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Ian Mcconnell

Ian Mcconnell

Herald Scotland

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Ian McConnell: Does the SNP face an impossible task? This might feel at times like an impossible task for the SNP

Consumers’ continuing voracious appetite for overseas holidays has been thrown into stark relief again in recent days. easyJet last Wednesday...

yesterday 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Will SNP government ever be able to please business community?

As the Scottish Budget looms, large segments of the business community appear to be oozing discontent. It is fair to say relations between the...

29.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: What did Jet2 tell us about what's going on with package holidays? The package holiday giant and airline’s latest results made for fascinating reading

Package holiday giant and airline Jet2’s latest results made for fascinating reading. The general tone around the economy, notably including from...

27.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Time to face up to the Brexit consequences It is time to face up to the Brexit consequences, as those who dare to point them out draw flak

Brexit has been sharply in focus again in the aftermath of Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey having offered his tuppence worth on something that,...

25.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Why free university tuition is crucial to Scotland Those listening to critics of free university tuition might be forgiven for thinking Scottish universities were in danger of being sent back to the Stone Age

The topic of free university tuition for people in Scotland has been back in the headlines in recent days. It is never that far from the headlines...

22.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Home truths infuriate in-denial Brexiters It says much about the in-denial Brexiters that a simple statement of fact has set the cat among the pigeons

It says much about the in-denial Brexiters that a simple statement of fact from the Bank of England Governor, made in the most cautious of ways, has...

20.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Huge developments for Scottish airports

It has been a big week for Scottish airports. Last Monday, Prestwick Airport revealed that it had made a fifth consecutive annual profit. This is...

18.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: What will major change mean for Glasgow and Aberdeen airports?

News that the owner of Glasgow and Aberdeen airports is being acquired by one of Canada’s largest pension investors came somewhat out of the blue...

15.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Hopefully Prestwick Airport’s corrosive detractors are happy now? Hopefully the corrosive carpers over Prestwick Airport are happy now?

It was extremely heartening to learn on Monday that Prestwick Airport had achieved a fifth consecutive year of profit. You would imagine this news...

13.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Center Parcs and Oban hotelier give us something to cheer

Tourism has been very much in focus in Scotland in the last week, in a positive way. Donald Trump’s presidential election victory naturally...

11.11.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Would first Center Parcs Scottish village be good for Borders? Center Parcs has revealed plans to build a huge holiday village in the Scottish Borders

It would be difficult to overstate the scale of the employment and economic boost to the Scottish Borders promised by Center Parcs. The holiday...

08.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Scottish seaside hotel manager's observations grab attention The observations of the hotel manager in the seaside town grabbed the attention

The rallying call from an Oban hotel manager, hammering home the importance of driving winter tourism at seaside towns such as the one in which he...

06.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Hotelier in Scotland's Town of the Year urges year-round seaside tourism drive 'In fact, we do get guests staying looking for a true Scottish experience - including the weather'

It is “vital” hoteliers play their part in ensuring tourism in some of Scotland’s “most iconic locations” can be sustained year-round, a...

04.11.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Not a happy situation for UK, which does not have its troubles to seek For the avoidance of doubt, that is a very big effect. And it is not a happy one for a UK economy that does not have its troubles to seek

It has been quite a week, with Rachel Reeves delivering a seismic Budget. Given the number of Budgets and other fiscal events during years of...

04.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: ‘Their Brexit deal’? But Labour has opted for 'scandalous destruction' 'It was good to hear the Chancellor acknowledge the truth of the Brexit situation'

Rachel Reeves mentioned Brexit briefly in her Budget speech. Referring to the Conservatives, she declared: “Their Brexit deal harmed British...

01.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Amid a flurry of Budgets, this was a very big one We have had a flurry of Budgets and other fiscal events in recent years amid much political volatility and upheaval but this one stood out

Rachel Reeves’ Budget felt like a very big one indeed, with a major call in hiking employers’ national insurance contributions by £25 billion a...

30.10.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Grim numbers for SNP Government but it has right to be aggrieved

The latest survey of the attitude of businesses to the Scottish Government surely makes for miserable reading for the SNP. The findings are stark. ...

30.10.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Labour embraces colossal damage, rejects solutions The elephant in the room has been looming large but Keir Starmer has continued to studiously ignore it

The elephant in the room has been looming large but Sir Keir Starmer has continued to studiously ignore it. That elephant, for anyone who has...

28.10.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Beware – surge in house prices is double-edged sword The surge in Scottish and UK house prices is a double-edged sword

While the overall mood has been more than gloomy amid some grim signals from the new Labour Government on what the October 30 Budget might hold, this...

25.10.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Wakey, wakey Sir Keir - you should see this

What business most wants to see from the new Labour Government, revealed in a survey published this week, should provide much food for thought for...

23.10.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Trepidation over UK Budget grows

As we await the new Labour Government’s Budget on October 30, there seems like a lot more gloom and trepidation than hope when it comes to the...

14.10.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Nauseating and excruciating in equal measure

It has been nauseating and excruciating in broadly equal measure to observe Boris Johnson trying to claim Brexit has somehow been positive as he has...

11.10.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: He makes Rev. I.M. Jolly look upbeat

To say that Sir Keir Starmer has made Rikki Fulton’s Reverend I.M. Jolly character look upbeat would not be too much of a stretch. And at least...

09.10.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Storm over Scottish rail fares has missed the point Peak rail fares have been the subject of some very heated debate

The return of peak rail fares has been the subject of some very heated debate in the last week. It is, as noted in my column in The Herald on...

07.10.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: The sad story of Grangemouth The effect of job losses on this scale must not be underestimated

Even though it was an eventuality well trailed by Petroineos back in November, confirmation last month Grangemouth oil refinery would be closing was...

05.10.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Laughable Labour should put money where mouth is on ScotRail fares It has been difficult not to be aghast at Scottish Labour’s bellyaching about the decision by the SNP Government to reintroduce peak fares at ScotRail

It has been difficult this week not to be aghast at Scottish Labour’s criticism of the decision by the SNP Government to reintroduce peak fares at...

04.10.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Whisky giant not shouting from rooftops. So what’s going on? The Scotch whisky giant appeared to adopt an understated approach

Scotch whisky distiller William Grant & Sons unveiled its latest financial results in a somewhat understated manner this week. In a press release,...

02.10.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: A demoralising leader but some good news on Scotland nonetheless The Prime Minister continues to demoralise but there has been some good news on Scotland, and a blockbuster Scotch whisky deal

The sale of The Famous Grouse Scotch whisky brand has certainly been among the most eye-catching developments in the last week, from a Scottish...

30.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Terrible omission by a timid Government with its head in the sand Prime Minister and his Government sticking with heads in the sand stance on Brexit

Sir Keir Starmer mentioned “Brexit” just once in his speech to the Labour Party Conference this week - in the context of immigration. It was...

27.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: What really drove sale of famous Scotch whisky brand?

It has seemed that Scotch whisky distiller Edrington has in recent times been making much less noise about The Famous Grouse than it did in the past. ...

25.09.2024 30

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Should hands be raised in horror over major Scottish income tax move? From a business and economic perspective, we have seen plenty of turbulence and mistakes since

Last Wednesday saw the 10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum. In some ways, it seems like it was not that long ago. However, in...

23.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. Labour has embraced two of the major failed policies of the Conservatives

The new Labour Government has been in full spin cycle since taking power but, two-and-a-half months on from its election victory, it has yet to come...

20.09.2024 5

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Income tax reality at odds with hysterical Scottish Government critics For the more hysterical of the Scottish Government’s critics, it might have come as something of a surprise

For the more hysterical of the Scottish Government’s critics, a survey on businesses’ views of how devolved income tax policy has affected them...

18.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Nothing to raise hopes in grim Grangemouth revelations The Grangemouth refinery closure has been in the spotlight

Petroineos’s announcement of the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery might have been all but inevitable but it was absolutely grim nonetheless. ...

16.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: The cold financial decisions that sounded death knell There was an inevitability about the closure but this makes it no less devastating

The Grangemouth oil refinery is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s most famous industrial sites. On a school trip to the site some decades ago, when it...

12.09.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Why narrow-minded Labour bang out of order on winter fuel payments The new Labour Government is looking ever more like a miserly householder gripping their money in both hands and holding it tightly into their chest

The new Labour Government is, with every day that passes, looking ever more like a miserly householder gripping their money in both hands and holding...

11.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: North Sea alarm bells ring as Brexit woe drags on

It has not felt like the most uplifting of weeks on the business and economic front. This is no great surprise, given the miserable UK economic...

09.09.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Spotlight on ScotRail as return of peak fares looms

The Scottish Government’s decision to reintroduce peak train fares at ScotRail has been among the big stories of the last month. It was revealed...

07.09.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Starmer hopeless on Brexit as overtures hit bum note This is a great pity – they have obviously been entirely innocent bystanders in the UK’s great Brexit farce

UK touring musicians should not hold their breath for any kind of easing of the nightmare bureaucracy that Boris Johnson’s hard Brexit has brought...

06.09.2024 4

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Pussyfooting Labour like bull in a china shop on North Sea oil

To say that the new Labour Government has been pussyfooting about in lamentable ways in key areas would be quite the understatement. However, in one...

04.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

PM shies away from what needs to be done, good news for Scotland The Prime Minister is shying away from doing what needs to be done on Brexit

Sir Keir Starmer has had quite the week. Firstly, last Tuesday, we had the eventual delivery of a well-trailed speech in the garden of Downing...

02.09.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Labour leader ‘absolutely clear’ on Europe - you’re kidding, right?

Sir Keir Starmer says he is “absolutely clear” the UK Government wants to “reset” relations with the European Union. However, those who know...

30.08.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

'Resilient' Scottish economy hailed but 'Brexit 'challenges' warning Kate Forbes said she looked forward to working with the UK Government on the 'challenges', and flagged the effect of Brexit

The Scottish economy grew by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter in the three months to June, matching the UK-wide rate of expansion, official figures published...

28.08.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Labour leader sounds sadly like David Cameron in 2010 and has made big mistakes The Labour leader claimed there is 'no choice'. This is not so

Reading the trail of Sir Keir Starmer’s speech over the weekend, and listening to it today, it was difficult to shake the notion that we were back...

27.08.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Spotlight falls on two major issues for Scotland The Scottish oil services company and the Scottish Government's big call on train fares at ScotRail have been in the spotlight

Aberdeen oil services company Wood, one of Scotland’s big publicly quoted companies, was in focus last week as it delivered results hard on the...

26.08.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: The bottom line on SNP's disappointing peak rail fares call It was certainly disappointing to hear peak train fares were being reintroduced at ScotRail

It was certainly disappointing to hear this week that peak train fares were being reintroduced from late next month at the Scottish Government’s...

23.08.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Scottish Government has made nation unattractive - really? There are those who at times seem determined at every opportunity to present Scotland as an unattractive place

There are those who at times seem determined at every opportunity to present Scotland as an unattractive place in which to invest, and some of them...

21.08.2024 30

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Good for Scotland but Labour favours Tory millstones it remains truly baffling why Labour chose to keep these two huge Tory millstones

The last week has seen some welcome reassurance on a couple of quite different fronts. Royal Bank of Scotland’s latest growth tracker report...

19.08.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Airline and holiday giant's price rises eye-catching. Here's why. This is playing a very important part in the comeback of the overseas travel sector

As the end of summer comes into sight, it looks as if the UK’s overseas travel sector remains in impressively solid shape and particularly so given...

16.08.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Ian McConnell: Good news for those keen to see Scotland flourish Scotland’s progress on several other key measures was also good news, at least from the viewpoint of anyone who wants to see the nation flourish

There was much to be cheerful about, from a Scottish perspective, in Royal Bank of Scotland’s latest growth tracker report published this week. ...

14.08.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

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