The Herald

Cameron Refuses to Rule Out Increase in Taxes Tory Leader Issues Warning As Police Reveal Potential Deficit

DAVID Cameron has warned bluntly that he cannot rule out tax increases and severe public spending cuts if the Conservatives win the next General Election. The warning from the Tory leader, who said he accepts he has not "sealed the deal" with the British electorate, came as a senior economic adviser to the SNP warned public sector jobs must be axed.

Supermum Catriona Takes Open Title

CATRIONA Matthew has become the first Scot to win one of the majors in women's golf, just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child. Playing in only her second tournament since returning to the game, Matthew, with husband Graeme as her caddy, won almost GBP200,000 after taking the Women's British Open by three strokes.

Helmand Fight Badly Planned and Short of Men, Say Mps Report Says Campaign Was a Mission Too Far

BRITISH soldiers were sent into Helmand province on an ill- defined mission undermined by "unrealistic" planning and lack of manpower, according to a withering Commons report. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee report said British troops were sent on a mission too far, with too many responsibilities.

'Soldiers Are Too Fat to Fight'

Man Charged Over Body in Garage

Woman Dead in Sea Near Harbour

50,000 Enjoy the Fun and Games in Glasgow

AN estimated 50,000 people turned out to enjoy a splash of colour at the Glasgow Show 2009. Affectionately dubbed "the People's Festival", the event returned to Glasgow Green with 15 actionpacked zones of family fun.

River Immortalised by Burns Faces Threat From Energy Plan Campaigners Say Doon Could Reduce to a Trickle

IT IS the artery at the heart of Burns country, immortalised in the legend of Tam O'Shanter and synonymous with Scotland's romantic past. But now the famous River Doon is under threat, from a power company intent on diverting it to generate electricity. Ayrshire residents have united with environmental groups to stop the development of the Galloway hydroelectric power scheme, which they say will see the iconic waterway reduced to a mere trickle.

Stranded Bottlenose Whales Are Put Down

TWO young bottlenose whales were yesterday put down after being stranded on the southern shore of the Cromarty Firth . The whales were spotted in the middle of the day on the shore about two miles west of Cromarty on the Black Isle. A larger male had been spotted in the harbour but managed to get back out to sea.

Half of Fruit and Veg in Uk Contains Pesticides Health Fears Over Mix of Toxic Chemicals

ALMOST half of the fresh fruit and vegetables sold in the UK last year was contaminated with toxic pesticides, according to the latest scientific surveys for the government. Nearly every orange, 94per cent of pineapples, and 90per cent of pears sampled contained traces of chemicals used to kill bugs. High proportions of apples, grapes and tomatoes were also tainted, as were parsnips, melons and cucumbers.

Tilda Hits the Road . . . With a Cinema in Tow

OSCAR-WINNING actress Tilda Swinton and an army of film fans have begun a nine-day mission to haul a mobile cinema across Scotland. Under a grey sky and swathed in drizzle, Swinton began her latest adventure at Bridge of Orchy, armed with placards emblazoned with the names of art house film directors.

Seafood Buyers Boost Sales of Cheap Whiting to Beat Downturn

CANNY Scots are boosting sales of frozen whiting as a cheaper alternative to fresh fish, according to the leading seafood authority. During the past year more than 60 tonnes of frozen whiting, a less fashionable member of the cod family, ha s been sold in shops across the UK, marking a 54per cent increase in sales.

Supermum: First Scot to Win Open. . . And Able to Leap From Burning Buildings Major Golf Championship Comes Weeks After Giving Birth to Her Second Child

IN FOUR short days she has gained the reputation of supermum: becoming the first Scot to win the Women's Open, giving birth to her second child weeks before getting back on the golf course, and leaping from a burning building. But of course, like all superheroes, Catriona Matthew is not only modest but takes the achievements in her stride.

Clan's Plea for Council Cash to Help Save Castle

A GBP5.2m project to save an ancient Scottish castle from terminal decay is in danger of failing because a local authority cannot help fund the restoration. A fortress has stood on the site of Dunollie Castle, overlooking the northern entrance to Oban Bay, since the seventh century. Many believe that the focus of power in the ancient kingdom of Dalriada could transform Oban's fortunes in the 21st century.

Mandelson Insists Labour Can Win Peer Dismisses Suggestions He May Stand As an Mp Once Again

PETER Mandelson has urged the Labour party to "roll its sleeves up" and take the fight to the Conservatives instead of handing them victory "on a plate". The rallying cry from the Business Secretary came as polling found that in the 30 most marginal seats, which will determine the outcome of the election, the Conservatives are on 44per cent, Labour 20per cent and the Liberal Democrats 18per cent .

Dewar Savaged As 'Hypocritical and Petty' in Canavan Book

DONALD Dewar is savaged in a new autobiography by one-time Labour colleague Dennis Canavan. The memoirs of the former MP and MSP also include scathing criticisms of other key party players, including Gordon Brown and George Foulkes.

Fresh Calls to End the Detention of Children

SCOTTISH Secretary Jim Murphy has faced fresh calls to stop children being held at Dungavel detention centre. Nationalists say it is a year since Mr Murphy committed to ending the practice when he announced a pilot scheme offering an alternative to the detention of children of failed asylum seekers at the centre.

Thousands of Scots Pupils to Miss Out On University Rise in Applications Causes Places Shortage

THOUSANDS of Scottish pupils who will receive their Higher exam results this week are set to miss out on a university place after an unprecedented increase in applications to higher education. The situation has arisen because applications to Scottish universities have risen by 2000 - or 6per cent - as a result of the scarcity of jobs in the current recession.

National Trust to Sell Historic Headquarters

THE National Trust for Scotland is believed to be close to securing a deal to sell its historic headquarters in Edinburgh. It is thought the Robert Adam-designed Georgian townhouse, located at one of the capital's best addresses, is now under offer to a private investor as the charity attempts to curb spending.

Police Force Faces Deficit of Gbp200m

SCOTLAND'S largest police force faces a black hole in its finances of potentially hundreds of millions of pounds in the next few years, brought on by increased staff costs and the squeeze on public finances. A meeting of Strathclyde Police's governing body will this week hear that the force faces a deficit of up to GBP200m between next year and 2014, with fears that the present record numbers of 8000- plus officers may no longer be sustainable and have to be reduced.