The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Calls for John Swinney to order independent review of Cairngorms wildfire res...
by Rachel Keenan
24 Sep 2026 at 6:28pm
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an independent review of the response to the Cairngorms wildfire


Why 'painful' lack of detail raises big questions over planned merger
by Kathleen Nutt
24 Sep 2026 at 4:00pm
Murdo Fraser described a lack of detail given by Cabinet minister Gillian Martin over the planned merger of three - or possibly four - of Scotland's public bodies dealing with the environment as "painful".


Sandie Peggie tribunal: RCN made former employee feel like a 'bigot' over views
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
24 Sep 2026 at 3:55pm
A former employee of the Royal College of Nursing has told the Sandie Peggie employment tribunal the trade union left her feeling like a "bigot".


John Swinney continues supporting drug decriminalisation as Scotland crisis g...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
24 Sep 2026 at 3:12pm
John Swinney says he still supports decriminalising drugs for personal use as he insists his government is ?exhausting? its powers to tackle drug deaths.


Russia cites Scottish independence in United Nations speech on Ukraine
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
24 Sep 2026 at 2:30pm
Russia's foreign minister cited Scotland in a speech about the right to 'self-determination' before the United Nations, implying western hypocrisy


Glasgow City Council to sack all non teaching staff after equal pay talks col...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
24 Sep 2026 at 2:01pm
Glasgow City Council will issue dismissal notices to up to 25,000 non-teaching staff next week after Unison withdrew from an equal pay deal that GMB and Unite had accepted, collapsing a £110 million agreement and triggering fire-and-rehire proceedings from January 1.


RECAP: Sandie Peggie tribunal hears from former RCN employee
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
24 Sep 2026 at 8:26am
Sandie Peggie alleges her trade union, the Royal College of Nursing, refused her legal support in the long-running changing room dispute with NHS Fife and Dr Beth Upton.


More than 1,000 homeless households in capital trapped in unsuitable accommod...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
24 Sep 2026 at 6:30am
The ?unsuitable? label initially applies to accommodation that does not meet basic health and safety standards and later to most hotels, B&Bs and hostels.


The question Scottish Government couldn't answer on civil service home working
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
24 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Scottish ministers remain unable to enforce office attendance targets as Ivan McKee insists trade unions will not control hybrid working policy.


Scotland's poorest pupils are three years behind the richest in maths and sci...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
24 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
New analysis of 2025 Pisa results shows Scotland's most deprived 15-year-olds trail the most advantaged by three and a half years in maths and science, piling fresh pressure on a government that made closing the gap its defining mission a decade ago.


What is the 'game changer' the Scottish hospitality trade so badly needs?
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
24 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
More than 100 leading chefs and hospitality businesses in Scotland are supporting a cut in VAT


Sandie Peggie faces loss of wages on January 1 as tribunal against RCN gets u...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
23 Sep 2026 at 5:24pm
Sandie Peggie, suspended after a changing room confrontation on Christmas Eve 2023, told a Dundee employment tribunal the RCN left her without legal support and she faces losing her income by January 2027.


?Lives are lost? warning as Glasgow backs £2m service cuts amid drug deaths s...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
23 Sep 2026 at 2:32pm
UNISON warns lives could be lost after Glasgow health chiefs back £2m cuts to specialist addiction and complex needs services as drug deaths rise 11%.


Airport's ambitious £500m expansion tarred as 'climate vandalism' in green tr...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
23 Sep 2026 at 1:40pm
Edinburgh and Lothians East MSP Kayleigh Kinross-O?Neill said the plans were ?out of touch? following a summer of wildfires and heatwaves.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Michael Marra's punchy and grown-up brand of Labour strikes easy target at fi...
24 Sep 2026 at 5:50pm

A punchy performance and a genuine olive branch - but will Michael Marra?s more grown-up brand of Scottish Labour last?

The First Minister said the number of deaths was ?intolerable?

Nurse Sandie Peggie alleges her union did not support her when she was suspended by NHS Fife.

Professor Catriona Matheson says ?back street operations trying to divvy up? drugs are adding too much potent synthetic opioids that are killing people, particularly men in their 40s with poor health.

Sandie Peggie gave evidence against her union of 30 years, saying she was discriminated against and unsupported

Sandie Peggie has been off work with stress since March 2025 and NHS Fife will stop her pay in January 2027

Wings over Scotland

Cowering From Destiny
24 Sep 2026 at 11:29am
Alert readers will recall that last year the SNP convened a summit in Glasgow for the sole purpose of uniting the nation in preventing Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister. The party also regularly tells us that to actually achieve independence, support would have to build to an overwhelming consensus into the 60-65% range, rather than …

His Majesty?s Loyal Sabre
21 Sep 2026 at 1:50pm
Funny how people change, isn’t it? That sounds a lot to us like “Bombs Not Bairns”. We watched the first episode of “The Wargame” at 2am this morning (it’s toe-curlingly bad, shot like a soft-focus corporate promo with three-second cuts, constant dramatic music and the politicians delivering wooden press-conference soundbites rather than any sense of …

A Thousand Islands In The Sea
16 Sep 2026 at 1:22pm
We’re getting so much correspondence from Police Scotland at the moment that we’re starting to feel like their guiltily-neglected penpal. This one, though, is slightly more involved than their usual two-paragraph brushoff. Don’t get too excited, though – it amounts to the same thing. This is self-evident gibberish. Nobody was prosecuted, let alone convicted, over …

Fear And Favour
15 Sep 2026 at 1:10pm
This is what it looks like, if you’ve ever wondered. It’s basically the police’s own version of a seven-hour “no comment” interview. Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of that letter of 20 August, because it was a pretty significant and serious piece of professional correspondence to have been so casually tossed away in …

Like Responsible Citizens Do
14 Sep 2026 at 12:13pm
Given the refusal of Police Scotland to meaningfully answer our questions, we’ve been left with no alternative but to report Nicola Sturgeon for the crime of reset. We’re sure the matter will be handled with the exact same professional diligence and complete and fearless impartiality that it would be for any other accused person. The …

A Long Hard Think
11 Sep 2026 at 3:37pm
More than three months ago now, we sent Police Scotland a Freedom Of Information request. A few minutes ago we finally received a response. Brace yourselves. That is, um… interesting. Retaining gifts you know were bought with embezzled money is the common-law crime of reset in Scots law, under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act …

Anything But That
1 Sep 2026 at 1:04pm
The SNP really really don’t want to have another independence referendum, but if somebody somehow FORCES them into one, they DEFINITELY don’t want to have it in circumstances where they’d be starting the campaign with a 16-point lead. (We must conclude from all this, incidentally, that John Swinney LOVES the Tories, because he had no …

Haven?t had a dream in a long time
31 Aug 2026 at 8:43pm
These are strange days, readers. It’s getting hard to tell who’s on which side. To be honest, we’d take George Foulkes’ offer in a heartbeat. It’s not ideal, because there should be no limits on democracy, but the UK government can perfectly lawfully deny another indyref indefinitely anyway (and seem entirely inclined to), so we’d …

The Shortest Day
29 Aug 2026 at 1:07pm
Something rather extraordinary happened yesterday, dearest readers. Very briefly, we absolutely genuinely thought someone in a position of some influence in the SNP had taken a meaningful step towards being serious about independence. We are not being sarcastic. Look: here it is. (Transcript at bottom of article.) ? Dave Doogan is the SNP’s leader at …

The Slowest Dawning
28 Aug 2026 at 1:44pm
Now, readers, it’s not much of a secret that anyone who’s still supporting the SNP in the hopes that they’ll deliver Scottish independence is – and let’s put this as gently and kindly as possible – a bit thick. From a membership high of 125,000 in the run-up to the 2021 Holyrood election, fully 60% …

Craig Murray

Palestine Action Judicial Review
23 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm

On Friday we have our appeal against the suspension of the Palestine Action judicial review in Scotland. Our legal crowdfunder has been closed down by the card processors following Trump’s designation of Palestine Action as a global terrorist organisation. https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/scottish-challenge-to-proscription/dashboard/ If you can, please come to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for 10am. If …

Palestine Action Judicial Review

Four Days in Ekaterinburg
21 Sep 2026 at 1:26pm

I was surprised a few weeks ago to get an invitation from Yana Lantratova, Russian Federal Commissioner for Human Rights, to deliver a speech on human rights to the International Youth Festival in Ekaterinburg. It is approaching 20 years since I was last in Russia, and I tend to avoid invitations from governments. But on …

Four Days in Ekaterinburg

Dishonesty and Deceit
7 Sep 2026 at 7:31pm

UPDATE We got an expedited date to “reclaim” (appeal) against the suspension of the case, on 25 September. We shall also be reclaiming against the decision not to send the case straight to the Inner House. All parties seemed to agree there may just be time, if our appeal is successful, to finish the Scottish …

Dishonesty and Deceit

Nonsense Drones and Novichok
3 Sep 2026 at 2:14pm

Europe urgently needs to re-establish access to Russian oil and gas. Gas prices are high – as all UK energy consumers know – and German gas storage is at a record low for September. Gulf production is degraded, supplies are cut off and its long-term strategic stability undermined. German manufacturing already suffered a 9.5% production …

Nonsense Drones and Novichok

Dr David Halpin and David Kelly
29 Aug 2026 at 12:26pm

Dr David Halpin, a redoubtable campaigner over the murder of Dr David Kelly, and a friend of this blog for over twenty years, has died. He will be missed. His sister Mary was for many years an invaluable commenter here and occasional researcher for me. Unfortunately about ten years ago I banned her for comments …

Dr David Halpin and David Kelly

Of Judges, Juries and Fascism
25 Aug 2026 at 5:50pm

We still don’t have a decision on whether the Scottish judicial review of Palestine Action can proceed. Lord Young is thinking about it. Last Thursday’s hearing went about as well as it could go. The UK government produced no written argument and barely seemed to be trying. They moved in court for the Scottish judicial …

Of Judges, Juries and Fascism

BBC Scotland

Swinney backs decriminalisation of drugs after spike in deaths
24 Sep 2026 at 4:49pm
The Scottish First Minister has backed the move - though it would have to be signed off by the UK government.

GB Energy boss defends Aberdeen job creation record
24 Sep 2026 at 2:33pm
Dan McGrail says the state-owned renewables investment firm is directly recruiting two people a week, and its funding is benefitting thousands more.

Drug deaths rise sharply in Scotland as figures remain worst in Europe
23 Sep 2026 at 3:43pm
The figure rose by 11% last year, bringing the total deaths in a decade to more than 11,000.

Council leaders wary of radical plan to redraw Scotland's local government map
22 Sep 2026 at 11:03pm
Local politicians across Scotland are digesting plans for the biggest shake-up of the council system in 30 years.

Reform UK MSPs jeered as they walk out of Scottish independence debate at Hol...
22 Sep 2026 at 7:18pm
The party's leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, describes the debate as an insult and a waste of time.

Lib Dems the most influential party at Holyrood, Cole-Hamilton says
22 Sep 2026 at 12:29pm
The Scottish party leader made the claim as he addressed the UK conference in Brighton.

Scotland has right to decide constitutional future, new Scottish Labour leade...
22 Sep 2026 at 5:59pm
Michael Marra says there is a potential route to independence, but claims the Scottish government has failed to build a case for it.

Record number of homeless people in temporary housing after 10% rise
22 Sep 2026 at 2:00pm
More than 19,000 homeless households were being accommodated by Scotland's local authorities in March.

Operator paid more than £10m to keep parking free at Edinburgh hospital
22 Sep 2026 at 6:03am
The PFI firm which runs the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh has banked more than £10m in public money to keep parking free at the hospital.

The deadly new drugs making Scotland's fight against addiction even harder
20 Sep 2026 at 9:04am
Experts warn potent new substances are making an already deadly crisis more dangerous.

Michael Marra announced as new Scottish Labour leader
19 Sep 2026 at 11:59am
Anas Sarwar's replacement has been announced as the MSP for the North East region.

Tugs plan offers short-term lifeline for Ferguson Marine shipyard
17 Sep 2026 at 7:16pm
Ministers have agreed to provide financial backing for construction of the small vessels.

Scot Goes Pop

YouGov MRP mega-poll shows SNP on course to hold the BALANCE OF POWER at West...
24 Sep 2026 at 2:58pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

HUGE milestone for Scottish independence as TENTH Norstat poll in a row shows...
22 Sep 2026 at 8:29pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

WHO KNEW that the Brit Nats would be SO triggered by the mere idea of a total...
21 Sep 2026 at 2:16pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Labour slump to THIRD PLACE in Scottish subsample as Burnham's YouGov horror ...
16 Sep 2026 at 1:53pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham U-turns on the U-turn: after just 24 hours, he reverts to the previou...
11 Sep 2026 at 5:01pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham's REVOLUTIONARY U-turn as he accepts Scotland can have an independenc...
10 Sep 2026 at 1:09pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham suffers more Scottish poll MISERY as SNP enjoy 17-point lead in YouGo...
9 Sep 2026 at 1:15pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

A de facto referendum on independence would self-evidently not be "bonkers" -...
7 Sep 2026 at 11:01am
There has been just one occasion in history in which an integral part of the United Kingdom became an independent country, and it did not happen as the result of a 2014-style agreed referendum.  In...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Reform no confidence vote in drugs minister fails to secure support from MSPs
24 Sep 2026 at 6:19pm
It comes after figures released this week showed Scotland has the worst rate of drug deaths in Europe

Reform call for vote of no confidence in drugs minister Maree Todd over drugs...
24 Sep 2026 at 3:27pm
It comes after statistics revealed Scotland has the worst rate of drug deaths in Europe

John Swinney to face MSPs at FMQs following drug death stats and Reform walko...
24 Sep 2026 at 1:27pm
FMQs could see Swinney face questions over Scotland's drugs deaths statistics, which were released on Wednesday

Presiding officer will not tolerate ?stunts? in Holyrood after Reform UK walkout
23 Sep 2026 at 8:44pm
Reform UK Scotland?s leader Lord Malcolm Offord led his MSPs out of the chamber on Tuesday, decrying the debate as a 'farce'.

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord brands independence debate a ?stunt?...
22 Sep 2026 at 4:55pm
The Reform UK Scotland leader said the debate was a 'waste of time' and claimed he was representing two million Scots who didn't vote in the election

Fewer councils but no new powers, Gilruth signals in sweeping plans
22 Sep 2026 at 2:46pm
Scotland?s deputy first minster is planning the biggest shake-up to Scotland?s local authorities in decades

Insight: What can we expect from Burnham?s meeting with Trump?
22 Sep 2026 at 10:33am
Andy Burnham will be in New York on Tuesday for a 24-hour trip, which will include a 30 minute meeting with Donald Trump

Michael Marra: Scotland has the right to decide its own future, says Scottish...
21 Sep 2026 at 5:49pm
Michael Marra was elected on Saturday to replace Anas Sarwar, who quit Holyrood for the House of Lords. 

Swinney: Flying business class to World Cup allowed me to fulfil Holyrood duties
21 Sep 2026 at 1:05pm
The First Minister?s flight cost about £18,000 when he could have flown with the Scottish Football Association for £1,000

Swinney calls on MSPs to unanimously back Scotland?s ?right to decide?
20 Sep 2026 at 12:32pm
The First Minister claimed Westminster?s position of vetoing democracy was unsustainable.

New Scottish Labour leader presses Swinney to set up commission on child poverty
20 Sep 2026 at 10:02am
Michael Marra has written to John Swinney and the other party leaders at Holyrood, urging them to back a new commission to tackle the problem.

Michael Marra announced as new Scottish Labour leader
19 Sep 2026 at 11:34am
The North East Scotland MSP defeated rival Joe Fagan by 4,266 votes to 2,485.

Tories launch new campaign aimed at keeping Scotland in the UK
18 Sep 2026 at 1:57pm
The campaign came as Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said she was ?confident? independence campaigners would win if there is another referendum

One million new voters must be able to decide their future in indyref, says G...
18 Sep 2026 at 6:59am
The deputy first minister said a new generation of Scots should be allowed to have their say on independence

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Drug deaths crisis in Scotland would have been resolved if it was a 'middle c...
24 Sep 2026 at 3:03pm
Michael Marra said it was "indefensible" that Scots from the poorest backgrounds were 15 times more likely to die from taking drugs.

Cops probing Nicola Sturgeon complaint say 'no update' a week after allegatio...
24 Sep 2026 at 10:59am
The Record understands Stuart Campbell has yet to be contacted by police since making his complaint regarding the ex-SNP leader.

Scots struggling to pay off council tax debt could be hit by higher bailiff c...
24 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Glasgow MSP Holly Bruce warned higher debt collection fees would "punish the most vulnerable people who are already struggling".

Drug deaths: How Scotland compares with other European countries
23 Sep 2026 at 11:46am
The mortality rate in Scotland is now 2.4 times the rate of England, 1.6 times the rate of Northern Ireland and 1.5 times the rate of Wales.

'No one wants to see more empty pubs and restaurants on their local high street'
23 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
Writing for the Record, leading chef Tom Kitchin says we must value hospitality businesses that employ millions of people, drive growth and support the high street.

Drug deaths in Scotland worst in Europe as fatalities rise 11% in one year
23 Sep 2026 at 9:58am
More people die from illegal substances in Scotland on average than any other nation in Europe, official figures published today have again confirmed.

Reform MSPs flounce out of Holyrood over Scottish independence debate 'farce'
22 Sep 2026 at 7:28pm
Malcolm Offord had insisted an IndyRef2 should not be debated by the Scottish Parliament as the matter is reserved to Westminster.

John Swinney warned against reforming Scots councils 'on the cheap'
22 Sep 2026 at 4:21pm
The First Minister has confirmed councillors returned at next year's local elections will serve a full five-year term - but there is no clarity on what the councils will look like.

Scots pubs face charging £10 for a pint as hospitality industry is 'on its kn...
22 Sep 2026 at 12:00pm
Leading figures from Scotland's hospitality industry have warned businesses are already on the brink - and without an urgent cut in VAT many more will go to the wall.

Scots children living in temporary accommodation hits record level as MSPs de...
22 Sep 2026 at 11:06am
SNP ministers were accused "failing vulnerable people" as homelessness across Scotland increased to record levels - while MSPs spend time at Holyrood debating independence.

The National

The National | Politics

Scores of delegates walk out of Benjamin Netanyahu's United Nations speech
24 Sep 2026 at 8:07pm

SCORES of delegates at the United Nations have walked out during Benjamin Netanyahu's speech in protest as the Israeli prime minister branded them as ?moral cowards? ...

Scottish faith groups unite demanding action on illegal occupation of Palestine
24 Sep 2026 at 6:30pm

RELIGIOUS groups across Scotland have united to call for an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine as faith leaders demand the UK Government suspends arms sales to Israel and imposes wide-ranging sanctions for the country's war crimes.

Drug deaths without The Thistle consumption unit 'would've been worse' says FM
24 Sep 2026 at 5:30pm

SCOTLAND'S drug death figures "would've been worse" without The Thistle consumption facility, John Swinney has said ...

Does a new MRP poll hint at an SNP-Labour alliance? John Curtice reacts
24 Sep 2026 at 5:25pm

John Curtice has given his verdict after a new poll showed Labour failing to reach a majority in Westminster

Reform call for vote of no confidence in Maree Todd over rise in drug deaths
24 Sep 2026 at 5:15pm

REFORM UK are calling for a vote of no confidence in drugs minister Maree Todd after figures this week showed drug deaths in Scotland had risen in the last year and are among the worst rates in Europe ...

Activists urge 'unilateral declaration of independence' at Glasgow protest
24 Sep 2026 at 2:59pm

CAMPAIGNERS who believe Scotland should declare a "unilateral declaration of independence" from the UK gathered in Glasgow on Thursday

Scottish Government urged to take 'immediate action' to end Israeli-linked co...
24 Sep 2026 at 3:58pm

THE Scottish Greens are urging the Scottish Government to take "immediate action" to end public contracts for companies with links to genocide in Gaza, following reporting from The National.

Macklemore announces Free Palestine European tour following Ed Sheeran row
24 Sep 2026 at 3:41pm

AMERICAN rapper Macklemore has announced a Free Palestine tour with all proceeds going to charities and organisations that support Palestinians after he was kicked off Ed Sheeran?s tour for opposing Israel?s genocide in Gaza ...

ICC countries allowed Netanyahu to fly across them as UK sends spy plane to I...
24 Sep 2026 at 2:05pm

FRANCE, Greece and Italy have all allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fly across their airspace despite an outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him ...

Damming climate report on coming El Nino suppressed under Keir Starmer shared...
24 Sep 2026 at 1:33pm

A DAMMING report that shows the climate emergency and the coming El Nino threaten countries around the world?s national security and defence, which was suppressed by Keir Starmer, has been shared by the UK ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Glasgow City Council to fire-and-rehire workers as equal pay talks break down
24 Sep 2026 at 5:59pm
Senior official accuses Unison union of 'betraying' members

John Swinney defends drugs record as party leaders criticise lack of progress
24 Sep 2026 at 5:30pm
Michael Marra said over 7,000 lives had been lost to drugs since the government declared a public health emergency

Reform UK bids to oust drugs minister Maree Todd
24 Sep 2026 at 5:06pm
Challenge over drugs death figures

OpenAI agent hacked Australian Government websites, Australian PM says
24 Sep 2026 at 1:27pm
This is the first publicly reported case of an AI model breaching a government system

More support for survivors of sexual violence as forensic nurse programme rol...
24 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
'Crucial' access promised across Scotland

Progress on Alcohol Problems made possible through Partnerships
24 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
The Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership (SAIP) is an alliance of alcohol beverage producers and trade representatives working together to support initiatives that promote responsible consumption and tackle harmful drinking in Scotland.

UK aiming to lead on new global AI standards, Burnham tells UN
23 Sep 2026 at 4:12pm
The UK is aiming to lead the efforts to establish global safety standards for artificial intelligence, Andy Burnham has told the United Nations General Assembly

Scotland?s drug death rate remains highest in Europe as figures increase by 1...
23 Sep 2026 at 11:44am
'Toxic' changes in drug supply highlighted

Face the facts, First Minister
23 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
Support the Parliament's first-ever debate on arthritis. Give people living with arthritis the support they deserve.

Scotland ?has right to decide own future?, MSPs say
22 Sep 2026 at 6:45pm
Reform MSPs walked out of the debate and refused to take part

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

New powerful synthetic opioids behind sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths
23 Sep 2026 at 2:12pm
Eleven per cent increase in fatalities last year partly down to presence of nitazenes in Scotland?s illicit drug marketNew forms of a powerful synthetic opioid have contributed to a sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths, with the latest data showing an 11% increase in fatalities last yearAnnual figu...

Scottish Labour?s new leader backs Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields
19 Sep 2026 at 1:52pm
Michael Marra supports development of the North Sea sites, calling for a ?more rational? approach to energy policyScottish Labour?s new leader Michael Marra has backed the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea in one of his first acts after being elected, call...

Planning permission for new Scottish AI datacentres suspended for up to a year
16 Sep 2026 at 7:28pm
MSPs vote for strict environmental impact assessments and will delay decisions until national strategy is developedHolyrood has voted to pause planning applications for all new AI datacentres for up to a year until the Scottish government has developed a national strategy.On Wednesday, MSPs backe...

UK politics: Farage hints that Reform?s £72m donations may not be legal under...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:04pm
In an interview about the donations, he said they are compliant with the law ?today?Andy Burnham has cancelled engagements today and tomorrow following the death of his father Roy, who was suffering from Alzheimer?s, the Press Association reports.Burnham has spoken about his father?s illness whic...

Westminster?s time is coming to an end, say first ministers of UK?s Celtic na...
14 Sep 2026 at 2:21pm
Leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland discuss independence and call for constitutional change at summitWestminster?s time is coming to an end, the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have said at a summit aimed at putting the UK?s Celtic nations on the path to indepe...

UK politics: Andy Burnham pressed on borrowing costs and spending at first PM...
2 Sep 2026 at 5:36pm
Burnham faced questions from Kemi Badenoch and other MPs amid speculation over budgetIn the news release to mark the first anniversary of his election as the Green party?s leader, Zack Polanski highlighted what he described as 10 achievements during his first year in charge. For the record, this ...

Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland
1 Sep 2026 at 5:52pm
First minister sets out his government?s agenda and defends policy described by industry groups as a ?potty gimmick?John Swinney insisted on Tuesday he still planned to introduce a legally binding price cap on bread, milk and other essential food items in Scotland despite fierce opposition from f...

Tuesday briefing: Scotland has promised on violence against women ? can it de...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:46am
In today?s newsletter: First minister John Swinney has pledged to put an end to violence against women and girls. But can he turn ambitious laws into real change?Good morning. Violence against women and girls, in all its myriad forms ? physical and mental, blatant and insidious ? is a global chal...

Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband stole SNP ...
26 Aug 2026 at 2:00pm
To Nicola, Love Peter will focus on couple?s relationship during 12-year period of embezzlement and fallout of caseChannel 5 is reuniting with the producers of Power: the Downfall of Huw Edwards for a drama about how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish Nationa...

?Never seen this level of objection?: Scotland pushes back against datacentre...
25 Aug 2026 at 6:00am
Holyrood ?inching towards moratorium? amid concerns over massive proposed developments in Auchtertool and beyondIn a village 21 miles north of Edinburgh, a real estate consultancy plans to build a datacentre larger than the village itself ? 35 metres high, with an area larger than 100 football pi...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Illiberal and undemocratic, the Lib Dem and Labour approach to indyref2
23 Sep 2026 at 1:22pm
I don’t normally mention the Lib Dems in a blog piece, for much the same reason that I don’t mention the Monster Raving Loony Party, because they’re irrelevant, although unlike the Monster Raving Loony Party they are also insufferably self-important and talking about them only encourages them. However Tuesday’s vote in Holyrood on the inalienable …

The settled will of the people of Scotland is for a second indyref
22 Sep 2026 at 1:51pm
As far as wanting another independence referendum is concerned, Scotland is definitely in settled will of the people territory. A new poll carried out by Norstat for the campaign group Believe in Scotland has found that 55.6% of Scots want another referendum within the next ten years while a further 12.6% believe there should be …

Err a Marra oan ra barra
20 Sep 2026 at 12:12am
I’m typing this in bed. Yesterday I had a nasty fall. Due to the stroke in 2020, I have very poor sensation and no spatial awareness in the left side of my body. This means I only know where my left foot is if I am looking at it. Yesterday when navigating some steps in …

Labour?s lying reply to Believe in Scotland?s petition
16 Sep 2026 at 2:57pm
You’ve probably never heard of Elaine Stewart. She’s my local MP, one of the least distinguished Labour MPs out of the undistinguished bunch of careerists and lobby fodder elected to Westminster in July 2024, supposedly to represent Scottish constituencies. Stewart features amongst the six Labour MPs representing Scottish constituencies who appear in list compiled by …

The positive case for the Union will be along shortly, this time they mean it.
15 Sep 2026 at 2:49pm
The flag waving We’re not nationalists we’re British brigade are seriously rattled by the Celtic Alliance, although of course they’d never admit to it, they’re currently doing their best impression of the Catherine Tate character Lauren, screaming, “Lookit my face am I bovvered?” as they go red white blue and puce in their ostensibly unbovvered …

The Cardiff Agreement marks a new chapter in the path to independence
14 Sep 2026 at 7:06pm
On Monday there was a historic meeting in Cardiff, the first time ever that pro-independence First Ministers from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland met and agreed a common framework for the pursuit of self-determination for their respective nations. The meeting was a sharp rebuke to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, telling him that self-determination can …

Burnham?s expected reverse ferret
10 Sep 2026 at 7:23pm
Andy Burnham has replied to John Swinney after the latter wrote to him asking for a meeting to put the process for triggering a Scottish independence referendum on a legal basis after Burnham replied to a question from SNP MP Chris Law at PMQs on Wednesday asking him about that process detailed in the Good …

The independence cat is out of the bag
10 Sep 2026 at 2:43pm
Speaking to The National this week after Andy Burnham – perhaps inadvertently – set out the conditions for Scotland to hold an independence referendum, polling expert Professor John Curtice acknowledged that if an independence referendum were to be held tomorrow, Scotland would most likely vote Yes. He stated that a vote is going to be …

Burnham?s crack in the constitutional dam
9 Sep 2026 at 3:17pm
In PMQs on Wednesday, Andy Burnham was asked by SNP MP Chris Law about the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and the trigger for an Irish unification referendum, and after Burnham stated that he was aware of every word in the Good Friday Agreement, Law asked: “So he Burnham will therefore know that the Northern Ireland …

BBC Scotland?s educational F grade
8 Sep 2026 at 8:28pm
BBC Scotland’s latest ‘Scotland is shite’ story is to tell us that Scottish educational performance has fallen behind that of England. This finding is based on Pisa rankings. However BBC Scotland, ahem, ‘forgot’ to mention a critical piece of information in its rush to let viewers know how terrible Scottish education is. That information is …

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

Scotland's First and biggest Rebuttal Service -Talking-up Scotland

Five days to go ? Help Talking-up Scotland keep going
24 Sep 2026 at 7:02pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 At: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawUiQ49leHRuA2FlbQMxMDAAcGRvZgVz...

Emergency hospital admissions due to assault with a sharp object fall by 33% ...
24 Sep 2026 at 4:25pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Quarterly Report: September 2026 published today: Fall in emergency hospital admissions due to assault since 2015-16. In 2024-25, there were...

Scots know that crime has decreased and far more feel safe walking home in th...
24 Sep 2026 at 4:24pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Quarterly Report: September 2026 published today: Public perception that the crime rate in their local area had decreased or stayed the same...

Property and violent crime has fallen by 42% in Scotland since 2008-09
24 Sep 2026 at 4:23pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Quarterly Report: September 2026 published today: Property and violent crime has fallen by 42% since 2008-09. Results from the Scottish Crim...

Scottish clear up rate for all recorded crimes was 56.7% in 2025-26, up from ...
24 Sep 2026 at 4:21pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Quarterly Report: September 2026 published today: Increase in crime clear up rate. The clear up rate for all recorded crimes was 56.7% in 20...

Homicide in Scotland lowest since 1976 and among very lowest in the World
24 Sep 2026 at 4:19pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Safer Communities and Justice Statistics Quarterly Report: September 2026 published today: Number of victims of homicide at the lowest level since 1976. There were 45 homicide victi...

Real experts do not predict waste piling up on streets but BBC Scotland rely ...
24 Sep 2026 at 10:09am
BBC Scotland this morning, telling us that experts are predicting a waste crisis. ‘Experts?’ David Balmer ‘Landfill manager’ Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 They have one more – ‘Waste consultant Alasdair Meldrum, of A...

How long do ?Vietnamese? trafficking gangs have to live and work in England u...
24 Sep 2026 at 9:48am
BBC Scotland today reporting ‘Vietnamese’ people trafficking gangs operating in Scotland, leaving viewers to think they came directly from and are managed from, say, Hanoi. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 Readers will ...

As BBC UK report a real breast cancer scandal, a reminder of how Lisa Summers...
24 Sep 2026 at 9:22am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 This is a story on BBC Breakfast this morning based on a BMJ study, of: Twenty women had mastectomies unnecessarily while being treated for breast cancer at County Durham and Darlington ...

As Maggie?s ?broken children?, drug users from the teenage wasteland of the 1...
24 Sep 2026 at 8:46am
Channel 4 News tonight reminded me of something important, positive, about Scotland’s drug deaths – age. Look at this – Age-specific mortality rates of drug use deaths by broad age group, registered in 2000 to 2025: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-2025/ There were 21.4 drug use deaths per 100,000 people in 2025, after adjusting for age. However, when y...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination - a...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination  aljazeera.com

PM Andy Burnham says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off lim...
10 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
PM Andy Burnham says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off limits'  BBC

Independence support to surge if Nigel Farage becomes PM, poll finds - The Na...
24 Sep 2026 at 2:18pm
Independence support to surge if Nigel Farage becomes PM, poll finds  The National Scot

Russia cites Scottish independence in United Nations speech on Ukraine - hera...
24 Sep 2026 at 2:49pm
Russia cites Scottish independence in United Nations speech on Ukraine  heraldscotland.com

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push f...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:18pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push from UK  Courthouse News

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to demand UK allow independence referendum ...
13 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to demand UK allow independence referendum  The Jerusalem Post

Scottish independence referendum 'a million miles away' - Offord - BBC
4 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence referendum 'a million miles away' - Offord  BBC

'A dangerous distraction' - SNP blasted for wasting more Holyrood time debati...
21 Sep 2026 at 3:00am
'A dangerous distraction' - SNP blasted for wasting more Holyrood time debating Scottish independence  The Scotsman

Labour urged to recognise Scotland?s right to choose own future - Scottish Gr...
22 Sep 2026 at 12:06pm
Labour urged to recognise Scotland?s right to choose own future  Scottish Greens

Reform UK MSPs jeered as they walk out of Scottish independence debate at Hol...
22 Sep 2026 at 5:02pm
Reform UK MSPs jeered as they walk out of Scottish independence debate at Holyrood  Yahoo News Canada

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

NanoTS: a deep learning tool for accurate SNP calling in nanopore long-read t...
22 Sep 2026 at 12:05pm
NanoTS: a deep learning tool for accurate SNP calling in nanopore long-read transcriptome data  Nature

SNP ?would wield significant leverage in next parliament? - The Times
24 Sep 2026 at 1:35pm
SNP ?would wield significant leverage in next parliament?  The Times

Does a new MRP poll hint at an SNP-Labour alliance? John Curtice reacts - The...
24 Sep 2026 at 5:39pm
Does a new MRP poll hint at an SNP-Labour alliance? John Curtice reacts  The National Scot

Reform UK lodge motion for vote of no confidence in SNP MSP Maree Todd follow...
24 Sep 2026 at 4:55pm
Reform UK lodge motion for vote of no confidence in SNP MSP Maree Todd following drug use death statistics  Strathspey Herald

Who can replace John Swinney? The SNP has no convincing answer - heraldscotla...
21 Sep 2026 at 5:22pm
Who can replace John Swinney? The SNP has no convincing answer  heraldscotland.com

Reform walk out of SNP independence debate - The Telegraph
22 Sep 2026 at 8:49pm
Reform walk out of SNP independence debate  The Telegraph

SNP MSP asks King if he'll pay 300% council tax rise on Scottish properties -...
21 Sep 2026 at 1:04pm
SNP MSP asks King if he'll pay 300% council tax rise on Scottish properties  Sky News

Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed - BBC
11 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed  BBC

SNP ministers clash in court with information watchdog over Salmond files - T...
22 Sep 2026 at 6:25pm
SNP ministers clash in court with information watchdog over Salmond files  The Scotsman

SNP admits legal blunder over Alex Salmond evidence - The Times
22 Sep 2026 at 7:15pm
SNP admits legal blunder over Alex Salmond evidence  The Times

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination - a...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination  aljazeera.com

Scotland has right to decide constitutional future, new Scottish Labour leade...
22 Sep 2026 at 11:00am
Scotland has right to decide constitutional future, new Scottish Labour leader says  BBC

John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031 - BBC
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031  BBC

Russia cites Scottish independence in United Nations speech on Ukraine - hera...
24 Sep 2026 at 2:49pm
Russia cites Scottish independence in United Nations speech on Ukraine  heraldscotland.com

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push f...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:18pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push from UK  Courthouse News

Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wa...
13 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  Yahoo News New Zealand

MSPs to vote on legal mechanism for independence referendum - Holyrood Website
21 Sep 2026 at 5:06pm
MSPs to vote on legal mechanism for independence referendum  Holyrood Website

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push - The W...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push  The Washington Post

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK - abc.ne...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK  abc.net.au

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland voice united calls for independence and ...
15 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland voice united calls for independence and a return to the EU  Eunews