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Hi ,
In August 2024, Scottish Government minister Angus Robertson sat down with Daniela Grudsky, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK.
It was a meeting that led to massive controversy across Scotland, and exposed significant rifts in the SNP government. But how did it happen?
After a ten-month freedom of information battle, The Ferret can shed new light on why the meeting was set up, and how the Scottish Government tried to manage the PR war around it.
We have revealed details of previously withheld internal emails, Whatsapp chats and partial minutes of the meeting. They show how ministers, advisers and officials across Swinney’s government were involved. Read the full article by tapping below.
This sort of reporting takes tenacity and time, and we can only do it thanks to our members support. To become a member of The Ferret, sign up here. |
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Yours,
Ali |
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Story of the week |
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An in-depth look at a Ferret investigation |
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On a warm summer’s night last August, John Swinney took to the stage at the Edinburgh International Book Festival for a fireside chat with former Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford. Two of the most seasoned veterans of the devolution era, Swinney and Drakeford talked of the importance of “collaborative” politics.
Then a piercing cry rang through the auditorium. “Your party is mingling with genocidal deputy ambassadors,” a young woman shouted.
The event was swiftly ended, and the protester hustled out. She might well have been disappointed to see the first minister on stage. Until days before, the man who she accused of “mingling” with the Israeli government, Angus Robertson, had been due to appear instead.
The photograph of Robertson with the beaming Daniela Grudsky, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK, had that month rocked the Scottish Government and created a schism within the SNP. |
| Read the full story |
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What did we dig up this week? |
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A round up of our investigations in the last seven days |
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Fact check: Online claims about secret Afghan resettlement
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A secret scheme to relocate to the UK thousands of Afghans put at risk by a data breach has been revealed, after a legal block on reporting it was lifted. |
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Question of the week |
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Has the Scottish Government lost credibility over Israel meeting?
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| No |
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Indigenous activists challenging a Nevada mine development have been under surveillance from law enforcement collaborating with private security. (ProPublica) |
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False claims Scottish travel vlogger was killed in West Bank spread online
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A Scottish travel vlogger named Emma Witters has not been killed in the West Bank, as has been claimed online. (Full Fact) |
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