The Herald

The Herald | Politics


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


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


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


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


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


How to watch Nicola Sturgeon?s final speech at Scottish Parliament today
by joe.donnelly2@newsquest.co.uk | Joe Donnelly
19 Mar 2026 at 12:00pm
Find out how to watch Nicola Sturgeon?s final Scottish Parliament speech live, including timing, streaming options and how to catch up later.


Màiri McAllan: Why I changed my vote on assisted dying
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Mar 2026 at 10:12am
Màiri McAllan has revealed why she withdrew support for Scotland?s assisted dying bill, citing fears over coercion, disability protections and gaps in care. Her decision was part of a dramatic late shift that ultimately sank the legislation.


Anas Sarwar faces questions over Scottish Labour's NHS app 'plans for Palanti...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
19 Mar 2026 at 5:30am
Anas Sarwar has been told to answer questions on whether his plans for an NHS app would open Scotland's health sector up to controversial Palatir firm.


Human rights watchdog seeks urgent talks with ministers over trans prison policy
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland?s human rights watchdog has urged ministers to ?prioritise? talks on rewriting the prison service?s transgender policy, warning it fails to properly consider the rights of women.


Scottish industry 'afterthought for Labour' claim amid hundreds of job losses
by ian.mcconnell@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Ian McConnell
19 Mar 2026 at 4:35am
The SNP has claimed Scottish industry is an 'afterthought' for the Labour Party, flagging hundreds of job losses.


Israeli-owned North Sea firm posts $2bn profit amid Iran war oil price surge
by mark.williamson@newsquest.co.uk | Mark Williamson
19 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
North Sea oil giant moves closer to approving plans for controversial Shetland field development amid surge in profits


Shona Robison demands UK Government help for Union Corner rebuild
19 Mar 2026 at 12:04am
Shona Robison has called on the UK Government to meet Glasgow City Council?s request for financial support to aid the recovery from the Union Corner fire.


Farage and Offord to unveil Reform election candidates and manifesto
19 Mar 2026 at 12:01am
Nigel Farage and Malcolm Offord will today unveil Reform UK candidates and the party's manifesto for the Holyrood elections.


John Swinney: 'I don't need a baby sitter in the form of Douglas Alexander'
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
19 Mar 2026 at 2:38pm
John Swinney hits out at UK Government over cancelled briefing as John Healey insists Prestwick Airport is not being used for US strikes into Iran.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Reform UK: The full list of candidates for the Holyrood 2026 election
19 Mar 2026 at 3:59pm

Check out who is standing for Reform UK in each Scottish constituency.

The party said it would reduce the number of MSPs and ?shut down the quangos?

The Scottish Government is being told to expand funded childcare to help working mothers.

Baroness Hallett said on the release of a new report into healthcare systems that the health service ?coped, but only just?.

The vote to ban greyhound racing comes just a day after the Senedd passed similar legislation in Wales.

The Scottish government is being urged to embed a right to palliative care into law following the assisted dying debate.

It is 15 years since the last passenger service ended between Scotland and mainland Europe

Ms Rayner has a grip on the party due to her ability to appeal to the voters who are abandoning Labour both for Reform and the Greens.

Wings over Scotland

Looking up at the stars
10 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
A fascinating line from the BBC this evening: The number of parties who got MSPs elected at the last election is? five. (Though in fairness there are now six, Reform having a single MSP after Graham Simpson defected from the Tories. The Lib Dems are even outnumbered by independents, of whom there are seven.) Also …

Scotland?s Most Frightened
4 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
This was just two months ago. (Longer version here.) ? And we’ll bet you anything you like he’s already wishing he hadn’t said it. Because a recent study suggested that Swinney might just achieve the impossible task he set for himself, and if he does then he’s REALLY screwed. Now, we don’t actually think that’ll …

Two Men Unalike
28 Feb 2026 at 1:41pm
So Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News got herself a scoop last night. And to be honest, readers, we were a bit confused. “Gender critical views” are not only lawful things to hold and express, they’re one of a small subset of opinions that are explicitly protected as such in law. And why would a …

The Tactics Of Suicide
26 Feb 2026 at 1:48pm
Sorry, readers, we’ve been too busy boiling with rage at revolting, cretinous Americans for the last few days to trust ourselves with writing a full-length article, but we’ve just about calmed down enough in time for this month’s polling analysis. Which is handy, because today is also the day of the Gorton and Denton by-election …

When the law breaks the law
19 Feb 2026 at 1:33pm
There is a not particularly funny joke that is sometimes told in legal circles about why a law student failed to finish his coursework ? because he had no conviction. With rare exceptions lawyers aren?t renowned for their sense of humour but I can?t help thinking someone, at the highest levels of our justice system, …

The Future Is Yesterday
18 Feb 2026 at 2:10pm
So on the one hand there’s obviously very little point paying attention to the SNP’s regional list candidates for May’s Holyrood election, because as this website has comprehensively demonstrated over recent months, the chances of the SNP having any list MSPs elected are remote. However, nothing is impossible, so let’s take a look at the …

Scotland In Numbers
17 Feb 2026 at 11:30pm
Cost of keeping vital rape crisis services in Glasgow operating: £500,000. Amount of money wasted by the Scottish Government fighting and losing court cases to try to remove women’s rights: £1.14 million. Angry yet?

The Longest Road
16 Feb 2026 at 1:23pm
As the six-year fight for justice for Alex Salmond continues, we thought you might like to see this clip from this morning’s Mike Graham Show, interviewing Paul McManus, the businessman and drummer in Glasgow rock band Gun who’s stepped up to fund the Salmond family’s case against the Scottish Government despite disagreeing with much of …

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

A Dumber Nation
9 Feb 2026 at 3:52pm
In politics, readers, evil and stupidity aren’t the same thing. But nor are they exclusive. Before we ask you to consider which of the terms applies to the Scottish Government led by John Swinney, we’d like you to read this letter sent to Wings by the auntie of two women imprisoned in Scottish jails. “I …

Craig Murray

Radicalism and Scottish Independence
14 Mar 2026 at 4:18pm

There is no place like home, and a few hours after arriving back in Scotland I was in Glasgow giving a talk to Pensioners for Independence. I still covered quite a wide sweep, but my focus came back to what I care about more than anything – the freedom, prosperity and just position in the …

Radicalism and Scottish Independence

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?
13 Mar 2026 at 5:48pm

I interviewed a prominent academic who is a profound critic of the Venezuelan government, and in contrast a strong academic supporter. The conversations were relaxed, open and I believe worthwhile. There is no serious dispute that the Venezuelan government shifted to some degree towards economic liberalism under President Maduro. The question is to what extent …

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK
12 Mar 2026 at 8:06am

I today met our legal team and instructed them to submit an application for interim relief in the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. If successful this will immediately lift the proscription in Scotland, pending the review. Scores of people in Scotland face imminent conviction for terrorist offences simply for exercising free …

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK

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

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

Metro Workers of Caracas

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

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

Joy at Death and Destruction

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

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

The War for Greater Israel

BBC Scotland

Reform vows to cut Scottish income tax below UK rate
19 Mar 2026 at 5:21pm
Nigel Farage's party has launched a manifesto and unveiled its candidates for the Holyrood election.

Reform UK's Scottish election manifesto at-a-glance
19 Mar 2026 at 5:33pm
The party has announced its policy plans ahead of the Holyrood poll on 7 May.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sturgeon was a 'better' FM than Swinney, says Greens co-leader
18 Mar 2026 at 8:23am
Gillian Mackay tells the BBC's Scotcast the SNP has moved away from a left wing political agenda under John Swinney.

Scotland's assisted dying bill rejected after emotional debate
18 Mar 2026 at 12:04am
Scotland would have become the first part of the UK to legalise the process had MSPs backed the proposals.

Emergency heating oil fund set up to support Scottish households
18 Mar 2026 at 10:42am
The Scottish government says its package would offer help to lower income households.

Scot Goes Pop

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This election is not a game. As yet another fringe pro-indy party starts bru...
12 Mar 2026 at 9:23pm
Until today, when he suddenly left the party after an angry tirade, Allan Petrie was the designated Nominating Officer of the "Alliance to Liberate Scotland".  (Indeed he technically still is, beca...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MSPs urged to end ?cruel? greyhound racing ahead of final vote on ban
18 Mar 2026 at 6:37am
Proposed legislation would make it an offence to operate a racing track for greyhounds and for a dog owner to race their animal on one.

MSPs reject Assisted Dying Bill after emotionally charged Holyrood debate
17 Mar 2026 at 10:12pm
Liam McArthur?s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is defeated by 69 votes to 57 in the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs expected to back Bill to regulate ?wild west? beauty procedures
17 Mar 2026 at 8:07pm
The Bill will limit who can carry out procedures

Neil Gray to miss historic assisted dying vote after being admitted to hospital
17 Mar 2026 at 5:19pm
Neil Gray said he would instead vote by proxy and will abstain given the Scottish Government's position

MSPs set for historic vote on whether to legalise assisted dying in Scotland
17 Mar 2026 at 6:37am
Members will be asked if terminally ill adults with decision-making capacity - and six months or less to live - should be allowed to seek medical help to die.

Starmer says UK working with allies on ?viable plan? to open Strait of Hormuz
16 Mar 2026 at 4:34pm
The Prime Minister has resisted Trump?s demands to send Royal Navy warships to help secure the vital shipping route

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

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

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

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

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

Nigel Farage heads to Scotland as Reform UK set to announce Holyrood election...
19 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
Anas Sarwar described Reform UK as "the same team playing under a different badge" due to the number of ex-Tories involved.

Scottish politics today: Turning kids away from vaping 'must be a health prio...
18 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the day's Scottish politics news.

Family of stroke victim criticises Anas Sarwar for 'flippant' comment that 'r...
18 Mar 2026 at 3:19pm
EXCLUSIVE: James Bundy told the Record "flippant comments like this risk reinforcing the very stereotypes we are working to overcome".

Vaping 'rife' in Scots schools as SNP Government branded 'slow footed' on issue
18 Mar 2026 at 2:49pm
Official guidance to headteachers states vape use is "inappropriate" at school even if a pupil has turned 18.

Prisoners dying in Scots jails reaches highest level in 14 years as overcrowd...
18 Mar 2026 at 11:17am
Scotland's prisons are bursting at the seams with repeated early release schemes failing to get a grip on the problem.

"The grief never goes away" Young footballer's mum demands urgent youth suici...
18 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
Sharon Johnstone is backing the Record?s Save Young Lives campaign and urging ministers to fund suicide prevention training in every school.

The National

The National | Politics

It?s only a 'special relationship' when we do what Donald Trump says
19 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm

THE precise nature of the so-called ?special relationship? between our state and the USA was made very clear by President Trump in his comments on Tuesday. He described the relationship as ?tremendous ... the best ... the longest ... the oldest?, but all in the past tense as in his view the Prime Minister in London has recently ruined it by not wading into another illegal attack on a foreign na...

Here?s how to hold the words ?voluntary union? up to the light
19 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm

AFTER years of ?not now?, after mandates ignored and promises broken, many independence supporters have concluded that engaging with Westminster at all is a fool?s game. They want a de facto referendum at the next UK election. They want a declaration based on the sovereignty of the Scottish people. They see the Voluntary Union Bill as just another useless appeal to a government that will never ...

Slab commemorating disgraced Andrew's visit to Scots town could be 'turned over'
19 Mar 2026 at 4:53pm

A SLAB commemorating a visit to Alloa by the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten Windsor could be turned over before works takes place to have it removed and replaced ...

Hunger strike launched to highlight South Sudan crisis
19 Mar 2026 at 4:50pm

Activists have begun a hunger strike to raise awareness of the "worsening humanitarian crisis" in South Sudan

Group of over 20,000 migrant workers blasts Shabana Mahmood claim in new report
19 Mar 2026 at 4:45pm

A GROUP representing more than 20,000 skilled migrants across the UK has brought up ?serious concerns? about Labour?s immigration proposals ...

UK Government urged to step in and save 120 jobs as Volvo business to close
19 Mar 2026 at 4:27pm

THE UK Government has been urged to step in and save more than 100 jobs after Volvo announced its plans to close part of its long-standing North Lanarkshire haulers business ...

I'm a student from Dundee ? here's why I protested Nigel Farage's speech
19 Mar 2026 at 3:42pm

THE protester who heckled Nigel Farage as he addressed the Reform UK Scotland conference has explained why they did it.

John Swinney fumes as key meeting snubbed due to 'babysitter' Douglas Alexander
19 Mar 2026 at 3:12pm

John Swinney has claimed a security briefing he was due to have on the Middle East conflict was 'cancelled' because Douglas Alexander was not available to attend as a 'babysitter'

John Swinney calls on UK Government for 'urgent' four nations meeting on energy
19 Mar 2026 at 2:50pm

First Minister John Swinney has written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer asking for an urgent four nations meeting to discuss the energy crisis

Nigel Farage fumes as protester interrupts Scottish conference speech
19 Mar 2026 at 3:00pm

NIGEL Farage reacted furiously after protesters interrupted his speech at the Reform UK Scotland conference.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supercomputer is super-charging the economy, report finds
18 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
The Archer2 system is based at the University of Edinburgh

Local Authorities Guide: Moray Council
18 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Council leader Kathleen Robertson answers questions about local authority

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Farage backs Tory attack on Muslim iftar event, saying public prayer ?was a s...
19 Mar 2026 at 5:40pm
Nigel Farage echoed Nick Timothy?s comments after he said public prayer for Ramadan was an ?act of domination?Starmer claims Tories have ?problem with Muslims? after Timothy tweetCleverly is trying to show a video, but it is not working. So he just invites Kemi Badenoch to start her speech.The Co...

Supporters of Scotland?s assisted dying bill frustrated by lack of backing fr...
18 Mar 2026 at 6:41pm
Just three of Labour?s 20 MSPs in Holyrood voted for bill, despite support for legislation in House of CommonsSupporters of Scotland?s assisted dying bill have said they are frustrated a significant majority of Labour MSPs voted against the proposals, despite Labour?s substantial support for the ...

Scottish parliament votes against legalising assisted dying
17 Mar 2026 at 10:44pm
MSPs reject bill after concerted campaign to block it and despite amendments intended to placate criticsThe Scottish parliament has voted against legalising assisted dying after critics and religious groups led a concerted campaign to block the measures.MSPs voted 69 to 57 to reject the proposals...

The Guardian view on the fragile politics of the union: Labour?s woes have co...
17 Mar 2026 at 6:41pm
Following May?s elections, first ministers committed to independence could be in place in Edinburgh, Cardiff and BelfastThe general election of July 2024 did not just call time on a decade and a half of Conservative rule. It also delivered the most pro-Union parliament since the early 2010s, when...

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

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

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

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

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

Alba party to wind up and not contest Scottish election
8 Mar 2026 at 8:28pm
Pro-independence party formed by Alex Salmond in 2021 had suffered membership fall and financial crisisThe Alba party has announced that it will wind up and not field any candidates for the 2026 Scottish parliament election.The pro-independence party was formed in 2021 by the late Alex Salmond as...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Thoughts on the failure of the assisted dying bill
18 Mar 2026 at 2:46am
Back in 1998, after we had moved to Spain, my late husband Andy and I became very close friends with our new neighbour, a Norwegian woman called Ellie who had moved to Spain after retiring from a career on the Norwegian oil rigs in the North Sea. She was looking forward to spending her final …

Scotland: Too wee?
17 Mar 2026 at 9:11am
Is it time to look again at the long-debated theory that Scotland is ?too wee? to be a successful independent country? A guest post by Diane Izzett https://bsky.app/profile/dizzyscot.bsky.social With the yes voters taking a lead in recent polls, do the facts support this or is it just the final death throes of a coloniser losing …

Lessons from 2014 for next time round
14 Mar 2026 at 6:23pm
An important new academic book looking at the 2014 Scottish independence referendum has just been published. The snappily titled “Discourse, Voice, and the Politics of Participation in the Scottish Independence Referendum” by Dr Maike Dinger, a Lecturer in Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling is available on Amazon for £104.99 hardback or …

So-called muscular unionism is a sign of Westminster?s fragility
12 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
The Labour party has responded to the leak of a memo from Starmer to cabinet ministers in which he tells them not to be “deferential” to the devolved governments and not to hesitate to override them even on devolved matters. Starmer was questioned about the memo by SNP MP Stephen Gethins at Prime Minister’s Questions …

Devolution has run out of road
10 Mar 2026 at 6:48pm
This always happens, every time I decide to take a bit of time off, a big news story breaks and it’s back to the keyboard. On Tuesday, a Labour government memo was leaked which proves that Keir Starmer is hell bent on undermining the devolution settlement. In the memo, sent to all members of the …

What the end of Alba means for May?s election and the broader independence mo...
9 Mar 2026 at 5:35pm
Well that’s it. The Alba party has gone and will not be contesting the Holyrood election in May, or indeed any elections in the future. Unlike some, I am not gloating about the party’s demise even though I was never a supporter of it. I kept my thoughts about Alba largely to myself despite coming …

Labour?s dangerous plans for NHS Scotland
8 Mar 2026 at 4:33pm
The Holyrood elections are just eight weeks away. This will be a critical election for Scotland’s future and it is more important than ever that Scotland returns a pro-independence majority, ideally an SNP majority to the Scottish Parliament. It’s not just the future of hopes for independence which is at stake. This election is also …

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

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

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

The Courier

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Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland

As 58 babies might have survived with better care in Oxfordshire, BBC Scotlan...
19 Mar 2026 at 10:29am
BBC Scotland’s insert in BBC Breakfast this morning had a story of Maternity Services in Kirkcaldy not being ‘up to standard.’ As search found the above. BBC Scotand’s Edinburgh, Fife and East website had Nothing. I tried again: OMG, that’ll be it! 58 babies not saved. I have relatives in Fife. I clicked on the link: Wait why is BBC Oxfordshire reporting on maternity care in Fife? I read on: At...

Covid Inquiry returns today to look at impact on NHS ? How Scotland?s stronge...
19 Mar 2026 at 9:48am
On 21 December 2022, there were only 8 Covid patients in ICU in Scotland but 174 in England, nearly twice as many per head of population. Even in Wales with a smaller population, there were more, 10. Throughout November and December as Covid hospitalisations began to climb again, there had been 2 to 3 times as many, pro rata, in English Hospitals than in Scotland. What was going on? Scotland ha...

Covid Inquiry returns today ? The Scottish Government took a significantly di...
19 Mar 2026 at 9:24am
BBC England and Wales are headlining this but BBC Scotland is not. Perhaps this is why. ? excess deaths during the worst of the pandemic, March 2020 to February 2022, were nearly twice as high in England and 20% higher in Wales, revealed in the above archived document for excess deaths and in this on the overall death rate: The Scottish Government took a significantly different approach to exte...

As Covid Inquiry reconvenes ? How and why Scotland had fewer Covid deaths tha...
19 Mar 2026 at 9:05am

As UK media panic over gas supplies remember in 2024 alone Scotland?s surplus...
18 Mar 2026 at 9:32pm

Contrary to Daily Record?s shameful front page today ? Scotland?s Child and A...
18 Mar 2026 at 9:11am

Reposted as BBC Scotland wrongly claim Scot Gov was ?forced to buy Ardrossan ...
18 Mar 2026 at 8:56am

Major ?gold standard? research reveals Scots are significantly less worried a...
17 Mar 2026 at 10:38pm
From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking images. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, worry about all forms of violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures, has fallen, in the case of physical violence of a personal nature, by around just under hal...

Violent crime as experienced by people, beyond police reporting, reveals huge...
17 Mar 2026 at 10:37pm
From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking figures. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures – a 37% fall and 118 000 fewer victims per year! Imagine the media coverage if these trends went the opposite way. T...

Suspected drug deaths static but official figures point to greater optimism
17 Mar 2026 at 10:33pm
Suspected (left) and official drug deaths (right) in Scotland From Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: October to December 2025, published today, the above, and: There were 248 suspected drug deaths recorded during the period October to December 2025. This was 15% (43) fewer than the previous quarter (July to September 2025, 291 deaths), and 7% (16) more than the same calendar quarter in the pre...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

Reform UK pledge to cut size of Scottish parliament and review its devolved p...
19 Mar 2026 at 1:53pm
Reform UK pledge to cut size of Scottish parliament and review its devolved powers  Thenational Scot

SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change the...
16 Mar 2026 at 8:24am
SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change their minds  Ipsos

Swinney?s management speak is independence campaign?s best asset - The Times
17 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
Swinney?s management speak is independence campaign?s best asset  The Times

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

From the ashes of Alba! Tommy Sheridan launches 'bold' new bid for Holyrood r...
19 Mar 2026 at 3:12pm
From the ashes of Alba! Tommy Sheridan launches 'bold' new bid for Holyrood return  Scottish Daily Express

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

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

Repositioning Independence - Nation.Cymru
15 Mar 2026 at 8:00pm
Repositioning Independence  Nation.Cymru

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change the...
16 Mar 2026 at 8:24am
SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change their minds  Ipsos

The SNP?s benefits bill is out of control - Scottish Conservatives
19 Mar 2026 at 5:28pm
The SNP?s benefits bill is out of control  Scottish Conservatives

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

Green councillor defects to SNP to better fight 'rising threat' of Reform UK ...
19 Mar 2026 at 2:07pm
Green councillor defects to SNP to better fight 'rising threat' of Reform UK  Thenational Scot

Why SNP cannot afford to be complacent despite dominant position in polls - T...
19 Mar 2026 at 4:59pm
Why SNP cannot afford to be complacent despite dominant position in polls  The Scotsman

Scottish industry 'afterthought for Labour' claim amid hundreds of job losses...
19 Mar 2026 at 4:38am
Scottish industry 'afterthought for Labour' claim amid hundreds of job losses  The Herald

SNP candidate to launch ?hopeful, ambitious? manifesto at public drop-in even...
19 Mar 2026 at 6:15am
SNP candidate to launch ?hopeful, ambitious? manifesto at public drop-in event  Shetland Times

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

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

SNP tax and benefits policies ?cost households extra £500 a year? - The Times
18 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
SNP tax and benefits policies ?cost households extra £500 a year?  The Times

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

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

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

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

SNP tell UK Government 'to prepare for loss of Scottish subsidies after Yes v...
14 Mar 2026 at 2:09pm
SNP tell UK Government 'to prepare for loss of Scottish subsidies after Yes vote'  Thenational Scot

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

Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push - Reu...
18 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push  Reuters

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

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

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