The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Tax cut pledges made by Reform for Scotland 'not fiscally credible?, says thi...
by Craig Paton
20 Mar 2026 at 4:17pm
The party?s leader in Scotland pledged to re-align Scotland?s tax bands with the rest of the UK, as well as a 1p cut in all rates.


Pregnant women left waiting days to be induced at Scotland?s biggest hospital
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth and Hannah Brown
20 Mar 2026 at 12:03pm
Women waited up to 72 hours to access labour wards at Glasgow?s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, a watchdog has found, exposing severe staffing shortages, rising clinical risks and failures to act on repeated whistleblower warnings.


Scottish Greens councillor defects to SNP over 'threat' of Reform UK
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
20 Mar 2026 at 11:08am
A councillor has defected from the Scottish Greens to the SNP, saying the party is better placed to see off the ?threat? of Reform UK.


Reform suspends candidate who paid taxpayer backed Covid loan into personal a...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
20 Mar 2026 at 10:11am
Reform UK has suspended Dundee City West candidate Stuart Niven after it emerged he accepted a seven-year director disqualification over misuse of a taxpayer-backed Covid Bounce Back Loan.


Farage opens door to indyref2 in just over a decade as he unveils MSP hopefuls
20 Mar 2026 at 5:01am
A second independence referendum could be held in just over a decade, according to Nigel Farage.


John Healey criticises John Swinney's 'lack of defence plan' amid Prestwick row
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
20 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
John Healey criticises John Swinney on defence as Prestwick Airport Iran row grows and a £6,000 childcare scheme for forces families is unveiled.


WATCH: Nicola Sturgeon delivers emotional final speech in Holyrood after 27 y...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
19 Mar 2026 at 7:20pm
Nicola Sturgeon reflected on her legacy as she delivered her final speech in Holyrood.


Reform candidate called Humza Yousaf ?Islamist moron? in social media posts
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
19 Mar 2026 at 6:52pm
Linda Holt, a taxi firm owner and contributor to the online magazine Think Scotland, was first revealed to have made the comments by The Courier. 


Climate sceptical ex-Tory and serial businessman among Reform's Edinburgh can...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
19 Mar 2026 at 5:23pm
Cameron Rose led the Tories to a second place finish with 18 seats in the 2017 City of Edinburgh Council elections.


Reform may have already hit its ceiling but that shouldn't comfort the other ...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Mar 2026 at 3:54pm
New Scottish polling suggests Reform UK has built a stable, hard-to-shift voter base ahead of Holyrood 2026. But its rise is also fuelling a powerful backlash ? reshaping tactical voting and exposing deep frustration with mainstream politics.


WATCH: Nigel Farage tells heckler 'you need a haircut' at Reform's Scottish l...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
19 Mar 2026 at 3:39pm
Nigel Farage had just taken to the podium to address Scottish members, of which the party claims to have 12,500, when a man began shouting.


John Swinney condemns Anas Sarwar over 'disrespectful' joke about strokes
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
19 Mar 2026 at 1:46pm
John Swinney condemned Anas Sarwar after the Scottish Labour leader joked about looking as if he had suffered a stroke.


Farage says Reform UK will be main opposition amid pledge to cut number of MSPs
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Mar 2026 at 1:45pm
Reform UK says it would cut the number of constituency MSPs from 73 to 57 if it wins power at Holyrood, with Scottish Parliament boundaries redrawn to match Westminster seats.


Nicola Sturgeon announced as star guest on new series of hit TV show
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
19 Mar 2026 at 12:05pm
The former First Minister has been announced as one of the star guests of the next series

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Next Prime Minister Latest Odds: Here are the 12 politicians tipped to take o...
20 Mar 2026 at 3:52pm

The bookies reckon it?s unlikely that Sir Keir Starmer will make it to the next General Election.

The think tank said claims made in the party?s manifesto were ?not good enough?

Several of Reform UK?s Holyrood candidates have been criticised for their past social media comments.

Stuart Niven, who was announced as the party?s candidate for Dundee City West yesterday, is being investigated by the party over being barred as a company director for seven years.

Malcolm Offord said people need to ?stop taking it all quite so seriously?.

Nicola Sturgeon made her final speech to Holyrood after 27 years as an MSP

The study carried about Strathclyde and Aberdeen universities found that the UK?s progress on reducing carbon emissions over the last 35 years had strong public backing - but that this is starting to wane.

The new research found Reform UK?s favourability in Scotland has dipped since the autumn.

The Reform UK leader described a Ramadan event in London as an ?attempt to overtake, intimidate and dominate our way of life?

A row has broken out after the UK government cancelled John Swinney?s national security briefing because the Scottish Secretary was not present.

The party said Scotland is ?broken?

John Swinney warned voters that backing Reform UK at the election would be a ?disaster? for Scotland.

Ministers still waiting for advice from officials two-and-a-half years after report

Wings over Scotland

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 …

The Modern Politician
10 Feb 2026 at 5:17pm
A play in three acts: And you thought ours were spineless. Poor old Anas, though. If 24 hours is a long time in politics these days, a week is forever. And a month hardly even bears thinking about. As for a year and a half, well, the less said the better.

Craig Murray

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

Metro Workers of Caracas
10 Mar 2026 at 6:39am

President Nicolás Maduro is a working-class man, a bus driver who worked his way to office through the trade union movement. Compare that to the Western “elite”. In Caracas I joined a rally of his fellow Metro workers, many of whom know him personally, demanding his release after kidnap by the US. I intend to …

Metro Workers of Caracas

Joy at Death and Destruction
7 Mar 2026 at 12:39pm

The United States and Israel are both revelling in inflicting the maximum possible death and suffering on Iran. After the genocide in Gaza, on a far larger field in Iran, those in power in Israel and the USA have a lust to kill and they revel in impunity. The Epstein files reveal the same dynamic. …

Joy at Death and Destruction

The War for Greater Israel
1 Mar 2026 at 2:21pm

There has scarcely been an attempt to pretend any justification in international law for the attack on Iran and murder of its leader. The response of the UK government, focusing almost entirely on condemning Iran for exercising its legitimate right of self-defence, takes the Starmer dishonesty meter further off the scale. The RAF has been …

The War for Greater Israel

BBC Scotland

Reform vows to cut Scottish income tax below UK rate
19 Mar 2026 at 8:15pm
Nigel Farage's party has launched a manifesto and unveiled its candidates for the Holyrood election.

Mould alert over damp wall panels at new Aberdeen hospital
20 Mar 2026 at 5:20pm
Plasterboard and insulation at the Baird Family Hospital and The Anchor Centre have been stripped out after they were allowed to get wet.

Concern over high number of women on remand at HMP Stirling
20 Mar 2026 at 10:38am
HMP Stirling's deputy governor says soaring numbers of inmates on remand are hampering rehabilitation.

Reform UK's Scottish manifesto pledges analysed
19 Mar 2026 at 7:33pm
BBC Scotland journalists have analysed some of the policies in Reform's manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood election.

Racism behind rise in support for Reform, says Swinney
19 Mar 2026 at 7:51pm
The first minister told the BBC's Scotcast the views of some Reform UK supporters were "intolerant".

Scotland's prison population reaches new record high
19 Mar 2026 at 5:21pm
The population remains stubbornly high despite the fact that hundreds of prisoners have been freed early since November.

Greyhound racing outlawed in Scotland after MSPs back ban
18 Mar 2026 at 9:22pm
The sport already faced extinction after the country's last track in Kirkcaldy, Fife, closed last year.

Hopes for Scottish ferry to mainland Europe boosted by £3m funding
19 Mar 2026 at 12:15pm
The UK investment pledge for Rosyth is expected to support plans for a direct ferry service to France.

MSP rules out reintroducing assisted dying bill after Scottish election
18 Mar 2026 at 12:58pm
Liam McArthur said it was time to pass the baton to someone else after five years of work on the now-rejected bill.

Sarwar apologises for stroke quip at press conference
18 Mar 2026 at 4:32pm
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland described the Labour leader's remarks as "deeply disappointing".

BBC Scotland unveils multi-platform plans to cover Scottish Parliament vote
18 Mar 2026 at 3:03pm
They include a leaders debate, daily online live pages, analysis, fact checking, audience-driven stories as well as a rolling results programme.

Scotland's assisted dying bill has fallen - what happens now?
18 Mar 2026 at 12:14am
Debate on the issue has been ongoing in parliament for more than 15 years but this is the closest legislation has made it to become a law.

Scot Goes Pop

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...

Greens stay ahead of Labour for THIRD week in a row - SNP lead by 5 in Scotland
19 Mar 2026 at 12:52am
Later in this video I also give some preliminary thoughts on the ever-absurd latest outing for the Survation / Scotland In Union propaganda poll - although there's a limit to what I can say about i...

Why the new ScotRail minimum fare is unfair for passengers
18 Mar 2026 at 7:37pm
I only discovered a couple of days ago that ScotRail are introducing a minimum fare of £10 for tickets bought on the train, except when you've boarded at a station where there is no ticket office o...

Stephen Daisley owes the Scottish Parliament an apology tonight
17 Mar 2026 at 10:51pm
The vote on assisted dying went the way I hoped it would, although even three hours ago I was still very pessimistic.  I think one thing all of us can agree on is that the standard of debate was ex...

Reddit tries to explain Stew - but struggles
17 Mar 2026 at 10:28am
Today is going to be an unpleasant day, because the stakes are high and the outcome is unpredictable, so I thought you might appreciate some light relief.  A Reddit thread suddenly appeared yesterd...

Why I hope the Scottish Parliament rejects assisted dying this week
15 Mar 2026 at 8:16pm
Not that I expect my opinion to make the remotest difference, but as the Scottish Parliament is about to make one of the most consequential decisions in its history, I thought I'd offer my opinion ...

The "Liberate Scotland" alliance continues to both disintegrate and drift to ...
15 Mar 2026 at 4:56pm
The Independence For Scotland party, which until today was one of the three component parts of the Liberate Scotland alliance along with the far-right Sovereignty and "Independents for Independence...

SNP conference, and a housekeeping note
14 Mar 2026 at 1:08pm
Never let it be said that I don't take my SNP membership seriously, because I've given up on watching the rugby today in order to attend the SNP campaign conference in Edinburgh.  (And there's prec...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Swinney rejects assertion he cancelled briefing on US military use of airport
20 Mar 2026 at 1:22pm
The First Minister was due to be briefed on the situation on Thursday

Reform suspends Holyrood candidate less than 24 hours after being announced
20 Mar 2026 at 12:08pm
The party said it is investigating reports surrounding Stuart Niven?s financial conduct

Reform?s Scottish leader defends candidates after ?fruity? comments emerge
20 Mar 2026 at 10:17am
Malcolm Offord said everybody in their lives has ?said something intemperate?

John Swinney and Kate Forbes set for last joint engagement
20 Mar 2026 at 10:06am
The First Minister and his deputy will be in Ayrshire for an ?exciting announcement? for Scotland?s economy

Nicola Sturgeon says leaving Holyrood is a ?wrench? as she makes final speech
19 Mar 2026 at 9:00pm
The former first minister of Scotland is stepping down from Holyrood at the next election

Scotland at a crossroads ahead of ?critical? election, says Reform?s Offord
19 Mar 2026 at 6:21pm
Party members met on Thursday as Reform?s candidates were announced and the policy platform was launched

Nigel Farage says all mass religious observances should be banned
19 Mar 2026 at 5:02pm
He said the Open Iftar in Trafalgar Square on Monday was an ?attempt to overtake, intimidate and dominate our way of life?

Swinney to consider planning law change in wake of Glasgow fire
19 Mar 2026 at 3:52pm
An MSP has suggested transport bodies should have more say on which businesses can operate near key hubs

John Swinney to face MSPs at Holyrood for FMQs after Assisted Dying Bill defe...
19 Mar 2026 at 11:54am
The First Minister will take questions from MSPs at Holyrood from noon.

Greyhound racing banned in Scotland in ?landmark win for animal welfare?
18 Mar 2026 at 10:01pm
MSPs backed a bill to make it an offence to operate a racing track for greyhounds

Anas Sarwar apologises over ?deeply disappointing? stroke comments
18 Mar 2026 at 8:43pm
The Scottish Labour made a joke about being photographed in a 'stroke pose' during a live-streamed press conference

Deaths in prison custody surge to highest level since 2012, figures show
18 Mar 2026 at 1:45pm
Some 54 people died behind bars in 2023-24 ? a rise of 15 from the year before.

End-of-life care needs ?urgent improvements?, says Gordon Brown after assiste...
18 Mar 2026 at 1:25pm
The former prime minister spoke out after a bid to legalise assisted dying in Scotland was defeated on Tuesday night

Sir Keir Starmer faces MPs at PMQs amid heating oil support announcement and ...
18 Mar 2026 at 12:08pm
The Prime Minister is likely to face questions over a meningitis outbreak in Kent and the ongoing Middle East conflict

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scottish politics today: Reform Scotland meltdown over Holyrood candidates
20 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the day's Scottish politics news.

Reform's Holyrood tax cut plan derided as 'not credible' and a 'mirage' by ex...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:39pm
David Phillips at the Institute for Fiscal Studies offered a withering assessment of the right wing party's proposal to cut income tax.

Reform UK suspends Holyrood candidate over covid loan director ban
20 Mar 2026 at 11:09am
The anti-immigration party has launched an investigation into Stuart Niven.

Reform UK refuses to sack candidate who backed Tommy Robinson and called for ...
20 Mar 2026 at 9:18am
Malcolm Offord is under pressure over the appointment of Holyrood candidates who have shared extreme opinions.

Meet the Reform UK candidates standing for election to the Scottish Parliamen...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
Some of Reform's constituency candidates are relative newcomers to Scottish politics. But many are no strangers to elections - or wearing the blue rosette of the Conservatives.

Reform UK candidate for Holyrood backed far right thug Tommy Robinson
19 Mar 2026 at 6:25pm
EXCLUSIVE: Senga Beresford offered support for Robinson and called for Muslims to be deported.

Nigel Farage tells heckler 'you need a haircut' as Reform UK leader arrives a...
19 Mar 2026 at 4:05pm
The Reform UK leader arrived in Renfrewshire today to unveil his party's candidates for the Holyrood election and promote its manifesto.

Reform UK pledges to ban working from home and slash MSP numbers
19 Mar 2026 at 1:44pm
Nigel Farage visited a country club in Renfrewshire today to launch his party's manifesto for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election in May.

Nigel Farage given Reform UK 'warning sign' as poll shows most Scots dislike ...
19 Mar 2026 at 11:51am
The poll was published just hours before Farage and Offord are due to speak at a party conference in Renfrewshire.

Terminally ill Scots could 'relocate' if assisted dying law passed in England...
19 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
Proposals to legalise assisted dying could still progress in England and Wales despite such a move being rejected for a third time in Scotland.

The National

The National | Politics

Keir Starmer 'must hold four-nations summit over £2k energy bill forecast', S...
20 Mar 2026 at 5:12pm

KEIR Starmer must ?urgently? convene a four-nations summit on the growing energy crisis after leading analysts predicted the average annual household bill could hit £2000 amid the war in the Middle East ...

Why can America and Israel just do whatever they want?
20 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm

US and Israeli attacks on Iran have been widely condemned by legal experts who have argued they have no basis in international law.

'UK first' as Scottish man's Palestine Action terror charges thrown out
20 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm

A SCOTTISH man who was charged with terrorism after allegedly showing support for Palestine Action has had his case thrown out in what is thought to be a UK first

Watch as The National reports from inside Reform's 'chaotic' Scottish conference
20 Mar 2026 at 4:43pm

A COUNTRY club in Bishopton is not the usual setting for a political conference ? but then little about Reform UK?s Scottish gathering on Thursday felt usual ...

'Not good enough': Reform UK Scottish manifesto panned by financial experts
20 Mar 2026 at 3:31pm

REFORM UK's manifesto has been branded "unserious" and "lacking in fiscal credibility" by financial experts.

Police Scotland told off by Scottish city council over advertisement board
20 Mar 2026 at 3:30pm

POLICE Scotland is to be told off by Edinburgh Council after blocking a footpath with an advertising board ...

Why Reform's Scottish candidate disasters may actually help Nigel Farage
20 Mar 2026 at 3:13pm

LESS than 24 hours after announcing their Holyrood manifesto and constituency candidates, Reform UK appeared to be having a bit of a nightmare ...

The UK is expected to be all in and last out when the US starts a war
20 Mar 2026 at 3:00pm

IS the special relationship on life support? Not a bit of it. By his standards, Starmer has had a good few days, at least on the international stage. A real win domestically too, with Badenoch calling on Trump to back off. The legacy media?s sighs of relief are palpable.

Greenpeace activists confront giant Rosebank vessel heading for UK waters
20 Mar 2026 at 3:00pm

GREENPEACE activists have confronted a massive oil vessel bound for the UK?s Rosebank field, accusing fossil fuel giants of ?war profiteering? as they move ahead with the project before it has full government approval

The state of play in every Scottish constituency explained ? find yours here
20 Mar 2026 at 2:33pm

The National is publishing a profile for every constituency in the upcoming Holyrood elections on May 7 ? here's how to find information about your area

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Reform?s self-financing tax cuts ?a mirage?, says Institute for Fiscal Studies
20 Mar 2026 at 3:40pm
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said self-funding tax cuts were a ?mirage? created by a ?misunderstanding or misrepresentation? of the devolution settlement.

Scottish Reform candidate suspended over Covid loan
20 Mar 2026 at 11:40am
Stuart Niven under investigation as Malcolm Offord defends 'fruity' candidate comments

FOI requests handled with ?impartiality and integrity?, John Swinney says
19 Mar 2026 at 3:53pm
The Scottish information commissioner said last week he could no longer trust ministers with the Salmond files

Malcolm Offord pledges to cut taxes as he sets out Reform's Holyrood manifesto
19 Mar 2026 at 3:42pm
Speaking at Reform?s conference at Bishopton near Glasgow, Malcolm Offord said he wanted to create a ?wealth economy? and that Scotland was ?broken?, languishing in ?middle-table mediocrity?.

John Swinney unable to block use of Prestwick for US jets involved in Iran war
19 Mar 2026 at 1:20pm
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay made the call for the ban during FMQs

Ivan McKee: Public sector data quality limiting new tech potential
18 Mar 2026 at 5:08pm
Scotland?s public sector?s data maturity landscape is ?uneven?,?Ivan McKee has said, which is limiting the ability to adopt new technologies

Liam McArthur rules out fresh assisted dying bill after election
18 Mar 2026 at 3:31pm
But he said he was ?confident? that the next attempt to legalise it would pass

AI copyright opt-out scrapped as UK Government seeks more time for reform
18 Mar 2026 at 3:00pm
Labelling to be considered for AI-generated content

MSPs reject assisted dying bill
18 Mar 2026 at 12:30pm
After a four-hour debate on Tuesday evening, it was rejected by 69 votes to 57

Just transition will fail without poverty action, Scottish parties are warned
18 Mar 2026 at 11:30am
Number of Scots seeking help to heat homes has shot up since last election, charity says

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

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 remarksUK politics live ? latest updatesReform UK has suspended one of its Scottish candidates after it emerged he had been struck off as a company director, and the party fa...

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...

Zelenskyy says Europe is a ?global force? that can stand against any other po...
17 Mar 2026 at 6:22pm
Keir Starmer previously reassured that the war in Iran would not distract the UK from supporting Ukraine Nigel Farage is speaking now at the Reform UK event.The website promoting the lottery is up. It is called nigelcutmybills.com. Continue reading...

Trump says he is ?not happy? with UK as he criticises Starmer for being overl...
16 Mar 2026 at 6:19pm
President says PM should be more supportive over strait of Hormuz Keir Starmer is speaking at his press conference.The war is entering its third week, he says.First, we will protect our people in the region.Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not ...

UK faces ?seismic moment? as nationalists target election wins, says John Swi...
14 Mar 2026 at 6:22pm
SNP leader hails prospect of success for parties in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that want to break up unionThe UK is facing an ?absolutely seismic moment?, John Swinney has said, with the prospect of the election of first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May who are a...

Glasgow?s only high-ladder fire engine unavailable during office block inferno
12 Mar 2026 at 2:12pm
Revelation prompts questions over Scottish fire service?s capacity to deal with large fires after 2023 cutsConcerns have been raised about the capacity of Scotland?s fire service to deal with large fires like the one that gutted a Victorian office block in Glasgow as it emerged that the city?s on...

Starmer warned cabinet against ?overly deferential? relations with devolved g...
11 Mar 2026 at 10:46am
Leaked memo dates from shortly after Labour Senedd members raised alarm devolution is being rolled backUK politics live ? latest updatesKeir Starmer warned his cabinet against an ?overly deferential? approach to the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish governments, according to a leaked memo.In the...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

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 …

A personal milestone and yet more good polling news
5 Mar 2026 at 4:19pm
I’m going to start on a personal note. Almost eight years after we got married and over ten years that we have been together, my husband has finally become a British, or should I say Scottish citizen. It’s been a long, expensive, and stressful journey, but we got there, and now we are immune to …

The BBC?s odd indy poll, more polls, and BBC Scotland?s double standards
4 Mar 2026 at 3:38pm
There are some very odd things going on with the BBC’s Savanta poll on Scottish independence. An analysis of the polling data by Independent Voices, @indyvoices.bsky.social on BlueSky, also pointed out by the regular poster Statgeek in the comments section of this blog, notes that the poll reports a peculiarly high percentage of those who …

Humiliation for BBC Scotland as its own poll shows a Yes majority
3 Mar 2026 at 3:26pm
BBC Scotland has done one of its pre-election polls to tell us what Scotland “really thinks” as we go into the Scottish election in nine weeks time. On Tuesday, BBC Scotland unveiled its findings on the crucial question of independence. Despite the BBC’s very own poll finding that support for independence is in the majority, …

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

NINE ways Scotland handled the Covid-19 pandemic better than the rest of the UK
20 Mar 2026 at 4:58pm
The Guardian today, with no reference to Scotland of course, has: The NHS ?teetered on the brink of collapse? during the Covid pandemic and only managed to survive thanks to the ?superhuman? efforts of healthcare workers, an official inquiry has concluded. In a damning assessment of how the UK?s healthcare systems dealt with the unprecedented pressure of the pandemic, the Covid-19 inquiry chair...

BBC Scotland lying again about Scotland?s Covid experience, not just the same...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:57pm

BBC Scotland lying again about Scotland?s Covid recovery, not worse than in E...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:56pm
Something in NHS Scotland worse than in England? Don’t! My ribs! It hurts.

Miscarriage patient support ? Scotland leads the way but media choose not to ...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:55pm
From the Scottish Government News at 11.37am today, which all self-respecting journalist can easily follow: Scotland is set to become the first country in the UK to publish a miscarriage patient charter, giving women clear information about the care and support they can expect from the NHS. The charter, commissioned by the Scottish Government and developed in partnership with baby loss charitie...

SNP vote in May Holyrood election could be weakened by mistaken polling envel...
20 Mar 2026 at 2:56pm
The front and back of the envelope I received with my Ayr Constituency and South Scotland Region poll card today. Photo ID is NOT required for Scottish parliamentary or local council elections. Why does this matter? There is official UK research and analysis, including from the Electoral Commission in May 2023, showing that photo ID requirements create disproportionate barriers for certain disa...

A major new study counters ?deluge of negativity, accusations and downright l...
20 Mar 2026 at 9:00am
By Jim Mennie The Meidas Scotland  ?Have Your Say? survey created to gather feedback on Scottish NHS experiences ? Scottish NHS: Your Stories Matter ? has gathered over 400 responses in a matter of weeks and is already generating valuable insight.  The survey link – https://meidasscotland.eaction.org.uk/hospitals Meidas Scotland - https://www.facebook.com/people/Meidas-Scotland/61573925276612/ ...

Reposted as Herald reports ?Defence Secretary John Healey? attacking ?John Sw...
20 Mar 2026 at 8:48am

BBC Scotland?s Sad Mould Alert! ? Construction/renovation accounts for 50% of...
20 Mar 2026 at 8:39am
Gleefully headlined today by BBC Scotland, another hospital mould story. The last time they had such fun was with hospital pigeon poo: Wall panels and insulation at two new Aberdeen hospital facilities have had to be ripped out because of mould before the buildings receive their first patients. Infection control teams sounded the alarm at the Baird Family Hospital and The Anchor Centre cancer u...

?An unannounced inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has prais...
19 Mar 2026 at 7:56pm
By stewartb ?Maternity Services in Kirkcaldy not being ?up to standard.? ? surely such BBC Scotland negativity CANNOT be about maternity services at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy? From the NHS Fife website today, 19 March: ?An unannounced inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has praised maternity services at Victoria Hospital, NHS Fife, for delivering compassionate, person-cen...

The story of Covid was not the same across the UK ? this is a deliberate lie ...
19 Mar 2026 at 7:34pm
across the UK, but recovery after Covid is perhaps one area where Scotland has performed a little bit worse than England England in terms of the waiting times for non-urgent operations that people are facing right now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002szh1/reporting-scotland-lunchtime-news-19032026 BBC Reporting Scotland today, ignoring all the evidence that does not fit their agenda a...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - 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

These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence - Thenationa...
17 Mar 2026 at 7:46pm
These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence  Thenational Scot

How Iran outdid SNP in promoting Scottish independence on social media - The ...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:45pm
How Iran outdid SNP in promoting Scottish independence on social media  The Scotsman

SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change the...
4 Mar 2026 at 12:16pm
SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change their minds  Ipsos

Swinney: Scottish independence is 'within grasp' as he shrugs off 'failure' c...
14 Mar 2026 at 12:01am
Swinney: Scottish independence is 'within grasp' as he shrugs off 'failure' criticism  The Herald

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

John Swinney defends Angus Robertson promoting independence on European trips...
18 Mar 2026 at 7:52am
John Swinney defends Angus Robertson promoting independence on European trips  Scottish Daily Express

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

Scottish independence is sneaking up on Westminster - New Statesman
20 Feb 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence is sneaking up on Westminster  New Statesman

Protesters crash Reform UK conference in Scotland with anti-Farage banner - T...
19 Mar 2026 at 12:45pm
Protesters crash Reform UK conference in Scotland with anti-Farage banner  The Scottish Sun

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Favourability towards Reform UK dips in Scotland while the SNP?s ratings hold...
18 Mar 2026 at 6:51pm
Favourability towards Reform UK dips in Scotland while the SNP?s ratings hold up  Ipsos

Sun should shine on the SNP in this Yes city seat - Thenational Scot
20 Mar 2026 at 2:34pm
Sun should shine on the SNP in this Yes city seat  Thenational Scot

The SNP?s benefits bill is out of control - Scottish Conservatives
19 Mar 2026 at 9:33pm
The SNP?s benefits bill is out of control  Scottish Conservatives

SNP announce £40m investment in Prestwick Airport - Morning Star | The People...
20 Mar 2026 at 5:48pm
SNP announce £40m investment in Prestwick Airport  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

Scottish Greens councillor defects to SNP over 'threat' of Reform UK - The He...
20 Mar 2026 at 11:15am
Scottish Greens councillor defects to SNP over 'threat' of Reform UK  The Herald

Sexual offences trial of former SNP council leader hears from alleged victim ...
18 Mar 2026 at 4:58pm
Sexual offences trial of former SNP council leader hears from alleged victim  BBC

Sturgeon was a 'better' FM than Swinney, says Greens co-leader - BBC
18 Mar 2026 at 8:23am
Sturgeon was a 'better' FM than Swinney, says Greens co-leader  BBC

The SNP's failure to secure a majority should kill off talk of a second refer...
20 Mar 2026 at 7:02am
The SNP's failure to secure a majority should kill off talk of a second referendum  Holyrood Website

All the taxes introduced by the SNP as it plots more ways to make money off S...
20 Mar 2026 at 3:10pm
All the taxes introduced by the SNP as it plots more ways to make money off Scots  Scottish Daily Express

SNP to give mentally ill criminals the vote - The Telegraph
16 Mar 2026 at 5:42pm
SNP to give mentally ill criminals the vote  The Telegraph

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

These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence - Thenationa...
17 Mar 2026 at 7:46pm
These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence  Thenational Scot

Only one in 12 Scots want independence vote as priority - The Herald
13 Mar 2026 at 10:57am
Only one in 12 Scots want independence vote as priority  The Herald

First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference - ...
14 Mar 2026 at 4:07pm
First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference  snp.org

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

Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan - H...
14 Mar 2026 at 4:51pm
Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan  Holyrood Website

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

Scottish polling for The National - February 2026 - findoutnow
25 Feb 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish polling for The National - February 2026  findoutnow

Swinney ?out of touch? with independence call - Daily Business
14 Mar 2026 at 1:29pm
Swinney ?out of touch? with independence call  Daily Business

Scottish independence is sneaking up on Westminster - New Statesman
20 Feb 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence is sneaking up on Westminster  New Statesman