The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Does Scotland need a grooming gang inquiry?
31 Oct 2025 at 4:36pm
The Scottish Government says we don?t need an inquiry into grooming gangs. But with no data, no tracking, and no clear picture of what?s happening, how can ministers be so sure?


Scottish council by-election won by 18-year-old SNP candidate
31 Oct 2025 at 1:17pm
A newly-elected SNP councillor has become one of the UK's youngest representatives after winning a by-election at 18


Why is this Labour MSP calling for a change to the Freedom of Information Act?
31 Oct 2025 at 8:29am
The Freedom of Information Act could be set to change in Scotland, with a new bill proposed to stop WhatsApp messages being deleted


The man who reimagined Glasgow: Stuart Gulliver?s lasting urban legacy
31 Oct 2025 at 4:30am
Stuart Gulliver was the inspiration behind a number of high-profile Glasgow developments


Samaritans suspended Scot who called for no confidence vote
31 Oct 2025 at 5:00am
The Samaritans have been accused of attempting to 'silence' dissent after the organisation suspended a senior volunteer in Scotland who called for the removal of the charity's UK chair, it can be revealed.


Rape Crisis centre launches manifesto with ?shameful? warning over funding gap
31 Oct 2025 at 5:00am
Glasgow & Clyde Rape Crisis Centre reveals key asks ahead of 2026 Holyrood election as it warns of a 'shameful' shortfall in Scottish Government funding.


BMA reveals ballot dates for potential landmark Scottish doctor strike over pay
31 Oct 2025 at 1:44pm
Scottish resident doctors will ballot for strike action amid pay dispute after they claimed government backtracked on 2023 pay restoration agreement.


Cash-strapped FOI watchdog delays probe into Sturgeon?s deleted Covid WhatsApps
31 Oct 2025 at 5:00am
Scotland?s freedom of information watchdog has delayed its investigation into deleted Covid-era WhatsApp messages due to staff and funding shortages.


Reform councillor claims that asylum seekers are bringing 'sharia law' to Sco...
30 Oct 2025 at 6:56pm
Speaking at a Glasgow branch meeting, Dempsey said that some migrants and asylum seekers were 'trying to inflict their culture on other people here'.


?A step backwards?: Auditor slams cherry-picked stats in Scottish Government ...
30 Oct 2025 at 4:30pm
Scotland?s Auditor General says a £1bn underspend masks a ?stark? £5bn funding gap by decade?s end, warning ministers on transparency.


No backing for Katerina Brown in chair's damning evidence to Holyrood
30 Oct 2025 at 3:58pm
Sir Mark Jones put the source of Historic Environment Scotland's current woes down to a 'lack of leadership' when he appeared before MSPs today.


Family of murdered mother demand answers from FM over killer?s repeated bail
30 Oct 2025 at 1:35pm
The family of murdered Stirling mother Claire Inglis have again travelled to Holyrood, demanding answers over how her killer was repeatedly granted bail to her home.


Latest Glasgow news: Crime, housing, events and city updates you need to know
21 Oct 2025 at 9:00pm
All of the latest Glasgow news in one place - as covered by The Herald's team of expert reporters across the city.


?Putin will be rubbing his hands in glee?: Opposition blasts SNP-Plaid summit
30 Oct 2025 at 12:03pm
First Minister John Swinney met Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth in Edinburgh to discuss shared aims on independence and tackling inequality.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


John Swinney to snub COP30 talks billed as most significant climate summit si...
31 Oct 2025 at 6:00am

The summit is expected to hold the most significant climate talks since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.

A publication date has been announced for Joanna Cherry?s memoir, which she has claimed will ?clear Alex Salmond?s name?

The Auditor General for Scotland highlighted a ?stark? forecast gap

A law requiring people to obtain a licence before buying fireworks have been paused by SNP ministers.

Wings over Scotland

How To Create Racists
29 Oct 2025 at 2:36pm
This really is an extraordinary headline, for multiple reasons. Because what actually IS “the rise of Reform”? ? The only thing “the rise of Reform” can possibly mean here is “more and more people choosing to vote for, or express their support for, a particular lawful political party in a democracy”. Why are we supposed …

Great news, everyone!
27 Oct 2025 at 11:04am
We?re important! Something to look forward to there, then.

The Music That Nobody Likes
24 Oct 2025 at 12:42pm
Perhaps the key graphic from last night’s by-election in Caerphilly is this one (green means Plaid Cymru in the context of Wales): In the end, Plaid won pretty comfortably in what had been predicted to be a very tight contest between them and Reform, with a majority of almost 4,000. But Plaid aren’t going to …

The Icarus Folly
22 Oct 2025 at 4:27pm
Last month, when half a football team of armed police ambushed and arrested comedy writer Graham Linehan at Heathrow Airport for a couple of tweets, we said this: Today, even more swiftly than we thought, this happened: Rarely can a hand have been overplayed so badly. Fans of free speech owe a huge vote of …

Courage Calls To None
17 Oct 2025 at 1:24pm
We should point out right at the start that a reader donated £12 back in the summer specifically to send us to Nicola Sturgeon’s book event in Bath last night. We assume it was someone we’d upset in some way. We arrived bang on 6.30, expecting to be among the first on the scene, but …

Your enemy?s mistakes
16 Oct 2025 at 5:03pm
So on the surface level this is just flat-out hilarious. Firstly because, as we showed you yesterday, the “significant proportion of Scotland’s population” which appears to have been won back to the SNP since John Swinney became its leader is… 1%. That’s all their vote has actually increased by as Scottish Labour have haemorrhaged support …

Come On Baby, Let?s Do The Twist
16 Oct 2025 at 11:34am
All of the words you’re about to read below were written by the same person in the last few days. It’s completely verbatim and none of it is taken in any way out of context. It means what it sounds like it means. But even if you’ve got a forehead the size of the “eggheads” …

A Case Study In Delusion
14 Oct 2025 at 1:19pm
Kevin McKenna has a piece in today’s Herald asking the question that is now the core issue for the Scottish independence movement. The short version of the answer is usually attributed to Mark Twain: “It is far easier to fool someone than to convince them that they’ve been fooled”. But that does nothing to explain …

The Cowards? Den
12 Oct 2025 at 4:19pm
We were going to write something today for the anniversary of Alex Salmond’s tragic death, but then we read Kevin McKenna’s piece in today’s Herald On Sunday and we can’t improve on it, so go and have a read of that before you do anything else. Alex always believed in looking forward, not back, so …

No cry of ?Pish!? rang out
11 Oct 2025 at 5:00pm
It’s really very hard to overstate what mendacious, duplicitous shite this is. ?? It did its job, though. As expected, the SNP conference comprehensively voted down the rebel amendments to Swinney’s motion on independence “strategy” and backed his grand plan of winning a majority, begging Keir Starmer for a second referendum – just like Nicola …

Craig Murray

UK Government Opposes Application for Scottish Judicial Review of Palestine A...
30 Oct 2025 at 5:27pm

The UK government – in the undistinguished shape of Baroness Smith of Cluny, Labour party hack, youngest daughter of John Smith and Advocate-General for Scotland – has responded to the court in our request for a Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. The Government asks that the judicial review be denied on …

UK Government Opposes Application for Scottish Judicial Review of Palestine Action Terrorist Proscription

Urgent ? We Need a Federal Your Party
29 Oct 2025 at 2:34pm

The draft Your Party constitution is for a highly centralised, London-based party which echoes the Labour Party. It “devolves” – they literally use the word – power from the centre to non-autonomous entities in Scotland and Wales. We need a Federal party – a completely different approach – where authority lies with the members, and …

Urgent – We Need a Federal Your Party

I Have Joined Your Party
27 Oct 2025 at 6:55pm

I am taking the plunge into Your Party. My worries remain about its centralist tendencies and lack of democracy, but I will work against those from within. Your Party is not a unionist party. It does not yet have a policy on Scottish Independence. I shall of course be striving for it actively to support …

I Have Joined Your Party

A Quick Intellectual Canter
20 Oct 2025 at 2:35pm

This is more video of me than anybody would ever want to see, but here are three interviews I did over the weekend. The first covers the legal action against the proscription of Palestine Action, Starmer’s summary courts for peaceful protestors charged with “terrorism”, UK and US efforts to legalise the Israeli occupation of Gaza …

A Quick Intellectual Canter

36 Minute Trials and No Jury ? Starmer?s Fascist Mass Courts
17 Oct 2025 at 9:55am

Those charged with terrorism for supporting Palestine Action will have no jury in trials limited to 36 minutes each, with prison sentences up to six months. These are the plans for Starmer Courts for mass trials of anti-Genocide protestors. The plans are devised by Justice Michael Snow. He is the epitome of judicial prejudice. When …

36 Minute Trials and No Jury – Starmer’s Fascist Mass Courts

Fight the Proscription of Palestine Action
14 Oct 2025 at 2:54pm

I have started legal action in Scotland against the UK government over the proscription of Palestine Action, in coordination with Huda Ammori and her team in England. The petition has been accepted by the Court and served on the Solicitor General. They now have 16 remaining days to respond. The rationale is well explained in …

Fight the Proscription of Palestine Action

BBC Scotland

Tonne of fireworks seized ahead of Bonfire Night campaign
30 Oct 2025 at 3:25pm
Police are preparing for Bonfire Night after previous years saw disorder break out around Scotland.

Ministers lack plan for £5bn black hole, auditor says
30 Oct 2025 at 5:58pm
Scotland's auditor general also revealed that minister recorded a £1bn underspend in 2024-25.

Corruption probe after 'troubled period' at Scottish heritage body
30 Oct 2025 at 1:48pm
It follows an internal racism row and the suspension of the body's chief executive after an investigation into her conduct.

Call for 'damning' murder report to be released
30 Oct 2025 at 8:18pm
Claire Inglis was killed by Christopher McGowan in 2021, weeks after he had been bailed to her home.

Plaid Cymru and SNP discuss forming 'progressive alliance'
30 Oct 2025 at 1:07pm
Rhun ap Iorwerth and John Swinney said they want to give voters a "positive alternative" to Westminster.

Minister 'recognises strength of feeling' on asylum seeker housing plan
29 Oct 2025 at 4:49pm
Alex Norris, a UK government minister, says impact on Inverness communities would be 'minimised'.

Scottish Parliament election to have daytime vote count
29 Oct 2025 at 11:08am
Votes will be counted the day after the 7 May poll, instead of overnight, it has been announced.

Damning report finds 'culture of mistrust' at maternity unit
29 Oct 2025 at 3:39pm
A review said staffing shortages also contributed to delays and patients being harmed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

GP surgeries to get £531m for recruitment over three years
28 Oct 2025 at 4:58pm
Doctors said the investment was a step in the right direction, having previously said £290m was needed to address the GP funding gap.

Jack 'undermined' recycling scheme, Slater says
28 Oct 2025 at 3:07pm
The Scottish government is being sued for more than £50m over the collapse of its deposit return initiative.

Why is land reform on the agenda in Scotland?
28 Oct 2025 at 6:10pm
MSPs have given their initial backing to a new Land Reform Bill but some critics have described it as "unworkable".

Scotland's prison population rises to record high
27 Oct 2025 at 10:31am
Both the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish government said action was now needed.

Scot Goes Pop

SNP storm to spectacular GAIN in Stirling East by-election
31 Oct 2025 at 12:26pm
I have some audio commentary on YouTube for you about the SNP's impressive win in the Stirling East by-election - plus also I make reference to the bizarre lengths the mainstream media are going to...

Controversial "Stew" blogger inches ever-closer to his inevitable endorsement...
29 Oct 2025 at 8:45pm
The title of Stuart "Stew" Campbell's latest blogpost rant is "How to create racists", to which the obvious punchline would appear to be "och, just follow Wings Over Scotland social media accounts"...

Labour slump to FIFTH place in YouGov's Scottish subsample - and now face a c...
29 Oct 2025 at 8:18am
* .* .*With barely two months of the year left to go, the 2025 Scot Goes Pop fundraiser is still short of its target figure.  If you'd like to help keep the lights on during the several months it w...

More analysis of the extraordinary poll showing Yes support at 55%
28 Oct 2025 at 3:45pm
Just a quick note to let you know I have an analysis piece at The National about the independence  results from the new Find Out Now poll.  You can read the article HERE.

HUGE majority for Scottish independence in new Find Out Now poll - and it's d...
28 Oct 2025 at 4:07am
* .* .*With barely two months of the year left to go, the 2025 Scot Goes Pop fundraiser is still short of its target figure.  If you'd like to help keep the lights on during the several months it w...

The Alba Party in its "death throes": Kenny MacAskill sends out bizarre email...
27 Oct 2025 at 9:38pm
The Alba Party have practically ceased to function as a political party, although one small thing that can still genuinely be said for them is that they perform one of the key functions that should...

Pro-independence parties WILL win majority of Holyrood seats, says swanky Sur...
27 Oct 2025 at 9:30am
* .* .*With barely two months of the year left to go, the 2025 Scot Goes Pop fundraiser is still short of its target figure.  If you'd like to help keep the lights on during the several months it w...

New Survation poll suggests the SNP will remain by far the largest party with...
26 Oct 2025 at 1:59am
I am, as you know, a terrible slave to my responsibilities, and I was perfectly prepared to sacrifice myself for Scot Goes Pop readers by staying up half the night for a third night in a row to mak...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Hard to determine whether mental health spending is effective, say MSPs
31 Oct 2025 at 7:56am
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee said there is a lack of transparency around Government spending in the area.

Whisky on the menu as Scottish secretary Alexander meets US ambassador
31 Oct 2025 at 7:15am
Warren Stephens will meet with Alexander in Edinburgh, before attending the rugby at Murrayfield on Saturday with Swinney.

Douglas Alexander defends UK Government?s support for oil and gas industry am...
30 Oct 2025 at 5:52pm
The Scottish secretary would not be drawn on axing the windfall tax during a visit to the North East on Thursday.

Historic Environment Scotland taking racism allegations ?very seriously?, Hol...
30 Oct 2025 at 3:47pm
The new chairman of the heritage body told Holyrood's Culture Committee that he is aware of two allegations of racism.

SNP and Plaid would resist ?consuming of UK politics by far-right?, says Swinney
30 Oct 2025 at 2:28pm
The Scottish First Minister met Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth at Bute House in Edinburgh on Thursday.

John Swinney to face FMQs after damning report into Edinburgh maternity unit
30 Oct 2025 at 11:55am
NHS Lothian maternity services came under fire after inspectors found 26 areas where required standards had not been met.

Reform councillor?s claim Sharia law being brought to Glasgow ?ludicrous?, sa...
30 Oct 2025 at 11:11am
Audrey Dempsey made the remark at a meeting of the party?s Glasgow branch.

Starmer rules out investigating Reeves for breaking rental rules
30 Oct 2025 at 8:54am
The chancellor admitted to breaking local housing regulations by not obtaining a selective rental license to rent out her family home.

SNP and Plaid Cymru seek to give voters a ?positive alternative? to Westminster
30 Oct 2025 at 7:36am
SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney will hold talks with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Life sentences for child rapists among Tory plans ?to fix broken justice system?
29 Oct 2025 at 10:26pm
Russell Findlay said his proposals will reverse the SNP?s ?weakening? of the justice system.

Scottish Parliament suspends all voting over Microsoft outage
29 Oct 2025 at 7:43pm
MSPs were set to debate and vote on hundreds of amendments to legislation on Wednesday evening.

Scrutiny of NHS Lothian maternity services escalated after ?concerning? report 
29 Oct 2025 at 4:50pm
Inspectors found staffing shortages and a 'culture of mistrust' has led to delays and patients being harmed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Redundant Grangemouth workers given priority for new jobs under transition fund
29 Oct 2025 at 4:31pm
The Grangemouth Jobs Prioritisation Scheme has been introduced as a new clause in the grant funding.

Swinney accuses UK Government of ?poor approach? to asylum barracks announcement
29 Oct 2025 at 3:12pm
The First Minister said there had not been enough engagement with the communities about the proposals.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Historic Environment Scotland staff consider legal action over failure to sac...
31 Oct 2025 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Furious staff have accused Culture Secretary Angus Robertson of "doing nothing" to clear up the mess at the scandal-hit quango.

Labour slammed for hiring butlers for VIP guests during cost of living crisis
31 Oct 2025 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The SNP have hit out at the "silver service fantasy" as families struggle.

SNP Government in £1bn underspend after accusing Westminster of austerity
30 Oct 2025 at 3:47pm
The figure was contained in the Government?s annual accounts for 2024/25.

Nigel Farage plan to withdraw from ECHR backed by Scottish Tory MPs
30 Oct 2025 at 2:21pm
NEW: The Scottish Conservatives have been accused of trying to appease Reform.

John Swinney accused of 'abandoning' fireworks clampdown ahead of Bonfire Nig...
30 Oct 2025 at 2:11pm
The SNP has ditched a planned licensing regime which would have meant Scots needed a permit to buy the pyrotechnics.

Reform UK councillor slammed after claiming 'sharia law' is being 'inflicted'...
30 Oct 2025 at 11:48am
Audrey Dempsey - who quit Labour following a race row - said "you just have to take a walk through the streets of Glasgow city centre" when asked to justify her wild claim.

Chancellor considering tax cut for Scots ahead of pivotal Holyrood election
30 Oct 2025 at 8:47am
EXCLUSIVE: Rachel Reeves is looking at a plan which would shield Scots from an income tax rise, but give them an NI cut.

The SNP and Lib Dem reaction to the Inverness asylum seeker plan reeks of hyp...
30 Oct 2025 at 4:30am
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says Labour's centre-left rivals have let themselves down over the Cameron Barracks plan.

Stephen Flynn talks down chances of becoming First Minister due to family lif...
29 Oct 2025 at 7:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: The SNP Westminster leader said he has a "higher responsibility" to his kids, adding that being away from them puts "strain" on his wife.

Anas Sarwar insists Scots support closure of asylum hotels and 'understand' w...
29 Oct 2025 at 2:38pm
The Scottish Labour challenged the SNP to offer an alternative to using army barracks to temporarily house refugees.

The National

The National | Politics

Wife of British journalist detained by ICE blasts 'minimal' help from Foreign...
31 Oct 2025 at 6:51pm

THE wife of a British journalist detained by US immigration authorities has described the support offered by the UK Government as ?minimal? as she compared Donald Trump?s administration to ?the Soviet Union?.

Scottish AI data centre chief hits back at 'misinformation' over water use cl...
31 Oct 2025 at 6:18pm

AN artificial intelligence company boss has hit out at ?misinformation? about the scale of the booming tech sector?s water use ...

Politicians 'inundated' with calls to change 'Prince Andrew' street names
31 Oct 2025 at 5:30pm

CALLS to change ?Prince Andrew? place names and street signs have intensified after the King?s brother was stripped of his titles ...

Keir Starmer's lying Cabinet leaves his vow to restore trust in politics in t...
31 Oct 2025 at 5:31pm

KEIR Starmer, high on piety, demands that Boris Johnson had to resign for breaking Covid rules and then lying about it ...

Scotland's Climate Secretary to attend Cop30 UN summit in Brazil
31 Oct 2025 at 4:51pm

SCOTLAND'S Climate Secretary will attend the Cop30 summit in Brazil, and has pledged to push for more ambitious action to tackle climate change ...

'Justice': Student trapped in Gaza welcomes Labour U-turn on family visas
31 Oct 2025 at 4:24pm

A STUDENT trapped in Gaza has welcomed a Labour Government U-turn ? saying ?no woman should ever have to choose between her family and her education? ...

Claim trans people 'waiting 224 years for treatment in Glasgow' disputed
31 Oct 2025 at 3:56pm

GLASGOW councillors have disputed claims that trans people in the city are waiting ?224 years? for their first NHS gender clinic appointment ...

Meet the SNP's newest ? and Scotland's youngest ? councillor
31 Oct 2025 at 3:24pm

AT JUST 18 years old, you might have thought Josh Martin Fyvie would struggle to convince people that he should represent them at Stirling Council, but coming from a council flat with a single mum and five siblings, his story resonated with his local community ...

Opposing rallies to face off at Scottish Parliament over Supreme Court's sex ...
31 Oct 2025 at 3:16pm

TRANS rights activists have called a counter-protest in Edinburgh in response to a gender-critical campaign which will demonstrate outside the Scottish Parliament ...

Alba defectors to Your Party 'left in a sulk', Kenny MacAskill says
31 Oct 2025 at 3:15pm

KENNY MacAskill has said Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party is not a threat to Alba ? and the headline-grabbing defectors such as former diplomat Craig Murray had left "in a bit of a sulk" ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Council pulls adult classes at school campus after backlash leads to protests
31 Oct 2025 at 4:00pm
A video circulated online led to asylum-seeker claims

Joanna Cherry to publish ?explosive? memoir
31 Oct 2025 at 4:00pm
The former SNP MP will detail the party scandals with information that is ?not yet in the public domain?

Teenage boys 'increasingly turning to AI friends and girlfriends'??
31 Oct 2025 at 2:31pm
A growing number of teenage boys are turning to personalised artificial intelligence (AI) systems for friendship and support, it is claimed

University of Strathclyde scientists use satellites to track population displ...
30 Oct 2025 at 3:57pm
Scientists at the University of Strathclyde have launched a project to show how climate change is forcing people across the world to leave their homes

Treatment of murdered woman?s family searching for answers ?cruel and disresp...
30 Oct 2025 at 1:22pm
Claire Inglis was murdered by Christopher McGowan in 2021, despite social services raising concerns about his violent behaviour in the weeks before.

For Women Scotland umbrella charge a 'threat' to free speech
30 Oct 2025 at 1:17pm
The first minister was questioned on police intervention following a rally outside of parliament

Scottish?Parliament?s voting?suspended after Microsoft outage?
30 Oct 2025 at 11:41am
MSPs went home earlier than planned after a ?significant Microsoft outage? suspended all voting in the Scottish Parliament

MSPs ?in the dark? over Scottish Government fiscal plans, committee claims
30 Oct 2025 at 7:00am
Shona Robison says the SNP administration has been 'candid' about challenges

App for sign language users to access interpreters launched
30 Oct 2025 at 7:00am
Deaf people and those who use British Sign Language?(BSL)?will be able to access?interpreters?more easily through a?new?mobile app?launched today

Edinburgh University opens 'transformational' tech incubator to all Scottish ...
30 Oct 2025 at 6:00am
The University of Edinburgh has opened up its tech incubator programme to "trailblazing" tech ideas from across Scottish universities

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Reeves says she should have checked rental licence had been obtained as letti...
30 Oct 2025 at 6:50pm
No 10 releases redacted emails between Reeves? husband and letting agentRachel Reeves? rental error: standards adviser looking at new informationRobert Peston, ITV?s political editor, says he thinks it is a mistake for the Conservatives to be saying Rachel Reeves should have to resign over the re...

MPs vote down Farage?s proposal for UK to leave ECHR ? as it happened
29 Oct 2025 at 5:20pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more of our UK political coverage hereMark Sedwill, the former cabinet secretary and former national security adviser, goes next. He is now a peer, and a member of the committee.He says the deputy national security adviser, Matthew Collins, thought there was ...

Cruise control: could a £5 ?entry? fee help balance Orkney?s needs with touri...
26 Oct 2025 at 7:00am
With tourists outnumbering locals by 20:1, islanders say levy is needed to help protect neolithic sites and maintain public servicesArtisan jewellery, gift and whisky shops crowd the main street of Kirkwall on Orkney. The town even has a new sushi shop, offering bento boxes and matcha cheesecake....

Scotland demands £24.5m from Westminster for Trump and Vance visits
22 Oct 2025 at 10:53am
Treasury says trips were private while Scottish ministers point out US president met Keir Starmer and it had to stump up for extra policingThe UK government needs to ?step up? and reimburse the £24.5m cost of Donald Trump and JD Vance?s recent visits to Scotland, Holyrood?s public finance ministe...

Badenoch accuses Labour of prioritising economic ties with China over nationa...
13 Oct 2025 at 6:22pm
Minister calls Badenoch?s claims about Chinese spy trial ?baseless smears?. This live blog is closedAt the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the PM?s spokesperson said it was ?entirely false? to suggest the government influenced the collapse of the China spying case because of concerns B...

Swinney says Scottish government will sponsor visas for foreign care workers
13 Oct 2025 at 5:28pm
First minister tells SNP conference older people should not ?pay the price for Westminster?s prejudice? over immigrationJohn Swinney has said the Scottish government will help hundreds of overseas care workers stay in the UK, as he attacked Westminster for its rising hostility to immigrants.The f...

SNP backs Swinney?s ?clear? strategy for new independence referendum
11 Oct 2025 at 5:22pm
Members overwhelmingly endorse leadership motion that majority at next Holyrood election is only route to second voteSNP members have overwhelmingly backed leader John Swinney?s ?clear and unambiguous? independence strategy that a majority election win is the only route to another referendum.On t...

Former British diplomat challenges Palestine Action ban in Scotland
10 Oct 2025 at 10:30am
Craig Murray argues proscription order contravenes rights to freedom of speech under European convention of human rightsA former British diplomat has served a petition challenging the ban on Palestine Action in Scotland.The case, brought by Craig Murray, is separate to the judicial review of the ...

Senior SNP figures believe Holyrood majority ?within reach? at May?s election
10 Oct 2025 at 5:00am
As party gathers for conference, re-engaging independence supporters seen as way forward after trust in Scottish government hits record lowSenior Scottish National party strategists believe a majority at next year?s Holyrood elections is ?within reach? despite failing public trust in Scotland?s g...

The Guardian view on the nationalist surge: the SNP and Plaid Cymru are makin...
9 Oct 2025 at 6:35pm
In both Scotland and Wales, politics is marching to the beat of different drums from the rest of Britain. The UK-wide parties should watch outViewed through the Westminster prism, UK electoral politics seems a five-party contest. The narrative has been well aired in the conference season. The thr...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Migrant hysteria, the lie driving the rise of the far right
31 Oct 2025 at 6:30pm
The far right is on the rise, and it’s on the rise due to an artificial panic manufactured by rich and powerful interests in order to distract public attention from the greed and avarice of the wealthiest in society, a tiny segment which has hoarded ever greater wealth over the past few decades even as …

Rising support for independence and the end of the so-called Union
27 Oct 2025 at 7:58pm
There have been some mixed messages recently from opinion polling about the SNP’s chances of winning a majority at next year’s Holyrood election. Over the weekend The National published a report of an analysis of recent polling which suggested that the SNP could win a majority in its own right. This contrasts with other polling …

The lessons of Caerffili for Holyrood 2026
24 Oct 2025 at 3:04pm
Some great news from Wales today. Plaid Cymru has smashed over 100 years of Labour domination and swept its way to victory in the Caerffili Senedd by election, taking 47% of votes cast. Although pollsters and bookies had fancied Reform UK to take the seat, in the end, Plaid left Reform in the dust, far …

Starmer needs to learn that Holyrood won?t be pushed around
22 Oct 2025 at 4:25pm
Scotland’s colonial governor, Wee Dougie Alexander, Labour’s answer to the toxic oil slick that is Michael Gove, has said that Westminster would “take an SNP majority at Holyrood seriously” after being pressed by SNP MP Stephen Gethins to respond to Keir Starmer’s recent comment that “if there’s an SNP majority in Holyood, it’s got to …

The short sighted stupidity of Reform UK?s climate denialism
20 Oct 2025 at 3:23pm
A number of recent opinion polls have found that the hard right Anglo-British nationalists of Reform UK are on course to win the next Westminster general election. That alarming prospect is still four years off and it’s entirely possible that Farage’s latest political vehicle will implode before then just as all his other political parties …

England?s identity crisis is Scotland?s opportunity
17 Oct 2025 at 6:34pm
Scotland has an England problem. The largest country in this so-called union is currently in the grip of a strange national psychosis, and has fallen prey to the venomous snake oil salesmen of the English nationalist far right, who offer simplistic and hate filled nostrums for all that ails England, the housing crisis, the cost …

Joani Reid and the rat-pack
16 Oct 2025 at 1:35pm
Maybe it’s something in the water in East Kilbride and Strathaven, but the Westminster constituency seems to be cursed with morally bankrupt MPs. The present constituency boundaries are new and was first contested in the July 2024 Westminster general election, but the constituency broadly covers the same area as the abolished East Kilbride, Strathaven and …

Holyrood 2026, it?s up to all of us now
14 Oct 2025 at 2:44pm
While we were busy with a visit from my husband’s family from the United States, the SNP party conference was taking place in Aberdeen. The party came out of the conference united behind the First Minister’s plan for independence and irrespective of the merits or demerits of the plan, it cannot be denied that independence …

The fork in the road
8 Oct 2025 at 3:07pm
It’s customary to describe every upcoming election as critical. That’s always been the case with Scottish independence, as should the pro-independence parties fail to win a majority in the Scottish Parliament, and we’re unfortunate enough to get a Labour – or god forbid – Tory first minister, independence would be off the political agenda for …

Getting the indy band back together
5 Oct 2025 at 3:14pm
It’s been a good couple of weeks for hopes of Scottish independence, with some very positive opinion poll results, and signs of a new assertiveness amongst the main pro-independence parties. It’s a glimmering of hope in the stormy skies of British politics, where the dark looming clouds of the far right threaten a torrent which …

The Courier

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Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland

Families in Labour-run Bath and North-East Somerset wait 40 to 200 times as l...
31 Oct 2025 at 5:28pm
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dottie once more alerting me to this: In the Guardian today, the above and: The stats are stark: families on Bath and North East Somerset council?s social housing list face a 200-year wait for a four-bedroom property and the latest available figures show England is building just a little over 10,000 social homes a year. Tackling this crisis was a key eleme...

Road fatalities trend is relatively flat in last ten years but the level was ...
31 Oct 2025 at 12:48pm
Professor John Robertson OBA Yesterday, STV had: Surge in number of people killed in crashes on Scotland’s roads Statistics for 2024 show 161 people were killed in reported road collisions in Scotland. They did not have the above graph revealing: In 2007, as the the SNP began 18 years of government in Scotland, there were 270 road death, 67.7% more than in 2024 s: https://www.transport.gov.scot...

There are NO places in Scotland where anything close to this horrific claim o...
31 Oct 2025 at 11:24am
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dottie for alerting us to this. In the Guardian yesterday, the above and: Almost 100% of children in 73 neighbourhoods in England are living in income-deprived families, according to new measures that factor in the impact of soaring rents. Changes to official measures reveal the neighbourhoods where in effect all children live in low-income households. Of ...

Let?s be sure we learn this lesson from history as global uranium demand and ...
31 Oct 2025 at 10:49am
Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Frances McKie for alerting us to this again, as she did in March 2025. In Investing.com, two days ago, the above graph and: When the U.S. government announced an $80 billion commitment to build new nuclear reactors, Cameco Corp (NYSE:CCJ) became the talk of Wall Street. The stock skyrocketed 20% in a single day, adding $9 billion to its value and reaching ...

Long A&E waits for the over 90?s shocking 36% more common in NHS England than ...
31 Oct 2025 at 9:55am
Professor John Robertson OBA BBC UK’s Breakfast show is covering an Age UK report suggesting a corridor care crisis in ‘NHS’ hospitals and the Guardian, above, is reporting Nearly 150,000 aged 90 and above wait 12 hours in England?s A&Es each year increasing serious harm for them. NHS Scotland figures are not mentioned. Scotland’s media today are, of course, only front-paging Andrew Mountbatten...

Fireworks-related incidents ? the falling trend and police confidence informa...
31 Oct 2025 at 9:08am
Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland continues to give firework offences daily reporting in anticipation of serious problems, which last year’s huge decline and Police Scotland activity for this year, suggest that more reductions are likely. Some BBC Reporting Scotland reporting so far has deliberately ignored the lower 2024 data and even stated that the higher 2023 data was ‘last year!’ H...

Maternity care experience at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh ? 90% felt it w...
30 Oct 2025 at 7:11pm
Professor John Robertson OBA I know, I know – small sample, self-selecting and open to abuse but, nevertheless, a useful counter to the media reporting even the inspection report, based on interviews in the unit over the space of only two days then reported with no measure of how many held different views or reported different experiences on the day. I make no great claims for this survey but I...

The complete absence of one single illegal migrant suggesting they crossed th...
30 Oct 2025 at 6:44pm
Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Highlands and Islands, yesterday A UK government minister says he recognises the “strength of feeling” about plans to use an Inverness barracks to house asylum seekers. Cameron Barracks is to provide accommodation for 309 men from next month, according to local Lib Dem MP Angus MacDonald. At Westminster, Mr MacDonald challenged Minister of State at the Home...

Twitter poll ? If you have had direct experience of maternity care at the Roy...
29 Oct 2025 at 4:21pm
Please share widely and, only if applicable, respond by clicking on the above and then selecting one of the choices.

The case for or against approval of Western Link 2 from Ayrshire to Wales and...
29 Oct 2025 at 4:02pm
Professor John Robertson OBA In the map above you can see the full range of networks transferring electricity from wind farms in Scottish waters, across the border into England & Wales. It’s a dramatic illustration of the UK’s increasing dependency on Scotland’s electricity generation. Just how much? From Energy Statistics for Scotland ? Q2 2025 published today: In the second quarter of 2025, 8...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

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

5 things we learned from the latest Scottish independence poll - TheNational....
28 Oct 2025 at 5:27pm
5 things we learned from the latest Scottish independence poll  TheNational.scot

Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scotti...
9 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scottish independence has grown stronger  The Conversation

Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum - BBC
4 Sep 2025 at 8:00am
Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum  BBC

Part One: Why Scotland should be independent - A Fresh Start with Independenc...
8 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Part One: Why Scotland should be independent - A Fresh Start with Independence  The Scottish Government

John Swinney's independence strategy backed by SNP members - BBC
11 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
John Swinney's independence strategy backed by SNP members  BBC

Findlay: Independence would ?put Scottish shipyards at risk? - UK Defence Jou...
31 Oct 2025 at 1:35pm
Findlay: Independence would ?put Scottish shipyards at risk?  UK Defence Journal

Charity exhibition celebrating pro-Scottish independence artists launches - T...
31 Oct 2025 at 12:55pm
Charity exhibition celebrating pro-Scottish independence artists launches  TheNational.scot

Alex Salmond Made Scottish Independence a Tangible Goal - Jacobin
12 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Alex Salmond Made Scottish Independence a Tangible Goal  Jacobin

Swinney urged to ?come clean? on ?secret? Scottish independence plan - The Te...
15 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Swinney urged to ?come clean? on ?secret? Scottish independence plan  The Telegraph

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP hypocrisy called out as Nats short-change fishermen - after complaining a...
31 Oct 2025 at 3:48pm
SNP hypocrisy called out as Nats short-change fishermen - after complaining about the UK Government doing it  Scottish Daily Express

Nicola Sturgeon's deleted Covid messages probe delayed due to lack of funding...
31 Oct 2025 at 2:25pm
Nicola Sturgeon's deleted Covid messages probe delayed due to lack of funding  Scottish Daily Express

Chris Mason: SNP are the latest proof that things change quickly in politics ...
13 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Chris Mason: SNP are the latest proof that things change quickly in politics  BBC

SNP backs Swinney?s ?clear? strategy for new independence referendum | Scotti...
11 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
SNP backs Swinney?s ?clear? strategy for new independence referendum | Scottish National party (SNP)  The Guardian

Senior SNP figures believe Holyrood majority ?within reach? at May?s election...
10 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Senior SNP figures believe Holyrood majority ?within reach? at May?s election  The Guardian

SNP moves to have MPs strip Prince Andrew of all titles - BBC
21 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
SNP moves to have MPs strip Prince Andrew of all titles  BBC

How John Swinney plans to put his stamp on the SNP as election looms - BBC
11 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
How John Swinney plans to put his stamp on the SNP as election looms  BBC

John Swinney's independence strategy backed by SNP members - BBC
11 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
John Swinney's independence strategy backed by SNP members  BBC

Swinney says Scottish government will sponsor visas for foreign care workers ...
13 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Swinney says Scottish government will sponsor visas for foreign care workers  The Guardian

18-year-old SNP candidate wins crucial Scottish city council by-election - Th...
31 Oct 2025 at 10:31am
18-year-old SNP candidate wins crucial Scottish city council by-election  TheNational.scot

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum - BBC
4 Sep 2025 at 8:00am
Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum  BBC

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

5 things we learned from the latest Scottish independence poll - TheNational....
28 Oct 2025 at 5:27pm
5 things we learned from the latest Scottish independence poll  TheNational.scot

John Swinney's independence strategy backed by SNP members - BBC
11 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
John Swinney's independence strategy backed by SNP members  BBC

Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scotti...
9 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scottish independence has grown stronger  The Conversation

First Minister John Swinney sets out latest plan for independence referendum ...
4 Sep 2025 at 8:00am
First Minister John Swinney sets out latest plan for independence referendum  Sky News

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

SNP seeks to exploit unionist rift with fresh independence pitch - Financial ...
9 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
SNP seeks to exploit unionist rift with fresh independence pitch  Financial Times

Part One: Why Scotland should be independent - A Fresh Start with Independenc...
8 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Part One: Why Scotland should be independent - A Fresh Start with Independence  The Scottish Government

SNP majority only way to secure second referendum - Swinney - BBC
28 Jul 2025 at 8:00am
SNP majority only way to secure second referendum - Swinney  BBC