The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Holyrood election 2026: Live results and updates as counting begins
8 May 2026 at 5:25am
Counting gets underway in the Scottish Parliament election. The SNP went into the votes favourites to return to Holyrood as the largest party. Follow our live blog for every development on what will be a big day in Scottish politics.


Business chief accuses parties of ignoring Scotland's £4.7bn fiscal black hole
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
8 May 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland's looming £4.7 billion funding gap should have been "at the centre of the election campaign" but has been conspicuously absent, the head of Scotland's most influential business lobby has warned.


??Unspun: Election Briefing: Who will win this seismic election?
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
8 May 2026 at 7:55am
This is shaping up to be a seismic election. The Herald has you covered for the winners, losers and quitters.


Scotland waits for counting to begin as polls close in Holyrood election
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 May 2026 at 10:08pm
Counting will get underway across Scotland on Friday morning, with the first results due around midday. Polls suggest the SNP will not secure an overall majority.


The £4.7bn problem that Scotland's politicians have ignored during this campaign
7 May 2026 at 7:00pm
The Scottish Government's own figures point to a £4.7bn funding shortfall by 2029. Michelle Ferguson OBE of the CBI says it's time politicians were honest about it.


Four arrested following 'neo-Nazi' protest in Perthshire on Saturday
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
7 May 2026 at 4:03pm
Four men have been arrested following a protest in Perthshire where a 'neo-Nazi' flag was placed on a war memorial


Man arrested on suspicion of 'weapon offences' near Andrew Mountbatten-Windso...
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
7 May 2026 at 3:37pm
A man has been arrested on suspicion of public order and weapon offences near Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor?s home on the Sandringham Estate following reports the former prince was threatened while walking his dogs


One in four voters could still change their mind in 'absolutely critical elec...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 May 2026 at 5:00am
A slew of poll released on the final day of the campaign suggest that one in four voters could still switch their allegiance today, meaning all parties 'still have something to play for'.


Oil giant highlights value of North Sea production amid Iran war fallout
by mark.williamson@newsquest.co.uk | Mark Williamson
7 May 2026 at 4:30am
Oil giant warns impact of disruption to Middle East supplies will be felt for months even if peace deal is agreed


Scottish textiles firm achieves US coup amid Trump tariff disruption
by mark.williamson@newsquest.co.uk | Mark Williamson
7 May 2026 at 4:30am
Venerable Scottish cashmere clothing enjoys big boost to profitability amid challenging luxury market conditions


Scottish carbon capture plan generates investor interest after setback
by mark.williamson@newsquest.co.uk | Mark Williamson
7 May 2026 at 4:30am
Oil and gas industry leaders underline continued confidence in plan to develop carbon capture hub on Aberdeenshire coast after setback


Pathetic political row should not overshadow major breakthrough for Scotland
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
7 May 2026 at 4:30am
Move be Donald Trump to ditch Scotch whisky tariffs should have been focus of political reaction


Party leaders vote as polls open in most consequential Holyrood election in y...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 May 2026 at 11:34am
With 129 seats up for grabs ? 73 constituency MSPs and 56 returned via eight regional lists ? a party needs to win at least 65 for a majority.


How The Herald is covering what could be Scotland's most consequential election
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 May 2026 at 7:07am
Results, analysis and live coverage ? The Herald has everything you need as Scotland votes in a potentially historic Holyrood election.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Scottish Elections 2026 LIVE: Vote counting due to begin in Scottish Parliame...
8 May 2026 at 7:40am

Follow along live as the vote count for the Scottish Parliament elections get underway.

The SNP could refuse to work with Reform MSPs through previously-established Holyrood cross-party working conventions if John Swinney is returned to power

Gap between parties might be ?unbridgeable?, she warns

If you?re heading to the polling station today, you may as well combine it with a dog walk.

The survey by Diffley Partnership had the Nationalists on 56 seats - nine short of a majority.

The varying manifestos show how different rural Scotland?s future would look under each party.

The 2026 Scottish election has arrived - here?s what you need to take with you to vote.

We?ll have reporters on the ground throughout Scotland to bring you all the latest news, gossip and analysis

It may have been a dull election campaign, but that does not mean there will not be drama on polling day.

Wings over Scotland

Pick Your Poison
7 May 2026 at 12:43am
At the end of last year we noted the unusual and persistent levels of divergence in Scottish political polling. As polls have become much more frequent during the election campaign, nothing about that has changed. The final polls, published yesterday, are so far apart from each other that they tell us basically zip. Analysing this …

The value bet
6 May 2026 at 4:25pm
To pass the time on (praise be to Baby Jeebus) the last day of the Holyrood election campaign, we thought we’d do a catch-up summary of all the seat projections we could find from last month and this month. Here it is. Now, as it happens we think the potential seat ranges are significantly wider. …

Anas Sarwar is a winner
6 May 2026 at 3:14am
Specifically, of the Single Most Toe-Curlingly, Face-Palmingly Cretinous Thing Said In The 2026 Holyrood Election Campaign, And Possibly Any Election Ever, Prize. We mean, wow. We could easily write a 1000-word article purely on the top 10 things that are fatuously, obviously idiotic about those three short sentences, and so could you. So imagine how …

Binfire Of The Vanities
4 May 2026 at 3:52pm
For a nation that prides itself on hating the Tories, this is very odd. And if you don’t see how, let us illustrate. If you simply combined the Tory and Reform votes from the latest poll, the election would be on a knife-edge, with the right-wing alliance just three points behind the SNP on the …

Seven Days Too Long
30 Apr 2026 at 1:57pm
It’s nearly over, readers. Just one more week of this to endure. The most miserable Holyrood election campaign of all time will end next Thursday with an election which will deliver Scotland’s most miserable devolved government of all time. Only the exact form, colour and shape of the misery remains to be determined. So as …

Push The Button
25 Apr 2026 at 12:43pm
We’ve been thinking about this all morning, readers. To the point where we’d vote for any party pledging to implement it at once. It’s the best such moral-dilemma question we’ve ever seen, and the absolute key to the state of humankind as a species. It’s a near-perfect practical illustration of the concept of “suicidal empathy”, …

How To Get Away With Crimes
22 Apr 2026 at 6:03pm
After many years of vindictively, vexatiously and maliciously plaguing innocent people, it seemed in February this year that disgraced and deranged former policeman Lynsay Watson‘s campaign of terror might be finally beginning to draw to a close. ? Attending the Civic Justice Centre in Manchester as part of an ongoing attempt to persecute the feminist …

The Pit Of Vipers
19 Apr 2026 at 2:50pm
It’s hard to know where to start with the Sunday Mail’s lead story today. Especially if one doesn’t want sent to prison. So we hope you’ll forgive us if we’re extra-careful. The article contains things even we’d never read before. The Mail has redacted some of the names, but – well, we’re not going to …

The Narcissism Of No Differences
17 Apr 2026 at 3:29pm
So that’s the full set of manifestos in. You can download them all here in a oner, if you’re REALLY bored. But we don’t advise it, because we can just tell you what they say in a couple of minutes. SNP: “If you’re even reading this we know you’re absolute idiots, so here are a …

Happy Anniversary
16 Apr 2026 at 10:56am
It was exactly one year ago today that the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the case of For Women Scotland Vs The Scottish Ministers, a judgment which has still not been implemented by the Scottish or UK governments, so it was quite bold of the SNP to choose it as the launch date for …

Craig Murray

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

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

The 2026 Scottish Elections

The Morass of Injustice
2 May 2026 at 11:24am

A vast cloying morass of injustice has visibly submerged the British legal systems in anything connected to Palestine. In a quite incredible series of linked and kinked events this week, the senior KC representing one of the Palestine Action activists in the Filton trial was in the Court of Appeal arguing against being found in …

The Morass of Injustice

An Inspiring Story
21 Apr 2026 at 7:54am

In 2018, at the height of the economic crisis in Venezuela through crippling sanctions, Kellogg’s announced the overnight closure of their Maracay factory with hundreds of redundancies – and massive knock-on effects in the local community. The workers refused to accept the closure and, with government assistance, restarted the factory. It is still running eight …

An Inspiring Story

Vote for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland
15 Apr 2026 at 12:48pm

It was not my intention to run for election to the Scottish parliament from a hospital bed in Caracas, but sometimes we have to take what life gives us. I went to a clinic a week ago feeling dizzy and was immediately rushed to hospital. My heart rate was fluttering and below 20 bpm. I …

Vote for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland

The Strait of Hormuz
8 Apr 2026 at 5:02pm

In international law, Tehran has every right to close the strait of Hormuz to nations with which it is in armed conflict. Two vital points: 1) States who permit attacks on Iran to be launched from their territory can be blocked 2) Iran can block neutral ships from trading with states with which it is …

The Strait of Hormuz

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez
31 Mar 2026 at 1:16pm

As I was leaving the University of the Communes in Tocuyito, after a joyful and uplifting visit, an earnest young Professor came up to me and pulled me aside. Very quietly, he asked me what was going to happen. A number of the students were terrified there would be regime change and they, picked as …

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez

BBC Scotland

Six things to watch out for in the Scottish election
8 May 2026 at 6:08am
Results are expected to be announced across the country from early on Friday afternoon.

Scottish election 2026: When will your result be declared?
8 May 2026 at 6:08am
Find out the approximate time your constituency and regional list results will be declared during the day on Friday.

Polls close in 2026 Scottish Parliament election
7 May 2026 at 10:00pm
Polling stations closed at 22:00, however the first results are not expected until Friday afternoon.

Nine seats that could decide Scotland's election
7 May 2026 at 10:01pm
The key battlegrounds which could tell us how May's election will go across Scotland.

STV staff to strike on election results day
7 May 2026 at 6:06pm
Reporters and some technical staff will not broadcast any election coverage in a dispute over a pay freeze.

Holyrood election outcome is anything but certain on final day of campaigning
6 May 2026 at 6:12am
In the volatile politics of 2026, it is probably best to prepare for a range of possible scenarios, writes BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell.

The big issues and key flashpoints from Scotland's election campaign
2 May 2026 at 9:19am
BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell examines what we have learned during the Holyrood election campaign.

It's been a Holyrood election of disputed claims - BBC Verify fact-checked them
5 May 2026 at 6:09am
BBC Verify has been fact-checking the political parties and seen some questionable claims at the forefront of the debate.

The city caught in the middle of the big energy shift debate
30 Apr 2026 at 1:08am
Is the UK fumbling the shift away from oil and gas jobs?

Scotland's population is shifting - could it affect the election outcome?
24 Apr 2026 at 11:08pm
Changing populations mean that Scotland's electoral map has been redrawn - which could influence how parties campaign, and how the election plays out.

Council apology after envelopes say photo ID needed for election
5 May 2026 at 3:25pm
The envelopes incorrectly say photo identification will be needed to vote in the Scottish Parliament elections.

Border politics - how similar jobs in the same firm deliver different tax bills
6 May 2026 at 6:25am
Workers in southern Scotland can find themselves paying more tax than colleagues who live south of the border.

Scot Goes Pop

Final Holyrood opinion poll round-up, plus the seven constituencies YouGov sa...
7 May 2026 at 1:23pm
So I voted a couple of hours ago, and I Made Mine A Double, Stoo. No real clues about the turnout because I always choose a quiet time of day, but there was a steady trickle of people going in and ...

Make Mine A Double: as the polling stations open, be a 'peach' and listen to ...
7 May 2026 at 8:44am
The polling stations are now open and the Scottish Parliament election of 2026 is well underway, so let's be 'peachy' and have a final word about the voting system.  I've been writing this blog sin...

MRP latest: Survation sizzler gives SNP huge 20-point lead over Labour on the...
6 May 2026 at 8:24pm
There may be blogposts coming at you all evening, because we've got polls coming out of our ears at the moment.  Hot off the press is the Survation MRP poll, which I find really interesting, becaus...

Dramatic Find Out Now poll gives the SNP a mammoth 24-point lead, puts pro-in...
6 May 2026 at 6:56pm
As you'd expect on the eve of polling day, there's quite a bit of new opinion poll information, so I'm going to try to split it over several different blogposts this evening to make it more managea...

Is tomorrow's Scottish Parliament election the end of the road for Labour in ...
6 May 2026 at 1:01pm
I've now completed my profiles of all 73 Holyrood constituencies for The National.  I reckon in terms of combined word count they must come to somewhere between 50,000 and 60,000 words - which is a...

Paradoxically, the Daily Record's endorsement is clear evidence of both Labou...
6 May 2026 at 11:00am
The Daily Record's mindless support for the Labour party, regardless of circumstances, will survive the heat death of the universe. But it's no longer 2007, and very few people are going to be infl...

Final YouGov MRP projection of the campaign suggests pro-independence parties...
5 May 2026 at 11:13pm
Thanks to Marcia for alerting me to YouGov's update (the second and almost certainly final one) of their MRP projection for Holyrood.  It leaves us none the wiser about the direction of travel beca...

SNP and Greens both improve their standing in the final More In Common MRP poll
5 May 2026 at 1:39am
I took a little bank holiday jaunt to the seaside earlier, and it suddenly struck me that I didn't see a single election poster anywhere on the journey.  You literally wouldn't know there was an el...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Starmer takes responsibility for ?tough? election results but vows to carry on
8 May 2026 at 8:55am
Sir Keir faces further heavy losses as vote counting continues throughout Friday

Starmer under pressure as Labour suffers local election losses
8 May 2026 at 7:39am
The Prime Minister faces further heavy losses as vote counting continues throughout Friday

Vote counting begins in Scottish Parliament election
8 May 2026 at 6:34am
The first constituency results are expected to be declared around midday

Polls close in Scottish Parliament election
7 May 2026 at 10:00pm
The first results are expected to be declared early on Friday afternoon

Voting under way in Scottish Parliament election
7 May 2026 at 6:42am
Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday

Communities fight for representation and access as Scotland heads to the polls
6 May 2026 at 8:13pm
Efforts are particularly focused on supporting people new to the country and those with disabilities.

Reform accused of ?misinformation? over Edinburgh Council?s ?asylum hotel? plans
6 May 2026 at 6:18pm
Reform held a press call outside the former Northfield House Hotel in Edinburgh, which it claimed would be used to house 'male refugees'

When will you find out who your new MSP is?
6 May 2026 at 4:29pm
The first are expected to be declared early on Friday afternoon

What could the May elections mean for Keir Starmer?
5 May 2026 at 12:45pm
Less than two days until the polls open, the mood in the Labour party is not good

Greens vow to examine Donald Trump?s wealth
3 May 2026 at 3:16pm
The party said it would open an inquiry into how the US president funded his Scottish golf courses if it wins next week?s election.

Scotland has suffered nearly 7,000 days of failure under SNP, Findlay says
3 May 2026 at 3:11pm
The Scottish Tory leader accused John Swinney?s party of having a ?reverse Midas touch?.

Only SNP vote can bring ?fresh start of independence? and block Farage ? Swinney
3 May 2026 at 3:10pm
First Minister John Swinney is expected to make the announcement later on Sunday in a visit to the Aberdeenshire area.

Sarwar vows to give NHS waiting lists ?the chop? as he visits karate dojo
3 May 2026 at 3:08pm
The Scottish Labour leader said the NHS ?is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP?.

Lib Dems to ?fight any attempt? by Reform to bring in fracking in Scotland
3 May 2026 at 3:05pm
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton made the commitment ahead of Thursday?s Holyrood election.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scottish election results LIVE as counting well underway across the country
8 May 2026 at 9:30am
Follow every result from across Scotland as the counting gets underway following the vote on Thursday, May 7.

Scottish election 2026: Counting gets underway as first results set to be dec...
8 May 2026 at 4:30am
Ballot boxes will be opened across the country from 9am with the first results expected around 12pm.

The seventh Holyrood election was easily the worst as apathy set to win the day
8 May 2026 at 4:30am
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the political parties failed to get on the same page as voters during a dismal campaign.

Scottish election 2026: Six funny or cringe moments from the Holyrood campaig...
7 May 2026 at 11:54am
It's been dubbed the most "meh" election of recent times. But there were still some funny - or slightly cringe - moments from the Holyrood campaign trail as the big parties chased votes over the la...

Scottish election 2026 LIVE as polling stations close for the night
7 May 2026 at 9:11am
Political leaders from across Scotland campaigned for your votes ahead of the crucial election.

Scottish election 2026: Voters head to the polls to decide who wins power at ...
7 May 2026 at 4:30am
A new poll last night showed the SNP?s lead tightening with support for Scottish Labour rising.

John Swinney challenged over 'insane' business rates hikes as industry figure...
6 May 2026 at 3:50pm
The SNP leader was campaigning in Hamilton when he was approached by the operations manager of a leading chain of live music bars.

Jordan Linden scandal proves SNP is not 'fit for office' after former rising ...
6 May 2026 at 12:24pm
John Swinney has called on Linden, a former SNP leader of North Lanarkshire Council, to apologise to victims for their "suffering".

Anas Sarwar accuses SNP of "corruption" after sex offender Jordan Linden jailed
6 May 2026 at 12:09pm
The Scottish Labour leader said the Jordan Linden scandal reflected wider failings in John Swinney's party.

'All to play for' as undecided Scots voters will choose who wins the 'meh' Ho...
6 May 2026 at 4:30am
The SNP's dream of winning a majority is in a "precarious" position as many fed-up Scots remain undecided on who to vote for, with some constituencies too close to call as a result, says Chris McCa...

The National

The National | Politics

Labour minister makes bizarre defence pledge in response to local election re...
8 May 2026 at 9:18am

The first wave of local election results have been 'tough' for Keir Starmer's party, the Prime Minister has said, while the Defence Secretary has said that the party's needs to give voters 'hope for the future' by increasing defence spending

Emergency anti-Reform march to take over streets of Glasgow
8 May 2026 at 9:06am

CAMPAIGNERS are calling on people to come together in Glasgow for "a day of rage against Reform UK" with an emergency march and rally

Scottish election tracker - Maps and charts show Scotland results so far
8 May 2026 at 9:00am

THERE are 129 MSPs set to be elected to the Scottish Parliament.

?I?m not going to walk away?, Keir Starmer says after Labour sees electoral m...
8 May 2026 at 8:11am

KEIR Starmer finds himself under pressure following disastrous local election results as Nigel Farage claimed Reform UK is on course to win the next general election

All the 2026 Holyrood results and updates from counts across Scotland
8 May 2026 at 7:46am

Follow our live blog for Scottish election 2026 results, with real?time seat declarations, expert analysis and updates as the new Holyrood take shape

Glasgow local denied vote in Scottish elections despite 'registration success...
8 May 2026 at 5:00am

A GLASGOW local has been denied the chance to cast their first-ever vote in a Scottish parliament election ? despite being told they were on the electoral register ...

Watch The National Podcast as Scottish election polls close
7 May 2026 at 10:36pm

THE polls have closed in the Holyrood elections ? and we've put together all the latest reaction.

Pro-independence parties in final pitch to voters as polls open
7 May 2026 at 5:00am

Pro-independence parties have made their final pitch to voters as polls open across the country for the Scottish elections ...

This Holyrood election we?re back down a well-trodden path
7 May 2026 at 5:00am

The last five years in Scottish politics have been a whirlwind, for independence supporters and Unionists alike ...

Plan your resignation to avoid more Labour chaos, Ed Miliband 'tells Keir Sta...
7 May 2026 at 10:28pm

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has told Keir Starmer that he should plan his resignation, reports say ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Keir Starmer says he ?takes responsibility? for English council losses
8 May 2026 at 9:57am
Labour has already lost control of eight councils in England with counting now underway in Scotland and Wales

Scottish Election 2026: What happens next?
7 May 2026 at 7:00am
Who will be first minister and which party will lead the Scottish Government?

SNP set for victory and Reform on track for second, polls say in final predic...
6 May 2026 at 1:37pm
But John Swinney may not get his majority

Former council leader Jordan Linden jailed for sexual offences
6 May 2026 at 12:26pm
The sentencing comes four years after Linden quit over the allegations

Cybercriminals struggling to adopt AI, study finds
6 May 2026 at 12:10pm
The report analysed a dataset of 100 million posts from underground cybercrime communities and found that most hackers lack the skills or resources to support real innovation within their criminal activities

AI is ?defining currency? of our age, says Liz Kendall
28 Apr 2026 at 5:22pm
The minister pledged to work with other ?middle power nations? on AI to improve global security

Morgan McSweeney: Mandelson revelations were a knife to my soul
28 Apr 2026 at 3:22pm
Prime minister's former chief-of-staff appears before Foreign Affairs Committee

UK Government will ?impose some form? of social media restrictions for children
28 Apr 2026 at 1:22pm
Ministers have stopped short of implementing a blanket ban

John Swinney vows to bring forward Holyrood vote in bid to secure second inde...
27 Apr 2026 at 4:39pm
The SNP leader pledged to 'hit the ground running' if his party remains in power after the election

SNP maintains lead in new Scottish election poll
27 Apr 2026 at 4:05pm
A single-party majority government is the most popular option for voters, research finds

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes
8 May 2026 at 9:52am
From devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales to councils and mayoralties in England, find out what happened in your areaLatest news updates and analysis from election night Continue reading...

Friday briefing: What the local election results tell us so far
8 May 2026 at 6:58am
In today?s newsletter: gains for Reform and losses for Labour in early results, but experts say overall picture underlines ?the fracturing of British politics?Good morning. If yesterday had been a general election, then by now, thanks to thousands of people beavering through the night counting vo...

Polls close in elections across England, Scotland and Wales
7 May 2026 at 10:00pm
Results of elections for councils in England, the Senedd in Wales and the Scottish parliament could transform Great Britain?s political landscape2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votesPolls have closed across England, Scotland and Wales for local, mayoral and parliament...

STV?s Scotland election coverage to be hit by strike action over pay
7 May 2026 at 12:46pm
About 120 journalists and broadcast staff expected to protest about pay freeze as STV invests in new radio stationCoverage of Scotland?s election counts by STV, the commercial broadcaster, is expected to be heavily hit by strike action in an escalating dispute over pay.The National Union of Journ...

Thursday briefing: ?Five things to look out for in today?s local and parliame...
7 May 2026 at 6:34am
In today?s newsletter: As voters cast their ballots from Wales to Westminster, long?established political loyalties face their toughest test in decades, with parties old and new vying to reshape the national landscapeMillions of Britons head to the polls today. From the Scottish Highlands to the ...

?I am losing faith?: disaffected Scottish voters may deny SNP a majority
6 May 2026 at 7:03pm
This Holyrood election is the most unpredictable in years, with Labour claiming it is pulling in the don?t knowsIt was supposed to be a carefully choreographed walkabout for John Swinney through his party?s target seat of Hamilton. Instead, the Scottish National party leader was confronted by ang...

Lib Dems accuse Badenoch of being willing to ?put Farage in No 10? after she ...
6 May 2026 at 5:20pm
Conservative leader says her party ?are willing to work with people who will help deliver Conservative policies?Labour has criticised Zack Polanski for saying he was concerned about how the suspect in the Golders Green stabbings was treated when he was arrested by the police.Referring to what Pol...

May elections: What?s at stake across England, Wales and Scotland?
6 May 2026 at 6:00am
Will Reform take Sunderland, or the Greens take Hackney? Can Plaid Cymru take a historic victory in Wales, and will Labour be forced into third place in Scotland? We examine the possible outcomes for election nightThe Scottish, Welsh, and local English elections on Thursday 7 May are a huge test ...

Labour?s nationwide collapse risks making Nigel Farage the face of the UK?s f...
6 May 2026 at 6:00am
Scottish and Welsh nationalism will be further radicalised if Reform UK sets the tone of debate over inclusion in the British stateKeir Starmer has neither a heartland nor a stronghold. That is the picture likely to emerge once all the votes in this week?s local and devolved elections have been c...

Badenoch defends seeking a ban on pro-Palestine marches but not Tommy Robinso...
5 May 2026 at 5:30pm
Tory leader says the protests are ?not the same?Kemi Badenoch has questioned whether the undisclosed £5m donation given to Nigel Farage by a crypto billionaire shows that he has been ?bought?.In an interview with the Today programme this morning, the Conservative leader asked whether the donation...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The British media is getting its excuses in early
6 May 2026 at 1:58pm
The British media in Scotland is getting its excuses in early. Gina Davidson, the Scotland political editor of LBC, wrote on social media that the SNP falling a couple of seats short of an absolute majority – based on the YouGov poll published the day before the election – would be a “poor result for …

Thomas Kerr, the Dumb Corleone of Scottish politics
5 May 2026 at 4:22pm
Reform’s opportunistic Thomas Kerr has completed his transformation from one nation liberal Tory to complete heid banging fascist. On Tuesday, Shettleston’s Dumb Corleone doubled down on his party’s exciting new election tactic of threatening the voters, proving that Reform UK struggles to grasp the difference between a democratic election and a protection racket. Kerr released …

Reform UK, the bastard offspring of Oswald Mosley and Coco the Clown
4 May 2026 at 5:17pm
  Reform has introduced a novel new campaigning tactic in the days leading up to the Holyrood election. Vote for us or we’ll put a concentration camp in your neighbourhood. It’s certainly a ‘bold’ move, but only if you define bold as utterly insane and disgustingly vile. On Monday Reform’s chairman Zia Yusuf, who is …

Shooting for the Moon on Thursday
3 May 2026 at 3:41pm
Shoot for the moon, as the saying goes, even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars. With that in mind that’s what independence supporters need to do on Thursday. An opinion poll by the traditionally No-friendly Norstat for the Sunday Times records a whopping 55% Yes response. The media in Scotland have been very …

Whisky, Labour?s leadership, and polling, fingers crossed for a record pro-in...
2 May 2026 at 4:09pm
We’re on the home straight now for the Scottish election on Thursday, and we are well into that nail biting phase when things seem to be going well but we are always aware of the uncanny ability of Scots to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The overwhelmingly anti-independence British media in Scotland is …

George Monbiot is right, the Union has nothing good for Scotland
1 May 2026 at 3:03pm
In an interview with The National, environmental campaigner George Monbiot, perhaps the highest profile person on the English left to have come out in favour of Scottish independence during the 2014 independence referendum campaign, has said that there is “nothing in the Union” for Scotland. In 2014 independence campaigners constantly asked Better Together supporters for …

Six houses, five cars, six yachts and zero self-awareness
29 Apr 2026 at 8:39pm
I didn’t watch the STV leaders’ debate as we had visitors, which meant I missed the moment that Malcolm Offord torpedoed Reform UK’s “We’re the party which is opposed to the elite” schtick. It was always bollocks, but on Tuesday night Offord slipped up. When you are cos-playing as the party which is on the …

A new chapter in the quest for independence starts next week
27 Apr 2026 at 2:55pm
First Minister John Swinney has promised that on the first day the new Scottish Parliament is in session, a vote would be brought forward to “approve the development of a Section 30 Order to give Scotland the power to hold an independence referendum.” He also promised that a referendum bill would be introduced within the …

A tale of three polls which give hope for a pro-indy majority in May
26 Apr 2026 at 3:29pm
Three opinion polls came out over the weekend which were not asking about voting intention in the Holyrood election which is now only a week and a half away. Nevertheless, all these polls are instructive about the kind of country Scotland could be, and their trust in the various parties contesting the election, and that …

The anti-independence hysteria of Alex Cole-Hamilton
23 Apr 2026 at 8:30pm
I don’t normally blog about Alex Cole-Hamilton, partly that’s because in Scotland the Lib Dems are a minor regional party who only win representation because their support is concentrated in a few areas and whose importance in Scotland is boosted far beyond their true relevance as they are the Scottish branch of the UK party …

The Courier

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland

Newborn health at real risk near nuclear plants but Scottish Labour double do...
8 May 2026 at 10:30am
The Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) is located near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California, on approximately 1,000 acres along the Pacific coast. It is the state?s largest single power station and the only operational nuclear plant in California following the 2013 closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. From the Santa Barbara Independent, yesterday: Just weeks after th...

If all the ice caps melted, Scotland and Wales should agree to run remains of...
8 May 2026 at 8:17am
From Epic Maps: https://x.com/theepicmap/status/2052329817929035945

?The teen knife death massacre? ? Does the Daily Record actually have a ?new ...
8 May 2026 at 7:54am
The evil that never sleeps – the Daily Record ignores the election (Do they know Anas is gubbed?) and repeats an old story thanks to an intervention in the national debate by ‘Kenzo’ (17), above to get started right away undermining the ‘new’ SNP Government. Why is it mince?

Latest poll today of only those likely to vote puts SNP up at 41% with massiv...
7 May 2026 at 9:11am
From pollsters Find out Now, the above and: We ask respondents how likely they are to vote in the Scottish Parliament election on 7th May. For those who give a 7 or above, we then ask their vote choice If a respondent answers ?Don?t know? they see an additional question, prompting them again to give an answer. If they then give a valid vote choice they are included in the final calculation, but...

Public Health Professor?s message for Scottish Labour?s nuclear plans ? ?I pe...
7 May 2026 at 8:40am
From Boston 25 News yesterday: All kinds of cancer?: New study will assess radiation risk from old nuclear plant in Plymouth – Seven years ago, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station stopped generating electricity, but that doesn?t mean concerns about radiation exposure have gone away. A new study is about to get underway to determine just how great the cancer risk is along the South Shore and Cape ...

Play this to those hesitating to vote. Let them see the words too
6 May 2026 at 9:55pm
Lyrics: We?ll be singing, we?ll be singing If we get out and vote for our own We?ll be singing, we?ll be singing When we remember all we?ve sown Pulling thousands out of poverty Sending the same to learn for free Offering a hand to the weak and the sick We begin the path to the Scotland we want We?ll be singing, we?ll be singing If we get out and vote for our own We?ll be singing, we?ll be sing...

Businessmen and wealthy donors ARE bankrolling Scottish politics but only the...
6 May 2026 at 6:27pm
The Ferret has been good recently. I’ve shared their latest reports but this one smells a bit, like some of their earlier ones, of Scottish Labour residual loyalty and of Unionism. They offer us this: before going on to name Robin MacGeachy: Companies he owns or co-owns handed £910,000 to the Scottish Liberal Democrats and £700,000 to Scottish Labour. This represents nearly half of all of the L...

Complaints to GPs shocking 45% less common in Scotland than in England meant ...
6 May 2026 at 2:55pm
From the Daily Mail today: More than 134,000 written complaints about GPs were made to NHS England last year, with communication issues, staff attitudes and treatment errors driving the deluge. The data shows record numbers of patients are so unhappy with their experience of services that they have lodged their concerns – marking a 10 per cent rise since 2023-24. It comes after a damning survey...

With TWELVE times as many temporary school exclusions and ONE THOUSAND times ...
6 May 2026 at 2:53pm
Thanks again to Dorothy for alerting me to this. From Channel 4 News last night, the above and: England?s schools have been described as being gripped by rising levels of violence against both teachers and pupils, leading to permanent exclusions. According to a new report, a record 3,320 pupils were permanently excluded last spring ? which is about 21% higher than before the Covid pandemic. The...

Let?s not vote to have Scotland changed to be more like Labour?s Wales!
6 May 2026 at 2:52pm
By stewartb British Labour Party politicians and the MSM in Scotland have been working hard (colluding?) to shield voters here from the overwhelming evidence that whatever improvements Scotland?s NHS needs, there is no reason to believe they will be delivered by electing a Labour government to Holyrood. The Party?s track record of governing with (just) devolved powers in Wales provides ample ju...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Sc...
6 May 2026 at 3:52pm
There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Scotland?  The Conversation

Six things to watch out for in the Scottish election - BBC
8 May 2026 at 6:08am
Six things to watch out for in the Scottish election  BBC

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

The Scottish Parliament elections and the constitution: what do the manifesto...
7 May 2026 at 5:56am
The Scottish Parliament elections and the constitution: what do the manifestos say?  The Constitution Unit Blog

The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking - The Economist
30 Apr 2026 at 1:48pm
The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking  The Economist

The pros and cons of Scottish independence - The Week
22 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
The pros and cons of Scottish independence  The Week

John Swinney 'is lying about supporting Scottish independence', Malcolm Offor...
5 May 2026 at 7:59pm
John Swinney 'is lying about supporting Scottish independence', Malcolm Offord claims  The National Scot

Why some Scots will vote Reform - Prospect Magazine
5 May 2026 at 11:41am
Why some Scots will vote Reform  Prospect Magazine

Scottish election polls: who will win parliament in 2026? - The Times
6 May 2026 at 2:30pm
Scottish election polls: who will win parliament in 2026?  The Times

The next Scottish and Welsh governments are likely to put constitutional chan...
6 May 2026 at 4:32pm
The next Scottish and Welsh governments are likely to put constitutional change back on the agenda  Institute for Government

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Sc...
6 May 2026 at 3:52pm
There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Scotland?  The Conversation

Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of...
6 May 2026 at 11:07am
Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of a majority  YouGov

SNP out in front while the race for second place is too close to call - but 1...
6 May 2026 at 10:38am
SNP out in front while the race for second place is too close to call - but 1 in 4 may still change their mind  Ipsos

?I am losing faith?: disaffected Scottish voters may deny SNP a majority | Sc...
6 May 2026 at 5:12pm
?I am losing faith?: disaffected Scottish voters may deny SNP a majority | Scottish politics  The Guardian

Ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden jailed for sex offences against young men...
6 May 2026 at 12:07pm
Ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden jailed for sex offences against young men and boys  Sky News

Counting under way in Holyrood election as SNP eyes fifth consecutive win - T...
8 May 2026 at 9:38am
Counting under way in Holyrood election as SNP eyes fifth consecutive win  The Irish News

Lorna Slater says Green deal with SNP 'difficult' because SNP has 'backtracke...
8 May 2026 at 6:00am
Lorna Slater says Green deal with SNP 'difficult' because SNP has 'backtracked' on climate commitments  Edinburgh News

Claim SNP government only increased teacher numbers by 75 is Mostly True - Th...
7 May 2026 at 6:01am
Claim SNP government only increased teacher numbers by 75 is Mostly True  The Ferret

Six things to watch out for in the Scottish election - BBC
8 May 2026 at 6:08am
Six things to watch out for in the Scottish election  BBC

Former council leader jailed for sexually assaulting young men - BBC
6 May 2026 at 10:36am
Former council leader jailed for sexually assaulting young men  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Sc...
6 May 2026 at 3:52pm
There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Scotland?  The Conversation

Swinney says Scottish independence referendum could be held in 2028 - BBC
12 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Swinney says Scottish independence referendum could be held in 2028  BBC

The next Scottish and Welsh governments are likely to put constitutional chan...
6 May 2026 at 4:32pm
The next Scottish and Welsh governments are likely to put constitutional change back on the agenda  Institute for Government

The Scottish Parliament elections and the constitution: what do the manifesto...
7 May 2026 at 5:56am
The Scottish Parliament elections and the constitution: what do the manifestos say?  The Constitution Unit Blog

Why some Scots will vote Reform - Prospect Magazine
5 May 2026 at 11:41am
Why some Scots will vote Reform  Prospect Magazine

Holyrood election outcome is anything but certain on final day of campaigning...
6 May 2026 at 6:12am
Holyrood election outcome is anything but certain on final day of campaigning  BBC

The great independence charade - Financial Times
16 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
The great independence charade  Financial Times

The costs of independence - The Critic Magazine
7 May 2026 at 2:00am
The costs of independence  The Critic Magazine

10 Better Together promises broken since 2014 independence referendum - The N...
5 May 2026 at 5:08am
10 Better Together promises broken since 2014 independence referendum  The National Scot

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