Simeon Kerr
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simeonkerr.bsky.social
Simeon Kerr
@simeonkerr.bsky.social
Scotland correspondent, former Gulf correspondent - Financial Times
UK ministers accuse Exxon of failing to engage constructively over Scottish plant

US oil group cancelled meetings during talks to save Mossmorran ethylene unit, official correspondence claims
UK ministers accuse Exxon of failing to engage constructively over Scottish plant
[FREE TO READ] US oil group cancelled meetings during talks to save ethylene unit, official correspondence claims
on.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:59 PM
ExxonMobil to close Scottish chemicals plant with loss of 200 jobs

US oil major blames difficult market conditions and UK policy environment
ExxonMobil to close Scottish chemicals plant with loss of 200 jobs
[FREE TO READ] US oil major blames difficult market conditions and UK policy environment
on.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Simeon Kerr
Email. It's the latest thing, and we're on it.

on.ft.com/49pcgVk
FT Alphaville is finally getting a Substack
Stacking subs
on.ft.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Wood Group investors back cut-price takeover by UAE’s Sidara

Dubai-based company set to finally win control of ailing Aberdeen engineering business for fraction of its initial offer
Wood Group investors back cut-price takeover by UAE’s Sidara
[FREE TO READ] Dubai-based company set to finally win control of ailing engineering business for fraction of its initial offer
on.ft.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Scotland to pay borrowing premium in £1.5bn bond market push

Deputy first minister Kate Forbes says extra cost of ‘kilts’ issuance worth it to build credibility with investors
Scotland to pay borrowing premium in £1.5bn bond market push
[FREE TO READ] Deputy first minister Kate Forbes says extra cost of ‘kilts’ issuance worth it to build credibility with investors
on.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Simeon Kerr
'Kilts' on the horizon...

Scotland given same credit rating as UK ahead of planned inaugural bond
www.ft.com/content/37bb...
by @simeonkerr.bsky.social + me
a man with blue paint on his face is riding a horse with a sword .
ALT: a man with blue paint on his face is riding a horse with a sword .
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Scotland given same credit rating as UK ahead of debut ‘kilts’ sale

S&P and Moody’s award Edinburgh investment-grade status as it plans first bond issue since late 17th century
Scotland given same credit rating as UK ahead of debut ‘kilts’ sale
[FREE TO READ] S&P and Moody’s award Edinburgh investment-grade status as it plans first bond issue since late 17th century
on.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
‘We cannot survive — there is no new land.’
Why Scotland is not building enough homes

Housebuilders want government to ease regulations and do more to help councils deal with acute shortage of planners
‘We cannot survive — there is no new land.’ Why Scotland is not building enough homes
[FREE TO READ] Housebuilders want government to ease regulations and do more to help councils deal with acute shortage of planners
on.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Chancellor Rachel Reeves could scrap a windfall profits levy on UK oil and sooner than expected, after Keir Starmer said he wanted to “double down” on North Sea extraction.

Reeves is considering ending epl in Mar 2029 — reversing a decision in last Budget to extend it by a year to Mar 2030
Rachel Reeves looks at early scrapping of windfall tax on UK oil and gas sector
[FREE TO READ] Chancellor seeks assurances from industry that the move would boost investment in the North Sea
on.ft.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Scottish government’s bid to break up giant rural estates ‘too complex’

Critics say SNP’s ‘bureaucratic’ land reform bill will fail in its aim to benefit local communities
Scottish government’s bid to break up giant rural estates ‘too complex’
[FREE TO READ] Critics say SNP’s ‘bureaucratic’ land reform bill will fail in its aim to benefit local communities
on.ft.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
China’s Ming Yang to invest up to £1.5bn in Scottish turbine factory

Company says the project is subject to ‘final approvals’ from the UK government
China’s Ming Yang to invest up to £1.5bn in Scottish turbine factory
[FREE TO READ] Company says the project is subject to ‘final approvals’ from the UK government
on.ft.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
SNP seeks to exploit unionist rift with fresh independence pitch

John Swinney to set out plans for second referendum at party conference as Reform splits Scottish pro-union vote
SNP seeks to exploit unionist rift with fresh independence pitch
[FREE TO READ] John Swinney to set out plans for second referendum at party conference as Reform splits Scottish pro-union vote
on.ft.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
How Europe’s ‘oil capital’ glory days were ended by the global oil crash

The decline of North Sea industry in Scotland has triggered Aberdeen’s economic downturn
How Europe’s ‘oil capital’ glory days were ended by the global oil crash
[FREE TO READ] The decline of North Sea industry in Scotland has triggered Aberdeen’s economic downturn
on.ft.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Highland estates clash with nature campaigners over wild deer culls

Scottish landowners fear over-regulation of herds through nature restoration bill
Highland estates clash with nature campaigners over wild deer culls
[FREE TO READ] Scottish landowners fear over-regulation of herds through nature restoration bill
on.ft.com
September 14, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Simeon Kerr
Calling all students: You could have access to a free FT subscription without even knowing it. Check here: www.ft.com/schoolsarefree
September 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Oil and gas industry touts ‘tiebacks’ to boost North Sea production

Viability of linking new production to existing hubs via more tiebacks explored as calls grow for extensions to existing licences
Oil and gas industry touts ‘tiebacks’ to boost North Sea production
[FREE TO READ] Viability of linking new production to existing hubs explored as calls grow for extensions to existing licences
on.ft.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reform UK would not deport women and children in first five years, says Farage

Retreat from earlier statements comes as Conservative MSP defects to rightwing populist party
Reform UK would not deport women and children in first five years, says Farage
[FREE TO READ] Retreat from earlier statements comes as Conservative MSP defects to rightwing populist party
on.ft.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Frankly — Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir of Scottish politics vs personal life

Scotland’s first female leader was one of its most popular politicians, yet her independence policy also made her one of the most polarising
Frankly — Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir of Scottish politics vs personal life
[FREE TO READ] Scotland’s first female leader was one of its most popular politicians, yet her independence policy also made her one of the most polarising
on.ft.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Scottish salmon exports surge on demand from US and China

Overseas sales rise by a third as industry sets its sights on Indian market
Scottish salmon exports surge on demand from US and China
[FREE TO READ] Overseas sales rise by a third as industry sets its sights on Indian market
on.ft.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Scotland’s net fiscal deficit widens to almost 12% of GDP

Figures reopen debate about country’s economic future ahead of elections for Scottish parliament in 2026
Scotland’s net fiscal deficit widens to almost 12% of GDP
[FREE TO READ] Figures reopen debate about country’s economic future ahead of elections for Scottish parliament in 2026
on.ft.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Gaza in spotlight as Edinburgh Fringe venues cancel shows - on.ft.com/3HtkIXK via @FT
Gaza in spotlight as Edinburgh Fringe venues cancel shows
[FREE TO READ] Reactions to Israel-Hamas war are stretching into world’s largest arts festival and debates over ethical funding
on.ft.com
August 12, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Scottish wind farms were paid not to produce 37% of their planned output during the first half of this year as the electricity not used locally or moved to where it was needed.

Wind farms in the area accounted for 86 per cent of 4.6 terawatt hours of curtailed in Britain — 15% up on last yr.
Scottish wind farms paid not to generate nearly 40% of potential electricity
[FREE TO READ] Data highlights concerns over the increasing cost of curtailment for consumers
on.ft.com
August 11, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Prices for hotels and Airbnbs in Edinburgh have soared as a run of sold-out Oasis concerts coincides with annual festivals, heaping pressure on a strained accommodation market.

About 200,000 fans are expected to attend Oasis’s three-night run this weekend at Murrayfield stadium
Hotel prices go supersonic as Oasis gigs clash with Edinburgh Fringe
[FREE TO READ] An influx of music fans is piling pressure on the Scottish capital’s strained accommodation market
on.ft.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
John Gapper:

Aberdeen is trapped between Starmer and Trump

The city that grew rich on North Sea oil wants to transition to renewables but needs a better chance
Aberdeen is trapped between Starmer and Trump
[FREE TO READ] The city that grew rich on North Sea oil wants to transition to renewables but needs a better chance
on.ft.com
August 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Kate Forbes to quit Scottish politics

Exit of deputy first minister is blow to SNP ahead of next year’s elections at Holyrood
Kate Forbes to quit Scottish politics
Exit of deputy first minister is blow to SNP ahead of next year’s elections at Holyrood
on.ft.com
August 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM