Two weeks today, people across the country will be placing their X in a box for who they perceive to be the least worst option.
Hopefully, our work at The Ferret has already shed light on the campaign, exposing candidates promoting conspiracy theories, the powerful figures behind donations, and fact-checking politicians' claims.
We've got a lot more still to come, so stay tuned to our website, socials and newsletter for more election coverage that goes beyond the headlines.
Yours,
Ali
Story of the week
An in-depth look at a Ferret investigation
An Australian hedge fund billionaire who funded a climate science denial group has given the Conservative Party £366,790 since the last election – including more than £100,000 this year.
Lord Michael Hintze – who was handed a peerage by Boris Johnson in 2022 – is a major financial backer of the Tories who has also donated to the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), which claims to be a “non-partisan think tank”.
The GWPF is not transparent about its funding and stands accused of being a “major source of misinformation about climate change in the UK”.
A round up of our investigations in the last seven days
Claim Scots could face jail time for having unregistered chickens is Half True
A Scottish policy around keeping chickens has been drawn into the international debate around personal freedom and government overreach.
Flamingo Land: £186,000 Tory donor firm failed to pay minimum wage, claims UK Government
The company behind the proposed Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond, which has given nearly £200,000 to the Tories, allegedly failed to pay the minimum wage.
Universities on the edge: How can we solve the funding crisis?
Despite their reputation for excellence, universities in Scotland find themselves in the midst of a growing financial crisis. How should it be tackled?
Explained: Why are Scottish universities worried about money?
In recent months questions have been raised about the viability of the current funding system for Scotland’s higher education sector.
For Fact's Sake
Our misinformation and fact-checking podcast
Election Cast: SNP EU spending,
Reform migration claims, chickens
For this week's election cast, Ali and Paul are looking into the claims which are impacting the campaign over the last seven days.
Did the Scottish Government underspend its EU funding?
Are there more people arriving in the UK than ever?
How are Scottish chickens being caught up in the culture war?
Investigations we've enjoyed from around the world
Fleeing Kabul, chasing gold - the story of a refugee Olympian
Wearing traditional white robes, a patterned tunic and a black face mask, Farzad Mansouri proudly carried the Afghanistan flag at Tokyo. (BBC News)
Project 2025: The US far-right plan to undermine democracy and rights globally
Influential think tank wants next president to roll back rights in US and abroad – and has drafted policies to do so. (openDemocracy)
From Nobel peace prize to civil war: how Ethiopia’s leader beguiled the world
When Abiy Ahmed took power in Ethiopia, he was feted as a unifier and reformer. Two years later, violence was raging. How did people get him so wrong? (Guardian)
