The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Much debated religious education bill passes at Holyrood
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
17 Feb 2026 at 8:17pm
A bill seeking to change the process for children withdrawing from religious education has passed in the Scottish Parliament


Civil servants' hybrid working policy isn't working. That must change
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
17 Feb 2026 at 3:27pm
Figures revealed core civil servants are rarely in the office despite a Scottish Government target of 40% hybrid working.


'Choosing to deny support': Scots rape crisis centres hammer government over ...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Feb 2026 at 4:49pm
Three rape crisis centres have hit out at the Scottish Government for instituting a ?significant real-terms? funding cut they say will make women and girls less safe.


GP challenges now 'intolerable', senior doctor warns as new proposals launched
17 Feb 2026 at 4:19pm
A senior medic described Scotland's GP services as "intolerable" as a new report is published for Scottish Labour.


Scottish Government cannot rule out bus driver's killer being given free bus ...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Feb 2026 at 3:17pm
Bus driver Keith Rollinson, 58, died in Elgin in February 2024 after being attacked by a 15-year-old boy who had been refused entry to his bus.


Sarwar: Scottish Labour MPs don't need to return donations from under-fire th...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
17 Feb 2026 at 1:28pm
Anas Sarwar has said Scottish Labour MPs do not need to return donations from under-fire think tank Labour Together.


Royal Mail facing grilling from MPs over failures in service
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
17 Feb 2026 at 12:47pm
Royal Mail is facing a grilling from MPs over allegations it has been prioritising parcels over letters in deliveries and recent failures in service


'Tribute act to the old Tories': Farage installs Braverman and Jenrick on fro...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Feb 2026 at 12:31pm
Braverman, who was Home Secretary for two stints between 2022 and 2023,  will be Reform?s education, skills and equalities spokeswoman.


Reform's lead over Labour narrows to five points as Polanski's Greens on 17 p...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Feb 2026 at 11:47am
Bookmakers have announced that the right-wing party is no longer the betting favourite to win the 2029 general election. 


'Unwavering commitment to justice': Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson dead ...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Feb 2026 at 10:06am
He founded the Rainbow PUSH coalition and became the second African-American to seek the presidential nomination of a major party in 1984.


Anger as millions of essential specialist wildfire equipment unused
17 Feb 2026 at 6:00am
Scotland witnessed some of the biggest wildfires in history - however more than £2.8 million of essential equipment was unused, figures show.


Scotland's frontline role in growing Russian threat 'must be key to election'
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
17 Feb 2026 at 5:30am
A Labour MP has warned Scotland's role as a frontline nation in escalating conflict with Russia must be central to the Holyrood election.


Scotland faces free university and public service budget squeeze says think tank
17 Feb 2026 at 12:01am
Free university tuition and more generous benefits in Scotland may have to be cut as the country loses its funding advantage relative to England, a think tank has suggested


Civil servants rarely in Scottish Government buildings despite 40 per cent ta...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
16 Feb 2026 at 6:15pm
Civil servants are rarely in Scottish Government buildings despite the 40% hybrid working target, new figures have revealed.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Why SNP's walk-in GP centre is seen as a pre-election gimmick by doctors
17 Feb 2026 at 4:45pm
Between 2013 and 2025, each GP in Scotland has taken on an average of 165 extra patients


Anas Sarwar reviving GP plans show Labour's flailing election hopes on life s...
17 Feb 2026 at 4:45pm

Anas Sarwar has re-announced Scottish Labour?s key NHS pledge 12 months on from initially making the vow.

Several SNP politicians are hoping to make the jump from Westminster to Holyrood at the Scottish election in May.

Wings over Scotland

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

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

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

Echoes of history
8 Feb 2026 at 5:26pm
The Sunday National’s front page today elicited a sigh of “So what?” from most. We’ve already GOT a “pro-indy” majority at Holyrood and have done for the last 10 years, for all it’s been worth. But to be fair there was a paragraph in the article that at least raised a quizzical eyebrow. Because, y’know, …

A Stitch In Timing
5 Feb 2026 at 4:09pm
Readers will probably be aware that literally as you read this, the Scottish Government is in court trying to defend its policy of letting male murderers be housed in women’s prisons by arguing that the Equality Act 2010 (as ruled on by the Supreme Court in the For Women Scotland case) is incompatible with the …

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 …

Craig Murray

Two Little Caracas Videos
17 Feb 2026 at 6:34am

I hope to write a serious article shortly about the position of Venezuela, which is rather that of a hostage with a gun to their head, attempting to appease a psychopath. But for now here are a couple of small videos illustrating that it is a lie that the country is failed, starving or repressive. …

Two Little Caracas Videos

Postpone The Celebrations
14 Feb 2026 at 7:46am

On the face of it the English High Court ruling that the Palestine Action proscription is unlawful makes the decision that the proscription remains in place pending appeal utterly illogical. But what if the High Court ruling is deliberately designed to fail at appeal? I believe that it is. They chose an extremely narrow path …

Postpone The Celebrations

Is The USA Controlling Venezuela
7 Feb 2026 at 5:54pm

My first video report from Venezuela: My being here reporting is entirely possible due, as is all my journalism and activism, to your individual subscriptions and donations. We now have a Venezuela reporting crowdfunder. I have simply edited the Lebanese GoFundMe crowdfunder, because that took many weeks to be approved and I don’t want to …

Is The USA Controlling Venezuela

Filton Acquittals Demolish Starmer and Cooper Lies About Palestine Action
5 Feb 2026 at 6:49pm

As the trial finished at Woolwich Crown Court of the six Palestine Action activists who entered the Filton factory to destroy Israeli killer drones, Starmer, Cooper, Lammy and Mahmood are left bereft of a single guilty verdict in the case on which they relied heavily to label Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. I could …

Filton Acquittals Demolish Starmer and Cooper Lies About Palestine Action

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

BBC Scotland

'No guarantee' bus driver's killer will have free pass removed
17 Feb 2026 at 1:22pm
MSPs are demanding assurances Keith Rollinson's attacker will not get concessionary travel upon his release.

Ministers deny involvement in delay to Murrell court hearing
17 Feb 2026 at 4:33pm
A preliminary hearing which was scheduled to take place this Friday has been moved to 25 May.

Free tuition under threat without revenue boost, report warns
17 Feb 2026 at 6:42am
Scotland's more generous benefits and public policies may have to be reconsidered, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Officers call for police cars to be equipped with guns
16 Feb 2026 at 2:38pm
The Scottish Police Federation wants the country to follow New Zealand in allowing officers to quickly access weapons in emergencies.

New adverts urge boys not to share sexist content online
16 Feb 2026 at 11:54am
The Scottish government campaign highlights the hurt that online misogyny can cause to women and girls.

Sarwar says Starmer 'welcome to chap doors' during Scottish election campaign
15 Feb 2026 at 12:08pm
The Scottish Labour leader has said he stands by his decision to call for the prime minister to resign.

Government sues dentists for not treating enough NHS patients
14 Feb 2026 at 1:54pm
More than 250 dentists are understood to be facing legal action as ministers look to reclaim bursary funding.

Desperate times are behind Sarwar's PM resignation call
14 Feb 2026 at 9:14am
Anas Sarwar's demand for Sir Keir Starmer's resignation may look disloyal but it was borne of fear and frustration.

Glen Sannox ferry return delayed by anchor fault
13 Feb 2026 at 6:42pm
The CalMac ship was been out of action since November for annual overhaul and other work

Peter Murrell accused of embezzling £459,000 over 12-year period
13 Feb 2026 at 5:57pm
The former SNP chief executive is accused of illicitly purchasing items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome.

Rock musician to fund Alex Salmond case against Scottish government
13 Feb 2026 at 5:32pm
Paul McManus, drummer with Scottish band Gun, has taken on the legal action from Salmond's family.

Sarwar stands by resignation call in conversation with Starmer
13 Feb 2026 at 3:12pm
The Scottish Labour leader has described speaking to Sir Keir Starmer days after calling on the PM to quit

Scot Goes Pop

REVEALED: The secret results of Alba's rigged 2023 NEC elections, and the hig...
17 Feb 2026 at 7:14pm

"Harken, brothers, what is that irritatingly persistent yet strangely compell...
16 Feb 2026 at 4:03pm

REVEALED AT LAST: What Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh NEVER wanted you to know - the "s...
14 Feb 2026 at 3:36pm
In October 2023, Alex Salmond took to the stage of Alba's 2023 conference in Glasgow, theatrically brandishing what he claimed was a "black dossier" containing unspecified evidence of unspecified w...

REVEALED: It was the Alba Party's acting Chair, DEBBIE EWEN, who was behind t...
12 Feb 2026 at 6:52pm

BREAKING: Alba takes another major step towards total disintegration, as the ...
12 Feb 2026 at 3:53pm
It shows you the level of (justified) paranoia within the ultra-Stalinist Alba party that three different people (who as far as I know are all unconnected with each other) have contacted me about a...

"The joke is over": Now even the SALMOND FAMILY have turned their backs on th...
11 Feb 2026 at 3:28pm
Today brings the news of the resignation of Gail Hendry, Alex Salmond's sister, from the Alba NEC, and indeed after making the video below I was told that several other NEC members (plus at least o...

Which leader did Anas Sarwar just bring down - was it Keir Starmer, or himself?
10 Feb 2026 at 4:27am
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...

Nigel Farage, so long the favourite to be the next Prime Minister, has slumpe...
7 Feb 2026 at 1:54pm
This video also contains more information about the More In Common independence polling I mentioned yesterday.   There aren't many outlets that report Scottish polling accurately and without unioni...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Scottish Government denies involvement in delay to Peter Murrell court appear...
17 Feb 2026 at 5:19pm
The next hearing for the former SNP chief executive has been moved to after the Holyrood election

?No guarantee? teen who killed bus driver will have free travel pass removed
17 Feb 2026 at 1:39pm
The boy who killed Keith Rollinson could be released within weeks after two years in secure accommodation

Scotland may need to cut free university and benefits amid budget strain, thi...
17 Feb 2026 at 6:19am
A think tank has warned the Scottish Government may need to find ways to collect more tax to keep certain benefits

?We?re struggling and nobody?s listening?: Families lose hope ahead of Holyro...
17 Feb 2026 at 6:19am
Parents tell STV News they don't have a political home as the cost of living crisis forces sacrifices

Public will value my honesty in call for Starmer to quit, says Sarwar
15 Feb 2026 at 11:40am
The Scottish Labour leader was pressed on whether his own position has been weakened by the events of this week.

Swinney: Timing of Murrell embezzlement hearing is matter for the courts
14 Feb 2026 at 1:24pm
The First Minister spoke after a hearing for former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was moved until after the election

Labour should reverse ban on new oil and gas licences, Blair?s think tank says
13 Feb 2026 at 8:32pm
The windfall tax, currently set at 38%, was introduced under the previous government in May 2022.

I did not step back from urging Starmer to quit in call with him ? Sarwar
13 Feb 2026 at 4:51pm
The Scottish Labour leader said he spoke to the Prime Minister on the phone on Thursday

Millionaire takes over legal rights to Salmond case against Scottish Government
13 Feb 2026 at 4:41pm
The former first minister took action against the Government, naming Nicola Sturgeon and former top civil servant Leslie Evans specifically

MSPs vote to back draft Budget as Lib Dems agree deal with Scottish Government
12 Feb 2026 at 6:44pm
The Lib Dems confirmed they had struck a deal on social care, hospices and hospitality

Release of drunk teen who killed bus driver ?weak justice?, says Tory leader
12 Feb 2026 at 2:13pm
The teenager who killed Keith Rollinson could be released within weeks after two years in secure accommodation

Sir Jim Ratcliffe apologises for claiming immigrants had ?colonised? the UK
12 Feb 2026 at 12:14pm
The Ineos boss and Manchester United co-owner said it was 'important to raise the issue' of controlled immigration

John Swinney to face FMQs ahead of first Budget vote
12 Feb 2026 at 12:01pm
The First Minister announced rail fares will be frozen for the next year ahead of the vote

Sir Jim Ratcliffe made ?mistake? with immigration comments, says John Swinney
12 Feb 2026 at 11:05am
The Ineos boss and Manchester United co-owner said the UK had been 'colonised' by immigrants

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scottish politics today: 'No guarantee' teen killer won't get free bus pass o...
17 Feb 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its daily 5pm briefing of the top stories in Scottish politics.

Peter Murrell trial delay had nothing to do with Scottish Government, insists...
17 Feb 2026 at 2:59pm
Ex-SNP chief executive Murrell, 61, was originally due to appear in court in Glasgow on February 20.

SNP Minister refuses to say if thug who killed bus driver will be banned from...
17 Feb 2026 at 1:18pm
Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, said a question about the killer was ?disrespectful? and claimed he could make no ?guarantees?.

Scots warned 'we're already in conflict with Russia' as UK Government plans d...
17 Feb 2026 at 11:02am
Keir Starmer is considering making a significant increase in UK defence spending after warning world leaders of the need to "spend more, faster".

Free university tuition and personal care could be scrapped as Scotland loses...
17 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
SNP ministers will struggle to pay for the flagship policies of the devolution era amid an increasingly strained Holyrood budget.

Scottish politics today: John Swinney has 'confidence' in super hospital safety
16 Feb 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its daily 5pm briefing of the top stories in Scottish politics.

John Swinney insists £1bn Glasgow super hospital is safe despite families war...
16 Feb 2026 at 11:33am
The SNP Government has faced accusations the hospital was rushed open in spring 2015 before it was safe to do so.

Scots children could be banned from social media this year under Keir Starmer...
16 Feb 2026 at 9:53am
The Labour Prime Minister will announce an Australia-style ban could be introduced across the UK without the need for a further standalone law.

Fury as Scots wait up to five years for hearing tests sparking calls to scrap...
16 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The SNP Government has been accused of shelving an independent report on how to improve hearing services - with Scots facing long waits for appointments as a result.

Pam Duncan Glancy's top aide quits over MSP friendship with prolific paedophile
16 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Glasgow Councillor Catherine Vallis stopped working for the MSP in the wake of the row over Sean Morton.

The National

The National | Politics

Scottish ministers urged to say Palestine Action activists 'won't be criminal...
17 Feb 2026 at 7:47pm

THE Scottish Government has been urged to confirm that no Palestine Action supporters ?will be criminalised for opposing genocide? in Scotland following the High Court ruling.

Scottish Labour MPs told to donate Mandelson fundraiser cash to victims? charity
17 Feb 2026 at 7:07pm

TWO Scottish Labour MPs who hosted a fundraiser featuring disgraced peer Peter Mandelson have been told to hand the proceeds to a victims? support charity.

All independence supporters should consider Angus MacNeil?s proposal
17 Feb 2026 at 6:30pm

I RELUCTANTLY resigned from the Alba party several months ago and rejoined the SNP, which had been my political home since 1979. I did this primarily because ? despite my efforts within the party, encouraged by rank-and-file members ? I could not seem to get what they and I regarded as sufficient support from the ? high heid yins? to properly develop a vision for the ?health of the nation?, in ...

We publish the McCrone report in full in a MAJOR series on Scotland's energy
17 Feb 2026 at 6:00pm

WHY is Scotland, an energy rich nation, facing a horrendous cost-of-living crisis and the worst decline in living standards on record?

Are people in the south of Scotland getting their human rights met? Watchdog ...
17 Feb 2026 at 5:28pm

PEOPLE in the south of Scotland are to be asked about their experiences of economic, social and cultural rights in order to determine whether their human rights are being met

'Thicko alert': Reform's phoney 'shadow cabinet' could soon be running the UK
17 Feb 2026 at 5:31pm

You can get The National's Real Scottish Politics newsletter free and direct to your inbox every weekday. To sign up, click HERE and click the + button.

John Curtice gives verdict on Rupert Lowe's new right-wing party
17 Feb 2026 at 5:22pm

RUPERT Lowe?s new right-wing party is ?fishing in the same waters? as Reform UK, but most of the public don?t know who they are, Professor John Curtice has said.

Scotland's oil boom 'worth £1 trillion to economy', landmark study finds
17 Feb 2026 at 5:18pm

SCOTLAND?S oil and gas increased measured economic output by almost £1 trillion in today?s prices ? but the vast majority of the value took the form of profits and taxes rather than wages ...

Anas Sarwar rejects calls to return Labour Together cash
17 Feb 2026 at 5:07pm

Anas Sarwar has rejected calls to return donations Scottish Labour took from a think tank caught in the centre of a spying scandal

Nigel Farage snaps at journalist and refuses to answer her question
17 Feb 2026 at 4:08pm

NIGEL Farage snapped at a FT journalist and refused to answer her question at a press conference where he announced Reform UK?s ?shadow cabinet?

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

All to play for: Scottish games industry unveils election asks
17 Feb 2026 at 4:57pm
Chris van der Kuyl: 'The global industry is changing rapidly, and we cannot stand still'

Douglas Ross:?Peter Murrell adjournment ?stinks?
17 Feb 2026 at 3:14pm
SNP minister says government did not intervene on scheduling

Techscaler sets sights on New York as programme expands
17 Feb 2026 at 5:00am
Kate Forbes announces investment drive

Next Scottish Government faces tough choices as funding advantage diminishes,...
17 Feb 2026 at 12:57am
If similar public services are to remain over the next parliament, the IFS says the next government would be required to either raise taxes or cut spending elsewhere

Scottish Government official questioned over Mandelson ties
16 Feb 2026 at 4:23pm
The Director-General for Economy has been questioned over his contact with Peter Mandelson, according to?reports

Revolutionising NHS Scotland?s Digital Healthcare: A Unified, National Approach
16 Feb 2026 at 6:00am
By working in partnership, OneAdvanced and NHS Scotland can accelerate digital innovation, improve outcomes for patients and clinicians, and establish a future-ready health and care system aligned to Scotland?s long-term strategic ambitions.

Millionaire rock drummer takes on Alex Salmond case against Scottish Government
13 Feb 2026 at 2:45pm
Paul McManus of Gun brought in thanks to Fergus Ewing MSP and PR guru Jack Irvine

Peter Murrell accused of embezzling ?459,000 from the SNP in eight court charges
13 Feb 2026 at 10:27am
The estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is alleged to have used party funds to purchase luxury items, including a campervan, cosmetics, and jewellery

Anas Sarwar: Jim Ratcliffe ?colonising? comments ?disgusting and offensive?
12 Feb 2026 at 2:21pm
The billionaire has apologised for his ?choice of language? following backlash

Russell Findlay calls for ?lighter? under-25 sentencing guidelines to be scra...
12 Feb 2026 at 1:42pm
John Swinney said that "all sentencing options including imprisonment" were open to judges

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

?It?s betrayal?: Shetland?s scallop fishers brace for arrival of UK?s largest...
17 Feb 2026 at 12:00pm
Huge project by Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms gets go-ahead amid concerns over the environmental cost of fish farming and threat to traditional way of lifeAt Collafirth, north Shetland, Sydney Johnson is unloading two-dozen bags of scallops by throwing them over his head like medicine balls ...

Tuesday briefing: The factors that will shape the future of Scotland
17 Feb 2026 at 7:55am
In today?s newsletter: As Scottish voters prepare to go to the polls, how can Labour, Reform and the Conservatives capitalise on weakening trust in the SNP?Good morning. The SNP has been in government since 2007, a phenomenal 19-year run, but polling suggests Scottish voters? trust in its ability...

Mick Duncan obituary
16 Feb 2026 at 8:39pm
My friend and fellow architect Mick Duncan, who has died aged 86, imbued his architecture with human scale and proportion, whether for the extensive buildings for Stirling University, at Victoria Quay housing the Scottish Executive in Leith, or in the modest yet stately headquarters for United Di...

Scottish Labour leader says he doesn?t regret calling for Starmer to quit ? U...
13 Feb 2026 at 4:30pm
Anas Sarwar said that he stood by what he said when he announced on Monday that he wanted the prime minister to stand downThe Equality and Human Rights Commission has welcomed a high court ruling defending the interim guidance it issued to organisations about the implications of the supreme court...

Jeane Freeman obituary
12 Feb 2026 at 5:57pm
SNP politician who served as Scottish health secretary and led the government?s response to the covid pandemicJeane Freeman, who has died aged 72, held two critical roles in the SNP government at Holyrood, leading the Scottish government?s response to the Covid pandemic alongside Nicola Sturgeon ...

Anas Sarwar says Starmer can campaign in Scotland after calling for him to quit
11 Feb 2026 at 5:59pm
Scottish Labour leader agrees PM can support party?s effort to win May?s Holyrood election in abrupt about-faceThe Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, has agreed that Keir Starmer can campaign for the party in the Holyrood elections just days after calling for the prime minister to resign.In a m...

Anas Sarwar says Starmer welcome to campaign for Labour in Scotland, days aft...
11 Feb 2026 at 5:56pm
Two days ago, the Scottish Labour leader said he wanted the prime minister to avoid Scotland during the election campaign because of his deep unpopularity with votersFamilies of nurses and carers have said they fear being torn apart under an immigration crackdown condemned as ?an act of economic ...

No 10 confident Sarwar acted alone in call for Starmer to go
10 Feb 2026 at 8:17pm
Downing Street initially feared Scottish Labour leader?s move was part of a wider leadership challenge Downing Street is increasingly confident that Anas Sarwar?s call for Keir Starmer to stand down was not part of a coordinated plot by a leadership rival to bring down the prime minister, the Gua...

Starmer says he ?will never walk away? as Burnham joins Labour figures backin...
10 Feb 2026 at 6:12pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereKemi Badenoch has said that Keir Starmer just received a ?stay of execution? yesterday. Speaking to reporters on a visit this morning, she said:Starmer is in a very dangerous place. The Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the quie...

Starmer survives ? but for how long? ? podcast
10 Feb 2026 at 3:00am
Helen Pidd follows the twists and turns on Monday as the prime minister fought to keep his jobOn Monday morning, the prime minister was preparing to reset relations with MPs after the resignation of his chief aide, Morgan McSweeney.Just before midday, news broke that Tim Allen, Keir Starmer?s dir...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Westminster?s great Scottish energy rip off
17 Feb 2026 at 3:07pm
In news that hasn’t appeared anywhere on BBC Scotland to my shock and surprise, that’s shock and surprise as in “I was shocked and surprised to learn that the Pope believes in god.” A majority of MSPs have backed a campaign calling for an end to rip off energy bills in Scotland. Despite Scotland being …

Fundraiser update and a look to the election in May
14 Feb 2026 at 12:54pm
I thought I’d publish an update on the progress so far of the 2026 Wee Ginger Dug annual fundraiser. This is always an anxious time of the year as I ask other people to put their money where my mouth is. The blog is free to read for all and eschews advertising, paid content or …

Billionaire tax evader blames poor people for Britain?s problems
13 Feb 2026 at 1:05pm
73 year old billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, the UK’s own racist granddad, moved to the tax haven of Monaco in 2020 in order to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. He’s doubtless one of those English people living abroad who considers himself an ‘expat’ and not an immigrant. It’s equally likely that he doesn’t speak …

Labour?s real problem in Scotland is that Sarwar and Starmer are the same.
12 Feb 2026 at 9:10am
It’s hard to overstate just how much of a shambles the Labour party in Scotland has got itself into. On Wednesday The Herald was reporting that branch manager Anas Sarwar had doubled down on his call for Keir Starmer to stand down as Prime Minister while at the very same time The Guardian’s Scottish correspondent …

Labour sleaze and its dangerous association with Palantir
11 Feb 2026 at 2:35pm
To paraphrase Shakespeare, Oh what a revolting web we weave when we mire ourselves in sleaze. Labour’s self inflicted paedophile adjacent chaos continues. Starmer has now belatedly removed the Labour whip from Labour peer Matthew Doyle, who served as Starmer’s chief of communications until March last year. Doyle was given a peerage by Starmer on …

Starmer and Sarwar, the Tweedledum and Tweedledumber of political arrogance
10 Feb 2026 at 1:26pm
If you’re having a bad day today, console yourself with the thought that Anas Sarwar is having a much worse day than you are, cue the world’s tiniest violin. Sarwar can’t do anything right, not even lay claim to the title of Scotland’s leading self-important nepo-baby, Fergus Ewing has got that one sewn up. In …

Keir Starmer gets bitten by his soon to be neutered Scottish poodle
9 Feb 2026 at 4:23pm
I’m not going to lie, I never expected that in 2026 I’d have “Excitedly awaiting a press conference from Anas Sarwar” on my bingo card. Due to the rapidly unfolding Mandelson scandal, in the space of 24 hours Keir Starmer has lost his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and his director of communications Tim Allan. …

Starmer, Corbyn, and implications for May?s Scottish elections
9 Feb 2026 at 11:55am
The big political story of the moment is of course the psychodrama enveloping Keir Starmer and the Labour party over the fallout from Starmer’s decision to appoint serial sleaze magnet Peter Mandelson to the high profile position as British ambassador to the USA despite Mandelson’s close ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and decades long …

it?s not John Swinney who must be held to account for Mandelson, it?s Starmer...
8 Feb 2026 at 1:56pm
Certain individuals such as the execrable Russell Findlay, the soon to be electorally humbled branch manager of the Tories in Scotland, and Mandy Rhodes, the editor of Holyrood Magazine, a publication with considerably fewer readers than this blog, are attempting to make political capital out of the fact that when on an official visit to …

YouGov?s independence polls are comfort blankets for Unionists
6 Feb 2026 at 12:28pm
This is an expanded and revised version of a piece I wrote for The National newspaper earlier this week. Since writing it further information has come to light which casts even greater doubt on the validity of a YouGov poll on Scottish independence which was published last week, a poll which was received with immense …

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

Former Welsh surgeon says A&E in North Wales worse than in ?poorer countries? ...
17 Feb 2026 at 6:02pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. ‘Poorer countries?’ Does he mean just East European ones, South American, African? The above shocking story, headlining on the BBC Wales insert on BBC Breakfast this morning but strangely then quickly demoted to a Welsh only report way down the website: Has BBC Wales been told to...

Calmac Chief on Scotland?s 95% plus ferries ? The facts that Scotland?s news ...
17 Feb 2026 at 6:00pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Thanks to Dave Lodge for sharing this with me. From CEO CalMac, Diane Burke, to all staff, in recent days: and: Note that all of this has been shared with ‘our‘ news media yet, as you know from posts here, they have not only ignored it, they have told other tales based on infanti...

BBC Complaints struggling after one month to explain why they lied about QEUH...
17 Feb 2026 at 5:57pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. On January 19th 2026, I sent this complaint to the BBC regarding their coverage of the QEUH water supply infections: Ten days later, they apologised for the delay in responding. In my experience, they never meet their 10 day target, suggesting they’re under pressure from unhappy ...

Drug-related hospital stay rates in Scotland plummet by half as SNP?s unique,...
17 Feb 2026 at 5:56pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. From Drug-related hospital statistics Scotland 2024 to 2025, published today the above graph and: There were 10,185 drug-related hospital stays (2023/24: 11,148). The European Age-sex Standardised Rate (EASR, see background below for more information) of drug-related hospital sta...

Some supporters are having trouble with the Crowdfunder app so?..
17 Feb 2026 at 11:10am
Some supporters are having trouble with the Crowdfunder app. It’s still open but you can also do a direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account – 12266421 Name – JOHN ROBERTSON https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland

Another sign that the Western Isles needs modern coherent party-based governa...
17 Feb 2026 at 10:00am
in their council tax bills of 9.5%. That means an annual bill for an average home going up to £1 519. The local council says it’s got a budget gap of £4.5 million and the council tax increase would bring in another £1.5 million. Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. ‘Local’ council? Tell us more. Like this: and this:...

Dog attacks on farm animals in Scotland plummet 28% to only half, per head, o...
17 Feb 2026 at 9:32am
in dog attacks last year. NFU Mutual is urging dog owners to be responsible ahead of lambing season. The rural insurer says attacks are down 28% compared to 2024, but farmers are asking owners to stop their dogs chasing pregnant ewes and new born lambs. Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. BBC Scotland above open wi...

Last week Scottish Government committed firmly to free higher education tuiti...
17 Feb 2026 at 8:48am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. BBC Scotland today with London-based Institute just a bunch of lads really for Fiscal Studies doubting whether Scotland can continue to afford free higher education tuition for all and ignoring this from last week: I searched for news media coverage to get only this response: T...

UK unemployment 40% higher, youth unemployment 40% higher than in Scotland, B...
17 Feb 2026 at 8:34am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. BBC Breakfast this morning with an extended piece on unemployment not being mirrored by BBC Scotland. The unemployment rate in Scotland at the end of 2025, was 3.7%, down from 3.8% in 2024.  In crude terms 5.1 is 1.4 greater than 3.7 but as a percentage, to take account of the m...

What is going on with Talking-up Scotland?s surge?
16 Feb 2026 at 7:18pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. View and visitor stats today, above, show another massive, for us, increase in the levels we’re used to. Not just one apparent spike of the kind I have seen in the past but two close together and a run of five at double or more than the usual level. Is there a type of story hitt...

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 independence views 'like belief in God', says Alex Cole-Hamilton - T...
15 Feb 2026 at 11:03am
Scottish independence views 'like belief in God', says Alex Cole-Hamilton  TheNational.scot

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

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

X feature exposes Iranian-run pro-Scottish independence accounts - UKDJ - ???...
24 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
X feature exposes Iranian-run pro-Scottish independence accounts - UKDJ  ????? ??????????

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

Will independence dominate Scottish politics again? - BBC
4 Sep 2025 at 8:00am
Will independence dominate Scottish politics again?  BBC

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

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

SNP still insist independence means cheaper energy bills despite mounting evi...
16 Feb 2026 at 1:08pm
SNP still insist independence means cheaper energy bills despite mounting evidence against it  Scottish Daily Express

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell accused of embezzling £459,000 over ...
13 Feb 2026 at 5:57pm
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell accused of embezzling £459,000 over 12-year period  BBC

The Highlander's Dilemma: 19 Years of SNP Fatigue Opens Door for Reform - str...
17 Feb 2026 at 10:10am
The Highlander's Dilemma: 19 Years of SNP Fatigue Opens Door for Reform  streamlinefeed.co.ke

Douglas Ross clashes with SNP minister over 'meddling in Peter Murrell case' ...
17 Feb 2026 at 3:36pm
Douglas Ross clashes with SNP minister over 'meddling in Peter Murrell case' claim  TheNational.scot

SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE: Release according to Article 40, Secti...
17 Feb 2026 at 1:34pm
SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG the German Securities Trading Act with the objective of Europe-wide distribution  TradingView

SNP minister denies government involved in Peter Murrell trial delay - The Times
17 Feb 2026 at 6:24pm
SNP minister denies government involved in Peter Murrell trial delay  The Times

Peter Murrell accused of embezzling £459,000 from SNP, court papers show | Sc...
13 Feb 2026 at 7:02pm
Peter Murrell accused of embezzling £459,000 from SNP, court papers show | Scotland  The Guardian

February 14: Peter Murrell Indictment Puts SNP Finances, Vote in Focus - Meyka
14 Feb 2026 at 9:51pm
February 14: Peter Murrell Indictment Puts SNP Finances, Vote in Focus  Meyka

Why SNP's walk-in GP centre is seen as a pre-election gimmick by doctors - Th...
17 Feb 2026 at 4:45pm
Why SNP's walk-in GP centre is seen as a pre-election gimmick by doctors  The Scotsman

Peter Murrell Accused Of Embezzling SNP Funds Over Decade - Evrim A?ac?
13 Feb 2026 at 4:02pm
Peter Murrell Accused Of Embezzling SNP Funds Over Decade  Evrim A?ac?

Scottish government denies involvement in delay to Peter Murrell court hearin...
17 Feb 2026 at 4:33pm
Scottish government denies involvement in delay to Peter Murrell court hearing  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

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

Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum - BBC
4 Sep 2025 at 8:00am
Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum  BBC

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 views 'like belief in God', says Alex Cole-Hamilton - T...
15 Feb 2026 at 11:03am
Scottish independence views 'like belief in God', says Alex Cole-Hamilton  TheNational.scot

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

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

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

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

First Minister John Swinney sets out latest plan for independence referendum ...
4 Sep 2025 at 8:00am
First Minister John Swinney sets out latest plan for independence referendum  Sky News