Lifeboat rescues family
A Scottish family has been rescued after getting stuck in a cave at high tide during a coastal walk.
The two adults and their young child were cut off by the incoming tide at Southwick Water, in Dumfries and Galloway at around 11:30am on Saturday.
The family retreated into a cave, but the water level continued to rise, eventually reaching the adults’ waists.
The family were rescued by a Kippford lifeboat and taken to the shore. Officials confirmed that, although cold and shocked, the family did not require medical treatment.
Graham Edgar, senior maritime operations officer for HM Coastguard, said: “The family were extremely lucky, the tide can change quickly and you can easily get caught out if you’re not prepared.”
The ousted Union Unit boss has insisted Boris Johnson can save the UK – but admitted “winning hearts and minds” could take years.
In his first interview since being sacked from leading Downing Street's fightback against independence, Luke Graham told The Scotsman he still believed in the Prime Minister, insisting the "majority" of Scots still want to stay in the UK.
The former Ochil and South Perthshire MP claimed that the SNP had "chiselled" away at the Union for decades, but suggested things like new powers from the Internal Market Bill could help turn things around.
Asked directly if the Prime Minister could win over the people of Scotland, Mr Graham responded “yes”, but he warned more needed to be done to convey the benefits of being in the UK.
He said: “The SNP have had over a decade chiselling away at identity, the UK Government and again because of the devolve-and-forget culture.
"It's been a lot more recently
we've actually been pushing back here on policy and communications and politically.
“[Scottish Conservatives leader] Douglas Ross is obviously leading the fight with the Scottish Conservatives as well, but these are all quite recent and if you're winning people's hearts and minds, that's something that happens over months and years, not within a couple of weeks.”
No longer working in Downing Street as part of the Union Unit, Mr Graham suggested if the UK Government had done more earlier, it would not have needed such a department.
He said: “The purpose was to help embed Union policymaking and Union thinking right across government.
“Ideally you would not need a
Union Unit because the policy making the thinking and the culture would be so Uk-wide you would not need it.
“I almost thought the Union Unit would be a temporary measure to bring about a culture change then fold into normal government.
“You are reversing many, many years of a particular culture, and there’s still a lot more work to do.”
Mr Graham, whose replacement Oliver Lewis quit the role after two weeks, insisted that Mr Johnson could succeed if the United Kingdom Government improves its messaging.
Incentives for buying electric cars should be extended to second-hand purchases, according to a new report.
Halfords made the recommendation as it warned the cost of new battery-powered cars is too high for many motorists despite government grants of up to £3,000. Basic new electric vehicles (EVS) start at around £18,000, with an average non-luxury model costing nearly £30,000, the motoring products and services provider said.
It called for grants or loans to be made available for drivers to buy used EVS, to boost adoption of the technology.
Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland recently introduced interest-free five-year loans of up to £20,000 to cover the cost of a used EV.
Andy Randall, managing director of Halfords Autocentres, said: “Our research indicates that a more targeted approach to EV incentives may be required if the whole country is to join the green transport revolution.”
Time and money is being wasted on paperwork for businesses exporting from Northern Ireland to the European Union, a cargo firm has said.
Belfast Port and Northern Irish hauliers are losing out because of red tape associated with duties which do not need to be paid, Belfast-based Quay Cargo Services said.
It previously organised exports to the Continent using the Great Britain “land bridge”. But since the end of the Brexit transition period it has routed shipments using the more costly route via the Republic of Ireland then direct to France to avoid the paperwork.
Manager Gary Stewart said: “This archaic system, is designed to protect against outstanding duties/taxes. But there are no duties collectable, even if the cargo were to remain in Great Britain, so why is the road haulage industry being asked to do this?
“We need a more pragmatic system, to avoid such a waste of time, money and wasted additional mileage.”