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Scottish Politics and Referendum News - aggregated

About and Contact | Archive | Scottish football news | Scottish Voiceovers | This news page collected on 19.03.2024

28.2.2024: This site will be changing soon as the Carp PHP scripts for collecting the RSS media feeds are no longer being supported and are not compatible with the PHP version our host requires us to upgrade to. We will attempt to convert it all to Wordpress, but it may be down for a while. Thanks for your support over the years.

 

The Herald

The Herald | Politics


North south 'electrical spine' to export energy to England
19 Mar 2024 at 12:05am
A new north to south electrical spine could be created to allow green energy generated off the coast of Scotland to be transported to England as part of a £60 billion plan, according to a report published today.


Scotland's City Deals lead to boom for 'high carbon' projects
19 Mar 2024 at 12:00am
Environmental campaigners have criticised national and local politicians for spending millions of taxpayer?s cash generated by City Region Deals on roads.


SNP: Tory-free, or not Tory-free, that is the question
18 Mar 2024 at 5:58pm
Tory-free, or not Tory-free, that is the question currently tripping up Humza Yousaf.


Humza Yousaf to sit out decisions on SNP's piece of Stone of Destiny
18 Mar 2024 at 2:22pm
Humza Yousaf has stepped back from any decisions involving a long-lost fragment of the Stone of Destiny found in an SNP cupboard.


Businessman who took court action to stop Glasgow LEZ ends court bid
18 Mar 2024 at 1:15pm
The businessman who took court action against Glasgow?s Low Emission Zone has dropped his legal battle.


GB News 'put on notice' after Tory MP hosts break impartiality rules
18 Mar 2024 at 11:18am
GB News has been ?put on notice? by the broadcasting regulator after breaching impartiality rules in five episodes of programmes hosted by serving Tory MPs.


The abortion buffer zones Bill in Scotland, explained
18 Mar 2024 at 9:19am
Gillian Mackay MSP has put forward a Bill to introduce safe access zones, or buffer zones, outside abortion clinics. Here's why and what it would mean.


Rishi Sunak tells Tories to ?stick to the plan? amid reports of plot
18 Mar 2024 at 7:49am
The Prime Minister launched a political fightback after days of leadership speculation amid fears over a wipeout at the polls


Edinburgh Council replaces controversial Melville monument plaque
18 Mar 2024 at 12:50pm
Edinburgh Council has replaced the controversial plaque at the base of the Melville monument nearly seven months after it was removed by his ancestors.


Kemi Badenoch dismisses Tory donor race row as 'trivial'
18 Mar 2024 at 12:09pm
Kemi Badenoch has said there is no reason for the Tories to not take money off a donor she last week accused of making racist comments.


SNP defend 'clear and straightforward' call to make Scotland Tory Free
18 Mar 2024 at 10:40am
Scotland?s independence minister has defended Humza Yousaf?s call to ?make Scotland Tory free? describing it as a ?clear and straightforward? campaigning message.


Campaigners call for 10 per cent of Scotland to be community owned
18 Mar 2024 at 6:30am
Campaigners in Scotland are calling for 10% of Scotland to be community-owned by 2030, up from just 3% currently.


UK army would be in Scotland 'for 20 years' after independence
17 Mar 2024 at 8:40am
The UK?s armed forces would likely remain in Scotland for at least 20 years if the country became independent, according to a think tank


SNP ministers under fire over 600K NHS days lost to mental ill-health
17 Mar 2024 at 6:00am
Scotland?s NHS has lost more than 600,000 nursing and midwifery days to mental ill-health since the start of the Covid pandemic, new figures have revealed.

 

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Edinburgh councillor accused of anti-Semitism amid criticism for 'Zionist fre...
18 Mar 2024 at 5:28pm
Message described as ?concerning for Jewish people? in capital


Barak Obama: Former US president meets with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 'in...
18 Mar 2024 at 8:00pm
Barack Obama said ?I?m tempted? as he left Downing Street following a meeting with Rishi Sunak


Humza Yousaf doubles down on ?make Scotland Tory-free? election message
18 Mar 2024 at 6:04pm
The First Minister said he makes no apologies ?whatsoever?


Scotland drug consumption rooms: NHS health board advertises jobs for UK-firs...
18 Mar 2024 at 2:52pm
A Safer Drug Consumption Facility (SDCF) is due to open in Glasgow later this year ? the first of its kind in the UK.


GB News: Ofcom rules three Tory MPs, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, broke broadca...
18 Mar 2024 at 2:28pm
Jacob Rees-Mogg is one of three Tory MPs that Ofcom said had ?acted as newsreaders? on GB News and broken broadcasting rules


MP backs campaign to scrap ?school uniform tax?
18 Mar 2024 at 1:33pm
An MP has criticised the Chancellor for failing to remove VAT on school uniform items during the Budget.


Humza Yousaf?s ?Tory free? rhetoric treats voters with 'open contempt', says ...
18 Mar 2024 at 12:37pm
Jamie Hepburn, Scotland?s independence minister, has defended the ?make Scotland Tory free? message


Vladimir Putin accused of behaving like 'modern-day Joseph Stalin' after clai...
18 Mar 2024 at 8:12am
Results in the Russian elections


Why Humza Yousaf is a man without a 'credible plan for Scotland's economy or ...
18 Mar 2024 at 4:55am
Humza Yousaf lacks a ?credible? plan to improve Scotland?s economy or to deal with an increase in drug misuse deaths, writes Brian Monteith


Scottish Government should heed calls to make ScotRail peak fares suspension ...
18 Mar 2024 at 4:55am
The Scottish Government?s target of achieving net zero by 2045 ? and in the process eliminating greenhouse gas emissions ? will require creative and progressive thinking to be realistically achievable.

 

 

 

Wings over Scotland

Humza Yousaf Fact Check
16 Mar 2024 at 2:49pm
When we read this, our instant reaction was “Well, that’s total horseshit”. And of course, it is. But let’s be fair to Humza Yousaf here – in a strict technical sense, it’s closer than we thought. Below are the top twos for Scotland’s 59 seats in the 2019 UK election. ABERDEEN NORTH 1 SNP 2 …

Unserious Crimes Squad
16 Mar 2024 at 6:59am

Meet The Monsters
14 Mar 2024 at 10:39pm
He’s the cuddly, lovable character all of Scotland’s talking about, but what do we really know about the Hate Monster? Where did he come from? What’s his backstory? Well, the diligent research team at Wings have been hard at work, and we’re thrilled to bring you this rare archive footage of not one but BOTH …

Everything About You
14 Mar 2024 at 12:23pm
We’ve just submitted this Freedom Of Information request to Police Scotland: I seek the following information with regard to Police Scotland’s programme of materials surrounding the implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021: (1) What was the total cost of the “Hate Monster” campaign? (2) Of that, how much was spent …

The Spirit Of Sheffield
13 Mar 2024 at 8:29pm
Wings has been regularly pointing out for the last 11-and-a-half years that by far the most reliable indicator of who’s going to win an election isn’t voting-intention polls, but “Who would make the best Prime/First Minister?” polls. So the SNP should be really really alarmed about this. Because those are some shocking numbers. The top …

When there?s no-one left to fight
13 Mar 2024 at 3:19pm
Everyone’s having a lot of fun with the farcical Hate Crime Act that will finally come into operation in Scotland in just a couple of weeks’ time, fittingly on April Fools’ Day. Even by the Scottish Government’s abysmally rank standards of legislation over the last decade it’s an embarrassing binfire, with citizens being urged to …

The Elephant In The Road
10 Mar 2024 at 8:59am
Hopefully most of you will have seen this yesterday, but if not, here it is: ? So let’s have a chat about Alex’s closing comments. I’m not sure there is a unity of purpose among the pro-indy new media any more, nor am I even convinced one is desirable. It’s one thing to have all …

Signs Of The Times
9 Mar 2024 at 7:48am

Yet another fine mess
4 Mar 2024 at 7:45pm
There’s a Calvin And Hobbes cartoon we like to post on social media when someone’s got themselves in such a pickle that they’re just flailing around desperately firing off every slogan, argument or insult they can think of to get themselves out of it. And so, wearily, to the SNP. This was the appetiser. Just …

The Path Of No Return
3 Mar 2024 at 5:13pm
This whole clip is worth watching. It appears to be an evidence session at the Scottish Parliament featuring several members of the Scottish Government’s Expert Advisory Group On Ending Conversion Practices, with which Wings readers will be familiar. ? Many things about the session are disturbing, not least the incredibly one-sided nature of both the …


Craig Murray

Craig Murray

Assange Truth and UN Shenanigans
16 Mar 2024 at 3:49pm

I spent the last week at the UN, trying to ram home some truths about the Assange case as input to the UN’s Periodic Review (every 7 years) of the UK’s human rights record, in terms of its compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I had a very short opportunity to …

Assange Truth and UN Shenanigans

A Tour d?Horizon on Swiss Box
15 Mar 2024 at 2:34pm

Assange, Gaza, the manipulation of “anti-semitism”, threats to civil liberties, Galloway, the forms of armed resistance available to the colonised: I enjoy the long-form interview as a chance to explore issues in depth. This one was very enjoyable, and we didn’t get through half of Antoine’s list of topics. I do hope that you can …

A Tour d’Horizon on Swiss Box

The Panic Of the Ruling Class
12 Mar 2024 at 12:34pm

I have known George Galloway my entire adult life, although we largely lost touch in the middle bit while I was off diplomating. I know George too well to mistake him for Jesus Christ, but he has been on the right side against appalling wars which the entire political class has cheer-led. His natural gifts …

The Panic Of the Ruling Class

Healthcare
11 Mar 2024 at 9:23am

I have a post on the political class’s frenetic attempts to criminalise dissent nearly finished, which I hope will be up tonight. But as a lifelong supporter of the NHS, I wanted to share with you this. I went to a village community health centre in Greece, feeling pretty rotten. I had to wait outside …

Healthcare

Assange Final Appeal Day 2 ? Your Man in the Public Gallery
29 Feb 2024 at 8:16am

I approached Day 2 with trepidation. It was not so much being accustomed to having hopes dashed, as having lived so long without hope that it was hard to know what to do with it. At 5:30am I stopped work for a while on writing up Day 1 and went out to walk down the …

Assange Final Appeal Day 2 – Your Man in the Public Gallery

Assange Final Appeal ? Your Man in the Public Gallery
21 Feb 2024 at 8:52am

Reporting on Julian Assange’s extradition hearings has become a vocation that has now stretched over five years. From the very first hearing, when Justice Snow called Assange “a narcissist” before Julian had said anything whatsoever other than to confirm his name, to the last, when Judge Swift had simply in 2.5 pages of glib double-spaced …

Assange Final Appeal – Your Man in the Public Gallery

BBC Scotland

BBC News


Rail unions call for peak fares to be scrapped
18 Mar 2024 at 8:23am
A pilot scheme running on ScotRail since October made fares the same at all times of day.


Longest-serving SNP MP criticises election message
17 Mar 2024 at 4:53pm
Pete Wishart says he will not use any "Tory-free rhetoric" in his election campaign.


Election is a straight fight with Tories - Yousaf
16 Mar 2024 at 4:40pm
The SNP leader makes the remarks at a party event where the general election campaign was being discussed.


Scottish childminder numbers halve in a decade
17 Mar 2024 at 11:05am
Scottish Labour accuses the Scottish government of failing families after the figures were revealed.


Turkish-built CalMac ferry successfully launched
16 Mar 2024 at 5:20pm
The MV Isle of Islay is due to enter service in Scotland in October following sea trials.


Hate crime law: Force for good or recipe for disaster?
14 Mar 2024 at 11:01pm
The new law comes into force next month but already concerns are raised around how it will be enforced.


Matheson breached code of conduct over iPad bill
14 Mar 2024 at 3:54pm
Michael Matheson, who resigned as Scotland's health secretary last month, racked up almost £11,000 on a parliamentary iPad.


No police action after Salmond leak investigation
14 Mar 2024 at 6:08pm
Officers had been looking at how the Daily Record obtained details of complaints that were made against Mr Salmond in 2018.


GPs wore bin bags for aprons during the pandemic
14 Mar 2024 at 4:47pm
The Scottish Covid Inquiry hears GPs felt they did not have adequate PPE in the early days of the pandemic.


Hardcore sex project funding axed by arts body
14 Mar 2024 at 3:11pm
Creative Scotland will try to get back almost £85,000 awarded to the Rein project after criticism.


Scotland will bear the brunt of climate costs
14 Mar 2024 at 3:08pm
Tackling climate change will cost Scotland £1.1bn a year, the financial watchdog warns.


UK ministers 'afraid' of Sturgeon during Covid
13 Mar 2024 at 6:25pm
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford also told the UK Covid Inquiry Nicola Sturgeon is a "formidable politician".

Scot Goes Pop

From 3rd May onwards, the Conservative government will owe its presence in of...
15 Mar 2024 at 10:10am
Well, it's typical, isn't it.  Rather similar to the Azhar Ali incident, no sooner had I blogged about the chatter over a May election than Rishi Sunak had taken to the airwaves to rule it out.  I ...

Would an early general election improve or worsen the SNP's chances?
14 Mar 2024 at 6:07pm
There was a bit of excitement yesterday about the possibility of a general election in May.  I said on Twitter that I couldn't think of any logical reason why Sunak would go early, rather than wait...

More despair for Starmer as Labour loses its outright lead in Scotland, and s...
13 Mar 2024 at 6:01pm
The monthly Redfield & Wilton poll is out, and in a continuation of the familiar pattern, support for independence is impressively high but just can't seem to break into the outright lead.Should Sc...

No, Professor Robertson, young people do not support gender self-ID. They op...
12 Mar 2024 at 12:46pm
So the exciting news is that we've had another visitation from Professor John Robertson in the comments section.  I was trying to work out what the recurring theme of his comments is, and it sudden...

Like it or not, independence is unlikely to be won without leading involvemen...
11 Mar 2024 at 12:04am
As long-term readers of this blog may recall, I was an elected member of the Alba Party's NEC between September 2021 and October 2022.  For most of that year-and-a-bit, I was pretty happy with the ...

Scot Goes Pop soars to become the fifth most-read pro-independence website in...
10 Mar 2024 at 1:21pm
Every so often, Stuart Campbell randomly decides to have a prolonged boast about how he is supposedly by far the most popular blogger in the known galaxy, and one of the advantages of that from my ...

Holocaust Deniers For Labour
8 Mar 2024 at 6:14pm
For those who have been asking, here is how voters for the far-right party "Independent Green Voice" transferred in the Hillhead by-election yesterday - Greens 55SNP 37Labour 27Conservatives 7Non-t...

Another week, another by-election humiliation for Starmer, as Labour lose sea...
8 Mar 2024 at 5:53am
The dubious practice we've had in Scotland since 2007 of using what is effectively a majoritarian voting system to fill local councillor vacancies, in seats that were originally elected proportiona...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Sunak maintains hope of spring Rwanda flights after seeing off Lords? challenges
18 Mar 2024 at 10:20pm
The Government has overturned all 10 amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill made by the House of Lords.

MPs shown Scottish-made ?unicorn? satellite at committee meeting
18 Mar 2024 at 6:31pm
Tom Walkinshaw, of Alba Orbital, took one of his company?s Unicorn-2 products to the House of Commons.

Tory MPs ?acting as newsreaders? on GB News broke impartiality broadcasting r...
18 Mar 2024 at 2:40pm
GB News said it was 'deeply concerned' following Ofcom's ruling, which focused on shows presented by Jacob Rees-Mogg, Esther McVey and Philip Davies.

Politics insight: The weather for Rishi Sunak is bad, but the climate for the...
18 Mar 2024 at 1:02pm
Calling an election now would be like sailing into a hurricane in a rubber dinghy, Paris Gourtsoyannis says.

Rishi Sunak tells Tories to ?stick to the plan? amid reports of plot to oust him
18 Mar 2024 at 9:51am
With many Tories increasingly fearful about losing their seats, there have been claims that some MPs are considering replacing him with Penny Mordaunt.

Senior SNP MP says he will avoid ?Tory-free? slogan in election campaign
17 Mar 2024 at 6:06pm
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart was criticised for saying he would not use a statement that was included in a social media post a week ago.

?Decent? Matheson has no need to stand down as MSP, says Yousaf
17 Mar 2024 at 2:31pm
The former Scottish health secretary breached parliamentary rules over a near-£11,000 iPad roaming charges bill.

The SNP must win general election, Yousaf tells activists
16 Mar 2024 at 6:06pm
The First Minister was addressing party activists in Perth.

Humza Yousaf: Scotland must reject ?Tory values? at general election ?red or ...
16 Mar 2024 at 10:01am
First Minister to take aim at Labour and Tories at campaign council speech.

Tory MPs have ?never worked harder? despite ?zombie parliament? claims, chanc...
15 Mar 2024 at 9:17pm
Jeremy Hunt responded to reports that MPs are spending less time in parliament.

Humza Yousaf urged to remove SNP whip from Michael Matheson after iPad expens...
15 Mar 2024 at 5:23pm
A Holyrood probe found the former Cabinet minister breached two parts of the MSPs? code of conduct over how he handled a £11,000 bill.

Are buses in Glasgow and west of Scotland coming back under public control af...
15 Mar 2024 at 4:59pm
A vote by Strathclyde's transport authority could spell an end to the private bus system as we know it.

Flynn: Scotland will need strong SNP voice at Westminster after general election
15 Mar 2024 at 7:32am
The comments come as a recent poll put the SNP level with Labour in Scotland.

Equalities Committee accepts amendment on definition of women in public board...
15 Mar 2024 at 6:48am
The Equalities Committee recommended the amendment to the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics


Rishi Sunak insists Tories are united despite reported plot to oust him
18 Mar 2024 at 1:54pm
The Conservative leader said he was ?not interested? in ?Westminster politics?.


MSPs urged to increase minimum unit price of alcohol in Scotland by health ex...
18 Mar 2024 at 4:30am
The Scottish Government announced last month its intention to raise the minimum unit price (MUP) of booze to 65p.


Vulnerable Scots families have public debt wiped out under radical anti-pover...
18 Mar 2024 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: An evaluation of the Aberlour programme in Tayside was found to have made a difference to people's lives.


Vital service which stops ex-prisoners from reoffending to close after fundin...
18 Mar 2024 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The Dick Stewart service in Glasgow helps men convicted of violent crimes reintegrate into the community once they leave jail.


Scots deserve better than Labour MPs acting as professional apologists for We...
18 Mar 2024 at 4:29am
In his regular column for the Record, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn warns a future Labour government could usher in a new era of austerity.


Humza Yousaf refuses to comment on Operation Branchform as activist calls for...
17 Mar 2024 at 1:23pm
Sean Clerkin has urged Chief Constable Jo Farrell to comment on the long-running police investigation into SNP finances.


SNP MP distances himself from Humza Yousaf 'Tory free' rhetoric in split over...
17 Mar 2024 at 12:29pm
Veteran Nationalist Pete Wishart said he wouldn't use a "vote SNP to make Scotland Tory free" slogan while he campaigns to keep his seat in Perth.


Humza Yousaf suggests Michael Matheson will not resign as MSP after iPad expe...
17 Mar 2024 at 11:34am
The First Minister described his former Cabinet colleague as a "decent person who made a mistake".


SNP want seized campervan back from police as they claim it is party asset
17 Mar 2024 at 4:30am
The £110,000 vehicle is at the centre of a major police investigation into the party?s finances.


Anger at Scots investment bank putting £5m into digital device for drug addic...
17 Mar 2024 at 4:30am
The Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) said its investment was ?aligned with the Scottish Government?s national mission to reduce drug-related deaths?.

The National

The National | Politics

SNP vote rejects Torification of British politics, not just Tories
18 Mar 2024 at 7:00pm

On Saturday, First Minister Humza Yousaf unveiled a key plank of the SNP's election strategy for the Westminster General Election  - which will take place later this year and more likely sooner rather than later given the rate at which the Conservatives are imploding.

Humza Yousaf?s speech was lacking independence inspiration
18 Mar 2024 at 7:00pm

I WATCHED most of Humza Yousaf?s Perth speech on the internet and judging by the fairly sparse attendance, others perhaps did the same. I later found the text online on the SNP?s website. It stated it would be a 12-minute read but I managed to read most of it in around three minutes. In essence it was nearly 3500 words to say the Tories are bad, Labour are just as bad, vote SNP to make Scotland...

How The National kept up pressure over Israeli flight
18 Mar 2024 at 6:42pm

We consistently kept up the pressure after it was revealed Prestwick Airport played host to an Israeli Air Force plane. Here?s how we covered it.

I agree with Pete Wishart that SNP's 'Tory-free' message is unhelpful
18 Mar 2024 at 6:30pm

I VERY much agree with Pete Wishart regarding his statement that the SNP?s message of members making Scotland Tory-free is ?unhelpful? (SNP urged to drop ?Tory-free? election campaign message, Mar 18). This message is both negative and undemocratic. While I may disagree with most of what the Tories stand for, they have the right to have these views, just as we have the right to have a different...

Prestwick Airport 'cuts off Israeli Air Force access' after backlash
18 Mar 2024 at 6:00pm

PRESTWICK Airport will no longer do business with the Israeli Air Force after hosting a military plane late last year, The National can reveal.

SNP: Expert weighs in on Tory-free slogan debate amid party division
18 Mar 2024 at 6:00pm

THE SNP?s slogan of making Scotland ?Tory-free? may have been used as a simple tactic to galvanise traditional voters within the party, an expert has argued.

First Minister invited to speak at Scottish independence rally
18 Mar 2024 at 5:50pm

THE First Minister has been invited to speak at a Scottish independence rally to present a ?united front? from the Yes movement ...

Cheaper to fly people to space than send an asylum seeker to Rwanda
18 Mar 2024 at 5:18pm

FLYING six people to the edge of space is cheaper than the UK sending one failed asylum seeker to Rwanda, MPs have heard ...

MP condemns Kaye Adams for sharing 'offensive' Holocaust text on BBC
18 Mar 2024 at 5:26pm

AN MP with a German husband has claimed a decision by BBC presenter Kaye Adams to read out a text comparing an SNP campaign slogan to the Holocaust is ?unjustifiable?.

Clyde Metro plans back on track as council to approve funds
18 Mar 2024 at 5:08pm

A project to provide a major metro transport system in Glasgow is set to secure funding of more than £12 million to push forward the plans.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Labour demand Humza Yousaf make a statement on ?housing emergency?
19 Mar 2024 at 12:24am
Scottish Labour?s housing spokesperson accused the Scottish Government of being in ?complete denial? about the scale of the ?housing emergency in Scotland?

Scrap ScotRail peak fares for good to end 'unfair tax' on workers, Hyslop is ...
18 Mar 2024 at 7:39am
Bringing higher charges back would be 'retrograde' step, critics claim

Suspend Michael Matheson now, Douglas Ross tells Humza Yousaf
15 Mar 2024 at 2:02pm
Show 'firm leadership' and remove SNP whip, Scottish Tory leader urges

MSPs back bill to remove expanded definition of ?woman? from gender balance law
15 Mar 2024 at 11:14am
The Gender Representation on Public Boards (Amendment) Bill was introduced by government following a legal challenge

Police Scotland ends investigation into Alex Salmond leak
15 Mar 2024 at 8:00am
Probe over release of details from Scottish Government investigation

Michael Matheson found to have breached MSP code of conduct over iPad data bill
15 Mar 2024 at 8:00am
The former health secretary resigned last month over the row. He is now facing calls to quit as an MSP.

Drugs death plan ?is not working?, First Minister told
14 Mar 2024 at 1:35pm
Douglas Ross said it was ?clear? the matter was ?not a priority? for government

Humza Yousaf tells John Mason to 'listen to women' on abortion clinic 'harass...
14 Mar 2024 at 1:14pm
FM urges parliament to back buffer zone bill

Pioneering Scottish laser research secures long-term cash boost
14 Mar 2024 at 12:51pm
A scientist from Heriot-Watt University has secured a decade-long investment to develop new ultrafast laser technologies

Creative Scotland pulls funding from explicit film project
14 Mar 2024 at 12:00pm
Arts organisation says it can no longer support Rein due to plans for 'non-simulated sex' in the film

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

The Guardian view on Britain?s non-white political class: supporting change b...
18 Mar 2024 at 6:42pm
The success of the three political leaders should not be seen as a repudiation of the existence of racism itselfIf power was just about office, then Britain?s ethnic minorities would appear to have nothing to worry about. Rishi Sunak sits in Downing Street. Humza Yousaf heads Scotland?s devolved ...

Michael Matheson faces suspension as MSP after £11,000 iPad data bill claim
14 Mar 2024 at 4:39pm
Holyrood standards committee to examine findings of inquiry that upheld three complaints against ex-ministerUK politics ? latest updatesThe former Scottish health secretary Michael Matheson faces being suspended from Holyrood after wrongly claiming nearly £11,000 in expenses for an iPad roaming b...

Scottish lairds may be forced to break up estates during land sales
14 Mar 2024 at 3:46pm
Bill proposes dividing large estates into smaller lots to spread land ownership and boost rural populationsScottish lairds will be ordered to break up their estates into smaller parcels during sales under plans to reverse the country?s heavily concentrated patterns of land ownership.A land reform...

Fears for future of Gaelic language as community workers? jobs under threat
10 Mar 2024 at 4:00pm
Up to 27 Gaelic development officers based on Hebridean islands and in rural counties and cities to be laid offGaelic-language campaigners and MSPs have protested furiously about plans to axe a network of Gaelic community workers, raising fresh fears about the survival of the language.Up to 27 Ga...

Budget 2024 live: Jeremy Hunt cuts national insurance, abolishes non-dom stat...
6 Mar 2024 at 6:52pm
NI cut of 2p announced, along with new tax on vapes, end of tax relief for holiday lettings and more cash for NHS IT systemBudget 2024: key points at a glanceJeremy Hunt announces 2p cut in national insuranceHow much will the 2p NI cut benefit workers?Jeremy Hunt is expected to extend the windfal...

Ex-Post Office chair gives details of ?stitch up? which he says led to Badeno...
5 Mar 2024 at 5:31pm
Letter from former Post Office chair Henry Staunton gives new details on conversations. This live blog is closedSir Mark Rowley has hit back at Rishi Sunak?s criticism of the policing of anti-war protests, dismissing claims officers are failing to enforce the law as ?inaccurate? and claiming offi...

Scotland? is in decline because of SNP?s independence obsession, says Gove
2 Mar 2024 at 3:44pm
Devastating focus on separatism means public services have been run down, minister tells Tory activists in AberdeenMichael Gove has accused the Scottish National party government of running down Scotland because of its ?devastating? obsession with independence, as he tried to rally Conservative a...

Sunak hints at further national insurance cuts in spring budget
1 Mar 2024 at 6:19pm
Government wants to make life easier for working people, he says at Scottish Tory conferenceRishi Sunak has issued a strong hint that there could be further cuts in national insurance rates in next week?s budget.The prime minister told reporters gathered at the Scottish Tory conference in Aberdee...

Rochdale byelection: Keir Starmer apologises after George Galloway wins but s...
1 Mar 2024 at 4:00pm
Labour leader says ?Galloway only won because Labour did not stand? but says it was right to withdraw candidate. This live blog is now closedFull story: George Galloway wins Rochdale byelectionLabour says George Galloway is ?only interested in stoking fear and division?.In a statement issued abou...

Humza Yousaf ?open? to inquiry into police failings in Iain Packer case
29 Feb 2024 at 3:26pm
Family of Emma Caldwell, who was killed by Packer, want judge-led inquiry to examine ?culture of misogyny and corruption?Scotland?s first minister, Humza Yousaf, has said he is ?very open? to a public inquiry into why it took almost 20 years to bring Iain Packer to justice, after the serial rapis...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

BBC Scotland: an irresponsible manufacturer of fake British nationalist outrage
18 Mar 2024 at 5:58pm
Over the weekend Humza Yousaf unveiled a key plank of the SNP’s pitch to voters at the Westminster general election which is expected to be held later this year. The SNP will urge voters to vote SNP at that election in order to turn Scotland into a Tory free zone, obviously insofar as Scottish Westminster …

Blog break
13 Mar 2024 at 1:24pm
I?m afraid I won’t be doing my regular two or three blog posts this week as I am currently experiencing another bout of post stroke fatigue which is being exacerbated by the fact that I’m struggling with a flare up of psoriasis which is preventing me from sleeping properly. I will be back on Monday. …

We?re all extremists now
6 Mar 2024 at 12:27pm
It seems that we are all extremists now, Rishi Sunak has asked Levelling Up Secretary, the oleaginous Michael Gove, to update the Government?s definition of extremism so it has a much broader scope, encompassing those who “undermine” British values and institutions. The change is expected to be announced later this month and is expected to …

Labour?s insidious threat to devolution
3 Mar 2024 at 3:06pm
Anyone who was daft enough to have thought that a Conservative defeat at the next Westminster general election and Sunak’s replacement with a Labour government led by Keir Starmer would mean an end to British nationalist attacks on the devolution settlement is in for a very big disappointment. The right wing Labour party of Keir …

Repaying Westminster contempt in kind
27 Feb 2024 at 11:42am
After last Wednesday’s disgraceful scenes in the House of Commons when Speaker Lindsay Hoyle acceded to pressure from Labour leader Keir Starmer to trash Commons conventions and effectively to turn what was supposed to be an SNP Opposition day debate on a ceasefire in Gaza into a Labour Opposition day debate, compounded by Monday’s arrogantly …

Two words
22 Feb 2024 at 5:14pm
On Wednesday MPs were due to debate and vote upon an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza describing the wanton slaughter of Palestinians by the misnamed Israeli ‘Defence’ Forces as collective punishment, which constitutes a war crime under international law. Starmer refused to support the SNP motion because of those two words. …

Labour in Scotland: Lying for votes
20 Feb 2024 at 9:38am
The Labour party’s Scottish accounting unit held its spring conference in Glasgow over the weekend, an event mainly focused on creating the fiction that the Labour party in Scotland is is distinct entity with a political identity and policies distinct from those of the UK Labour party in the iron grip of that right wing …

Chasing after crazy and a tale of two ships
13 Feb 2024 at 11:39am
The Tories are in meltdown this week as two by elections loom in what were nominally safe Conservative seats in the English Tory heartlands, although given the current state of the party there is no longer such a thing as a safe seat for the Tories. Febrile back bench MPs are wailing that the party …

What?s the point of Keir Starmer?
5 Feb 2024 at 11:38am
There’s currently a burning question in Scottish politics, although it’s not a question that gets any airtime in a Scottish media that’s obsessed with Nicola Sturgeon’s WhatsApp messages in a desperate attempt to create a political equivalence between the Scottish Government’s handling of the pandemic and that of Boris Johnson. So it’s not really a …

Starmer won?t change Britain?s culture of political dishonesty, he?s part of it
30 Jan 2024 at 11:11am
Two opinion polls published over the past few days had important information for the Scottish independence campaign, the first showed that a substantial majority of the Scottish population believe that the Scottish Parliament should have the power to hold an independence referendum without the permission of the Westminster government 57.5% of Scots believe that the …

The Courier

Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

Humza Yousaf reacts to Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart?s criticism of ?Tory-fr...
18 Mar 2024 at 4:00pm
The SNP leader said veteran nationalist Mr Wishart had used similar language before himself.

Fornethy abuse scandal: Shona Robison to be grilled on compensation calls
18 Mar 2024 at 6:00am
The deputy first minister will give evidence at a Holyrood committee examining calls for the survivors to be included in a compensation scheme.

Major boost for Fife as SNP and Tories reach deal to extend green freeports u...
18 Mar 2024 at 6:00am
We can reveal the Scottish Government has agreed to the extension.

Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart disowns Humza Yousaf?s call for ?Tory-free? Sc...
17 Mar 2024 at 2:41pm
Pete Wishart told The Courier he will have "nothing to do" with the language adopted by First Minister Humza Yousaf.

Humza Yousaf says Michael Matheson has no need to stand down after iPad expen...
17 Mar 2024 at 12:43pm
The First Minister described his ex-minister as a ?decent person? despite a Holyrood probe finding he'd broke the code of conduct.

Humza Yousaf ramps up SNP?s election campaign at Perth party event
16 Mar 2024 at 4:28pm
The first minister admitted the next election will 'not be easy' for his party in his pitch to activists in Perth.

Stephen Flynn jokes Scotland fans could use Fife SNP motorhome at Euros
16 Mar 2024 at 3:09pm
The Dundee-born MP quipped Tartan Army supporters would happily stay in the campervan since hotels in Germany will be expensive this June.

SNP wants back controversial £100k Fife motorhome seized by police
16 Mar 2024 at 1:39pm
The campervan was first taken by officers from former party chief Peter Murrell?s mother?s home in Dunfermline last April.

?Massive public impact? of Dundee Contemporary Arts in spotlight amid financi...
16 Mar 2024 at 6:00am
In an interview to mark the DCA?s 25th anniversary, the arts centre's director Beth Bate says there?s no immediate closure threat - but warns significant funding uncertainties remain.

Stephen Flynn says SNP are ?Scotland?s voice? ahead of Perth conference
15 Mar 2024 at 10:05am
Stephen Flynn took aim at both the Conservatives and Labour ahead of the party's gathering in the fair city.

Talking up Scotland

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

How the Conservative Government allowed P&O to lay the ground for future ferry...
18 Mar 2024 at 9:56pm
Never mind the construction delays or the cancellations inconveniencing the comfortable island retirees – 193 dead – there’s a ferry fiasco for you. Above, the Herald of Free Enterprise, only a few minutes after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge on the night of 6th March 1987, killing 193 people on board.  Ironically, the UK Government of the day and for 8 years until then was Conservative,...

Thanks to SNP policies Scots far less likely to have fallen behind on bill pa...
18 Mar 2024 at 6:07pm
Media reports based on research by Debt Justice today have drawn attention to large numbers unable to keep up with debt payments after 14 years of Tory mismanagement of the economy, soaring costs and high taxation. The researchers kindly provided me with the breakdown across the 4 nations, not being covered in other media reporting. In South-east England, 21% had fallen behind or missed payment...

Hospitals are cynically burying evidence about poor care in a ?cover-up cultu...
18 Mar 2024 at 10:52am
In the Guardian today but completely absent from BBC websites including amazingly BBC Health, the above shocking scandal: Hospitals are cynically burying evidence about poor care in a ?cover-up culture? that leads to avoidable deaths, and families being denied the truth about their loved ones, the NHS ombudsman has warned. Ministers, NHS leaders and hospital boards are doing too little to end t...

?Police Scotland acts to protect young people from County Lines drug dealers?...
18 Mar 2024 at 10:05am
Even BBC Scotland’s ‘local’ website for the Midlothian area has nothing on the serious matter of County Lines drug gangs from large cities in England terrorising small town Scotland. To be fair they have covered the arrest of a ‘beer bike’ to stem the flow of that crime wave also terrorising small town Scotland. In my local area, you can’t cross the street for ‘beer bikes’ hurtling by. Back to ...

Using Labour?s ?Drunkford? method Scotland?s A&E hits 86% seen in 4 hours
16 Mar 2024 at 1:16pm
‘A message from my mum – thanks for not doing a wealth tax.‘ Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ In 2022, Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said the A&E fig...

Will Scottish Labour donor call for Matheson to be shot?
16 Mar 2024 at 12:23pm
Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ By NMRN BBC Scotland website Politics page third story?.a continuing saga?..on? Michael Mathieson?..who is? The former Health S...

Injury after collisions involving HGVs and Buses with bridges fall dramatically
16 Mar 2024 at 10:36am
Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ Published yesterday as part of a Freedom of Information request, by the Scottish Government, the latest data reveal a big decli...

Scotland?s housing stock up by 300 000
16 Mar 2024 at 10:06am
Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ In November 2023, STV reported: The Scottish Government has been urged to back a motion declaring a housing emergency as ?Scots...

BBC Scotland Business covers Scotland?s economy thriving under SNP leadership...
16 Mar 2024 at 8:41am
Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ From the Scottish Government yesterday: BBC Scotland’s coverage today: Ferries! Remember the ferry quota! Is the above from the...

98% of Scottish lamb exports goes to EU and far less than the other 2%, well ...
16 Mar 2024 at 8:09am
Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ According to Politico, in June 2023: Prime Minister Boris Johnson personally apologized to his Australian counterpart Scott Mor...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Vow editor Murray Foote says he believed in independence 'even in my newspape...
18 Mar 2024 at 12:37pm
Vow editor Murray Foote says he believed in independence 'even in my newspaper days'  The National

Scottish independence poll 2023 - Statista
11 Mar 2024 at 7:00am
Scottish independence poll 2023  Statista

SNP defend 'clear and straightforward' call to make Scotland Tory Free - Hera...
18 Mar 2024 at 12:00pm
SNP defend 'clear and straightforward' call to make Scotland Tory Free  HeraldScotland

Scotland's independence impasse is not unique - Financial Times
8 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
Scotland's independence impasse is not unique  Financial Times

Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (10-11 March ...
11 Mar 2024 at 7:00am
Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (10-11 March 2024)  Redfield & Wilton Strategies

The SNP?s independence push: navigating public opinion - UK in a Changing Europe
27 Feb 2024 at 8:00am
The SNP?s independence push: navigating public opinion  UK in a Changing Europe

'Show united front': First Minister invited to speak at Scottish independence...
18 Mar 2024 at 5:52pm
'Show united front': First Minister invited to speak at Scottish independence rally  The National

SNP backs Humza Yousaf's Scottish independence plan - BBC.com
16 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
SNP backs Humza Yousaf's Scottish independence plan  BBC.com

Scottish independence minister Jamie Hepburn defends 'make Scotland Tory free...
18 Mar 2024 at 11:08am
Scottish independence minister Jamie Hepburn defends 'make Scotland Tory free' SNP campaign message  MSN

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

JK Rowling vows to defy 'ludicrous' new hate crime laws - The Telegraph
18 Mar 2024 at 3:50pm
JK Rowling vows to defy 'ludicrous' new hate crime laws  The Telegraph

Longest-serving SNP MP brands election message 'unhelpful' - BBC.com
18 Mar 2024 at 1:12pm
Longest-serving SNP MP brands election message 'unhelpful'  BBC.com

Election is a straight fight between SNP and Tories - Yousaf - BBC
16 Mar 2024 at 4:40pm
Election is a straight fight between SNP and Tories - Yousaf  BBC

Tories and SNP furious as speaker hands Starmer a boost over Gaza vote - The ...
21 Feb 2024 at 8:00am
Tories and SNP furious as speaker hands Starmer a boost over Gaza vote  The Guardian

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle retracts offer to SNP for emergency ceasefire debat...
26 Feb 2024 at 8:00am
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle retracts offer to SNP for emergency ceasefire debate  Sky News

UK Labour is backing an 'immediate' Gaza cease-fire. But the devil's in the d...
20 Feb 2024 at 8:00am
UK Labour is backing an 'immediate' Gaza cease-fire. But the devil's in the details  POLITICO Europe

Tories and SNPs walk out of Commons in protest at speaker in Gaza ceasefire v...
22 Feb 2024 at 8:00am
Tories and SNPs walk out of Commons in protest at speaker in Gaza ceasefire vote  The Independent

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle sparks chaos: five steps to understanding why MPs storm...
22 Feb 2024 at 8:00am
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle sparks chaos: five steps to understanding why MPs stormed out of parliament during Gaza vote  The Conversation

Sturgeon making children wear masks was political, Sir Patrick Vallance wrote...
12 Mar 2024 at 4:08pm
Sturgeon making children wear masks was political, Sir Patrick Vallance wrote in Covid diary  The Telegraph

It must be April Fool's Day in the SNP's Scotland when calling a male person ...
11 Mar 2024 at 3:19pm
It must be April Fool's Day in the SNP's Scotland when calling a male person a 'man' becomes illegal  Scottish Daily Express

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Scottish independence poll 2023 - Statista
11 Mar 2024 at 7:00am
Scottish independence poll 2023  Statista

Independence minister defends 'make Scotland Tory free' messaging - Evening S...
18 Mar 2024 at 10:07am
Independence minister defends 'make Scotland Tory free' messaging  Evening Standard

Poll predicts Scottish results at Westminster General Election - The National
13 Mar 2024 at 5:28pm
Poll predicts Scottish results at Westminster General Election  The National

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

Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (10-11 March ...
11 Mar 2024 at 7:00am
Scottish Independence Referendum & Westminster Voting Intention (10-11 March 2024)  Redfield & Wilton Strategies

SNP backs Humza Yousaf's Scottish independence plan - BBC.com
16 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
SNP backs Humza Yousaf's Scottish independence plan  BBC.com

Scotland's independence impasse is not unique - Financial Times
8 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
Scotland's independence impasse is not unique  Financial Times

The SNP?s independence push: navigating public opinion - UK in a Changing Europe
27 Feb 2024 at 8:00am
The SNP?s independence push: navigating public opinion  UK in a Changing Europe

Humza Yousaf on Scottish Independence, Trans Rights and More | TIME - TIME
5 Oct 2023 at 8:00am
Humza Yousaf on Scottish Independence, Trans Rights and More | TIME  TIME

Ewing in local referendum call on new national park site - The Scottish Farmer
14 Mar 2024 at 5:00am
Ewing in local referendum call on new national park site  The Scottish Farmer