The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia fired after just five days in the job
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
16 Oct 2026 at 7:54pm
Donald Trump?s White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is transitioning out of the role after five days, following criticism of her first briefing.


Humza Yousaf challenges questions over Israel and Palestine's right to exist
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
16 Oct 2026 at 7:09pm
Humza Yousaf says Palestinians? right to exist is ignored as SNP MP Lara Bird attacks Ed Miliband and the UK Government over its Gaza response in Aberdeen.


Ivan McKee accused of being ?disrespectful? in heated NHS reform clash
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
16 Oct 2026 at 6:12pm
Ivan McKee faced a fresh backlash at SNP conference as union leaders challenged NHS reform plans, job-loss fears and proposed cuts to management.


Government settles out-of-court with 'scapegoat' Sir Olly Robbins over dismissal
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
16 Oct 2026 at 4:51pm
The UK Government settles with 'scapegoat' Sir Olly Robbins after his dismissal by Keir Starmer over his alleged role in the Lord Mandelson scandal and judicial review


Ithaca chief steps down as Rosebank decision looms
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
16 Oct 2026 at 4:32pm
North Sea oil and gas producer Ithaca Energy is searching for a new chief executive after Luciano Vasques announced plans to retire next year


Sir Alex Ferguson would make 'effective' mayor of Aberdeen says PM
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 3:09pm
Andy Burnham invoked Sir Alex Ferguson's name during a Motherwell speech on deepening Scottish devolution, but stopped short of calling for elected mayors ? as Glasgow's £7.3bn productivity gap sharpens the debate.


Burnham makes 'deeper devolution' vow and sets out view on independence refer...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 1:54pm
Andy Burnham made a "deeper devolution" pitch to John Swinney in Motherwell, offering DWP and employment powers to Scotland ? but his refusal to explicitly rule out a second independence referendum was described as "a significant moment" by Stephen Flynn.


UK Government 'cautious' over controversial Rosebank field to avoid 'mistakes'
by Nick Forbes
16 Oct 2026 at 9:34am
The UK Government is being ?cautious? about making public announcements over its decisions on the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas fields in order to avoid the ?mistakes? of the previous government, the Scottish Secretary has said


Scottish Government to abandon 12-week orthopaedic target, leaked NHS plan re...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
A confidential NHS blueprint, obtained by The Herald, reveals the Scottish Government is set to abandon its legally-backed 12-week orthopaedic target ? replacing it with a 26-week standard ? while centralising surgery into regional hubs and telling patients to expect to travel.


Bishop of Paisley attacks SNP for revoking anti-abortion group's fringe slot
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland's Catholic hierarchy has criticised the SNP for cancelling a fringe event by a controversial anti-abortion group.


How to get Barack Obama's classic masculine Glasgow style
by Nakai Kwajiya
16 Oct 2026 at 4:50pm
Former US president Barack Obama won over fashion followers when he arrived in Glasgow this week to give a talk at the OVO Hydro. Here's how to get the look


Andy Burnham to offer John Swinney deal to 'hand more power to Scotland's reg...
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
15 Oct 2026 at 10:30pm
Andy Burnham is set to offer John Swinney a deal to empower Scotland?s regions, shifting power from Westminster and Holyrood to boost jobs and growth.


'Devolution's not a religion' Badenoch raises prospect of nuclear Holyrood po...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
15 Oct 2026 at 4:41pm
Kemi Badenoch has raised the prospect of rewriting the Scotland Act to end what she calls the SNP's use of planning rules to veto reserved energy policy, while branding John Swinney a broken record with no answers on drug deaths or education.


The SNP's internal independence divide won't disappear after party conference
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
15 Oct 2026 at 3:47pm
This article appears as part of the Unspun: Scottish Politics newsletter.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Andy Burnham robs SNP of ammunition by being constructive
16 Oct 2026 at 7:17pm

Andy Burnham came across as reasonable and refused to attack the SNP - even when given the opportunity to hit back.

The SNP has publicly moved away from its contentious ?presumption against? new oil and gas projects - stating that domestic production is ?clearly preferable to importation?.

He said devolution ?was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament?

Ivan McKee was repeatedly challenged over the Scottish government?s ?disruptive? proposals

Labour MP Kirsteen Sullivan has urged Labour ministers to ?secure jobs? at Invinity Energy Systems - which has sites in Motherwell and Bathgate.

The Prime Minister will say at an event in Lanarkshire on Friday that the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe.

The latest whispers, gossip and nonsense from the SNP conference in Aberdeen

John Swinney?s government has been urged to be more explicit in its support for specific North Sea oil and gas projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw.

Wings over Scotland

The fight about to come
14 Oct 2026 at 3:20pm
The obvious question is “Why haven’t you made a bigger one in all that time?” Did it not seem important until now? Was there nothing significant going on? Or were they just a little short of cash for some unknowable reason? Still, Keith’s going to make a “launch” speech. He makes it every year. It’ll …

Still Time To Save Her
9 Oct 2026 at 2:32pm
We’ve just had an extraordinary email from Police Scotland, readers. Here it is. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the real-life Timecops. Operation Branchform was closed on 20 March 2025. Nicola Sturgeon gave her infamous interview to Laura Kuenssberg – stating that she would not be handing back any of the items gifted to her by Peter …

There May Be Justice
5 Oct 2026 at 12:40pm
In a little under three days, Phase 1 complete. Wings readers: still the best. But what now? A couple of people have asked about the “stretch target” on the website. That was something CrowdJustice asked for and the reason it’s so high is that that figure was our lawyers’ estimate of the total cost of …

The Love Of Big Brother
3 Oct 2026 at 1:24pm
We were trying to work out what this reminded us of. And the answer was in the same place it usually is. It all checks out. The SNP spend their time grooming your children and trying to make basic parenting a crime. They endorse “gender-affirming care” that sterilises them and will stop them ever having …

In The Eyes Of The Law
1 Oct 2026 at 2:15pm
Our fundraiser to bring a judicial review of Police Scotland’s decision not to charge anyone with embezzlement in the case of the SNP’s missing £700,000 indyref fund is now live, and can be reached by clicking on this image, or here. The target of £30,000 represents the cost of the initial application (with contingency for …

Whatever Can Have Happened?
30 Sep 2026 at 1:50pm
Yesterday afternoon John Swinney announced an independent review into the dual roles of Scotland’s main law officers, the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General, which have been a subject of great controversy since the Scottish Parliament was re-convened in 1999. Wings welcomes this development unequivocally, albeit we’re slightly concerned that the former judge leading the …

The Turning Point
28 Sep 2026 at 1:10pm
We don’t have much to say about this graph that it doesn’t say for itself. The arrest of Peter Murrell on 5 April 2023, just a couple of weeks after his wife had realised the game was up and walked away before the cops came round and put a big blue tent up on their …

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 …

Craig Murray

The Unjust State
15 Oct 2026 at 2:06pm

“Forget justice, it’s much too expensive and time consuming. Plus if you take the government to court, you will have to spend your own money, and we are saving you from that”. That is a fair summary of the judgement by Lords Pentland and Troy and Lady Wise in our appeal against the suspension of …

The Unjust State

Does the Act of Union Still Apply?
12 Oct 2026 at 10:29am

Tomorrow at 10am we get the judgement in our appeal against the suspension of the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. We cannot have won as the appeal – held by “urgent process” – was intended to allow a judicial review before the Supreme Court meets in the Ammori case on 4 …

Does the Act of Union Still Apply?

Fatuous False Flags
2 Oct 2026 at 10:16am

Rather than abandoning the plainly nuts Fairford narrative, Burnham and his government are doubling down on the claim it is an Iranian terror plot. It remains quite possible the men were indeed fuel thieves, simply stealing fuel from farms. They appear to have been equipped for fuel theft and all they were carrying was petrol. …

Fatuous False Flags

Losing My Religion
29 Sep 2026 at 12:07pm

I have lost faith both in Western social democracy, and in the institutions of international law. As both have been fundamental to the work of my life, this is rather a blow as I approach 70. A number of deeply shocking things have happened this past three years, not as extraneous events, but as conscious …

Losing My Religion

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

BBC Scotland

Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution'
16 Oct 2026 at 3:36pm
On his first substantive trip to Scotland since becoming PM, he says politicians should focus on solutions "right now" and move beyond the issue of Scottish independence.

Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland
16 Oct 2026 at 9:08pm
UK political debate has a distinctly Scottish feel after SNP's annual conference, says the BBC's political editor Chris Mason.

'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum
15 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
The SNP's Stephen Flynn tells his party's conference independence supporters are "winning the argument".

What does Andy Burnham have up his sleeve as he crashes SNP conference?
15 Oct 2026 at 6:18am
The prime minister's first substantive visit to Scotland coincides with the SNP's conference in Aberdeen.

Fewer than 800 Scots have received jabs for weight loss on NHS, BBC finds
15 Oct 2026 at 6:17am
Only five of Scotland's 14 health boards currently offer the treatment specifically for weight loss, it has emerged.

Obama says drift towards extremism 'not inevitable'
15 Oct 2026 at 11:51am
More than 12,000 people filled a major venue in the city to hear the former US president's take on the challenges the world is facing. .

I do not have confidence UK is safe from Russian threats - Swinney
14 Oct 2026 at 5:57pm
The first minister speaks to BBC Scotland News ahead of the SNP's annual conference in Aberdeen.

Burnham - Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas decisions coming 'shortly'
14 Oct 2026 at 3:13pm
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged the prime minister to stop "faffing about" with the North Sea oil and gas fields.

Swimmer Archie Goodburn thanks prime minister as brain cancer review announced
14 Oct 2026 at 8:04pm
The Scottish athlete, who has inoperable brain tumours, previously made a tearful plea for more investment in brain cancer research on BBC Breakfast.

John Cleese urges St Andrews students not to elect Q Manivannan as rector
13 Oct 2026 at 5:29pm
The actor and former rector of St Andrews says the MSP has understated the psychological effects of rape.

Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference
13 Oct 2026 at 11:29am
The prime minister is expected to head to the central belt while SNP members gather in Aberdeen.

Shetland MSP defends hiring artist with public money
12 Oct 2026 at 6:30pm
Hannah Mary Goodlad says she is using language and culture to reach the public across her islands constituency.

Scot Goes Pop

52% support for independence - 14-point lead for SNP - new Scottish poll is C...
15 Oct 2026 at 10:35pm

I'm standing in this week's SNP internal elections - I believe we have a duty...
14 Oct 2026 at 12:57pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.

Nick Robinson and the dehumanisation of Palestinians demanded by official BBC...
11 Oct 2026 at 8:42am
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...

Sky News goes full Pravda in its coverage of the Holborn & St Pancras by-elec...
9 Oct 2026 at 1:04pm
Holborn & St Pancras by-election result (8th October 2026):Labour 45.2% (-3.7)Greens 32.8% (+22.4)Conservatives 7.1% (-0.1)Reform UK 5.9% (-0.2)Liberal Democrats 3.4% (-2.4)Restore Britain 2.5% (n/...

Tories' plan to impose new nuclear power stations on Scotland means they have...
7 Oct 2026 at 2:39am
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...

Watch out for ORCS! Rory Stewart thrillingly brings back "The Middleland", by...
4 Oct 2026 at 3:29pm
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...

Burnham's TIME-BENDING hypocrisy: "It's fine for us to consider overturning t...
1 Oct 2026 at 1:35am
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 uses the loss of his father as an excuse for stripping Scotland of it...
29 Sep 2026 at 7:00pm
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...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Scotland is one of the most centralised nations in Europe, says Burnham
16 Oct 2026 at 1:14pm
Speaking in Motherwell, the Prime Minister said devolution 'was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament'

UK ban on strangulation and incest in porn to come into force
16 Oct 2026 at 9:03am
The content will be outlawed from November 6 after cross-party pressure about the negative impact on women and girls

Scottish Government pledges £10 million for two specialist defence colleges
16 Oct 2026 at 7:11am
Innovation minister Alyn Smith confirmed the Scottish Government would work with the UK Government to establish two such colleges in Scotland

Prime Minister Burnham to urge John Swinney to shift power to councils across...
15 Oct 2026 at 10:30pm
The Prime Minister is visiting Lanarkshire, crashing the SNP's national conference in Aberdeen.

Public sector reforms could be ?building blocks of independent state? ? minister
15 Oct 2026 at 5:06pm
Public service reform seretary Ivan McKee spoke out during a fringe meeting at the SNP conference

Time ahead the greatest challenge ever for independence movement, says Flynn
15 Oct 2026 at 1:18pm
Economy secretary Stephen Flynn addressed the SNP conference on Thursday

Burnham urged to ?bring it on? and allow second Scottish independence vote
15 Oct 2026 at 7:40am
Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn will make the demand as the SNP conference gets under way in Aberdeen on Thursday.

Reform councillors told to resign after ?chilling? ITV investigation
14 Oct 2026 at 9:04pm
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said anyone found to have made "such despicable comments" must be made to leave Reform UK "immediately". 

Decision on North Sea?s Jackdaw gas field ?imminent?, Energy Secretary says
14 Oct 2026 at 5:37pm
The UK Government is considering whether to grant permission for two projects

Archie Goodburn thanked as ministers announce plans to improve brain cancer care
14 Oct 2026 at 5:22pm
The Scottish swimmer, 25, has been praised for his advocacy work

First Minister John Swinney backs second Brexit vote ahead of SNP conference
14 Oct 2026 at 4:48pm
The First Minister also highlighted a poll commissioned by the SNP, which shows a majority support for independence

Former US President Barack Obama touches down in Glasgow for Hydro event
14 Oct 2026 at 4:21pm
An Evening with President Barack Obama will be held at the OVO Hydro on Wednesday evening

Swinney: I will use every opportunity to challenge Badenoch devolution push
14 Oct 2026 at 6:58am
It comes after reports Tory leader Kemi Badenoch would review devolution if her party wins the keys to Downing Street in 2029.

Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled Parliament over pensions
12 Oct 2026 at 3:52pm
The First Minister said he had been informed by his independent advisers that ?no investigation is required?

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Donald Trump sacks White House Press Secretary after disastrous week
16 Oct 2026 at 7:03pm
Katie Zacharia's time as White House Press Secretary lasted just five days as she faced questions about her qualifications

Andy Burnham shows why he's the most popular leader in Scotland with a positi...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:27pm
A Prime Minister with a positive message for Scotland clashes with the SNP's endless claims that Westminster must be viewed as the enemy, says Chris McCall

Andy Burnham says he wants to 'move beyond constitutional questions' on Scotl...
16 Oct 2026 at 1:28pm
Speaking on a visit to a college built on the site of the former Ravenscraig steel works, the Prime Minister said devolution was "never meant to end at the doors of Holyood".

Warning over horror firework injuries suffered by kids as cops warns explosiv...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
Firework?related injuries to youngsters have surged over the last year as police warn that pyros are getting more powerful.

Andy Burnham offers to work with John Swinney to push power out of Holyrood a...
15 Oct 2026 at 10:30pm
The Prime Minister will use a speech in Lanarkshire to emphasise the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe.

Fed-up SNP members tell party bosses to spend 'less time fixating on Westmins...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:15pm
In a rare example of dissent, SNP activists gathered away from the party conference to discuss how to kick-start the stalled campaign for ending the Union.

Half of Scots view SNP as incompetent with majority branding party 'out of to...
15 Oct 2026 at 1:10pm
The Nationalists are preparing to launch another push for independence since 2014 at a time many voters are turning their back on the party.

John Swinney denies he faces a 'rammy' with unions as 20,000 workers face 'un...
15 Oct 2026 at 12:45pm
The SNP leader said he wanted to achieve "consensus" on plans to axe councils health boards and denied he faced a "rammy" with unions over inevitable job cuts.

"My partner died begging for help - then system failed my kids" Mum in desper...
15 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
Luke Henderson died by suicide after begging for help in December 2017 - then his two children were rejected from CAMHS.

John Swinney warned against pushing through 'barbarous' public sector job cuts
15 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
The First Minister will arrive in Aberdeen for the SNP's annual conference amid mounting concerns over his plans to radically reform the NHS and local government.

The National

The National | Politics

Stories of Palestinian suffering bring SNP members to tears at emotional meeting
16 Oct 2026 at 7:50pm

AN SNP MP has accused the Labour Government of failing to take meaningful action to save Palestinian lives during an emotional event at the party's conference in Aberdeen.

Scottish Government accused of letting US arms firm bypass Israel boycott rules
16 Oct 2026 at 6:11pm

THE Scottish Government has been accused of admitting a ?massive loophole? in its Israel boycott policy after confirming that a subsidiary of a major US arms supplier can still receive millions of pounds in public funding ...

UK's Scotland and Wales Offices 'do more harm than good', Welsh deputy FM says
16 Oct 2026 at 6:00pm

THE UK Government?s territorial offices often do ?more harm than good?, the Deputy First Minister of Wales has said ...

If Andy Burnham wants to 'move on from the constitution', why didn't he?
16 Oct 2026 at 5:48pm

Andy Burnham?s first major visit to Scotland left us with more questions than answers.

'Well-known individual' suing to block allegations being broadcast
16 Oct 2026 at 5:49pm

A ?well-known individual? is suing two media organisations to prevent them publishing allegations about him, the High Court has heard.

Scottish Government unveils new funding to help refugee doctors work in NHS
16 Oct 2026 at 5:41pm

The Scottish Government has unveiled new funding to help more refugee doctors living in Scotland train and work for the NHS ...

BBC 'must spend in Scotland what it raises in Scotland', SNP conference says
16 Oct 2026 at 5:37pm

THE SNP have backed calls for the BBC to reverse planned cuts to Scottish broadcasting ? and increase spending north of the Border so it matches the money raised from Scots households ...

Edinburgh bookshop cancels event with author over 'problematic' posts about Jews
16 Oct 2026 at 5:25pm

AN Edinburgh bookshop has cancelled an event with an author over his "problematic" posts related to Jews

Andy Burnham blows up Labour's 'Unionist credentials' in indyref2 blunder
16 Oct 2026 at 5:17pm

A VERY special Worst of Westminster this week as we give you exclusive access to Andy Burnham?s inner monologue while giving his big speech in Scotland.*

Scotland must strengthen EU focus amid 'geopolitical turbulence', says expert
16 Oct 2026 at 4:49pm

AN expert on Europe has questioned the Scottish Government's decision to abolish its cabinet-level external affairs role and says....

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Angela Constance: Scotland must be ?far more joined up? to meet health challe...
16 Oct 2026 at 5:59pm
Health secretary speaks out at SNP conference fringe event

Andy Burnham: Power too centralised in Scotland
16 Oct 2026 at 1:01am
Burnham will meet young people in Lanarkshire during a visit to Scotland which coincides with the SNP conference in Aberdeen.

Dave Doogan has a secret defence plan for an independent Scotland
15 Oct 2026 at 11:00pm
He also admitted to harbouring an ambition to be the defence secretary

Dave Doogan: A plan to defend an independent Scotland is ?not an ambition, it...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:54pm
Doogan warned that ?the threats are there? and Scotland must have a plan for defence in the buildup to independence

Polling: SNP on track to be in ?most powerful position at Westminster in our ...
14 Oct 2026 at 4:26pm
The deputy first minister reacted to new polling suggesting the SNP could receive 34 per cent of the vote at the next general election

Andy Burnham: Manchester-style approach can clean up Glasgow
14 Oct 2026 at 3:59pm
Pledge to MP during Prime Minister's Questions

Majority of Scots back ?pragmatic? North Sea approach
14 Oct 2026 at 6:00am
Over two-thirds of Scots agree decisions on oil and gas should be made on a case-by-case basis

AI ?supercharging? cyber threats, MI5 chief warns
13 Oct 2026 at 5:00pm
MI5 has launched a new AI Threat Assessment Centre

Prime minister to visit Scotland during SNP conference
13 Oct 2026 at 12:22pm
The prime minister will be north of the border to discuss his plans to devolve more powers to local authorities

John Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled parliament with p...
12 Oct 2026 at 4:49pm
The first minister said independent advisers had decided that "no investigation is required"

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Burnham v Swinney: will the UK PM overshadow the SNP?s conference?
15 Oct 2026 at 7:00am
Prime minister presents new kind of challenge for SNP, and his Scottish visit will loom large over its big eventThis year, even Andy Burnham is invited to the Scottish National party conference. But by the time John Swinney stands up to address members on Saturday afternoon in Aberdeen to reinvig...

Burnham tells Zelenskyy?s UK?s support for Ukraine ?will not change? ? as it ...
14 Oct 2026 at 6:06pm
Zelenskyy says he will be discussing intelligence sharing ?difficulties? and Starlink access with BurnhamPMQs is about to start.Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.After @genevieve_holl reported this last night, various sources in the Trump administration who are supportive of Farage s...

MI5 chief Ken McCallum confirms Russia did interfere in Brexit referendum but...
13 Oct 2026 at 5:23pm
He argued there was no evidence to suggest the result of the Brexit vote had been swayed as a result of the effortAndy Burnham promises ?serious dialogue? over UK?s relationship with EUZia Yusuf, Reform UK?s home affairs spokesperson, has said he does not agree with his colleague Suella Braverman...

UK politics live: Pat McFadden tells Labour activists they should not defend ...
27 Sep 2026 at 6:11pm
Work and pensions secretary says the current system is flawed because it consigns too many people to a life on benefits when they would be better off working?I can deliver?: Burnham pledges radical change on eve of Labour conferenceKuenssberg puts it to Burnham that, according to the Health Found...

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 ...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

It?s time to abolish the Scotland Office
16 Oct 2026 at 1:06pm
On the first day of the SNP conference, the membership voted overwhelmingly for the abolition of the Scotland Office and the post of Secretary of state for Scotland, also known as the Scottish Secretary. The vote was of course symbolic as the Scotland Office is a department of the Westminster government while its head, the …

SNP conference, day 1 and the Choose Scotland campaign
15 Oct 2026 at 2:46pm
It’s sod’s law. Just as the SNP party conference gets underway and the biggest push for independence in a decade has been announced, WordPress, the platform this blog uses, has implemented an update which has run into some glitches and is preventing many people from being able to post comments or replies. If you are …

Emily Thornberry?s EU English exceptionalism
14 Oct 2026 at 3:53pm
Labour MP Emily Thornberry has suggested that the UK could rejoin the EU without another referendum to overturn the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Speaking to Sky News, she said the majority agree that Brexit was a disaster and the UK should just rejoin the EU, another referendum is not necessary in her view. …

The SNP is right to maintain its boycott of the Lords
13 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
Last week, the SNP’s former Westminster leader Ian Blackford, speaking to The National newspaper’s podcast, suggested that the party’s refusal to take any seat in Westminster?s upper chamber was a weakness as it left them with “no way of affecting legislation in that House”. While insisting that he accepts the long standing SNP policy of …

Sticking with the status quo isn?t working
12 Oct 2026 at 2:53pm
Andy Burnham has decided to reopen the question of the UK’s relationship with the EU, telling MPs on Monday that it is time to “face up to the reality that Brexit has done more harm than good” and “the status quo is not good enough for Britain,” and that and “the status quo isn’t working …

America?s moral turpitude is infesting British politics
10 Oct 2026 at 2:58pm
I don’t usually blog about America unless it directly affects or involves Scotland, but for the latest example of how far that once great country has fallen into moral turpitude under Trump, I’ll make an exception. The very same people who had a collective meltdown over the sight of a Black mermaid or Black Helen …

Badenoch has killed off the once in a generation claim
7 Oct 2026 at 1:51pm
The Tories have officially ripped up the Vow to which they were signatories in 2014. This was the panicked promise made by the Better Together parties – one of which was the Conservatives – two days before the independence referendum which promised extensive new powers for Scotland, quasi-federal status, a guarantee that the Scottish Parliament …

The British right has Holyrood in its sights
6 Oct 2026 at 2:29pm
The Tories have crossed the Rubicon. Since the independence referendum of 2014, which Better Together won on the basis of false promises, not the least of which was the promise that the powers of the Scottish Parliament would never be clawed back by Westminster, the Westminster parties have largely attempted to maintain a fig leaf …

Labour?s gone from jam tomorrow to maybe jam eventually
5 Oct 2026 at 9:43am
One of the key promises of the Labour party in Scotland during the 2024 Westminster general election campaign was that a vote for Labour was a vote to save the jobs of the workers at the Grangemouth refinery which at that time was threatened with closure. As we all know, the refinery closed despite Labour’s …

Burnham pensions off two Better Together arguments
2 Oct 2026 at 12:41pm
One of the ways in which the Better Together campaign won the referendum in 2014 was to successfully scaremonger Scotland’s pensioners into believing that their state pensions would not be safe in an independent Scotland and that Scotland’s pensioners needed Westminster to guarantee their meagre state pensions. There were even disgraceful reports of Better Together …

The Courier

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Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

Could Rosyth-Europe ferry set sail thanks to Brexit reset?
27 May 2025 at 6:01am
Hopes have been raised for a simple solution to a cross-border problem.

Kirkcaldy MP demands pro-suicide forum is torn down
26 May 2025 at 6:01am
Around 100 suicides have been linked to the sickening forum which provides guidance to people on ending their life.

UHI Perth aviation students warn of ?unsettling times? after training firm?s ...
26 May 2025 at 6:00am
Worried Samuel Hughes, 19, is among students sharing their fears at a time of crisis for Perth College.

Fresh Dundee University strike begins over compulsory Levehulme Centre job cuts
26 May 2025 at 6:00am
University staff are taking five days of industrial action as the institution pushes ahead with plans to axe the forensic research hub.

NHS Fife nurse at centre of controversial trans tribunal suing her own trade ...
25 May 2025 at 2:32pm
A&E medic Sandie Peggie is now taking legal action against the Royal College of Nursing.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University still to strike rescue deal with government
23 May 2025 at 5:46pm
Opposition MSPs have expressed concern at the time taken to agree a deal almost a month after the fresh recovery plan was unveiled.

6 senior figures who left Dundee University during financial crisis
23 May 2025 at 5:10pm
Several university chiefs have moved on since £30m financial black hole emerged.

Dundee University activist artist leads degree show protest over financial cr...
23 May 2025 at 4:45pm
Duncan of Jordanstone student Finn Millar says he wants to play a part in "keeping the university alive".

John Swinney admits constituents have expressed Perth leisure concerns to him
23 May 2025 at 6:01am
The first minister wants further talks between both sides of Perth leisure debate.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University chief operating officer Jim McGeorge quits
22 May 2025 at 1:58pm
Dr Jim McGeorge ? who was responsible for good governance - had been on a period of extended leave.

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland

BBC Newsnight?s pet pollster lies about Scottish opinion on independence to h...
16 Oct 2026 at 8:16pm
On BBC Newsnight tonight, hosted by Matt Chawly, Luke Tryl, ‘our’ More in Common pollster, responded to his question: Where is Scottish opinion on the question on the Question of independence? with this utterly ill-informed nonsense: Well, we had a powl coming into this conference which had support for remaining part of the Union at 52% and support for independence at 48%. That ratio we love ...

Daily Record desperately predicts fireworks violence again despite ?no report...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:24pm
Notably, unlike in October 2025 (below), BBC Scotland is not attempting to scare us with a similar damp squib but the Record is. Here’s why: On 6 November 2025: Police say there was a “notable” reduction in Bonfire Night disorder with the number of calls received down by 37% across Scotland. Between 31 October and 5 November, 833 calls needed a local or specialist response, almost 500 fewer tha...

NHS Scotland treating 20% more in 12 weeks than NHS England as think-tank pre...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:21pm
Typically dishonest, gutter-level journalism from the Herald today. Moving the formal maximum target from an unmet 12 weeks to a 26-week aim by 2031 is a relaxation of ambition relative to the old legal standard, but it does not mean the plan is to increase waits to twice what people experience today. For a large number of current long-waiters it would still represent an improvement if achieved...

Scotland has twice as many ?probation officers?
16 Oct 2026 at 2:20pm
After several decades in journalism, the daughter of a history prof, remains fully Anglocentric, writing once more to conflate England’s woes with Scotland today. She only once reveals that this is all about England & Wales (poor things) in the very last paragraph. Her main concern, highlighted in the headline, is: Today it?s the probation officers, whose conference in Newcastle is launching a ...

Time for Scotland to wake up to the double standards, hypocrisy, propaganda a...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:16pm
By Liz S ?Scotland?s drug deaths crisis IS a human rights scandal but it is also a fundamental consequence of our subjection still within a dying, dysfunctional but still dominant and brutal empire?. Indeed and as ?consequences? it is yet another terrible legacy that the SNP have inherited but now they , the SNP, are getting all of the blame for what ? In them , the SNP to be seen as creating t...

?I believe that the UK (sic) is decades behind other countries?: Unlike in Sc...
16 Oct 2026 at 10:12am
Typically the above expert on BBC Breakfast this morning knows nothing of Scotland. Scotland already has a published Strategic Action Plan for Wildfires (5 March 2026), produced with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), land managers and the Scottish Wildfire Forum. More below. Above, a lightly-clad firefighter working in Dunwich heat next to a nuclear power station. In the Guardian tod...

YouGov?s naked bias still using the thousands who have passed since 2014 to m...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:14pm
The pollster YouGov above today still trying to tell us we don’t want independence. Below, telling with unerring regularity the same story in the face of a powerful trend telling us the opposite. It?s not just the last four or five YouGov polls, going back years they almost never get a Yes lead. YouGov is of course, Tory-owned. So how might they be doing this. Have a look at the way they have a...

Too few people are ready yet to really go for it
15 Oct 2026 at 5:47pm
Lesley Riddoch above telling viewers that the SNP leadership is too comfortable in their jobs and that ‘to too many people, they look like they’re behind an ivory tower.’ I know, there are those in the SNP leadership a bit too comfortable but I remain convinced that the party heads inevitably toward independence and I see little evidence for Riddoch’s claims. There is evidence from polls that v...

Reform UK candidates will be vetted
15 Oct 2026 at 5:26pm
By Liz S Calling Malcolm Offord & Thomas Kerr to ask them if they watched last night?s ITV news report on the racist & sexist comments made by Reform UK Councillors and Candidates in England (is it only there though ?). Reminds me of when the BBC reported on Reform UK on their BBC website in March 2026 via this headline ?Reform UK suspends Scotland candidate over financial allegations? . That a...

Why UK Labour?s risky nuclear changes are just like Trump?s ?pro-cancer? age...
15 Oct 2026 at 1:32pm
In the Scotsman, yesterday, in a sequence of anti-SNP pieces recently, the above from the woman below: Melanie Ward has worked for several charities, including Christian Aid, and ActionAid UK. For a time she chaired The Circle, which is a charity that Annie Lennox founded to empower women. By December 2015, Ward was the associate director of policy and advocacy for International Rescue Committe...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum - The Telegraph
16 Oct 2026 at 3:40pm
Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum  The Telegraph

Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum - ITN
16 Oct 2026 at 10:38am
Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum  ITN

Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland - BBC
16 Oct 2026 at 9:08pm
Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland  BBC

Stop dramas and help people?s lives, says Burnham in Scotland visit - The Times
16 Oct 2026 at 4:00pm
Stop dramas and help people?s lives, says Burnham in Scotland visit  The Times

The SNP must confront Labour's double standards on independence - The Nationa...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:00pm
The SNP must confront Labour's double standards on independence  The National Scot

Andy Burnham urges Scotland to ?stop wasting time on independence drama? - Th...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:18pm
Andy Burnham urges Scotland to ?stop wasting time on independence drama?  The Irish Times

Burnham makes 'deeper devolution' vow and sets out view on independence refer...
16 Oct 2026 at 3:32pm
Burnham makes 'deeper devolution' vow and sets out view on independence referendum  The Herald

Independence cause is ?bigger than any party? Green to tell SNP conference - ...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:16pm
Independence cause is ?bigger than any party? Green to tell SNP conference  Nation.Cymru

Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference - Financial...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference  Financial Times

Dave Doogan: I am an operative charged with delivering Scotland?s independenc...
15 Oct 2026 at 1:00am
Dave Doogan: I am an operative charged with delivering Scotland?s independence  Holyrood Website

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP turns back on ?presumption against? oil and gas - Energy Voice
16 Oct 2026 at 6:34pm
SNP turns back on ?presumption against? oil and gas  Energy Voice

Andy Burnham offers to work with SNP on ?deeper devolution? in Scotland - Cha...
16 Oct 2026 at 7:40pm
Andy Burnham offers to work with SNP on ?deeper devolution? in Scotland  Channel 4

Burnham v Swinney: will the UK PM overshadow the SNP?s conference? - The Guar...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:00am
Burnham v Swinney: will the UK PM overshadow the SNP?s conference?  The Guardian

Andy Burnham urges SNP?s John Swinney to team up on devolving jobs support - ...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:00pm
Andy Burnham urges SNP?s John Swinney to team up on devolving jobs support  Financial Times

You take the high road: why is Andy Burnham ?crashing? the SNP conference? - ...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:28pm
You take the high road: why is Andy Burnham ?crashing? the SNP conference?  The Week

Anyone in SNP who joins Lords should be expelled from party, says ex-MP - The...
16 Oct 2026 at 8:43pm
Anyone in SNP who joins Lords should be expelled from party, says ex-MP  The National Scot

Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland - BBC
16 Oct 2026 at 9:08pm
Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland  BBC

SNP ministers end funding for hospital cybersecurity checks - The Times
16 Oct 2026 at 7:31pm
SNP ministers end funding for hospital cybersecurity checks  The Times

Letters: What the SNP should focus on instead of agitating for independence -...
16 Oct 2026 at 9:00pm
Letters: What the SNP should focus on instead of agitating for independence  The Telegraph

SNP minister suggests new independence pressure group is 'waste of time' - Th...
16 Oct 2026 at 7:50pm
SNP minister suggests new independence pressure group is 'waste of time'  The National Scot

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Andy Burnham?s speech a distraction from anti-democratic block on independenc...
16 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
Andy Burnham?s speech a distraction from anti-democratic block on independence referendum, say Greens  Scottish Greens

'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum - BBC
15 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum  BBC

Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum - ITN
16 Oct 2026 at 10:38am
Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum  ITN

Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference - Financial...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference  Financial Times

New polls undermine John Swinney?s independence claims - The Times
15 Oct 2026 at 6:15pm
New polls undermine John Swinney?s independence claims  The Times

The SNP must confront Labour's double standards on independence - The Nationa...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:00pm
The SNP must confront Labour's double standards on independence  The National Scot

The SNP's internal independence divide won't disappear after party conference...
16 Oct 2026 at 1:06am
The SNP's internal independence divide won't disappear after party conference  The Herald

The premier Andy Burnham closes the door on a second independence referendum ...
16 Oct 2026 at 3:01pm
The premier Andy Burnham closes the door on a second independence referendum during a visit to Scotland  Diari ARA

Flynn urges Burnham to ?bring it on? and call a second Scottish independence ...
15 Oct 2026 at 5:20pm
Flynn urges Burnham to ?bring it on? and call a second Scottish independence referendum  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

SNP says it is launching biggest Scottish independence campaign since referen...
15 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
SNP says it is launching biggest Scottish independence campaign since referendum  The Scotsman