The Scottish government’s draft energy strategy which contains a presumption against new oil and gas exploration is the lead for several of the papers. The Scotsman says it has been billed as a “historic step forward” to meeting climate change goals but that critics have warned it will lead to a “premature” shutting down of the oil and gas industry.
Writing in the Times, the first minister predicts the decision will lead to a jobs boom in renewable energy – but she acknowledges worries people might feel about the impact this will have on the oil and gas industry, particularly in north east Scotland.
The Press and Journal, which is based in the north east, says the SNP has been accused of betraying an industry. The main lead, however, is a report of how a man fractured a woman’s skull in a bottle attack on his partner.
The Herald divides its front page with coverage of several stories – the energy announcements, the teachers’ strike, the planned closure of the Amazon warehouse in Gourock and steps to address the pressures on Scotland’s hospitals.
The Daily Record describes Amazon’s plans to shut the Gourock “fulfilment centre” with the loss of 300 jobs as a devastating blow to a town which already faces high unemployment.
The National focuses on a motion passed at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday which calls on the UK government to respect Scotland’s right to hold another independence referendum.
Grim figures on NHS waiting times are the lead for the Scottish Daily Express which reports that a record 2,500 patients waited longer than 12 hours to be seen in A&E last week.
The UK government’s plans to limit strikes by ensuring “minimum service levels” in the public sector is the lead for the i newspaper. The front page also outlines Scottish government plans to spend £8m buying up extra care home beds to relieve pressures on hospitals.
The proposed limits on strike action put the UK government at odds with Nicola Sturgeon, reports the Metro. The paper says the first minister has vowed to fight the plan “every step of the way”.
The Courier’s Perthshire edition leads on tributes to a Dunkeld man – described as a gentle giant – who fell to his death from a bridge in New Zealand on Christmas Day.
The Scottish Sun, along with its UK edition, claims an exclusive by revealing how a shipment of uranium was seized at Heathrow. The paper says counter terrorism police and the security services are investigating the incident.
Some Scottish hospitals are operating a “one in, one out” policy, reports the Scottish edition of the Daily Telegraph. The main headline is on comments from the chairman of the US central bank that the independence of national financial institutions should not be undermined by getting involved in “social issues” such as climate change.
According to the Edinburgh Evening News, the city’s council was prepared to provide up to £17.6m as part of its failed bid to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to Scotland’s capital, despite facing severe pressures on its budget. Had Edinburgh been picked as host city, the event would have been held at the Royal Highland Centre, the papers reports.
Aberdeen’s Evening Express reports that a dangerous sex offender has been returned to prison after targeting another girl.
The Glasgow Times carries tributes to Celtic’s oldest season ticket holder who has died at the age of 101.
Dundee’s Evening Telegraph reports on the case of a former nurse convicted of child sex offences who has cancer and is asking to be spared jail time.
The Daily Star of Scotland tells how a former bus ticket collector has used his redundancy money to finance a new role as an Elvis impersonator
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