The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Senior Scottish Labour MP calls for Starmer to quit
by craig.williams@newsquest.co.uk | Craig Williams
11 May 2026 at 8:00pm
Melanie Ward, MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, said in a statement on X that the election result in Scotland was ?extremely disappointing" and that she was resigning as parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy


Government aide quits as scores of MPs call for Keir Starmer?s resignation
by Nina Lloyd
11 May 2026 at 6:24pm
A Government aide has resigned as he joined more than 50 Labour MPs calling for Sir Keir Starmer to stand down after a disastrous set of local election results.


New Lib Dem MSP says she will continue as City of Edinburgh councillor
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
11 May 2026 at 5:30pm
Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, who represents Forth Ward on City of Edinburgh Council, was elected as MSP for Edinburgh Northern on Thursday.


Scotland's first transgender MSP clarifies visa situation after backlash
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
11 May 2026 at 5:26pm
Scotland's first transgender MSP has clarified their visa status after facing backlash over potential issues.


Why surging Lib Dems and Greens could be kingmakers at Edinburgh local elections
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
11 May 2026 at 4:50pm
The 63 successful candidates will form an administration, representing the more than 500,000 people who call Edinburgh home.


Inside the turmoil in Scottish Labour as anger over Keir Starmer deepens
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy and Hannah Brown
11 May 2026 at 4:38pm
The Herald has spoken to insiders, MPs and MSPs in Scottish Labour as the party dissects the election results and Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar's future.


John Swinney?s ?snub? of Malcolm Offord and Reform UK is the wrong move - her...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
11 May 2026 at 4:16pm
John Swinney has taken a huge political gamble by pledging to lock Reform UK out of influence in Holyrood.


The big concerns for Scotland's arts industry after Angus Robertson's electio...
by brian.ferguson@newsquest.co.uk | Brian Ferguson
11 May 2026 at 4:00pm
Apprehension over who will follow in Mr Robertson's footsteps may turn to anger if culture is denied a seat at the cabinet table.


Scottish Labour MPs turn on Keir Starmer as leadership turmoil escalates
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
11 May 2026 at 3:13pm
Sir Keir Starmer faces growing pressure over his leadership of the country, with more Scottish Labour MPs calling for his resignation.


Susan Aitken to step down from 'gruelling' job as leader of Glasgow City Council
by stewart.paterson@eveningtimes.co.uk | Stewart Paterson
11 May 2026 at 3:05pm
SUSAN Aitken has announced she is stepping down as leader of Glasgow City Council.


Candidate in viral bird suit stunt 'delighted' by Lorna Slater's historic vic...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
11 May 2026 at 2:53pm
Robert Pownall of wildlife advocacy group Protect the Wild dressed up as a giant gannet to protest the Guga hunt. 


Jailed former SNP council leader Jordan Linden to appeal sex abuse conviction
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
11 May 2026 at 2:39pm
Former SNP council leader Jordan Linden, who was jailed after being convicted of a string of sex attacks on young men and teenagers, has launched a bid to overturn his conviction.


Everything you need to know about the most diverse cohort of Edinburgh MSPs
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
11 May 2026 at 1:45pm
Representing all six major parties, five of the cohort have previously served as MSPs, while eight will be new to the role.


Anas Sarwar should 'absolutely' quit says Scottish Labour MP
11 May 2026 at 9:40am
A Scottish Labour MP has called for the party?s leadership to stand down after losing seats at the Holyrood election

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Dozens of Labour MPs call for Keir Starmer to quit as future hangs in the bal...
11 May 2026 at 8:02pm

More than 70 Labour MPs have called for the PM to resign after disastrous Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and English council election results last week

Despite Keir Starmer?s unpopularity costing Anas Sarwar his shot at Bute House, there are big questions for the Scottish Labour leader to answer about how his campaign fell short.

Douglas McAllister said Mr Sarwar would give Scots MPs ?the best chance of retaining their seats?, while Richard Baker said he has his ?support?.

Tory MSP Stephen Kerr had previously raised concerns about the election of Holyrood?s presiding officer and is now calling for hustings to elect the office

Take a look at what to expect in the first week of parliament.

The Scottish Parliament looks very different after last week?s Holyrood election.

Sir Keir suggested he will move to the left - but the nationalisation of British Steel reminds Scots that Grangemouth was allowed to close

The bookies reckon it?s highly unlikely that Sir Keir Starmer will make it to the next General Election.

Euan Stainbank, Irene Campbell and Brian Leishman have warned against replacing the Prime Minister quickly.

Calls for faster progress towards a low-carbon economy

Wings over Scotland

And Nothing Happened Forever
9 May 2026 at 3:22am
Well, we told you so. We told you in March (and indeed long before then) that the 2026 Holyrood election was a giant waste of time and money that would deliver exactly the same useless Parliament we already had, and so it proved. The SNP ended up giving half-a-dozen seats to the Greens, Labour donated …

Pick Your Poison
7 May 2026 at 12:43am
At the end of last year we noted the unusual and persistent levels of divergence in Scottish political polling. As polls have become much more frequent during the election campaign, nothing about that has changed. The final polls, published yesterday, are so far apart from each other that they tell us basically zip. Analysing this …

The value bet
6 May 2026 at 4:25pm
To pass the time on (praise be to Baby Jeebus) the last day of the Holyrood election campaign, we thought we’d do a catch-up summary of all the seat projections we could find from last month and this month. Here it is. Now, as it happens we think the potential seat ranges are significantly wider. …

Anas Sarwar is a winner
6 May 2026 at 3:14am
Specifically, of the Single Most Toe-Curlingly, Face-Palmingly Cretinous Thing Said In The 2026 Holyrood Election Campaign, And Possibly Any Election Ever, Prize. We mean, wow. We could easily write a 1000-word article purely on the top 10 things that are fatuously, obviously idiotic about those three short sentences, and so could you. So imagine how …

Binfire Of The Vanities
4 May 2026 at 3:52pm
For a nation that prides itself on hating the Tories, this is very odd. And if you don’t see how, let us illustrate. If you simply combined the Tory and Reform votes from the latest poll, the election would be on a knife-edge, with the right-wing alliance just three points behind the SNP on the …

Seven Days Too Long
30 Apr 2026 at 1:57pm
It’s nearly over, readers. Just one more week of this to endure. The most miserable Holyrood election campaign of all time will end next Thursday with an election which will deliver Scotland’s most miserable devolved government of all time. Only the exact form, colour and shape of the misery remains to be determined. So as …

Push The Button
25 Apr 2026 at 12:43pm
We’ve been thinking about this all morning, readers. To the point where we’d vote for any party pledging to implement it at once. It’s the best such moral-dilemma question we’ve ever seen, and the absolute key to the state of humankind as a species. It’s a near-perfect practical illustration of the concept of “suicidal empathy”, …

How To Get Away With Crimes
22 Apr 2026 at 6:03pm
After many years of vindictively, vexatiously and maliciously plaguing innocent people, it seemed in February this year that disgraced and deranged former policeman Lynsay Watson‘s campaign of terror might be finally beginning to draw to a close. ? Attending the Civic Justice Centre in Manchester as part of an ongoing attempt to persecute the feminist …

The Pit Of Vipers
19 Apr 2026 at 2:50pm
It’s hard to know where to start with the Sunday Mail’s lead story today. Especially if one doesn’t want sent to prison. So we hope you’ll forgive us if we’re extra-careful. The article contains things even we’d never read before. The Mail has redacted some of the names, but – well, we’re not going to …

The Narcissism Of No Differences
17 Apr 2026 at 3:29pm
So that’s the full set of manifestos in. You can download them all here in a oner, if you’re REALLY bored. But we don’t advise it, because we can just tell you what they say in a couple of minutes. SNP: “If you’re even reading this we know you’re absolute idiots, so here are a …

Craig Murray

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK?s Central Nervous System
11 May 2026 at 7:32pm

Unquestioning Zionism has for decades been the entry ticket to the British political and media Establishment. Anybody who was not a fully certified and compliant zionist would find their career limited – as Jeremy Corbyn, Alan Duncan, Robin Cook and David Mellor all found. Most others, of course, were never allowed to progress that far. …

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK’s Central Nervous System

The 2026 Scottish Elections
6 May 2026 at 5:40pm

We get so trapped inside the logic of the UK’s crazy electoral systems we often do not see what is really happening. Two thirds of active voters, voted against Starmer’s Labour at the last general election. He was always highly unpopular. Just as Starmer’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election was based on only …

The 2026 Scottish Elections

The Morass of Injustice
2 May 2026 at 11:24am

A vast cloying morass of injustice has visibly submerged the British legal systems in anything connected to Palestine. In a quite incredible series of linked and kinked events this week, the senior KC representing one of the Palestine Action activists in the Filton trial was in the Court of Appeal arguing against being found in …

The Morass of Injustice

An Inspiring Story
21 Apr 2026 at 7:54am

In 2018, at the height of the economic crisis in Venezuela through crippling sanctions, Kellogg’s announced the overnight closure of their Maracay factory with hundreds of redundancies – and massive knock-on effects in the local community. The workers refused to accept the closure and, with government assistance, restarted the factory. It is still running eight …

An Inspiring Story

Vote for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland
15 Apr 2026 at 12:48pm

It was not my intention to run for election to the Scottish parliament from a hospital bed in Caracas, but sometimes we have to take what life gives us. I went to a clinic a week ago feeling dizzy and was immediately rushed to hospital. My heart rate was fluttering and below 20 bpm. I …

Vote for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland

The Strait of Hormuz
8 Apr 2026 at 5:02pm

In international law, Tehran has every right to close the strait of Hormuz to nations with which it is in armed conflict. Two vital points: 1) States who permit attacks on Iran to be launched from their territory can be blocked 2) Iran can block neutral ships from trading with states with which it is …

The Strait of Hormuz

BBC Scotland

Holyrood leaders 'childish' for excluding Reform, MSP says
11 May 2026 at 4:49pm
Helen McDade, one of Reform's 17 new MSPs, has called for other parties to stop "posturing".

Greens say fringe party cost them Holyrood seat by 'confusing' voters
11 May 2026 at 8:38pm
The party claims that Independent Green Voice tricked voters by using a similar name and logo.

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken to step down
11 May 2026 at 5:37pm
The leader will formally leave her role in September after Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth Games.

Sarwar says he will 'absolutely' stay on as Labour leader
10 May 2026 at 1:48pm
The Scottish Labour leader defended his party's campaign after a poor result in Thursday's election.

What went wrong for Scottish Labour?
10 May 2026 at 6:00pm
-mortem has begun among Scottish Labour but can anything be done to turn the party's fortunes around?

Council faces questions over delays in declaring election results
11 May 2026 at 4:48pm
The final results of the Scottish Parliament election in the Highlands and Islands were announced 16 hours after the start of counting.

Scottish Greens confident that MSP will be able to renew visa
10 May 2026 at 12:11pm
Q Manivannan, who has a student visa, was able to stand for election after changes in eligibility rules.

Security passes, buddies, and who gets the best office - what awaits the newb...
10 May 2026 at 8:05am
A whole new group of MSPs travel to Holyrood for the first time on Monday but their arrival has been prepared for.

SNP leader John Swinney rules out Holyrood talks with Reform UK
9 May 2026 at 5:30pm
The nationalists secured 58 seats in their fifth consecutive election win, but that is short of an overall majority.

Eight of the biggest casualties of the Holyrood election
9 May 2026 at 2:34pm
From government ministers to a former party leader, 22 MSPs lost their seats in the Scottish Parliament.

Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood
9 May 2026 at 8:41am
John Swinney will return as first minister after a fifth Scottish election victory for the SNP.

SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second
9 May 2026 at 1:55am
John Swinney's party finished comfortably ahead of its rivals, but short of an overall majority.

Scot Goes Pop

My theory as to why Labour and the unionist media chose the wrong saviour in ...
11 May 2026 at 2:12pm
As I pointed out after one of Anas Sarwar's catastrophic TV debate performances during the campaign ("HOW DARE YOU JOHN DON'T YOU DARE JOHN THAT MAN WANTS TO DEPORT MY FAMILY JOHN THIS IS A MORAL I...

A crucial arithmetical point: the SNP on their own have more seats than all o...
11 May 2026 at 9:53am
SNP: 58 seatsAll unionist parties: 56 seatsGreens: 15 seatsThis hadn't occurred to me until I saw someone mention it on Twitter this morning, but from a psychological point of view it's absolutely ...

All I needed was the love you gave, all I needed for another day, and all I e...
10 May 2026 at 9:26pm
Tragically, the controversial Somerset-based "Stew" blogger stopped updating his little shrine to me a few months ago, but I no longer need to feel neglected because he's been properly going off on...

The full results of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election: and how the bigges...
9 May 2026 at 12:10pm
For those of you who were asking, here is the final result of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, both in terms of vote shares and seats.Seats:SNP 58Reform UK 17Labour 17Greens 15Conservatives 1...

Free Money with the Reverend Stuart Campbell: an update on how to collect you...
9 May 2026 at 10:20am
Seriously, folks, I've never steered you wrong on a bet recommendation about Scottish politics, and 5/4 on Angus Robertson is absolutely free money. pic.twitter.com/cGvR1ZzIBD? Wings Over Scotland ...

Scottish Parliament election results 2026: How we've moved closer to a decisi...
9 May 2026 at 12:10am
 If you'd be interested in having another Scot Goes Pop poll at some point in the future, please check out our polling fundraiser HERE.

The SNP must go ahead with the Section 30 vote on day one of the parliamentar...
8 May 2026 at 6:57pm
I suppose when election results come in, we all tend to look back at the predictions we made during the campaign and compare it to reality.  I used to pride myself in avoiding hard predictions, but...

The rumour mill and the art of the possible
8 May 2026 at 11:52am
As we await the initial results and as the first strong rumours start to come through, could I just make a gentle suggestion to all SNP supporters.  Just completely stop talking about an SNP overal...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Government aides quit as scores of Labour MPs call for Starmer to resign
11 May 2026 at 7:35pm
The Prime Minister sought to face down critics on Monday with a promise to prove his doubters wrong

Scottish Greens transgender MSP ?in process? of securing new visa
11 May 2026 at 7:07pm
Dr Manivannan was one of 15 Greens MSPs elected in what was the party?s best-ever election result.

What happens next after the Scottish Election?
11 May 2026 at 4:36pm
The newly elected MSPs began arriving at the Scottish Parliament to begin their new jobs on Monday

Starmer to promise ?strength through fairness? as he battles to stay in No 10
11 May 2026 at 9:55am
It comes after Labour?s disastrous election results in England, Scotland and Wales

Anas Sarwar says ?national wave? against Labour responsible for Holyrood result
10 May 2026 at 12:35pm
Labour is now tied with Reform UK for second place in the Edinburgh Parliament

Parties accused of ?political posturing? by refusing to engage with Reform
10 May 2026 at 12:23pm
Reform UK won their first seats in the Scottish Parliament, coming in joint second place with Labour

Indyref2 demands perfectly reasonable with pro-independence majority ? Flynn
10 May 2026 at 11:53am
The election result means the Scottish Parliament now has 73 pro-independence MSPs including the Scottish Greens

Greens and SNP have ?mandate to deliver? second independence vote
10 May 2026 at 9:45am
The Scottish Greens picked up a record 15 MSPs in Thursday?s election

Hundreds take to Glasgow streets in ?day of rage? against Reform UK
10 May 2026 at 9:21am
It comes after Nigel Farage's party made significant gains in the Scottish and English local elections

Reform UK elects Scottish deputy leader
10 May 2026 at 9:12am
Thomas Kerr is one of the party?s 17 MSPs to be elected to Holyrood

Election brings down big beasts of Scottish politics
10 May 2026 at 8:52am
Angus Robertson, Fergus Ewing and Jackson Carlaw all lost their seats in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord brands John Swinney ?arrogant and pe...
9 May 2026 at 4:28pm
Malcolm Offord accuses FM of making a 'disgraceful attempt' to silence thousands of people who voted for Reform UK in the Scottish Parliament election.

Scotland needs independence before Nigel Farage becomes prime minister, says ...
9 May 2026 at 1:48pm
First Minister said it was vital the Scottish Parliament was 'fully Farage-proofed'.

Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman given jobs by Keir Starmer
9 May 2026 at 12:58pm
Brown will be the Prime Minister?s special envoy on global finance

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Keir Starmer faces growing rebellion as Scottish Labour MPs demand Prime Mini...
11 May 2026 at 8:16pm
Cowdenbeath MP Melanie Ward has resigned her position as a parliamentary private secretary to demand a change in Labour leader.

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken quits after nine years
11 May 2026 at 3:32pm
The SNP councillor has led Scotland's largest authority at a time of increasing unhappiness at the condition of the city centre, which has struggled to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pa...

Top Scottish Labour MP urges Keir Starmer to quit as Prime Minister
11 May 2026 at 2:52pm
Alan Gemmell said the PM "no longer has the trust or confidence of the public".

John Swinney pledges 'cross party co-operation' but rules out working with Re...
11 May 2026 at 2:11pm
The First Minister claimed today he would be seeking talks with the leaders of all political parties - excluding but Malcolm Offord.

UK Government position on independence referendum 'exactly the same' after Ho...
11 May 2026 at 1:07pm
The UK Government insisted "the people of Scotland made a clear and democratic choice to remain part of the United Kingdom" in 2014.

Keir Starmer vows to fight on as Prime Minister but takes 'responsibility' fo...
11 May 2026 at 11:04am
Starmer confirmed he had spoken with Anas Sarwar since Scottish Labour's dismal showing in last week's Holyrood election.

Labour MSP backs convention to "settle" second independence referendum trigger
11 May 2026 at 9:12am
Paul Sweeney also criticised his party's manifesto at the Holyrood election.

Scottish Labour needs 'honest' and 'unsparing' reflection after Holyrood defeat
11 May 2026 at 4:30am
In his Daily Record column, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says his party will have to learn lessons from their latest defeat.

Third Scottish Labour MP calls for Keir Starmer to quit
10 May 2026 at 5:54pm
Irene Campbell said a leadership contest should take place.

Scottish politics today: Stephen Flynn says Indyref2 demand 'perfectly reason...
10 May 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the biggest stories in Scottish politics.

The National

The National | Politics

Until Starmer goes, Labour?s fortunes will keep sinking with him
11 May 2026 at 8:42pm

HERE we go again. Another Starmer reset and a claim that he takes ?full responsibility? for Thursday?s rout. I am fascinated by what Keir Starmer thinks that phrase means.

Labour must be investigated after activists caught breaking electoral rules, ...
11 May 2026 at 6:05pm

LABOUR must be investigated by the authorities after activists broke electoral rules at multiple polling stations last week, the SNP have said ...

Response to Scottish election results show how out of touch the media is
11 May 2026 at 5:34pm

Enjoying our newsletters? Subscribe to The National for just £1 for 3 months at thenational.scot/subscribe

Scottish Greens MSP issues statement amid speculation over visa status
11 May 2026 at 5:22pm

A newly-elected Scottish Greens MSP has issued a statement after speculation over whether they could legally stand began online

The main runners and riders who could become Holyrood's next presiding officer
11 May 2026 at 4:53pm

RUMOURS about who may be Holyrood?s next presiding officer are swirling ...

Keir Starmer's latest reset falls flat as amateurish coup bid falters
11 May 2026 at 4:35pm

You can get The National's Real Scottish Politics newsletter free and direct to your inbox every weekday.

Sheriff deserts proceedings in first buffer zone prosecution in Scotland
11 May 2026 at 4:09pm

A SHERIFF has deserted proceedings in the first prosecution raised in Scotland for breaching abortion buffer zone legislation.

The real reason the Scottish Greens beat Angus Robertson in Edinburgh
11 May 2026 at 3:51pm

?This election has killed the lie that the Greens are just a second option for people.?

Public will ?welcome transparency? over Reform 'snub', says John Swinney
11 May 2026 at 3:50pm

The public will ?welcome? the First Minister?s ?transparency? in his efforts to lock out Reform UK at Holyrood, John Swinney has said

Michael Shanks accused of 'cherry picking' data to make case for nuclear in S...
11 May 2026 at 3:25pm

UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks has been condemned for ?cherry-picking? data to make a ?political point? and push for nuclear power in Scotland.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Scottish Greens MSP Q Manivannan defends election amidst visa row
11 May 2026 at 6:28pm
Questions over ability to fulfill term

Scottish charities share digital skills funding
11 May 2026 at 4:39pm
'Vital work' supported in bid to open up opportunity

Reform MSP accuses opponents of ?spitting the dummy? over refusal to work wit...
11 May 2026 at 3:41pm
SNP leader John Swinney has written to all of Holyrood?s opposition parties ? except Reform ? calling on them to 'put difference aside' in the interests of Scotland.

John Swinney writes to other party leaders ? except Reform UK's Malcolm Offord
11 May 2026 at 2:10pm
SNP leader urges opponents to ?put differences aside for people of Scotland?

All the MSPs who lost their seats in the 2026 election
11 May 2026 at 1:57pm
Upsets for Conservatives, SNP, Labour and Lib Dems as independents also lose out

SNP wins election with Labour and Reform tied in second place
9 May 2026 at 10:52am
The final result puts the SNP in 58, Reform and Labour on 17, the Greens on 15, Conservatives on 12 and Lib Dems on 10

John Swinney on track to remain first minister - but there's some parliamenta...
9 May 2026 at 10:30am
Your guide to deal making and the first minister election

Election withdrawal? Never fear, there are two Westminster byelections to come
9 May 2026 at 2:00am
The victory of the Stephens means two MPs will need to resign from the Commons

Scottish Election: SNP on course for victory as results continue
8 May 2026 at 7:21pm
Majority out of reach for John Swinney despite Labour woes

The former SNP MPs now heading for the Scottish Parliament
8 May 2026 at 6:30pm
Not all the new faces elected to Holyrood are unknowns

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

2026 elections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directions
11 May 2026 at 7:43am
Keir Starmer?s party lost out to Reform and the Greens, with no respite in Scotland, Wales or England. These maps show the scale of the historic resultsFull results from England, Scotland and WalesLabour has suffered heavy losses across England, Scotland and Wales, losing ground to opponents on t...

Minority groups brace for surge in racism after Reform UK election gains
11 May 2026 at 6:00am
Members of minority communities in Birmingham and elsewhere fear results could lead to rise in hostile rhetoricConceding defeat at the election count at Birmingham?s Utilita Arena on Friday, the outgoing Labour leader of the city council, John Cotton, made a plea. ?What I would encourage the next...

Angela Rayner calls blocking Andy Burnham?s return to parliament a mistake as...
10 May 2026 at 6:09pm
Catherine West issues ultimatum for PM as ex-minister Josh Simons joins calls for prime minister to quitAt the start of her programme Laura Kuenssberg addressed Catherine West and Bridget Phillipson who were sitting waiting for the main interviews.Kuenssberg told West she wanted a cabinet ministe...

Don?t let Farage and Reform divide us, Labour?s Sarwar urges Holyrood leaders
10 May 2026 at 1:30pm
Scottish Labour leader says he aims to hold SNP to account after his party tied for second with Reform in electionsThe Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, has warned other Scottish political leaders not to spend the next Holyrood parliament ?shouting about Nigel Farage?, saying his job is to ens...

Swinney keen to work with fellow nationalist devolved leaders in UK
9 May 2026 at 5:24pm
SNP leader wants to ensure voices of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ?are heard loud and clear?John Swinney has said he plans to work with the nationalist first ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland in a coordinated opposition to Labour?s policies on the cost of living and UK government sp...

2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes
9 May 2026 at 4:02pm
From devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales to councils and mayoralties in England, find out what happened in your areaElections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directions Continue reading...

The SNP may have won again but Scottish politics has been upended
9 May 2026 at 7:50am
Public frustration gave the SNP a muted victory, while Labour tied with Reform for second and the Greens claimed a ?seismic? resultLong before the final votes were counted in Scotland, veteran Labour politicians said it was a defeat made in Downing Street.When the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sar...

John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victory
9 May 2026 at 1:36am
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, concedes his party was comprehensively beaten in election as count puts his party on 17 seats, a tie with ReformElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesJohn Swinney, the Scottish National party leader, has challenged...

Labour suffers historic defeat in Wales as Reform surges in English council e...
9 May 2026 at 12:07am
Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat with party pushed into third place behind Plaid Cymru and ReformThis liveblog is now closed. Read the Guardian?s report on the elections here and find all our election coverage here.2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish ...

Reform UK gains at Labour?s expense in local elections ? podcast
8 May 2026 at 5:53pm
It has been a crushing set of local and devolved elections for Labour, with Reform UK making huge gains across the country and the Greens winning in London. Keir Starmer is under pressure to announce a timeline for his departure ? yet he insists he will not walk away Continue reading...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Labour and the British media, stuck in the first stages of grief
10 May 2026 at 7:37pm
They’re not taking it at all well are they. Ever since the SNP handsomely won the Holyrood election, for the fifth time in a row, winning more seats than all the branch office parties combined, and together with a record performance from the Scottish Greens, the two pro-independence secured the largest ever independence majority in …

Mission (almost) accomplished
9 May 2026 at 2:40pm
Originally I had intended to blog yesterday as the results came in, but they arrived later than I had expected and we did not have the certainty that the new Scottish Parliament would have a pro-independence majority until well into the evening. The final set of results, the allocation of list seats for the Highlands …

The British media is getting its excuses in early
6 May 2026 at 1:58pm
The British media in Scotland is getting its excuses in early. Gina Davidson, the Scotland political editor of LBC, wrote on social media that the SNP falling a couple of seats short of an absolute majority – based on the YouGov poll published the day before the election – would be a “poor result for …

Thomas Kerr, the Dumb Corleone of Scottish politics
5 May 2026 at 4:22pm
Reform’s opportunistic Thomas Kerr has completed his transformation from one nation liberal Tory to complete heid banging fascist. On Tuesday, Shettleston’s Dumb Corleone doubled down on his party’s exciting new election tactic of threatening the voters, proving that Reform UK struggles to grasp the difference between a democratic election and a protection racket. Kerr released …

Reform UK, the bastard offspring of Oswald Mosley and Coco the Clown
4 May 2026 at 5:17pm
  Reform has introduced a novel new campaigning tactic in the days leading up to the Holyrood election. Vote for us or we’ll put a concentration camp in your neighbourhood. It’s certainly a ‘bold’ move, but only if you define bold as utterly insane and disgustingly vile. On Monday Reform’s chairman Zia Yusuf, who is …

Shooting for the Moon on Thursday
3 May 2026 at 3:41pm
Shoot for the moon, as the saying goes, even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars. With that in mind that’s what independence supporters need to do on Thursday. An opinion poll by the traditionally No-friendly Norstat for the Sunday Times records a whopping 55% Yes response. The media in Scotland have been very …

Whisky, Labour?s leadership, and polling, fingers crossed for a record pro-in...
2 May 2026 at 4:09pm
We’re on the home straight now for the Scottish election on Thursday, and we are well into that nail biting phase when things seem to be going well but we are always aware of the uncanny ability of Scots to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The overwhelmingly anti-independence British media in Scotland is …

George Monbiot is right, the Union has nothing good for Scotland
1 May 2026 at 3:03pm
In an interview with The National, environmental campaigner George Monbiot, perhaps the highest profile person on the English left to have come out in favour of Scottish independence during the 2014 independence referendum campaign, has said that there is “nothing in the Union” for Scotland. In 2014 independence campaigners constantly asked Better Together supporters for …

Six houses, five cars, six yachts and zero self-awareness
29 Apr 2026 at 8:39pm
I didn’t watch the STV leaders’ debate as we had visitors, which meant I missed the moment that Malcolm Offord torpedoed Reform UK’s “We’re the party which is opposed to the elite” schtick. It was always bollocks, but on Tuesday night Offord slipped up. When you are cos-playing as the party which is on the …

A new chapter in the quest for independence starts next week
27 Apr 2026 at 2:55pm
First Minister John Swinney has promised that on the first day the new Scottish Parliament is in session, a vote would be brought forward to “approve the development of a Section 30 Order to give Scotland the power to hold an independence referendum.” He also promised that a referendum bill would be introduced within the …

The Courier

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Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

Could Rosyth-Europe ferry set sail thanks to Brexit reset?
27 May 2025 at 6:01am
Hopes have been raised for a simple solution to a cross-border problem.

Kirkcaldy MP demands pro-suicide forum is torn down
26 May 2025 at 6:01am
Around 100 suicides have been linked to the sickening forum which provides guidance to people on ending their life.

UHI Perth aviation students warn of ?unsettling times? after training firm?s ...
26 May 2025 at 6:00am
Worried Samuel Hughes, 19, is among students sharing their fears at a time of crisis for Perth College.

Fresh Dundee University strike begins over compulsory Levehulme Centre job cuts
26 May 2025 at 6:00am
University staff are taking five days of industrial action as the institution pushes ahead with plans to axe the forensic research hub.

NHS Fife nurse at centre of controversial trans tribunal suing her own trade ...
25 May 2025 at 2:32pm
A&E medic Sandie Peggie is now taking legal action against the Royal College of Nursing.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University still to strike rescue deal with government
23 May 2025 at 5:46pm
Opposition MSPs have expressed concern at the time taken to agree a deal almost a month after the fresh recovery plan was unveiled.

6 senior figures who left Dundee University during financial crisis
23 May 2025 at 5:10pm
Several university chiefs have moved on since £30m financial black hole emerged.

Dundee University activist artist leads degree show protest over financial cr...
23 May 2025 at 4:45pm
Duncan of Jordanstone student Finn Millar says he wants to play a part in "keeping the university alive".

John Swinney admits constituents have expressed Perth leisure concerns to him
23 May 2025 at 6:01am
The first minister wants further talks between both sides of Perth leisure debate.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University chief operating officer Jim McGeorge quits
22 May 2025 at 1:58pm
Dr Jim McGeorge ? who was responsible for good governance - had been on a period of extended leave.

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland

As NHS England?s senior doctors vote on strike action only weeks after the ju...
11 May 2026 at 7:12am
on whether to take strike action later this year. The British Medical Association says pay has continued to fall and is also calling for more annual leave and better recognition for working anti-social hours. it’s less than a month since resident doctors in England ended their most recent strike. The pay dispute saw tens of thousands of resident doctors take part in the industrial action. It wa...

New Zealand ferry operator fined $400 000 for failing to train crew to hold d...
11 May 2026 at 12:48am
From RNZ yesterday: Maritime NZ says there was a clear knowledge gap in how a steering console worked aboard the Aratere ferry ahead of it running aground nearly two years ago. KiwiRail had been ordered to pay a fine of $375,000 and $25,000 costs after pleading guilty to charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 today. The ship ran aground during a freight sailing from Picton to Well...

US ferry system in a State with nearly three times Scotland?s GDP is ?fragile...
11 May 2026 at 12:14am
From AOL yesterday: SEATTLE – Gov. Bob Ferguson is intensifying his call for federal support to stabilize Washington State Ferries, warning that while the system has returned to full service levels for the first time since 2019, that progress remains “fragile.” During a briefing at the Seattle Ferry Terminal, Ferguson emphasized that the nation?s largest ferry system cannot sustain its recent g...

How can the Guardian claim to be a member of the free press when it supports ...
10 May 2026 at 12:17pm
The Guardian continues to locate itself among the ‘free press’: The Guardian has something many news organisations today don?t: guaranteed independence. With no billionaire or large corporate owner, our journalists are free to report without interference. Our role is to hold power to account, not answer to it. We value whatever you can spare, but a monthly subscription makes the most impact, en...

Shooting ourselves in the foot ? how a fringe group handed Labour an SNP seat...
10 May 2026 at 9:46am
There’s the result for the ‘shock’ Labour win over the SNP in the Western Isles. BBC Scotland seem not to publishing the actual numbers, the raw data, though they do mention that, the winner: MacKinnon, who works in community development and manages a community-owned trust in Carloway on Lewis, won by 154 votes. Only 154? I can’t help but wonder how many voted for Kenny Mackenzie of the Allianc...

Sunday Post fails to tell us how an SNP Health Secretary made sure hospital-a...
10 May 2026 at 9:23am
The Sunday Post, above today makes much, much too much, of one case of sepsis where diagnosis was later than it might have been. What does it tel us about the wider situation, the ‘news’ dare I say it? Nothing. There is, in the Post, of course, no fuller explanation of the situation with regard to sepsis, in Scotland, just the one wee story. Here it is: How under Scottish Labour, hospitals were...

What does a political mandate for putting a major constitutional question to ...
9 May 2026 at 3:31pm
By stewartb Recall that Prime Minister, David Cameron announced on 23 January 2013 that if the Conservative Party was elected to power following the 2015 general election, it would hold a referendum on the UK?s membership of the EU in the next Parliament. Cameron?s government published a draft European Union (Referendum) Bill in May 2013. The Tories won the 2015 GE: the European Union Referendu...

As the National and the Ferret today expose navy cover-up of radiation, what ...
9 May 2026 at 11:00am

Music festival-goers in England asked to pay TWELVE times the fare for a ferr...
9 May 2026 at 10:14am
From Isle of Wight County Press yesterday, the above and: Conservative MP Joe Robertson has taken to social media to blast Isle of Wight ferry firm Wightlink after spotting a return vehicle ferry fare costing more than £500 during the Isle of Wight Festival. The Isle of Wight East MP said the operator had ?smashed the £500 barrier? by charging £511.50 for a return car journey across The Solent....

Scottish Labour collapsed because Anas was so unpopular not because Sir Keir was
9 May 2026 at 8:53am
The Guardian‘s supposed Scottish correspondents, Libby Brooks and Severin Carrell, today, repeat this myth: Starmer?s unpopularity was insurmountable for Scottish Labour ? and a boon for Reform – Long before the final votes were counted in Scotland, veteran Labour politicians said it was a defeat made in Downing Street. When the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, strode into the Glasgow count...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood - BBC
9 May 2026 at 8:41am
Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood  BBC

SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely t...
9 May 2026 at 11:18am
SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely to follow  Sky News

Scottish independence calls grow after Labour losses shake Starmer?s leadersh...
10 May 2026 at 1:43pm
Scottish independence calls grow after Labour losses shake Starmer?s leadership  France 24

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
1 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties - Financial Times
9 May 2026 at 4:05pm
Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties  Financial Times

The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking - The Economist
30 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking  The Economist

Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party has Benefited From Labour?s Struggles - The...
8 May 2026 at 3:50pm
Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party has Benefited From Labour?s Struggles  The New York Times

SPICe general election Scotland 2026 results and analysis - SPICe Spotlight
9 May 2026 at 9:36am
SPICe general election Scotland 2026 results and analysis  SPICe Spotlight

Swinney calls for independence vote to ?Farage-proof? Scotland - The Telegraph
9 May 2026 at 5:52pm
Swinney calls for independence vote to ?Farage-proof? Scotland  The Telegraph

A Spy Amongst Us: Daniel Defoe?s Secret Service and the Plot to End Scottish ...
10 May 2026 at 6:04pm
A Spy Amongst Us: Daniel Defoe?s Secret Service and the Plot to End Scottish Independence  the-past.com

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Scottish election results 2026 live: SNP wins 58 seats as Labour and Reform t...
8 May 2026 at 11:36am
Scottish election results 2026 live: SNP wins 58 seats as Labour and Reform tie for second with 17 each  BBC

Scottish election 2026: Results in maps and charts - BBC
9 May 2026 at 9:49am
Scottish election 2026: Results in maps and charts  BBC

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken to step down - BBC
11 May 2026 at 5:37pm
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken to step down  BBC

John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victo...
8 May 2026 at 3:15pm
John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victory | Scottish politics  The Guardian

Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of...
6 May 2026 at 11:07am
Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of a majority  YouGov

More in Common Final Holyrood MRP - More in Common UK
4 May 2026 at 7:34am
More in Common Final Holyrood MRP  More in Common UK

SNP on track for majority ? and fresh referendum on breaking up the UK - The ...
15 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
SNP on track for majority ? and fresh referendum on breaking up the UK  The Telegraph

Swinney will call vote on referendum powers after Scottish elections | Scotla...
27 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Swinney will call vote on referendum powers after Scottish elections | Scotland  The Guardian

First YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election suggests the SNP could win a m...
10 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
First YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election suggests the SNP could win a majority  YouGov

There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Sc...
6 May 2026 at 3:52pm
There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Scotland?  The Conversation

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood - BBC
9 May 2026 at 8:41am
Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood  BBC

SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely t...
9 May 2026 at 11:18am
SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely to follow  Sky News

Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties - Financial Times
9 May 2026 at 4:05pm
Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties  Financial Times

Scottish independence calls grow after Labour losses shake Starmer?s leadersh...
10 May 2026 at 1:43pm
Scottish independence calls grow after Labour losses shake Starmer?s leadership  France 24

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
1 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party has Benefited From Labour?s Struggles - The...
8 May 2026 at 3:50pm
Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party has Benefited From Labour?s Struggles  The New York Times

A divided kingdom: pro-independence parties surge across Britain - Reuters
8 May 2026 at 5:57pm
A divided kingdom: pro-independence parties surge across Britain  Reuters

Scotland?s Push for Independence Could Be Back in Play After Labour Flops - B...
9 May 2026 at 12:00am
Scotland?s Push for Independence Could Be Back in Play After Labour Flops  Bloomberg.com

John Swinney ?peddling lie? with claim of mandate for referendum - The Times
8 May 2026 at 11:09pm
John Swinney ?peddling lie? with claim of mandate for referendum  The Times

'Consensus is needed, not another independence referendum' - The Herald
11 May 2026 at 6:35am
'Consensus is needed, not another independence referendum'  The Herald