The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Neil Gray pressed by MSPs on 'appalling and disgusting' infected water scandal
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
20 Jan 2026 at 5:38pm
The Health Secretary refused to be drawn, repeatedly telling inquisitive MSPs that it would be ?inappropriate? to comment on the ongoing proceedings.


Alex Salmond's niece: Anas Sarwar is playing political games with secret files
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
20 Jan 2026 at 3:19pm
Christina Hendry hit out after the Scottish Labour leader said he would release files relating to a botched investigation into the former First Minister.


SNP ministers: Banning trans prisoners from female jails would 'breach human ...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
20 Jan 2026 at 12:40pm
The Scottish Government is set to argue that banning transgender prisoners from women's jails would breach human rights.


Anti-migrant group disbands after 'genuinely racist' organisations attended p...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
20 Jan 2026 at 11:49am
?SOF will no longer attend or support any protests at the Cladhan Hotel,? a statement on Facebook read.


Could Lorna Slater oust SNP cabinet minister from Edinburgh Holyrood seat?
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
20 Jan 2026 at 11:18am
The party announced that Slater would challenge the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in one of the election?s ?most high-profile contests?. 


NHS complaints increase as A&E records second worst week for long waits
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
20 Jan 2026 at 11:39am
NHS complaints rose las year as Scotland's A&Es saw nearly one in five patients waiting over eight hours.


Can Sarwar?s war with ?secret SNP? over 'Salmond files' win over voters?
20 Jan 2026 at 3:53pm
Scottish Labour chiefs Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie invited the press to the Trades Hall in Glasgow to promising to release the 'Salmond files' and announcing a war on the SNP's 'secret Scotland'.


?Multi-millionaires shouldn?t back Labour?: MP criticises Easdale brothers do...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
20 Jan 2026 at 5:00am
Labour MP Brian Leishman says an Easdale brothers donation ?does not sit well?, warning against US-style wealthy donor influence in Scotland.


Scottish Government announces extra £2.4m amid soaring gynaecology waits
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
20 Jan 2026 at 2:02pm
The Scottish Government has announced funding for gynaecology care after The Herald revealed waiting lists have surged by 250% in seven years.


Sandie Peggie's lawyers lodge appeal after judge blames colleague for ruling ...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Jan 2026 at 6:44pm
Sandie Peggie?s legal team have lodged a fresh appeal after the employment judge behind her case blamed a judicial colleague for serious errors, prompting multiple corrections and deepening concerns about the integrity of the original ruling.


On the rocks? What Donald Trump's tariff threats mean for Scotch whisky industry
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
19 Jan 2026 at 4:59pm
The whisky industry is resilient but Donald Trump's tariff threats risks uncertainty and economic disadvantage.


Scottish Government's review of asylum hotel buffer zones backed by charities
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
19 Jan 2026 at 4:50pm
Scottish Government ministers are to consider whether to implement protest exclusion areas around asylum seeker accommodation.


Keir Starmer to consult on social media ban for children under 16
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
19 Jan 2026 at 3:46pm
The news comes after 61 Labour MPs signed an open letter urging the government to implement an ?Australia-style? ban. 


Swinney warns new Trump tariffs would undermine Scotland?s economy
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Jan 2026 at 2:37pm
John Swinney warns Donald Trump?s proposed tariffs could damage Scotland?s economy and destabilise the Nato alliance.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Edinburgh tourist tax to fund long-awaited revamp of George Street
20 Jan 2026 at 6:54pm

The long-awaited revamp of Edinburgh's George Street is set to go ahead, funded from borrowing financed by the tourist tax.

The UK Government is consulting on a potential social media ban for those aged under 16

The US is Scotland?s largest export market by value for whisky

Just days after hospital bosses admitted a link between infections and contaminated water, the hospitals inquiry had heard that Scotland?s super-hospital opened too early.

Fears have been raised over the impact of the SNP government?s income tax strategy on public sector pay negotiations.

The campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) is seeking to overturn prison guidance

Donald Trump has criticised the UK?s decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands - but Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander says the west must find common ground on this issue

Shadow business secretary Murdo Fraser said that if the US President?s plans go ahead it would be ?deeply damaging? for jobs and economic growth across Scotland.

The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) said that energy bills are higher than they need to be because Scotland spends so much money reducing power output.

Ministers will look at options including raising the digital age of consent and restricting potentially addictive app design features such as ?streaks? and ?infinite scrolling?.

Wings over Scotland

The Secondhand Amendment
19 Jan 2026 at 12:04am
We’re really not sure this makes things any better with regard to the incredible tale that’s unfolded around the judgment in Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife. In fact, on any interpretation we can think of, quite the reverse. But we’d better give you some context. The quote in the image above comes from the reply …

Learning Insanity
14 Jan 2026 at 4:29pm
This clip was broadcast on ITV News Wales this week. ? It’s a staggeringly obvious mess for a whole raft of reasons – a number of completely spurious, illogical and unsupported claims are accepted as facts without any sort of challenge or balancing voice (which has been standard practice on ITV News for a while …

Governing For Beginners
12 Jan 2026 at 2:31pm
My first ever real experience of politics was playing Dictator. Originally written by Don Priestley for the Sinclair ZX81 in 1982, it was a simple text-based game which subsequently came to other formats including the Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Elan Enterprise and the ZX Spectrum, which is where I encountered it. (Its legacy very much …

Grandpa John?s Nightmare
7 Jan 2026 at 12:17pm
It’s almost – almost – worth voting SNP in May because of this: ? Because it would be at least momentarily absolutely hilarious watching Swinney try to explain why his “100% guaranteed” second indyref didn’t happen if the SNP actually did get a majority on 30% of the vote (which is narrowly feasible on current …

Failure To Learn
5 Jan 2026 at 1:32pm
Scotland take on Haiti on Sunday 14 June (in the wee small hours of the morning), so this is nice, isn’t it? At least, it would be if incompetent idiots weren’t in charge. Firstly because the SNP – a party with a long and dismaying record of promising things it then doesn’t deliver – has …

And every day was exactly the same
3 Jan 2026 at 7:00am

List Voting For Cretins
2 Jan 2026 at 9:00am
This week The National published a poll it commissioned from Find Out Now for this May’s Scottish Parliament election, alongside a seat projection from Sir John Curtice. Here are the list-vote figures from the poll. The seat projection calculated that the election would result in 59 SNP MSPs (six short of the number John Swinney …

The Gulf War
1 Jan 2026 at 7:00am
Yesterday we noted in passing that independence support now outstrips that of the SNP by more than 20 points, making the party into a gigantic liability as the vehicle for enabling Scots to leave the UK. Put simply, even when voters want independence (as most now do), they’re not willing to vote SNP to get …

The Fear Of The Briar
31 Dec 2025 at 11:42am
With Reform now pretty consistently miles in front in polling for the next UK election, logically this is brilliant news for the Scottish independence movement, isn’t it? So can anyone explain why the SNP is so desperate to stop them? That’s a rhetorical question, of course. As we’ve repeatedly explored on Wings over the last …

The Curious Fringes
29 Dec 2025 at 2:14pm
There’s a post on the superwoke poll-analysis account Ballot Box Scotland today bemoaning the lack of interest in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election from polling companies, and presenting it as some sort of anti-Scottish conspiracy. The real reason nobody’s very interested, of course, is that as things stand the election is an obvious foregone conclusion …

Craig Murray

Resisting the Respectable Opinion on Iran
15 Jan 2026 at 3:13pm

Iraq. Libya. Egypt. Syria. Gaza. Somalia. No CIA- and Mossad-constructed regime change operation in the Middle East has ever made life better for the ordinary people of the country, nor even delivered the promised increase in personal and political freedoms. The only limited improvement that might be gained comes from the lifting of Western sanction …

Resisting the Respectable Opinion on Iran

A Step Towards Sanity
13 Jan 2026 at 6:50pm

To my great surprise, the video recording of yesterday’s Court of Session hearing on the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action is still active on the court’s website, and you can watch it. I do not know how long this will last. https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/livestream/court-of-session/case-p1017-25/#6dcfe87a-d9b7-49ba-9f01-ad69b8ad9c45 I have been used to the ludicrous restrictions on the …

A Step Towards Sanity

Court of Session Tomorrow on Palestine Action
11 Jan 2026 at 1:45pm

In the Western world today, fighting for freedom feels Quixotic, but I shall nevertheless wake early tomorrow to be at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by 9am to fight the proscription in Scotland of Palestine Action. I remain extremely concerned for the lives of the Palestine Action hunger strikers. As I predicted, Starmer’s government …

Court of Session Tomorrow on Palestine Action

Venezuela and Truth
4 Jan 2026 at 10:21am

The mainstream media covered Venezuela non-stop yesterday. They many times mentioned Delcy Rodríguez, Vice President, because Trump stated she is now in charge. They never mentioned that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the torture to death of her father, socialist activist Jorge Rodríguez, by the CIA-backed security services of the US-aligned Pérez regime in …

Venezuela and Truth

Hunger Strikes and Court Cases
16 Dec 2025 at 9:15pm

Fighting the proscription of Palestine Action has become more urgent as eight brave activists enter the crucial period of their hunger strike. 12 January has finally been set for the court hearing on holding a Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. I am frankly terrified for the hunger strikers. Qesser Zuhrah Amu …

Hunger Strikes and Court Cases

The Skripal Novichok Hoax
12 Dec 2025 at 9:58am

I did not anticipate that an open public meeting in Salisbury itself would be 95% sceptical of the official Novichok hoax – but it was. Thanks to UK Column for putting this on. I hope you find it enlightening – there is information which goes beyond my previous articles on the subject. In about a …

The Skripal Novichok Hoax

BBC Scotland

Key section of assisted dying bill must be cut, MSPs told
20 Jan 2026 at 2:44pm
MSPs have been told protections for medics who conscientiously object will have to be added retrospectively.

Scotland's biggest hospital 'opened too early' despite safety fears
20 Jan 2026 at 6:02pm
The public inquiry will hear final statements after NHS Greater Glasgow conceded a hospital's water system probably caused infections.

Six key takeaways from the hospitals inquiry
20 Jan 2026 at 9:10pm
As final submissions are made to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, we now have a clearer picture of what went wrong.

'Blanket rule' for trans prisoners would violate rights, ministers to argue
20 Jan 2026 at 1:54pm
The Scottish government is being challenged in court by the campaign group For Women Scotland.

Teaching union announces details of new strike ballot
20 Jan 2026 at 9:44pm
A previous vote in favour of strike action was unable to pass due to a low turnout.

Peter Murrell due in court over embezzlement charge
19 Jan 2026 at 5:04pm
The former SNP chief executive was arrested as part of a police investigation into the party's finances.

Sarwar calls for Swinney and Sturgeon to be investigated over QEUH
19 Jan 2026 at 7:53pm
The Scottish Labour leader says complications at the hospital were "the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish Parliament".

Cancer patients 'warned for years' about hospital water infections
19 Jan 2026 at 11:32am
John Cuddihy told BBC Scotland News his late daughter's experiences "must continue to echo beyond her lifetime".

Minister rules out national security status for new fisheries ships
19 Jan 2026 at 1:06pm
A call to redesignate planned vessels to boost their chances of being built in the UK are rejected.

Sarwar vows to release Sturgeon inquiry files
19 Jan 2026 at 1:22pm
The Scottish Labour leader claims the government has a "dangerous obsession with secrecy and cover-up".

Teachers on supply list for years or leaving country due to job shortages
19 Jan 2026 at 9:49am
Scottish government figures shows that most newly qualified teachers in Scotland are no longer getting permanent jobs, especially in primary schools.

Council apologises after using swear word in social media response
19 Jan 2026 at 11:55am
The council's Facebook account used an expletive while explaining that roadworks in Forfar and Kirriemuir were essential.

Scot Goes Pop

Yet ANOTHER poll shows a pro-independence majority as natty Norstat (formerly...
20 Jan 2026 at 2:44pm
Before anyone says anything, yes, I know I screwed up and randomly started referring to Norstat as "Panelbase" midway through the video.  I haven't got time to re-record it at the moment, so just s...

Will the Greenland - Trump crisis boost support for Scottish independence?
20 Jan 2026 at 8:43am
I made this video before the news broke about Donald Trump's comments on Diego Garcia, which has resulted in this bizarre commentary from Henry Zeffman on the BBC News website (it's possibly a tran...

It's happened: now even SURVATION are showing a pro-independence majority (al...
19 Jan 2026 at 1:39pm
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

SNP and Greens remain firmly on course for Holyrood pro-indy majority in supe...
16 Jan 2026 at 8:50am
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

Sensational numbers for both the SNP and Plaid Cymru in two new YouGov polls
14 Jan 2026 at 8:36am
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

The party of Tas-beens: Alba's notorious unelected dictator finally departs -...
13 Jan 2026 at 4:20pm
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

Has Trump ushered in an American FASCISM? His administration now has SEVEN o...
11 Jan 2026 at 9:45am
I know we were all keen for RevStew to finally put a sock in it about the trans issue, but given that he's replaced that obsession with 24/7 apologism for a woman's murder, perhaps he should be enc...

SNP have FOUR TIMES as much support as Labour in YouGov's astounding first su...
9 Jan 2026 at 1:35am
In the video below, I also give my thoughts on Stuart Campbell's frankly disturbing reaction to the fatal shooting in Minneapolis, which has shocked even his habitual supporters and defenders to th...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Higher taxes a ?political reality? to maintain services, MSPs told
20 Jan 2026 at 8:05pm
David Heald told Holyrood?s Finance Committee that this was ?a political reality?.

Trans prison ban would violate human rights, Scottish Government argues
20 Jan 2026 at 1:39pm
For Women Scotland has lodged legal action against Ministers over the Government's management of transgender people in custody.

UK Government considers social media ban for under-16s
20 Jan 2026 at 8:58am
A consultation will look at options including raising the digital age of consent and restricting potentially addictive app design features.

MPs suggest World Cup boycott in response to Trump?s Greenland threats
19 Jan 2026 at 9:59pm
One politician said the Government needed to 'fight fire with fire' and embarrass Trump.

King Charles shares dram with First Minister John Swinney at Palace of Holyro...
19 Jan 2026 at 3:55pm
The monarch hosted Scottish business owners at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Monday.

Sturgeon and other former ministers should face QEUH criminal probe, says Sarwar
19 Jan 2026 at 2:12pm
The health board conceded last week there could be a ?causal connection? between the hospital environment and patient infections.

Holyrood ?at risk of being abolished? if Nigel Farage becomes Prime Minister,...
19 Jan 2026 at 12:26pm
The First Minister also said he was 'deeply concerned' by Donald Trump?s threats to ramp up tariffs against allies over Greenland.

Starmer says use of tariffs against allies is ?completely wrong?
19 Jan 2026 at 9:23am
The Prime Minister set out the UK?s approach to working with allies over the US president's efforts to take over Greenland.

Sarwar says he will release ?Salmond Files? if he becomes first minister
19 Jan 2026 at 7:14am
The Scottish Government has been threatened with legal action for failing to release the documents by a set deadline.

Reform leader in Scotland says independence vote should be postponed for 10 y...
18 Jan 2026 at 4:28pm
Speaking to the BBC Scotland Sunday Show, Lord Offord said that Nigel Farage ?would not be dictating the policies?.

John Swinney does not expect Sir Keir Starmer to still be in office at Christmas
18 Jan 2026 at 11:28am
The First Minister said ahead of elections to the Scottish Parliament it is ?patently obvious the Labour Party is absolutely toiling?.

John Swinney: SNP Holyrood majority would warrant second independence referendum
17 Jan 2026 at 5:31pm
The First Minister also questioned the future of Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

Number of SMEs in Scotland down since 2020, figures from Lib Dems show
17 Jan 2026 at 3:38pm
The data showed that since 2020, the number of SMEs in Scotland has fallen from 177,020 to 171,660 ? a decline of 5,360.

Government issued contempt of court warning over Sturgeon investigation ruling
16 Jan 2026 at 8:38pm
The Scottish Information Commissioner said the Scottish Government?s actions were disrespectful to the public and reflected poorly on ministers.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital 'opened too early' despite design safety ...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:24pm
The £1 billion super hospital started accepting patients in April 2015 - just weeks before the UK general election in May.

Medic protection part of assisted dying bill must be removed, says Health Sec...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:13pm
Neil Gray said the provision on conscientious objection would have to be added after the Bill became law.

Scotland could boycott World Cup in protest at Donald Trump, says former SNP MP
20 Jan 2026 at 1:45pm
Hannah Kennedy-Bardell said Scots needed to consider "radical action" to send a message to the US president.

Scots jobs and livelihoods 'on the line' as a result of latest Donald Trump t...
20 Jan 2026 at 11:35am
The US President is attempting to force European nations into accepting his hostile takeover of Greenland.

SNP 'silent' on Iranian social media bots 'meddling' in Scottish politics
20 Jan 2026 at 10:41am
Labour MP Graeme Downie called for John Swinney to take "stronger action" against members of his party who share content produced by fake accounts pretending to be ordinary Scots.

SNP have 'less than 1%' chance of winning outright majority at Holyrood
20 Jan 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer rubbished the SNP's strategy of securing indyref2.

Councillor says "prison is better than NHS" after suffering heart attack
20 Jan 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Labour's George Redmond paid tribute to the NHS staff who cared for him, but he criticised the poor infrastructure at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and blamed the SNP Government.

Ex-SNP chief Peter Murrell due back in court for preliminary hearing
19 Jan 2026 at 4:35pm
Murrell, 61, faces one count of embezzlement.

John Swinney warns Donald Trump against 'economic threats' that could 'underm...
19 Jan 2026 at 2:47pm
Trump has not ruled out taking control of Greenland by force - despite it belonging to a supposed American ally.

John Swinney blasted for spending public money to block publication of Alex S...
19 Jan 2026 at 2:17pm
Anas Sarwar said his party would release files relating to a probe over whether Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code.

The National

The National | Politics

Can Scottish Labour be trusted with Scotland?s buses after Easdale donation?
20 Jan 2026 at 7:00pm

A FLAGGING campaign given ? monetarily, at least ? a timely boost ...

John Swinney to feature as first guest on new podcast hosted by Scottish supe...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:55pm

FIRST Minister John Swinney will be the first guest on a new podcast which has been described as the ?cultural moment Scotland has been waiting for? ...

History teaches us that PM?s vague comments will not lead to stability
20 Jan 2026 at 6:30pm

READING the article ?PM ?weak? after Trump Threat? (Jan 20), it is hard to avoid a familiar historical image: Neville Chamberlain stepping off his aircraft in 1938, waving a piece of paper and promising ?peace for our time?.

'Not acceptable': Misogyny row erupts at Scottish council over 'archaic' proc...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:05pm

A MISOGYNY row has erupted at Dundee City Council over ?archaic? committee meeting times.

Reform UK Scotland leader panned over 'ignorance' of key Scottish industrial ...
20 Jan 2026 at 5:23pm

REFORM UK?s Scottish leader has been blasted for being ?completely unaware? of key information about the situation with Alexander Dennis workers

Council criticises 'useless' Home Office response over Cameron Barracks
20 Jan 2026 at 4:48pm

AN INVERNESS community council has received a ?pretty useless response? from the Home Office after enquiring about its proposals to house 300 asylum seekers in the city?s Cameron Barracks ...

Scottish ministers set out legal arguments in trans prisoner row ahead of cou...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:45pm

SCOTTISH ministers have published legal arguments on the issue of transgender inmates being housed in the female prison estate ahead of a court hearing on the row.

'How long have you known?': Prince William heckled over Andrew on visit to Sc...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:59pm

PRINCE William has been heckled during a visit to Stirling by protesters demanding to know what he knew about his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

Scotland could boycott World Cup over Trump tariff threat, says ex-SNP MP
20 Jan 2026 at 4:22pm

A FORMER SNP MP has suggested that ?radical action? should be taken in response to Donald Trump?s tariff threat ? including Scotland potentially boycotting the World Cup.

UK Government should show Holyrood 'more respect', Fraser of Allander directo...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:38pm

THE UK Government should show the Scottish Parliament ?more respect?, the director of Scotland?s leading economics institute has said

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Trans prisoners rule change would violate human rights, Scottish Government c...
20 Jan 2026 at 3:29pm
Campaign group For Women Scotland seeks guidance update

Ministers presided over ?culture of secrecy? at Glasgow hospital says Tory MSP
20 Jan 2026 at 3:10pm
Health secretary Neil Gray said it would be ?inappropriate? to comment as the issue was the subject of a live inquiry

UK Government to consult on social media ban for under-16s
20 Jan 2026 at 2:00pm
The proposed measure is part of a consultation, which it says is intended to protect ?young people?s wellbeing?

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell to appear in court next month
19 Jan 2026 at 5:06pm
Murrell, 61, is charged with one count of embezzlement

John Swinney told to publish ?Salmond files? evidence ahead of deadline
19 Jan 2026 at 6:00am
The government has been given until Thursday to release the information

Biffa?s ?51.4m deposit return scheme claim rejected by court
16 Jan 2026 at 3:45pm
The waste management?firm claimed?that it was negligently misled by Scottish ministers that the scheme would go ahead, but this?was rejected by Lord Sandison

?Appalling?: SNP MSP hits out at Scottish Government's single-sex prisons stance
15 Jan 2026 at 1:34pm
John Swinney under pressure on transgender prisoners as For Women Scotland hearing nears

?Miserly? income tax cut used for ?cheap headline? ? Russell Findlay
15 Jan 2026 at 1:03pm
John Swinney said his government was ?on the side of the people of Scotland?

Malcolm Offord confirmed as Reform leader in Scotland
15 Jan 2026 at 11:36am
Offord has also announced his retirement from the House of Lords

SNP on course to win election while race for second place neck-and-neck
15 Jan 2026 at 10:21am
Reform and Labour are tied on 18 seats for second place, according to a poll projection

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Scottish health board admits hospital water system linked to fatal infections
19 Jan 2026 at 12:03pm
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde makes last-minute U-turn in submission to hospitals inquiryScotland?s largest health board has finally admitted that contaminated water at a Glasgow super-hospital caused serious infections in child cancer patients that were linked to four deaths.NHS Greater Glasgow ...

Multimillionaire leader of Reform in Scotland refuses to reveal net worth
15 Jan 2026 at 3:26pm
Newly appointed Malcolm Offord, who became a Tory life peer in 2021, plans to stand for Holyrood in MayUK politics live ? latest updatesThe multimillionaire financier who has been made leader of Reform UK in Scotland has refused to say how wealthy he is, claiming that is a private matter.Malcolm ...

Scottish budget: SNP government cuts taxes for lowest earners
13 Jan 2026 at 7:06pm
Ministers will hope package of measures can aid efforts to retain power in May?s Holyrood electionsMinisters in Scotland have cut taxes for the lowest earners by a modest £11 a year, as the government dug into its reserves, cut spending and increased borrowing to fund new election pledges.With fo...

UK politics: Tories call for block on Chinese super-embassy amid claims of hi...
13 Jan 2026 at 6:11pm
Shadow home office minister Alicia Kearns says unredacted plans show 208 secret rooms and approving plans would be ?insanity?Q: Why are the Liberal Democrats still using X?Davey says he is not afraid to pick a fight with Elon Musk. He says Musk has interfered in British democracy ?in the most out...

?The response is a beautiful thing?: how Glasgow is squaring up to Reform
12 Jan 2026 at 5:36am
In the face of Nigel Farage, flag-waving and a longstanding housing crisis, some Glaswegians are taking on anti-immigration rhetoricSelina Hales has a thing about pineapples. She is talking in a quiet office, set aside from the bustle of Refuweegee, the charity she founded 10 years ago, and the w...

Software tackling deepfakes to be piloted for Scottish and Welsh elections
8 Jan 2026 at 6:07pm
Electoral Commission says tools to detect AI-generated content could be in place before campaigns beginElection officials are working ?at speed? with the Home Office on a pilot project to combat the use of deepfakes to target candidates standing in this year?s Scottish and Welsh elections.Officia...

Liz Kendall says Elon Musk?s X must urgently deal with ?appalling? sexualised...
6 Jan 2026 at 5:49pm
Science secretary says the deepfake content being produced on the platform is ?unacceptable in decent society?In her Today programme interview this morning Kemi Badenoch tried to outflank Nigel Farage on net zero scepticism by claiming (wrongly) that she started talking out this before he did.Ask...

No 10 suggests UK would not vote for UN security council resolution condemnin...
5 Jan 2026 at 6:10pm
PM?s spokesperson did not contest report claiming that the UK will abstain on a possible UN voteSpeaking to reporters this morning, Keir Starmer said Nicolás Maduro, who was president of Venezuela until he was arrested by the Americans on Saturday and taken to a US jail, was not a legitimate rule...

Scottish Labour urges Keir Starmer to stay out of Holyrood campaign
5 Jan 2026 at 2:53pm
Anas Sarwar says prime minister?s missteps have left party clear underdogs in run-up to May electionUK politics live ? latest updatesKeir Starmer and senior ministers have been urged by Scottish Labour to ?stay behind their doors? in Whitehall to avoid turning the next Holyrood election into a re...

Nativism and the disintegration of the UK
1 Jan 2026 at 5:07pm
With the weakening of pro-integration parties, Ben Wellings warns that the continuation of the UK in its current form cannot be taken for grantedStalking your editorial on the new political geography emerging in Britain (25 December) is the fear of disintegration. This is a political outcome that...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The days of playing by rules stacked against Scotland will soon be over
19 Jan 2026 at 4:44pm
Just eighteen months ago, we were looking at the prospect of this year’s Scottish elections with dread and trepidation. Labour was in the ascendant on the back of its victory in the July 2024 Westminster General election and Anas Sarwar was confidently expecting to install himself in Bute House as First Minister, some excitable Labour …

Reform?s Scottish ?leader? ? the FIFA Peace Prize of Scottish politics
15 Jan 2026 at 2:15pm
Spare a thought for poor wee Malkie Offord, over the years he’s thrown hundreds of thousands of pounds at the political scene in a bid to make himself relevant, firstly with his ludicrously misnamed and suspiciously well funded Vote No Borders astroturfing campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, a cringeworthy campaign which made no impact …

Reform?s failing charade and the three pronged attack on Westminster rule
14 Jan 2026 at 4:34pm
Perhaps Reform UK’s bubble is about to burst. Although the private company owned by Nigel Farage is still leading in the polls in England, the far right ghouls’ polling lead has been falling in recent weeks. On Tuesday the weekly Sky News poll from YouGov put Reform on 24% across the UK as a whole, …

Farage?s new tartan puppet
12 Jan 2026 at 8:00pm
On Monday, Nigel Farage preened his insufferably smug way through a press conference at which he introduced the latest opportunistic Tory defector to Reform UK. This time it was Nadhim Zahawi, who was very briefly the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson. Zahawi was later found to have paid a seven figure penalty to …

BBC Scotland, an anti-independence party in May?s Scottish election
11 Jan 2026 at 4:57pm
The parties are gearing up for May’s Scottish elections. On one side there’s the SNP and their frenemies the Scottish Greens – parties which disagree on many things but which share a common belief in the principle that the people of Scotland should be the sole arbiters of government policy in Scotland and the future …

The BBC?s shameful enabling of fascism
8 Jan 2026 at 3:56pm
The failure of the BBC to report fairly and without bias on Scottish politics is a regular theme in this blog and amongst other supporters of Scottish independence. The favouritism which the Corporation displays towards Nigel Farage and his ghouls is likewise well documented, especially on the disgrace to political broadcasting that is BBC Question …

A fake rebellion from a fake party
7 Jan 2026 at 11:28am
While we are distracted by Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela, the kidnapping of its president and his threats to take over Greenland, here in Scotland the parties are getting into gear for the Holyrood election campaign. Anas Sarwar has got off the starting blocks with a carefully orchestrated ‘rebellion’ against his intensely unpopular boss, Keir …

Greenland, a nation, not an American possession
6 Jan 2026 at 4:46pm
With the Trump regime ramping up its threats against the Arctic nation of Greenland, it’s a good time to take a closer look at the history and culture of Greenland. Greenland is officially called Kalaallit Nunaat in the Greenlandic language, the language of the great majority of the country’s 57,000 population. Greenlandic, or Kalaallisut, is …

In May Scotland?s destiny is in our hands
5 Jan 2026 at 6:51pm
Speaking to SNP party members in Glasgow as the campaign for the Scottish elections in May starts to ramp up, First Minister John Swinney has said that the Scottish media should be ?livid? at the UK Government’s refusal to spell out the democratic route to a second independence referendum. If we lived in a normal …

The superpower of piracy
3 Jan 2026 at 5:22pm
The international rule of law has been on life support for some time. It was battered and bludgeoned by the West’s invasion of Iraq. Israel casually ignored international law as it pursued genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank while the West, most notably the USA and the UK, enabled Netanyahu and …

The Courier

[CaRP] Can't open remote newsfeed [403].
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 'Albatraz'

Latest ? In final statement Glasgow hospital correctly and based on repeated ...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:49pm
From BBC Scotland in the last few minutes, the above puzzling choice of headline and buried in their report: NHSGGC offers an unreserved apology for the distress and trauma experienced by patients and families during this time. But while the health board acknowledged a casual sic connection to increased infections, he stressed that there was no definite link between the hospital environment a...

SNP Government?s world-first opioid overdose reversal programme increases rea...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:09pm
From the National naloxone programme Scotland – Quarterly monitoring bulletin Quarterly Monitoring Bulletin April to June (Q1) 2025/26 published today: The overall aim of Scotland?s NNP is to prevent fatal opioid overdoses. Administration of naloxone provides time for emergency services to arrive and for further treatment to be given. Following suitable training, THN kits are issued to people a...

Abortion rate shocking 28% higher in England than in Scotland is one more sig...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:07pm
From Public Health Scotland – Scottish pregnancy, births and neonatal data dashboardA new home for maternity and neonatal data visualisations, published today: In 2024 there was a slowing of the rate of increase in the number of terminations undertaken in Scotland. There were 3% more terminations undertaken: 18,710 compared to 18,242 in 2023. This compares to a 10% increase in demand on service...

Alex Cole Hamilton and Daily Record conceal massive 10 000 reduction in 12-ho...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:05pm
The Daily Record, still campaigning for Labour has this from the Lib Dem’s Alex Cole Hamilton, today: The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E in the country has soared by more than 7000 per cent in a decade, the party said, with waits over four, eight and 12 hours the second worst since records began. Since 2016, waits longer than 12 hours increased by 7354 per cent – from 988 ca...

Unemployment rate in UK now nearly 40% higher than in Scotland means hundreds...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:02pm
In the Guardian today, not being covered by Scottish media so far: The number of employed people in the UK has fallen, particularly in shops, restaurants, bars and hotels, reflecting weak hiring, while private sector wages grew at the slowest rate in five years, official figures show. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the number of employees on payrolls fell by 43,000...

US authorities seize shrimp with lethal radioactivity level only a fifth of t...
20 Jan 2026 at 9:54am
From the Washington-based The Hill, two days ago, the above and: The specter of radioactivity in food just reared its head again, with another shipment of imported shrimp recalled for possible Cesium-137 contamination.   The MAHA Commission 2025 report unfotunately ignored radioactivity as a possible cause of rising cancer and chronic illness. But even leaving aside nuclear accidents, studies s...

Why is this Glasgow think-tank now, for the first time, trying to cast doubt ...
19 Jan 2026 at 11:39pm
By stewartb I?d like to draw attention to an interesting line of argument being promoted by the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI) in its ?Scotland?s Budget Report 2026-27? (January 9, 2026). In Chapter 1 on ?Fiscal Outlook?, the FAI goes to great lengths in seeking to undermine the claim that the Scottish government balances its budget. It states: ?.. an interested observer will be surprised t...

Scotland?s schools narrow attainment gaps across the board and ?most deprived...
19 Jan 2026 at 10:02pm
From Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels, 2024-25 published on 9 December 2025: The statistics also provide information on the gap in attainment between pupils from the most and least deprived areas of Scotland: For literacy, there was an increase in the proportions of primary pupils (P1, P4, P7 combined) that achieved the expected level, from both the least deprived and most ...

Good news about Scotland?s babies ?our? media missed
19 Jan 2026 at 10:01pm
Thanks to Bernadette for alerting me to this: From SMA UK 5 September 2025: We are absolutely delighted to hear the news that NHS Scotland will be adding SMA to their newborn screening programme in an evaluative and research capacity with the aim of the first baby being tested in early 2026. External funding will be used to help purchase specialist testing equipment for the Scottish Newborn Scr...

Ayrshire Labour MP backs new nuclear power stations that have made Scotland t...
19 Jan 2026 at 10:00pm
In August 2024, I wrote to my new MP, Elaine Stewart (Labour) in Ayr on energy security and bills in Scotland. Today, 20 months later, I get a reply in which she writes: What the SNP could do to help deliver energy security is drop its ideological block on nuclear which rejects the creation of well-paid jobs, apprenticeships, and reliable low-carbon energy. The Nuclear Industry Association repo...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 5:03pm
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says - BBC
27 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says  BBC

UK says pro-indy Scotland X accounts went silent as Iran cut net - The New Arab
17 Jan 2026 at 4:32pm
UK says pro-indy Scotland X accounts went silent as Iran cut net  The New Arab

The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage - politico.eu
13 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage  politico.eu

Nigel Farage says Scottish independence could be revisited 'in decades' - The...
15 Jan 2026 at 1:06pm
Nigel Farage says Scottish independence could be revisited 'in decades'  TheNational.scot

Two Scottish agencies join Hays Travel Independence Group - Travel Weekly - Home
20 Jan 2026 at 9:51am
Two Scottish agencies join Hays Travel Independence Group  Travel Weekly - Home

Scottish Greens go to war with the SNP over Scottish independence and Holyroo...
20 Jan 2026 at 11:14am
Scottish Greens go to war with the SNP over Scottish independence and Holyrood Election  Scottish Daily Express

X feature exposes Iranian-run pro-Scottish independence accounts - UKDJ - ???...
24 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
X feature exposes Iranian-run pro-Scottish independence accounts - UKDJ  ????? ??????????

Scottish leader vows another independence vote if his party wins in May - Pre...
18 Jan 2026 at 6:59pm
Scottish leader vows another independence vote if his party wins in May  Press TV

Why Scottish X accounts vanished after Iran?s internet shutdown - The Times
16 Jan 2026 at 3:27pm
Why Scottish X accounts vanished after Iran?s internet shutdown  The Times

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Now SNP says banning male prisoners from women's jails 'breaches their human ...
20 Jan 2026 at 9:09pm
Now SNP says banning male prisoners from women's jails 'breaches their human rights'  Daily Mail

Can Sarwar?s war over 'Salmond files' win over disaffected SNP voters? - hera...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:03pm
Can Sarwar?s war over 'Salmond files' win over disaffected SNP voters?  heraldscotland.com

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 5:03pm
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

SNP ministers warn of suicide risk for transgender prisoners - The Times
20 Jan 2026 at 4:40pm
SNP ministers warn of suicide risk for transgender prisoners  The Times

Release the Salmond Files: How SNP wastes millions on botched legal cases and...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:00pm
Release the Salmond Files: How SNP wastes millions on botched legal cases and keeping secrets  The Scotsman

SNP urged to reinstate sporting rates relief as sector warns of job losses - ...
20 Jan 2026 at 6:00am
SNP urged to reinstate sporting rates relief as sector warns of job losses  The Scottish Farmer

Ex-SNP MP sparks fury for bizarre call for Scotland to boycott World Cup - Th...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:59pm
Ex-SNP MP sparks fury for bizarre call for Scotland to boycott World Cup  The Scottish Sun

Scottish Greens ?on track to unseat SNP minister in May elections?, Lorna Sla...
20 Jan 2026 at 5:09am
Scottish Greens ?on track to unseat SNP minister in May elections?, Lorna Slater says  TheNational.scot

ECHR means trans prisoners can?t be banned from women?s jails, claims SNP - T...
20 Jan 2026 at 5:28pm
ECHR means trans prisoners can?t be banned from women?s jails, claims SNP  The Telegraph

Scotland could boycott World Cup over Trump tariff threat, says ex-SNP MP - Y...
20 Jan 2026 at 4:22pm
Scotland could boycott World Cup over Trump tariff threat, says ex-SNP MP  Yahoo News UK

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 5:03pm
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

Swinney says SNP win would trigger new Scotland referendum | Daily Sabah - da...
18 Jan 2026 at 11:16am
Swinney says SNP win would trigger new Scotland referendum | Daily Sabah  dailysabah.com

No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says - BBC
27 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says  BBC

Second independence referendum should be 'parked', says Scotland Reform leade...
18 Jan 2026 at 11:06am
Second independence referendum should be 'parked', says Scotland Reform leader  TheNational.scot

UK says pro-indy Scotland X accounts went silent as Iran cut net - The New Arab
17 Jan 2026 at 4:32pm
UK says pro-indy Scotland X accounts went silent as Iran cut net  The New Arab

Scottish leader vows another independence vote if his party wins in May - Pre...
18 Jan 2026 at 6:59pm
Scottish leader vows another independence vote if his party wins in May  Press TV

Swinney: SNP Holyrood majority would warrant second indy referendum - heralds...
17 Jan 2026 at 5:02pm
Swinney: SNP Holyrood majority would warrant second indy referendum  heraldscotland.com

In the United Kingdom, prime minister rejects possibility of Scotland indepen...
3 Jun 2025 at 8:00am
In the United Kingdom, prime minister rejects possibility of Scotland independence referendum  ConstitutionNet

Scotland's first minister calls for second referendum if SNP win majority in ...
17 Jan 2026 at 4:11pm
Scotland's first minister calls for second referendum if SNP win majority in May | ITV News  ITVX

Why Alberta?s push for independence pales in comparison to Scotland?s in 2014...
27 May 2025 at 8:00am
Why Alberta?s push for independence pales in comparison to Scotland?s in 2014  The Conversation