Publication
‘North Sea green light could bring in £10.8bn’
THE Labour government has been warned that failure to approve the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields in the North Sea could cost the UK 3,330 jobs a year along with a loss to the economy of £10.8 billion over the next decade. Analysis commissioned by...
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Port celebrating a record 54,000 in cruise visitors
CRUISE ships are opening up an “ocean of opportunity” for north-east tourism as Port of Aberdeen welcomed a record number of visitors over the summer. A total of 71 vessels brought 54,000 passengers to the city – a huge jump of 26% on last year’s...
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Silence as owner of mill linked to sanctioned bank
QUESTIONS have been raised over the future of an A-listed former textiles mill after a Russian bank linked to the property’s owner had its assets frozen by the UK Government. Broadford Works in Aberdeen was bought by Ferness Investment Holdings Ltd...
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FAI ruling: Police had chances to save Jamie
A SHERIFF has identified four key failings in police’s handling of a 999 incident that ended with a torture victim falling to his death from an Aberdeen high rise. The ruling of a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) was published yesterday almost 1,000 days...
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Brutal killer of Dr Brenda Page dies in prison
Street flat on the morning of July 14 1978. The 32-year-old had been viciously battered to death with a blunt instrument. Harrisson, who married Brenda in 1972, always denied murdering his ex-wife. But police investigators had him in their sights from...
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‘Region is losing millions due to transition delays’
THE UK and Scottish governments are hampering “confidence and investment” in wind power in the northeast, an industry chief has claimed. Energy Transition Zone boss Maggie McGinley made the claim as she addressed hundreds of industry figures at an...
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Thug attempted to injure officers in knife rampage
A THUG with a knife only stopped his rampage on an Aberdeen street after he was run over by a police vehicle, hit with batons, bitten by a police dog and tasered. Linas Luopas, 29, admitted five assault charges during an appearance at the High Court...
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Yuill: We’re open to idea of a rethink on bus gates
CITY council co-leader Ian Yuill has told The Press and Journal he would welcome a rethink over Aberdeen’s controversial bus gates. Lib Dem Mr Yuill has spent years defending the traffic ban – despite local traders warning it was harming footfall and...
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Strike ‘threat to UK’s fuel supply’
POTENTIAL strike action by 160 North Sea workers could “severely affect the UK’s fuel supplies”, union chiefs have claimed. The offshore employees at Apache have backed industrial action in a row over pay. The dispute involves workers on seven of the...
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Broch grieves for ‘caring’ crash teen
A NORTH-EAST community has united in grief after a “loving, caring and kind-hearted” teenager died in a crash. An 18-year-old motorcyclist, named locally as Kian White, pictured, from Fraserburgh, was killed in the collision with a van in the Buchan...
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Bogus doctor at ARI had access to medical files
A CRUEL fraudster has admitted pretending to be a doctor to gain access to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) to access medical files and restricted areas of the hospital. Stephen Byres Simpson, pictured, convinced ARI staff for almost two months in late...
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Bid to oust ACC co-leader moves into courtroom
POLITICAL opponents of Christian Allard have accused Aberdeen’s lord provost of “frustrating” a bid to oust the council co-leader. Seven councillors, who hope to hold a vote of no confidence in Mr Allard, have taken Aberdeen City Council to court to...
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PM siphons GB Energy’s budget for grid venture
A NORTH-EAST business leader has hit out at plans to use the GB Energy budget for a new government body to drive investment in the electricity grid. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, left, yesterday unveiled proposals for the new publicly-owned GB Grid at...
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Cash warning to stop violence in city classrooms
ABERDEEN City Council chiefs have been given a three-week deadline to find funds to tackle violence in city classrooms or risk “escalation” in their dispute with teachers. The EIS union issued the demand following talks with education bosses last...
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A&E ‘critical incident’ is declared at city hospital
NHS Grampian declared a critical incident as Aberdeen Royal Infirmary faced a “challenging weekend” amid capacity issues and a local holiday. The emergency department, along with Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, was under strain over the...
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‘City can be part of sporting elite’
ROBERT Gordon’s College has launched a £3 million programme to cement its status as “one of the top sporting schools” in the country. Bosses at the Aberdeen institution hope new facilities, including a third artificial pitch and indoor sports...
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Swinney praises ‘vital’ Fresh Start survey findings
PRESS & Journal readers’ comments on the state of business in their communities send a very clear message, John Swinney has said. The first minister was given the full findings from our in-depth Fresh Start survey and he said that he hopes to use the...
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Revived housing site ‘could bring £35m of work’
A HOUSING development on a site once being built by Stewart Milne could bring around £35 million of work to local contractors and suppliers. Cala Homes purchased the Portlethen location for £6.1m from administrators appointed after Stewart Milne...
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‘Remarkable energy skills in region’
• King pays tribute to ‘genius’ north-east sector during visit • Charles officially unveils GB Energy HQ in Aberdeen • Monarch opens £10 million ETZ EnergyWorks
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‘Future of oil and gas is at the heart of my PM talks’
NEW Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has told The Press and Journal he plans to use his role to champion the North Sea workforce in his discussions with the prime minister. Mr Marra will now have a closer working relationship with Andy Burnham...
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‘My estranged father’s sex messages to me were inhumane’
Ayoung north-east woman who reached out to her estranged father after decades apart has spoken of her devastation after discovering he was a vile sexual predator who wanted to target her. Paedophile William John MacKinnon was jailed last week for a...
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1,200 homes for city after firm strikes uni land deal
A NORTH-EAST construction firm has sealed a deal with Aberdeen University that paves the way for 1,200 new city homes to be built. Bancon Homes has secured more than 100 hectares of land at the former home of the Rowett Institute for the next phase of...
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Firms owed by failed BrewDog ‘to get nothing’
DOZENS of north-east businesses owed millions from the collapse of BrewDog will receive not a penny back, administrators have revealed. The Ellon craft beer giant went under this year with debts at more than £550m. Unsecured creditors for the retail...
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‘Region has skills to be global force for energy future’
ABERDEEN and the north-east can build on its decades of success in oil and gas to become Eu rope’s “capital of energy excellence”, a campaign launched today insists. T he initiative – led by Aberdeen-based public affairs, strategic communications and...
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Plans for old Debenhams store take up pole position
THE former Debenhams store in Aberdeen is under starter’s orders to become a new entertainment hub with go-karts, a restaurant and a pub. The unit in the Trinity Centre could be brought back to life after five years sitting vacant under the bold...
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‘Scrap windfall tax and unlock 111 new projects’
● OEUK: Accelerating EPL change will pump billions into the North Sea ● Industry body also warns delay on Jackdaw is risk to UK energy security
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Shire businesses ‘can help Union Street to thrive’
BRINGING Aberdeenshire traders into the city centre could turn around Union Street’s future, according to a retail expert. Jonathan De Mello has been brought in by Aberdeen Inspired to assess ways to fill empty stores in Aberdeen. In a newly released...
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‘Church sex abuse ordeal has robbed me of a childhood’
THE victim of a child sex abuse scandal at a north-east church has told how the case has haunted his teenage years. He spoke to The P&J after the charity watchdog found “weaknesses” and “deficiencies” in the safeguarding governance of the charity...
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Council tax rise rethink over empty shire homes
NORTH-EAST homeowners could be given a reprieve from paying triple council tax on second properties. Aberdeenshire Council is cracking down on the number of long-term empty houses across the region. In the local authority’s 2026 budget, it was agreed...
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‘UK has to pick up pace on renewables and halt oil slump’
FIRST Minister John Swinney yesterday said he is “troubled” by the sharp decline in the oil and gas industry during a visit to Aberdeen. Mr Swinney was in the Granite City to announce new allocations of cash from the Scottish Government’s Just...
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Council to pay £100k for Trinity escalator
ABERDEEN City Council has agreed to help fund the Trinity Centre’s plan for a new escalator, deeming it good for the city centre. The £100,000 pledged by the local authority will be matched by bosses at the shopping centre – although questions were...
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Minister won’t be tried over ‘£1,500 of drugs in manse’
A SUSPENDED Aberdeenshire minister will no longer face prosecution over an alleged £1,500 cocaine haul that was found in his manse, The Press and Journal can reveal. All charges have been dropped against former Fetteresso Church minister the Rev Mark...
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FM: Patients in the north-east are at heart of NHS plan
JOHN Swinney says improving outcomes for patients in the north-east is central to the Scottish Government’s plans to merge 14 health boards into just two. The first minister last week announced NHS Grampian would become part of an east coast...
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Government ‘set to give go-ahead’ to Jackdaw plan
APPROVING the Jackdaw gasfield will prove Prime Minister Andy Burnham is serious about backing the energy sector, a business chief has claimed. Yesterday, it was revealed by government and sector sources that the proposed gas field will be given the...
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NHS boss claims new super-board will solve delays getting treatment
THE chief executive of NHS Grampian has said the proposed NHS Scotland East health board will benefit patients. Laura Skaife-Knight, who is playing a key role in the new-look “super-board”, has said work already under way has seen a “coordinated...
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Police probe as woman’s body found in house
POLICE have launched a huge investigation over the mysterious death of a woman in her Ellon home. Officers were called to the property in the Aberdeenshire town’s Blench Drive on Monday after reports of concern for a person. A 50-year-old woman was...
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NHS split down middle in SNP’s ‘radical’ plans
FULL BREAKDOWN AND REACTION TO PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT:
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Man ‘threatened to assassinate Trump on north-east trip’
AN Aberdeen man has appeared at the city’s sheriff court accused of threatening to assassinate US president Donald Trump. Volodymyr Soviak is alleged to have sent emails that made “unambiguous” threats to harm the global leader just days before he was...
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‘Super-pylon’ neighbours offered £2.5k energy boost
RESIDENTS of the north-east who live within 500 metres of “super pylons” could be given cash to help pay their energy bills for 10 years. The UK Government made the announcement as a way to help families impacted by the 400Kv overhead lines. But...
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NHS bosses told to find £38m cuts in 12 weeks
NHS Grampian bosses have been given three months to find an extra £38 million in savings. The financially-stricken health board was put under the highest level of Scottish Government scrutiny in May 2025 after lurching heavily into the red. Bosses...
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Protest pair are arrested as tech firm HQ trashed
TWO pro-Palestine protesters have been arrested after the offices of a tech firm were smashed up in an overnight rampage. According to the group behind the action, the Ultra I&C unit in Westhill was broken into around 3am yesterday. Press and Journal...
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Hammer killer ‘could die in jail’
A DOMESTIC abuser who bludgeoned a mum-of-three to death in an Aberdeen flat may never be released from prison, a court has told him. Joseph Greer was given a life sentence at the High Court in Dundee yesterday for the murder of Samantha Lee at a...
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City officer’s police career is ‘over’ after stalking case
AN Aberdeen police sergeant’s career is “over” after he admitted stalking a woman. Ricky Burr, who had a two-decade career with the police, met the social worker professionally, after which he relentlessly stalked her, despite repeated requests to...
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Major energy firm to move out of city centre to new HQ
THE new owner of Petrofac Asset Solutions will close its current headquarters in Aberdeen and relocate later this year. Petrofac’s North Sea-focused business was bought by CB&I last year after the parent company went into administration. Around 3,000...
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Ex-M&S shop roof is being ‘propped up’ as talks go on
MARKS & Spencer will have to bear the cost of demolishing its closed St Nicholas Street store alone, council bosses have said. Talks with Aberdeen City Council about the “future ownership” of the building are continuing, senior figures have suggested,...
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Oil and gas bosses make drilling plea after BP exit
ENERGY bosses have appealed for government ministers to approve Jackdaw and Rosebank following BP’s exit from the North Sea. Last week the sector was left stunned by the announcement that the firm plans to sell its Aberdeen shares after more than 60...
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New council chief to be ‘in the city every day’
THE new Aberdeen City Council chief executive should be “on the ground in the city” every day, the chairman of the recruitment committee has said. Councillor Alex McLellan, who serves as the finance convener as well as chairman of the appointment...
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BP blow reignites call to scrap EPL
PRIME Minister Andy Burnham faced renewed calls to scrap the windfall tax after BP yesterday announced it was seeking to sell its North Sea operations after 60 years of drilling there. Some 1,100 staff work in that arm of the energy giant’s business...
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£900k bid to sell city to a global audience
ABERDEEN City Council chiefs are planning to use £900,000 of tourist tax cash to hire experts to help attract even more visitors from around the world. The Aberdeen Visitor Levy – a 7% additional charge on overnight accommodation bills – is due to...
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Runners quick off the mark for marathon spots
A STAGGERING 85% of places for next year’s new Aberdeen Marathon have been snapped up already – just days after the route was announced. The recent half-marathon was such a huge success a full 26.2-mile race has also been added for 2027 along with a...
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City’s Beach Ballroom in line for £1m renovation
NEW papers have revealed Aberdeen City Council’s plans for the Beach Ballroom. The documents show that bosses at the local authority hope to spend £1.39 million to restore sections of the A-listed building that are in most need of repairs, including...
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Sir Ian Wood
Sir Ian Wood has been remembered as a “true guiding light” of Scotland’s business community following his death at 84. The Wood Group founder and philanthropist died peacefully at his north-east home with his family by his side. As well as being a...
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Thainstone reveals bold masterplan for its future
BOSSES at Thainstone Centre have unveiled their 10-year masterplan to revamp one of Europe’s largest livestock auction hubs. ANM Group is plotting major changes to the site near Inverurie – including a “bespoke” showring and an upgraded concourse to...
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‘Playpark can reel in cruise families’
ABERDEEN’S beachfront playpark could help drive a surge in family-focused cruise tourism, industry chiefs believe. The multi-million-pound seaside attraction, pictured, is set to open later this year. It comes as the city continues to attract more...
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Fahnbulleh trip to city lifts hopes of positive talks
NORTH Sea bosses said they and the new energy secretary share a “common purpose” over jobs and investment after she made a flying visit to Aberdeen yesterday. Miatta Fahnbulleh, pictured, met Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) and other representatives from...
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Lady Helen giving back to north-east with £2m per year
ABERDEEN philanthropist Lady Helen Wood wants to create a charitable “legacy” in the north-east by giving £2 million a year to good causes. In an exclusive interview with The Press and Journal, Lady Helen, pictured, told how she wants to improve the...
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North Sea chiefs urge Fahnbulleh to deliver change
NORTH Sea bosses are looking forward to working with the new energy secretary amid hopes she will follow a “different path” forward for the industry in Andy Burnham’s Labour government. The new prime minister named Miatta Fahnbulleh as successor to...
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Burnham puts the fate of North Sea in rookie MP’s. hands
NEW Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shifted Ed Miliband away from steering the future of the North Sea as he handed the energy secretary job to a rookie MP. Mr Burnham made a raft of sweeping changes to the Cabinet in his first day in power...
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