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Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street to present his Autumn Budget Statement at the House of Commons..(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

​£20 million Levelling-Up assistance for the isles

Comhairle Leader Paul Steele is involved in the talks.

Comhairle joins fury over tax freeze announcement

The EU wide system provided advanced navigation through satellites, which proved particularly useful for small airports, and its unavailability has led to increased cancellations.

EGNOS 'vandalism' trebles Barra flight cancellations

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs giving evidence at the Scottish Parliament. A KC report said the organisation were not to blame for the award of the contract.

Ministers to blame on ferry contract, says KC

The low response rate has prompted a fresh call for candidates

Elections for only half of community councils

Keir Starmer is interrupted by a heckler. Credit: Getty

Keir Starmer Labour conference speech crashed by protester

Professor Donald MacLeod - “he passionately defended liberty of conscience against all attempts to interfere with it”.

A giant of the pulpit; a master of the pen

Transport minister Kevin Stewart (inset) was in Uist this week, but had little positive to say over a compensation package for ferry failures.

Government pockets £4.5m in CalMac fines

On stage

The Cheviot – a play for both past and present

Chancellor set to extend fuel duty cut beyond March

Risk remains over yard's future, says Auditor General. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

FERRY BILL HITS £300 MILLION AND FERGUSON YARD’S FUTURE IN DOUBT
The Auditor General for Scotland has published a scathing update on the two “missing” CalMac ferries which puts the latest cost at £300 million and rising while the Ferguson shipyard’s future is in doubt.

Risks to the yard still remain, according to the Auditor General. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Auditor General in scathing report

Government ‘will miss EV charger target by 20 years’, Labour says

While BC Ferries in British Columbia have similarities with CalMac, comparisons should be treated with caution.

So how do others run their ferry services?

Kwasi Kwarteng has scrapped the top rate of income tax (Photo: PA)

The results of Kwasi Kwarteng’s first Autumn Mini-Budget.

Prime Minister Liz Truss speaks at her first Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Photo credit UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor /PA Wire

Energy Bill Plan: what help was announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss

The all-female cast of Exodus. Pic: Brian Hartley.

Satire that shines a light on the silly side of politics

The MV Hebrides has been taken off the Skye triangle and no replacement available. Meanwhile, breakdowns and cancellations come thick and fast on other lifeline services.

‘Treat ferries crisis as Mayday emergency’

The MV Hebrides berthed in Tarbert. The latest breakdown was described by a Uist haulier as a "shambles".

‘People are at their wit’s end’ over ferries

Galson Estate in north Lewis is one of a number of community buyouts in the islands over the last 20 years.

Land reform needs policy to match warm words

The 29-year-old Lord of the Isles had to be withdrawn from service.

Scale of Uist booking losses are revealed

Work on the two new vessels continues, but there are still lingering concerns over even more delays and further additional costs.

Civil service fears over ferries delivery

It is intended that the "structural funds" will, at least in part, replace EU funding which financed a range of major infrastructure projects in the islands, like the Scalpay Bridge

‘Special status’ is in danger of being lost

Angus MacNeil said he spoke to deputy chief executive of the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and he told him: "that's it, we're coming to Scotland"

Abu Dhabi dosh for isles tunnels, says MP

It's now seven years since the contract was first signed and there are doubts whether the new ferries will ever see the light of day.

New ferries: ‘Cheaper to just start again’

Top of the Twitter charts

MacNeil is top of the Westminster Twitter charts

There has been frustration that even lifeline, major connections like that provided by the Loch Seaforth have been cancelled due to even a single case of Covid among the crew.

CalMac explain Covid policy

Roddie Mackay said the new council will face significant challenges.

Council Leader Mackay not seeking re-election
The leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Roddie Mackay, has confirmed that he will not be standing for re-election as a councillor in May.

Dokus will now be able to spend more time in his beloved Uig, but he's unlikely to be idle.

Dokus – A life of community service

Edward Mountain: Island communities needs openness.

‘Information withheld’ on ferries delay

Neil MacKay’s firm has gone from insulating three to four homes per week to one or two a year.

Contractor: Insulation debacle is ‘unbelievable’

The family's case was raised in the House of Commons.

‘Desperate’ struggle to get family out of Ukraine

The council met on Tuesday to discuss a three per cent rise.

Council tax rise will limit service cuts

The cuts facing the council are "the worst of any in Scotland".

Council cuts threaten ‘irreversible’ damage

There are now even more delays to the construction of new ferries at the nationalised yard. Pic: John Devlin.

Ferry crisis deepens with new delays

The comhairle said the Isles Forum represented an opportunity

Isles Forum is ‘direct route’ to government

CJ Cregg, the fictional press secretary on the global hit The West Wing, a serial drama about the White House, was right when she called for everyone to embrace the vote - or as she colourfully put it: "You've got to rock the vote!"

Turn up the volume, rock the vote

Pairc Trust board member Angus Nicolson introducing author Bob Chalmers and Agnes Rennie from Acair at the book launch in An Lanntair. Pic: Donnie Morrison.

Pairc Estate and its lessons for land reform

The islands housing stock is harder to insulate which means Scotland-wide schemes are unsuitable and leads to increased electricity costs

Islands face growing fuel poverty crisis

Erik Østergaard (left) being appointed as chair of David MacBrayne Limited could not have happened without political buy-in, given the wider controversies.

The Scottish Government quango colonialism must be challenged

HIE and council were able to support key infrastructure projects likes roads and causeways, but they have been stripped of that opportunity through stringent budget cuts. Pic: Nick Smith

Budget is ‘unhelpful and unacceptable’

The Assisted Dying Bill has been brought forward by Orkney MSP Liam MacArthur

Councillors tackle the Assisted Dying Bill

Safely ensconsed in Uig

The refugee journey and adapting to a new place

Sandy was elected convener in 1982

Sandy at 80 – a lifetime of public service

Three councillors have been spoken to in relation to the investigation

Councillors named in Comhairle harassment inquiry
A six-month long investigation into harassment allegations involving Comhairle nan Eilean Siar councillors has now concluded, with three individuals identified as pursuing behaviours which fell below required standards.

Local sports centre staff helped at the Coop in Stornoway during the height of the pandemic, in recognition of the important role the supermarket staff played in keeping food on our plates. But many of the retail staff are still on low wages.

Pandemic highlights societal inequalities

CHANGE OF DIRECTION: After months of insisting that the centralisation plans were the only realistic option, HIAL have now agreed to discuss alternatives. Pic: Ronan Wilson

HIAL finally talk on air traffic control

This cartoon circulating on social media sums up the situation perfectly

Luskentyre is now in the front line of the battle to save crofting’s soul

Compose your thoughts and drop us an email

Incompetence over ferries: I had a ringside seat

Anas Sarwar at the Hebridean Seaweed factory at Arnish, with plant manager Ali Gillies

Sarwar: Politics is too Central Belt focused

Nobody knew more than Aodán about the cross-currents of language, religion and politics in Ireland.

The tangled speech that makes language an Irish political issue

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HIAL board sums up how quangos have been turned against people

Norwegian Benedikte Ranum is encouraging other EU citizen to apply for settled status.

EU citizens have just a few days left to apply to stay in Scotland

Transport plan that rejects island needs

Gavin Berkenheger supporting abattoirs and livestock producers in the islands.

Candidate calls for Outer Hebrides food brand