The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Henry McLeish: Scotland's criminal justice system is wasting lives and money
1 Apr 2025 at 8:32pm
Scotland's criminal justice system is "not working" and wasting human lives and money, according to Henry McLeish who authored a report on prisons for the SNP government in 2008.


'My son's lengthy prison sentence in Barlinnie has destroyed me'
1 Apr 2025 at 4:30pm
The family members of Barlinnie prisoners speak exclusively to The Herald about the toll their relative's imprisonment has on their lives.


Missed cancer targets, op cancellations, and delayed discharge pile pressure ...
1 Apr 2025 at 2:42pm
However, a slew of statistics published on Tuesday warned that long waits for elective procedures, delayed discharges, and missed cancer care targets are combining to create a deepening crisis in Scotland?s health service.


'I've been to prison - it's not a holiday camp. It could kick off at any moment'
1 Apr 2025 at 11:30am
People often associate prisons in Scotland with luxury facilities. But former inmate Jim Watson argues it is anything but a holiday camp.


How Scotland's prisons compare with notorious Strangeways riot
1 Apr 2025 at 6:00am
Scotland's chief inspector of prisons has drawn comparisons between the notorious Strangeways riot and the overcrowding crisis in the country's jails.


Murder, rape and assault: The sentences behind Scotland's prison population
1 Apr 2025 at 5:11am
Are you likely to get a longer sentence for murder or rape? The Herald breaks down the data behind Scotland's prison system.


Donald Trump's ?Liberation Day? tariffs to shake up UK economy
1 Apr 2025 at 4:30am
Protectionism has returned with force in the US as Donald Trump prepares to launch his "Liberation Day" trade tariffs


Alister Jack tipped for peerage despite gambling row
1 Apr 2025 at 9:33pm
Alister Jack is expected to receive a peerage despite admitting to placing bets on the general election date.


Majority of Scots are opposed to early release of prisoners from jail, new po...
1 Apr 2025 at 5:00am
The majority of people in Scotland said they disagree with measures to release prisoners earlier to deal with overcrowding, a new poll reveals.


Ban social media for under-16s ? the demand of Generation Z
1 Apr 2025 at 12:15pm
A new poll highlights we cannot just listen to young people?s concerns around social media and toxic masculinity, we?ve got to act on them.


SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn confirms Holyrood bid
1 Apr 2025 at 9:58pm
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will stand for Holyrood next year after dropping a controversial bid to hold dual mandates as MP and MSP.


Disabled MSP urges colleagues to vote against assisted dying law
1 Apr 2025 at 4:50pm
Holyrood?s only wheelchair using MSP has urged her colleagues to vote against plans to legalise assisted dying in Scotland.


MSPs urged to consider letting pregnant women and new mums park in Blue Badge...
1 Apr 2025 at 3:42pm
The Scottish Parliament's petitions committee is to consider a proposal for maternity parking badges?but officials warn of wider consequences.


Watchdog tells NHS Fife it may take action over single-sex impact assessment ...
1 Apr 2025 at 11:48am
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned NHS Fife it may use enforcement powers over its handling of single-sex changing rooms and failure to publish impact assessments amid an ongoing legal row.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Trump tariffs will damage UK economy, Reeves tells Cabinet amid job loss fears
1 Apr 2025 at 5:28pm

Sir Keir Starmer admits UK unlikely to be spared from sweeping measures to be announced by Donald Trump

Stephen Flynn has confirmed he has tabled a bid to run for the Scottish Parliament at next year?s Holyrood election.

The Scottish Government has been urged to rethink its policy of a presumption for mainstream education for pupils with additional needs after a surge in violence against female teachers.

Here are some of the best article pranks played across the Scottish news media - including from Nicola Sturgeon?s ?new career?

Nurse Sandie Peggie, who has worked at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, for 30 years, took the Fife health board and Dr Beth Upton to tribunal after being suspended

The leaked Scottish Government plans include a visit for Donald Trump to the isle of Lewis - the birthplace of his mother Mary Anne MacLeod

Wings over Scotland

The Gender Of Mountains
28 Mar 2025 at 11:26am
It’s increasingly common now for the Scottish news to feature another prison scandal or employment-tribunal judgment highlighting the extent of gender-ideology capture in the country’s public authorities. But it?s normally quite hard to get an overall picture of just how captured any particular public body really is, so we should offer some thanks to the …

The Long Future
27 Mar 2025 at 2:17pm
As he often does, Robin McAlpine has an interesting blog post up. Now, as alert readers will know, we’ve been calling for that on Wings for at least the last couple of years. For sane people any credible hope of reforming the SNP is long gone, by the deliberate design of its leadership, and so …

The Sacrifice
22 Mar 2025 at 2:38am

The Deep-Fried Banana Republic
20 Mar 2025 at 4:42pm
It’s 18C today in Bath, readers, so after the dentist we went out to enjoy the sunshine for the afternoon. And you know what happens when we go out. But really, what even is there to say? Two years after she was arrested and taken to a police station for questioning, where we’re reliably informed …

Live chat update
17 Mar 2025 at 4:56pm
So as promised, and having now spent 11 months trying to get answers any other way, this afternoon we had a live chat with controversial charity LGBT Youth Scotland. Below is how it went. When you log in, there’s an optional dropdown box where you can enter your age. The only options it allows are …

The Unquestionables
17 Mar 2025 at 12:26pm
In April last year we wrote to LGBT Youth Scotland asking them to explain why they were conducting activities in primary schools (and even with pre-school children) about sexual matters despite only having a remit to work with young people aged 13-25. We received no reply, so we contacted the Office of the Scottish Charity …

The plainest sight
16 Mar 2025 at 12:06pm
You know what, Surrey Live, we think you’re probably right. We DO think people will remember him. Some of those details are the sort of things that stick in the mind. And Ireland didn’t exactly keep it under wraps. ? The cover art is particularly on the nose. “Stay weird.” “Just be you.” “Be that …

Meet The FILTH
15 Mar 2025 at 12:24pm
It stands for “Failed In London, Try Holyrood”, of course. So enjoy The March Of The Rejects next year, as the SNP explains to you why you were wrong not to elect these candidates last year and gives you a chance to atone for your shameful error. You lucky people.

Signal and noise
12 Mar 2025 at 2:17pm
The Presiding Officer has finally reluctantly deigned to allow the Scottish Parliament to discuss the issues arising from Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife, in the shape of a debate taking place in the chamber this afternoon brought forward by the Scottish Tories. We suspect that watching it will be profound waste of time and a …

The evolution of fairness
11 Mar 2025 at 3:13pm
Some of our more alert readers may recall the events of four years ago this month, when a mob of SNP representatives all suddenly raged against the idea of (perfectly legally) “gaming” the Holyrood electoral system to produce a pro-indy supermajority. Voters try to organise themselves to maximise their desired outcomes all the time (see …

Craig Murray

Starmer?s Thatcherite Economics
24 Mar 2025 at 7:41pm

You can only support the current manifestation of late-stage capitalism, if you believe that massive inequality of wealth is necessary to wealth creation, or if you believe that the total amount of wealth is unimportant so long as a very small minority are extremely wealthy. “Trickledown economics” is at heart simply a statement of the …

Starmer’s Thatcherite Economics

Artificial Intelligence vs Corrupt Judges
21 Mar 2025 at 11:41am

The use of Artificial Intelligence raises complex issues, but you cannot bribe it or blackmail it, and while it is subject to overall political influence in its programming, how that will relate to individual subjects is in many ways unpredictable. Rather on a whim, I decided to ask easily available and free Artificial Intelligence sources …

Artificial Intelligence vs Corrupt Judges

The Rot at the Core of ?Democracy?
18 Mar 2025 at 10:51am

As 320 Palestinians were massacred last night, most of them women and children, we live in a world where it is accepted as legal that Trump2 is genocidally Zionist because he received a $100 million donation from Miriam Adelson to be so. In addition to which Adelson is the second largest donor to AIPAC, which …

The Rot at the Core of “Democracy”

The Curious Case of Mahmoud Khalil
14 Mar 2025 at 2:32pm

Two key points the discussion has mostly missed: 1) It has been a bipartisan Justice Department policy for years to attempt to establish that the First Amendment does not apply to non-US citizens 2) Why has the Trump administration chosen Mahmoud Khalil out of thousands of potential victims; about as problematic a test case as …

The Curious Case of Mahmoud Khalil

The Moral Balance
12 Mar 2025 at 11:17am

There is a logical fallacy that dominates European neoliberal “thinking” at the moment. It goes like this. “Hitler had unlimited territorial ambition and proceeded to attempt conquest of all Europe after annexing the Sudetenland. Therefore Putin has unlimited territorial ambition and will proceed to attempt conquest of all Europe after annexing Eastern Ukraine.” This fallacious …

The Moral Balance

Alba Activism
6 Mar 2025 at 4:13pm

There are two drivers behind my support for Scottish Independence. The first and most obvious is to see our ancient land restored to the place it held so long in the community of free and self-governing nations, and end the colonial exploitation of our people and resources. The second is to destroy that Imperialist rogue …

Alba Activism

BBC Scotland

Stephen Flynn confirms bid to win seat at Holyrood
1 Apr 2025 at 3:22pm
The SNP Westminster leader looks set to be chosen as the party's candidate in Aberdeen South and North Kincardine.

Councillor hits out at online trolls as she quits
1 Apr 2025 at 3:42pm
Maxine Smith says she has quit for personal reasons after 18 years as a Highland councillor.

Care at home to expand in plan to cut NHS waiting times
31 Mar 2025 at 10:13pm
An extra £200m of funding will go towards improvements, including greater use of digital technology.

Swinney leads tributes to SNP minister McKelvie
27 Mar 2025 at 1:43pm
Emotional parliamentarians shared their memories of McKelvie following her death at the age of 57.

Patient safety at risk from GP burnout, warns doctor
30 Mar 2025 at 12:00pm
Dr Sigi Joseph said GPs have to soak up more work while cross-covering shifts for each other, causing exhaustion.

Cuts needed to fund UK tax hike, says Robison
26 Mar 2025 at 5:36pm
The finance secretary says her government is facing a "major shortfall" after the chancellor's Spring Statement.

MacAskill succeeds Salmond as Alba leader
26 Mar 2025 at 11:46am
The former SNP justice minister defeated Ash Regan to lead the party after the death of its founder.

Ex-Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross to stand down as MSP
25 Mar 2025 at 12:20pm
The former Scottish Conservative leader has signalled he will seek to return to Westminster as an MP.

Ministers making 'painfully slow' cladding progress
25 Mar 2025 at 5:35pm
The Scottish government has been criticised by opposition MSPs after it announced a "renewed" action plan.

Sarwar defends UK government welfare cuts
27 Mar 2025 at 3:49pm
The Scottish Labour leader says he backs the reforms despite warnings they will push 250,000 people into poverty.

Officers warn underfunding has led to 'policing deserts'
25 Mar 2025 at 4:20pm
The chair of the Scottish Police Federation highlights station closures and stress on serving officers.

Councils have enough cash to fix potholes - Swinney
24 Mar 2025 at 3:53pm
The first minister responded to Sir Keir Starmer's plan to ensure damaged roads are repaired in England.

Scot Goes Pop

A direct reply to Shannon Donoghue's threats: You, madam, are an overgrown ad...
1 Apr 2025 at 3:52am
When I heard a few hours ago that Shannon Donoghue had once again blown her top about me on social media, I laughed and said "I've got the sacred annual tradition of the Scot Goes Pop April Fool to...

How can the Alba Party ask for the trust of the public when it has shafted it...
31 Mar 2025 at 2:21pm
After yesterday's blogpost, an Alba member was kind enough to send me the full text of the relatively minor changes to the Alba constitution that were put to the party conference on Friday.  He als...

Alba's pay-per-vote NEC elections descend into chaos yet again as members are...
30 Mar 2025 at 11:24am
You really couldn't make this up.  Having practically torn their party apart just to keep the loathed and utterly discredited pay-per-vote system for NEC elections, you'd think the Alba leadership ...

The authors of the "Wee Alba Book" have both now rejected Alba - and Wings is...
28 Mar 2025 at 3:41pm
My year-and-a-bit on the Alba NEC, which now seems like about five centuries ago, was dominated by the interminable 'Wee Alba Book Tour'.  It got to the point where even McEleny was being a bit sar...

CALAMITY COLUMBO: Stunning rebuke to the Corri Nostra as Chris Cullen *FAILS*...
28 Mar 2025 at 11:25am
"You see, I'm a little confused here, sir...why have I lost the election?"The freshly announced Alba Party office bearer results are the quintessential curate's egg - good in parts, bad in others. ...

"Alba insiders" tell The Sun that the leadership election was rigged: yup, th...
27 Mar 2025 at 4:08pm
Now I'm not saying all of the leaks from "Alba insiders" to the unionist press over the last few months have necessarily come from "Mad Dog" - it's just that all of the quotes have sounded exactly ...

Support for independence increases by two percentage points in heartening new...
27 Mar 2025 at 2:10pm
First of all, what a terrible shock about Christina McKelvie.  I know all our thoughts will be with her family and friends over the coming days and weeks.There's a full-scale Scottish poll out from...

"My Alba Torment" by Chris McEleny - the man they call Primus admits he may b...
26 Mar 2025 at 12:10pm
"I used to know an ancient remedy for mad dogs.  I must look it up some time..."- Tom Baker in the Doctor Who story 'The Keeper of Traken'I wasn't organised enough to find the video feed for the Al...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

How will Donald Trump?s ?Liberation Day? tariffs impact you?
1 Apr 2025 at 5:24pm
Businesses will be hit by a new round of US trade tariffs on Wednesday.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn to run for Holyrood at next election
1 Apr 2025 at 5:02pm
Stephen Flynn intends to step down as an MP to take up a seat at Holyrood.

Scottish Water says ?door is open? as unions urged to ballot members on pay o...
1 Apr 2025 at 1:01pm
Staff walked out of the public body last week over a pay dispute.

Dundee University guilty of ?vandalism? as cuts to be ?worse than expected?
1 Apr 2025 at 12:01pm
An independent investigation into the university's financial crisis is ongoing.

Majority of Scots oppose early release of prisoners, poll finds
1 Apr 2025 at 7:18am
Scottish Government policy allows eligible inmates sentenced to less than four years to be released after serving 40% of their term.

?Ambitious? NHS improvement plan to reduce waiting times and increase capacity
31 Mar 2025 at 1:24pm
The Scottish Government's new NHS improvement plan is 'ambitious but realistic', according to the health secretary.

Starmer and Trump agree talks on UK-US trade deal will continue ?at pace?
31 Mar 2025 at 9:07am
A government source told ITV News that Trump remains "unpredictable" and it is uncertain whether a deal will be reached.

Nearly £2.5m in compensation paid out by ScotRail since nationalisation, Tori...
31 Mar 2025 at 8:52am
The Scottish Tories, who obtained the figures through an FOI, said the figures were a ?damning reflection? of the SNP?s ?mismanagement? of ScotRail.

Ian Murray recruits Edinburgh Tattoo to promote ?Brand Scotland? overseas
31 Mar 2025 at 7:15am
The Scottish Secretary will sign a strategic partnership with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo while in Washington DC this week.

Tories: Scottish Government has ?broken? promise to improve GP services
30 Mar 2025 at 6:55pm
Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane accused the government of leaving NHS in 'a shocking state.'

?Unacceptable? to see direct GP encounters plunge in one year ? Tories
30 Mar 2025 at 5:42pm
The party highlighted figures showing there were 1,469,858 GP encounters in January this year, down from 1,583,148 in January 2024.

Tartan Week visit will strengthen ?trade and investment ties? with US ? Swinney
30 Mar 2025 at 3:39pm
Swinney also described US as the 'top investor in Scotland', saying more than 700 US companies employ upwards of 115,000 people in Scotland.

Spending more on benefits would be ?wrong approach?, Jackie Baillie says
30 Mar 2025 at 12:48pm
Baillie said it would be the 'wrong approach' for UK Government to pay more while not ensuring people get back into work.

US court urged to block Musk from handing millions to voters in Wisconsin race
28 Mar 2025 at 9:34pm
Democrat Josh Kaul filed the lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court to stop Musk from making the payments, which he said he would make on Sunday.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scots MP fights to stop Easter eggs getting smaller and more expensive amid '...
2 Apr 2025 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Blair McDougall wants to force companies to clearly label when they make their products smaller.

'£10bn funding black hole' at heart of SNP plan to decarbonise council homes ...
2 Apr 2025 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations warns costs of replacing gas boilers with clean heat sources are 'vastly underestimated'.

SNP urges Rachel Reeves to 'change course' as benefit cuts risks 'social and ...
2 Apr 2025 at 4:30am
Shona Robison spoke out after the UK Chancellor last week announced nearly £5 billion in benefit cuts by the end of the decade.

Scottish Labour under 'pressure' over Holyrood vote on UK Government welfare ...
2 Apr 2025 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: MSPs will be forced to take a position on the Labour Government plan to save billions from the social security budget.

Donald Trump set to announce tariffs today with UK likely to be hit
2 Apr 2025 at 4:30am
The US President will unveil sweeping tariffs on goods from around the world on Wednesday.

Former Tory Scottish Secretary Alister Jack to be given place in House of Lords
1 Apr 2025 at 5:05pm
The ex-MP for Dumfries and Galloway is expected to be given a peerage in Rishi Sunak's resignation honours list.

Scotland's 'scandal' as sewage spilled into rivers 24,000 times last year
1 Apr 2025 at 3:42pm
The country?s publicly-owned water firm Scottish Water revealed the data hours before water charges went up for millions of Scots.

Scotland 'going backwards' on fuel poverty as more households struggle to aff...
1 Apr 2025 at 3:32pm
Patrick Harvie tore into the SNP Government amid speculation it will water down key legislation on making homes more energy efficient.

Labour Government records joint lowest approval rating after welfare cuts row
1 Apr 2025 at 1:25pm
The Government is struggling in the polls even though the Prime Minister has enjoyed a bump over the Ukraine crisis.

Keir Starmer says all options remain on table as UK set to be hit by Donald T...
1 Apr 2025 at 12:56pm
The Prime Minister suggested the UK could hit back with its own tariffs but said he does not want to see a trade war.

The National

The National | Politics

David Lammy accused of 'failing to take his job seriously' over Israel sanctions
1 Apr 2025 at 9:21pm

THE Foreign Secretary has been accused of ?failing to take his job seriously? after refusing to answer questions about imposing sanctions on the Israeli Government ...

Wee Ginger Dug: Every day is April Fools Day under Keir Starmer?s government
1 Apr 2025 at 7:00pm

IT'S April Fools Day today, although with Trump in the White House and Keir Starmer in Downing Street, every day is April Fools Day ...

There is no quick fix to stop people seeking asylum in the UK
1 Apr 2025 at 6:30pm

WHO would be surprised that political shape-shifter Keir Starmer is considering a Rwanda-style deportation scheme, a fool perpetrating an April Fool? What happened to crushing the gangs organising the boats? Didn?t Starmer say he had the experience to do this? It was a given. Just another Labour lie!

Former Scottish secretary Alister Jack to get seat in House of Lords ? reports
1 Apr 2025 at 6:32pm

FORMER Scottish secretary Alister Jack is set to be given a seat in the House of Lords ...

Pro-Israel Westminster group refuses to reveal funding
1 Apr 2025 at 5:41pm

A WESTMINSTER group focused on Israel has refused to reveal how it is funded.

Post Office scandal victim sets up Scottish support group
1 Apr 2025 at 5:24pm

A former sub-postmaster and victim of the Horizon scandal has set up a new support group for Scottish postmasters ...

Anti-abortion group active in Scotland receives over £1 million in US funding
1 Apr 2025 at 5:00pm

AN ANTI-ABORTION group active in Scotland has received over £1 million in funding from a US organisation ...

Scottish independence figures to share 2026 priorities at grassroots conference
1 Apr 2025 at 5:08pm

Ten key Scottish independence figures are set to share their priorities for the 2026 Holyrood elections at a grassroots conference this weekend.

'I campaigned for Labour. They let me down': Protests across UK as energy bil...
1 Apr 2025 at 4:15pm

DOZENS of protests across the UK have taken aim at the Labour Government and its energy regulator as bills rise for the third time in a row ...

Are Scottish secondary schools showing Netflix's Adolescence?
1 Apr 2025 at 4:32pm

Netflix has said Adolescence will be free to stream for all secondary schools across the UK ? will Scottish students be watching it in class?

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Stephen Flynn confirms Scottish Parliament bid
1 Apr 2025 at 5:15pm
SNP Westminster leader wins local backing as selection process continues

Come clean on ?13bn hole in full fiscal autonomy policy, Michael Marra tells ...
1 Apr 2025 at 4:40pm
Shona Robison has confirmed it was the government?s second preferred option ? after full independence

New ?pivotal? legislation to force businesses to boost cyber defences
1 Apr 2025 at 12:05pm
New measures plan to give Peter Kyle the power to require firms to strengthen their cyber security defences. ?

AI to underpin Scottish tech sector growth plans, survey reveals
1 Apr 2025 at 7:00am
Research carried out by ScotlandIS has shown that a majority of tech firms are optimistic about the coming year, with AI and machine learning expected to be the biggest areas of growth

University of Dundee cuts to be ?worse than expected?
1 Apr 2025 at 12:36am
In a letter to the Scottish Parliament?s education committee, interim principal Shane O'Neill provided further details as to how the university will try to bridge its ?35m deficit

Mandy Rhodes receives two Scottish Press Awards nominations
31 Mar 2025 at 8:00am
Holyrood?s managing editor has been shortlisted for Columnist of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year

A majority of young people back social media ban for under 16s, survey reveals
31 Mar 2025 at 1:01am
Seven in 10 back the ban citing concerns on the impact it could have on their younger siblings

Ofcom fines OnlyFans ?1m over inaccurate information on age checks
28 Mar 2025 at 11:25am
Fenix International, owner of the platform, gave Ofcom erroneous information on the ?challenge age? for its age verification tool.

Tributes paid to Christina McKelvie after MSP dies aged 57
27 Mar 2025 at 1:32pm
Minister was 'a champion of the people', partner Keith Brown says

John Swinney: I will not normalise corridor care in hospitals
27 Mar 2025 at 1:07pm
A review found concluded emergency departments in Glasgow were under pressure, and patients were being routinely forced to wait on trolleys on corridors

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Asylum system risks ?damaging social cohesion?, Glasgow city council warns
1 Apr 2025 at 12:01pm
Council says cost running into tens of millions, as homeless refugees granted asylum across UK come to city for supportThe asylum system risks ?damaging social cohesion? with homeless refugees putting ?unprecedented pressure? on Glasgow services, the city council has warned.Glasgow city council, ...

?Good chance? Reeves will have to raise taxes in autumn budget, thinktank say...
27 Mar 2025 at 5:18pm
Institute for Fiscal Studies also warns Reeves over her focus on sticking with fiscal rules regardless of real world eventsIn an interview with ITV?s Good Morning Britain, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said she would not accept free tickets for concerts again in the future.Asked about the contro...

The battle for Glasgow?s Wyndford estate ? photo essay
24 Mar 2025 at 12:44pm
A carbon crime or bright new future? For nearly four years, a fierce debate raged over demolishing the site?s high-rise flatsFor nearly four years, a fierce debate raged over the future of the Wyndford estate in Glasgow, dividing residents and sparking wider national controversy. Was the demoliti...

Scottish voters split over free tuition as university financial crisis deepens
24 Mar 2025 at 5:00am
Poll finds up to 48% of voters believe Scottish students who can afford it should pay, with 29% opposedScottish voters are divided over Scotland?s policy of free tuition for Scottish students as the crisis over university finances intensified.A poll commissioned by the Carnegie Trust for the Univ...

?Hostile environment? drives many of SNP?s female MSPs to step down before 20...
23 Mar 2025 at 12:00pm
Women at Holyrood cite lack of support from party, abuse in chamber and online, and tolerance of bullyingHolyrood is becoming a ?hostile environment for women? and a significant number of female MSPs in the Scottish National party are stepping down before the May 2026 elections, citing lack of su...

Starmer must drop ?cruel? Pip proposals or face ?mother of all rebellions?, L...
19 Mar 2025 at 5:53pm
Richard Burgon says PM?s failure to defend new Pip eligibility rules at PMQs shows why ?cruel? plans should be dropped. This live blog is closedScores of Labour MPs raise concerns over welfare changesLast night, to back up its analysis of the disability cuts, the Institute for Fiscal Studies publ...

David Lammy says G7 considering further moves to pressure Russia into agreein...
17 Mar 2025 at 6:13pm
?We have more cards we can play,? foreign secretary tells MPs as he says G7 foreign ministers found ?common ground? when meeting last weekThe Reform UK press conference is about to start. There is a live feed here.Nigel Farage is going to announce that 29 councillors have defected to his party, a...

We know Nicola Sturgeon will stand down next year. But don't write her off ju...
14 Mar 2025 at 11:00am
For all the challenges, flaws and failures, there was a symbolism to her tenure that still engages the public and inspires younger activistsNicola Sturgeon must be sick of the sight of her own obituaries. Since she confirmed on Wednesday that she will not seek re-election as a MSP at next May?s H...

UK politics: Unison attacks ?shambolic? announcement of NHS England?s aboliti...
13 Mar 2025 at 6:12pm
Union says staff will have been left reeling after surprise news that body will be scrappedStarmer is now talking about regulatation, and giving examples of where he thinks it has gone too far.l give you an example. There?s a office conversion in Bingley, which, as you know, is in Yorkshire. That...

UK politics: UK expels Russian diplomat and says Moscow is seeking closure of...
12 Mar 2025 at 5:31pm
Move is in response to similar Russian measures earlier this week Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.PMQs is about to start. Continue reading...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Reeves?s neo-liberal choice to punish the disabled
27 Mar 2025 at 4:30pm
Just before the Chancellor Rachel Reeves made her Spring Budget statement this week, the Guardian newspaper published a story reporting on the new austerity cuts that she was set to announce, the headline ran: “Further benefits cuts planned as Rachel Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bn.” This headline is, to put it kindly, misleading. Reeves …

Branchform?s meagre fruit
23 Mar 2025 at 12:19pm
It cost £2.3 million, it lasted four years. It originated in a politically motivated complaint from a notorious attention seeker with a habit of making nuisance complaints to the police, but Police Scotland’s Operation Branchform has finally come to an end – without any charges being brought against former first minister Nicola Sturgeon or former …

Labour out-Tories the Tories
18 Mar 2025 at 8:11pm
The head of the DWP, the Department of Wickedness and Persecution, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, the mad axe-woman of Westminster, today announced the biggest cuts ever to sickness and disability benefits, kicking away the crutches of some of the most vulnerable in society. The scale of the cuts is horrifying, all the more …

Visits from space aliens
16 Mar 2025 at 7:04pm
You may not have noticed, on account of doing something far more engrossing, like de-fluffing your navel, but last week Scotland was ‘graced’ – I use the term advisedly – by a visit from Russell Findlay’s boss Kemi Badenoch, a woman who makes the notoriously ill-tempered and uptight deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tetchy, …

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we?ll kick your crutches out of here.
10 Mar 2025 at 8:18pm
Labour’s plan to target the disabled and the long term sick have been widely trailed in advance. The final details are to be announced at the end of this month, but it is expected that those on long term sickness benefits will come under greater pressure to find work or risk their already meagre benefits …

Chippy Richard Tetchy goes to the chippy
6 Mar 2025 at 7:32pm
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage mini-me, the notoriously bad tempered Richard Tetchy, sorry, Tice, was in Scotland this week in order to pretend that he and Farage’s private limited company masquerading as a democratically constituted far right English nationalist party actually care about Scotland. Spoiler alert, he failed miserably. It has been clear for some time …

The end of the Anglosaxon transatlantic alliance
1 Mar 2025 at 2:44pm
Anyone who’s not a fan of Putin or who hasn’t drunk deep of the MAGA Kool-Aid was horrified by the disgusting scenes in the Oval Office yesterday when America’s extortionist in chief and his pet rodent JD Vance ambushed the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who was in Washington DC ostensibly to sign a deal giving …

Rest in peace, Mary Docherty
28 Feb 2025 at 8:39pm
My friend Mary (known to her family as Maureen) Docherty passed away this morning. Mary was a huge lover of Scotland and a long time supporter of independence. Mary was one of the first people I met through this blog. Back in the blog’s early days, before the independence referendum when my late husband Andy …

Taking out the Nigel Garbage
27 Feb 2025 at 7:39pm
Nigel Farage, the man who makes you wish for a time machine so you could go back to the 1960s and insist his father used a condom, has announced that he’s planning a trip to Scotland in order to boost his far right band of millionaire enabling English ethno-nationalists in plenty of time for the …

The vile, gruesome people in charge of the Labour party
23 Feb 2025 at 7:21pm
Labour held its Scottish conference in Glasgow over the weekend. Naturally, it featured U-turn Sarwar and the pantomime Dame misrepresenting NHS Scotland, never mind that Labour is making a far worse job of running the NHS in Wales. Anas Sarwar is his own man, he makes his own decisions, and it’s entirely coincidental that he …

The Courier

Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

Equalities watchdog sends enforcement warning to NHS Fife over trans changing...
1 Apr 2025 at 1:41pm
The regulator intervened in the row over NHS Fife allowing trans staff to use single-sex changing facilities.

NHS Fife refuses to answer SECOND key question on trans row tribunal
1 Apr 2025 at 6:00am
The health board previously refused to declare how much it had spent on the controversial case so far.

700 Dundee University staff could leave as crisis cuts hit life sciences
31 Mar 2025 at 8:58pm
Principal Shane O?Neill revealed the human cost of the cuts and the subjects at the institution which could be dramatically scaled back to plug a £35 million deficit.

EXCLUSIVE: St Andrews rector claims she?s victim of university ?smear campaig...
31 Mar 2025 at 6:00am
In an interview with The Courier, Stella Maris says university principal Sally Mapstone should be investigated for trying to silence pro-Palestine voices.

COURIER OPINION: All Dundee University chiefs owe staff answers ? even if it ...
29 Mar 2025 at 6:00am
Two senior managers at the institution - including ex-principal Iain Gillespie - have turned down requests to be grilled by MSPs.

EXCLUSIVE: Eljamel ?criminal investigation? launched as police chief reveals ...
28 Mar 2025 at 2:31pm
Police have already been probing the rogue former NHS Tayside surgeon for more than six years.

Who is Jim McGeorge? Second Dundee University chief who declined Holyrood gri...
28 Mar 2025 at 6:01am
The senior executive is currently 'on leave' from the troubled institution.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University security called as staff march on principal?s of...
27 Mar 2025 at 5:39pm
More than 600 jobs are at risk at the university as it tries to recover from a £35 million deficit.

John Swinney ?very concerned? at NHS Tayside handling of decision to scrap ne...
27 Mar 2025 at 4:19pm
Thousands of children and young people are waiting years for autism and ADHD assessments.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University chiefs could be FORCED to attend Holyrood grilling
27 Mar 2025 at 6:00am
Holyrood?s powerful education committee is taking advice on using a legal power for the first time to compel people to attend in person.

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland

How the Scottish Government is supporting improved cancer care ? but shameful...
1 Apr 2025 at 9:28pm
By JB Some positive things you will not be allowed to read about in the ?Scottish? media. Funding for projects to benefit patients and clinical staff. A total of £1.5 million funding in 2024-25 is supporting 12 projects to continue providing direct and personalised support to patients with cancer. Over £1.5 million will support 12 pilot projects across Scotland to deliver a single point of cont...

So when will bills come down?
1 Apr 2025 at 5:51pm
By Liz S Research that is NOT ?Good news? for Anas Sarwar and Labour. (that, as a situation, is now becoming a habitual position for Sarwar and Labour) I looked on MSM Monitor Twitter account. He has a video where in a September 2024 Radio interview the BBC?s Gary Robertson asks a straight forward direct Q that should then have received a straight forward direct answer from the interviewee, Ana...

A&E in Scotland ? 17% better than NHS England, fewest waiting more than 4 hour...
1 Apr 2025 at 3:24pm
Professor John Robertson OBA From Accident and emergency Accredited official statistics for February 2025, published by Public Health Scotland today, for Type 1, full emergency departments: 818,710 (68.2%) of type 1 attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours (compared to 18,082 (67.5%) the previous week, and 17,357 (64.7%) weekly average f...

?Bed-blocking? falls for third month in a row
1 Apr 2025 at 1:58pm
Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, today: In February 2025 the average number of beds occupied per day due to people delayed in hospital was 1,946. Compared to the previous three months, this is less than January 2025 (1,964), December 2024 (1,991) and November 2024 (2,023). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/delayed-discharges-in-nhsscotland-monthly/delay...

98% target-busting by NHS Scotland ? IVF, drug and alcohol treatment and now ...
1 Apr 2025 at 1:50pm
Professor John Robertson OBA, former Faculty Research Ethics Chair From Public Health Scotland today: In the 12 months from March 2024 to February 2025, there was a 1.4% increase (+4,009) in the number of planned operations compared to the previous 12 months. Of all planned operations during February 2025 in NHSScotland, 707 (3%) were cancelled by the hospital for clinical reasons, 731 (3.1%) w...

The type of information that we shouldn?t HAVE to search for
1 Apr 2025 at 8:44am
By JB This is interesting for more information. The type of information that we shouldn?t HAVE to search for?.Led and funded by the Scottish Government, Peatland Action is a national programme to restore peatland across Scotland. Since 2012 The Peatland ACTION Programme has set over 51,000 ha of degraded peatland on the road to recovery. https://www.nature.scot/doc/peatland-action-annual-review...

Rail fares to go up by shocking 21% more in England than in Scotland despite ...
1 Apr 2025 at 8:00am
Professor John Robertson OBA, Travel Correspondent BBC Scotland this morning, on various cost-of-living increases in the next few days felt the need to remind us that Scotrail fares had gone up ‘nearly 4%.’ That was 3.8% on 31 January 2025. Back then, they had also felt the need to tell us all this: Opposition parties said the price rise would “hammer” passengers who would be “dismayed” at havi...

Scottish Government enables planning consent for largest ever UK pumped hydro...
31 Mar 2025 at 5:45pm
Professor John Robertson OBA From PV Magazine, today: Gilkes Energy has secured planning consent for a 1.8 GW/40 GWh pumped hydro energy storage project, the largest of its kind to date in the United Kingdom. The Earba Pumped Storage Hydro project is located at Loch Earba in the Scottish Highlands, around 200 km north of Glasgow on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The proposed developm...

Latest research ? London School of Economics say 700,000 children could be li...
31 Mar 2025 at 5:31pm
Professor John Robertson OBA From the LSE two days ago, the above, being carefully ignored by the BBC and UK MSM, and: Recent days have seen a round of cuts announced to social security, which the UK Government?s own impact assessment shows will increase poverty. But new analysis shows that the Westminster government could cut child poverty in the UK by a sixth if they were to match Scotland?s ...

More than 80% of measles infections linked to imported cases and rest of unkn...
31 Mar 2025 at 4:19pm
Quarterly uptake rates in Scotland have gradually declined over time. However, in the latest quarter ending September 2024, there have been small increases in levels of protection for children aged 12 and 24 months, compared with the previous quarter. https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/childhood-immunisation-statistics-scotland/childhood-immunisation-statistics-scotland-quarter-endi...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Scottish independence poll 2025 - Statista
27 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
Scottish independence poll 2025  Statista

Scotland?s pro-independence warriors are shifting on nuclear weapons ? slowly...
1 Apr 2025 at 6:35pm
Scotland?s pro-independence warriors are shifting on nuclear weapons ? slowly  politico.eu

In the UK, Scottish independence and Irish reunification have lost their appe...
10 Jan 2025 at 8:00am
In the UK, Scottish independence and Irish reunification have lost their appeal  Le Monde.fr

Scottish independence figures to share 2026 priorities at grassroots conferen...
1 Apr 2025 at 5:09pm
Scottish independence figures to share 2026 priorities at grassroots conference  The National Scot

Kenny MacAskill: We must mobilise the grassroots if we are to achieve Indepen...
1 Apr 2025 at 1:10pm
Kenny MacAskill: We must mobilise the grassroots if we are to achieve Independence  Alba Party

Scotland March 2025 snapshot - YouGov
27 Mar 2025 at 9:51am
Scotland March 2025 snapshot  YouGov

Will Scotland ever become an Independent nation-state? - Forbes
19 Oct 2024 at 8:00am
Will Scotland ever become an Independent nation-state?  Forbes

Sturgeon predicts independence and united Ireland in UK 'shake-up' - BBC
17 Sep 2024 at 8:00am
Sturgeon predicts independence and united Ireland in UK 'shake-up'  BBC

It's time for a hard-hitting TV drama about Scottish independence - The Natio...
1 Apr 2025 at 1:07pm
It's time for a hard-hitting TV drama about Scottish independence  The National Scot

Holyrood Election can be Scotland?s ?Independence Day? says MacAskill - Alba ...
29 Mar 2025 at 7:31pm
Holyrood Election can be Scotland?s ?Independence Day? says MacAskill  Alba Party

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP questioned after handing out millions to company involved in Horizon Post...
2 Apr 2025 at 4:30am
SNP questioned after handing out millions to company involved in Horizon Post Office scandal  Scottish Daily Express

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn confirms Holyrood bid - The Herald
1 Apr 2025 at 10:01pm
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn confirms Holyrood bid  The Herald

Christina McKelvie: John Swinney leads tributes to SNP minister - BBC
27 Mar 2025 at 1:43pm
Christina McKelvie: John Swinney leads tributes to SNP minister  BBC

?Hostile environment? drives many of SNP?s female MSPs to step down before 20...
23 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
?Hostile environment? drives many of SNP?s female MSPs to step down before 2026 vote  The Guardian

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon cleared in police investigation into SN...
20 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon cleared in police investigation into SNP's finances  Sky News

Keir Starmer dismisses SNP call to axe Donald Trump state visit - BBC
2 Mar 2025 at 8:00am
Keir Starmer dismisses SNP call to axe Donald Trump state visit  BBC

Police investigation 'could weaken SNP's election chances', top pollster warn...
20 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
Police investigation 'could weaken SNP's election chances', top pollster warns  Sky News

Nicola Sturgeon no longer under investigation over SNP fraud claims - The Gua...
20 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
Nicola Sturgeon no longer under investigation over SNP fraud claims  The Guardian

Nicola Sturgeon no longer a suspect in SNP finances investigation - BBC
20 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
Nicola Sturgeon no longer a suspect in SNP finances investigation  BBC

SNP MP calls for Trump state visit to be scrapped - BBC
1 Mar 2025 at 8:00am
SNP MP calls for Trump state visit to be scrapped  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Scotland?s pro-independence warriors are shifting on nuclear weapons ? slowly...
1 Apr 2025 at 6:35pm
Scotland?s pro-independence warriors are shifting on nuclear weapons ? slowly  politico.eu

Scottish independence poll 2025 - Statista
27 Mar 2025 at 7:00am
Scottish independence poll 2025  Statista

Scotland March 2025 snapshot - YouGov
27 Mar 2025 at 9:51am
Scotland March 2025 snapshot  YouGov

In the UK, Scottish independence and Irish reunification have lost their appe...
10 Jan 2025 at 8:00am
In the UK, Scottish independence and Irish reunification have lost their appeal  Le Monde.fr

Holyrood Election can be Scotland?s ?Independence Day? says MacAskill - Alba ...
29 Mar 2025 at 7:31pm
Holyrood Election can be Scotland?s ?Independence Day? says MacAskill  Alba Party

John Swinney: Scottish independence vote left 'positive legacy' - BBC
18 Sep 2024 at 8:00am
John Swinney: Scottish independence vote left 'positive legacy'  BBC

Scottish independence referendum: legal issues - The House of Commons Library
16 Sep 2024 at 8:00am
Scottish independence referendum: legal issues  The House of Commons Library

10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum - Sky News
18 Sep 2024 at 8:00am
10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum  Sky News

Ten years on from Scotland?s independence referendum - The Economist
18 Sep 2024 at 8:00am
Ten years on from Scotland?s independence referendum  The Economist

Alex Salmond, former Scottish first minister who nearly got Scotland's indepe...
12 Oct 2024 at 8:00am
Alex Salmond, former Scottish first minister who nearly got Scotland's independence from UK, dies at 69  PBS