The Herald

The Herald | Politics


'No cohesive energy plan' as government criticised for importing Russian oil
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
28 May 2026 at 2:22pm
The UK Government has been criticised for a lack of a cohesive energy plan, after the decision to import aviation fuel produced from Russian oil


Swinney under pressure as party leaders back Holyrood probe into Murrell scandal
28 May 2026 at 11:43am
John Swinney is coming under growing pressure to back a Holyrood inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal after a majority of opposition parties support one probe by MSPs.


Nicola Sturgeon to chair book launch of 'We Know What You Did' in Edinburgh
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
28 May 2026 at 10:27am
The event, organised by Topping and Company, will be held at Pilrig St. Paul's on Leith Walk on Friday, June 5.


Council chiefs told to take 'practical steps' to tackle antisemitism ahead of...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
28 May 2026 at 10:00am
Local authority officials have been instructed to take ?practical steps? to tackle antisemitism in the city ahead of festival season in August.


Net zero firms support 105,000 jobs in Scotland as oil and gas layoffs mount
by mark.williamson@newsquest.co.uk | Mark Williamson
28 May 2026 at 4:30am
Growth in clean energy job numbers generates benefits across Scotland amid concern about economic fallout from Iran war.


Offord asks Swinney if Murrell has stolen his 'cunning plan' for indyref2
28 May 2026 at 12:41pm
Reform UK leader in Scotland has asked the First Minister if Peter Murrell has "stolen his cunning plan" for a second independence referendum.


Swinney 'absolutely satisfied' with SNP governance despite Murrell scandal
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
28 May 2026 at 2:13pm
John Swinney says he is ?absolutely satisfied? with SNP governance amid renewed scrutiny after Peter Murrell?s guilty plea.


Shelter warns Scotland housing emergency will worsen under Swinney reshuffle
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
28 May 2026 at 5:00am
Shelter Scotland has warned the housing emergency will worsen after John Swinney merged housing with social justice, accusing ministers of prioritising first-time buyers over building affordable homes.


MPs call for investigation into alleged Islamophobia in Reform UK
by Will Meakin-Durrant
27 May 2026 at 4:08pm
Twenty-seven MPs have called for the equalities watchdog to investigate alleged Islamophobia in the Reform UK party


Iran says it has received framework deal to end war and open Strait of Hormuz
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
27 May 2026 at 2:07pm
Iranian state television is reporting that Tehran has received an initial framework of a deal with the United States of America to end the current conflict


John Swinney rejects call for inquiry into Peter Murrell scandal
27 May 2026 at 12:44pm
John Swinney has rejected growing calls for an independent investigation into SNP finances in the wake of the Peter Murrell scandal.


Sturgeon and her allies 'shut down questions on SNP finances'
27 May 2026 at 11:49am
A former member of the SNP's ruling body has told how he tried to raise concerns over the party's financial transparency but was shut down by Nicola Sturgeon and her allies.


Justice Secretary weighs in on police decision to scrap escort for taxi outing
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
27 May 2026 at 10:26am
Tory MSP Miles Briggs had urged Mr Gray to step in following the ?bizarre decision? by the force, which prompted organisers to cancel the event.


Much-anticipated South Sub 'tram-train' study to go forward after funding boost
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
27 May 2026 at 9:39am
The survey will assess the possibility of reopening the line to passengers using ?tram-trains?, which are sturdier and faster than normal trams.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Former senior SNP MSP says supermarket price cap 'won't work'
28 May 2026 at 6:00am

Michelle Thomson - who has served both as an MP and an MSP - said that ?price caps invariably don?t work?.

Harriet Cross and Douglas McAllister said the Scottish Affairs Committee could hold a probe if the Scottish Parliament fails to do so

Aamer Anwar said Ms Sturgeon was unaware of Murrell?s criminal conduct

Tony Blair has called for and end to the Labour?s government?s net zero pursuit and a rethink of a ban on North Sea drilling.

Economists have warned it is unlikely the SNP will be able to roll out all of its manifesto promises

The First Minister rejects demands for an independent probe

Wings over Scotland

Friends Without Benefits
28 May 2026 at 1:16pm
We’ll be honest with you, readers, if we were in a situation where a lawyer was issuing statements for us, this isn’t what we’d want to hear. “If my client had been charged, she’d be in prison right now” is a worrying distance short of a vote of confidence in your client’s innocence. But the …

All The Dirt From My Eyes
27 May 2026 at 12:21pm
So, having made a statement on Monday morning which asserted that she wouldn’t make any further statements, then making another statement on Monday afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon and her solicitor issued a third statement in 36 hours last night. And while we acknowledge that this is a very high bar to clear, it contained one of …

No Money Back, No Guarantee
26 May 2026 at 9:39am
Peter Murrell wasn’t even locked up in his cell at Saughton (we hope it’s the same one as Craig Murray’s) when the chump-suckering resumed. And as the Nicola Sturgeon Loyal, led by her most faithful of lieutenants, set out to try to take control of the post-conviction narrative, let’s take a look at just what …

The Final Robbery
25 May 2026 at 1:09pm
So there it is. We did tell you so. There will be no trial, no cross-examination, no explanation. The people of Scotland, the members and supporters of the SNP, the wider Yes movement, none of us will ever know what really happened. Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated? We’ll never find out how this …

Only An Excuse
21 May 2026 at 7:45pm
Despite what you or we might think, in the eyes of the Scottish Football Association this ISN’T a pitch invasion. This is simply what a football match in progress looks like. Because according to the absolutely extraordinary statement they’ve released this evening, that was game time. The clock was still running, nothing was being added …

The Queer Parliament
20 May 2026 at 1:36pm
We were excited to discover this old footage of a very young John Swinney. ? How thrilled he must be that he’s managed to make his dream come true. Because in the Scottish Parliament at least, there are now no men and no women, and indeed pretty much only wankers. Just days into its five-year …

The Land Of No Laws
17 May 2026 at 2:20am
This game of football is not over. Except for viewers in Scotland, where no laws apply. Don’t get us wrong, readers. In the (minimum of) 32 seconds that were left to play, it was highly unlikely that Hearts were going to score the two goals they needed to win the league. It is improbable that …

Steadying The Ship
15 May 2026 at 3:20pm
Looks like this, apparently.

The Broken Rainbow
13 May 2026 at 2:04pm
The image below is a graph illustrating how many seats each party won in last week’s supposedly “proportional” Scottish Parliament election, compared to how many they would have won if the electoral system had been actually proportional. The SNP and Greens are now over-represented by 37% and 50% respectively, while the Unionist parties are all …

The Hills Of Far Away
12 May 2026 at 10:01am
Anyone seeking to make a compelling argument for the proposition that Scotland’s politicians and lawmakers are simply too farcically incompetent to ever be trusted with running an independent country had a gift-wrapped Godsend delivered to them last week by the idiot student children of Edinburgh. But we can’t really put the blame on the colourfully-haired, …

Craig Murray

The Power of the UK State Over Scotland
28 May 2026 at 7:50am

I went through yesterday’s preliminary hearing in the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action with a sense of mounting horror. We had the same judge as at the permission hearing, Lord Young. We had exactly the same arguments and the same case law being deployed again by the UK government as at …

The Power of the UK State Over Scotland

Palestine Action Scottish Judicial Review ? Stitch-Up Incoming?
27 May 2026 at 12:58am

The proscription of Palestine Action was sold to MPs and the media on the basis of a deliberate campaign of lies, fronted by Yvette Cooper, then Home Secretary, and Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan police. Both have deep commitment to Israel. Cooper is owned by the Israel lobby. What is worse, they then attempted …

Palestine Action Scottish Judicial Review – Stitch-Up Incoming?

Dr Manivannan
14 May 2026 at 6:00pm

The furore around the election of Dr Manivannan to the Scottish Parliament is deeply troubling. There is no argument whatsoever that they were eligible to stand for election. The law was changed specifically in order for those on temporary visas to be able to stand in Scottish parliamentary elections. I confess I am not sure …

Dr Manivannan

URGENT FILTON TRIAL UPDATE
13 May 2026 at 6:03am

While the Court of Appeal has now stopped the High Court contempt of court action against Rajiv Menon KC for defending his client, this is purely on procedural grounds. They ruled that Judge Johnson had to go via the Attorney General to the High Court, not direct. It is now referred back to Johnson who …

URGENT FILTON TRIAL UPDATE

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK?s Central Nervous System
11 May 2026 at 7:32pm

Unquestioning Zionism has for decades been the entry ticket to the British political and media Establishment. Anybody who was not a fully certified and compliant zionist would find their career limited – as Jeremy Corbyn, Alan Duncan, Robin Cook and David Mellor all found. Most others, of course, were never allowed to progress that far. …

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK’s Central Nervous System

The 2026 Scottish Elections
6 May 2026 at 5:40pm

We get so trapped inside the logic of the UK’s crazy electoral systems we often do not see what is really happening. Two thirds of active voters, voted against Starmer’s Labour at the last general election. He was always highly unpopular. Just as Starmer’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election was based on only …

The 2026 Scottish Elections

BBC Scotland

Swinney rejects call for Holyrood inquiry into Murrell
28 May 2026 at 1:36pm
Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, has admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.

Sturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrest
27 May 2026 at 5:50pm
The former SNP leader's solicitor says her response was "standard" and she later provided written answers to detectives' questions.

Organised crime and historic sex abuse cases driving trial backlog
28 May 2026 at 6:26am
The number of high court cases awaiting trial has nearly tripled since the Covid pandemic due to a backlog in complex cases.

First-time buyers offered up to £10,000 interest-free loans from next month
27 May 2026 at 4:15pm
The Scottish government has launched the First Homes Fund for those looking to get on the property ladder.

Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum
26 May 2026 at 6:10pm
The demand was the Scottish government's first item of business in the new parliament.

John Swinney denies 'sweeping Murrell scandal under carpet'
26 May 2026 at 6:12pm
Opposition MSPs have criticised the first minister and ex-SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon following Peter Murrell's guilty plea.

Sturgeon showed 'remarkable lack of curiosity' over SNP finances, Cherry says
26 May 2026 at 2:01pm
The former SNP MP has called for an independent inquiry into how Peter Murrell was able to embezzle more than £400,000.

'I'm the man with the money,' Murrell told Shetland jeweller
26 May 2026 at 6:06am
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell bought a necklace for his wife, Nicola Sturgeon, during the visit to Shetland during a by-election campaign.

How long could Peter Murrell spend in prison?
26 May 2026 at 10:34am
A hefty custodial sentence is almost certain after the former SNP chief executive embezzled £400,000 from the party.

The questions raised by the Peter Murrell embezzlement controversy
25 May 2026 at 12:08pm
Thecase has been hanging over the SNP like a toxic cloud since the police investigation began five years ago.

How it unfolded: The SNP finances controversy
25 May 2026 at 1:16pm
Some of the key dates from a period of turmoil for the Scottish National Party.

Scottish ministers call for tougher restrictions on new drivers
25 May 2026 at 8:19am
The changes would see new drivers face restrictions on things such as driving at night and carrying passengers.

Scot Goes Pop

Greens almost draw level with Labour in GB-wide YouGov poll, SNP have double-...
28 May 2026 at 8:00am
Other recent videos: Newly-elected Scottish Parliament decides by 72 votes to 55 to hold an independence referendumIs Scottish independence "closer now than on the day before the 2014 referendum"?W...

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: Newly-elected Scottish Parliament decides by 72 votes to...
27 May 2026 at 8:36am
Other recent videos: Is Scottish independence "closer now than on the day before the 2014 referendum"?What was the REAL vote share for pro-independence parties at the 2026 Holyrood election?First M...

As "Self-determination Tuesday" dawns, is Andy Maciver right to say independe...
26 May 2026 at 2:05pm
For anyone who would like to help support my YouTube channel, I've set up a new Ko-Fi page HERE, which offers the options of either a small recurring monthly subscription, or a one-off donation.  (...

Let's examine the evidence: does RevStew's "brave" Ba'athist propagandist com...
25 May 2026 at 11:02pm
The controversial far-right blogger "Stew" has done yet another of his tweets about me without mentioning me by name - he does this regularly so that he can later do his schtick of "look! search fo...

Some thoughts on Peter Murrell's betrayal of SNP members
25 May 2026 at 2:20pm
So just some miscellaneous thoughts about today's news that Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling a six-figure amount from the SNP - * Speaking as someone who is used to living on a shoest...

Ignore the Brit Nat propaganda: what was the REAL vote share for pro-independ...
25 May 2026 at 3:46am
If you enjoy Scot Goes Pop's polling and election coverage so much that you start to feel an inexplicable urge to buy me a hot chocolate or a ham-and-cheese toastie, donations are very welcome.  Th...

Another update on the Great Scot Goes Pop Video-Blogging Experiment
24 May 2026 at 9:11am
For two-and-a-half months between late February and early May, I was so wrapped up in writing the 73 daily constituency profiles for The National that a) I had much less time to make YouTube videos...

First Makerfield by-election poll shows Andy Burnham could be in TROUBLE
23 May 2026 at 9:40pm
*  *  *Catch up with last Wednesday's award-winning blogpost: "S*** just got real, lads. The famously always wrong blogger "Stew", who said there was "zero chance, barring nuclear war or an alien i...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

John Swinney to face FMQs amid mounting pressure for Peter Murrell probe
28 May 2026 at 11:56am
The First Minister has rejected calls for an independent probe into Peter Murrell's crimes

First-time buyers offered up to £10,000 interest-free loans from next month
27 May 2026 at 3:57pm
The First Homes Fund will provide successful applicants with a £10,000 contribution towards a deposit

Sturgeon says ?no comment? answers during arrest standard legal advice
26 May 2026 at 9:18pm
The former first minister?s lawyer said it was standard legal advice.

MSPs back John Swinney?s independence motion but Westminster rejects referendum
26 May 2026 at 7:48pm
The Scottish Parliament has voted for Westminster to transfer powers to Holyrood to allow a second independence referendum to be held.

How long will Peter Murrell be jailed for after admitting he embezzled £400,0...
26 May 2026 at 1:21pm
Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday

Holyrood set to back Swinney on second independence referendum
26 May 2026 at 6:59am
Swinney has tabled a motion calling on the UK Government to make a Section 30 order

Sturgeon ?had no suspicion? personal items were purchased with SNP funds
25 May 2026 at 5:37pm
The former first minister of Scotland said she was not aware of many of the items being purchased by Peter Murrell.

Length of SNP finances investigation was ?crucial?, senior officer says
25 May 2026 at 2:47pm
Operation Branchform, which cost more than £2m, is now 'complete', according to Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston

Swinney: Murrell?s embezzlement of £400,000 from SNP an ?overwhelming betrayal?
25 May 2026 at 2:02pm
Murrell has admitted to embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the party.

Nicola Sturgeon ?deceived and let down? by former husband Peter Murrell
25 May 2026 at 12:39pm
In January 2025, Sturgeon announced that she and Murrell were ending their marriage

Who is Peter Murrell? SNP supremo and estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon
25 May 2026 at 11:46am
From one half of Scotland?s most influential power couple to convicted criminal

Scottish Government will ?undoubtedly? need to make cuts ? deputy first minister
24 May 2026 at 6:10pm
Scotland?s auditor general previously said ministers lacked a clear plan to deal with a £4.7 billion funding gap by 2029-30

Scottish Government will be ?bold, innovative and ambitious? on industry ? Flynn
24 May 2026 at 4:47pm
The new cabinet secretary for Economy has met former workers of the Grangemouth refinery and Mossmorran ethylene plan

Police bill for investigation into SNP finances tops £2m
24 May 2026 at 11:07am
Operation Branchform was launched in 2021

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Peter Murrell embezzlement investigation saw dozens of purchases including wo...
28 May 2026 at 2:30pm
Credit card shredders, hundreds of toilet rolls and a book titled ?Why We Get The Wrong Politicians? were among the purchases made by Peter Murrell that got dropped from his indictment.

Raging John Swinney rejects call for inquiry into Peter Murrell scandal that ...
28 May 2026 at 1:56pm
The First Minister denied his party had "shut down" members who raised concerns about SNP finances five years ago.

SNP MSPs rage at donating £250 to party each month while Peter Murrell embezz...
28 May 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: SNP MSPs and MPs were expected to donate £250 from their monthly salaries to the party's HQ during the time Peter Murrell was found to have embezzled more than £400,000.

John Swinney told Scotland needs 'post-election reality check' on tax or publ...
28 May 2026 at 4:30am
SNP ministers have been warned they must choose between "mindlessly rearranging the furniture or start rebuilding the house on fairer financial foundations".

Nicola Sturgeon lawyer slams 'armchair detectives' after questions raised ove...
27 May 2026 at 6:20pm
Aamer Anwar told the Record the former first minister's position "is no different" after an opposition leader raised her historic use of a luxury fountain pen brand favoured by Peter Murrell.

5 SNP contenders to replace John Swinney as party leader
27 May 2026 at 5:00pm
Swinney has pledged to serve a full five years as First Minister and lead his party into the 2031 Holyrood election. But if he decided to go early, who could be in line to replace him?

John Swinney claims 'no need' for Holyrood inquiry into Peter Murrell and ask...
27 May 2026 at 12:07pm
The First Minister hit out at what he described as the "politicisation" of Peter Murrell's decision to plead guilty to embezzlement.

Sturgeon quizzed over campervan and fountain pen after Murrell conviction
27 May 2026 at 10:38am
One Dunfermline resident claimed he spotted the then first minister in a supermarket a short distance from the house where the infamous campervan was parked outside.

Nicola Sturgeon could give evidence under oath if Murrell probe plan approved
27 May 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Labour are pushing for a Holyrood committee probe that has rocked Scottish politics.

Holyrood inquiry into Peter Murrell's SNP embezzlement must take place to res...
27 May 2026 at 4:30am
The public wants answers and an inquiry is the correct way to proceed.

The National

The National | Politics

John Swinney on what next for independence as UK Government rejects vote
28 May 2026 at 2:21pm

JOHN Swinney has said he is looking at a ?range of tactics? to ?make it impossible? for the UK Government to refuse handing Scotland the powers to hold an independence referendum.

John Swinney hints at 'abolition' of council tax ? and says work has started
28 May 2026 at 2:07pm

JOHN Swinney has hinted at the ?abolition? of council tax ? and said he will ?consider? a four-day week for government workers ...

Electoral Commission issues statement on fears Peter Murrell embezzled public...
28 May 2026 at 1:30pm

THE Electoral Commission has issued a statement in response to allegations that Peter Murrell may have embezzled taxpayer money ...

GB Energy 'scandal' blasted yet again as latest staffing numbers revealed
28 May 2026 at 1:26pm

Labour have been slammed yet again over the 'scandal' of GB Energy after the latest figures revealed the vast majority of staff it has hired are not permanent

No taxpayer money was embezzled by Peter Murrell, John Swinney tells heated FMQs
28 May 2026 at 1:00pm

NO taxpayer money was embezzled by former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, John Swinney insisted during a heated first session of First Minister?s Questions ...

Correction: Tony Blair and the Gaza Board of Peace
28 May 2026 at 11:54am

CORRECTION

Independence only way to save young Scots from ?lost generation?, SNP warn
28 May 2026 at 11:29am

INDEPENDENCE is "the only way Scotland can escape", the SNP have argued in response to a new report warning of a ?lost generation? ...

Zack Polanksi says BBC 'letting billionaire buy Question Time' over imbalance...
28 May 2026 at 11:38am

QUESTION Time has been called out for a ?dangerous? lack of balance on its panel ? with Zack Polanski suggesting the BBC had allowed a billionaire to buy ?an entire episode? ...

MPs push for Westminster probe into Peter Murrell?s embezzlement
28 May 2026 at 10:45am

MPs are calling for a Westminster inquiry into SNP finances in the wake of Peter Murrell's embezzlement from the party if Holyrood does not

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese added back to United States sanction...
28 May 2026 at 10:23am

FRANCESCA Albanese, the UN's special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has been added back to the United State's sanction list just one week after being removed

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

John Swinney: Beastie House horror reveals Scottish child protection failures
28 May 2026 at 2:46pm
FM issues apology to children harmed by Glasgow abuse ring

John Swinney: No new inquiry over Peter Murrell scandal
28 May 2026 at 2:21pm
Electoral Commission says it has 'no evidence' of misuse of public funds

Scotland?s only cybersecurity social enterprise reinvests ?3m to combat threa...
27 May 2026 at 4:11pm
Vulnerability testing, cyber MOTs and executive education programmes have been provided to charities and SMEs

Nicola Sturgeon?s solicitor defends ?no comment? police interview after arrest
27 May 2026 at 1:20pm
Nicola Sturgeon's solicitor Aamer Anwar said the response was ?standard advice offered on a regular basis in our jurisdiction?

Lack of humanoid robotics regulation risks ?misuse?
27 May 2026 at 11:48am
The rapid growth of such technology is outpacing lawmakers and public understanding

Net zero sector worth over ?10bn to economy, report finds
27 May 2026 at 4:00am
But some in the sector warn delays to infrastructure and policy uncertainty is creating a ?transition gap? amid efforts to move away from fossil fuels

Scottish Parliament backs plans for route to second independence referendum
26 May 2026 at 9:00pm
The vote followed a statement from First Minister John Swinney, who also led a debate titled ?Ambitious for Scotland?, in which he outlined his plans for the session of parliament

Anas Sarwar unveils Scottish Labour shadow cabinet
26 May 2026 at 3:03pm
Irshad Ahmed named as shadow minister

Campaigners call for action as majority of children admit to spending too muc...
26 May 2026 at 12:37pm
The UK Government is expected to announced social media restrictions soon

A national mission for lifelong learning
26 May 2026 at 7:00am
As the nature of work and technological change accelerates, degrees and post-school education must evolve, supporting people not just into work but throughout their careers. We look forward to working with MSPs from across the chamber to meet the economic

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Milburn says migrants not to blame for Neets crisis but falling immigration c...
28 May 2026 at 3:22pm
Major report on young people not in employment, education or training warns ?we have neither a system or a plan to deal with it?Young people in the UK: how has the search for work been for you?Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, is introducing Alan Milburn.He says Milburn?s report is ?...

Humza Yousaf says Peter Murrell deserves ?hefty? sentence for embezzlement
27 May 2026 at 11:09am
Former first minister speaks out after SNP?s ex-chief executive pleaded guilty to stealing £400,000 from party UK politics live ? latest updatesHumza Yousaf, Scotland?s former first minister, has called for Peter Murrell to get a ?hefty? jail sentence after he admitted stealing £400,000 from the ...

Labour says Reform UK ?in chaos? as Zia Yusuf publicly tells Jenrick he?s got...
26 May 2026 at 5:40pm
?Robert?s answer is not Reform policy?, Yusuf said about an answer that Jenrick gave to journalists days earlierKeir Starmer has said that SNP leaders need to explain why they did not realise that Peter Murrell was stealing more than £400,000 from the party.Asked about yesterday?s court proceedin...

SNP accused of ?embezzling? voters over Peter Murrell?s theft of party funds
26 May 2026 at 4:51pm
Scottish National party?s attempt to focus on call for independence referendum overshadowed by embezzlement scandalThe Scottish National party was accused of ?embezzling? voters after opposition leaders highlighted the crisis over Peter Murrell?s misuse of £400,000 from party funds.The scandal ov...

Luxury watches, iPads and a Jaguar: what Peter Murrell bought with embezzled ...
25 May 2026 at 6:25pm
Former SNP chief also blew chunks of the stolen £400,310 on posh coffee machines and a robotic lawnmowerPeter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,000The list of luxury items bought by Peter Murrell using the £400,310 he stole from the Scottish National party runs to about 100 pages, and read...

Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,000 from SNP
25 May 2026 at 5:46pm
Former husband of Nicola Sturgeon faces long prison sentence after admitting stealing from party to fund lavish lifestyleLuxury watches, iPads and a Jaguar: what Peter Murrell bought with embezzled fundsPeter Murrell, once one of the most powerful people in British politics, faces a long prison s...

Streeting says he resigned because Labour ?in fight of our lives against nati...
20 May 2026 at 5:18pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereLabour is in a curious, transitional state at the moment. Officially Keir Starmer is committed to staying as leader and prime minister until the next election. There is no formal leadership contest underway. But, informally, it has alre...

ChatGPT and other AI bots made huge errors before Scottish election, study finds
20 May 2026 at 3:56pm
Exclusive: Electoral Commission calls for new controls as Demos finds tools made up fake scandals, invented candidates or gave wrong dateUK politics live ? latest updatesThe Electoral Commission has called for new legal controls over misinformation from AI chatbots, after a thinktank found they h...

UK supermarkets urged to consider voluntary price caps on essential foods
20 May 2026 at 12:03am
Retail sources rebuff government proposal as ?unjustified? and likely to push costs up across boardUK supermarkets have been asked by the government to consider freezing the prices of some essential foodstuffs to protect the public from inflation fuelled by the Middle East conflict.They would be ...

Minister defends Mandelson file redactions and says documents to be released ...
19 May 2026 at 5:15pm
Darren Jones says release will be ?one of the largest government publications ever laid in this house?On Friday parliament?s intelligence and security committee issued a damning statement about the government?s response to the humble address requiring the release of documents relating to the appo...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The first salvos have been fired in the latest stage of the independence camp...
27 May 2026 at 4:20pm
On Tuesday, the first working day of a new Scottish Parliament, with a record pro-independence majority, the fourth such majority in a row, MSPs voted by 72 to 55, a majority of 17 to adopt a motion calling on the Westminster government “to make a Section 30 order under the Scotland Act 1998 to devolve …

Explaining a parliamentary mandate for the staunch of hearing
26 May 2026 at 3:16pm
Today Holyrood gets the ball rolling on putting into action the pro-independence mandate given to it by the people of Scotland at the recent election, which as we all know by now resulted in the largest ever majority of pro-independence MSPs in the history of the Scottish Parliament. I’ll blog about the debate and vote …

Branchform?s over and the SNP is still standing
25 May 2026 at 1:41pm
Well, after five long years, murder tents, and over £2 million in police costs, it’s all over bar the inevitable shouting, and of course the not insignificant matter of what is likely to be a substantial custodial sentence. Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. …

The supposed ?Once in a generation? pledge is a Westminster myth
23 May 2026 at 12:31pm
On Thursday evening’s edition of BBC Reform Time, Fiona Bruce, the completely unbiased and neutral right wing unionist host, editorialised in aid of Tory MP Harriet Cross who had insisted that the question of independence had been “settled” in 2014 and attempts to revisit the matter “have to end, they have to end.” Bruce interjected …

John Swinney fires the starting gun on independence push
22 May 2026 at 1:30pm
He’s not mucking about. On the back of Holyrood’s record pro-independence majority, John Swinney has announced that there will be a debate and vote in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday on securing a Section 30 order for an independence referendum. With 72 pro-independence MSPs in the chamber, the motion will pass easily despite the predictable …

The British media is hiding Holyrood?s independence majorities
20 May 2026 at 5:01pm
Something interesting, and entirely predictable, has been happening in the British media since the SNP comprehensively defeated the parties of Westminster rule in this month’s Holyrood elections, being returned for a fifth term in office in a Scottish Parliament which has its largest ever pro-independence majority, making this the fourth Scottish Parliament in a row …

Something wicked this way comes
17 May 2026 at 1:27pm
We are rightly concerned about Reform UK, which has now gained representation in the Scottish Parliament, although as I had hoped, it performed more poorly than most polls forecast and failed to win a single constituency seat, narrowly missing out to the SNP in the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency which had been widely tipped …

The Celtic Alliance can break Westminter?s constitutional logjam
15 May 2026 at 6:33pm
One of the biggest developments in British political history came to pass after the recent parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, yet it predictably went all but unnoticed by a British media which struggles to comprehend England outwith the M25 and for which Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are terra incognita marked “here be dragons” …

Labour?s rigged electoral system has bitten it on the bum
13 May 2026 at 3:51pm
Ever since the Holyrood election last week in which the SNP won a crushing victory over the dependency parties, those parties and their client media have been crowing that John Swinney must drop his “obsession” with independence because the SNP “failed” in the election and did not win an outright majority for the SNP. Alex …

John Swinney is right to lock out Reform
12 May 2026 at 3:02pm
It hasn’t even been a week since the Holyrood election which took the SNP to its record fifth election win in a row, securing more MSPs than all the anti-independence parties combined, and winning more seats than Labour ever has. The British parties and their friends in the press are getting their hysteria and outrage …

The Courier

[CaRP] Can't open remote newsfeed [403].
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

The Huffy Bros ? Rev(olting?) Stu Campbell and Robin McAlpine fighting for th...
28 May 2026 at 3:25pm
The had such promise in 2014, those two, but these days all they do is snipe, living for SNP scandals they can persuade mugs to read about and earn them a living. I suspect their business model is based on Russel Brand. There are times I wonder about our business model at TuS as we batter-out researched reports to counter Unionist lies for well-under the minimum wage and they just feed lazily o...

High Court backlog likely to be result of 300% increase in English County Lin...
28 May 2026 at 2:48pm
From BBC Scotland today, the above, and: The backlog of trials in Scotland’s highest criminal courts has nearly tripled, due in part to an increase in complex cases involving serious organised crime and historic sex abuse. At the end of March about 1,000 trials were waiting to go ahead in the high court, almost three times the number before the Covid-19 pandemic. Where would that increase in se...

?The Trump administration?s reckless attack on radiation protection will have...
28 May 2026 at 1:59pm
From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, yesterday: Worldwide, regulations limiting doses from the radiation emitted by nuclear fissions and decays are based on the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model. This hypothesis posits that, irrespective of whether ionizing radiation comes in a pulse or over years, the additional risk of developing cancer as a result is proportional to the cumulative amount...

Trial backlog plummets to only a third but complex English County Lines drug ...
28 May 2026 at 9:22am
Why is Scotland’s Auditor General telling us good news about trial backlogs falling? It’s not like him or is it? Is it BBC Scotland re-ordering his stuff? The backlog of trials in Scotland’s highest criminal courts has nearly tripled, due in part to an increase in complex cases involving serious organised crime and historic sex abuse. At the end of March about 1,000 trials were waiting to go ah...

Youth unemployment in Scotland at 10.2% far lower than UK average of 16.2% du...
28 May 2026 at 8:44am
BBC Breakfast this morning, in an extended piece on the number not in work or in education – NEETS – seems to have confused that group – all 16-24 year-olds including economically inactive (not looking, e.g. due to illness, caring, discouraged) – with the unemployed, looking for work and available to start. The figure should be 16.2% in the UK1, 16.3% in Wales2 and only 10.2% in Scotland.3 Engl...

Every colony which left the English Empire was told they were ?not ready,? ?n...
27 May 2026 at 5:54pm
From STV today: John Swinney is to press the Prime Minister for a second independence referendum after MSPs backed his call for Westminster to grant Holyrood the powers for such a vote to take place. The Scottish First Minister, who is due to meet Sir Keir Starmer for talks in June, said those talks would be ?an opportunity for me to progress the will of Parliament?. He spoke out after MSPs bac...

Highest level of common mussel production ever recorded in Scotland after yea...
27 May 2026 at 5:19pm
From Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025 published today: The Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025 was published today. This Official Statistics publication details statistics on the employment, production and value of shellfish from Scottish Shellfish Farms. It is structured to follow trends within the common mussel, Pacific oyster, native oyster and king scallop species s...

Long after Murrell was charged, trust in the SNP was way ahead and after this...
27 May 2026 at 2:55pm
Only two months ago and at the end of a bloody, dirty, campaign by the other parties, the SNP remained miles ahead in terms of trust. From Ipsos, the Paris-based, no-horse-in-the-race trusted pollster, these are big leads and utterly remarkable for a party in power for near two decades. Take out the undecided/none of these and the SNP figure will be even higher. Yes, I see Reform UK on immigrat...

5 Conservative, 5 Labour, 1 Lib Dem and 0 SNP MPs have been accused of a betr...
27 May 2026 at 2:32pm
Since 1980.

434 ?UK? nurses and midwives who should have been banned and have worked for ...
27 May 2026 at 1:48pm
In the Guardian today: Nurses and midwives who should have been banned from treating patients have practised over the last 12 years because of ?potentially dangerous? failings by a medical regulator. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has admitted that its ?completely and utterly unacceptable? mistakes meant it failed to protect the public from about 15 professionals whom it should have ba...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum - BBC
26 May 2026 at 6:10pm
Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum  BBC

Is Scotland still divided on independence? - The Week
28 May 2026 at 1:34pm
Is Scotland still divided on independence?  The Week

Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote - NZ Herald
26 May 2026 at 9:41pm
Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote  NZ Herald

There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Sc...
6 May 2026 at 8:00am
There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Scotland?  The Conversation

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
15 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

Swinney vows he will not ?kowtow to Downing Street? over Scottish independenc...
28 May 2026 at 2:02pm
Swinney vows he will not ?kowtow to Downing Street? over Scottish independence  The Irish News

Scotland wants a new independence referendum, despite Downing Street?s reject...
28 May 2026 at 9:11am
Scotland wants a new independence referendum, despite Downing Street?s rejection  MercoPress

Swinney vows he will not ?kowtow to Downing Street? over Scottish independenc...
28 May 2026 at 2:05pm
Swinney vows he will not ?kowtow to Downing Street? over Scottish independence  Richmond & Twickenham Times

Downing Street rejects Holyrood call for independence referendum - The Nation...
26 May 2026 at 8:59pm
Downing Street rejects Holyrood call for independence referendum  The National Scot

Scotland Renews Push for Independence With Labour in Turmoil - Bloomberg.com
26 May 2026 at 5:45pm
Scotland Renews Push for Independence With Labour in Turmoil  Bloomberg.com

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Sturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrest -...
27 May 2026 at 5:50pm
Sturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrest  BBC

Former Scottish National Party chief Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzlin...
25 May 2026 at 8:22pm
Former Scottish National Party chief Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling $920,000  RNZ

Estranged husband of former Scottish leader admits $540K embezzlement of part...
25 May 2026 at 9:46pm
Estranged husband of former Scottish leader admits $540K embezzlement of party funds  Stuff

Peter Murrell sentence: How long could former SNP chief executive spend in pr...
26 May 2026 at 10:34am
Peter Murrell sentence: How long could former SNP chief executive spend in prison?  BBC

The painstaking work to uncover Peter Murrell's crimes - BBC
25 May 2026 at 8:07pm
The painstaking work to uncover Peter Murrell's crimes  BBC

John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victo...
8 May 2026 at 8:00am
John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victory | Scottish politics  The Guardian

Disgraced ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden to launch bid to overturn convi...
11 May 2026 at 8:00am
Disgraced ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden to launch bid to overturn conviction and sentence  Sky News

Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of...
6 May 2026 at 8:00am
Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of a majority  YouGov

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell admits embezzling party funds - BBC
25 May 2026 at 9:05am
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell admits embezzling party funds  BBC

SNP on track for majority ? and fresh referendum on breaking up the UK - The ...
15 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
SNP on track for majority ? and fresh referendum on breaking up the UK  The Telegraph

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum - BBC
26 May 2026 at 6:10pm
Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum  BBC

Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote - NZ Herald
26 May 2026 at 9:41pm
Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote  NZ Herald

Is Scotland still divided on independence? - The Week
28 May 2026 at 1:34pm
Is Scotland still divided on independence?  The Week

Scotland wants a new independence referendum, despite Downing Street?s reject...
28 May 2026 at 9:11am
Scotland wants a new independence referendum, despite Downing Street?s rejection  MercoPress

Scotland Renews Push for Independence With Labour in Turmoil - Bloomberg.com
26 May 2026 at 5:45pm
Scotland Renews Push for Independence With Labour in Turmoil  Bloomberg.com

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
15 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

Scottish Devolution: Section 30 Orders - The House of Commons Library
25 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Devolution: Section 30 Orders  The House of Commons Library

Downing Street rejects Holyrood call for independence referendum - The Nation...
26 May 2026 at 8:59pm
Downing Street rejects Holyrood call for independence referendum  The National Scot

Swinney vows he will not ?kowtow to Downing Street? over Scottish independenc...
28 May 2026 at 2:02pm
Swinney vows he will not ?kowtow to Downing Street? over Scottish independence  The Irish News

Democratic mandate reached for independence referendum - Scottish Greens
26 May 2026 at 8:41am
Democratic mandate reached for independence referendum  Scottish Greens