The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Summer critical as Zelensky feels heat of Russia battlefield advantage
19 May 2024 at 6:35am
With Ukrainian forces stretched thin and fresh arms supplies yet to reach the frontlines, Moscow is seeking capitalise on its battlefield advantage. Foreign Editor David Pratt assesses what?s at stake


Why Scotland owes Caribbean nations £20 billion in slavery reparations
19 May 2024 at 6:15am
THE numbers have been crunched. If Scotland was to pay its fair share of what the nation owes in slavery reparations the total figure would come in at more than £20 billion.


Minister sworn at by Cole-Hamilton responds to revelations
19 May 2024 at 1:52pm
An SNP minister who was sworn at by Alex Cole Hamilton has said she is glad he is receiving counselling. 


'Green heating rules could turn Scots into mortgage prisoners'
19 May 2024 at 11:50am
Proposed green heating rules risk turning some Scots into ?mortgage prisoners?, Fergus Ewing, has claimed.


SNP faces £1million election crisis as it seeks new members
19 May 2024 at 9:29am
SNP bosses have launched a drive to rescue their declining membership numbers as they face a £1million bill to fight the General Election.


Alex Cole-Hamilton: 'I see a counsellor because of abuse'
19 May 2024 at 6:00am
Alex Cole-Hamilton has opened up about the pressure that the abuse he receives as a politician has put on his mental and physical health.


Police Scotland passed nearly 500 abusive posts sent to MSPs
17 May 2024 at 4:20pm
A programme set up last year has shown that, for 38 participating MSPs, 461 threats were deemed serious enough to be passed to Police Scotland.


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."


Two people detained in Scotland as part of Rwanda scheme
17 May 2024 at 6:02pm
Ms Somerville has written to Home Secretary James Cleverly, as she urged the Tories to end the ?morally repugnant? scheme.


Mairi Spowage: FM said right things, but what will he do?
17 May 2024 at 5:13pm
The First Minister had said as he took office that eradicating child poverty was his key policy objective. This morning he was keen to set out that there is no conflict between eradicating child poverty and boosting economic growth ? rather, they go hand in hand. He set out that boosting the economy will create opportunities for people and raise living standards and that reducing poverty raises spending power and boosts productivity. This is to a large degree true, but there will at times be trade-offs that will require one to be prioritised over the other.


John Swinney's speech on economic growth: Six key points
17 May 2024 at 2:10pm
John Swinney set out the broad principles today of his plan to boost Scotland's economy aduring his first major speech on the issue.


Swinney attacks PM's migration crackdown amid care crisis
17 May 2024 at 1:47pm
Scotland?s First Minister has hit out at Rishi Sunak over the ?astonishing? decision to tighten migration policies for those seeking to come to the UK.


FM: Action not strategy papers needed to boost economy
17 May 2024 at 12:38pm
John Swinney has suggested the Scottish Government is producing too many strategy documents, saying ?concrete actions? are needed instead.


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.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton opens up about receiving ...
19 May 2024 at 5:00pm
He said the political climate in Scotland had ?deteriorated?.


Scottish Tories to vote against plans for releasing prisoners early
19 May 2024 at 3:14pm
The party?s Russell Findlay warned the proposals would ?put public safety at risk?


Edinburgh Trams: Project has seen losses of £44 million since opening due to ...
19 May 2024 at 12:02am

Since opening 10 years ago, Edinburgh Trams have made a net loss of £44 million

Scotland will see key ports upgraded to ensure renewables and other green technologies are manufactured at home under a Labour government.

The Scottish Government is not alone in failing on housing, but that doesn?t make it OK

Mike Edwards feels the pulsing of the earth as tanks race towards their objectives in Nato's biggest military exercise for decades ? while Russia wages war for real over the border in neighbouring Ukraine

Wings over Scotland

The Innocent
18 May 2024 at 6:59am

Missing Memory Man
17 May 2024 at 12:30pm
We watched Question Time last night for the first time in about nine years, and this comment from SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn raised an eyebrow. ? Because we couldn’t remember ANY times that Flynn had publicly expressed any problems with the Scottish Greens during their governing alliance. So we checked, as we do, and …

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 …

Craig Murray

The Drive for War
18 May 2024 at 2:22pm

The collective shrug with which the Western media and political class noted the attempted assassination of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been telling. Can you imagine the outrage and emotion that would have been expressed by Western powers if not Fico but a pro-Ukraine, anti-Russian leader within the EU had been attacked? The new …

The Drive for War

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

BBC Scotland

Lib Dems promise new housing for key workers
19 May 2024 at 5:57pm
Alex Cole-Hamilton's conference speech focused on housing, the NHS, and the need to win more seats.

We are writing too many strategy documents - Swinney
17 May 2024 at 12:02pm
During a speech in Glasgow, the first minister says he wants his government to have a "can do attitude".

Hundreds of abusive social media posts sent to MSPs
17 May 2024 at 5:45pm
Just over 8,000 comments were deemed to be abusive, with 461 determined to rise above the criminal threshold.

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.

Blood transfusion boss apologises over scandal
17 May 2024 at 6:12am
Thousands of victims in Scotland were infected by HIV or Hepatitis C through NHS blood products.

MP writes to Netflix over Baby Reindeer evidence
17 May 2024 at 1:48pm
John Nicolson wants Netflix to substantiate what it told a committee about Baby Reindeer portrayal.

'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.

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

Scot Goes Pop

A plea to Alba: look before you leap
17 May 2024 at 11:39pm
I was contacted today by a Scot Goes Pop reader who is very concerned that Alba have just selected a candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, which was very narrowly won by the Liberal ...

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...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Alex Cole-Hamilton: Why you will seldom hear me mention Scottish independence
18 May 2024 at 10:10am
People across Scotland want a focus on the cost of living crisis and the issues in the NHS, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats told STV News.

Rock fragment kept in SNP cupboard is part of Stone of Destiny, say experts
17 May 2024 at 3:53pm
Alex Salmond was given the chip by the son of one of the students who stole the stone in 1950.

Almost 500 abusive posts directed at MSPs passed to Police Scotland, study shows
17 May 2024 at 3:24pm
Some 8,000 messages sent to MSPs were deemed to be abusive.

Scottish Government demands no asylum seekers sent to Rwanda amid detentions
17 May 2024 at 1:53pm
There are reports of at least two people being detained in Glasgow and removed to England by the Home Office.

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.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Lib Dems will overtake SNP at general election, says Scottish leader
19 May 2024 at 11:26am
Alex Cole-Hamilton said "there will be more Liberals in the next parliament than nationalists".

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth to demand Scots free school meals cash
19 May 2024 at 4:30am
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The Education secretary said she would personally raise the issue of free school meals with the FIrst Minister after speaking to pupils at Holyrood.

Union boss warns Keir Starmer Labour needs radial plan to transform lives ahe...
19 May 2024 at 4:30am
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The Unite General Secretary said Starmer's cautious approach risked not helping enough people.

Ferguson Marine yet to appoint contractor to fit pipework in CalMac ferry ami...
19 May 2024 at 4:30am
It emerged last year that large quantities of pipework had been fitted using the wrong kind of steel.

SNP faces £1 million election crisis as desperate chiefs urge members to recr...
19 May 2024 at 4:30am
The SNP has suffered a fall in its members over the last two years and now want everyone to recruit five others.

Victims of ex-NHS butcher surgeon demand answers over delayed Government probe
19 May 2024 at 4:30am
Health secretary Neil Gray told MSPs in February that reviews would start in April but nothing has happened.

Former SNP MP to stand for Alba Party in Lothian East at next General Election
18 May 2024 at 1:54pm
George Kerevan, who was SNP MP for East Lothian from 2015-2017, will stand in the new Lothian East seat at the next general election, expected later this year.

Lib Dem leader calls for social media giant tax to fund mental health support...
18 May 2024 at 4:30am
Ed Davey has called for a trebling of the tax on social media firms to raise an extra £770 million for Scotland over the next five years.

John Swinney hints opposition to more tax rises as he reaches out to business
17 May 2024 at 12:42pm
The First Minister warned "you can?t continually increase tax" while speaking at Barclays in Glasgow.

Scots Parliament to spend £125k tackling online security as MSPs targeted wit...
17 May 2024 at 12:40pm
SNP MSPs were the most likely to receive abuse.

The National

The National | Politics

What exactly was the point of Keir Starmer?s 'six-point plan' speech?
19 May 2024 at 6:30pm

WHAT was the point of that absolute charlatan Keir Starmer?s so-called big six-point plan speech? It had the grand total of zero content, and if anything is going to make voters considering voting for this phoney to think: what?s the point?

Helicopter carrying Iranian president crashes in mountains
19 May 2024 at 5:21pm

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has suffered a ?hard landing?, Iranian state media reported.

Ireland to declare Palestinian statehood this month, Simon Harris says
19 May 2024 at 3:45pm

Ireland will recognise Palestinian statehood before the end of this month, Ireland?s premier Simon Harris has insisted.

Unite divert Labour election funds in oil and gas protest
19 May 2024 at 3:51pm

ONE of Britain?s biggest trade unions has demanded Labour commit £6.6 billion to save oil and gas jobs as it revealed it was putting financial pressure on the party in a protest over its energy policy.

Labour council leader and Alba candidate in spat over election poster
19 May 2024 at 3:35pm

A SPAT has broken out after a Labour council leader accused an Alba Party candidate of breaching a bye-law by planning a political banner on council-owned railings.

Maree Todd gives fiery response to Alex Cole-Hamilton therapy news
19 May 2024 at 2:28pm

AN SNP minister has put out a fiery response to the news Alex Cole-Hamilton has been receiving therapy for online abuse.

Justin Welby urges Keir Starmer to end two-child benefit cap
19 May 2024 at 2:02pm

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has called on Keir Starmer to end the ?cruel? two-child benefit cap if he becomes prime minister.

Business chiefs 'excited' by new SNP leadership team
19 May 2024 at 12:45pm

BUSINESS leaders have insisted they are ?optimistic? about a fresh direction set out by First Minister John Swinney and his deputy Kate Forbes.

Scottish LibDem leader receiving therapy for online abuse
19 May 2024 at 11:42am

Scotland?s political discourse must be improved to stop politicians facing abuse, the leader of the Scottish Lib Dems has said after revealing he has sought counselling.

Sterling would dive after independence but Barnett formula cripples us
19 May 2024 at 11:00am

EVERY Unionist politician must be anti-Scottish. If not, what is it that they think makes Scotland unique among all European countries, with similar sized populations, in being incapable of performing better than the UK?

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

UK Government ramps up efforts to bridge cybersecurity skills gap
17 May 2024 at 4:02pm
UK technology minister Saqib Bhatti has announced?that the?cybersecurity workforce will follow common standards to 'ensure that employers get the skilled staff they need'

John Swinney pledges to build tech sector during first major speech
17 May 2024 at 2:30pm
During a speech in Glasgow, the first?minister?said?he is?'determined' to ensure Scotland remains a leading start-up?nation.

Online abuse of MSPs reported to police as Scottish Parliament bosses reveal ...
17 May 2024 at 2:19pm
SNP politicians subjected to more abuse than other parties in security trial

John Swinney pledges ?more action, fewer documents? to boost economic growth
17 May 2024 at 12:32pm
He also took aim at the UK government's "very hostile? attitude towards migration, saying this was ?folly?

Swinney to unveil government's latest business reset
17 May 2024 at 8:24am
First minister to say he will "go all out" to boost economic activity

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. ?

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

Couple who feared for son?s life at Carseview mental health unit blast progre...
19 May 2024 at 6:00am
Nicola Sturgeon pledged to intervene in Ryan Caswell's case two years ago - but he remains "trapped" in the same Dundee facility.

Montrose dad of ?murdered? man vows to continue fight for justice at Holyrood
19 May 2024 at 6:00am
Davy Cornock, whose son died in suspicious circumstances in Thailand, is seeking protections for Scots abroad.

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
Men's Sheds tackle social isolation and aim to improve quality of life for a community of 10,000 members.

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.

Talking up Scotland

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

Labour confirm Scotland?s superior NHS figures are despite Westminster
19 May 2024 at 4:09pm
By Professor John Robertson Scottish haggis-eater, thus extremist, Robert Lamb https://x.com/54Lamb has perceptively tweeted: Wes Streeting had just cut the feet from beneath Anas Sarwar by spiking his daily attacks on the SNP over NHS funding. When asked by Laura Kuenssberg over the state of the NHS in Labour run Wales, he blamed WM. LK asked why Sarwar blamed then the SNP in Scotland. He flou...

Sorting child poverty the Scottish way ? the Archbishop, the Bishop, the thin...
19 May 2024 at 10:37am
By Professor John Robertson Again, alerted by Dottie’s Phone You won’t be surprised to hear there’s not a word, from this Labour Party elder, of Scotland’s far lower child poverty nor of how the SNP’s child payment is leading to its disappearance in Scotland, nor of Labour’s refusal to end the cruel two-child benefit cap, if elected. Maybe the Archbishop will mention poverty in Scotland and the...

LATEST SHOCK: Scotland?s waiting list for heart treatment is barely half that...
19 May 2024 at 10:03am
By Professor John Robertson Many thanks to Dottie’s Phone for alerting me to this. The Guardian today has this shocking news: The British Heart Foundation (BHF) warns that heart care waiting lists are now at a record high, reaching 414,596 at the end of March 2024 in England, almost double what it was in 2020. In February 2024, the British Heart Foundation felt this was shocking for Scotland: B...

The 30 year-long neglect of patient safety in NHS England exposed as SNP Gove...
19 May 2024 at 8:33am
By Professor John Robertson Many thanks to Dotty’s Phone for alerting me to this. Today, the Health Editor at the Sunday Times has reported: Why don’t things get better on #patientsafety? One reason is that the NHS & government do sweet FA to act on inquiry recommendations. The @Thirlwall_Inq led by a senior judge has published a comprehensive assessment of the last 30 years of inquiries. It ...

Early prisoner release scare stories ? Factcheck
18 May 2024 at 9:31am
By Professor John Robertson Read in full at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=prisoner+release

Exposure to carcinogens in Faslane
18 May 2024 at 8:26am
In May 2024: Silence is revealing? In May 2023: QUESTIONS are hanging over the safety of Britain?s nuclear arsenal after it was revealed there were 58 radiation leaks at Trident facilities in Scotland this year so far. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has revealed there were 15 recorded radiation leaks at Coulport and a further 43 at Faslane in 2023 as of April ? but said none were considered ?ser...

Sir Keir Starmer, The Man Without Qualities
18 May 2024 at 8:01am
By Professor John Robertson ?For when we lie nowadays it is not so much out of weakness as out of a conviction that a man cannot prevail in life unless he is able to lie.? When you hear Sir Keir Starmer speak, the title of Robert Musol?s pre-war novel, the Man Without Qualities, forced on many 1960?s students, can pop into your head. He doesn?t excite. He doesn?t even interest but too often, he...

Hard evidence of Fiona Bruce bias
17 May 2024 at 7:06pm
I’m grateful to the above Hound for doing the content analysis for me. In last night’s Question Time in Aberdeen, Fiona Bruce interrupted the SNP’s Stephen Flynn almost twice as often as the interrupted the other panellists altogether. Stephen Flynn was interrupted altogether many more time than all the other panellists put together. Perhaps someone else will have counted how many in the audien...

US ferry system in ?severe turmoil? as 38 lawmakers write to Congress ?urgent...
17 May 2024 at 11:54am
From the Seattle Medium today: The Washington State Ferry system (WSF) is currently facing severe turmoil, prompting 38 elected leaders to send a letter to Congress urgently requesting funding ?at the highest level possible? to aid WSF in its operations. The agency is currently operating with just over half the number of boats it needs to effectively serve the region. Despite receiving over $14...

Ferries out of service? 29% out of service in affluent Washington State and o...
17 May 2024 at 11:15am
By Professor John Robertson, Scotland’s only Ferry Correspondent who looks at other ferry services too. From King 5 Seattle today: Washington State Ferries (WSF) is preparing to see more than 300,000 passengers for Memorial Day Weekend, enough people to fill T-Mobile Park six times. This is the start of the busy summer season when the ferries see double the number of passengers as they do in th...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Sterling would dive after independence but Barnett formula cripples us - The ...
19 May 2024 at 11:02am
Sterling would dive after independence but Barnett formula cripples us  The National

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

Scotland?s leader Humza Yousaf resigns after a year in power, throwing his pr...
29 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Scotland?s leader Humza Yousaf resigns after a year in power, throwing his pro-independence party into chaos  CNN

Alex Cole-Hamilton: Why you will seldom hear me mention Scottish independence...
18 May 2024 at 10:13am
Alex Cole-Hamilton: Why you will seldom hear me mention Scottish independence  STV News

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 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

John Swinney elected as new Scotland leader - Al Jazeera English
7 May 2024 at 8:00am
John Swinney elected as new Scotland leader  Al Jazeera English

Rishi Sunak REFUSES to apologise for Scottish independence comments - The Nat...
15 May 2024 at 2:23pm
Rishi Sunak REFUSES to apologise for Scottish independence comments  The National

'Independence can be delivered in five years' says Scotland's First Minister ...
10 May 2024 at 8:42am
'Independence can be delivered in five years' says Scotland's First Minister John Swinney  Sky News

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Business chiefs 'excited' by new SNP leadership team - The National
19 May 2024 at 12:47pm
Business chiefs 'excited' by new SNP leadership team  The National

The Ferret: Oil industry's SNP lobbyists fuel worry on North Sea extraction -...
19 May 2024 at 11:02am
The Ferret: Oil industry's SNP lobbyists fuel worry on North Sea extraction  The National

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

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

Who is John Swinney, Scotland?s new first minister after Humza Yousaf quit? -...
10 May 2024 at 8:00am
Who is John Swinney, Scotland?s new first minister after Humza Yousaf quit?  Al Jazeera English

The SNP failed as an activist party. If it becomes a competent governing forc...
2 May 2024 at 8:00am
The SNP failed as an activist party. If it becomes a competent governing force, it may have a chance  The Guardian

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

Labour ahead of SNP in Scotland for first time since independence referendum ...
10 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Labour ahead of SNP in Scotland for first time since independence referendum  YouGov

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

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

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

'Scotland has right to have another indy referendum', EU youth activists say ...
18 May 2024 at 11:35am
'Scotland has right to have another indy referendum', EU youth activists say  The National

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

GCSE Citizenship: Citizenship and politics in Scotland - BBC
15 May 2024 at 10:30am
GCSE Citizenship: Citizenship and politics in Scotland  BBC

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

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

Humza Yousaf sets out Scottish independence plan - BBC.com
14 Sep 2023 at 8:00am
Humza Yousaf sets out Scottish independence plan  BBC.com

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

SNP pledges to push for independence if it wins a majority in next election -...
15 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
SNP pledges to push for independence if it wins a majority in next election  POLITICO Europe

Labour ahead of SNP in Scotland for first time since independence referendum ...
10 Apr 2024 at 8:00am
Labour ahead of SNP in Scotland for first time since independence referendum  YouGov

SNP rejects using next election as 'de facto' referendum on independence - Sk...
15 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
SNP rejects using next election as 'de facto' referendum on independence  Sky News