The Herald

The Herald | Politics


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.


Drug deaths rise 11 per cent in Scotland as cocaine and nitazene fatalities soar
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
23 Sep 2026 at 9:54am
New NRS figures show Scotland's drug deaths rose 11% to 1,133 in 2025, with record cocaine fatalities and nitazenes linked to 247 deaths amid drug crisis.


Today's cartoon from Steven Camley - on the Scottish Government's flight expe...
by Camley's Cartoons
23 Sep 2026 at 9:19am
Today's cartoon from Steven Camley - you can read the full story here.


RECAP: Sandie Peggie gives evidence in RCN employment tribunal
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
23 Sep 2026 at 7:37am
Sandie Peggie is taking her trade union, the Royal College of Nursing, to an employment tribunal, claiming it failed to support her during the NHS Fife dispute over single-sex spaces.


Scottish ministers to hand Gupta £2.3m of taxpayers' cash ? while taking him ...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
23 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Scottish Forestry insists a £2.3m woodland grant to a Gupta-linked company remains valid even as ministers seek a court interdict against GFG Alliance and the tycoon faces a Serious Fraud Office investigation.


North Sea transition 'too slow' as 25,000 jobs lost since election, taskforce...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
22 Sep 2026 at 9:33am
A new report backed by the British Chambers of Commerce warns that oil and gas decline is outpacing growth in renewables, with 25,000 North Sea jobs lost since the last election.


Court of Session hears Scottish Government bid to keep Salmond files secret
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
22 Sep 2026 at 4:53pm
The Court of Session has reserved judgment in the Scottish Government's legal fight to keep parts of the so-called Salmond files secret, after a day of hearings that repeatedly turned on the contempt of court conviction of Craig Murray.


Group behind anti-immigration protest in Glasgow post lengthy defence of Nazis
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
22 Sep 2026 at 3:05pm
The organisers of a protest in Glasgow which has so far seen more than 20 people arrested have posted a lengthy defence of Nazism


'Hope and a prayer': HES warned it can't rebuild leadership alone after 'turb...
by Katrine Bussey
22 Sep 2026 at 2:39pm
Scandal-hit heritage body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) needs specialist help as it seeks to recruit key figures following ?a long period of turbulence?, MSPs have been told.


A Dundee councillor?s deepfake shows AI?s threat to political trust
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
22 Sep 2026 at 12:43pm
Dorothy McHugh?s convincing deepfake shows how AI can damage political trust - and expose gaps in platform moderation and the law, writes Hannah Brown.


How Leith can regain independence, a century after controversial merger with ...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
22 Sep 2026 at 12:07pm
The district could be given its own town council as part of proposed public sector reforms by the Scottish Government.


Councillor who won her deepfake battle - but says the real AI threat remains
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
22 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
Dundee councillor Dorothy McHugh welcomes removal of a convincing AI deepfake but warns platforms still fail to tackle fabricated political videos.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Sandie Peggie employment tribunal day one RECAP: Trans row nurse gives eviden...
23 Sep 2026 at 3:21pm

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

Cocaine and nitazenes have fuelled an increase in Scotland?s drug deaths.

Perhaps calling the SNP?s bluff and supporting a second referendum could be the only way of removing the party from power

Michael Shanks said Great British Energy had made ?huge strides? since being set up last year and that the number of jobs it helps create ?will only go up and up?.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health?s (RCPCH) report showed that Scotland had a reported child mortality rate of 8.9 deaths per 10,000 children in 2024.

The interim chair and interim CEO of Historic Environment Scotland faced a grilling from MSPs

The Scottish government argues disclosure of the material could identify complainers

Nurse Sandie Peggie is at the heart of a second employment tribunal - this time against her trade union

Wings over Scotland

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% …

Spot The Problem
27 Aug 2026 at 12:19pm
See if you can identify why this isn’t an ideal way to run a justice system. We’ve put a couple of clues in for the slower folk. Answer below. Still, the Crown Office IS at least theoretically accountable to Parliament, so as long as the governing party is full of strong, independent, fair-minded MSPs willing …

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

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.

MSP considered taking own life over chronic pain
18 Sep 2026 at 6:01pm
Cara McKee MSP is preparing to return to Holyrood next week after undergoing brain surgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

Minister defends MSP colleague after Transport Scotland blunder
17 Sep 2026 at 9:56am
Collette Stevenson, who is on the transport committee, asked a meeting whether government body Transport Scotland was a registered charity.

Scot Goes Pop

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...

"Well THAT one was worth waiting for!": SNP have DOUBLE Labour's support in d...
2 Sep 2026 at 11:38pm

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

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

Insight: The constitution is back at the forefront of the political agenda
17 Sep 2026 at 5:52pm
A Unionist fight back meeting has been held in Edinburgh, on the eve of the anniversary of indyref

Scrap ?net zero? phrase, MPs urge government
17 Sep 2026 at 9:05am
MPs believe the rising cost of living and soaring gas prices have made people increasingly view the net zero agenda with animosity

MSPs reject moratorium on data centres as minister vows new guidance in weeks
16 Sep 2026 at 8:34pm
Public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad made the commitment as Holyrood rejected a Green motion

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

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.

SNP told to drop 'aversion to scrutiny' and give 'straight answers' over publ...
22 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Trade unions and opposition parties fear that mistakes made during previous SNP-led public sector reforms will be repeated.

Nicola Sturgeon warns against 'alpha-male mentality' in dreary TV series The ...
21 Sep 2026 at 5:39pm
Most Scots already know the UK is ill-prepared for a major military attack from an aggressive foreign power. Perhaps Russia could be bored into submission by making them watch this dreary new reali...

John Swinney defends spending £18,000 on flight to watch Scotland at World Cup
21 Sep 2026 at 12:59pm
The SNP leader was offered a much cheaper option of flying to the US for the tournament.

The National

The National | Politics

Presiding Officer in brutal warning to Reform after walk-out stunt
23 Sep 2026 at 6:41pm

THE Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer has expressed his fury over Reform's walk-out stunt during Tuesday's independence referendum debate, telling party leader Malcolm Offord he will not "tolerate" such behaviour.

Michael Shanks accused of 'rewriting history' over 'insulting' GB Energy claim
23 Sep 2026 at 6:00pm

Michael Shanks has been accused of a 'vain attempt' to 'rewrite history' after making an 'insulting' claim about GB Energy

RAF chief warns UK?s enemies acting more ?provocatively? in space
23 Sep 2026 at 5:58pm

BRITAIN'S enemies are posing an increasing threat in space, the head of the RAF warned as he announced a new military unit tasked with defending satellites ...

UK Government warned of 'imperative' need to devolve employment to Holyrood
23 Sep 2026 at 5:49pm

The UK Government has been urged to devolve powers over migration and employment to Holyrood amid warnings they are essential to boost Scotland's labour market

In Berlin, affordable housing policy is winning elections. Can it in Scotland?
23 Sep 2026 at 5:25pm

Scotland has a long way to go on affordable housing

Glasgow drug services to close and be replaced with combined model saving £2m
23 Sep 2026 at 5:08pm

Glasgow drug services face closure as councillors approve a £2m savings plan after drug deaths rose 6% to 196, with a new combined service.

Safety concerns as seat on Caledonian Sleeper service 'randomly caught fire'
23 Sep 2026 at 4:35pm

THE Caledonian Sleeper is facing safety questions after a seat reportedly caught on fire ...

Thomas Kerr slammed for 'cosying up' with group who posted Nazi glorification...
23 Sep 2026 at 10:58am

REFORM MSP Thomas Kerr has been slammed for "cosying up" with a far-right group that recently took to Facebook to glorify Nazism

Douglas Alexander urged to explain campaigning with candidate investigated fo...
23 Sep 2026 at 2:22pm

Douglas Alexander has been urged to explain his campaigning in Aberdeen with a Labour council candidate who was previously suspended ahead of an investigation into racism

£12m path to Scotland's first Center Parcs reaches significant milestone
23 Sep 2026 at 1:17pm

A £12 MILLION path connecting two towns in the Borders to Scotland's first Center Parcs has reached a significant milestone ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

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

Number of children in temporary accommodation reaches record high
22 Sep 2026 at 5:00pm
Scottish homelessness statistics published

'Parties need to look themselves in the mirror' over public service reform, s...
22 Sep 2026 at 3:44pm
Ivan McKee has said that other political parties "need to look themselves in the mirror" and decide whether they will support public service reform plans

It?s the boring automation projects that survive
22 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
If you are working out which of your organisation's pilots deserves to become a programme, or whether the case for one has been made yet, we would be glad to talk it through.

MSPs to vote on legal mechanism for independence referendum
22 Sep 2026 at 1:06am
Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has said Scotland has the right to decide its own future

From reform ambition to public value
22 Sep 2026 at 1:02am
Scotland has set a clear direction for public-service reform. The opportunity now is to translate that ambition into practical changes that improve services, support the workforce and deliver lasting value for people.

Scottish Government reveals council reform proposals
21 Sep 2026 at 4:19pm
Reorganisation plan includes larger regional authorities

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

[CaRP] Can't open remote newsfeed [403].
Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Talking up Scotland

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

Buy Ardrossan harbour! Don?t buy Ardrossan harbour! The Herald pivots to be a...
23 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 From Martin Williams in the Herald today: Ministers pushed ahead with the purchase and redevelopment of a major Scottish ferry port despite an internal warning that the costs posed an af...

Nearly 90% (10 000) of those at risk of opioid overdose have been issued with...
23 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 STV today: Calls for more life-saving naloxone kits to reverse opioid overdoses amid contaminated drugs supply fears : https://news.stv.tv/north/calls-for-more-life-saving-naloxone-...

NHS Scotland?s gentler touch keeps ?ghost patients? safe from harm
23 Sep 2026 at 4:17pm
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 the Guardian today: ?Ghost patient? policy wrongly removing at-risk people from GP lists, doctors say – An NHS policy to remove ?ghost patients? from GP lists is inadvertently leavi...

Much as he?d like to James Cook does NOT know that Scotland?s drug death figu...
23 Sep 2026 at 4:16pm
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 With the help of Aimee Stanton, data journalist, James Cook has produced an extended piece with the above headline but little evidence for it. It’s utterly untenable. More on that below....

Drug deaths ? one-year increase does not change overall trend which is down 15%
23 Sep 2026 at 10:09am
Last year, the NRS graph, after a one year fall, showed also the trend in a dotted line with a shaded bandwidth of confidence and a fall from the peak of 1 339 to 1 017, 24%. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/drug-related-deaths-in-scotland-2024/ For some reason, time maybe, this year’s graph does not show the trend. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdf...

How Scottish Labour?s betrayal of Glasgow in the 1980s created a place of exc...
23 Sep 2026 at 9:34am
rate of any UK nation. 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 It’s true, 10.1 deaths among 1 to 15s in 2024, compared to 8.5 in England, 6.4 in Wales and 10.0 in Northern Ireland. It’s been like this for decades. Why? These g...

Under Scottish Labour average homelessness applications were nearly 40% highe...
22 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 Homelessness in Scotland: full statistical time series published today at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/homelessness-in-scotland-full-statistical-time-series/ Regulars here and...

Six times as many schools were in serious disrepair under Scottish Labour and...
22 Sep 2026 at 4:18pm
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 School estate statistics 2026 published today: Key points 37 school builds or substantial refurbishment projects completed in 2025-26. This brings the total number of school builds ...

Transport Secretary and more than 5 million others were ?oblivious? OF this z...
22 Sep 2026 at 4:17pm
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 West Coast Today, 17 September 2026, the above and: The new Arran ferry, MV Glen Sannox, leaked methane while carrying more than 80 passengers, just months after entering service. a...

Broken-down 62 year-old Canadian ferry is 50% older than CalMac?s oldest
22 Sep 2026 at 4:13pm
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 the Times Colonist 15 September 2026: B.C. Ferries sailings cancelled on Tuesday due to mechanical problems – Two B.C. Ferries sailings between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen were cancel...

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  Al Jazeera

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

Ten ideas to reset Scotland?s independence movement after Cardiff meeting - T...
20 Sep 2026 at 11:32am
Ten ideas to reset Scotland?s independence movement after Cardiff meeting  The National Scot

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

School politics class: Scotland and Wales renew push for independence ? using...
20 Sep 2026 at 10:53pm
School politics class: Scotland and Wales renew push for independence ? using Burnham?s own rhetoric  Financial Times

Reform stages Holyrood walk out over Scottish independence debate - The Herald
22 Sep 2026 at 4:11pm
Reform stages Holyrood walk out over Scottish independence debate  The Herald

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

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

'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

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

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

SNP need to realise that sly and sleekit heroes are few and far between - The...
23 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
SNP need to realise that sly and sleekit heroes are few and far between  The Scotsman

New DDRop Attack Breaks Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP Confidential Computing - Th...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
New DDRop Attack Breaks Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP Confidential Computing  The Hacker News

SF, SNP, Welsh leaders sign deal pushing for independence - RTE.ie
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
SF, SNP, Welsh leaders sign deal pushing for independence  RTE.ie

SNP write-off value of Murrell motorhome in party accounts - BBC
6 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
SNP write-off value of Murrell motorhome in party accounts  BBC

Sturgeon has not spoken to Murrell since he was jailed for embezzling SNP fun...
8 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
Sturgeon has not spoken to Murrell since he was jailed for embezzling SNP funds  BBC

Sturgeon's criticisms of Swinney reveal tensions in SNP ranks - BBC
6 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
Sturgeon's criticisms of Swinney reveal tensions in SNP ranks  BBC

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 must arm activists with answers to the key doorstep questions - The Natio...
23 Sep 2026 at 8:01pm
SNP must arm activists with answers to the key doorstep questions  The National Scot

Scotland?s drugs death surge is a moral stain on the SNP - telegraph.co.uk
23 Sep 2026 at 1:59pm
Scotland?s drugs death surge is a moral stain on the SNP  telegraph.co.uk

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  Al Jazeera

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.com
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031  bbc.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 Unite in Calls for Independence and EU R...
18 Sep 2026 at 6:35am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Unite in Calls for Independence and EU Return  politicstoday.org

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push - washi...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push  washingtonpost.com

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