Scottish Greens stand in 30 seats

Elections: Scottish Greens revealed plans yesterday to stand candidates in 30 of Scotland’s Westminster seats — more than ever before — following a post-referendum “Green surge” in membership to almost 8,000.

Co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP named Edinburgh East as his party’s top target in the general election campaign in May.

A new survey for the Scottish Greens reveals that one in 10 members was previously a member of the Labour Party and over a third are aged under 30.

Hull City Council faces lobby over cuts

Lobby: Trade unionists announced yesterday that they are to lobby Hull City Council over further cuts after a year that has seen 450 jobs axed and an array of cuts to local services.

The joint trade union group representing council staff has organised a lobby to protest against further cuts expected to be announced by the council at the city’s Guildhall on Thursday at 9.30am.

JLR car plant to create 1,300 jobs

Manufacturing: Car-maker Jaguar Land Rover is creating 1,300 new jobs after announcing yesterday that its newest model will be made in Britain.

The jobs will be created at JLR’s Solihull plant, where the firm will build the new Jaguar crossover SUV model.

Jaguar already employs more than 30,000 people in Britain, and the new jobs are an addition to the 1,700 announced last year at the same plant to build its newest sports saloon the XE.

New recruits asked sexual orientation

Military: New armed forces recruits will be asked whether they are gay in a bid to improve diversity in the military, it was revealed at the weekend.

Details of sexual preference will be stored but recruits have the option to “prefer not to say.” The measure has been introduced in an attempt to foster greater tolerance within the armed forces.

Recruits will also be invited to provide additional information on how open they feel they can be regarding their sexual orientation.