The Herald

The Herald | Politics


John Swinney vows to go all out to build Scotland?s economy
17 May 2024 at 12:01am
?My goal is to help people live happier and healthier lives with higher living standards and to help businesses boost profitability."


Maggie Chapman writes to Police after journalist arrest threat
16 May 2024 at 7:09pm
Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell is being urged to address footage that shows a journalist being threatened with arrest at a protest.


Penny Mourdant : 'The SNP is in their final death throes'
16 May 2024 at 5:36pm
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt urged the party to prepare for a unionist government in Scotland.


We need to talk about Police Scotland behaviour at protests
16 May 2024 at 4:21pm
The thorny issue of policing protests is back in the spotlight after three men and a woman were arrested and charged following a protest at the Thales factory in Govan, Glasgow, as they called for an end to arms sales to Israel.


Ferguson shipyard union holds summit with Kate Forbes
16 May 2024 at 7:06am
GMB union representatives said work on Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa was tapering off and the Port Glasgow yard was now in desperate need of new orders


Convicts serving under four years to be released early
16 May 2024 at 2:42pm
Scottish prisoners serving less than four years could be released early after the country's prison population reached critical level.


Sarwar warns Swinney of morgues filling up amid NHS crisis
16 May 2024 at 1:52pm
Anas Sarwar warned John Swinney of hospital morgues filling up amid a "deepening" crisis in Scotland NHS.


CND condemn Jack's plans for new nuclear plant in Scotland
16 May 2024 at 12:47pm
The Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Responds has said it will oppose plans announced by Alister Jack to build a new nuclear power station in Scotland.


Scottish Government minister in intensive care
16 May 2024 at 10:37am
Scottish Government Minister for Business Richard Lochhead is recovering in intensive care after major surgery.


Peak time ScotRail fares scrapped over summer
16 May 2024 at 9:14am
John Swinney is set to scrap peak fares on ScotRail trains for another three months.


Slovakian PM Robert Fico in 'critical condition' after 3 hour surgery
15 May 2024 at 7:20pm
 Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico remains in 'critical condition' after an assassination attempt in Handlová, authorities said


Glasgow protestors hit out at treatment by Police Scotland
15 May 2024 at 6:49pm
Police Scotland have been accused of creating 'fear and panic' in breaking up a demonstration at Thales in Glasgow


Why businesses and voters may be sceptical of reboot
15 May 2024 at 3:09pm
Business organisations have been fearful that neither Nicola Sturgeon nor her successor Humza Yousaf regarded the economy as a central objective.


Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, shot multiple times
15 May 2024 at 2:15pm
Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, has been shot in an incident in Bratislava

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


John Swinney to insist SNP is 'firmly pro-business' in latest bid to repositi...
17 May 2024 at 12:01am
The First Minister will vow to ?go all out? to build Scotland?s economy


Nicola Sturgeon ?not convinced? equal marriage would pass in Scotland today
16 May 2024 at 8:55pm
The former first minister said politics is now more toxic and polarised


Scottish prisons: Government plans to release prisoners serving sentences und...
16 May 2024 at 7:08pm

The Scottish Government is proposing releasing prisoners serving sentences under four years to tackle overcrowding

The members were accused of making the party ?less safe? for trans and non-binary members

The new First Minister is expecting to announce an extension to the abolition of rail fares at an event in Edinburgh Waverley

The loophole around holiday lets has potentially cost some businesses in Scotland thousands of pounds in cancelled bookings

Wings over Scotland

A Better Togetherness
15 May 2024 at 12:34pm
The National have buried this pretty quickly in understandable embarrassment: Because some things are just a little TOO on-the-nose for comfort. Emma Roddick MSP, who holds cherished ambitions of one day becoming a dunce and was until very recently a Scottish Government minister, announced that her vision of Scottish independence was, um, a union with …

Hate Has No Genitalia
14 May 2024 at 5:30pm
We’ve just rather belatedly (the request was sent on 14 March and should have been responded to a month ago) received this: It’s official: the Hate Monster is non-binary. The full response can be read below (click pics to enlarge). The response to question 4 – namely that the police could not give an “opinion” …

You?ve Been Had
13 May 2024 at 12:58pm
The picture editor of The Times must have been delighted with this gift. But it’s a very accurate picture, and fairly used. Partly because it’s scarcely believable that Swinney would have the brass neck to still be punting the same line he was punting TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AGO. But also because at this point if you …

Window Dressing
11 May 2024 at 6:59am

The Circus Of Hate
9 May 2024 at 4:51pm
Well, what a nice statement of unity and tolerance this is: And only slightly undermined by coming from THIS guy: But Smith’s new message of tolerance hasn’t fully penetrated the party ranks. Dovydas Kulie?as used to work for Emma Roddick MSP, who until yesterday was the minister responsible for the grotesque “conversion practices” legislation being …

The Symbolist
9 May 2024 at 12:49pm
Comment seems superfluous, really. So we’ll just make a couple of the obvious points for the sake of it and then we’re off to the park. (1) As we told you yesterday, the Scottish Government/Parliament has, by the express and deliberate nature of its design, basically zero control over the economy. (2) In so far …

Continuity continued
8 May 2024 at 4:29pm
So that was a big waste of everyone’s time. We’re not sure why John Swinney made a big show of dragging all his ministers away from their desks to Bute House today in order to tell them nothing had changed. All he’s done is give Kate Forbes the smallest possible sliver of Shona Robison’s job …

A watery grave
7 May 2024 at 1:35pm
We watched a TV documentary about the sinking of the Bismarck last week. The most striking aspect of it was the visible and audible distress on the faces and in the voices of some of the Royal Navy sailors who’d been on the ships which sent the German battleship to the Atlantic seabed as they …

The Groomers? Union
6 May 2024 at 2:48pm
We were going to write a follow-up piece to this last week, until the SNP detonated a hand-grenade in its own trouser pocket. But with the coronation of John Swinney this afternoon after the only challenger sold out for some shiny beads and trinkets, we can get back to some serious news. The controversial charity …

The Unforgiven
5 May 2024 at 1:47pm
We’ve already posted a shorter and snappier soundbite from this video on our Twitter, but it’s really worth watching the full version here: ? Because the body language is remarkable. For three and a half minutes, Neil Gray is completely unable to look his former colleague – an SNP MSP until a few months ago, …

Craig Murray

Shameless
13 May 2024 at 8:41am

Incredibly the Israeli genocide in Gaza is now reaching new heights of violence. Casualty figures are not coming in, as the attacks are so bad that bodies cannot be recovered, medics cannot travel and there are almost no medical facilities operational now anyway. We now see that the Western injunctions not to attack Rafah were …

Shameless

The Ignorance of Islamophobia
9 May 2024 at 8:05pm

The deluge of Islamophobia on social media unleashed by supporters of the Gaza genocide has been profoundly shocking. It is one reason I am very sorry that Humza Yousaf was forced out as First Minister of Scotland, as he was a particular target and his ousting will have encouraged the bigots. On Twitter and Facebook …

The Ignorance of Islamophobia

Starmer Smashed in Blackburn
6 May 2024 at 6:30am

The leadership of genocide enthusiast Keir Starmer – who is still supporting arms sales to Israel and the “Israeli right to self-defence”, who still refuses to acknowledge one single Israeli war crime – cost the Labour Party dear in Blackburn in the local elections. The result means I am very likely to win the parliamentary …

Starmer Smashed in Blackburn

The Curious Case of the Freedom Flotilla
28 Apr 2024 at 1:16pm

The departure of the spectacular “Freedom Flotilla” to Gaza carrying 5,500 tonnes of aid has been postponed (again), because the flag state of the major vessels, Guinea Bissau, has withdrawn their registration. The key question is why the organisers were proceeding with such an unreliable flag state in the first place? In the 2010 Freedom …

The Curious Case of the Freedom Flotilla

Worse Than You Can Imagine
26 Apr 2024 at 7:46am

Governments cannot take big decisions extremely quickly except in the most extreme of circumstances. There are mechanisms in all states that consider policy decisions, weigh them up, involve the various departments of the state whose activities are affected by that decision, and arrive at a conclusion, though not necessarily a good one. The decision to …

Worse Than You Can Imagine

The Farce of Diplomatic Assurances
17 Apr 2024 at 6:34am

The United States has now, on the face of it, produced the Diplomatic Note giving the two assurances required by the High Court to allow the extradition of Julian Assange to proceed. The assurance that Julian Assange will be allowed to rely on the First Amendment in his defence is a blatantly weak piece of …

The Farce of Diplomatic Assurances

BBC Scotland

Third union to ballot council staff on strike over pay
16 May 2024 at 5:52pm
Unison joins the GMB and Unite in a decision to ballot thousands workers after a pay rise delay.

Swinney says emergency care on Skye 'not good enough'
16 May 2024 at 2:35pm
It follows two medical emergencies in Portree at the weekend where a woman died and another was unable to access a hospital.

'Time running out' plea over shipyard's future
16 May 2024 at 5:26pm
Union representatives at Ferguson's warn the yard desperately needs new work as it tries to move on from the ferries controversy.

Scottish prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding
16 May 2024 at 3:34pm
The country had 8,365 people behind bars earlier this week - the highest number since 2012.

MP writing to Netflix over Baby Reindeer evidence
16 May 2024 at 7:21pm
John Nicolson wants Netflix to substantiate what it told a committee about Baby Reindeer portrayal.

Fund to wipe school meal debt opened in Scotland
16 May 2024 at 11:42am
Local authorities will be able to apply for cash from a £1.5m pot opened by the first minister.

Scottish government declares national housing emergency
15 May 2024 at 5:52pm
The announcement was confirmed in a vote at Holyrood that the government was not certain to win

What is a housing emergency?
15 May 2024 at 8:34pm
After the Scottish government declared a housing emergency BBC Scotland News examines what is happening across the country.

UK government planning nuclear site in Scotland - Jack
16 May 2024 at 1:13pm
The SNP government has effectively banned new nuclear developments north of the border.

Councils facing third pay strike in three years
15 May 2024 at 6:28pm
The unions say they have no alternative as they have yet to receive a pay offer from council body Cosla.

Scottish councils face tougher budget decisions - watchdog
15 May 2024 at 6:12am
A public spending watchdog says most of the extra money being given to local authorities is ringfenced.

New law will clear Post Office scandal victims
14 May 2024 at 1:00pm
Wrongful convictions based on Horizon evidence will be quashed if the emergency legislation is passed.

Scot Goes Pop

A major polling silver lining for the SNP: their leader has a positive net ra...
15 May 2024 at 5:32pm
As you'll probably have seen, the Redfield & Wilton poll over the weekend was poor for the SNP, but there were two notable silver linings.  Firstly, support for independence continues to hold up as...

In a first-past-the-post election, the way to further the cause of independen...
14 May 2024 at 2:26pm
And as with any new political party, Alba attracted its share of misfits and opportunists. But three years on, the organisation has shaken down and a team of dedicated local activists and organiser...

Scot Goes Popcast: Eurovision 2024
11 May 2024 at 6:03pm
For those of you planning to watch the Eurovision tonight, I've recorded a short podcast with some scene-setting thoughts, which you can listen to below. James Kelly · Scot Goes Popcast Episode 22:...

Does 2 become 1?
10 May 2024 at 11:00pm
First of all, a quick note to let you know that I'm quoted in Alasdair Soussi's profile of John Swinney on the Al Jazeera website, which you can read HERE.  I'm both critical of Swinney and complim...

Kate Forbes is upsetting all of the right people
10 May 2024 at 6:56pm
I didn't write about it at the time because I didn't want to tempt fate, but when the announcement was made that Kate Forbes had been appointed as Deputy First Minister, the first thought that went...

First Savanta survey since Swinney swept in shows sizzling 48% support for in...
10 May 2024 at 10:06am
Looking back at the dates, it seems to have been 2nd May on which it became obvious that John Swinney was the next SNP leader, so as this poll didn't start until the 3rd, it can be seen to all inte...

Hallelujah, Swinney has done the right thing and appointed Kate Forbes as Dep...
8 May 2024 at 3:00pm
I was a bit sceptical about whether John Swinney would actually go as far as appointing Kate Forbes as Deputy First Minister, because it marks her out so obviously as the most likely successor.  Th...

When everything realistic has been tried and didn't work, you just have to sh...
6 May 2024 at 6:17pm
Without wanting to be overly critical, I think it's probably reasonable to say that Graeme McCormick has behaved slightly oddly, and not entirely fairly to the SNP members who went to considerable ...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Grants announced for Fife homes affected by Storm Gerrit flooding
16 May 2024 at 6:11pm
The First Minister said £1,500 for households and £3,000 for businesses would soon be available.

John Swinney condemns Alister Jack?s ?menacing? idea for new nuclear plant in...
16 May 2024 at 5:43pm
The First Minister was clear that the Scottish Government will not back the construction of such a facility north of the border.

Bids submitted for strict firework controls in Scotland?s biggest cities Edin...
16 May 2024 at 4:34pm
If the control zones were enacted, it would make it an offence to let off fireworks in either city at designated times.

Ministers urged to save Fergusons shipyard as Kate Forbes attends summit
16 May 2024 at 4:31pm
The state-owned yard could soon close if no more work comes in, the Scottish Government has been warned.

Scottish Government plans to release prisoners early amid soaring numbers
16 May 2024 at 2:45pm
The justice secretary said she has no choice but to act 'if we are to avoid an unprecedented crisis developing' as prisons reach a 'critical' point.

John Swinney: NHS in Skye ?not good enough? after death of woman at festival
16 May 2024 at 1:28pm
The First Minister was told another woman at the festival went into anaphylactic shock but couldn't access the hospital because it was closed.

?Emergency measures? needed as Scottish prison population soars beyond capacity
16 May 2024 at 11:59am
Action must be taken to tackle an already overstretched prison service, the Scottish Government has been warned.

John Swinney faces FMQs after extending scrapping of ScotRail peak fares
16 May 2024 at 11:11am
The First Minister could face questions over Scotland's housing emergency, pleas to reduce prisoner numbers and the prosecution of Horizon victims.

Kate Forbes vows to leave ?no stone unturned? on future of Ferguson Marine
16 May 2024 at 7:39am
The deputy First Minister said that taking the business into public ownership had saved more than 300 jobs.

Stand up for teachers, ministers told as Scottish Labour motion highlighting ...
15 May 2024 at 6:25pm
The party forced the vote amid fears Glasgow City Council could cut 450 teaching jobs over the next three years.

SNP leader Stephen Flynn and John Swinney call for apology for Sunak comparin...
15 May 2024 at 1:30pm
The Prime Minister compared those calling for Scottish independence with Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

UK Government planning nuclear power plant in Scotland despite SNP objections
15 May 2024 at 12:18pm
Scottish secretary Alister Jack said he expected a 'Unionist regime' to be in power in Scotland by 2026.

Rishi Sunak faces Keir Starmer at Prime Minister?s Questions
15 May 2024 at 11:42am
Sunak will be quizzed by the Labour leader after saying Sir Keir would make the UK less safe should he become PM.

Ross urges Swinney to throw weight behind addiction right-to-recovery Bill
15 May 2024 at 10:06am
The Bill would give addicts access to treatment within three weeks at most.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Keir Starmer urged to ditch plan to ban new North Sea oil and gas licences
17 May 2024 at 12:01am
The Unite union claimed the policy was 'premature' and 'irresponsible' without a plan to ensure green jobs for oil workers.

Post Office stripped of ability to investigate crimes in Scotland after Horiz...
16 May 2024 at 3:30pm
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain said the Post Office would no longer be a specialist reporting agency "because of its fundamental and sustained failures in connection with Horizon cases in Scotland".

Prisoners serving sentences under four years to be released due to overcrowdi...
16 May 2024 at 2:57pm
The move was announced by the SNP Government after a "critical" 400 rise in the prison population

John Swinney slams Alister Jack's 'menacing behaviour' over Scottish nuclear ...
16 May 2024 at 1:23pm
Jack sparked a row on Wednesday after he told a House of Lords committee he has instructed UK ministers to begin planning for a reactor in Scotland.

Keir Starmer vows to end child poverty but refuses to scrap two-child benefit...
16 May 2024 at 12:05pm
The UK Labour leader said his party would "put a strategy in place" for ending child poverty.

Free school meals must be given to all families receiving Scottish Child Payment
16 May 2024 at 10:51am
Writing for the Daily Record, Aberlour's head of policy Martin Canavan says expanding free school meals is key to eradicating child poverty.

SNP minister recovering in intensive care after undergoing 'major surgery'
16 May 2024 at 10:43am
Business minister Richard Lochhead, 54, was initially treated at Dr Gray?s Hospital in his constituency last week after ?a few days of feeling ill?.

Council services could close as trade union ballots workers on strike action
16 May 2024 at 9:41am
GMB Scotland members will receive their ballot papers next week.

Housing and homelessness 'disaster' as over 7,000 people in temporary accommo...
16 May 2024 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: A total of 7,266 people were in temporary accommodation on April 1, including 2,765 children.

ScotRail peak rail fare to be scrapped for further three months
16 May 2024 at 12:01am
EXCLUSIVE: The First Minister is expected to make the announcement in Edinburgh today.

The National

The National | Politics

Don't get above your nuclear power station, Scotland
16 May 2024 at 7:15pm

Scotland, know your place. Our exalted Viceroy General Alister Jack ? He Who Must Be Obeyed ? has said that the UK Government is considering plans to build a nuclear reactor in Scotland, despite fierce opposition from the Scottish Government and even though planning is a devolved matter.

Glasgow Labour politician reported over contract awards for son
16 May 2024 at 6:37pm

A LABOUR politician who quit amid a probe into her son being awarded work by a housing association she sat on the board of is facing a standards complaint, The National can reveal.

Disabled SNP MSP says she did not have 'basic needs' met as a minister
16 May 2024 at 6:00pm

AN SNP MSP with a connective tissue disorder has called for accessibility measures to be improved for ministers after she revealed some of her ?basic needs? were never met while in Government.

Full letter: Questions for Chief Constable as National journalist threatened ...
16 May 2024 at 6:16pm

SCOTLAND'S Chief Constable is facing questions after a National journalist was threatened with arrest by an officer ...

MSP writes to Chief Constable after National journalist arrest threat
16 May 2024 at 6:10pm

AN MSP has written to Scotland?s Chief Constable after a National journalist was threatened with arrest by an officer...

Scottish Greens expel 13 members over 'biological sex' declaration
16 May 2024 at 5:48pm

THE Scottish Greens have expelled 13 members for signing a declaration which said ?sex is a biological reality? and called for trans men to be banned from women?s changing rooms.

What does Scotland's housing emergency really mean?
16 May 2024 at 5:38pm

This is a pan-European crisis.

Transport Secretary rubbishes union's role in peak fares suspension
16 May 2024 at 5:02pm

SCOTLAND?S Transport Secretary has dismissed a trade union?s long-running fares campaign ? saying it had no role in the suspension of peak fares.

Scotland not mentioned once in Labour's big election pitch
16 May 2024 at 5:18pm

SCOTLAND wasn?t mentioned once in Labour?s big pre-election pitch today...

Meet the ?democracy tool? designed to encourage voter registration
16 May 2024 at 4:15pm

GRASSROOTS campaigners have created an app to encourage voter registration in the run up to the Holyrood 2026 elections, with the hope of seeing an increase in turnout ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Scottish Greens expel gender rebels deemed ?threat? to trans members
16 May 2024 at 5:30pm
EXCLUSIVE: Officials purge signatories to women's rights declaration

Government to release prisoners early to deal with overcrowding
16 May 2024 at 5:06pm
Justice secretary confirms that those serving sentences of under four years will be considered for early release

UK developing ?game-changing? weapon for electronic warfare
16 May 2024 at 5:01pm
The weapon will use radio waves to disable?electronics and take down multiple drones at once.?

Swinney accuses Alister Jack of 'menacing behaviour' over nuclear reactor plan
16 May 2024 at 4:21pm
Scottish secretary has pledged to site new reactor in Scotland despite the SNP's opposition to nuclear

John Swinney pledges to fight ?sextortion'
16 May 2024 at 2:19pm
The First Minister has paid tribute to the parents of a teenager who took his own life after falling victim to a ?sextortion? scam. ?

John Swinney: Skye death and life-threatening incident ?should never have hap...
16 May 2024 at 1:57pm
Helen Aird passed away at the weekend, while Eilidh Beaton suffered an anaphylactic shock

Richard Lochhead recovering in intensive care after major surgery
16 May 2024 at 1:01pm
The business minister had taken unwell last week and was admitted to Dr Gray?s Hospital in Elgin but was transferred to Aberdeen at the weekend to undergo major surgery

New UK AI measures to become ?global standard?
16 May 2024 at 12:29pm
The UK Government has unveiled new guidelines to boost protections of artificial intelligence models and 'turbocharge innovation'

First Minister John Swinney opens ?1.5m pot to clear school meal debt
16 May 2024 at 11:21am
Measure aims to ease child poverty and the cost-of-living crisis

Gap in cross-government communication may hinder Scottish space sector potent...
15 May 2024 at 4:43pm

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

UK politics: I never called for rainbow lanyard ban, claims Esther McVey ? as...
15 May 2024 at 6:20pm
?Common sense minister? denies plan to Channel 4 News despite saying earlier this week that lanyards should be a ?standard design?Labour says the Ministry of Justice?s decision to delay court hearings because of prison overcrowing (see 10.39am) shows that people are ?less safe? under the Tories. ...

Can the civil service survive the chaos and incompetence of Team Sunak? Of co...
15 May 2024 at 10:00am
As this difficult era nears its endgame, we are guided by a belief in good governance ? and buoyed up by public supportThe end-of-season finale is almost here. As the country slides inexorably and eagerly down the greased abattoir chute towards the end of what might be the worst-ever parliamentar...

SNP?s raison d?être is dead in the water | Letter
13 May 2024 at 5:10pm
Until John Swinney and his party can construct a case for their one real policy ? independence ? voters won?t buy it, says Alex GallagherYour editorial is correct to point out that John Swinney is not the new broom that Scotland or the Scottish National party need, and that he faces policy proble...

Palestinian charity CEO to stand for Labour in Fife in boost for Starmer
10 May 2024 at 12:18pm
Melanie Ward?s run for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy likely to delight allies of party leader criticised for Gaza stanceThe chief executive of the aid charity Medical Aid for Palestinians has been chosen as a Labour candidate to fight a key seat in Scotland, after the original candidate was suspended...

The Guardian view on John Swinney?s Scotland: a new start but also more of th...
9 May 2024 at 6:39pm
The new first minister gets it that the public want better government, but he has not got much time to deliverScotland?s new first minister is an experienced and unflashy politician who can read the public mood. Almost everything that John Swinney has said and done since replacing Humza Yousaf th...

Kate Forbes elected Scotland deputy first minister despite Green opposition
9 May 2024 at 5:57pm
Fresh row erupts over Forbes?s conservative views on equality ? but appointment is approved by narrow majorityThe Scottish Greens have voted against Kate Forbes becoming Scotland?s new deputy first minister in a fresh row over her conservative views on equality.Ross Greer, a Scottish Green MSP, s...

UK politics: Tory defector Natalie Elphicke apologises for comments about wom...
9 May 2024 at 4:50pm
Comments made after Charlie Elphicke jailed for two years criticised by new colleagues in Labour partyHaving seen a fuller version of what Ben Houchen, the Conservative Tees Valley mayor, said on BBC Radio Tees this morning, I have beefed up the post at 10.16am and changed the headline. Houchen d...

John Swinney scraps post of minister for independence to focus on economy
9 May 2024 at 2:27pm
New first minister says case for Scottish independence best made by creating ?vibrant economy?John Swinney has axed the post of minister for independence, in a clear signal to Scottish voters that his government is focused on their immediate cost of living concerns before the general election.The...

Scottish first minister John Swinney appoints Kate Forbes as deputy
8 May 2024 at 6:42pm
Announcement comes after Swinney is sworn in as seventh first minister ?for everyone in Scotland?Kate Forbes, the former finance secretary who stepped aside last week allowing John Swinney to stand unopposed for the Scottish National party leadership, has been appointed deputy first minister.The ...

Labour defends welcoming rightwing Tory MP Natalie Elphicke into party ? as i...
8 May 2024 at 5:53pm
Natalie Elphicke said she was defecting to Labour due to ?broken promises of Rishi Sunak?s tired and chaotic government?. This live blog is now closedConservative MP Natalie Elphicke defects to Labour citing border securityPMQs starts in just over 20 minutes, and today there will be particular in...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Going through the motions
14 May 2024 at 12:07pm
Rishi Sunak gave a landmark speech on Monday. That’s landmark in the sense of an abandoned ruin by the side of the road to nowhere. The Prime Minister was attempting yet another relaunch, but he was really swimming in the sea offshore from an English beach – just going through the motions. All he has …

Many thanks to everyone ? fundraiser update
9 May 2024 at 4:31pm
I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to or supported this year’s Wee Ginger Dug fundraiser. I was even more apprehensive about it this year than I have been in years past. There is a cost of living crisis which has had a severe impact on the budgets of many households, and it’s fair …

How right wing do you need to be not to be welcome in the Labour party?
9 May 2024 at 2:44am
On Wednesday in the House of Commons, just as Prime Minister’s Questions was about to begin, the Conservative MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, crossed the floor of the chamber and sat on the opposition benches , becoming the latest Tory MP to rebel against Rishi Sunak and his hapless leadership of the cruel and chaotic …

Starmer, leader of the City of London party, and a new first minister for Sco...
7 May 2024 at 5:46pm
The Labour party loves to claim that it speaks for the ordinary working people of Scotland. Like so much that issues from the centre-right British nationalist flag fetishising party of Keir Starmer that claim is a shameful barefaced lie. Under Starmer the Labour party is interested only in articulating policies which will appeal to the …

Starmer?s vacuous platitudes
5 May 2024 at 4:08pm
Keir Starmer published a piece in The Observer this sunday entitled “It’s time to end the UK’s divisions: Labour is for everyone.” The piece is an intelligence insulting and utterly vacuous content free word salad with a room temperature IQ. Absolutely nowhere in its 625 self regarding words does Starmer tell us exactly how he …

News you may have missed on BBC Scotland
4 May 2024 at 11:16am
While we’ve been preoccupied with the drama of Humza Yousaf’s resignation, the votes of no confidence in Holyrood and an SNP leadership contest which turned out not to be that dramatic after all, elsewhere politics was continuing as usual, the Tories were torying in their normal chaotic and nasty way while Keir Starmer’s Labour party …

An outbreak of calm
2 May 2024 at 4:05pm
The SNP leadership contest was over even before it had begun, no doubt much to the disappointment of BBC Scotland management who will now have to bin all the ‘SNP divided’ stories they were going to regale us with over the coming weeks as a distraction from the meltdown of the Conservatives and Keir Starmer’s …

The big loser of today?s no confidence vote
1 May 2024 at 7:37pm
As expected the Scottish Government has survived the Labour vote of no-confidence brought forward by Anas Sarwar seeking to opportunistically capitalise on the collapse of the Bute House Agreement between the SNP with the Greens. The Greens had already signalled that their beef was with Humza Yousaf and had been mollified by his resignation on …

Annual fundraiser, a quick update
30 Apr 2024 at 3:17pm
It has been just over a week since the blog’s annual fundraiser was launched and I thought readers might like a quick update since it’s not clear from the Go Fund Me page alone how the fundraiser is going. The total received from all sources, PayPal, Go Fund Me, and direct deposits now stands at …

A new leader for a new era
29 Apr 2024 at 2:54pm
Humza Yousaf’s efforts to find a way through the two votes of no confidence expected this week have proven unsuccessful, and he has stepped down as First Minister. The infuriated Greens have refused overtures from the SNP to back Humza Yousaf in the Tory vote of no confidence. By siding with the Tories the Scottish …

The Courier

Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

Moray SNP minister Richard Lochhead in intensive care after major surgery
16 May 2024 at 10:10am
The veteran nationalist is in a stable condition following the procedure in Aberdeen and is making good progress as he recovers.

Work on Mossmorran net zero transition plan to begin in coming months
16 May 2024 at 6:00am
Work on a new plan on the future of the gas plant in Fife will begin in January next year.

Fife MP tells Rishi Sunak to do more to stop bank ?deserts? after Leven TSB c...
15 May 2024 at 3:52pm
Wendy Chamberlain quizzed the prime minister on what he would do to prevent communities being left with no local branch.

How Fifers have avoided multimillion-pound council budget misery
15 May 2024 at 6:00am
Financial planning and finding extra cash reserves has helped the council avoid huge cuts being made elsewhere in Scotland.

Dundee University chief fears immigration rule changes could risk funding chaos
14 May 2024 at 5:05pm
A new report has found no evidence of widespread abuse of the system of post study work visas for graduates.

EXCLUSIVE: NHS Tayside told to make £16.5 million more cuts
14 May 2024 at 6:00am
Government-imposed cuts created a situation where staff feel like they are "trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom", insiders claim.

Scotland?s largest men?s mental health charity faces collapse in months after...
12 May 2024 at 6:00am
The first Men's Shed was opened by Perthshire MSP John Swinney - and now the newly appointed first minister is under local pressure to deliver.

25 years of devolution: Has Scotland changed for the better?
11 May 2024 at 6:00am
Former presiding officer Tricia Marwick, former first minister Henry McLeish and MSP Murdo Fraser share their views and memories as the Scottish Parliament celebrates 25 years.

Just FOUR homes approved so far under SNP scheme to boost key workers in rura...
10 May 2024 at 6:00am
New First Minister John Swinney made fixing Perthshire?s rural housing crisis one of his key priorities in the top job.

A9 dualling: John Swinney ?committed? to delivering delayed project
9 May 2024 at 2:55pm
The new first minister agreed to meet with a cross-party delegation to discuss the dualling between Perth and Inverness.

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland / Scottish media fact checking is like shooting fish in a...

80% of Scots don?t agree with Herald complaints about Scot Gov reply delays
16 May 2024 at 10:47pm
By Professor John Robertson Without, of course, telling us jus how many FoI requests they’ve put in to try and dredge up some dirt on the SNP and ferries, the Herald has been moaning about not getting an answer. The TuS quick twitterpoll above suggests that few agree with them. Here are some likely reasons: From a Freedom of Information request published in April 2024 by the Scottish Government...

Factcheck ? Homelessness in Scotland far lower than under Labour in Scotland ...
16 May 2024 at 8:15am
By Professor John Robertson

CalMac at almost 99% reliability for May
15 May 2024 at 11:00pm
Below, the % on time and the number of sailings from 1st to 14th May 2024: 98.4 50689.3 50698.5 52199.6 508100 360100 517100 51899.2 50098.4 50699.6 521100 502100 36099.6 502100 501 A total of 6 828 sailings with 98.75% on time and an average of 488 sailings per day. What happened on the 2nd May? 36 of the cancellations were for the tiny Colintraive to Rhubodach (population unknown) crossing, s...

SNP Child Payment pulls poverty way below that in all parts of England other ...
15 May 2024 at 8:52pm
Thanks to Dotty for alerting me to this. On Channel 4 News tonight, on children in relative poverty: The picture is indeed stark. UK child poverty has climbed from 3.6m in 2013, to 4.3m, in 2023. The level of poverty in parts of England, other than in the affluent South-East, ranges from around 20% higher in the North-East to 60% higher in the West Midlands and is 25% higher on average. In Scot...

Governor General expects Unionist regime in Scotland by 2026 with plans to im...
15 May 2024 at 1:37pm
By Professor John Robertson STV News has just reported: The UK Government is considering plans to build a nuclear reactor in Scotland, despite long-standing opposition from the Scottish Government. Scottish secretary Alister Jack has told a Westminster committee that he has asked ministers at the Department for Energy and Net Zero to plan for a nuclear reactor to be built in Scotland, as part o...

England follows Scotland?s world-leading life-saving overdose drug programme ...
14 May 2024 at 5:03pm
By stewartb On the UK and Health pages of The BBC News website this morning (14 May): ?Life-saving overdose drug to be given without prescription?. It?s about extending of availability in England of naloxone, the drug given in an emergency to those at risk of death from an opioid overdose. The same story featured in news bulletins throughout Radio 4?s Today programme. Much praise for the UK gov...

Scotland cannot be ?such a small nation? if 81 are even smaller!
14 May 2024 at 2:48pm
By stewartb I?ve just received the latest newsletter from the estimable Edinburgh-based publisher, Luath Press. It informs me of the programme of events planned for its annual ?ScotlandsFest?, held as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. And an excellent programme it is offering too! This sentence from caught my attention: ?For being such a small nation, Scotland can contain so many ideas of what it c...

More than enough for very home in the UK ? Scotland?s stunning renewables and...
14 May 2024 at 1:55pm
By Professor John Robertson From a Freedom of Information request in November 2023 to SNP Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy ? Neil Gray MSP, to revise the incorrect 25% of Europe’s offshore wind and tidal claim, see this: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400396013/

How privatisation is swamping NHS England & Wales, only
14 May 2024 at 1:43pm
Thanks to Frances for alerting us to this: The above map from an EveryDoctor survey reveals the staggering extent of outsourcing and privatisation of the NHS in England and in Wales by sharp contrast with that in Scotland. You can check your own constituency at: https://privatisation.everydoctor.org.uk/?link_id=1&can_id=27239d0dde9ed8c344fcb6294537b4a2&source=email-our-team-will-be-releasing-ne...

All of Scotland?s hospitals within normal mortality range
14 May 2024 at 12:29pm
From Public Health Scotland, today: For the period January 2023 to December 2023 no hospitals had a significantly higher standardised mortality ratio than the national average more deaths than predicted. The standardised mortality ratio for Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France (1.12) is above the upper warning limit. For the period January 2023 to December 2023 no hospitals had a sig...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Rishi Sunak REFUSES to apologise for Scottish independence comments - The Nat...
15 May 2024 at 2:18pm
Rishi Sunak REFUSES to apologise for Scottish independence comments  The National

Humza Yousaf quits - does this spell end for Scottish independence? - Sky News
29 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Humza Yousaf quits - does this spell end for Scottish independence?  Sky News

Scottish independence poll 2024 - Statista
10 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Scottish independence poll 2024  Statista

Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (8-9 May 2024...
9 May 2024 at 8:00am
Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (8-9 May 2024)  Redfield & Wilton Strategies

Hundreds take part in march for Scottish independence - BBC.com
4 May 2024 at 8:00am
Hundreds take part in march for Scottish independence  BBC.com

Who is John Swinney, Scotland?s new first minister after Humza Yousaf quit? -...
10 May 2024 at 11:41am
Who is John Swinney, Scotland?s new first minister after Humza Yousaf quit?  Al Jazeera English

King's Wars of Scottish Independence visitor centre for sale - HeraldScotland
14 May 2024 at 2:05pm
King's Wars of Scottish Independence visitor centre for sale  HeraldScotland

Scottish independence lost in 2014. We must understand why - The National
13 May 2024 at 6:00pm
Scottish independence lost in 2014. We must understand why  The National

Scottish first minister John Swinney axes minister for independence role afte...
9 May 2024 at 10:56am
Scottish first minister John Swinney axes minister for independence role after appointing new cabinet  Sky News

Man charged after car 'driven at Scottish independence marchers' - BBC.com
21 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Man charged after car 'driven at Scottish independence marchers'  BBC.com

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Nurseries which care for babies and toddlers told that children can come out ...
15 May 2024 at 7:30pm
Nurseries which care for babies and toddlers told that children can come out at any age  The Telegraph

Fiona Bruce has BBC Question Time audience in stitches as she slaps down SNP ...
16 May 2024 at 9:30pm
Fiona Bruce has BBC Question Time audience in stitches as she slaps down SNP chief  Express

Police Scotland's chief constable: SNP finance probe heading to prosecutors '...
13 May 2024 at 12:01am
Police Scotland's chief constable: SNP finance probe heading to prosecutors 'within weeks'  Sky News

Police report on SNP finances probe due 'within weeks' - BBC.com
13 May 2024 at 6:18am
Police report on SNP finances probe due 'within weeks'  BBC.com

Making John Swinney leader may be the SNP?s smartest move in years - The Guar...
7 May 2024 at 8:00am
Making John Swinney leader may be the SNP?s smartest move in years  The Guardian

Who is John Swinney, Scotland?s new first minister after Humza Yousaf quit? -...
10 May 2024 at 11:41am
Who is John Swinney, Scotland?s new first minister after Humza Yousaf quit?  Al Jazeera English

Political gravity catches up with the SNP - Financial Times
29 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Political gravity catches up with the SNP  Financial Times

SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens collapses - BBC
25 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens collapses  BBC

What to Know About the Breakup of Scotland's Coalition Government - The New Y...
25 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
What to Know About the Breakup of Scotland's Coalition Government  The New York Times

Nicola Sturgeon breaks silence after husband Peter Murrell charged over SNP f...
19 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Nicola Sturgeon breaks silence after husband Peter Murrell charged over SNP finances  The Independent

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Is the dream of Scottish independence over? - POLITICO Europe
1 May 2024 at 8:00am
Is the dream of Scottish independence over?  POLITICO Europe

Why didn't Scotland vote for independence in 2014? New survey aims to find an...
13 May 2024 at 6:00pm
Why didn't Scotland vote for independence in 2014? New survey aims to find answer  The National

Swinney says no change in SNP independence referendum strategy - BBC.com
9 May 2024 at 8:03pm
Swinney says no change in SNP independence referendum strategy  BBC.com

Scottish independence poll 2024 - Statista
10 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Scottish independence poll 2024  Statista

Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (8-9 May 2024...
9 May 2024 at 8:00am
Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (8-9 May 2024)  Redfield & Wilton Strategies

Scottish first minister John Swinney axes minister for independence role afte...
9 May 2024 at 10:56am
Scottish first minister John Swinney axes minister for independence role after appointing new cabinet  Sky News

SNP backs revised plan for Scottish independence referendum - Financial Times
15 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
SNP backs revised plan for Scottish independence referendum  Financial Times

Alex Salmond launches new Scottish independence plan - BBC
30 Nov 2023 at 8:00am
Alex Salmond launches new Scottish independence plan  BBC

Scotland's leader faces knife-edge no-confidence vote after collapsing coalit...
25 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Scotland's leader faces knife-edge no-confidence vote after collapsing coalition  Reuters UK

PMQs: SNP demand apology from PM over extremist speech - HeraldScotland
15 May 2024 at 12:34pm
PMQs: SNP demand apology from PM over extremist speech  HeraldScotland