A quote attributed to Reform UK’s Richard Tice has been circulating widely on social media, claiming he plans to strip powers from Holyrood and scrap environmental protections in Scotland. We found no evidence he ever said it

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Richard Tice has publicly backed fracking and criticised environmental levies. That’s on record. But the quote now circulating about dismantling Holyrood powers does not appear in any verified source

A quote attributed to Reform UK’s Richard Tice, pledging to strip powers from Holyrood and revive fracking in Scotland, has been widely shared online. We traced it back to its source. We couldn’t find one. Here's the full fact check 👇

“We kept wondering when it would all come out. We didn’t expect it to take so long”

“Me and others were threatened and intimidated just for having a shred of decency”

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Reform UK’s statements have sparked controversy before. But the viral claim that Richard Tice vowed to remove powers from Holyrood can’t be traced to any verified source. Our verdict explained 👇

A former tour guide says she has shared her experience of alleged bullying at Stirling Castle to ensure no visitor or staff member goes through the same again. Read our investigation: https://www.theferret.scot/bullying-and-discrimination-allegations-keep-coming-at-scandal-hit-heritage-agency

Our journalism is powered by readers. The newsletter is the easiest way to keep up. A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next. Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/wuvdfautjh 

🔴NEW: Former tour guides have come forward with allegations of 'intimidation' and discrimination at Stirling Castle, adding to mounting scrutiny of Historic Environment Scotland.  Read: https://www.theferret.scot/intimidation-and-discrimination-allegations-keep-coming-at-scandal-hit-heritage-agency

If you value journalism that’s sourced, careful, and Scotland-focused, subscribe to The Ferret newsletter for weekly reporting straight to your inbox. Sign up: https://f.mtr.cool/dfqutkwfvq 

Our journalism is powered by readers. The newsletter is the easiest way to keep up. A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next. Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/ujccxwvisf 

Reform UK politicians have claimed Sharia law threatens the British “way of life” and called for “Sharia courts” to be shut down. Our latest piece tests those claims against what actually exists in Scotland https://www.theferret.scot/does-sharia-law-have-an-influence-in-scotland/

Sharia is often portrayed as a shadow court system. In reality, it mostly covers religious practice and family matters such as marriage and divorce. We look at how that works alongside Scots law in our latest De-noiser https://www.theferret.scot/does-sharia-law-have-an-influence-in-scotland/

If you value journalism that’s sourced, careful, and Scotland-focused, subscribe to The Ferret newsletter for weekly reporting straight to your inbox. Sign up: https://f.mtr.cool/agmjrbotxw 

Sharia law does not have legal jurisdiction in Scotland. Scots civil and criminal law apply to everyone. So what is the single Sharia council here actually doing, and who uses it? Our De-noiser breaks it down https://www.theferret.scot/does-sharia-law-have-an-influence-in-scotland/

A 2024 poll by Hope Not Hate found 37% of people believe parts of Britain are “under the control of Sharia law”. We’ve examined how accurate if at all that is in Scotland and what Sharia councils actually do https://www.theferret.scot/does-sharia-law-have-an-influence-in-scotland/

Any earnings Mathieson makes through the second job will supplement one of the biggest pay packets in Scottish higher education, worth more than £400,000. Around 800 staff have already left Edinburgh amid spending cuts. https://www.theferret.scot/edinburgh-job-loss-mathieson/

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Edinburgh’s UCU branch says it has “enormous questions” about why Mathieson’s role is only now declared as paid, despite being asked about it “many months ago” https://www.theferret.scot/edinburgh-job-loss-mathieson/

Edinburgh’s UCU branch says it has “enormous questions” about why Mathieson’s role is only now declared as paid, despite being asked about it “many months ago” https://www.theferret.scot/edinburgh-job-loss-mathieson/

🔴NEW: The principal of the University of Edinburgh has confirmed he is working a paid second job while overseeing cuts that have seen hundreds of staff leave the institution. Read the full story: https://www.theferret.scot/edinburgh-job-loss-mathieson/

🔴NEW: The principal of the University of Edinburgh has confirmed he is working a paid second job while overseeing cuts that have seen hundreds of staff leave the institution. Read the full story: https://www.theferret.scot/edinburgh-job-loss-mathieson/

If you value journalism that’s sourced, careful, and Scotland-focused, subscribe to The Ferret newsletter for weekly reporting straight to your inbox. Sign up: https://f.mtr.cool/nhvndchaqg 

🔴NEW: We reveal behind-the-scenes lobbying over the controversial Coul Links golf plan — backed by two US businessmen. The project was rejected in 2020 over environmental fears. But now transparency concerns are mounting over a revived bid 👉 bit.ly/4kYdMl3

🔴NEW: The Scottish Government has been secretly lobbied to give the go-ahead to one of Scotland’s most fiercely disputed planning applications, according to emails seen by The Ferret. Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4kYdMl3

🔴NEW: The Scottish Government has been secretly lobbied to give the go-ahead to one of Scotland’s most fiercely disputed planning applications, according to emails seen by The Ferret. Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4kYdMl3

Some wind farms falling short on community payments are owned by international finance firms. One is backed by a fund managed by US asset management giant BlackRock. Another traces its ultimate ownership to the Cayman Islands. Read the full story 👉 bit.ly/4rIcDzY

Our journalism is powered by readers. The newsletter is the easiest way to keep up. A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next. Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/fkomeovpcj 

Some wind farms falling short on community payments are owned by international finance firms. One is backed by a fund managed by US asset management giant BlackRock. Another traces its ultimate ownership to the Cayman Islands. Read the full story 👉 bit.ly/4rIcDzY

Dorenell wind farm in Moray is paying just over half what it is expected to locals.  Over 25 years, communities will miss out on nearly £11m. Dorenell is owned by EDF - the French state-backed firm.  Are communities being ripped off? Full story 👉bit.ly/4rIcDzY

A Ferret investigation has found more than 20 Scottish wind farms are paying less money than expected to local communities. The shortfall could add up to more than £50m.  Critics have branded that an "acute injustice". Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4rIcDzY

A Ferret investigation has found more than 20 Scottish wind farms are paying less money than expected to local communities. The shortfall could add up to more than £50m.  Critics have branded that an "acute injustice". Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4rIcDzY

John Carroll says his nighttime rounds are protecting the community. Critics say his “abhorrent” views on Hitler, the Holocaust and race are incompatible with his adopted role. https://www.theferret.scot/self-styled-nightwatchmen-patrol-a-scottish-village-their-leader-is-a-nazi

“There are a lot of questions about this money that need answered. I’m glad OSCR will now look into it.” Yesterday we reported OSRC was launching an inquiry into the CCA following concerns raised from former staff. https://www.theferret.scot/cca-to-be-investigated-over-financial-governance-concerns/

🔴 Posts on social media claimed Swinney had stayed in Mandelson’s residence last year when on a trip to the US.

🔴 Glasgow's CCA, which folded in January, is to be investigated by the Scottish charity regulator over its financial governance. The Ferret has spoken to several former CCA staff members about financial concerns: https://www.theferret.scot/cca-to-be-investigated-over-financial-governance-concerns/

🔴 Glasgow's CCA, which folded in January, is to be investigated by the Scottish charity regulator over its financial governance. The Ferret has spoken to several former CCA staff members about financial concerns: https://www.theferret.scot/cca-to-be-investigated-over-financial-governance-concerns/

Glasgow's CCA, which folded in January, is to be investigated by the Scottish charity regulator over its financial governance.  The Ferret has spoken to several former CCA staff members about financial concerns: https://www.theferret.scot/cca-to-be-investigated-over-financial-governance-concerns/

LGBTQ+ organisations stressed that “there is nothing age inappropriate about being LGBTQ+” and warn that moving books to senior sections or making them harder to access is “deeply concerning” https://www.theferret.scot/books-scottish-schools-librarians/

Campaigners stressed that “there is nothing age inappropriate about being LGBTQ+” and warn that moving books to senior sections or making them harder to access is “deeply concerning” https://www.theferret.scot/books-scottish-schools-librarians/

Some campaigners claimed “chill factor” around LGBTQ+ books evoked the ‘moral panic’ before the introduction of Section 28, a policy brought in by Thatcher’s government in 1988 which aimed to “prohibit the promotion of homosexuality” https://www.theferret.scot/books-scottish-schools-librarians/

🔴NEW: Books are being removed or restricted in Scottish school libraries following complaints, creating a “chilling effect” that campaigners warn threatens both freedom of speech and inclusive education. Read the story: https://www.theferret.scot/books-scottish-schools-librarians/

“These systems are capable of coordinating autonomously, infiltrating communities and fabricating consensus efficiently” https://www.theferret.scot/could-ai-misinformation-sway-the-scottish-election

Global experts warn of “swarms of collaborative, malicious AI agents” able to infiltrate communities and fake consensus. What would that look like in a Scottish election? We took a deep dive into the evidence: https://www.theferret.scot/could-ai-misinformation-sway-the-scottish-election

Bot farms, fake personas and AI-generated slang: one study found 1,300 Iranian-backed accounts pushing political messages into Scottish timelines. What does that mean for Holyrood 2026? Find out more: https://www.theferret.scot/could-ai-misinformation-sway-the-scottish-election

🔴 NEW: Persuasive AI assistants, deepfakes and bots are now commonplace. But could they be used by bad actors to influence Scotland’s elections? As part of our De-noiser series, we took a deep dive into the evidence: https://www.theferret.scot/could-ai-misinformation-sway-the-scottish-election

🔴 NEW: Persuasive AI assistants, deepfakes and bots are now commonplace. But could they be used by bad actors to influence Scotland’s elections? As part of our De-noiser series, we took a deep dive into the evidence: https://www.theferret.scot/could-ai-misinformation-sway-the-scottish-election

"The sea lice problem continues to spiral out of control. Yet the industry continues to downplay the problem without justification" https://www.theferret.scot/salmon-company-lashes-out-at-own-industry-over-honesty-on-lice/