The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Peter Mandelson files to be released by government following Commons approval
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
4 Feb 2026 at 7:06pm
Files relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment as the ambassador to the United States will be released after approval by MPs


UK watchdog questions Scottish trans prison policy over 'single-sex spaces'
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
4 Feb 2026 at 5:35pm
The UK?s equalities watchdog has warned Scotland?s transgender prison policy could remove the right to single-sex spaces for women


Swinney orders Mandelson audit over fears peer 'undermined' Scottish interests
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
4 Feb 2026 at 5:37pm
John Swinney has ordered a sweeping audit of the Scottish Government?s past dealings with Peter Mandelson after fresh Epstein revelations. The investigation will examine the financial crash and recent US whisky talks amid fears Scotland?s interests were compromised.


Key points as Scotland and UK human rights bodies differ on trans prison policy
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
4 Feb 2026 at 5:07pm
The human rights bodies in Scotland and the UK disagreed on the transgender prison policy as the For Women Scotland case continued


Government u-turn on release of Mandelson files as Labour drops amendment plan
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
4 Feb 2026 at 4:22pm
The UK Government has dropped a bid to block Peter Mandelson documents which could be 'prejudicial' to national security or international relations from being released


'Significant concerns': HES chief reveals infighting at heart of troubled quango
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
4 Feb 2026 at 3:41pm
MSPs repeatedly pressed the government representatives on their failure to appoint an "accountable officer" during Brown?s almost-six month absence.


Starmer: Mandelson lied repeatedly and I regret making him UK's ambassador to...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
4 Feb 2026 at 12:19pm
Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he knew of Peter Mandelson?s links to Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him ambassador. A Commons row now raises fresh questions over vetting, trust and national security.


ADHD group accuses Scottish Government of 'throwing money' at waiting list issue
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
4 Feb 2026 at 10:47am
The Scottish ADHD Coalition are ?highly sceptical? that the funding will address the months-long wait many children face to be diagnosed with the condition. 


Anas Sarwar calls for UK to ban social media for under-16s
by Craig Meighan
4 Feb 2026 at 9:09am
Mr Sarwar made the call to his Labour colleagues south of the border in a bid to ?give kids the childhood they deserve?.


RECAP: Scottish Government defend trans prison policy in For Women Scotland case
4 Feb 2026 at 9:17am
For Women Scotland's legal challenge against the Scottish Government over its policy for the management of transgender prisoners continues in the Court of Session.


RECAP: Historic Environment Scotland boss faces Holyrood grilling
4 Feb 2026 at 8:05am
Holyrood's Public Audit Committee questions Katerina Brown, Chief Executive of Historic Environment Scotland, as part of its probe into the organisation


?Dogs have more protection than girls in Scotland? Regan hits out after Holyr...
by politics@theherald.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth and Kathleen Nutt
4 Feb 2026 at 5:00am
Ash Regan has accused the Scottish Government of shielding sex buyers and sidelining women after MSPs blocked her bid to criminalise buying sex. The former minister says her Bill was deliberately stalled ? and warns women voters not to trust the SNP.


Neil Gray: ?Can?t be complacent about safety of Scotland?s maternity units?
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
4 Feb 2026 at 10:47am
Crosshouse maternity unit must make 16 safety improvements following an inspection, as Health Secretary Neil Gray insists Scotland?s maternity services remain safe but warns against complacency.


SNP candidate challenges Scottish Labour MP over Mandelson relationship
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
4 Feb 2026 at 5:00am
Scottish Labour is facing renewed scrutiny after a senior MP was urged to clarify her relationship with Lord Mandelson, following allegations involving Jeffrey Epstein.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Controversial Edinburgh data centre plan thrown out by councillors
4 Feb 2026 at 4:26pm

Plans for a massive data centre in Edinburgh have been thrown out by councillors.

The Prime Minister tried to claim victimhood on Wednesday, but he cannot survive much longer

Diane Martin has condemned the Scottish Government?s decision not to back Ash Regan?s bill to overhaul prostitution law in Scotland

Potential delays to care and treatment were highlighted as one of the concerns when Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspected the hospital.

Proposals to overhaul prostitution law in Scotland have fallen at the first hurdle.

MSPs were told hospital staff have told cancer patients to drink bottled water at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Six SNP MSPs voted against the government, but it was not enough to see Ash Regan MSP?s bill pass

Wings over Scotland

The Marshalling Plan
2 Feb 2026 at 1:25pm
Another month has passed, so we suppose it must be time for the third of our polling-analysis pieces for the Scottish Parliament election in May. (Last time round we assessed the grotesque rank idiocy of voting SNP on the list if you want a pro-indy majority, and the time before that we considered the possible …

Shield Of The Phantom
26 Jan 2026 at 1:02pm
Well, we gave it a go. It seems that it’s fine to farm important judgments out to mysterious shadowy figures who just make important chunks of them up out of thin air, and then issue them in your own name. Back in your boxes, plebs.

Yelling at the tide
21 Jan 2026 at 9:26am
We figured someone had to at least try. So in the light of this, we’ve sent a letter. - TO: Judge Susan Walker, President, Employment Tribunal (Scotland) Dear Madam President, I read with considerable dismay and alarm your response to a recent complaint from a Mr Ewan Kennedy regarding the conduct of Employment Judge Alexander …

The Secondhand Amendment
19 Jan 2026 at 12:04am
We’re really not sure this makes things any better with regard to the incredible tale that’s unfolded around the judgment in Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife. In fact, on any interpretation we can think of, quite the reverse. But we’d better give you some context. The quote in the image above comes from the reply …

Learning Insanity
14 Jan 2026 at 4:29pm
This clip was broadcast on ITV News Wales this week. ? It’s a staggeringly obvious mess for a whole raft of reasons – a number of completely spurious, illogical and unsupported claims are accepted as facts without any sort of challenge or balancing voice (which has been standard practice on ITV News for a while …

Governing For Beginners
12 Jan 2026 at 2:31pm
My first ever real experience of politics was playing Dictator. Originally written by Don Priestley for the Sinclair ZX81 in 1982, it was a simple text-based game which subsequently came to other formats including the Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Elan Enterprise and the ZX Spectrum, which is where I encountered it. (Its legacy very much …

Grandpa John?s Nightmare
7 Jan 2026 at 12:17pm
It’s almost – almost – worth voting SNP in May because of this: ? Because it would be at least momentarily absolutely hilarious watching Swinney try to explain why his “100% guaranteed” second indyref didn’t happen if the SNP actually did get a majority on 30% of the vote (which is narrowly feasible on current …

Failure To Learn
5 Jan 2026 at 1:32pm
Scotland take on Haiti on Sunday 14 June (in the wee small hours of the morning), so this is nice, isn’t it? At least, it would be if incompetent idiots weren’t in charge. Firstly because the SNP – a party with a long and dismaying record of promising things it then doesn’t deliver – has …

And every day was exactly the same
3 Jan 2026 at 7:00am

List Voting For Cretins
2 Jan 2026 at 9:00am
This week The National published a poll it commissioned from Find Out Now for this May’s Scottish Parliament election, alongside a seat projection from Sir John Curtice. Here are the list-vote figures from the poll. The seat projection calculated that the election would result in 59 SNP MSPs (six short of the number John Swinney …

Craig Murray

Trump, Pirate of the Caribbean
3 Feb 2026 at 11:14am

I have now been here a week and I think that I have absorbed enough to attempt a little analysis, as opposed to the simple impressions I gave shortly after arrival. Those impressions remain valid however: this is not a repressive state. I was on the Randy Credico show live on WBAI New York on …

Trump, Pirate of the Caribbean

Palestine Action Judicial Review
29 Jan 2026 at 6:59pm

I attach the full text of Lord Young’s decision granting the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine. A few points. Judicial Review can only be granted where the judge believes it has a realistic chance of success. Lord Young evidently believes that we have a realistic chance of success on our three grounds …

Palestine Action Judicial Review

Being There ? In Venezuela
26 Jan 2026 at 9:46am

I have now been in Caracas for 48 hours and the contrast between what I have seen, and what I had read in the mainstream media, could not be more stark. I drove right through Caracas, from the airport through the city centre and up to posh Las Mercedes. The next morning I walked all …

Being There – In Venezuela

Resisting the Respectable Opinion on Iran
15 Jan 2026 at 3:13pm

Iraq. Libya. Egypt. Syria. Gaza. Somalia. No CIA- and Mossad-constructed regime change operation in the Middle East has ever made life better for the ordinary people of the country, nor even delivered the promised increase in personal and political freedoms. The only limited improvement that might be gained comes from the lifting of Western sanction …

Resisting the Respectable Opinion on Iran

A Step Towards Sanity
13 Jan 2026 at 6:50pm

To my great surprise, the video recording of yesterday’s Court of Session hearing on the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action is still active on the court’s website, and you can watch it. I do not know how long this will last. https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/livestream/court-of-session/case-p1017-25/#6dcfe87a-d9b7-49ba-9f01-ad69b8ad9c45 I have been used to the ludicrous restrictions on the …

A Step Towards Sanity

Court of Session Tomorrow on Palestine Action
11 Jan 2026 at 1:45pm

In the Western world today, fighting for freedom feels Quixotic, but I shall nevertheless wake early tomorrow to be at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by 9am to fight the proscription in Scotland of Palestine Action. I remain extremely concerned for the lives of the Palestine Action hunger strikers. As I predicted, Starmer’s government …

Court of Session Tomorrow on Palestine Action

BBC Scotland

MSP behind assisted dying bill backs change to eligibility rules
4 Feb 2026 at 2:42pm
The proposals would restrict assisted dying in Scotland to people with six months or less left to live.

Fire service warns funding gap could mean cut of 500 firefighters
4 Feb 2026 at 5:49pm
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service claims it is facing a £6m funding gap in the next financial year.

Scottish Parliament rejects prostitution bill at stage one
3 Feb 2026 at 7:38pm
Ash Regan's proposals would have made the act of paying for sexual services a criminal offence.

New oversight group for Glasgow hospital linked to infections
3 Feb 2026 at 8:09pm
The health secretary hopes the new oversight group will boost public confidence in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Prisoners to be released earlier in bid to end jail overcrowding
3 Feb 2026 at 7:32pm
The release point for certain short-term prisoners is to be cut to 30% of their sentence, down from 40%.

Woman prisoners 'treated as pawns' by Scottish government, court told
3 Feb 2026 at 4:51pm
The campaign group For Women Scotland is challenging the guidance which helps decide which prisons trans people are held in.

Further drop in year-long waits for NHS treatment
3 Feb 2026 at 2:51pm
One in nine Scots are on still on an NHS waiting list but year-long waits are falling, new figures show.

Patient watchdog 'not confident' Eljamel would be stopped
3 Feb 2026 at 6:01pm
Brain surgeon Sam Eljamel harmed dozens of patients and left some with life-changing injuries.

Record number of children in temporary housing
3 Feb 2026 at 3:16pm
There has also been a rise in rough sleeping, though there has been some improvement in other housing statistics.

Government confirms it will not back prostitution offences bill
2 Feb 2026 at 6:33pm
Independent MSP Ash Regan's bill would make it a criminal offence to pay for sex in Scotland.

New exams body plans to shake up qualifications system
2 Feb 2026 at 1:43pm
Qualifications Scotland announces a major review of the exams system saying it wants to ensure they are "absolutely fit for purpose".

Call for urgent action to reduce autism and ADHD waiting lists
2 Feb 2026 at 7:49am
The Scottish Parliament committee is concerned that people are waiting years for neurodevelopmental assessments.

Scot Goes Pop

Gosh, I wonder if Stew has ever demonstrated quite so unwittingly and vividly...
4 Feb 2026 at 1:17am
Quite a number of years ago now, I got into a mildly bizarre email debate with someone who shall remain nameless, but who is widely regarded in Scotland as bona fide journalistic royalty.  Basicall...

Why is YouGov under-representing Yes-voting Glaswegians in its independence p...
3 Feb 2026 at 4:06pm
Towards the end of this video, I also give my reaction to the Scottish Government's welcome announcement that they will not be supporting Ash Regan's private member's bill, which seeks to introduce...

Stew's "ten-year masterplan" nears its petty climax: how Somerset's most cont...
2 Feb 2026 at 4:47pm
Incidentally, I recorded this video before I saw Campbell's latest "I luv Nige" fanboy blogpost, so the similarity of titles is just a coincidence - albeit an extremely telling coincidence in the c...

Sizzling YouGov numbers put pro-independence parties on course for 53% of sea...
30 Jan 2026 at 5:11pm
There aren't many outlets that report Scottish polling accurately and without unionist bias.  If you value the service Scot Goes Pop provides, you currently have a thrilling opportunity to help wit...

Spectacular full-scale Scottish poll from YouGov shows the SNP and Greens on ...
29 Jan 2026 at 6:48pm
I will record a video about this poll at some point, but as I'm on a bus right now, I'll go retro and briefly give you the results in text form for the time being.Should Scotland be an independent ...

"Unaffordable and exploitative": the Alba Party hammers its long-suffering me...
27 Jan 2026 at 3:53am
Apart from the shocking membership fee news, which Alba members already know about (as long as they've been checking their emails closely enough), this video also contains the latest gossip from my...

The Blocking of Burnham: Doomsday for Labour, Christmas for the SNP
26 Jan 2026 at 2:44am
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

SNP secure stirring VICTORY in the Glenrothes West & Kinglassie by-election
23 Jan 2026 at 3:40pm
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

MPs back release of files on Lord Peter Mandelson appointment as US ambassador
4 Feb 2026 at 7:32pm
The PM backed down from his original plans for Sir Chris Wormald to choose which files could be released

John Swinney orders investigation into Scottish Government dealings with Lord...
4 Feb 2026 at 5:16pm
The First Minister said the probe will look into whether Peter Mandelson undermined the interests of Scotland

PM: Lord Peter Mandelson ?lied repeatedly? over relationship with Jeffery Eps...
4 Feb 2026 at 3:38pm
Keir Starmer said Mandelson 'betrayed our country' by leaking information to the disgraced financier

Mandelson should not have been US ambassador, says Sarwar
4 Feb 2026 at 1:34pm
The Scottish Labour leader said the appointment was ?clearly a mistake?

Keir Starmer to face PMQs after criminal investigation launched into Mandelson
4 Feb 2026 at 11:50am
Britain?s former US ambassador is alleged to have passed market-sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein

I support the court judgment in the case of Lucy Letby, Wes Streeting says
4 Feb 2026 at 9:24am
A new documentary, The Investigation Of Lucy Letby, has been released on Netflix

Officials ?looking at? release of QEUH documents, says health secretary
3 Feb 2026 at 9:28pm
MSPs demanded the Scottish Government release documents relating to the Glasgow hospital last week

Holyrood pays emotional tributes to its first deputy first minister Lord Wallace
3 Feb 2026 at 5:09pm
A motion of condolence was heard in the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Government ?committed to dualling A96? despite fiscal challenges
3 Feb 2026 at 3:46pm
A more phased approach to delivery of the project will be taken

Women prisoners treated as ?pawns? by ?Orwellian? policy on trans inmates, co...
3 Feb 2026 at 2:04pm
For Women Scotland is challenging the current guidelines on the management of transgender prisoners

ExxonMobil?s Mossmorran plastics plant closes weeks early with 400 jobs lost
3 Feb 2026 at 11:52am
The Fife Ethylene Plant employs 180 staff, 200 contractors and dozens of others

Why is the Scottish Government being taken to court over trans prisoners?
3 Feb 2026 at 6:42am
For Women Scotland is challenging the current guidelines on the management of transgender prisoners.

Ministers ?regretfully? refuse to back Regan?s Bill to criminalise buying sex
2 Feb 2026 at 6:05pm
The Scottish Government said there is not enough time to change proposed legislation

Full investigation into Mandelson needed after Epstein revelations, SNP says
2 Feb 2026 at 9:59am
The SNP?s Westminster leader has written to the Prime Minister?s ethics adviser

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

SNP urged to apologise for 'playing politics' over Queen Elizabeth University...
4 Feb 2026 at 2:26pm
Gordon Macdonald was accused of engaging in "whataboutery and deflection" after he dragged up 20-year-old infection statistics.

Keir Starmer says Peter Mandelson 'betrayed' his country over leaks to paedop...
4 Feb 2026 at 12:56pm
The Prime Minister rounded on Mandelson on the ongoing scandal.

SNP Deputy First Minister missed anti-prostitution vote due to 'family issue'
4 Feb 2026 at 12:20pm
Kate Forbes was one of ten MSPs who did not vote on the proposal by independent Ash Regan.

Anas Sarwar accuses Stephen Flynn of 'disgusting' attack in row over Labour M...
4 Feb 2026 at 12:02pm
The Scottish Labour leader accused Flynn of a "disgusting attack" and said his actions stood in contrast with the Nationalists when it came to dealing with former MP Patrick Grady.

Stephen Flynn demands Sarwar sack Labour MSP over paedophile friendship
4 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Flynn said Pam Duncan-Glancy should not be an MSP or a Labour party member.

JK Rowling 'changed Britain' but her political influence also shaped Scotland
3 Feb 2026 at 8:00pm
The billionaire author has made a huge political as well as cultural impact on Scotland over the last 25 years.

MSPs vote to reject bill criminalising sex buying after stormy Holyrood debate
3 Feb 2026 at 6:58pm
Ash Regan's Bill was defeated after SNP MSPs were whipped to oppose the plans.

SNP Government orders investigation into safety levels at scandal-hit hospital
3 Feb 2026 at 6:20pm
Health Secretary Neil Gray was forced into the move after political pressure over concerns about safety at the Queen Elizabeth University hospital (QEUH).

Criminals to walk free from Scots prisons after serving just 30% of sentence ...
3 Feb 2026 at 4:20pm
The SNP has been accused of "putting criminals ahead of the law-abiding public" as it backs another early release scheme for prisoners.

Peter Mandelson to quit House of Lords following latest Jeffrey Epstein scandal
3 Feb 2026 at 3:14pm
Mandelson has already quit the Labour party and will now stand down as a peer

The National

The National | Politics

Keir Starmer's handling of the Mandelson files vote shows he is toast
4 Feb 2026 at 7:00pm

PETER Mandelson?s appointment as ambassador to the US was considered ?worth the risks? by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer in screeching U-turn as MPs approve release of Mandelson files
4 Feb 2026 at 6:53pm

KEIR Starmer was forced into a humiliating climbdown in the Commons as MPs forced a vote on releasing the Mandelson files

Melania documentary debut box office takings in UK and Ireland revealed
4 Feb 2026 at 6:36pm

The feature-length profile of Melania Trump, wife of US president Donald Trump, took less than expected at the UK and Ireland box office on its opening weekend

We need a Voluntary Union Bill to cut through all the political noise
4 Feb 2026 at 6:30pm

FOLLOWING on from Old John?s excellent letter (Jan 30) asking ?Why do we need a referendum if we are in a voluntary union??, may I point out there is no ?if? about it? The principle that Scotland?s place in the Union is voluntary has been explicitly and repeatedly affirmed by successive UK Prime Ministers who have stated in the UK Parliament that Scotland is an equal partner in a voluntary unio...

Evidence about Peter Mandelson from Epstein files raises big questions
4 Feb 2026 at 6:30pm

AS a former Director of Public Prosecutions and head of the Crown Prosecution Service, it might be expected that Sir Keir Starmer would have a better understanding of the likely charges facing Peter Mandelson than to describe him as having ?let his country down?. To pass information from inside the government into the sight of foreign nationals, as revealed in the latest if the Epstein document...

Labour accused of 'muscular Unionism' as 'panic' sets in over May elections
4 Feb 2026 at 5:00pm

LABOUR are engaging in ?muscular Unionism? towards Wales as ?panic? sets in over the Plaid Cymru potentially winning the Senedd election, leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth has said.

Bank holiday confirmed in Scotland for day after World Cup opener
4 Feb 2026 at 4:57pm

A NATIONAL bank holiday to mark Scotland?s participation in the World Cup for the first time since 1998 has been confirmed

John Swinney orders probe into Scottish Government dealings with Peter Mandelson
4 Feb 2026 at 4:28pm

JOHN Swinney has ordered an investigation into his Government?s dealings with Peter Mandelson to see if the ?interests of Scotland have been undermined?

Protesters target Buckingham Palace as royals stay silent on Epstein
4 Feb 2026 at 4:11pm

CAMPAIGNERS have put "crime scene" tape on the railings of Buckingham Palace in a protest over former prince Andrew's connections to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Labour MP slammed for 'foolish' Mandelson attack on John Swinney
4 Feb 2026 at 3:15pm

A SCOTTISH Labour MP has been branded "desperate and foolish" after trying to attack John Swinney for staying at Peter Mandelson's house in Washington ? while he was serving as US ambassador.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Edinburgh Council refuses planning permission for AI data centre
4 Feb 2026 at 3:35pm
Planning officers had recommended the project be approved

Anas Sarwar backs child social media ban
4 Feb 2026 at 1:00am
The UK Government announced last month it was consulting on such a measure

From shared services to smart government
4 Feb 2026 at 12:01am
With over 40 years of experience in the Scottish market, global technology firm TCS is well placed to play a leading role in the country?s public services reform

MSPs vote down Ash Regan?s prostitution bill
3 Feb 2026 at 5:06pm
The government said it could not support it despite agreeing in principle the purchase of sex should be criminalised

Peter Mandelson quits Lords as UK Government refers Epstein leak fears to police
3 Feb 2026 at 3:04pm
Keir Starmer says the former US ambassador 'let his country down'

Information commissioner launches Grok investigation over explicit deepfakes
3 Feb 2026 at 1:06pm
The ICO said the reported creation of such content raised ?serious concerns? under UK data protection law

Patient safety commissioner still has ?concerns? about health board at centre...
3 Feb 2026 at 11:17am
'Families are lied to' within the NHS, MSPs are told

Putting ports at the heart of Scotland?s economic future
3 Feb 2026 at 12:02am
Scotland?s ports sit at the nexus of the energy transition and economic growth. Forth Ports argues that only decisive action and faster delivery will turn ambition into lasting success.

SNP reports Peter Mandelson to police
2 Feb 2026 at 4:00pm
The party has asked the police to investigate whether there is sufficient evidence of criminality in his long-standing relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his actions whilst he was a UK Government minister

Scottish Government refuses support for Ash Regan?s prostitution bill
2 Feb 2026 at 12:37pm
While the government support the principle of the bill, there is too little time left to address concerns, the minister has said

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Starmer faces rising anger over Mandelson as MPs agree to release files to se...
4 Feb 2026 at 8:24pm
Starmer faces criticism from MPs on all sides of the CommonsThis liveblog is now closed. Read the politics team?s report on today?s developments herePMQs is starting soon. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.The Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has dismissed claims that his party?s plan to su...

Campaigners challenge Scottish policy on transgender inmates in female prisons
3 Feb 2026 at 2:45pm
For Women Scotland objects to use of individual risk assessments, saying it is contrary to supreme court rulingFemale prisoners are paying the price for an ?Orwellian? Scottish government policy that allows some transgender inmates to be housed in female prisons, Scotland?s highest civil court ha...

Lord Wallace of Tankerness obituary
1 Feb 2026 at 5:39pm
Influential Liberal and Lib Dem politician who served as Scotland?s deputy first minister from the outset of devolutionJim Wallace, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, who has died aged 71 following complications after surgery, was an influential Liberal figure who achieved the extremely rare distinction...

Starmer announces visa-free travel to China after talks with Xi in Beijing ? ...
29 Jan 2026 at 5:32pm
Downing Street gives no date for when the agreement of 30 days of visa-free travel will come into forceFor more context on today?s Starmer-Xi meeting, China is the world?s second-biggest economy and Britain?s third-largest trading partner ? to which it exports £45bn of goods and services a year ?...

Deacon Blue ?appalled? by Reform UK?s Scottish leader quoting their song lyrics
27 Jan 2026 at 11:04am
Exclusive: Band hit out at party?s ?poisonous rhetoric? after Malcolm Offord makes reference to Dignity during speechOne of Scotland?s most celebrated rock bands, Deacon Blue, say they are ?appalled? that one of their greatest hits is being used by Reform UK?s new Scottish leader to bolster his p...

Tories withdraw ?mental health? briefing about Suella Braverman after former ...
26 Jan 2026 at 6:10pm
Her defection means there are now eight Reform MPs in the CommonsKeir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to wha...

Reform says it would cut green policies to fund £2bn income tax cut in Scotland
26 Jan 2026 at 4:36pm
Party?s pitch to voters in May Holyrood elections dismissed as ?profoundly unserious, almost comically so? by head of IPPR ScotlandReform UK would slash what it calls ?highly dubious? environmental protection measures to help fund a £2bn cut to income tax in Scotland if it won May?s Holyrood elec...

Scottish health board admits hospital water system linked to fatal infections
19 Jan 2026 at 12:03pm
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde makes last-minute U-turn in submission to hospitals inquiryScotland?s largest health board has finally admitted that contaminated water at a Glasgow super-hospital caused serious infections in child cancer patients that were linked to four deaths.NHS Greater Glasgow ...

Multimillionaire leader of Reform in Scotland refuses to reveal net worth
15 Jan 2026 at 3:26pm
Newly appointed Malcolm Offord, who became a Tory life peer in 2021, plans to stand for Holyrood in MayUK politics live ? latest updatesThe multimillionaire financier who has been made leader of Reform UK in Scotland has refused to say how wealthy he is, claiming that is a private matter.Malcolm ...

Scottish budget: SNP government cuts taxes for lowest earners
13 Jan 2026 at 7:06pm
Ministers will hope package of measures can aid efforts to retain power in May?s Holyrood electionsMinisters in Scotland have cut taxes for the lowest earners by a modest £11 a year, as the government dug into its reserves, cut spending and increased borrowing to fund new election pledges.With fo...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The independence movement must commit to a Scottish republic
4 Feb 2026 at 2:02pm
It’s well known that people in Scotland are less enamoured with the self-promoting antics of the Windsor family than people in other parts of the UK. Large royal events with all their pomp and pageantry paid for at public expense are typically met in Scotland with widespread apathy, if not anger and ridicule. The street …

What happens in the Welsh election could be key to Scotland too
2 Feb 2026 at 4:27pm
The well known traditional curse, “May you live in interesting times” is often ascribed to an ancient Chinese text, although there is no evidence for this. Be that as it may, it cannot be denied that we are cursed with living through interesting times. Keir Starmer was elected to head a Labour government with a …

BBC Scotland?s look at nuclear through Labour Rose tinted glasses
31 Jan 2026 at 1:39pm
The bias of the BBC, particularly BBC Scotland, against the SNP Scottish Government in particular and the wider Scottish independence movement in general is well documented by pro-independence campaigners, but ignored by the Scottish media which is itself overwhelmingly biased against Scottish independence, the somewhat less than half of the Scottish population which opposes independence …

Wee Ginger Annual Fundraiser 2026 part 2
30 Jan 2026 at 6:08pm
Unfortunately when I published the previous post about this year’s fundraiser, I pressed publish too quickly and omitted the full details for donating via PayPal or Ko-fi. Here they are now and here is the link again to the GoFundMe fundraiser. Many thanks for supporting my work. It’s greatly appreciated.   https://www.gofundme.com/f/wee-ginger-dug-annual-fundraiser-2026   I?ve added …

Wee Ginger Annual Fundraiser 2026
30 Jan 2026 at 1:33pm
It’s that time of the year again, when I ask readers of this blog to make a contribution, big or small, to keeping this blog running for another year. As we approach the Holyrood elections, I have been increasing the frequency of new posts on the blog from theprevious two or three per week to …

Trump?s lawlessness comes to Scotland
29 Jan 2026 at 3:48pm
Donald Trump is infamously lawless. He is the first convicted criminal to be elected to the White House. That conviction alone, by no means the worst crime the oranged faced felon has allegedly committed, should have been enough to disqualify him from holding public office, but he was ushered into power by a corrupt Republican …

Reform UK?s authoritarian project for power
28 Jan 2026 at 2:55pm
The American author and poet Maya Anjelou famously wrote: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” That has never been more true than where we are now in British politics with the rise of the far right, the performative cruelty it espouses and its dehumanisation of minority groups. Reform UK …

England is driving on the right politically
26 Jan 2026 at 3:05pm
All is not well in the Labour party. Over the weekend Keir Starmer and his allies took the decision to throw away a by election in order to buy the politically ailing Starmer some more time in office. Starmer and his allies on Labour’s NEC voted to refuse permission to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to …

The BBC?s bad treatment of NHS Scotland
24 Jan 2026 at 1:03pm
When a parent loses a child it is an unbearable tragedy, and I want to preface this blog piece with the important caveat that I in no way wish to cast any aspersions on the bereaved and fully support their drive to uncover the truth about what went on at the new Southern General Hospital …

The rich are enemies of democracy and of an independent Scotland
23 Jan 2026 at 4:39pm
The biggest political issue of our days is one that few politicians are talking about. That’s the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of a small minority. In 2023, the world?s richest 1%, defined as those with more than $1 million, owned 47.5 percent of all the world?s wealth ? equivalent to roughly $214 …

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

Scottish prison releases leading to only 5% re-offending, ten times lower tha...
4 Feb 2026 at 6:16pm
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy From the Daily Record today: Criminals are set to be released from Scots jails automatically after serving just 30 per cent of their sentence in the latest desperate attempt to ease an overcrowding crisis. and of course: Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, said: “Two decades of SNP g...

The strange case of YouGov?s shrinking Glasgow samples confirms their polls t...
4 Feb 2026 at 6:14pm
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy I’ve written before about YouGov‘s unerring and almost unique (Survation too) ability to pluck a No lead out of a trend dominated by Yes leads, found by various other pollsters. It’s been a long time since they found a Yes lead. They seem to prevent it by adjusting (weighting) their s...

As unelected Lib Dem MSP imagines ferry disruption but what 1 064 real users ...
4 Feb 2026 at 6:13pm
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy In the Ardrossan Herald two days ago: WEST Scotland Liberal Democrat List MSP Jamie Greene has hit out after it was revealed the cost of Arran’s newest ferry had now hit £197.5 million. It was confirmed last week that MV Glen Rosa, originally due to enter service in 2018, would now ...

German Minister of Environment rules that mini-reactors of kind proposed by S...
4 Feb 2026 at 6:10pm
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy Thanks to Dottie for alerting us tothis: From World Nuclear Industry Status Report 1 February 2026: Berlin (energate) – The gap between the hype and industrial reality surrounding nuclear energy is widening. This applies in particular to the smaller nuclear reactors, Small Modular Rea...

Short video ? Crosshouse maternity unit inspection report requires no formal ...
4 Feb 2026 at 2:20pm
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy

Maternity unit inspection report requires no formal inquiry or police investi...
4 Feb 2026 at 7:38am
Support Talking-up Scotland -In this election year in Scotland, the 90% pro-Union media and their sponsors in the opposition parties will do everything they can to undermine the pro-independence parties. Thought vastly outnumbered, we will do our very best to counter their lies and get you, every day, the true stories and the sources of evidence to prove them. Help us if you can at https://www....

Long waits for treatment continue to plummet after Scottish Government?s ext...
4 Feb 2026 at 6:57am
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy In early November 2025, BBC Scotland told us: The Scottish government has pledged £25.5m to help bring down NHS waiting times. First Minister John Swinney said the money would help deliver more hospital appointments. It is to be shared by nine health boards – Ayrshire and Arran, Fife,...

Total crime down by third and violent crime down by a quarter since 2007 but ...
4 Feb 2026 at 6:55am
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy From Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 31 December 2025, published yesterday: There were 16,416 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 31 December 2025 This is an increase of 182 FTE police officers (+1.1%) from the 16,234 FTE police officers recorded at...

Everything is politicised in Scotland especially the NHS but never in England
4 Feb 2026 at 6:53am
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy By Liz ?It is, in our view, a strong step on the way to achieving our shared ambition with the Scottish Government, of making Scotland the best place in the UK for doctors to train and work.? Oh but apparently according to certain very hostile and opposing sources , aka anti SNP sourc...

NHS Scotland continues to steadily increase number of operations with 98% on ...
3 Feb 2026 at 5:13pm
Support Talking-up Scotland to keep rebutting the lies almost every day of the year, at https://t.co/xFcIcegHTy From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 31 December 2025, published today: There were 24,441 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 10.7% higher (+2,368) than the number planned in December 2024 (22,073). The number of planned operations increased gradual...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

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

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

New book charts writer?s role in thwarting Scottish independence - gatescambr...
3 Feb 2026 at 10:32am
New book charts writer?s role in thwarting Scottish independence  gatescambridge.org

Scottish independence polls & surveys - YouGov
30 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence polls & surveys  YouGov

Jeffrey Epstein discussed how to profit from Scottish independence vote, file...
2 Feb 2026 at 4:17pm
Jeffrey Epstein discussed how to profit from Scottish independence vote, files show  TheNational.scot

The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage - politico.eu
13 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage  politico.eu

No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says - BBC
27 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says  BBC

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

Scottish independence poll 2025 - Statista
28 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
Scottish independence poll 2025  Statista

Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scotti...
9 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scottish independence has grown stronger  The Conversation

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Stop the SNP?s Council Tax Hikes - Scottish Conservatives
4 Feb 2026 at 3:31pm
Stop the SNP?s Council Tax Hikes  Scottish Conservatives

SNP: Robust operations and investments offset by impairments and higher taxes...
4 Feb 2026 at 4:03pm
SNP: Robust operations and investments offset by impairments and higher taxes, with dividends reduced  TradingView

Response to SNP question about Peter Mandelson was just disgusting - TheNatio...
4 Feb 2026 at 12:03pm
Response to SNP question about Peter Mandelson was just disgusting  TheNational.scot

Millionaire tycoon calls on pubs in Scotland to BAN SNP politicians from thei...
4 Feb 2026 at 12:41pm
Millionaire tycoon calls on pubs in Scotland to BAN SNP politicians from their boozers  The Scottish Sun

?The three letters key to beating the SNP: NHS? - LabourList
4 Feb 2026 at 6:00am
?The three letters key to beating the SNP: NHS?  LabourList

'Why are they protecting sex buyers?' Ash Regan hits out after Holyrood vote ...
4 Feb 2026 at 5:02am
'Why are they protecting sex buyers?' Ash Regan hits out after Holyrood vote  The Herald

SNP lead, Reform UK in second in YouGov January 2026 Holyrood voting intentio...
29 Jan 2026 at 1:58pm
SNP lead, Reform UK in second in YouGov January 2026 Holyrood voting intention  YouGov

Readers' Letters: SNP government has total disregard for women?s safety - The...
4 Feb 2026 at 7:00am
Readers' Letters: SNP government has total disregard for women?s safety  The Scotsman

Providers lock in on ratings, I-SNP rules and denials ahead of final ?27 MA r...
3 Feb 2026 at 12:14am
Providers lock in on ratings, I-SNP rules and denials ahead of final ?27 MA rule  McKnight's Long-Term Care News

SNP ?uses women as pawns? in trans prisoner row - The Times
3 Feb 2026 at 11:00pm
SNP ?uses women as pawns? in trans prisoner row  The Times

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

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

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
26 Jan 2026 at 4:30pm
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says - BBC
27 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says  BBC

David Cameron - Scottish Referendum, 2015 Election, Brexit - Britannica
27 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
David Cameron - Scottish Referendum, 2015 Election, Brexit  Britannica

Scottish independence polls & surveys - YouGov
30 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence polls & surveys  YouGov

In the United Kingdom, prime minister rejects possibility of Scotland indepen...
3 Jun 2025 at 8:00am
In the United Kingdom, prime minister rejects possibility of Scotland independence referendum  ConstitutionNet

Why Alberta?s push for independence pales in comparison to Scotland?s in 2014...
27 May 2025 at 8:00am
Why Alberta?s push for independence pales in comparison to Scotland?s in 2014  The Conversation

Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shi...
24 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shifts  Courthouse News

Scottish independence poll 2025 - Statista
28 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
Scottish independence poll 2025  Statista

Part Two: What an independent Scotland could look like - A Fresh Start with I...
8 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Part Two: What an independent Scotland could look like - A Fresh Start with Independence  The Scottish Government