Angus McCall watched last week's planned strike at the Grangemouth oil refinery unfold with a growing sense of trepidation. The livestock and barley farmer from Golspie, in Sutherland, heard successive politicians offer assurances that the dispute would not cause a fuel shortage in Scotland, but that did not square with what was happening locally.

Next week he was planning to sow this year's barley crop. If he does not have enough fuel to get the job done, it will affect his yield. He also needs diesel to operate the machinery that feeds his livestock. Failure to do so, as well as affecting his livelihood, could see him breach animal welfare laws. ... Read full article