The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Council paid third-party £7,000 to remove flags after workers met with threats
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
26 Mar 2026 at 4:33pm
The unnamed firm was paid £7,349 to remove the flags in the city?s Seaton, Cove, and Kincorth neighbourhoods.


'Not a coincidence' Swinney questions timing of UK Government decision on Min...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
26 Mar 2026 at 1:43pm
John Swinney has accused the UK Government of political timing after it blocked a £1.5bn Chinese-backed wind project in the Highlands.


Sarwar: John Swinney should be 'ashamed' for claiming Labour want deal with R...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
26 Mar 2026 at 1:15pm
John Swinney should be "ashamed" for claiming Scottish Labour wants to do a deal with Reform in Holyrood, Anas Sarwar has said.


John Swinney: I will fight 2031 election as Prime Minister of independent Sco...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
26 Mar 2026 at 1:10pm
John Swinney has declared he wants to fight the 2031 vote as prime minister of an independent Scotland.


'Nicola Sturgeon SNP voters are switching to Scottish Greens'
26 Mar 2026 at 12:21pm
Young women who supported the SNP under Nicola Sturgeon's leadership are switching their political support to the Scottish Greens, according to Gillian Mackay.


Scottish Tories replaced by stuffed toy at hustings event
26 Mar 2026 at 12:02pm
A stuffed toy representing ?one of Scotland?s missing species? was used to stand in for missing Scottish Conservatives at a recent Holyrood elections hustings event in Perthshire.


More than 200,000 Scottish children live in relative poverty, figures show
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
26 Mar 2026 at 10:53am
Scottish Government statistics show that 21% of children live in households with an income which is at least 60% less than the UK median, a slight decrease.


Reform candidate who called Humza Yousaf an 'Islamist moron' quits election
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
26 Mar 2026 at 11:30am
Linda Holt, who also claimed that asylum seekers posed a ?higher sexual risk? to women, has hit out at a ?lack of support? from Reform


Another Reform candidate stands down as man says name was published 'in error'
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
26 Mar 2026 at 10:02am
Ex-soldier Roland Jackson, who runs the House of Brìghde wellness centre in Anstruther, has stood down as Reform?s candidate for Mid Fife and Glenrothes.


PM says British forces will start seizing Russian shadow fleet ships
by David Lynch
26 Mar 2026 at 8:10am
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would join allies in intercepting the sanction-breaking tankers


SNP 'playing politics' with national security in row over Chinese turbine fac...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
26 Mar 2026 at 6:49am
Kate Forbes has accused the UK Government of sabotaging Scotland?s industrial future after ministers blocked Chinese-backed Ming Yang technology from offshore wind projects. The decision threatens a £1.5bn Ardersier factory, up to 1,500 jobs and a major renewables investment row.


Campaigners warn politicians ahead of significant change to child poverty sta...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Child poverty statistics are expected to be revised down, however campaigners have issued a warning to political leaders.


Scottish Water's plan for new charges will 'hit household budgets for years'
26 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
Scottish Water's plans to hike charges annually above inflation for the next six years will "substantially" hit household budgets, the consumer watchdog has warned.


Will Easdale hotel project really be the 'catalyst' Glasgow needs?
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
26 Mar 2026 at 4:31am
Hotel plans for former Watt Brothers department store can contribute to bright new era for Glasgow

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Holyrood election RECAP: Latest updates as parties launch campaigns
26 Mar 2026 at 4:16pm

The SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems and Greens all launched their Holyrood election campaigns on Thursday.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has signalled that a re-elected SNP government would be ready to take further action over mobile phones in schools.

Mr Sarwar ruled out any coalitions or deals with Nigel Farage?s party

Linda Holt, who was the party?s candidate in Fife North East, said she was standing down ?due to a lack of support from the party?.

The Scottish Conservative leader was attacked with acid on his doorstep, and said he ?could?ve been capable of killing? his attacker.

Bill would have decriminalised the selling and criminalised the buying of sex

What should a revised economic direction for Scotland look like?

This column was written by members of Cyrenians Catalyst for Change group ? a cohort of young people who have experienced ? or been at risk of ? homelessness and want to make sure other young people don?t have to go through the same thing. In this column, they talk about the circumstances that nearly led to their homelessness ? and what can be done about it.

Wings over Scotland

Let?s Call The Whole Thing Off
24 Mar 2026 at 12:59pm
The last faint hope of any remotely positive or at least interesting outcome of May’s election just left the building. It wasn’t MUCH of a hope, and it’s absolutely no surprise in the wake of the comically shambolic, belief-defyingly inept farce that has been the birth of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s fringe-of-the fringe Your …

Irony you can?t buy
20 Mar 2026 at 12:09pm
Posted without comment. But the reason you can’t buy the irony is that she doesn’t need the money. So that’s quarter of a million pounds just for running away when things got a bit sticky, on top of the circa £225,000 in wages she’s trousered since resigning as FM despite never turning up for work …

Looking up at the stars
10 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
A fascinating line from the BBC this evening: The number of parties who got MSPs elected at the last election is? five. (Though in fairness there are now six, Reform having a single MSP after Graham Simpson defected from the Tories. The Lib Dems are even outnumbered by independents, of whom there are seven.) Also …

Scotland?s Most Frightened
4 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
This was just two months ago. (Longer version here.) ? And we’ll bet you anything you like he’s already wishing he hadn’t said it. Because a recent study suggested that Swinney might just achieve the impossible task he set for himself, and if he does then he’s REALLY screwed. Now, we don’t actually think that’ll …

Two Men Unalike
28 Feb 2026 at 1:41pm
So Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News got herself a scoop last night. And to be honest, readers, we were a bit confused. “Gender critical views” are not only lawful things to hold and express, they’re one of a small subset of opinions that are explicitly protected as such in law. And why would a …

The Tactics Of Suicide
26 Feb 2026 at 1:48pm
Sorry, readers, we’ve been too busy boiling with rage at revolting, cretinous Americans for the last few days to trust ourselves with writing a full-length article, but we’ve just about calmed down enough in time for this month’s polling analysis. Which is handy, because today is also the day of the Gorton and Denton by-election …

When the law breaks the law
19 Feb 2026 at 1:33pm
There is a not particularly funny joke that is sometimes told in legal circles about why a law student failed to finish his coursework ? because he had no conviction. With rare exceptions lawyers aren?t renowned for their sense of humour but I can?t help thinking someone, at the highest levels of our justice system, …

The Future Is Yesterday
18 Feb 2026 at 2:10pm
So on the one hand there’s obviously very little point paying attention to the SNP’s regional list candidates for May’s Holyrood election, because as this website has comprehensively demonstrated over recent months, the chances of the SNP having any list MSPs elected are remote. However, nothing is impossible, so let’s take a look at the …

Scotland In Numbers
17 Feb 2026 at 11:30pm
Cost of keeping vital rape crisis services in Glasgow operating: £500,000. Amount of money wasted by the Scottish Government fighting and losing court cases to try to remove women’s rights: £1.14 million. Angry yet?

The Longest Road
16 Feb 2026 at 1:23pm
As the six-year fight for justice for Alex Salmond continues, we thought you might like to see this clip from this morning’s Mike Graham Show, interviewing Paul McManus, the businessman and drummer in Glasgow rock band Gun who’s stepped up to fund the Salmond family’s case against the Scottish Government despite disagreeing with much of …

Craig Murray

The Caracas Metro
26 Mar 2026 at 6:46am

The extreme nature of sanctions against Venezuela made it very challenging to keep economic activity going. One example is Caracas’s impressive five-line Metro system, where for almost twenty years they had to keep things running with no spares or maintenance support from the train manufacturers. Yet resilience and ingenuity kicked in, and Venezuela actually reverse …

The Caracas Metro

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag
24 Mar 2026 at 12:04pm

The notion that the Iranian state would discredit itself by choosing to attack an ambulance service in London is crazy. Iran has not even attacked any hospitals or ambulances in Israel. Iran has absolutely zero record of attacks on healthcare facilities. That is of course in stark contrast to Israel which specifically targets them in …

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag

Seeing Trump Clearly
21 Mar 2026 at 12:19pm

What if Trump’s apparently chaotic thought processes and intuitive decision making are all a blind, a charade? What if we are really witnessing, in the Middle East and more widely, a carefully constructed plan with very definite objectives? Has Trump in fact “planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway”, while flinging the …

Seeing Trump Clearly

Radicalism and Scottish Independence
14 Mar 2026 at 4:18pm

There is no place like home, and a few hours after arriving back in Scotland I was in Glasgow giving a talk to Pensioners for Independence. I still covered quite a wide sweep, but my focus came back to what I care about more than anything – the freedom, prosperity and just position in the …

Radicalism and Scottish Independence

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?
13 Mar 2026 at 5:48pm

I interviewed a prominent academic who is a profound critic of the Venezuelan government, and in contrast a strong academic supporter. The conversations were relaxed, open and I believe worthwhile. There is no serious dispute that the Venezuelan government shifted to some degree towards economic liberalism under President Maduro. The question is to what extent …

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK
12 Mar 2026 at 8:06am

I today met our legal team and instructed them to submit an application for interim relief in the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. If successful this will immediately lift the proscription in Scotland, pending the review. Scores of people in Scotland face imminent conviction for terrorist offences simply for exercising free …

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK

BBC Scotland

Farage defends Scottish Reform leader Offord over homophobic joke
26 Mar 2026 at 6:27pm
Malcolm Offord has apologised for the "crude" remark he told at a rugby club dinner in 2018 but denies he is homophobic.

Party leaders make pitches to Scots as they hit campaign trail
26 Mar 2026 at 1:35pm
With the Holyrood election just six weeks away, hopefuls have kick-started their campaigns.

Health, education, tax and more - Has the SNP delivered on its promises at Ho...
26 Mar 2026 at 6:21am
As parties draw up their election manifestos, has the SNP ticked off the goals it set out in 2021?

Smoking ban in Scotland's pubs was a 'PR war' - but has it saved lives?
26 Mar 2026 at 6:21am
Exactly 20 years ago, Scotland became the first part of the UK to outlaw smoking in bars, restaurants and offices.

Why was a £1.5bn Chinese plan to invest in a Highland yard blocked?
26 Mar 2026 at 3:31pm
Ming Yang proposed building a wind turbine manufacturing plant at Ardersier.

Findlay felt capable of killing attacker but says 'I'm not a scrapper'
26 Mar 2026 at 10:13am
The Scottish Conservative leader discussed his visceral reaction to an acid attack in 2015 with the BBC's Scotcast.

Reform MSP backs Scottish leader Offord after his crude joke condemned
25 Mar 2026 at 8:54pm
The party's leader in Scotland has admitted making a "clumsy" remark at a rugby club dinner in 2018.

NHS, bills and immigration: One constituency's election talking points
26 Mar 2026 at 6:23am
Six weeks from the Holyrood election, the BBC takes the temperature in one central Scotland constituency.

NHS Scotland staff to get World Cup public holiday
25 Mar 2026 at 6:31pm
Measures will be put in place during the holiday to ensure the NHS will continue to operate as it normally would on public holidays.

A simple guide to the Scottish Parliament election 2026
25 Mar 2026 at 7:23pm
Voters will elect the next Members of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 7 May.

Sturgeon denies 'obsession' with gender reforms when Scotland's first minister
24 Mar 2026 at 4:54pm
The ex-SNP leader, who is stepping down from Holyrood this week, has defended her support for the trans community.

Councils given power to charge 'flat fee' tourist tax
24 Mar 2026 at 7:23pm
MSPs voted in favour of passing an amendment to visitor levy legislation before the first scheme comes into force.

Scot Goes Pop

Let's keep the independence movement clean: avoid the dodgy far-right links o...
25 Mar 2026 at 3:02am

The NHS is Reform's Achilles heel, and they should be hammered on it
24 Mar 2026 at 11:23am
I received a Reform leaflet through the door this morning, emblazened with photos of Malcolm Offord.  And because I'm interested in polls, I immediately noticed the rather amusing error in the Lib ...

Lord Ashcroft's dodgiest poll question is one the health inspectors should be...
24 Mar 2026 at 2:14am
I've been having a more leisurely look through the results of the supplementary questions in the Ashcroft poll, and I think there are three worth drawing to your attention.  First of all, Ashcroft ...

Ashcroft poll: pro-independence parties could take overall majority of VOTES ...
23 Mar 2026 at 9:24pm

Thank you, your lordship! Sensational Ashcroft poll shows SNP on highest vot...
23 Mar 2026 at 9:58am
The contents have it!  I'll try to make a video about this poll when I have a spare moment, but for now the basic facts deserve mentioning, because they bode extremely well for the SNP.  Lord Ashcr...

A further thought on the defeat of the assisted dying bill
23 Mar 2026 at 12:53am
I just want to comment briefly on Andrew Tickell's column about the Scottish Parliament's rejection of the assisted dying bill.  He argues that the opponents of the bill, if they want to be logical...

Are the results of independence polls being deliberately manipulated by organ...
22 Mar 2026 at 12:32am
As explained in the previous blogpost, my main concern about the data tables from the Survation / Scotland in Union propaganda poll is that they show beyond all reasonable doubt that some responden...

Survation cross a Rubicon by actively and knowingly pushing a fraudulent prop...
19 Mar 2026 at 10:46pm
As I pointed out in my video last night, the polling company Survation have seemingly prided themselves over the years on maintaining a particularly high standard of political neutrality and balanc...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Jack McConnell on 20th anniversary of Scotland?s public place smoking ban
26 Mar 2026 at 5:32pm
The former first minister has spoken to STV News on the 20th anniversary of the smoking ban in Scotland

Scotland: Is your council tax going up in 2026 and by how much?
26 Mar 2026 at 1:36pm
Local authorities across Scotland are hiking the levy by inflation-busting levels.

Scottish Reform candidate who called Humza Yousaf an ?Islamist moron? quits
26 Mar 2026 at 12:57pm
Linda Holt, who was contesting the North East Fife seat, quit due to 'lack of support from the party'

STV to host 2026 Scottish election leaders debate
26 Mar 2026 at 10:59am
The STV Leaders? Debate will be broadcast live from Edinburgh?s Signet Library on April 28

Party leaders start campaign push ahead of Holyrood vote
26 Mar 2026 at 7:45am
With the Scottish Parliament now in recess, the leaders of most of Scotland?s parties will kickstart their election campaigns on Thursday.

I went back to my hometown of Dundee to find out what voters are worried abou...
26 Mar 2026 at 7:02am
A lot has changed over the past three decades, but the challenges and concerns have an all too familiar ring about them

Reform MSP Graham Simpson ?has confidence? in Malcolm Offord despite homophob...
25 Mar 2026 at 3:21pm
Graham Simpson also said Malcolm Offord can 'absolutely' remain as party leader

Scottish Government introduces emergency heating oil scheme
25 Mar 2026 at 12:03pm
The UK Government announced £4.6 million of support for Scotland but Holyrood ministers said this amount is ?insufficient?

John Swinney to face final FMQs before Scottish election
25 Mar 2026 at 11:21am
The Scottish Parliament will be dissolved on April 9 ahead of the election

Hundreds of UK teenagers to be banned from social media as part of pilot
25 Mar 2026 at 9:39am
The aim of the pilot to understand more closely how different social media restrictions might impact young people's family life, sleep and schoolwork.

Reform?s Scottish leader apologises for joke and denies he is homophobic
25 Mar 2026 at 8:03am
Malcolm Offord is said to have made the jest while giving a Burns Night speech in 2018.

Chancellor urged not to ?leave citizens in the cold? over rising bills
24 Mar 2026 at 8:22am
The US-Israeli offensive against Iran saw a spike in oil prices.

Greens pledge to increase child payment to £55 by 2030
24 Mar 2026 at 7:33am
The benefit will rise to £28.20 on April 1.

Scottish Government pledges £7m for communities facing climate change
24 Mar 2026 at 6:47am
The funding for 2026-27 comes ahead of Scotland?s climate change plan being presented to Parliament.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Buckle up for the most bitter Holyrood election campaign in decades
26 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon offers his thoughts on an election in which the SNP finds themselves in the surprising position of favourite.

John Swinney 'blindsided' after UK Government blocks Chinese plan to open win...
26 Mar 2026 at 1:34pm
Ming Yang proposed to build a factory near Inverness but the Chinese firm's proposal was rejected over national security fears.

Anas Sarwar pledges he will not cut benefits if he becomes next First Minister
26 Mar 2026 at 1:20pm
The Scottish Labour leader will not take an axe to benefits despite the UK Labour Government initially trying to cut payments.

Reform UK candidate who branded Humza Yousaf an 'Islamist moron' quits Holyro...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:31pm
Linda Holt previously claimed asylum seekers posed a "higher sexual risk" to women than men born in Scotland.

John Swinney predicts he will be 'prime minister of an independent Scotland' ...
26 Mar 2026 at 11:59am
The SNP leader told an event in Glasgow he plans to serve a full five-year term as First Minister if his party wins the election in May.

John Swinney claims Scottish independence would 'lock Nigel Farage out of power'
26 Mar 2026 at 8:03am
The SNP leader will use the first day of the Holyrood election campaign to repeat his belief that ending the Union is the best solution to the country's problems.

Reform candidate who called for all Muslims to be deported and backed Tommy R...
26 Mar 2026 at 7:50am
Senga Beresford is third on Reform's South Scotland List, which polling analysis suggests will see her win.

Scottish Parliament election campaign starts today after dismal Holyrood sess...
26 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
Holyrood wrapped up on Wednesday after a dismal five-year session which saw two first ministers resign and little in the way of substantial legislation passed.

Scottish politics today: Conservative MSPs head for France on taxpayers' expense
25 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the day's Scottish politics news.

Chinese windfarm manufacturer blocked from opening major factory in Scotland
25 Mar 2026 at 4:43pm
Industrial giant Ming Yang had announced last year its ambition to open the UK?s largest wind turbine manufacturing facility in Aberdeenshire.

The National

The National | Politics

Outgoing MSPs who made tough decisions on our behalf deserve thanks
26 Mar 2026 at 6:30pm

THIS term of our Holyrood parliament has come to an end and we should spare a thought for MSPs who have served our country and in many cases taken some real tough decisions, decisions that we would all find difficult to make for ourselves, never mind taking decisions that affect the whole country.

Use Saturday's march to send a clear message to the Unionist parties
26 Mar 2026 at 6:30pm

THE fascist right have some of the news outlets either in their pocket or running so scared that they remain silent rather than denounce the fundamentalist ideology of Farage and his gang of failed former Tories.

Will older people's priorities be considered in this Scottish election?
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00pm

A variety of age-related issues are focused using the concept of "age friendliness" as promoted by the World Health Organisation to question how sensitive our economy, politics, institutions, services, and environments are to including older citizens and promoting healthy ageing ...

What I learned at Scottish Labour's Holyrood election campaign launch
26 Mar 2026 at 5:51pm

SO it begins. The Holyrood election campaign ...

Holyrood election kicks off with 5 party launches in one day
26 Mar 2026 at 5:32pm

GONE are the days of cooperation as five of Scotland?s party leaders vied for headlines on the first day of the Holyrood election campaign.

Ex-SNP councillor found guilty of 10 charges including sexual assaulting thre...
26 Mar 2026 at 4:20pm

A FORMER SNP councillor has been found guilty of 10 charges including sexually assaulting three men

Everything you need to know about the Believe in Scotland rally and march
26 Mar 2026 at 4:08pm

Thousands of Scots are expected to take part in an independence march and rally this weekend, with the First Minister addressing the crowd alongside a whole host of speakers

Why did UK block Chinese wind farm in Scotland but allow London embassy?
26 Mar 2026 at 4:00pm

THE UK Government has ?serious questions to answer? over why it blocked a £1.5bn wind turbine factory from being built in Scotland over ?national security concerns? when a Chinese mega-embassy was given the go ahead in London, an SNP MP has said.

Four key things to know about new AI evangelist BBC chief Matt Brittin
26 Mar 2026 at 3:59pm

FORMER Google executive Matt Brittin was hailed as an ?outstanding leader? as he was appointed the new head of the BBC ? but is he up to the job?

Donald Trump calls UK aircraft carriers 'toys' as diplomatic tensions rise
26 Mar 2026 at 3:44pm

Donald Trump has described Britain's aircraft carriers as 'toys' in his latest swipe at the UK Government

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Former council leader found guilty of sexually assaulting three men
26 Mar 2026 at 5:08pm
Jordan Linden was convicted of 10 charges, including sexual?assault, at?Falkirk?Sheriff Court

Court finds Meta and Google built intentionally addictive platforms
26 Mar 2026 at 12:48pm
Jurors in Los Angeles found a woman should receive damages after determining Facebook owner Meta and Google, which owns YouTube, 'acted with malice, oppression, or fraud'

Independence will 'lock Nigel Farage out' of Scottish politics, John Swinney ...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:00pm
Scottish Labour also launched its campaign, with leader Anas Sarwar promising to deliver a ?more positive and hopeful future?

One in five children in Scotland living in poverty despite recent improvements
26 Mar 2026 at 11:41am
Action call as election nears

Karen Meechan leaving tech body ScotlandIS after 22 years
26 Mar 2026 at 11:28am
The organisation said it would appoint a new leader in due course

Local Authorities Guide: Orkney Islands Council
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Council leader Heather Woodbridge answers questions about local authority

Malcolm Offord denies homophobia after apologising for George Michael joke
25 Mar 2026 at 4:00pm
'Clumsy mistake' claim after outcry

Malcolm Offord ?unfit? to be MSP says John Swinney
25 Mar 2026 at 1:43pm
The Reform Scotland leader has said he "instantly regretted" a homophobic comment

Holyrood election is ?loveless?, says pollster
25 Mar 2026 at 11:03am
Mark Diffley said?the SNP was on track to return a similar number of MSPs as it did five years ago despite losing?one in four of its voters

Schools given new guidance of use of AI in the classroom
25 Mar 2026 at 10:42am
The new guidance has been developed by the Scottish Government in partnership with the EIS union

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Reform busy firefighting in Scotland but may yet set Holyrood?s politics ablaze
26 Mar 2026 at 6:29pm
With Nigel Farage?s party neck and neck with Labour for second place behind the SNP, disruption seems likely Hope, change, progressive change, change with fairness at its heart ? from a harbour north of Edinburgh to a hipster arts venue in Glasgow?s Barras Market, Scotland?s political parties sp...

UK politics: Trump says UK?s aircraft carriers are just ?toys? ? as it happened
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00pm
The comments were part of a broader address in which he condemned Nato alliesYesterday the Conservative party said that it wanted to ban political parties from distributing campaign literature in a foreign language. Announcing a plan to propose an amendement to the representation of the people bi...

UK politics: Tories claim McSweeney has ?serious questions? to answer about p...
25 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
Shadow cabinet officer minister claims ?this whole thing stinks to high heaven?Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs.Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has urged people to reject ?conspiracy? theories about the loss of Morgan McSweeney?s phone. Continue reading...

What?s at stake for UK in May?s elections: six key questions
23 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Reform, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens are all banking on big gains and nationwide repercussionsOn 7 May, three of the UK?s four nations go to the polls in a series of elections with much potential significance, not just for who ends up governing various bodies, but also for the future polit...

?Anyone but Labour? or ?anyone but Reform?? Clash of animosities likely to de...
23 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
While Labour braces for a rout that could see off Starmer, a rising drive to keep out Farage is complicating expectationsSmall swings, high drama: why UK polls are less volatile than they seem ? in chartsLocal elections are often regarded as a referendum on the sitting government, with many previ...

Labour dismisses Reform UK MSP candidates as ?hopeless Tory rejects and oddba...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:50pm
This blog is now closedSeverin Carrell is the Guardian?s Scotland editor.Malcolm Offord, Reform UK?s Scottish leader, has doubled down on his defence of the party?s vetting by dismissing remarks by candidates backing Tommy Robinson or describing Humza Yousaf as an ?Islamist moron? (see 10.12am) a...

Reform UK suspends Scottish candidate less than a day after announcing him
20 Mar 2026 at 2:24pm
Stuart Niven found to have diverted Covid grants to personal account as party faces criticism for candidates? Islamophobic remarksReform UK has suspended one of its Scottish candidates after it emerged he had been struck off as a company director, and the party faces growing attacks for fielding ...

Supporters of Scotland?s assisted dying bill frustrated by lack of backing fr...
18 Mar 2026 at 6:41pm
Just three of Labour?s 20 MSPs in Holyrood voted for bill, despite support for legislation in House of CommonsSupporters of Scotland?s assisted dying bill have said they are frustrated a significant majority of Labour MSPs voted against the proposals, despite Labour?s substantial support for the ...

Scottish parliament votes against legalising assisted dying
17 Mar 2026 at 10:44pm
MSPs reject bill after concerted campaign to block it and despite amendments intended to placate criticsThe Scottish parliament has voted against legalising assisted dying after critics and religious groups led a concerted campaign to block the measures.MSPs voted 69 to 57 to reject the proposals...

The Guardian view on the fragile politics of the union: Labour?s woes have co...
17 Mar 2026 at 6:41pm
Following May?s elections, first ministers committed to independence could be in place in Edinburgh, Cardiff and BelfastThe general election of July 2024 did not just call time on a decade and a half of Conservative rule. It also delivered the most pro-Union parliament since the early 2010s, when...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The rapid implosion of Reform?s Scottish campaign
26 Mar 2026 at 3:05pm
As the saying goes, you’d need a heart of stone not to laugh. Within just a few days of Reform UK launching its Scottish election campaign to much fanfare and racist ‘jokes’ about tartan burqas, the wheels are already coming off Farage’s septic tank pumper wagon. The party has already lost no less than four …

James Dornan MSP looks back on his career
24 Mar 2026 at 1:49pm
A guest post by James Dornan MSP   Today veteran SNP MSP James Dornan makes his last speech in the Scottish Parliament, and steps down to retirement and to give way to a new generation. To mark the occasion, he has very kindly written a guest post for this blog in which he looks back …

Reform?s chaotic launch and the implications of the Iran war for May?s election
20 Mar 2026 at 8:53pm
Nigel Farage came to Scotland on Thursday to launch his party’s manifesto for the Scottish elections on 7 May and to introduce Reform UK’s almost half former Tory slate of totally well vetted candidates. Reform UK there, promising to fix Broken Britain with a slew of the former Conservatives who were responsible for breaking it …

Thoughts on the failure of the assisted dying bill
18 Mar 2026 at 2:46am
Back in 1998, after we had moved to Spain, my late husband Andy and I became very close friends with our new neighbour, a Norwegian woman called Ellie who had moved to Spain after retiring from a career on the Norwegian oil rigs in the North Sea. She was looking forward to spending her final …

Scotland: Too wee?
17 Mar 2026 at 9:11am
Is it time to look again at the long-debated theory that Scotland is ?too wee? to be a successful independent country? A guest post by Diane Izzett https://bsky.app/profile/dizzyscot.bsky.social With the yes voters taking a lead in recent polls, do the facts support this or is it just the final death throes of a coloniser losing …

Lessons from 2014 for next time round
14 Mar 2026 at 6:23pm
An important new academic book looking at the 2014 Scottish independence referendum has just been published. The snappily titled “Discourse, Voice, and the Politics of Participation in the Scottish Independence Referendum” by Dr Maike Dinger, a Lecturer in Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling is available on Amazon for £104.99 hardback or …

So-called muscular unionism is a sign of Westminster?s fragility
12 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
The Labour party has responded to the leak of a memo from Starmer to cabinet ministers in which he tells them not to be “deferential” to the devolved governments and not to hesitate to override them even on devolved matters. Starmer was questioned about the memo by SNP MP Stephen Gethins at Prime Minister’s Questions …

Devolution has run out of road
10 Mar 2026 at 6:48pm
This always happens, every time I decide to take a bit of time off, a big news story breaks and it’s back to the keyboard. On Tuesday, a Labour government memo was leaked which proves that Keir Starmer is hell bent on undermining the devolution settlement. In the memo, sent to all members of the …

What the end of Alba means for May?s election and the broader independence mo...
9 Mar 2026 at 5:35pm
Well that’s it. The Alba party has gone and will not be contesting the Holyrood election in May, or indeed any elections in the future. Unlike some, I am not gloating about the party’s demise even though I was never a supporter of it. I kept my thoughts about Alba largely to myself despite coming …

Labour?s dangerous plans for NHS Scotland
8 Mar 2026 at 4:33pm
The Holyrood elections are just eight weeks away. This will be a critical election for Scotland’s future and it is more important than ever that Scotland returns a pro-independence majority, ideally an SNP majority to the Scottish Parliament. It’s not just the future of hopes for independence which is at stake. This election is also …

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

Short video ? Scotland does TWICE the UK rate of heart transplants per capita...
26 Mar 2026 at 3:45pm
Full details at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/03/26/scotland-does-twice-the-uk-rate-of-heart-transplants-per-capita-thanks-to-additional-financial-support-from-the-snp-government-but-the-uk-does-lag-far-behind-rest-of-europe/

What the Herald won?t tell you again after repeating an old story ? current w...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:12pm

After Mairi McAllan given top job, Scotland still builds twice as many afford...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:09pm
As the Daily Recortd, today, has Housing emergency ‘going from bad to worse’ after Mairi McAllan given top job, do we care who said that? Nope, we barely care enough to respond but just in case you know someone still reading it, the facts: McAllan became Cabinet Secrtetary on 11 June 2025 and on the 30th September 2025, this from Housing Statistics for Scotland Quarterly Update: New Housebuildi...

Scotland does TWICE the UK rate of heart transplants per capita, thanks to ad...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:08pm
From BBC Health two days ago, the above and: The UK used to be a world leader in the field – but has fallen behind major Western nations. The number of heart and lung transplants the NHS carries out each year has not increased in three decades. BBC File on 4 Investigates has found that technology is outdated, there is a lack of investment and senior surgeons are leaving – while patients point t...

The Health Secretary in England says the NHS is ?on the road to recovery? but...
26 Mar 2026 at 10:47am
By stewartb The health think tank, the Kings Fund in collaboration the Nuffield Trust has just published a report on public satisfaction in 2025 with the NHS and social care across the UK. It is based on British Social Attitudes Survey research. The report notes: ?The British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA) is a ?gold standard?, nationally representative survey that uses a robust methodology to e...

The poor have greater need and less access to hip and knee replacement surger...
25 Mar 2026 at 7:02pm
Many thanks to NHS FOR YES! for alerting me to this. From the above research paper published online today, in the June 2026 edition of the, peer-reviewed, Health Policy journal the following key points on the relative access of the poor to hip and knee replacement. In the UK, where healthcare is a devolved matter, England and Scotland have different policies to reduce waiting lists for elective...

Successive SNP health secretaries have avoided 66 days of resident doctor str...
25 Mar 2026 at 6:46pm
Sky News has just announced: Resident doctors in England to strike for six days after Easter bank holiday – The planned walk-out is due to start from 7 April at 7am, just after the Easter bank holiday in England, until 6.59am on 13 April. The British Medical Association said in a post on X on Wednesday: “Resident doctors have been left with no choice but to strike. “Weeks of negotiations with t...

Major survey reveals far higher satisfaction with NHS Scotland ? short video
25 Mar 2026 at 3:56pm
Full details with sources: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/03/25/major-survey-today-reveals-scots-twice-as-satisfied-with-ae-and-dentistry-and-25-more-satisfied-with-nhs-overall-than-in-other-parts-of-uk-scottish-media-is-all-over-this-kidding/

Major survey today reveals Scots TWICE as satisfied with A&E and dentistry and...
25 Mar 2026 at 3:11pm
Many thanks to NHS FOR YES! for alerting me to this. Today in the Guardian: Public satisfaction with the NHS has risen for the first time since 2019, but people remain deeply frustrated with stubbornly long waits to receive GP, A&E or hospital care. The proportion of voters in Britain satisfied with the way the NHS runs has increased from the record low of 21% seen last year to 26%. At the same...

Citizens Theatre revamp only made possible by SNP Government?s £17.5 million ...
25 Mar 2026 at 3:08pm
BBC Scotland this morning reporting the Citizens Theatre revamp funds being made available last minute but with no time, it seems, to tell you who from. The Herald, also, making you work to find out, with: If YOU have the time, you can find, in the Herald report: The Scottish Government has signed off another multi-million pound bail-out for Glasgow’s 148-year-old Citizens Theatre to help meet ...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Everything you need to know about the Believe in Scotland rally and march - T...
26 Mar 2026 at 4:16pm
Everything you need to know about the Believe in Scotland rally and march  Thenational Scot

John Swinney: I will fight 2031 election as Prime Minister of independent Sco...
26 Mar 2026 at 1:26pm
John Swinney: I will fight 2031 election as Prime Minister of independent Scotland  The Herald

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney - T...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:57pm
SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney  The Independent

SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney - L...
26 Mar 2026 at 1:32pm
SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney  London Evening Standard

Your Party Scotland adopts separatism - World Socialist Web Site
24 Mar 2026 at 6:29pm
Your Party Scotland adopts separatism  World Socialist Web Site

The SNP?s record, the independence debate, what matters to voters, and is Nic...
25 Mar 2026 at 7:40am
The SNP?s record, the independence debate, what matters to voters, and is Nicola Sturgeon an asset or a liability? My latest Scottish polling  Lord Ashcroft Polls

John Swinney claims Scottish independence would 'lock Nigel Farage out of pow...
26 Mar 2026 at 8:05am
John Swinney claims Scottish independence would 'lock Nigel Farage out of power'  Daily Record

Deluded John Swinney claims he will be 'Prime Minister of an independent Scot...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:31pm
Deluded John Swinney claims he will be 'Prime Minister of an independent Scotland' by 2031  Scottish Daily Express

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
26 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Health, education, tax and more - Has the SNP delivered on its promises at Ho...
26 Mar 2026 at 6:21am
Health, education, tax and more - Has the SNP delivered on its promises at Holyrood?  BBC

Party leaders make pitches to Scots as they hit campaign trail - BBC
26 Mar 2026 at 1:35pm
Party leaders make pitches to Scots as they hit campaign trail  BBC

How SNP members feel going in to the 2026 Holyrood election - Thenational Scot
26 Mar 2026 at 2:13pm
How SNP members feel going in to the 2026 Holyrood election  Thenational Scot

SNP and Labour kick of election campaigns in Glasgow-what did they say - Yaho...
26 Mar 2026 at 4:21pm
SNP and Labour kick of election campaigns in Glasgow-what did they say  Yahoo News UK

We are standing on the verge of a truly historic moment - snp.org
26 Mar 2026 at 10:33am
We are standing on the verge of a truly historic moment  snp.org

Industry leaders slam SNP administration and say landing requirements risk ca...
26 Mar 2026 at 11:46am
Industry leaders slam SNP administration and say landing requirements risk causing significant harm  Shetland Times

SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney - T...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:57pm
SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney  The Independent

Carmichael Accuses SNP of ?Running Roughshod Over Our Fishing Industry? - The...
25 Mar 2026 at 5:41pm
Carmichael Accuses SNP of ?Running Roughshod Over Our Fishing Industry?  The Fishing Daily

SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney - L...
26 Mar 2026 at 1:32pm
SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney  London Evening Standard

John Swinney to launch SNP's 2026 election campaign in Glasgow - Reuters Connect
26 Mar 2026 at 10:46am
John Swinney to launch SNP's 2026 election campaign in Glasgow  Reuters Connect

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

John Swinney: I will fight 2031 election as Prime Minister of independent Sco...
26 Mar 2026 at 1:26pm
John Swinney: I will fight 2031 election as Prime Minister of independent Scotland  The Herald

SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney - L...
26 Mar 2026 at 1:32pm
SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney  London Evening Standard

SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney - T...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:57pm
SNP ?ready to win big? and put Scotland on path to independence ? Swinney  The Independent

The SNP?s record, the independence debate, what matters to voters, and is Nic...
25 Mar 2026 at 7:40am
The SNP?s record, the independence debate, what matters to voters, and is Nicola Sturgeon an asset or a liability? My latest Scottish polling  Lord Ashcroft Polls

George Galloway to 'campaign and vote for Yes' after U-turn on Scottish indep...
22 Mar 2026 at 11:05am
George Galloway to 'campaign and vote for Yes' after U-turn on Scottish independence  Thenational Scot

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
26 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push - Reu...
18 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push  Reuters

'Mr U-turn' Prime Minister will grant an independence vote if SNP win majorit...
23 Mar 2026 at 12:31pm
'Mr U-turn' Prime Minister will grant an independence vote if SNP win majority  Scottish Daily Express

Scottish independence poll 2025 - Statista
24 Feb 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence poll 2025  Statista