A variety of stories make Scotland’s front pages on Saturday. The Edinburgh Evening news leads with an eye witness account from a city couple who were on Delta flight 209 from Edinburgh on Friday. The plane suffered engine problems after take-off and was forced to land at Prestwick Airport. Video footage of flames shooting along the wing of the aircraft emerged on social media.
A different near miss makes the front of the Daily Record which tells the story of Jackie Stanton, a Scottish woman who was “lured into” serial killer Fred West’s ice cream van. Ms Stanton is sharing her experience for the first time, describing how, at 13, she leapt from the van to escape, in “pure terror”.
“Someone local knows something” is the statement by missing mother Nicola Bulley’s partner Paul Ansell which makes The Scottish Sun’s headline. Mr Ansell says he cannot accept the police theory that she fell into a river accidentally and he says he fears someone in the small village where she vanished is “keeping secret” what really happened.
The Daily Telegraph also quotes Mr Ansell who gave an interview to Channel 5 News saying he is “100% convinced” Nicola is not in the river. The paper reports that he has begged police to widen the scope of their search for the missing mum-of-two who has not been seen since 27 January.
Saturday’s Scotsman leads with a ferry story. The paper claims Scotland’s ferry procurement body CMAL has hired a leading lawyer to investigate if the body had “rigged” the contract award for two ferries. The paper says the lawyers have appointed a KC to examine the procurement process for the Glen Sannox and another vessel.
Cancer Research UK is to drop funding for its clinical trials unit in Glasgow, according to the Herald on Saturday. The charity will end core funding for its unit at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre for the first time in 20 years. A shortfall in funding due to Covid-19 is being blamed for the move. A similar fund cut is also taking place in Cardiff.
The Scottish government’s Deposit Return Scheme faces criticism in the Scottish Daily Mail, which writes that shops face a £250m bill to set up the “shambolic” scheme. Business owners will pay more in costs than they will get back, says the newspaper. The paper also features missing Nicola Bulley on its front page.
Jobseekers may have to take mandatory skills training or face benefit cuts, the Times reports. The plans are already being piloted in four regions and would require a two-week upskilling course at a local job centre. The paper also carries an image of Ms Bulley and Mr Ansell, alongside quotes from the same interview.
In The National, SNP president Michael Russell condemns a “Unionist-inspired media feeding frenzy” targeted at Nicola Sturgeon, warning that attacks on her leadership are designed to “delegitimise” the cause of independence.
Good and bad news comes from the Scottish Daily Express. It reveals that annual Scotch whisky exports have hit a record £6bn. But it also points out that the landmark is hit just days after more than 100 drinks companies pleaded with Nicola Sturgeon to halt plans for a ban on advertising at sporting and live events.
The i newspaper leads with a story about sewage in the UK’s rivers. It cites forecasts by the Environment Agency that only 6% of English rivers will be in “good” ecological condition by 2027 without intervention.
The Courier continues its focus on bullying and violence in schools with a story about a teenager who has not returned to school after being assaulted in woodland and having the attack filmed and shared.
“Serial attacker cornered woman in street” is the headline in the Evening Express, which reports on an assault on a woman which only ended when the perpetrator injured his hand.
Dundee’s Weekend Telegraph reports on a police officer who had been honoured by Police Scotland’s chief constable for his bravery. PC Euan Macleod and another officer ran into a burning building to make sure residents got out safely.
A former footballer-turned drug dealer has been jailed for nine years, reports the P&J. Alasdair Finlayson was a player and coach before becoming embroiled in debt and drug dealing, the paper writes. He was caught by a joint operation between Scottish and English police forces.
“It’s the final straw”, a shop owner tells the Glasgow Times as sewer works affect her trade. Louise Lawn says her business has been affected by High Street’s closure to allow essential repairs to be carried out by Scottish Water.
And “the sun is falling to bits,” declares the Daily Star. The paper says a “large chunk” of the sun has “fallen off” in a development which has “baffled eggheads”. But the paper urges readers not to fret – “since Elon Musk says we’ll be moving to Mars by 2028 it probably doesn’t matter”.
