings,Wark,Walk,water of leith,gotonysmith,suburbs,beautiful,Scottish,Executive,EH66SZ,river,Forth,port,ports,Ocean,dr,drive,terminal,district,and,former,municipal,burgh,mouth,Firth,of,Forth,in,the,unitary,local,authority,lairds,of,Restalrig,Leiths,wet,dry,history,historic,regeneration,charming,whale,Whaling,Angel,seamans,mission,seamans,seaman,seeman,heart,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Edinburgh Panorama,Angel Hotel,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8HD76 - Leith Shore panorama at dusk, Edinburgh Scotland
Leith water is home to many bars and restaurants, the Scottish executive and others
Description
Keywords: Scotland,night,dusk,shot,blue,hour,December,winter,stone,building,classic,sweep,sweeps,around,gotonysmith,old,town,oldtown,ice,icy,winter,cold,window,flat,flats,tenements,city,centre,evening,night,time,nighttime,lights,mixed,lighting,best,sexy,great,thebest,historic,history,scottish,independance,LEcosse,Edimbourg,Schotland,Schottland,La,Scozia,Edimburgo,Escocia,Edimburgo,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre,Scotlands History,Scotlands History
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF7D82 - Victoria Street looking down to the Grassmarket, Edinburgh , Scotland, UK at dusk over the city
Description
Keywords: Dusk,at,the,Royal,Bank,of,Scotland,Building,The,Mound,Edinburgh,Lothian,Scotland,UK,in,icy,weather,winter,blue,hour,night,evening,ice,icy,weather,winter,evening,gotonysmith,romantic,ghost,tour,warm,lighting,lights,historic,flags,history,Banca,R?oghail,na,h-Alba,PLC,north,bank,street,LEcosse,Edimbourg,Schotland,Schottland,La,Scozia,Edimburgo,Escocia,Edimburgo,snow,snowy,street,streets,romantic,financial,crash,bailout,nightshot,shot,tourist,victorian,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Scotlands History,Scotlands History
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF7D79 - Dusk at the Bank of Scotland Building, North Bank street, The Mound, Edinburgh, Lothian Scotland , UK
Description
Keywords: St,saint,Giles,Cathedral,High,Kirk,of,Edinburgh,at,night,Scotland,gotonysmith,royal,mile,stone,stones,church,crown,steeple,of,Mother,old,town,oldtown,episcopalianism,royal,burgh,high,shot,image,nightimage,long,exposure,moving,sky,clouds,cloud,tourist,tourism,LEcosse,Edimbourg,Schotland,Schottland,La,Scozia,Edimburgo,Escocia,Edimburgo,where,to,visit,religion,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF7D7C - Saint Giles Cathedral High Kirk of Edinburgh at dusk, Scotland @HotpixUK
Description
Keywords: Waverley,station,at,dusk,in,winter,snow,Princes,St,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,mainline,main,line,railway,station,train,gotonysmith,blue,evening,night,shot,red,lights,signals,signal,platforms,RF,hotel,clock,national,british,rail,Edinburgh,and,Glasgow,Railway,LEcosse,Edimbourg,Schotland,Schottland,La,Scozia,Edimburgo,Escocia,Edimburgo,railroad,tour,tours,tourist,BR,railtrack,Scotrail,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF7D88 - Waverley station at dusk in winter snow, Princes St, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Edinburgh Waverley railway station (referred to by National Rail simply as Edinburgh but also commonly called Waverley) is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres (101,000 m?) in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being London Waterloo
it is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail. It is the northern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, and the terminus of the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line.
Waverley is the second-busiest railway station in Scotland, with only Glasgow Central handling more passengers. According to Network Rail, which manages the station, over 19.2 million people use it annually
Description
Keywords: burn,burning,burnt,poll,polling,card,UK,election,2010,parliament burn,parliament,labour,tory,conservative,liberal,democrate,ukip,BNP,hot,station,register,post,postal,vote,voting,official,monster,raving,looney,warrington,BC,borough,council,cheshire,england,brit,fire,onfire,bonfire,flame,light,stream,lightstream,muchacha,femenina,de,la,mujer,se\u00f1ora,lady,female,woman,girl,\u5973\u6027\u30e1\u30b9\u306e\u5973\u6027\u306e\u5973\u306e\u5b50,\u592b\u4eba\u5973\u6027\u5987\u5973\u5973\u5b69,fille,f\u00e9minine,femme,dame,hotpix!
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4612952244 - 'This must be where a few polling cards (the card that identifies you as a UK votor at the polling station), ended up. A shame really as over the last 110 years or so there has been a struggle for ordinary folk including women to vote.
This shot was inspired by an article I stumbled across at WM Magazine. Not one of my usual reads I must admit, but I was intreiged by teh suggestion that women burned their bras to obtain the vote.
I am no expert on Manchester Moss Side historic icon Emmeline Pankhurst, although I know arson was one of the suffragette tactics, I have not read anything suggesting they burnt their support garments. I suspect this is more a mix up with the 1960's. As they say 'If you remember the swinging 60's, you probably wern't there!'.
(2010 week 17)
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-outside-Grappenhall-polling-station--Grappenhall-Library--South-warrington-CF13AJ.jpg)
Description
Keywords: Local election candidates Liberal Tory (Conservative) outside Grappenhall polling station,Grappenhall Library,South,warrington,gotonysmith,borough,council,westminster,ward,rosettes,rosette,yellow,woman,canvas,canvassing,Ian,Fountain,Grappenhall,Heys,walled,garden,The,local,Warrington,Borough,Council,elections,also,took,place,that,day.,WBC,closed,Grappenhall,library,less,than,a,year,later.,Parish,council,collation,hung,parliament,Friends,of,Grappenhall,library,librray,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF13AJ - Local election candidates Liberal Tory (Conservative) outside Grappenhall polling station, Grappenhall Library, South Warrington May 2010
The local Warrington Borough Council elections also took place that day. WBC closed Grappenhall library less than a year later.
Description
Keywords: 2010,UK,parliament,parliamentary,election,government,poll,pollin 2010,polling,bet,betting,internet,paddy,power,365project,project365,365,project,england,britain,united,kingdom,sex,sexy,hotpix!
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4602359988 - 'Looks like the bookies could see it coming....
www.paddypower.com
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Description
Keywords: 2010,british,uk,general,election,politics,parliament,polling,party,political,vinyl,album,lord Sutch and heavy friends,jimmy,page,music,musicians,sex,sexy,history,old,hotpix!
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4601233205 - 'Well, this will be one year when I cannot vote for the 'Official Monster Raving Loony Party'. Lord Sutch (or David Edward Sutch aka the 3rd Earl of Harrow) being no longer with us. With his death 16th June 1999, one strand of eccentric British tradition ended.
I once met him before the 1997 election. I had a short chat at a gig in Macclesfield when photographing a rock band who was supporting him. He certainly had many contacts in the music world, as this old vinyl album of mine testifies.
In 1963, Sutch and his manager, Reginald Calvert, took over Shivering Sands Army Fort, a Maunsell Fort off Southend. From there in 1964 they started 'Radio Sutch'. It was the time of pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline. Broadcasts consisted of music and Mandy Rice-Davies reading Lady Chatterley's Lover. Sutch tired of the station, and sold it to Calvert, which was renamed 'Radio City', which lasted until 1967. In 1966 Calvert was shot dead by Oliver Smedley over a financial dispute. Smedley was acquitted on grounds of self-defence. About this time Ritchie Blackmore left his band, 'The Savages' to form prog rockers 'Deep Purple'.
In 1968, Sutch toured parts of the United States in the Rolls Royce on this cover, with a Union Jack Flag on the roof and a trailer of Marshall amplifiers to sell, hitched to the back. This album 'Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends' was named in a 1998 BBC poll as the worst album of all time, a status it also held in Colin Larkin's book The Top 1000 Albums of All Time. All despite the fact that Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Jeff Beck, Noel Redding and Nicky Hopkins performed on it and helped write it.
In the Rolling Stones song 'Get Off of My Cloud', the guy who shows up 'All dressed up just like a Union Jack' was infact Lord Sutch, uninvited in Mick Jagger's room.
He founded the Official Monster Raving Loony Party in the UK 1983 and fought the Bermondsey by-election. In his career he contested over 40 elections, rarely threatening the major candidates, but often getting a respectable number of votes. He was easily recognisable at election counts by his flamboyant clothes. It was after he polled several hundred votes in Margaret Thatcher's Finchley constituency in 1983 that the deposit paid by candidates was raised from \u00a3150 to \u00a3500. This did little to deter Sutch, who increased the concerts he performed to pay for campaigns.
His most significant contribution to politics came at the Bootle by-election in 1990. He secured more votes than the candidate of the Continuing Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by former Foreign Secretary David Owen. Within days the SDP dissolved itself. In 1993, when the British National Party gained its first local councillor, Derek Beackon, Sutch pointed out that the Official Monster Raving Loony Party already had six.
To learn more about this unique character, cross Amazons palm with 5.99 pieces of sterling silver, pull up a poof, relax with a pot of Earl Grey and have a read of this s=books&
qid=1273682701&
sr=8-1\' rel=\'nofollow\'>tome .
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Description
Keywords: george,osbourne,tory,boy,bullingham,club,tatton,south,manchester,shadow,chancellor,exchequer,secretary,treasury,mobberley,cheshire,uk,england,english,election,2010,adolf,hitler,new,world,order,defaced,painted,unrespected,humour,parliament,parliamentary,vandels,vandel,vandelised,civil,dissobedience,polling,poll,interesting,people,person,persons,persona,interesante,blue,sign,poster,capaign,campaign,politics,politic,politician,#cleggageddon,hotpix!
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4573001216 - 'I have seen those shots with cameroon (sic cameron shurely?) as Elvis, but I was amazed to see Mr George Osbourne defaced looking like Adolf Hitler of the would be new World order while driving home through the edges of knutsford. possibly a bit severe, I dont think Adolf had the wealth of George, however by the same ruling chances are the Conservatives will be making some severe cuts, not suggesting we invade Poland or anything as european as that.
George is heir to the Osborne baronetcy (of Ballentaylor in the County of Waterford, Ireland). This makes him a part of what is known in Ireland as the Ascendancy, the old Anglo-Irish aristocracy. His father, Sir Peter Osborne, 17th Baronet, is co-founder of the fabric and wallpapers designers, Osborne &
Little. Osborne's wealth is estimated at \u00a34.3m by the New Statesman www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/10/oxford-universit... . He is also reported to be next in line to inherit a substantial share of Osborne &
Little, his father's luxury wall\u00adpaper company, which is thought to be worth over \u00a31 billion. so he would fit well in one of Britains safest Tory seats here in Tatton. Hopefully he would look to the needs of his constituents lower down the social ladder, customers of Cheshire Peaks &
Plains Housing Trust, Contour Homes or Great Places Housing Group as well as the more affluent.
After achieving an upper 2nd class degree at Magdalen College at Oxford University and being a member of the Bullingdon Club, a private dining club of Oxford University students (which was 'infamous for riotous behaviour' and was open only to sons of aristocratic families and the wealthy. Osborne's friends David Cameron and Nat Rothschild were also members of the club), he tried to persue a career as a journalist, but then moved to a vacent position at Conservative Central Office. he cut his teeth on the Prime Minister's Questions team for the various Conservative incumbent leaders Hague, Howard and cameron. Indeed, Osbourne and Cameron are godfathers to each other's children, so this may make his position safer.
The graffitti is interesting as it suggests a Europe leaning overtone, one that tories would rarther hide under the carpet for the moment. How palitable would a referendum on leaving the EU? Marginal if that.
Having said that, its looking more like a hung or balanced parliament might be imminent. We in Britain could be heading for Cleggagedden, whatever that means. Personally, I would like the best of all worlds if possible. The best of the free market and the social conscience with a respect for the environment and each other. If I see that with proportional representation or a (well) 'hung parliament' then so it must be.
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Description
Keywords: george,osbourne,chancellor,shadow,opposition,manchester,UK,tatton,knutsford,tory,candidate,conservative,sign,general,election,2010,may,6th,true,blue,majority,cheshire,electorial,parliament,westminster,government,britain,british,politition,politicion,politic,politics,rich,wealthy,Chelford,ozzy,ozzi,peover,toft,legh,high,alderley,edge,handforth,mobberley,wilmslow,orwell,George Orwell,1984,newworldorderahead,new,world,order,ahead,damage,dissobedience,civil,vote,voting,voter,poll,polling,GB,booth,station,Labour,Liberal,Democrats,Green,Party,libdems,lib,dems,highway,road
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4526465145 - 'I passed this poster on the way home tonight in a very rural location. It had a lot of strange stickers all over it
George Orwell 1984 (one of my favourite books), Keep Britain safe (slightly union jack and fascist), danger Child Vaccine (toxic Waste) over his eye.
I notice that George has a tie on here, as Chumbawamba once wrote, 'just cos you have a tie on doesn't make you important'. I notice that you rarely see Mr C in a tie, most likely a white shirt opened at the first button. Thats what the courses tell you to do in order to reach out to the shell suit clasees. I would guess George (or Gideon as he was christened) could drop this informality for Tatton.
George is heir to the Osborne baronetcy (of Ballentaylor in the County of Waterford, Ireland). This makes him a part of what is known in Ireland as the Ascendancy, the old Anglo-Irish aristocracy. His father, Sir Peter Osborne, 17th Baronet, is co-founder of the fabric and wallpapers designers, Osborne &
Little. Osborne's wealth is estimated at \u00a34.3m by the New Statesman www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/10/oxford-universit... . He is also reported to be next in line to inherit a substantial share of Osborne &
Little, his father's luxury wall\u00adpaper company, which is thought to be worth over \u00a31 billion. so he would fit well in one of Britains safest Tory seats here in Tatton. Hopefully he would look to the needs of his constituents lower down the social ladder, customers of Cheshire Peaks &
Plains Housing Trust, Contour Homes or Great Places Housing Group as well as the more affluent.
After achieving an upper 2nd class degree at Magdalen College at Oxford University and being a member of the Bullingdon Club, a private dining club of Oxford University students (which was 'infamous for riotous behaviour' and was open only to sons of aristocratic families and the wealthy. Osborne's friends David Cameron and Nat Rothschild were also members of the club), he tried to persue a career as a journalist, but then moved to a vacent position at Conservative Central Office. he cut his teeth on the Prime Minister's Questions team for the various Conservative incumbent leaders Hague, Howard and cameron. Indeed, Osbourne and Cameron are godfathers to each other's children, so this may make his position safer.
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Description
Keywords: george,osbourne,chancellor,shadow,opposition,manchester,UK,tatton,knutsford,tory,candidate,conservative,sign,general,election,2010,may,6th,true,blue,majority,cheshire,electorial,parliament,westminster,government,britain,british,politition,politicion,politic,politics,taton,graffitti,grafitti,graffiti,graffittied,street,art,Labour,Liberal,Democrats,Green,Party,libdems,lib,dems,Hotpicks,hotpics,hot,pics,pix,picks,politician,hotpix!
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4526888778 - 'For goodness sake someone sort the economy (!)
I spotted this on the way to work (and stopping to snap it nearly made me late!).
Check Gideon out at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Osborne . At least his eyebrows are co-ordinated with the hair on his head :-)
I did not notice this yesterday, mabe it has been added after last nights TV debate, who knows. I did also see similar decorations on election posters in Northamptonshire earlier in the week. So we might see more of this across the UK, keep your eyes peeled.
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Description
Keywords: Defaced,2010,Election,Poster,for,George,Gideon,Osbourne,now,elected,MP,and,Conservative,Chancellor,for,Tatton,Ward,Cheshire,gotonysmith,farmers,field,protest,shot,hate,tory,hatred,hated,rich,career,knutsford,pickmere,Northwich,campaign,trail,George,Gideon,Oliver,Osborne,British,Conservative,politician.,He,is,the,Chancellor,of,the,Exchequer,of,the,United,Kingdom,a role to which he was appointed in May 2010,and,has,been,the,Member,of,Parliament,for,Tatton,since,2001,Osborne,is,part,of,the,old,Anglo-Irish,aristocracy,and,is,heir,to,the,Osborne,baronetcy.,educated,at,St,Pauls,School,and,Magdalen,College,Oxford,father,Sir Peter Osborne,17th Baronet,co-founded,the,firm,of,fabric,and,wallpapers,designers,Osborne,&,Little,gotonysmith,George Gideon Oliver Osborne,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF240R - Defaced Apr 2010 Election Poster for George Gideon Osbourne now elected MP and Conservative Chancellor for Tatton Ward, Cheshire.
Located in a farmers field it had been shot at, stickers added and generally defaced.
Description
Keywords: North West England,UK,UKIP,HotpixUK,@HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Neil Hamilton,Vote,Conservative sign,Conservatives,Tory,liar,Election,Cheshire,North West,England,Tatton,ward,Tories,Cash For Questions,National Assembly for Wales,affair,sleaze,politician,Mohamed Al-Fayed,corruption,corrupt,1994,A Liar and a Cheat,parliamentary enquiry,Downey report,tobacco promotion,libel,legal action,placard,poll,Selfservative,Sleaze,Rishi Sunak,PPE
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2AA5PDP - Mostyn Neil Hamilton, AM (born 9 March 1949) is a British politician, non-practising barrister, and former teacher. He has served as a UK Independence Party (UKIP) Member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Mid and West Wales region since 2016
he was previously Conservative MP for the Tatton constituency from 1983 to 1997.
After being implicated (alongside Tim Smith) in the cash-for-questions affair, Hamilton became widely associated with sleaze
he was defeated in the 1997 general election, and subsequently left politics. His wife Christine and he went on to become media celebrities. He left the Conservative Party in 2002, and joined UKIP. He was elected to the National Executive Committee of UKIP in 2011. Following his election to the National Assembly for Wales, he served as UKIP Assembly Group Leader between 2016 and 2018, and has served as Leader of UKIP Wales since 26 September 2016.
In April 2019, Hamilton was the UKIP candidate in the by-election for Newport West. He was third behind the Labour and Conservative candidates with 2,023 votes.
On 20 October 1994, The Guardian published an article which claimed that Hamilton and another minister, Tim Smith, had received money, in the form of cash in brown envelopes. It claimed the money was paid to the men by Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods. In return, the men were to ask questions on behalf of Al-Fayed in the House of Commons. Smith admitted his guilt and resigned immediately. Hamilton claimed innocence but was forced to resign five days later, on 25 October 1994 @HotpixUK
Description
Keywords: neil,hamilton,tatton,knutsford,tory,candidate,conservative,sign,general,election,2010,may,6th,true,blue,majority,cheshire,george,osbourne,electorial,parliament,UK,westminster,government,britain,british,politition,politicion,politic,politics,Labour,Liberal,Democrats,Green,Party,libdems,lib,dems,hotpics,hotpic,hotpick,hotpicks,hot,pics,pix,picks,highway,road,old,stuff,politician,hotpix!
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4526132783 - 'I did a double-take last night driving home through the edges of Knutsford. I had to reverse and double-check I hadn't accidently driven through a wrinkle in time. Maybe these were the 'Real Conservatives' or the 'Continuity Tories', I had to check. Even the logo is the traditional one , maybe NH is back and making a comeback?
Wikipedia details the history....
(Mostyn) Neil Hamilton is the former Tatton (Knutsford) Tory MP. Since losing his seat under embarasing circumstances in 1997 he had to leave politics, he and his wife Christine have become media celebrities.
as the parliamentary record shows, Hamilton while in Tory office had limited regard for the 'little people'. Edwina Currie, the former health minister, described how Hamilton had been unmoved, in May 1988, by a set of photographs showing cancers that could be caused to young people by a product he was promoting. Hamilton apparently said that they were not relevant. In the end, the Thatcher government banned the sale of Skoal bandit products in the UK in late 1989. Both Hamilton and Michael Brown received a \u00a36,000 fee and hospitality from Skoal bandits. The seeds of downfall were maybe set.
On 20th October 1994, The Guardian newspaper published an article claiming that Hamilton, and another minister, Tim Smith, had received money, paid in the form of cash in brown envelopes, from Harrods' owner Mohamed Al-Fayed. They had asked questions on Mo's behalf in the House of Commons. The subsequent furore became known as the 'Cash-for-questions affair'. Hamilton resigned his position as Corporate Affairs Minister five days later.
Discredited, during the 1997 General Election, Hamilton was determined to hold on to his parliamentary seat in what was then the fourth safest Conservative seat in the country. It still is one of teh safest seats in the UK for the Tory's due to relative affluence of the area. Hamilton's majority at the 1992 General Election was almost 16,000. Conservative Central Office said that selection of candidates was purely a matter for the local party and refused to intervene. On 8 April 1997, he won a candidacy selection vote by 182 to 35, although 100 members of the local party abstained. Hamilton said that if the Downey (Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards) report found against him, he would resign as an MP. Unfortunately, the man in the white suit, the BBCs Martin Bell decided to stand as an independent candidate in Tatton. With other parties standing down, Bell triumphed by over 11,000 votes. Hamilton vowed to return, but up to now has failed to. This might be his re-emergence.
Neil and Christine Hamilton are said to have sold their house in Tatton in September 2003 after 20 years of living there. They bought a house in Hullavington, Wiltshire, in October 2004.
Ironically his failings were a drop in the ocean of recent parliamentary expenses scandles. Duck houses, flipping second homes, the John Lewis list etc. Even his successor, shadow chancellor George Osbourne has not been immune. In June 2009 the London Times suggested that he had flipped his 2nd home to claim for a \u00a3450,000 loan www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474725.ece
It should be remembered that politicians of all shades were embroiled in these scandles, lets hope it improves for all our sakes...
Checkout more of green and pleasant Cheshire from my photostream w=33062170@N08&
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(c) Hotpix / HotpixUK Tony Smith - Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC 07092182899',
Description
Keywords: dynamic,earth,our,holyrood,edinburgh,city,capital,scotland,pano,panorama,stitched,sticher,wide,shot,scots,scottish,parliament,royal,mile,sepia,selective,colour,black,white,b/w,colores,color,blanco,negra,tonysmith,tony,smith,Panoramique,int\u00e9ressant,join,joiner,stitch,stitcher,autostitch,auto,building,buildings,built,architecture,imagen,panor\u00e1mica,image,panoramisches,Bild,selectivo,couleur,s\u00e9lective,vorgew\u00e4hlte,Farbe,angle,wideangle,lens,sigma,12-24mm,10-20mm,hotpicks,hotpix,hotpics,hot,pix,pics,uk,edinbrugh,Edinburg,#tonysmithhotpix,edimburgh
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4442105524 - 'This is a panoramic view from the reclaimed industrial land at the foot of the Royal Mile, where (Our) Dynamic Earth sits. It is a science centre in Edinburgh, Scotland and a popular visitor attraction and venue for exhibitions etc in the city. It is a stitched joiner of four images.
From its doors on the third floor, the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace can be seen. It opened in 1999 and was a UK Millennium Commission project. It is within the walls of the the William Younger Centre, which is a distinctive castle-esque landmark building.
Dynamic Earth's architects were Michael Hopkins and Partners. The centre concentrates on earth science and the forces that have shaped the earth.
Check out this quirky panorama www.flickr.com/photos/hotpixuk/3709981451/
Have a look at some of my other city images on Flickr - w=33062170@N08\'>www.flickr.com/search/?q=city&
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(c) Hotpix / HotpixUK Tony Smith - Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC 07092182899 ',
Description
Keywords: edinburgh,scotland,UK,holyrood,st,andrew,saint,flag,symbol,nation,city,parliament,national,party,saltire,political,politics,tonysmith,tony,smith,edinbrugh,hotpix!,Edinburg,#tonysmithhotpix,edimburgh
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4447528033 - 'The Scottish Parliament Office Building. As important as the St Andrews cross to many people in the far north of the UK and strangely linked by a Hexadecimal number '0065BD'. Although I have heard it said that folk in the far islands of the north and west feel as distant from Holyrood as from Westminster. Living in north west england I can identify a little with that sentiment.
A saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross, or crux decussata is said to be the one on which St Andrew was martyred. The Cross of Burgundy contains a varient too. It is quite common to see it flying from Scottish Government buildings every day from 8am until sunset. Its use appears to date from around 1180. Although it was the Parliament of Scotland that decreed in 1385 that Scottish soldiers wear a white Saint Andrew's Cross on their person. This was both front and back to identify them.
The blues used varied on shades of dyes etc and many variations evolved over the years. There were calls to standardise the shade of blue. In 2003 a committee of the Scottish Parliament met to examine a petition that the Scottish Government adopt the Pantone 300 colour as a standard. How very Photoshop(!) This blue is of a lighter shade than the Pantone 280 of the Union Jack Flag. Having taken advice from a number of sources, including the office of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the committee recommended that the optimum shade of blue for the Saltire be Pantone 300. Nurds and pub quiz experts may want to know that Pantone 300 is #0065BD expressed as hexadecimal web colours.
(2010 week 10)
For more info on the Parliament, have a look at this image-
www.flickr.com/photos/hotpixuk/3811386220/
Have a look at some of my other Scotland images on Flickr -
w=33062170@N08&
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w=33062170@N08&
m=tags .
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(c) Hotpix / HotpixUK Tony Smith - Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC 07092182899',
Description
Keywords: A,panorama,at,dusk,over,Edinburgh,taking,in,St,Giles,cathedral,The Castle,Bridges,and,Princes,Street,from,Carlton,Hill,gotonysmith,city,Calton,Hill,venue,Beltane,Fire,Festival,Scotland,UK,Capital,city,pano,joiner,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,Carlton Hill Panorama at Dusk Sepia,escotia,scotia,Escosse,party,@Hotpixuk Government,2014 Scots,vote,voting,gotonysmith,buy pictures of Edinburgh,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF23J2 - A panorama at dusk over Edinburgh taking in St Giles cathedral, The Castle, Bridges and Princes Street from Carlton Hill.
Visable from across the city, Calton Hill is the venue for events at various times in the year. The Beltane Fire Festival every April (30th of the month) each year is popular and generally attracts over 10,000 people.. This is a revival of the ancient Celtic May Day festival of Beltane. The Dussehra Hindu Festival has also been held the last few years in early October.
On the hill are a number of interesting structures. These include Governors House, the original site of Calton Jail, the National Monument, Nelson's Monument, the Dugald Stewart Monument, the New Parliament House (the Royal High School), the Robert Burns Monument, the Political Martyrs' Monument and the City Observatory. It is worth a walk up to it from Princes St. Follow the confusingly named Calton Hill lane up from the shopping centre.
Description
Keywords: glowing,scotland,scots,scottish,independence,independance,prrinces,street,winter,victorian,old,town,from,calton,caltan,carlton,carltan,hill,tourist,tourism,parliament,traffic,late,at,night,nightime,time,glow,from,early,evening,traffic,glow,glowing,skyline,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8HDAY -
Description
Keywords: building,Scotland,UK,United,Kingdom,great,cities,GB,Great,Britain,British,Scot,Scots,independence,independance,street,light,lights,streetlights,tower,towers,Princes,St,street,Balmoral,hotel,from,calton,caltan,carltan,night,sun,rise,set,sunrise,historic,history,orange,sky,gotonysmith,skies,travel,tourism,free,country,state,independent,government,parliament,Holyrood,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Scotlands History,Scotlands History
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DDD70B -
Description
Keywords: Allan,Ramsey,statue,&,Edinburgh,Castle,at,Dusk,just,before,night,fall,from,Princes,Street,Scotland,UK,gotonysmith,shot,nightshot,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party@Hotpixuk,GotonySmith,hilltop,historic,history,historical,icon,iconic,kingdom,landmark,landmarks,lowlands,lothian,medieval,monument,old,outcrop,rock,rocky,Royal,family,scotch,scotland,scots,scottish,sight,sights,scenic,sightseeing,skies,sky,skyline,summer,sun,sunny,sunshine,stronghold,tour,tattoo,tourism,tourists,town,towns,towering,uk,united,white,unesco world heritage,Unesco,old town,Edinburgh Castle,dramatic sky,moody,mody sky,dramatic sky,summer,blue,blue sky,lush,green,trees,vegetation,clouds,Edinburg,Castel,Scots,Scottish,scotland,nationalistic,stone,tour,travel,tourist,attraction,Royal Family,buy pictures of Edinburgh,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Edinburgh Castle
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CEMWCA - Allan Ramsey statue & Edinburgh Castle at Dusk just before night fall from Princes Street, Scotland, UK
Description
Keywords: Edinburgh Big Wheel at Dusk,winter,gardens,Princes,St,street,night,shot,Scotland,UK,blue,gotonysmith,movement,blue,orange,good,shot,tourist,tourism,Fair,amusements,amusement,rides,ride,fun.,ice,icy,snow,cold,freezing,frozen,big,freeze,bigfreeze,UK,united,kingdom,scottish,independance,independence,gotonysmith,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,HotpixUk,fair,fayre,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre,Edinburgh Fair,Edinburgh Fayres
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CEMWX9 - Edinburgh Big Wheel at Dusk.
Here in winter, December when the fair comes to Edinburgh for Scotland's Hogmanay.
Description
Keywords: Edinburgh,Helter,Skelter,at,Dusk,winter,city,night,shot,lights,tungsten,Scotland,UK,blue,warm,newyear,new,year,princes,st,streat,st,street,excitement,fun,travel,gotonysmith,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,gotonysmith,Ediburgh,fun,Edinburg,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,HotpixUk,fair,fayre,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,city Centre,Edinburgh Fair,Edinburgh Fayres
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CEMWYW - Edinburgh's winter Helter Skelter at Dusk in Princes street, Scotland.
The blue of the winter city night contrasts with the tungsten lights of the Scottish fairground. GoTonySmith
Description
Keywords: Edinburgh,Princes,St,traffic,Dusk.,A,night,shot,showing,city,car,trails,tram,scotland,capital,UK,red,stream,tony,smith,gotonysmith,car,trails,tram,line,lines,national,gallery,night,long,exposure,nightshot,rushing,traffic,middle,of,road,busy,lightstream,light,stream,speeding,cars,trams,speed,fast,red,scottish,scots,escotia,ecosse,rue,waverley,national,gallery,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,trams,capital,Scotlands,scottish,Scots,2014,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CEMX0G - Traffic rushing down Edinburgh's Princes St at dusk.
A night shot showing city car trails down the planned tram lines in Scotlands capital. the tail lights make a red stream.
Description
Keywords: Edinburgh Waverley Station in winter snow,cold,weather,scotland,scotrail,scot,rail,tracks,UK,tony,smith,gotonysmith,icy,conditions,RF,hotel,skyline,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,network,frozen,freezing,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CEMX15 - Edinburgh Waverley Station in winter snow, Scotland UK.
Edinburgh Waverley railway station (referred to by National Rail simply as Edinburgh but also commonly called Waverley) is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres (101,000 m?) in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being London Waterloo
it is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail. It is the northern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, and the terminus of the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line.
Waverley is the second-busiest railway station in Scotland, with only Glasgow Central handling more passengers. According to Network Rail, which manages the station, over 19.2 million people use it annually
Description
Keywords: London,night,nightshot,shot,dusk,thames,river,reflection,reflections,houses,parliament,palace,westminster,UK,GB,great,britain,eye,jetty,tripod,hotpix,hotpixuk,TDKTony,Tony,TDK,Smith,embankment,history,historic,365days,photo,photos,photography,photographer,HDR,high dynamic range,tonysmith,hotpics,hotpic,hotpick,hotpicks,building,buildings,built,architecture,#tonysmithhotpix
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 4125164857 - 'I watch the sun go down on London town
I wait for the night voices to sound
I smell the pain upon the breath of the lost &
lonely
I hear the thoughts that whisper in the hearts of all men.
I'm the helpline operator &
I'll spare you the time.
I'm the intimate stranger. Your problems will be mine.
Put your tongue into the mouthpiece
And whisper in my ear.
Admit to me
the things you can't admit to yourself.
Admit to me &
no one else.
Everybody's looking for someone
to tell them what they want to hear.
Everybody's looking for true love
To help them feel what they cannot feel.
I'm the helpline operator, can you spare me the time.
I'm the intimate stranger. Your problems will be mine.
I'm the helpline operator.
Helpline operator. (X3)
True love will come
True love will come
Helpline operator.
-------
View of the Thames at night from east of the London Eye.
Apparently tripods are no longer allowed between here and Westminster bridge. (According to a security guard who gently moved me on, its a fair cop guv etc..).
Seriously though, anyone with a camera can be suspected these days. Read the following link, know your rights. Pass this on too.
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/23/photography_law/
Another city night shot here www.flickr.com/photos/hotpixuk/4083507345/
(c) Hotpix / HotpixUK Tony Smith - Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC
',
Description
Keywords: Scots,Parliament,Debating,Chamber,Panorama,Interior,Architecture,Holyrood,Scotland,UK,Edinburgh,indoors,pano,Miralles,Enric,scottish,scotch,fisheye,10mm,government,building,wood,wooden,Architect,wide,angle,wideangle,wideshot,20mm,lens,365days,Schotland,l'Ecosse,Ecosse,Schottland,\u03a3\u03ba\u03c9\u03c4\u03af\u03b1,la,Scozia,\u30b9\u30b3\u30c3\u30c8\u30e9\u30f3\u30c9,\uc2a4\ucf54\ud2c0\ub780\ub4dc,\u0428\u043e\u0442\u043b\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0438\u044f,Escocia,Edinburghe,tonysmith,tony,smith,Panoramique,int\u00e9ressant,join,joiner,stitch,stitcher,autostitch,auto,sigma,wide angle lens,buildings,built,imagen,panor\u00e1mica,image,panoramisches,Bild,hotpicks,hotpix,hotpics,hot,pix,pics,edinbrugh,Edinburg,tony smith photography,tdktonysmith,edimburgh
Description: Tony Smith image Flickr 3811386220 - 'I had another try at this, with a tripod. Two shots with a 10mm lens joined as a panorama, hence some cutoff.
The debating chamber contains a shallow elliptical horseshoe of seating for the MSPs, with the governing party or parties sitting in the middle of the semicircle and opposition parties on either side, similar to other European legislatures. Such a layout is intended to blur political divisions and principally reflects the desire to encourage consensus amongst elected members. This is in contrast to the 'adversarial' layout reminiscent of other Westminster style national legislatures, including the House of Commons, where government and opposition sit apart and facing one another
The most notable feature of the chamber is the roof. The roof is supported by a structure of laminated oak beams joined with a total of 112 stainless steel connectors (each slightly different), which in turn are suspended on steel rods from the walls.
Such a structure enables the debating chamber to span over 30 metres (100 ft) without any supporting columns. In entering the chamber, MSPs pass under a stone lintel\u2014the Arniston Stone\u2014that was once part of the pre-1707 Parliament building, Parliament House. The use of the Arniston Stone in the structure of the debating chamber symbolises the connection between the historical Parliament of Scotland and the present day Scottish Parliament.
Note that photographs cannot be taken while parliament is in session.
On 2 March 2006, a beam in the roof of the debating chamber swung loose from its hinges during a debate, resulting in the evacuation of the debating chamber and the suspension of parliamentary business. Parliament moved to other premises while the whole roof structure was inspected and remedial works were carried out. The structural engineers, Arup, stated that the problem with the collapsed beam was entirely due to the failure of one bolt and the absence of another. There was no design fault. The engineers concluded, in a report to MSPs, that the damage is likely to have been done during construction work on the chamber roof, in the latter phases of the project. The report also indicated that whilst one of the bolts was missing, the other was broken and had damaged threads commensurate with being over tightened or jammed, which twisted the head off, or came close to doing so.
Another Lothians shot here www.flickr.com/photos/hotpixuk/4241055295/
(c) Hotpix Tony Smith - Hotpix.freeserve.co.uk WDCC
',
Description
Keywords: Young Lovers at Calton Hill,Edinburgh,Lothian,Scotland,UK,sitting,on,the,neo-classical,Greek,style,monuments,gotonysmith,carlton,hill,caltonhill,carltonhill,loving,hug,hugs,hugging,Caltoun,couple,people,boy,girl,partner,partners,Calton Hill is the headquarters of the Scottish Government,which is based at St Andrews House,on the steep southern slope of the hill,with the Scottish Parliament Building,and other key buildings,for,example,Holyrood,Palace,lying,near,the,foot,of,the,hill.,The,hill,also,includes,several,iconic,monuments,and,buildings,the National Monument,Nelsons Monument,the Dugald Stewart Monument,the,New,Parliament,House,(the,Royal,High,School,the,Robert,Burns,Monument,the Political Martyrs' Monument and the City Observatory,gotonysmith,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CF0NPW - Young Lovers at Calton Hill, Edinburgh , Lothian , Scotland , UK sitting on the neo-classical Greek style monuments
Description
Keywords: The,Falkirk,Wheel,canal,Lift,Scotland,UK,rotating,rotates,gotonysmith,Forth,and,Clyde,Canal,with,the,Union,Canals,regenerate,central,Scotlands,reconnect,Glasgow,with,Edinburgh,British,Waterways,barge,narrowboat,museum,narrow,Enterprise,Network,historic,lock,flight,lockflight,proud,icon,iconic,sepia,monochrome,cafe,exhibition,centre,Rough,Castle,Fort,village,Tamfourhill,Golden,Jubilee,celebrations,Tony,Kettle,designs,by,Nicoll,Russell,Studios,design,engineers,Binnie,Black,&,Veatch,engineer,Aqueduct,central,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CET0YF - The Falkirk Wheel canal Lift, Scotland, UK
Description
Keywords: Dusk,B&B,places,to,stay,city,capital,of,Scotland,UK,GB,Great,Britain,The,Shore,Bed,and,Breakfast,boutique,places,place,to,stay,tourist,tourists,travel,travellers,cities,water,front,eat,eating,chain,reflections,reflection,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,gotonysmith,Malmaisons.,The,former,house,of,ill-repute,now,has,a,reputation,thats,second,to,none,and,its,also,just,a,short,taxi,ride,away,from,Waverley,Station.,Malmaison,Edinburgh,bides,at,Leith,(as,they,say,up,here),just a stones throw from the Royal Yacht Britannia,but offering far more funky luxury. Yes,when you want exciting hotels in Edinburgh,this is the King,not,the,castle.,Our,Edinburgh,hotel,puts,you,close,to,all,of,Edinburghs,cobbled,splendours,incredible,shopping,and,famous,galleries.,Then,its,back,to,Mal,for,Scots,dining,with,a,twist,a,fine,selection,of,single,malts,and,mojitos,in,the,bar,and,then,back,to,the,slinkiest,and,most,spectacular,rooms,in,the,Scots,capital,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8HD9B - The Malmaison Hotel at Leith at Night Edinburgh
It's the mother of all Malmaison's. The former house of ill-repute now has a reputation that's second to none, and it's also just a short taxi ride away from Waverley Station. Malmaison Edinburgh bides at Leith (as they say up here), just a stone's throw from the Royal Yacht Britannia, but offering far more funky luxury. Yes, when you want exciting hotels in Edinburgh, this is the King, not the castle. Our Edinburgh hotel puts you close to all of Edinburgh's cobbled splendours, incredible shopping and famous galleries. Then it's back to Mal for Scots dining with a twist, a fine selection of single malts and mojitos in the bar and then back to the slinkiest and most spectacular rooms in the Scots capital.
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,bingo,casinos,slot machines,and,lotteries,vulnerable,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,cost,Holyrood,parliament,legislation,Smartphone,free spins
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEFRH - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
Read more
A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
Description
Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,bingo,casinos,and,lotteries,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,legislation,Westminster,government,parliament,Welsh,bank,Smartphone,Bet365
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEGJF - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
Read more
A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
Description
Keywords: gotonysmith,Carton,Hill,Pano,at,Dusk,sunset,joiner,wide,view,wideview,Scot,Scottish,Scotland,monument,independent,independant,country,devolution,vote,2014,autumn,city,tourist,vista,view,EH13EB,EH1,3EB,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Carlton,Hill,Panorama,at,Dusk,Sepia,tourist,tourism,tourists,calton,calten,viewpoint,view,point,night,shot,night,shot,photo,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8FBCD - Carlton Hill Panorama at Dusk sunset in Edinburgh Scotland UK
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Keywords: GoTonySmith,HotpixUK,Be Gamble Aware,Be,gamble,Aware,risk,of,gambling,gaming,bet,slot,game,casino,cash,stake,sterling,commission,review,act,arcades,betting,bingo,casinos,slot machines,and,lotteries,players,customers,clients,addict,help,addictive,legislation,Westminster,government,parliament,Welsh,bank,Smartphone
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2PHEH5M - Gambling apps more dangerous than FOBTs, study finds
Authors say outdated laws fail to protect vulnerable users from smartphone gambling
Smartphone gambling apps are more dangerous than fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) for people with addiction problems because opportunities to lose money are just a tap away, a study suggests.
Gambling games on smartphones have surged in popularity in recent years, allowing high-stakes betting within the palm of its users' hands, with video game-style play making them appear harmless and introductory offers providing incentives to sign up.
Scrutiny of the gambling industry has been focused on fixed-odds betting terminals in high street bookmakers, leading the government to cut the maximum stake on the machines from ?100 to ?2, although this has yet to be implemented.
However, smartphone gambling could be more problematic for people psychologically predisposed to addiction, given how the betting games can be accessed anywhere in the UK with an internet connection, according to academics.
The study, published in the academic journal European Addiction Research, found that because users check their phones frequently throughout the day ? referred to as ?snacking' ? mobile gamblers tend to bet more often, even after suffering repeated losses.
A person uses PayPal on a laptop
Problem gamblers are using PayPal to spend up to ?150,000 a day
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A common design principle in mobile gaming, as this type of gambling is referred to, is that a mix of small wins, ?near misses' and losses encourage greater levels of engagement.
Experts have previously warned that gambling companies use sophisticated techniques to ingrain their products in the lives of their users by creating psychological dependencies, nudging people into live gameplay through notifications, emails and other methods.
Notwithstanding the euphoria of winning, this can activate mechanisms in the brain akin to the effect of cocaine
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Keywords: @HotpixUK,public transport,railway,rail,Edinburgh,Scotland,UK,platform,station,train,HotpixUK,GoTonySmith,Waverley,rolling stock,rail passengers,Scottish Government,Scottish Parliament,early,failing,privatised rail,substandard,renationalise,renationalisation,nationalise,running late,mismanagement,punctuality,cancellations,capacity,targets,fail,failing to achieve,breach level,SQUIRE targets,Dominic Booth,Abellio UK,workers,strike,RMT union
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy 2ANMBE0 - Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years early
Abellio ScotRail's contract to run train services in Scotland will end early, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has announced.
The Dutch firm has been running the franchise since 2015 but had faced criticism over cancellations and performance levels.
The contract, worth more than ?7bn over 10 years, was due to last until 2025.
But Mr Matheson said a so-called break clause would be used to end the franchise three years early, in 2022.
He told MSPs he was looking at other options for the future, including the franchise being run by the public sector.
What is the ScotRail franchise?
ScotRail operates about 2,400 train services a day, and covers all services in Scotland except those run by other operators which cross the border.
It is not responsible for the maintenance of the track, which falls under Network Rail nor the operation of the main rail routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London.
There had been political pressure on ministers over the service with complaints over a high number of cancellations, overcrowding and the cost of tickets.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson said a proposed increase in government subsidy for the service would not deliver sufficient benefits to passengers or the economy.
Image caption Mr Matheson told the Scottish parliament a break clause will be used to end the franchise early
Mr Matheson said Abellio had successes and challenges over the first five years of the ScotRail franchise, but that his decision was the right one for passengers, communities, the economy and taxpayers.
He confirmed the contract would now run until 31 March, 2022.
It is of course necessary to plan for the future provision of ScotRail services and I can confirm that work is already under way to examine the options open to the Scottish ministers after the current contract comes to an end, he said.
The franchise system for Britain's railways is grinding to a halt.
-at-dusk-with-a-blue-sky--@Hotpixuk-CEMX4A.jpg)
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Keywords: Glasgow,by,night,John,St,City,Chambers,Scotland,Strathclyde,UK,dusk,long,exposure,trails,gotonysmith,tony,smith,classic,Merchent,bars,businesses,rain,rainy,reflections,bright,colourful,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,night,Business,HDR,HISTORY,HISTORIC,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Scotlands History,Scotlands History,Merchant City
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy CEMX4A - A shot of the Merchant City Chambers, from John Street, Glasgow, Strathclyde, UK at dusk.
The long exposure has brought out the reflections from the rainy street and the bright blue of the cloudy sky.
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Keywords: suburb,night,shot,night,evening,in,sea,south,city,Edinburgh,capital,of,Scotland,Scottish,Firth,of,Forth,Lothian,UK,GB,great,britain,waterfront,hotel,Sandy,Robertson,OBE,wine,merchant,charity,promoter,founder,of,Scottish,Business,Achievement,Awards,Statue,clock,seaman,seamans,gotonysmith,mission,clock,tower,clocktower,council,dock,docks,sailors,home,reflections,history,historic,heritage,building,buildings,Malmaison,B&b,District,Council,Forth,Ports,Authority,and,the,Water,of,Leith,Conservation,Trust,EH6,6QW,EH66QW,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Scotlands History,Scotlands History
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8HD9C - Leith is a suburb of Edinburgh where it meets the sea. It lies on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, Lothian, Scotland UK. Leith had electric street lighting from 1890, and electric trams from 1905 (only Blackpool was earlier in the UK). the trams are returning at great cost and more changes have improved teh Leith waterfront in recent years.
The Malmaison Hotel, beside the entrance to Leith Docks, at the Shore, Leith, shown here was formerly a sailors' home. The Sailors' Home used to provide accommodation for sailors whose ships were in port. The Home contained comfortable rooms for each rank, a canteen, a low cost clothing shop, recreational rooms and a chapel.
It was an innovation in social care at a time when many workers lived in overcrowded slums. The angel in the stonework above the door was an emblem for the seamen's mission. Much investment has been made to improve the area from The City of Edinburgh District Council, Forth Ports Authority and the Water of Leith Conservation Trust.
The statue to the left is of Sandy Irvine Robertson OBE, wine merchant, charity promoter, founder of Scottish Business Achievement Awards, once wrote of as one of those people who made life worth living. A bear of a man, standing six and a half feet tall, he had a heart the size of Scotland. He was mischievous, often outrageous, but never unkind, and those of us privileged to have known his friendship will be eternally grateful for it. Praise indeed.
Leith is known for its port and red wine imports and I assume he was linked to 'Irvine Robertson Wines' who are located just up the road. After his premature death (Born: 11 August, 1942, in Stirling Died: 20 June, 1999, aged 56), his friends commissioned a bronze statue on the waterfront at Leith. It was sculpted by Lucy Poett. She studied under Cubilt Bevis at The Heatherley School of Art in London and with the late Scott Sutherland RSA in Dundee.
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Keywords: Scots,Scottish,Scotch,independance,devolution,seperate,country,separate,nation,currency,sign,outside,a,window,shopwindow,city,tourist,tourism,parliament,gov,government,Holyrood,patriotism,patriot,patriots,popular,souvenirs,souvenir,printed,items,from,with,Scottish,flag,the,solitaire,whi,Gotonysmith,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy DDXRX4 -
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Keywords: SW,south,west,Bridgewater,town,market,levels,politically,Bridgwater,movie,ban,slavery,slave,trade,Taunton,Canal,forks,market town,Somerset Levels,Battle of Sedgemoor,Guy Fawkes statue,Guy Fawkes,Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival,GoTonySmith,@HotpixUK,Tony,Smith,UK,GB,Great,Britain,United,Kingdom,English,British,England,problem,with,problem with,issue with,Bonfire,night,parliament,westminster,gunpowder,plot,sedition,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Images of,Stock Images,Tony Smith,United Kingdom,Great Britain,British Isles,Guy Fawkes Carnival,Bonfire Night,gunpowder plot
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy H9PM1Y - Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 35,886.
Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country
to the north are the Mendips and to the west the Quantock hills. The town lies along both sides of the River Parrett, 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth, has been a major port and trading centre and maintains a large industrial base. It is linked to Taunton by the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. Bridgwater is between two junctions of the M5 motorway and Bridgwater railway station is on the main railway line between Bristol and Taunton.
Historically, the town had a politically radical tendency. The Battle of Sedgemoor, where the Monmouth Rebellion was finally crushed in 1685, was fought nearby. Notable buildings include the Church of St Mary and the house in Blake Street, largely restored, which was the birthplace of Admiral Blake in 1598, and is now the Blake Museum. The town has an arts centre and plays host to the annual Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival.
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Keywords: train,line,track,platform,Scotrail,Scot,rail,Abellio,transport,co,company,Ned,Nedrailways,subsidy,subsidised,network,Dutch,national,Nederlandse,Spoorwegen,Serco,GB,Great,Britain,British,BR,Station Road,Annan,Dumfries and Galloway,Scotland,UK,GoTonySmith,operated,by,Abelio,poor,service,battle,with,Scotish,Scottish,Parliament,Govt,Government,political,pressure,mounts,2025,Alba,Abellio,transport,operator,Dutch,company,performance,late,fined,delay,delays,regulation,strip,viable,delay,delays,delayed.late,later,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Franchise Battle,political pressure,transport operator Abellio,Humza Yousaf,Rail passengers,public sector bid
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy EY3RM9 - Telegraph News from Nov 2016 - Abellio braces for Scotrail franchise battle as political pressure mounts
Transport operator Abellio is bracing for a battle with the Scottish Government to hold on to its Scotrail franchise as fresh data showed the number of delayed trains is increasing.
The Dutch company has admitted that its performance is not good enough but said after a scathing attack at the weekend from the Scottish Government that it would have no problem competing with a public-sector bidder for Scotrail.
Abellio won the franchise to run Scotland's train services until 2025 two years ago, but has since been fined ?438,000 due to continued delays on its trains.
More info, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/21/abellio-braces-for-scotrail-franchise-battle-as-political-pressu/
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Keywords: panorama,of,St,saint,giles,church,high,night,at,blue,hour,bluehour,travel,tourism,tourist,image,shot,giles,Scotland,Scottish,Ecosse,worship,church,of,crown,steeple,skyline,Royal,Mile,Presbyterianism,wide,shot,landscape,scottish,independance,independence,home,rule,devolution,parliament,gotonysmith,Dr,Gilleasbuig,Macmillan,SNP,national,party,@Hotpixuk,Government,2014,Scots,vote,voting,oldtown,religion,religious,christian,Tour,tourist,tourism,tourist,attraction,Scotland,Capital,City,Scots,Scottish,icon,iconic,@Hotpixuk,HotpixUk,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,Buy Pictures of,Buy Images Of,old town,Tourist Attraction,city Centre
Description: Tony Smith image Alamy D8HDKK - St Giles' Cathedral, more properly termed the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at about a third of the way down the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to Holyrood Palace. The church has been one of Edinburgh's religious focal points for approximately 900 years. The present church dates from the late 14th century, though it was extensively restored in the 19th century, and is protected as a category A listed building.[1] Today it is sometimes regarded as the Mother Church of Presbyterianism. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Giles, who is the patron saint of Edinburgh, as well as of cripples and lepers, and was a very popular saint in the Middle Ages. It is the Church of Scotland parish church for part of Edinburgh's Old Town. The current Minister (since 1973) of St Giles' is the Very Reverend Dr Gilleasbuig Macmillan
he will retire on 30 September 2013.
St Giles' was only a cathedral in its formal sense (i.e. the seat of a bishop) for two periods during the 17th century (1635?1638 and 1661?1689), when episcopalianism, backed by the Crown, briefly gained ascendancy within the Kirk (see Bishops' Wars). In the mediaeval period, prior to the Reformation, Edinburgh had no cathedral as the royal burgh was part of the Diocese of St Andrews, under the Bishop of St Andrews whose episcopal seat was St Andrew's Cathedral.
For most of its post-Reformation history the Church of Scotland has not had bishops, dioceses, or cathedrals. As such, the use of the term cathedral today carries no practical meaning. The High Kirk title is older, being attested well before the building's brief period as a cathedral.
