The Herald

The Herald | Politics


John Swinney steps in as US revokes travel permits for Tartan Army
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
9 Jun 2026 at 3:22pm
John Swinney has intervened after hundreds of Scotland fans had their US travel permits suddenly revoked without explanation. Some fans face missing their first World Cup appearance in 28 years due to the sudden ESTA cancellations.


Official casts doubt on whether John Swinney will co-operate with Murrell inq...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
9 Jun 2026 at 1:45pm
John Swinney's official spokesman refused to say whether the First Minister would co-operate with an inquiry into Peter Murrell.


Murrell inquiry could help ?restore public trust? in politics, Labour claims
by Katrine Bussey
9 Jun 2026 at 8:16am
Labour insists ?questions are piling up? over former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell?s embezzlement ?crime spree? as it seeks to force Holyrood to hold an inquiry into the scandal.


Leading doctors warn John Swinney after women's health minister scrapped
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
9 Jun 2026 at 5:00am
John Swinney has been warned by doctors over his decision to scrap the women's health minister role.


'If one person had done their job correctly, Mason would still be alive'
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
9 Jun 2026 at 5:00am
Julie Keegan, an ICU nurse from Glasgow, is fighting NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over a "factually incorrect" adverse event review into the death of her newborn son, Mason, who died after catastrophic sepsis failures.


Revealed: 406 deaths in Glasgow maternity services
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
9 Jun 2026 at 5:00am
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recorded 736 serious adverse events in maternity services between 2019 and 2025, with 406 deaths.


Major forecast for Scottish economy unveiled amid Middle East crisis
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
9 Jun 2026 at 4:32am
Accountancy giant KPMG highlights headwinds facing Scottish businesses


Swinney pledges to strengthen women's health services amid growing pressure
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
9 Jun 2026 at 3:20pm
John Swinney has pledged to strengthen women's health services and confirmed a maternity reform statement will be delivered this week amid growing scrutiny of care.


Scotland is dying faster than it's being born. Why maternity care matters
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
9 Jun 2026 at 11:02am
Scotland is recording record-low birth rates while scrutiny of maternity services grows. Why the two issues are becoming impossible to separate.


Scotland sidelined in major BBC series Brexit, A Very British Civil War
by alison.rowat@theherald.co.uk | Alison Rowat
8 Jun 2026 at 9:58pm
Brexit: A Very British Civil War, BBC Two, Monday, takes us back to the heady days of 2015-16 when parts of the UK were at odds with each other over the country's future in Europe. Where was Scotland in all this, you might wonder?


Murrell is the biggest political scandal in a generation - but the Greens pro...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
8 Jun 2026 at 4:00pm
Why are the Scottish Greens turning away from the biggest political scandal in a generation, caused by Peter Murrell?


Who is Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, who faces embezzlement ...
by Kathleen Nutt and Rebecca McCurdy
8 Jun 2026 at 4:00pm
Everything you need to know about former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell ahead of sentencing on June 23, 2026 at Edinburgh High Court.


SNP Westminster leader says Murrell parliamentary probe 'waste of taxpayers' ...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
8 Jun 2026 at 12:00pm
The SNP has rejected cross-party demands for a Westminster parliamentary inquiry into the Peter Murrell embezzlement scandal. Dave Doogan branded the proposed Select Committee probe a partisan stunt and an unprecedented abuse of the House of Commons.


Now Scots have a new weapon to challenge the Scottish Government
8 Jun 2026 at 10:45am
A landmark Court of Session ruling has found the Scottish Government in contempt over delays in releasing Alex Salmond?related files, handing ordinary Scots a powerful new way to force transparency through freedom of information

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Peter Murrell hasn't come up 'at all', says SNP by-election candidate
9 Jun 2026 at 4:45pm

Lara Bird, who is standing for the Nationalists in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, said ?folk are not talking about Murrell on the doors?.

Most of the councils who have rejected the idea of an extra bank holiday are citing concerns over school closures and childcare.

Almost 100 families have been evacuated from Coalsnaughton due to unprecedented ground moving.

Edinburgh becomes one of first local authorities in Scotland to ban mobile phones in schools

The party says the review should not be limited to any one political party

Disgruntled MPs have criticised the Scottish Secretary for ?his failures in the leadership of the Scottish election campaign?, while allies have rushed to his defence.

From financial transparency to the £600,000 referendum fund, there is plenty for politicians to get their teeth into

If Labour makes such a proposal it shall suffer a humiliating defeat that shall consign it to the dustbin of history

There are calls for the Scottish government to overhaul the council tax system

Dave Doogan, the SNP?s Westminster leader, said such a move would be a ?party political stunt?

Wings over Scotland

The Ever-Changing Lie
9 Jun 2026 at 12:28pm
We have an update, folks. Because they don’t even care about keeping their bullshit straight. So the full sequence now runs: (1) “The money isn’t missing, it’s all still there and ringfenced for a second indyref. Anyone who says otherwise is a loony conspiracy theorist.” (Feb 2020) (2) “Okay, it’s not ringfenced, it’s woven in …

The Massive Face Of Truth
7 Jun 2026 at 11:01am
If you?d like to watch a 21-minute video of me banging on about Operation Branchform and whatnot to the Scottish Sun, click the image below. If you?d rather not watch that, best not to click it.

In pursuit of clarity
6 Jun 2026 at 11:12am
Wings has today sent the following emails. - The Chief Constable Police Scotland 5 Fettes Avenue Edinburgh EH4 1RB 6 June 2026 Thank you for your (very swift) reply to my letter. However, I am afraid that it leaves more questions than answers. Firstly, you state that Police Scotland ?have been advised? that the information …

The Interesting Words Round
5 Jun 2026 at 7:42pm
We received two emails today, just a few minutes apart. There are a couple of notable things about them. The first came from Claire Somebody at the Crown Office. The second one, even more thrillingly, came from Service Advisor 1989847 at Police Scotland, which we assume is some sort of advanced crime-fighting robot. In one …

The Lord Of The Rings
5 Jun 2026 at 12:14pm
John Swinney knows the rules. He can’t pretend he doesn’t. ? So let there be no mistake about this: if Police Scotland and the Crown Office refuse to investigate the First Minister’s open public confirmation this week that a serious crime was committed by the SNP over the “ring-fenced” fundraiser money from 2017 and 2019, …

The Aims Of Justice
4 Jun 2026 at 5:59pm
Wings has today sent the following letter to the named recipients. – The Chief Constable Police Scotland 5 Fettes Avenue Edinburgh EH4 1RB Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service 25 Chambers Street Edinburgh EH1 1LA 4 June 2026 . Dear Chief Constable and Crown Office, RE: REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ? ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION OF RING-FENCED …

For Me, But Not For Thee
4 Jun 2026 at 1:00pm
Huh. Well, that’s nice, isn’t it? The SNP are hoping to make out like bandits from Peter Murrell’s conviction. Despite Swinney’s admission yesterday that the party stole £700,000 from donors to two “ring-fenced” fundraisers, it stands to pocket a surprise bonus of £400,000 from recovering his criminal proceeds (on top of Swinney’s boasted “significant increase” …

Kings Of Crisis Management
4 Jun 2026 at 10:18am
If you subscribe to the theory that it’s better to fight 100 duck-sized horses than a single horse-sized duck, the SNP is knocking it out of the park today. Because the papers just can’t make their minds up about the biggest story with which to attack John Swinney’s beleaguered party. While the Sun leads with …

Everything Is Awesome
3 Jun 2026 at 11:10pm
You’ve had a few pretty gruelling pieces to get through in the last week or so, readers, so here’s something a little more light-hearted. It’s from an episode of Broadcasting Scotland on 27 November 2020, a month after we confirmed our big story about the SNP accounts and the missing fundraiser money. In it, snug-toed …

The Truth Does Out
3 Jun 2026 at 7:18pm
Sometimes you have to wait a while for people to catch up. But patience is everything, readers. All things, we hope, come to those who wait. The SNP tried all sorts of excuses. First up, in February 2020, immediately after Wings had broken the story that “hundreds of thousands of pounds from two supposedly ?ringfenced? …

Craig Murray

The Joy of Resistance
6 Jun 2026 at 9:51am

Just a quick note to say that I am very aware that lately I have been rather bitter, which is not good for anybody, especially me. The disappointments and state outrages have been no worse than usual; my frustration at my poor health, and the subsequent constraint of my ability to fight back, has rather …

The Joy of Resistance

The Power of the UK State Over Scotland
28 May 2026 at 7:50am

I went through yesterday’s preliminary hearing in the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action with a sense of mounting horror. We had the same judge as at the permission hearing, Lord Young. We had exactly the same arguments and the same case law being deployed again by the UK government as at …

The Power of the UK State Over Scotland

Palestine Action Scottish Judicial Review ? Stitch-Up Incoming?
27 May 2026 at 12:58am

The proscription of Palestine Action was sold to MPs and the media on the basis of a deliberate campaign of lies, fronted by Yvette Cooper, then Home Secretary, and Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan police. Both have deep commitment to Israel. Cooper is owned by the Israel lobby. What is worse, they then attempted …

Palestine Action Scottish Judicial Review – Stitch-Up Incoming?

Dr Manivannan
14 May 2026 at 6:00pm

The furore around the election of Dr Manivannan to the Scottish Parliament is deeply troubling. There is no argument whatsoever that they were eligible to stand for election. The law was changed specifically in order for those on temporary visas to be able to stand in Scottish parliamentary elections. I confess I am not sure …

Dr Manivannan

URGENT FILTON TRIAL UPDATE
13 May 2026 at 6:03am

While the Court of Appeal has now stopped the High Court contempt of court action against Rajiv Menon KC for defending his client, this is purely on procedural grounds. They ruled that Judge Johnson had to go via the Attorney General to the High Court, not direct. It is now referred back to Johnson who …

URGENT FILTON TRIAL UPDATE

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK?s Central Nervous System
11 May 2026 at 7:32pm

Unquestioning Zionism has for decades been the entry ticket to the British political and media Establishment. Anybody who was not a fully certified and compliant zionist would find their career limited – as Jeremy Corbyn, Alan Duncan, Robin Cook and David Mellor all found. Most others, of course, were never allowed to progress that far. …

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK’s Central Nervous System

BBC Scotland

Mobile phones to be banned in all Edinburgh secondary schools
9 Jun 2026 at 2:58pm
From August, pupils will have to put their devices in magnetically sealed pouches throughout the school day, including during breaks and lunchtime.

Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions fall slightly as progress slows
9 Jun 2026 at 12:42pm
The amount of planet-warming gases produced in 2024 fell by 1% compared to the previous year.

Scotland has more disabled MSPs than ever but challenges remain
8 Jun 2026 at 6:28am
About 24% of the Scottish population identify as disabled, while only 7% of MSPs do - an increase on the previous parliamentary term.

Minister would consider 'knife amnesty' after teenagers guilty of murders
7 Jun 2026 at 2:40pm
Neil Gray said the government was committed to a "preventative" approach, following the murders of Kayden Moy and John McNab.

Sturgeon looked 'broken' in Murrell interview, says Yousaf
6 Jun 2026 at 11:52am
The former first minister said his predecessor was a "person of integrity" and that he believes she had no knowledge of her estranged husband's crimes.

Weight-loss jab Wegovy to be offered on NHS in Scotland
8 Jun 2026 at 4:29pm
The drug works as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a hormone that makes people feel fuller, which can help them lose weight.

Thanksgiving service held for former Deputy First Minister Lord Wallace
5 Jun 2026 at 5:51pm
Politicians joined family and friends of the former Scottish Liberal Democrat leader at Dunblane Cathedral.

SNP may have claimed back tax on Murrell's illicit purchases - Swinney
4 Jun 2026 at 3:52pm
The party has contacted HMRC over fears public funds may have been misused as part of the £400,000 embezzlement.

Why is there a row about the SNP's £667,000 independence fund?
4 Jun 2026 at 3:51pm
The party is facing a fresh police complaint about cash raised for a campaign on the country's constitutional future.

Companies offered contracts worth £2bn to dual last 58 miles of A9
4 Jun 2026 at 1:41pm
It said the first of these final contracts would be for the Dalraddy and Slochd section.

Scottish government found in contempt over Salmond files
3 Jun 2026 at 5:31pm
The Court of Session said the Scottish government repeatedly missed dates to disclose information requested by FOI.

Will Aberdeen's energy future decide the by-election?
3 Jun 2026 at 6:26am
The forthcoming poll in the north-east is a reflection of a local and national debate about Scotland's energy future.

Scot Goes Pop

The Scot Goes Popcast is now available on Apple Podcasts
8 Jun 2026 at 1:47am
I hope this will be of some use to someone, because it's taken me days of torture to get to this point.  Apple may be one of the largest companies in the world, but its website is a baffling, bug-r...

BIG BOOST for independence support in pre-election YouGov poll that no-one se...
7 Jun 2026 at 1:56pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE. Other recent videos: If this Makerfield by-election poll is accurate, it's the end of the road for Keir Starmer as PMRUPERT LOWE could...

An examination of the latest Hullaba-Stew
6 Jun 2026 at 6:36pm
Never one to resist an exercise in utter futility, the controversial Somerset-based "Stew" blogger has attempted to resuscitate a correspondence with the Chief Constable and the Crown Office that h...

Dark times for Stew as the full realisation dawns of just how *much* he's acc...
6 Jun 2026 at 12:17am
Please go gently with the controversial Somerset-based "Stew" blogger if you run into him, things seem to have really got on top of him over the last 36 hours and he's now rather overcome with emot...

If this Makerfield by-election poll is accurate, it's the end of the road for...
5 Jun 2026 at 2:07am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE. Other recent videos: RUPERT LOWE could be the midwife of Scottish independence, just as Mrs Thatcher was for devolutionONE-FIFTH of Re...

RUPERT LOWE, of all people, could be the unintentional midwife of Scottish in...
4 Jun 2026 at 12:18pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE. Other recent videos: ONE-FIFTH of Reform UK voters in Scotland would vote Yes to independence, says new Norstat pollASTOUNDING poll su...

ONE-FIFTH of Reform UK voters in Scotland would vote Yes to independence, say...
1 Jun 2026 at 2:25pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE. Other recent videos: ASTOUNDING poll surge for SNP: how Stew's "Accidental Clouseau" moment may have SAVED party he hatesMore polling ...

ASTOUNDING surge for SNP in new Norstat poll: how Stew's "Accidental Clouseau...
31 May 2026 at 3:27am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE. Other recent videos: More polling reassurance for SNP as by-elections approach, while Greens reclaim second place GB-wideGreens almost...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Two government ministers to travel to US for World Cup in ?personal capacity?
9 Jun 2026 at 5:05pm
Economy, tourism and transport secretary Stephen Flynn and community care minister Alison Thewliss are to travel to the States

Swinney urged to revive women?s health minister job
9 Jun 2026 at 1:46pm
The First Minister scrapped the standalone role last month

Murrell inquiry could help ?restore public trust? in politics, Labour claims
9 Jun 2026 at 7:02am
A motion to be debated on Wednesday insists that an inquiry is now needed 'to restore public trust in Scottish politics'

Could MPs launch a Peter Murrell inquiry?
8 Jun 2026 at 6:36pm
The Scottish Affairs Committee will meet on Tuesday to consider whether a Westminster investigation should take place

Starmer set to announce ?game-changer? social media restrictions for under-16?s
8 Jun 2026 at 12:12pm
The PM is set to make an announcement on a type of social media ban for children ahead of the Makerfield by-election next week, writes Carl Dinnen.

Child poverty should be a ?priority from day one?, say young people
8 Jun 2026 at 6:40am
Two-thirds of respondents to the Save the Children Scotland and Young Scot poll said fighting child poverty was a priority

?Eye-watering? cost of reliance on bank staff is draining NHS resources, says...
7 Jun 2026 at 4:37pm
Scottish Labour said billions of pounds of public money is being wasted on agency staffing

Scottish Government ?investing in work to prevent knife crime and gang cultur...
6 Jun 2026 at 7:07pm
The justice secretary said £6m in additional funding will be going into an initiative which provides free activities for young people

Humza Yousaf: Nicola Sturgeon looked ?quite a broken woman? discussing Peter ...
6 Jun 2026 at 10:53am
The former first minister told BBC's Newsnight he understood people's scepticism that Sturgeon was unaware of Murrell's actions

Yvette Cooper rejects calls for disappearing messages ban for politicians
5 Jun 2026 at 10:50am
A row has emerged over exchanges between Lord Peter Mandelson and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones which were absent from a release of files.

Committee for the Future could rebuild trust in politics, Holyrood leaders told
5 Jun 2026 at 6:50am
Carnegie UK suggested setting up such a committee could 'help embed long-term thinking into everyday decision-making'

Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander under scrutiny over transparency file er...
4 Jun 2026 at 6:07pm
Douglas Alexander's Cabinet Office log has been left incomplete despite the document being uploaded to the government website

John Swinney to face First Minister?s Questions as Peter Murrell continues to...
4 Jun 2026 at 1:13pm
The First Minister has said the party will sue Murrell in a bid to recover £400,000 embezzeled from the SNP

SNP to sue Peter Murrell and try to get stolen £400,000 back
4 Jun 2026 at 11:03am
The former SNP chief executive embezzled the cash over the course of 12 years

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scots councils urged to implement more 20mph speed limits to 'cut collisions'
9 Jun 2026 at 5:00pm
A survey of 32 local authorities found just have five have completed the roll-out of 20mph zones, with the remainder at varying stages of implementation.

John Swinney intervenes after ESTA row stops Tartan Army fans from travelling...
9 Jun 2026 at 4:01pm
The First Minister has asked for "specific representations and engagement" with the Consul General of the US in Scotland.

John Swinney refuses to say if he will cooperate with inquiry into Peter Murr...
9 Jun 2026 at 3:39pm
The First Minister gave a short answer when asked if he would take part.

John Swinney's spokesperson refuses to say he will cooperate with Peter Murre...
9 Jun 2026 at 1:08pm
The official also trashed any suggestion of a Westminster inquiry into the scandal.

Peter Murrell legal aid bill is 'madness' with Scots taxpayers unable to reco...
9 Jun 2026 at 11:38am
Murrell had his legal aid application approved in April last year but later that year flogged a family-owned holiday home in Portugal.

Why the next twelve months will be anything but dull in local government
9 Jun 2026 at 4:30am
In an article, Inverclyde council leader Stephen McCabe writes on the challenges facing the relationship between local authorities and the SNP Government.

John Swinney will only step out of Nicola Sturgeon's shadow if he stops prote...
8 Jun 2026 at 5:00pm
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says John Swinney is damaging his reputation by opposing any inquiry into the Murrell scandal.

Peter Murrell moved to 'cushy' jail after getting 'dog's abuse' in Edinburgh ...
8 Jun 2026 at 1:48pm
The fraudster will be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to embezzlement.

John Swinney says court should decide if Nicola Sturgeon has to give back Mur...
8 Jun 2026 at 1:25pm
The former First Minister deferred to the court system when asked about gifts benefiting his predecessor.

Westminster probe into Peter Murrell scandal could hold 'box office' hearings...
8 Jun 2026 at 10:19am
Supporters of a Commons investigation believe evidence should be taken in Scotland.

The National

The National | Politics

Why were so many UK journalists friends with former head of MI6?
9 Jun 2026 at 4:11pm

WHILE he was the head of Britain?s foreign intelligence service, the recently deceased Sir Alex Younger was known by the codename ?C?.

John Swinney responds to 40 jobs being cut at major Scottish energy services ...
9 Jun 2026 at 3:48pm

JOHN Swinney has accused the UK Government of ?sucking the economic life out of one of Scotland's most important industries? after it emerged that jobs are at risk at a major energy services firm in Aberdeen ...

How MSPs are dealing with 'odious reactionary' politics from Reform in Holyrood
9 Jun 2026 at 3:27pm

MSPS must call out ?odious? reactionary politics from Reform in Holyrood, a Scottish Greens MSP has said.

Scottish town set for new park and 600 homes as major development approved
9 Jun 2026 at 3:15pm

PLANS for a major new housing development in East Kilbride have been given the green light by South Lanarkshire councillors ...

John Swinney intervenes after Scotland fans denied entry to US for World Cup
9 Jun 2026 at 3:11pm

JOHN Swinney has intervened after many Scotland fans were denied entry to the United States just days before the World Cup begins ...

SNP pledge more rapid action as Scotland's emissions drop by 'meagre' 1 per cent
9 Jun 2026 at 2:24pm

SCOTLAND?S climate emissions have reduced but progress has continued to slow, prompting environmental campaigners to urge ministers to take action.

New Israeli settlement sanctions 'barely move the dial', top charity warns
9 Jun 2026 at 2:01pm

NEW sanctions against extremist Israeli settler networkers are ?wholly insufficient?, a leading charity has warned.

MPs 'must temper inflammatory language' in wake of Belfast attack
9 Jun 2026 at 1:36pm

POLITICIANS have been urged to ?temper the inflammatory remarks? after an alleged murder bid by a foreign national in Belfast.

SNP MP blasts Kemi Badenoch call to scrap Equality Duty on BBC Politics Live
9 Jun 2026 at 1:32pm

AN SNP MP has condemned a Tory call to abolish a duty for teachers, nurses and police officers to consider protected characteristics enshrined in equality law ...

Labour urged to 'come clean' after 'disgraceful' drinks invite for paedo-link...
9 Jun 2026 at 1:15pm

Keir Starmer has been urged to 'clean' over how and why a now suspended paedo-linked Labour peer was spotted in attendance at an event attended by several senior party figures

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Swinney orders officials to help Tartan Army Esta row members reach World Cup
9 Jun 2026 at 5:38pm
FM intervenes after US revokes football fans' visas

Scottish Lib Dems confirm front bench
9 Jun 2026 at 4:25pm
The party is the the last of the six at Holyrood to do so

Edinburgh bans mobile phones for school pupils
9 Jun 2026 at 4:17pm
'Bell-to-bell' restrictions come into force in August

Two SNP MSPs in running for only contested committee convenership
9 Jun 2026 at 3:35pm
The 15 other committee convenerships received only one nominee

Do business with Scotland, UK Government urges China
9 Jun 2026 at 12:29pm
Innovation and technology targeted on growth mission

Scottish Labour to force vote on parliamentary inquiry into Peter Murrell?s e...
9 Jun 2026 at 1:01am
Jackie Baillie has urged members to ?back transparency over cover-up? ahead of tomorrow?s vote

SNP says Westminster inquiry into Murrell scandal would be an ?unprecedented ...
8 Jun 2026 at 4:26pm
The party?s Westminster leader, Dave Doogan, said the inquiry would set a ?dangerous precedent?

Starmer gives big tech three months to block children from accessing nude images
8 Jun 2026 at 2:24pm
'This is not an impossible challenge,' prime minister says

SNP approaches HMRC over possible illegal VAT claims linked to Peter Murrell ...
4 Jun 2026 at 4:09pm
Anas Sarwar welcomed the decision but argued it demonstrated the need for a parliamentary inquiry

SNP committee ?power grab? likened to ?putting Dracula in charge of a blood b...
4 Jun 2026 at 3:49pm
Full list of 16 Scottish Parliament committees

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Starmer to meet Henry Nowak?s family this afternoon, No 10 says ? as it happened
4 Jun 2026 at 5:33pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereKemi Badenoch has posted a message on social media saying she met Henry Nowak?s father, mother and stepmother this morning. She praises their courage, and says:Henry?s family do not want anger to tear communities apart. They are a famil...

A new elephant in Nicola Sturgeon?s room | Brief letters
2 Jun 2026 at 5:38pm
Murrell?s motorhome | Hooked on Alan Rickman | Football fans | Nine times table | Beauty of maths | It all adds upFollowing Nicola Sturgeon?s bravura performance on BBC One?s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme (Nicola Sturgeon: I feel as if I?m serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit,...

Starmer says he ?felt sick? watching video of Henry Nowak?s arrest ? as it ha...
2 Jun 2026 at 5:32pm
The prime minister said: ?I have seen the body cam footage, it?s harrowing, and I have to say, as a father of a 17-year-old boy, I felt sick watching it.?BBC Scotland has more details of the Peter Murrell hearing this morning on its live blog. And, on its live blog, Sky News has pictures of some ...

Motorhome bought by Murrell with stolen SNP money was driven only 4 miles, co...
2 Jun 2026 at 1:29pm
High court in Edinburgh hears £125K vehicle was described as a van in faked invoice and stocked with luxury goodsThe luxury motorhome that Peter Murrell bought using money stolen from the Scottish National party was driven for only four miles, sitting unused for more than two years.Murrell, then ...

Mandelson described Starmer?s No 10 operation as ?beleaguered and bereft? in ...
1 Jun 2026 at 6:18pm
Peter Mandelson?s unfiltered remarks to cabinet officials are made public in hundreds of pages of documents relating to his appointment as US ambassador Mandelson files show no mitigation of security concernsAt the Downing Street lobby briefing the PM?s spokesperson said the release of the Mandel...

The Guardian view on the Aberdeen South byelection: the politics of energy ta...
31 May 2026 at 5:30pm
While Westminster?s attention is focused on Andy Burnham and Makerfield, another pivotal byelection is taking place in Scotland?s north-eastThe coming byelection in Makerfield, from where Andy Burnham aspires to make rapid progress towards Downing Street, is perhaps the most consequential in Brit...

Nicola?s only crime was to love too much. And to not notice the Jaguar on the...
31 May 2026 at 5:27pm
Rather than being one of the shrewdest operators in British politics for a decade, it turns out Sturgeon was just too trustingYou know how it is. You wake up and look out the bedroom window. You see a brand new Jaguar worth £81,000 parked in the driveway. You smile to yourself. That?s what you lo...

Nicola Sturgeon: I feel as if I?m serving a sentence for a crime I did not co...
31 May 2026 at 3:47pm
Former Scottish first minister says she will not apologise for actions of her ex-husband found guilty of embezzlementNicola Sturgeon has said she feels as if she is serving a sentence for a crime she did not commit, as she denied ever ?consciously? seeing the motor home bought by her estranged hu...

Nicola Sturgeon: ?I should not be held responsible for the wrongdoing of men?
29 May 2026 at 7:41pm
Ex-SNP leader says she appeared on more front pages than her husband this week, adding: ?I don?t think that?s right?Nicola Sturgeon said she ?should not be held responsible for the wrongdoing of men? after Peter Murrell, her estranged husband, admitted to embezzling hundreds of thousands of pound...

We know what former SNP chief Peter Murrell bought with £400,000 of embezzled...
29 May 2026 at 6:00am
His guilty plea means motive will for ever be a mystery. It just proves that the world can look as hard as it likes at someone?s marriage and never know what?s going onIt sounds like the haul of an unhappy trophy wife, filling her empty days with retail therapy. Three Fortnum & Mason advent calen...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Westminster goes Trumpian and the media in Scotland jumps the SNPbad shark
7 Jun 2026 at 7:26pm
At the behest of Tory MP Andrew Six Chips Bowie, Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee is to vote next week on whether to hold an inquiry into the finances of the SNP. Bowie is of course only interested in good governance and looking after the best interests of the SNP members whose money was stolen by …

The historic failure of the media in Scotland
4 Jun 2026 at 1:28pm
The issues in my left eye, my better eye, seem to be getting a bit better so I’m only half blind now. Many thanks to everyone who left kind messages of support. Hopefully after 16 June when I have the cataract operation my eyesight will improve markedly. The Murrell scandal is of course still rumbling …

Seeing the path ahead clearly
31 May 2026 at 2:45pm
I’m not going to be blogging so much over the next couple of weeks. For the past year or so I’ve had a cataract in my right eye, which has rapidly worsened over recent months such that at an eye test at the opticians last week I found to my horror that I could not …

The first salvos have been fired in the latest stage of the independence camp...
27 May 2026 at 4:20pm
On Tuesday, the first working day of a new Scottish Parliament, with a record pro-independence majority, the fourth such majority in a row, MSPs voted by 72 to 55, a majority of 17 to adopt a motion calling on the Westminster government “to make a Section 30 order under the Scotland Act 1998 to devolve …

Explaining a parliamentary mandate for the staunch of hearing
26 May 2026 at 3:16pm
Today Holyrood gets the ball rolling on putting into action the pro-independence mandate given to it by the people of Scotland at the recent election, which as we all know by now resulted in the largest ever majority of pro-independence MSPs in the history of the Scottish Parliament. I’ll blog about the debate and vote …

Branchform?s over and the SNP is still standing
25 May 2026 at 1:41pm
Well, after five long years, murder tents, and over £2 million in police costs, it’s all over bar the inevitable shouting, and of course the not insignificant matter of what is likely to be a substantial custodial sentence. Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. …

The supposed ?Once in a generation? pledge is a Westminster myth
23 May 2026 at 12:31pm
On Thursday evening’s edition of BBC Reform Time, Fiona Bruce, the completely unbiased and neutral right wing unionist host, editorialised in aid of Tory MP Harriet Cross who had insisted that the question of independence had been “settled” in 2014 and attempts to revisit the matter “have to end, they have to end.” Bruce interjected …

John Swinney fires the starting gun on independence push
22 May 2026 at 1:30pm
He’s not mucking about. On the back of Holyrood’s record pro-independence majority, John Swinney has announced that there will be a debate and vote in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday on securing a Section 30 order for an independence referendum. With 72 pro-independence MSPs in the chamber, the motion will pass easily despite the predictable …

The British media is hiding Holyrood?s independence majorities
20 May 2026 at 5:01pm
Something interesting, and entirely predictable, has been happening in the British media since the SNP comprehensively defeated the parties of Westminster rule in this month’s Holyrood elections, being returned for a fifth term in office in a Scottish Parliament which has its largest ever pro-independence majority, making this the fourth Scottish Parliament in a row …

Something wicked this way comes
17 May 2026 at 1:27pm
We are rightly concerned about Reform UK, which has now gained representation in the Scottish Parliament, although as I had hoped, it performed more poorly than most polls forecast and failed to win a single constituency seat, narrowly missing out to the SNP in the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency which had been widely tipped …

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

Police Scotland merger criticised by opposition parties has resulted in world...
9 Jun 2026 at 3:13pm
The Sun ?newspaper? this week has been milking Scotland?s dark history of murder, based entirely on offences which took place before the merger of Scotland?s eight regional forces. They have no choice to do so because not only has the murder level plummeted from 64 in 2012/2013, to 44 in 2024/2025, 33% in only 12 years, one of the lowest rates in Europe and well below that in England & Wales, e...

Second US report of compensation for radiation exposure highlights the terrib...
9 Jun 2026 at 3:11pm
From the website of Josh Hawley, US Senator for Missouri yesterday: Our state just passed a major milestone. The federal government has now paid out more than $100 million to the Missouri families poisoned by their government?s reckless handling of nuclear waste. Nothing can make up for the pain and suffering that radiation survivors have endured at the hands of their own government. But this c...

Managing the Pandemic ? How Boris Johnson?s top civil servant credited Nicola...
9 Jun 2026 at 3:10pm
One more reason to be utterly disgusted by the current witch-hunt: From the National in May 2024: NICOLA Sturgeon was showing the Tory government ?how to do it? during the Covid pandemic, according to WhatsApp messages sent by the UK?s most senior civil servant. Simon Case, who as cabinet secretary oversees the work of the UK?s entire civil service, made the comments in April 2020 just weeks af...

England?s drug gangs have been cuckooing the vulnerable in Scotland for years...
9 Jun 2026 at 3:07pm
There’s no mention of Scotland in the above BBC UK story today, but we’ve known for some time how present this plague is in Scotland: Regulars here will recognise the rarely enlightening thinktank headed up by Lord McConnell, Chris Deerin and their totally non-academic, guide-leader, BBC average housewife interviewee, Research Director, Alison Payne. In May 2026, they had the above and: The rec...

Before a Nation Loses Its Chance of Freedom, It Loses Its Confidence
9 Jun 2026 at 3:05pm
By Mark E. Saunders of ?The Scottish Minuteman? https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 This will be my final article on the SNP/Nicola Sturgeon/Peter Murrell saga. Not because there is nothing more to say, but because I have no wish to add more fuel to a fire that is already burning. Yes. Political parties must be scrutinised. Politicians must be held accountable. Nobody is bey...

Functional dads, lead-free petrol and home entertainment ? the disappearance ...
9 Jun 2026 at 2:57pm
My regular column in Scots Independent, the first and oldest (100 years-old this year), Scottish newspaper supporting independence has been promoted to page 2. In all modesty, it’s a fascinating account of the several factors which seem likely to explain the falling crime among the young, in Scotland and elsewhere from Washington to Wishaw but less so in Wolverhampton. Scots Independent comes m...

19 years of the SNP in charge and UK youth unemployment is shocking 55% highe...
9 Jun 2026 at 8:56am
The above, presented as applying to the UK as a whole, formed part of a BBC Breakfast report 2 May 2026 including these comments: Being out of work or education between the ages of 16 and 24 can have serious long-term consequences for people?s health, employment and finances later in life. A new study suggests that nearly one million young people are currently not in education, employment or tr...

Complaints to GPs shocking 45% less common in Scotland than in England meant ...
9 Jun 2026 at 8:52am
From the Daily Mail 6 May 2026: 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 s...

Why is the Herald hiding the trend in Glasgow maternity deaths? Are they fall...
9 Jun 2026 at 8:01am
The Herald today headlining another scare story about the QEUH based on the infantile and suspicious method of counting up annual numbers over several years (2019 to 2025) to get a big number and carefully concealing the trend they clearly could tell you about. I can’t get at their figures but nationally, perinatal mortality is falling from 5.4 per 1 000 deaths in 2019 to 4.6 in 2023 and with r...

Why do only Scottish secondary schools seem to have shortages of subject spec...
9 Jun 2026 at 7:15am
subjects from the curriculum due to a lack of specialist teachers according to education leaders. BBC Scotland‘s insert in BBC Breakfast this morning, has the above several times from ‘headteachers in Scotland’ (none are quoted) and the Association of Directors of Education. Only the BBC Scotland website is reporting such problems, with only one HT quoted and 10 references to the Scottish Gover...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum - BBC
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum  BBC

Investors warn Scotland to avoid long-term debt to limit independence premium...
9 Jun 2026 at 5:02am
Investors warn Scotland to avoid long-term debt to limit independence premium  Financial Times

Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause? -...
4 Jun 2026 at 4:20pm
Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause?  The Conversation

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

Is Scotland still divided on independence? - The Week
28 May 2026 at 8:00am
Is Scotland still divided on independence?  The Week

SNP have no plan for Scottish independence. But that's not the biggest proble...
8 Jun 2026 at 6:53pm
SNP have no plan for Scottish independence. But that's not the biggest problem  The National Scot

Scottish Parliament to move on new independence vote - RTE.ie
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Parliament to move on new independence vote  RTE.ie

Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote - CTV News
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote  CTV News

Scottish Devolution: Section 30 Orders - The House of Commons Library
25 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Devolution: Section 30 Orders  The House of Commons Library

Caught between the UK and EU: What?s next for young Scots? - France 24
27 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Caught between the UK and EU: What?s next for young Scots?  France 24

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Murrell spent SNP funds while on luxury getaway with Sturgeon - The Telegraph
9 Jun 2026 at 6:00am
Murrell spent SNP funds while on luxury getaway with Sturgeon  The Telegraph

Sturgeon looked 'broken' in Murrell interview, says Yousaf - BBC
6 Jun 2026 at 11:52am
Sturgeon looked 'broken' in Murrell interview, says Yousaf  BBC

We know what former SNP chief Peter Murrell bought with £400,000 of embezzled...
29 May 2026 at 8:00am
We know what former SNP chief Peter Murrell bought with £400,000 of embezzled funds. What I?d like to know is why  The Guardian

Sturgeon showed 'remarkable lack of curiosity' over SNP finances, Cherry says...
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Sturgeon showed 'remarkable lack of curiosity' over SNP finances, Cherry says  BBC

SPICe general election Scotland 2026 results and analysis - SPICe Spotlight
9 May 2026 at 8:00am
SPICe general election Scotland 2026 results and analysis  SPICe Spotlight

Nicola Sturgeon denies any knowledge of items husband Peter Murrell bought wi...
25 May 2026 at 8:00am
Nicola Sturgeon denies any knowledge of items husband Peter Murrell bought with embezzled £400,000  Sky News

Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of...
6 May 2026 at 8:00am
Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of a majority  YouGov

Former Scottish National Party chief pleads guilty to embezzling $540,000 - R...
25 May 2026 at 8:00am
Former Scottish National Party chief pleads guilty to embezzling $540,000  Reuters

Big salaries, a motorhome and SNP accounts: The Nicola Sturgeon interview unw...
1 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Big salaries, a motorhome and SNP accounts: The Nicola Sturgeon interview unwrapped  BBC

Sturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrest -...
27 May 2026 at 8:00am
Sturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrest  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum - BBC
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Parliament endorses SNP call for independence referendum  BBC

Investors warn Scotland to avoid long-term debt to limit independence premium...
9 Jun 2026 at 5:02am
Investors warn Scotland to avoid long-term debt to limit independence premium  Financial Times

Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause? -...
4 Jun 2026 at 4:20pm
Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause?  The Conversation

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

Ipsos Polling confirms Holyrood26 as the ?loveless election? in Scots minds -...
3 Jun 2026 at 5:28pm
Ipsos Polling confirms Holyrood26 as the ?loveless election? in Scots minds  Ipsos

Is Scotland still divided on independence? - The Week
28 May 2026 at 8:00am
Is Scotland still divided on independence?  The Week

Scotland Renews Push for Independence With Labour in Turmoil - Bloomberg.com
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland Renews Push for Independence With Labour in Turmoil  Bloomberg.com

Scottish Parliament to move on new independence vote - RTE.ie
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Parliament to move on new independence vote  RTE.ie

Downing Street rejects Holyrood call for independence referendum - The Nation...
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Downing Street rejects Holyrood call for independence referendum  The National Scot

UK Government rejects Scottish parliament's call for new independence referen...
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
UK Government rejects Scottish parliament's call for new independence referendum  The Brussels Times