Insights & news.

The dust has settled on the general election and, following a disciplined and professionally executed campaign, voters overwhelmingly opted for the “change” Labour offered. The party corralled its pitch around five “missions”, the most hotly debated of which was the pledge to make Britain a clean energy superpower. To ensure this mission is accomplished, Sir Keir Starmer said his government will establish GB Energy, a state-backed energy company, here in Scotland.

On Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer made Scotland the first stop on his inaugural tour of the UK since becoming Prime Minister. The trip was nominally about delivering a ‘reset’ in relations between the UK and Scottish governments, which had grown particularly strained in the latter years of the Conservative administration. Starmer’s visit was also about reassuring the Scottish electorate, which heavily backed the Labour party once again, that he would continue to value them now the votes have been counted. But the visit also reflected the changing dynamic between the Scottish and UK Labour parties, and the growing importance of the Scottish leader Anas Sarwar, who is now the most powerful Labour figure outside the cabinet. As the two leaders embraced in front of Edinburgh Castle, it was clear that Scottish Labour – and particularly Sarwar himself – are now central to the success of the Starmer project.

It was a very sore night for the SNP. As seat after seat was swept away by an incoming Labour tide, party insiders had to face the possibility that they might be left with fewer seats on Friday than predicted by even the most pessimistic opinion poll. In the end, the SNP went from 48 seats to just nine (with one still to declare as of writing). Labour, by contrast, have been toasting an historic victory in Scotland that surpassed its own expectations. In the cold light of day, the SNP needs to take stock and acknowledge a few home truths.

As the General Election campaign moves into its closing stages, observers could be forgiven for stifling a yawn. After their most accident-prone campaign in living memory, the Tories are now circling the electoral plughole and will probably be relieved when it’s all over. Labour are on the home straight with success all but inevitable, a win of historic proportions on the cards, but their campaign too has been fairly muted, even dull, missing much sense of the hope and optimism that accompanied their victory in 1997. It doesn’t matter too much – a win’s a win – and in fact, modest expectations will probably work to their advantage once they have taken their places on the Government benches in the House of Commons.

Fresh from his success appearing alongside Big Brother star Davina McCall at Aberdeen’s Music Hall, consultant psychiatrist and TV expert Dr T used his high-energy delivery to blow away the brain fog during another M-Word menopause awareness event for senior businesswomen. Organised by Aileen Easton, Chief Corporate Affairs Advisor at True North Advisors, and Shona Macaskill, of Gary Walker Wealth Management, the “M-Word” event at ONE Bio-Hub drew an audience from across the North-East. As well as a discussion about the science of brain fog, audience members also had the opportunity to put any questions on all aspects of the menopause to Dr Isla MacAffer, a GP at New Dyce and a wellness expert – who also happens to be Dr T’s wife. Aileen Easton, of True North Advisors, said....

Three-quarters of Scots support domestic oil and gas production from the North Sea, according to new polling released today by True North. Less than a month out from the general election, the data shows 75% would rather see the UK meet its energy demands from domestic sources than import from overseas. The Scotland-wide polling, carried out by Survation, comes as the sector takes centre-stage in the ongoing election campaign, while the UK’s energy production hits the lowest level on record since 1948. By a factor of 4 to 1, people see energy companies operating in the North Sea as an economic force for good, according to the polling. That’s despite news of one of Scotland’s largest new oil projects, Buchan in the Moray Firth, has had its production pushed back by a year due to general election uncertainty.

True North has announced the appointment of four new expert advisors to expand its offer as a full-service communications, public affairs, business advocacy and marketing firm. Ryan Crighton, the hugely respected Director of Policy & Marketing at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, will join the firm as a Senior Partner, launching True North’s new marketing division and taking an ownership stake in the business.

Labour lead the pack among voters in Scotland with little over five weeks until the country goes to the polls, according to new figures published today by True North. 36% of Scots are set to back Labour in a Westminster vote, with the party continuing to extend its lead in Scotland. The SNP could expect to win a 32% share of the vote — six points down on where they stood just two months ago. The survey, conducted by Survation between 23 and 27 May, shows Conservative and Liberal Democrat support largely unchanged at 17% and 9%. These figures demonstrate that “Labour now have a clear lead in Westminster vote intentions for the first time since the 2014 independence referendum”, according to polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice. On these figures the SNP would suffer considerable losses across central belt Scotland, reduced to a group of just 16 MPs. Labour would return the largest number of MPs from north of the border, with 28 candidates elected. The Conservatives meanwhile are projected to return eight MPs, with the Lib Dems sweeping up the remaining five seats out of a total of 57...

Geoff recently chaired and moderated a roundtable discussion in Aberdeen with First Minister John Swinney at Energy Transition Zone Ltd’s W-Zero-1 building on the importance of the North East of Scotland’s role in driving sustainable economic growth for the regional and wider Scottish and U.K economies. The roundtable included senior business leaders representing the region’s Life Sciences, Digital, Energy, Academic, Cultural, Food, Drink & Agriculture sectors as the First Minister made his first visit to the City since taking office. Attendees had the opportunity to raise both the opportunities and challenges their respective organisation’s face and all were steadfast in their long term commitment to contribute to the region’s continued success...