The Herald

The Herald | Politics


New Labour MSP launches 'bold' leadership bid in aim to 'shake up Scottish po...
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
28 Jul 2026 at 8:03pm
A fledgling Scottish Labour MSP, elected to Holyrood for the first time in May, has launched a "bold" leadership bid which he claims would "shake up Scottish politics."


Call for urgent review of muirburn licensing as Cairngorms wildfire burns on
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
28 Jul 2026 at 7:45pm
An urgent rethink of muirburn licensing rules and wildfire prevention has been called for by the government as a 25-square-kilometre blaze in the Cairngorms has continued to scorch the area for 14 days and counting.


Scottish Government must lead effort to rebuild Mackintosh says architect
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
28 Jul 2026 at 4:41pm
One of Scotland's leading architects is demanding government leadership after the Glasgow School of Art said it cannot afford the £265m cost of rebuilding Charles Rennie Mackintosh's fire-ravaged masterpiece without public funding.


Aberdeen council to spend £5.8m demolishing 277 RAAC-hit homes ahead £130m r...
28 Jul 2026 at 4:40pm
Almost 300 Torry Raac-ridden homes could be demolished in move that could cost Aberdeen City Council around £6 million.


SNP urged to pause GP walk-in rollout as figures show it's a 'costly distract...
28 Jul 2026 at 3:58pm
The Scottish Government has been urged to pause its plans to roll out another 20 GP walk-in clinics after figures showed some centres are seeing as few as three patients a day on average.


Reform UK accuse leading trade union of ignoring workers
28 Jul 2026 at 3:55pm
The deputy leader of Reform UK in Scotland Thomas Kerr has accused Scotland's largest trade union of "ignoring thousands of workers" who after it revealed it would be boycotting conferences organised by the right wing populist party.


Reform councillor slammed for speaking at event by group that 'openly praised...
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
28 Jul 2026 at 3:04pm
A Reform UK councillor in Glasgow has been slammed for speaking at an event run by far-right activist group Unite the Clans as she "shared a stage with extremists who have openly praised Hitler".


From the Great Fire of Rome to the Cairngorms: A warning for Scotland's polit...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
28 Jul 2026 at 2:39pm
Analysis: The Cairngorms wildfire exposes political point-scoring, fire service cuts and serious gaps in Scotland?s readiness for future blazes.


Scotland's higher earners could save £46,000 by moving to England, analysis f...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
28 Jul 2026 at 11:43am
New analysis from Rathbones Group shows Scots earning £250,000 could save more than £46,000 in income tax over five years by relocating south of the border.


'He's a dangerous, dangerous man:' Findlay's acid attacker gets out of jail t...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
28 Jul 2026 at 10:10am
William Burns, who threw sulphuric acid at then-journalist Russell Findlay in 2015 disguised as a postman, has been released after serving 10 years in full.


JK Rowling centre threatens fresh legal action against Amnesty over 'damaging...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
28 Jul 2026 at 9:48am
Beira's Place, the centre founded by JK Rowling, has threatened Amnesty International UK with fresh legal action over a second 'damaging' report.


Scotland's largest union to boycott a political party conference for first time
28 Jul 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland's largest trade union is to boycott Reform UK's party conference, The Herald can reveal.


Call for ex police chief's sacking after 'Scotland?s Wayne Couzens' case
28 Jul 2026 at 5:00am
Justice Secretary Neil Gray is being called on to sack a former senior police officer as chair of a commission set up to pave the way for the criminalisation of the purchase of sex.


Councils at risk of 'costly' court action as 100 schools keep mixed-sex toilets
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
28 Jul 2026 at 5:00am
Freedom of Information data obtained by For Women Scotland reveals more than 100 schools across a dozen councils still operate mixed-sex toilet facilities, despite two Court of Session rulings and Scottish Government guidance requiring single-sex provision.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


MSP elected just two months ago running for Scottish Labour leadership
28 Jul 2026 at 7:28pm

Joe Fagan has promised to ?shake up? politics as he said his party will only be trusted when it is ?rooted in communities?.

The Isle of Islay has an issue with its mezzanine decks

It came as the First Minister announced new funding to tackle the issue

Wings over Scotland

The Nobodies
27 Jul 2026 at 5:10pm
Apologies for the slightly shonky quality of this video, readers, which is due to the fact that ITV are such monumental self-sabotaging clowns that it’s not actually possible to screencap any sort of digital broadcast of theirs – screw YOU, viral content! – so we had to do this by videoing our iPad with our …

Ain?t it funny how things change?
22 Jul 2026 at 11:29am
Then, and now. (Click pic to enlarge.) Scottish politics: where repeated catastrophic failure is just another way to succeed.

The Wheels Of Industry
20 Jul 2026 at 2:49pm
Last Friday’s edition of The National ran this guff: And as we often are, we were put in mind of the greatest politics book ever written. We’d really need to quote a much longer section to fully convey the point – ideally just read all of the piece linked above – but this passage will …

Progressing To Oblivion
19 Jul 2026 at 3:21pm
It’s now more than three years since this site drew attention to the curious case of Progress Scotland, the zombie “polling company” run by the SNP’s Angus Robertson that had no employees and hadn’t published any polls since October 2020, but was apparently still accepting, and soliciting, donations from subscribers, and appeared to have disposed …

These Words Are My Own
17 Jul 2026 at 9:59pm
It’s been another fabulous day on the front pages for Nicola Sturgeon. The stories were triggered by a speech in the House Of Commons from Tory MP Sir David Davis, which you can watch below. ? (It was meant to be a much longer speech, but Davis had to truncate it on the hoof from …

A Matter Of Declinature
15 Jul 2026 at 5:05pm
Our solicitor has this afternoon written to the Deputy Chief Constable. We’ll await his response with interest.

The Invisible Rabbit
15 Jul 2026 at 11:30am
Further to Monday’s letter from the Deputy Chief Constable, we’ve now submitted the following Freedom Of Information request to Police Scotland, as per his suggestion. - To: FOI <foi@scotland.police.uk> 15 July 2026 This week I received a letter from DCC Stuart Houston. It notes in part: “During this time, Police Scotland utilised financial investigators, financial …

Blue In The Face
14 Jul 2026 at 1:13pm
Before we start, let’s note that this took 37 days. As you’re about to read, it says almost nothing other than “Please go away now”. It takes quite a long time to say it, but nevertheless those four words are pretty much the sum total of the actual content. It does not in any way …

The Unstoppable Lie Machine
13 Jul 2026 at 7:00pm
Six weeks ago, Nicola Sturgeon said this: Today, on her behalf, her perpetually furious lawyer said this: So she was lying. Imagine literally nobody’s surprise. “I have nothing to hide, but I’m going to hide it anyway” is flawlessly in character. (Though we must take a moment to note that the idea of anyone bothering …

Step One
12 Jul 2026 at 3:05pm
Today’s Sunday Mail leads for the second weekend in a row on questions about the finances of Yes Scotland. But there’s a paragraph in the online version of the story that doesn’t make the print edition, and it’s a shame, because it’s a very telling one. This is it, from Yes Scotland’s former marketing director …

Craig Murray

Narratives of Moral Conflict: Karim Khan and Delcy Rodriguez
26 Jul 2026 at 6:09am

Social media is not conducive to nuance. In the interest of reach, cut and dried positions are more effective and binary moral judgement expected. This leads to over-simplification of complex issues, and to skipping over facts inconvenient to your chosen narrative. There are issues affecting two high-profile people where it is worth considering the detail …

Narratives of Moral Conflict: Karim Khan and Delcy Rodriguez

Where Are We Going?
20 Jul 2026 at 1:25pm

An advert for the RNLI caught my attention because it indicated that the majority of their income comes from bequests in wills. The pitch was that, after you provide for your loved ones, you should leave money to the RNLI. I have no problem with this, having generations of lifeboatmen in my ancestry, but it …

Where Are We Going?

Extreme Unionism and Res Judicata
14 Jul 2026 at 5:02pm

Unsurprisingly, today at the Court of Session Lord Young refused to lift his suspension or “sist” of the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. He did however grant us leave to appeal against this decision. What was surprising was an extreme extension of the UK government’s argument. The UK government stated that …

Extreme Unionism and Res Judicata

The Ditching of Nigel Farage
11 Jul 2026 at 8:36am

Nigel Farage is the most consequential British politician of the 21st century. Certainly a more important historic figure than any of the last eight Prime Ministers. Tony Blair is the only realistic rival. Without Farage, the UK would never have left the European Union. Farage’s role in forcing the issue to the top of the …

The Ditching of Nigel Farage

Palestine Action Proscription: We Fight Back
1 Jul 2026 at 12:50pm

I publish below in full the Note we have submitted to Court today to re-establish the separate Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. Not only is the state doubling down on prosecution of pro-Palestine activists, a new National Security State Threats Bill is being fast tracked through parliament to extend the attack …

Palestine Action Proscription: We Fight Back

The Middle East, Hormuz and the New Mercantilism
29 Jun 2026 at 9:50am

The provisional surrender document signed by Donald Trump appeared to represent a triumph for Iran and indeed for the world; but neither the USA nor Israel has the slightest sense of honour and they cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith. Iran knows this – after all, the USA twice attacked Iran actually during …

The Middle East, Hormuz and the New Mercantilism

BBC Scotland

Joe Fagan becomes third MSP to join Scottish Labour leadership race
28 Jul 2026 at 8:12pm
The South Scotland MSP said that Prime Minister Andy Burnham's recent by-election victory demonstrated that Labour could "win back trust".

GP walk-in clinics see low attendance leading to accusations of failure
28 Jul 2026 at 3:44pm
Scotland's health secretary says it's early days for the scheme and she is enouraged "thus far" - but critics say it should be scrapped.

Michael Marra joins race to become Scottish Labour leader
27 Jul 2026 at 7:40pm
It comes as the party confirmed they will have a new leader in place by its conference in September.

Minister defends decision to reject UK military help to fight wildfire
27 Jul 2026 at 2:42pm
Neil Gray said the military was unable to fulfil a "specific request" to send waterbombing helicopters to the Cairngorms.

Lennon launches Scottish Labour leadership bid
26 Jul 2026 at 5:03pm
The incoming West of Scotland MSP said her party was in the "last chance saloon" and needed "radical and fast change".

Scottish councils 'starved of cash and powers' by SNP, says Alexander
24 Jul 2026 at 11:46am
The Scottish Secretary also said he wanted "mutual respect" between governments at Holyrood and Westminster.

Burnham tells Swinney independence is 'off limits' at Commonwealth Games meeting
23 Jul 2026 at 6:49pm
The heads of the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments came together ahead of the opening of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar 'delighted' to accept trade minister job
23 Jul 2026 at 8:50am
Sarwar will leave the Scottish Parliament and his leader role, and take up a seat in the House of Lords.

Scottish Labour at a crossroads again as Sarwar jumps ship
22 Jul 2026 at 11:41pm
Anas Sarwar has never made a secret of his desire to hold high office, but where does it leave Scottish Labour?

Who could be the new Scottish Labour leader?
22 Jul 2026 at 2:06pm
The party are still reeling from their worst Holyrood election result in Scottish Parliament history.

Swinney says Scottish and UK relations 'haemorrhaged' with Douglas Alexander
22 Jul 2026 at 3:50pm
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Monday that Douglas Alexander would remain as Scottish Secretary in his government.

Chris Mason: Sarwar ministerial role sees promotion of another Starmer critic
22 Jul 2026 at 6:22am
Months after calling on Keir Starmer to quit, the Scottish Labour leader is set to become a minister in Burnham's government, the BBC's political editor writes.

Scot Goes Pop

John Swinney's strong denunciation of Burnham's outrageous "off-limits" comme...
27 Jul 2026 at 7:37pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.I'm delighted to say I now have fourteen regular monthly Ko-Fi supporters, as a resu...

No. 10 North: How Burnham is signalling with his choice of name that "England...
26 Jul 2026 at 1:56pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.More people have become Ko-Fi supporters of my content over the last twenty-four hou...

Scottish poll DISASTER for Burnham: SNP have massive lead in his first YouGov...
25 Jul 2026 at 12:33pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Many thanks to the several people who became Ko-Fi supporters of my content yesterda...

Scotland is now in a FORCED union, not a "voluntary" one: Burnham makes it of...
24 Jul 2026 at 1:35pm
There is no unambiguous outcome to yesterday's readers' poll about the future of Scot Goes Pop as the result currently stands - so far traditional text-blogging is somewhat more popular than videos...

A poll for Scot Goes Pop readers and viewers - please respond if you can
23 Jul 2026 at 11:59am
So I'm completely stumped, to be honest.  Just over a year ago, I switched my focus from conventional blogging to YouTube videos in the hope that I would no longer be lurching from mini-crisis to m...

The case for optimism that the next general election WILL be used as a de fac...
21 Jul 2026 at 2:51pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Other recent videos:Scottish independence could now be just one or two years away fr...

A progress report on the Scot Goes Pop video channel - plus a question for it...
21 Jul 2026 at 12:40am
I was planning to make a video tonight about Andy Burnham's first day as Prime Minister, but then I thought back to how hilariously off-beam some of the reactions to Liz Truss and Keir Starmer were...

On the day Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, Scottish independence could n...
20 Jul 2026 at 11:10am
If you'd like to support my YouTube channel and help it to grow further, please visit my Ko-Fi page, where you can either make a one-off donation of any amount you choose, or set up a small recurri...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

GP walk-in clinics see low attendance with some receiving only three patients...
28 Jul 2026 at 2:29pm
The Scottish Government launched the pilot with the promise of a million extra doctors appointments

Reform councillor defends speaking at anti-immigration ?Unite the Clans? rally
28 Jul 2026 at 1:14pm
Other speakers included a prominent member of a 'neo-Nazi' group and a self-proclaimed white nationalist

Michael Marra enters Scottish Labour leadership contest
28 Jul 2026 at 9:02am
The North East MSP is the second politician to enter the race to succeed Anas Sarwar, after Monica Lennon

Former US President Barack Obama to visit Glasgow on upcoming speaking tour
27 Jul 2026 at 11:30am
The 44th President of the United States will discuss the future of America as it celebrates its 250th anniversary

Monica Lennon to stand in Scottish Labour leadership contest
26 Jul 2026 at 7:04pm
The former MSP, who is set to return to Holyrood, is the first politician to enter the race to succeed Anas Sarwar.

Burnham must go further and faster on cost of living, says SNP
25 Jul 2026 at 11:43am
In his inaugural Cabinet meeting, Andy Burnham told ministers they would be a 'cost-of-living Government'

Andy Burnham says he wants to ?get Britain hoping again? as he opens No 10 North
24 Jul 2026 at 6:38pm
The PM is expected to work at Heron House in Manchester once a week during his premiership

Burnham meets Swinney for first time as Prime Minister
23 Jul 2026 at 5:13pm
It?s the first in-person meeting between the Scottish and UK leaders since Burnham became Prime Minister on Monday.

Burnham to meet Swinney for first time as Prime Minister during Scotland visit
23 Jul 2026 at 7:39am
It?s the first in-person meeting between the Scottish and UK leaders since Burnham became Prime Minister on Monday.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar made lord and UK minister
23 Jul 2026 at 6:55am
Lord Sarwar was among the first to call for Sir Keir Starmer to stand down in February

Is Anas Sarwar?s House of Lords promotion failing upwards?
22 Jul 2026 at 12:41pm
The Scottish Labour leader is about to be announced as the latest ministerial appointment in Andy Burnham's Cabinet

Wes Streeting apologises for joke about prisoner releases caught on microphone
22 Jul 2026 at 7:13am
The defence secretary was caught making the joke about his newly appointed colleague, Justice Secretary Alex Norris.

Anas Sarwar set to step down as Scottish Labour leader to become Burnham mini...
21 Jul 2026 at 9:11pm
He hailed Andy Burnham for his ?bold Labour vision? as he entered No 10 this week

Andy Burnham?s Government ?will meet international defence commitments?, chan...
21 Jul 2026 at 12:02pm
John Healey unexpectedly emerged as Andy Burnham's chancellor after quitting as defence secretary under Keir Starmer

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

New MSP announces bid to stand for the Scottish Labour leadership after Anas ...
28 Jul 2026 at 7:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: Joe Fagan told the Record Labour had to "reach out beyond the Holyrood bubble" and become rooted in communities.

Medics dismiss GP walk-in centres as 'politics over practicality' in blow to ...
28 Jul 2026 at 1:39pm
Dr Chris Provan described Swinney's flagship scheme as ?an unfortunate distraction?.

Australian Commonwealth Games athletes told not to wear team kit in Glasgow a...
28 Jul 2026 at 8:34am
Athletes have reportedly been warned to train in groups and ditch their distinctive green and gold uniforms after one runner stumbled across the scene of a murder and violent protests erupted in th...

Scottish Labour faces 'extinction' by 2040 unless it breaks away from UK party
28 Jul 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Candidates bidding to become the next leader of Scottish Labour are being urged to consider a radical restructure of the party after May's crushing election defeat.

"I can't go outside" Delivery driver attacked by racist mob at right-wing pro...
28 Jul 2026 at 4:30am
Muhammad Jawad Yaqoob has been left too scared to leave his home following the sickening ordeal on Saturday.

Michael Marra announces bid to become Scottish Labour leader after resignatio...
27 Jul 2026 at 6:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: The North East MSP said Scottish Labour had to "learn" and "change" after another Holyrood election defeat.

Monica Lennon rejects Scottish Labour breaking away from UK party and calls f...
27 Jul 2026 at 11:25am
Lennon, who is bidding to replace Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader, admitted "the status quo simply isn?t working" - but stopped short of calling for the party to sever its ties with London.

Doorstep acid attacker William 'Basil' Burns set to be released from prison a...
27 Jul 2026 at 10:03am
Russell Findlay, the now leader of the Scottish Conservatives, was attacked on his own doorstep in Glasgow by Burns in 2015.

Senior Labour MSP says time is "running out" to save his struggling party
27 Jul 2026 at 4:30am
Daniel Johnson said the crushing loss raised ?existential? questions for Scottish Labour.

John Swinney: Glasgow stepped up and saved Commonwealth Games
27 Jul 2026 at 4:30am
"It?s been a tough few years for a lot of people but we should all try to see ourselves as others see us."

The National

The National | Politics

US walks out of UN meeting amid criticism of America?s human rights record
28 Jul 2026 at 4:40pm

US DIPLOMATS walked out as their French counterparts were speaking at the United Nations on Monday after America?s close European ally criticised the Trump administration?s human rights record

John Swinney's 'secret indyref2 plan' is bust. But is this SNP MP on to somet...
28 Jul 2026 at 4:37pm

THE elephant in the room is John Swinney?s much-reported ?secret plan? to get a second independence vote. What is it? Will he deploy it?

Andy Burnham sparks anger over keeping Israel trade envoy
28 Jul 2026 at 4:25pm

ANDY Burnham has sparked anger over keeping a controversial peer as the UK's trade envoy to Israel.

Labour MPs threaten rebellion against Andy Burnham over 'punitive' welfare cuts
28 Jul 2026 at 4:00pm

LABOUR MPs have told Andy Burnham they will rebel if he makes "punitive" cuts to reduce the welfare bill

Tory MP claims French navy tried to silence him with 'warning shots'
28 Jul 2026 at 3:41pm

A TORY MP has accused the French navy of carrying out what "felt like warning shots or attempted intimidation" as he gave an interview on a boat in the Channel.

SNP MP Lara Bird speaks out on ?raw misogyny? and Scottish-English accent row
28 Jul 2026 at 3:36pm

AN SNP MP has warned that the ?raw misogyny? she has been subjected to since being elected six weeks ago has become normalised in the UK and will put young women off entering politics ...

Offer of jam tomorrow won?t shift the dial of independence support
28 Jul 2026 at 3:00pm

RARELY a week goes by without a BBC Breakfast programme glorifying the roll-out of an NHS England initiative.

The Commonwealth Games is not on BBC. Here's why Westminster is to blame.
28 Jul 2026 at 2:17pm

UK MINISTERS are being urged to ensure the Commonwealth Games is protected on free-to-air TV following criticism over the event only being broadcast live on a subscription service .

Proscribe anti-migrant groups terrorising Scotland, MSP tells Home Secretary
28 Jul 2026 at 2:14pm

AN MSP is calling for a ban on anti-migrant groups who "clearly intend to cause terror," "incite violence" and "threaten people simply because of the colour of their skin".

How did Zack Polanski 'post' guillotine Nigel Farage picture on Instagram?
28 Jul 2026 at 2:05pm

POLICE are looking into complaints about a post shared on Zack Polanski?s social media which Nigel Farage has claimed incited violence against him.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Michael Marra and Monica Lennon emerge as Scottish Labour frontrunners
28 Jul 2026 at 3:02pm
Timetable for contest agreed

Andy Burnham appoints eight Scottish MPs to enhanced PPS roles
27 Jul 2026 at 4:00pm
The prime minister has given 16 Scottish MPs government jobs

Daniel Johnson: Time is running out for Scottish Labour
27 Jul 2026 at 12:10pm
MSP endorses Michael Marra for leader

Scottish businessman Sir Ian Wood dies aged 84
27 Jul 2026 at 12:00pm
Sir Ian Wood's family confirmed he died ?peacefully at home, surrounded by his family? on Sunday evening at his home in Aberdeen

John Swinney says he will continue independence push despite Downing Street s...
23 Jul 2026 at 8:15pm
The first minister met Andy Burnham in Glasgow on Thursday afternoon

Anas Sarwar 'delighted' to become trade minister
23 Jul 2026 at 8:41am
Andy Burnham appoints more Scottish MPs to UK Government

Who could be Scottish Labour?s 11th leader since devolution?
22 Jul 2026 at 6:18pm
With Anas Sarwar set to quit so he can take up a post in the Lords, that leaves the party once more on the lookout for someone to take over the helm

Outdated technology impeding economic crime investigations, researchers warn
22 Jul 2026 at 11:35am
Poor data-sharing arrangements are hampering intelligence gathering

Anas Sarwar to be made minister in Burnham government
22 Jul 2026 at 8:22am
He is expected to stand down as Scottish Labour leader and head to the Lords

Almost two-thirds of Scottish businesses adopt AI
22 Jul 2026 at 7:00am
While the survey found adoption was widespread, most were not using the technology intensively

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

UK politics: Tories? Philp rejects French claim that shots fired from naval b...
28 Jul 2026 at 6:01pm
Shadow minister says there was no warning and ?it looked and sounded like deliberate intimidation?Conservative MP accuses French navy of firing shots near him in ChannelIt is not just the Russians firing on Brits in the English Channel; Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, has accused a French...

Poll shows Labour ahead of Reform UK for first time since Burnham became PM ?...
27 Jul 2026 at 5:45pm
New PM says he ?wouldn?t get carried away? by latest polling but says he is pleased if he has ?connected with people?I have already posted lines from Andy Burnham?s BBC interview on reforming social care (see 9.03am), making council tax fairer (see 10.03am), and ruling out an early election (see ...

Evacuated villagers in Cairngorms allowed home after wildfire threat lifts
25 Jul 2026 at 11:08pm
Scottish first minister thanks Nethy Bridge residents and aid workers after earlier requesting UK military aid to fight 10-day fireResidents of Nethy Bridge have been told they can return to their homes after a large fire broke out in the Cairngorms national park.Supt Judy Hill of Police Scotland...

Scottish Labour?s rivals decry ?chancer? Anas Sarwar for resigning to join An...
22 Jul 2026 at 11:17pm
New prime minister has made Sarwar ? the first senior Labour figure to call for Keir Starmer?s resignation ? a peerScottish Labour?s rivals in Holyrood have slammed Anas Sarwar?s shock decision to resign as leader to sit in Andy Burnham?s new government, calling him a ?chancer? and accusing him o...

Celtic leaders doubt Burnham?s devolution drive will go beyond England?s borders
6 Jul 2026 at 4:00pm
Would-be prime minister has made basic missteps in pitches to Wales, Scotland and Northern IrelandAndy Burnham?s devolution promises are yet to impress sceptical Celtic administrations hoping for a reset with Westminster, sources in Cardiff and Edinburgh have said.Burnham, who is expected to take...

Celtic nations begin to plan for breakup of UK in event of Reform election win
4 Jul 2026 at 7:00am
Politicians brace for constitutional turmoil if Nigel Farage?s party ends up in government ? or even as a strong oppositionThe rise of Nigel Farage has prompted political leaders across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to game the unthinkable: the breakup of the United Kingdom.Unioni...

Badenoch urges Burnham to condemn defence investment plan as No 10 says fundi...
1 Jul 2026 at 6:00pm
Minister and MPs have raised concerns that his ?poisoned chalice? plan will take cash from much-needed road projectsMinister and MP ?furious? over cuts to road projects to fund defence planDan Sabbagh is the Guardian?s defence and security editor.Andy Burnham is a ?true patriot? who will provide ...

The Guardian view on the politics of Scotland: like Labour, the SNP is in nee...
23 Jun 2026 at 6:25pm
The sentencing of Peter Murrell brings limited closure to a major scandal. But John Swinney?s government faces new challenges in a changing landscapeThe Scottish National party (SNP) is accustomed to presenting Westminster dysfunction as a boost to its case for independence. But the political dra...

Peter Murrell jailed for five years after embezzling £400,000 from SNP
23 Jun 2026 at 2:29pm
Estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon is sentenced for stealing from party over 12-year periodMontblanc pens to Le Creuset ramekins: police photos show Peter Murrell?s spending habitPeter Murrell has been sentenced to five years and three months in jail after he admitted embezzling more than £400,...

Montblanc pens to Le Creuset ramekins: police photos show Peter Murrell?s spe...
23 Jun 2026 at 1:37pm
Haul is only a fraction of what the former SNP chief executive bought using embezzled party moneyPeter Murrell jailed for five years after embezzling £400,000 from SNPThe white police evidence tags on the unused Montblanc pens, picnic sets, Le Creuset ramekins and the chrome Alessi teapot tell a ...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Lord Sarwar of Brass Neck
21 Jul 2026 at 9:59pm
It seems to be a law of Scottish politics, or perhaps it’s more likely it’s just a personal curse, but whenever I try and take some time off from the blog a big story breaks and it’s back to the keyboard. What is most definitely a law of Scottish politics is that I’m not nationalist …

Silly season politics
17 Jul 2026 at 4:01pm
With Friday’s coronation of Andy Burnham as leader of the Labour party and his official accession to Ten Downing Street on Monday, the UK is now on its seventh prime minister in ten years. Meanwhile the man who wants to become prime minister after the next general election is fighting a by election with a …

Reform UK?s attack on Scottish languages
14 Jul 2026 at 4:44pm
It’s the greatest attempted Westminster assault on Scottish culture since the Jacobite wars. Reform UK has proposed an amendment to the UK Government’s elections bill which would criminalise the use of any languages other than English or Welsh on electoral material and impose a punishment of up to six months in prison and/or a fine. …

Ich bin ein Bin liner
12 Jul 2026 at 6:08pm
Last week, Nigel Farage announced that he was going to resign as the MP for Clacton in order to fight a by election to become the MP for Clacton. In a pity political broadcast from Reform UK headquarters which was broadcast live by the BBC and Sky News, Farage railed at the media for unfairly …

Alister Jack?s colonialism remains a threat to Scotland
9 Jul 2026 at 5:15pm
The former colonial governor of the northern province, Alister Jack, who was given a peerage by Rishi Sunak as part of a back room deal. Jack rejected an earlier nomination by Boris Johnson in 2023 to avoid triggering a by-election while he was still an MP, only later to stand down for the 2024 General …

The Farage facade cracks
7 Jul 2026 at 6:53pm
Poor Nigel Facade, sorry Farage, the wee lamb has had an almighty hissy fit at the sheer audacity of the media daring to subject him to a tiny fraction of the scrutiny that is par for the course for the SNP. It was all very Trumpian. In a self-pitying Reform UK party political broadcast during …

The junkies and their dealers
5 Jul 2026 at 4:40pm
A number of peculiar developments have taken place in Scotland since the Holyrood election in May. These have been disguised by the anti-SNP media feeding frenzy which took place after the conviction of Peter Murrell for the crime of embezzlement, a crime whose victim was the SNP, despite the efforts of the British media in …

Labour?s attempted theft of the Holyrood election is being aided by the media
3 Jul 2026 at 3:32pm
Something is seriously wrong with democracy in Scotland, but the media has told us vastly more about Peter Murrell’s cruet sets than it has about what can only be described as an attempt by the Labour party to steal the Holyrood election. In fact the attempted subversion of the result of the recent election has …

Labour?s nuclear power, an offer we can refuse
2 Jul 2026 at 3:30pm
It’s an offer we can refuse. The Labour government has identified a number of sites across Scotland on which it would like to build new nuclear power plants. A report was published this week by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the political ashtray Michael Shanks, the most disappointing MP in a …

Burnham, the GB Energy of devolution
29 Jun 2026 at 9:06pm
Andy Burnham’s big plan for the UK is still lacking in detail, but it’s already looking suspiciously like another of Westminster’s power grabs at the expense of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Burnham’s big speech on Monday during which he unveiled his plans for a Number Ten North. No, Scotland, not THAT north, Burnham’s north. …

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

The 'Unstoppable' Talking-up Scotland

Fantastic but hidden news as drug-related hospital admissions plummet to lowe...
28 Jul 2026 at 3:33pm
From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly ?report July 2026 published today, the above revealing that Drug-related hospital admissions have dropped to around 75 in the last quarter. This is down from the previous lows of just over 100 and barely half of the March figures in 2024 and 2025. What has caused this very objective measure of Scotland’s drug problems, more reliable a...

Why there are four hundred thousand more waiting unnecessarily on NHS England...
28 Jul 2026 at 3:12pm
Facts – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/07/28/two-years-of-labour-zero-strikes-in-scotland-and-nhs-england-waiting-list-is-now-7-longer-with-400-000-still-waiting-who-would-not-be-if-government-oversight-was-as-good-as-in-scotland/ Facts 2 – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/07/07/for-the-fiftieth-time-snp-government-works-respectfully-with-a-health-union-to-avert-strike-action-and-lo...

Two years of Labour, zero strikes in Scotland and NHS England waiting list is...
28 Jul 2026 at 2:41pm
From Public Health Scotland – Stage of treatment waiting times New outpatients, inpatients and day cases published 28 July 2026 (Latest release), the above showing dramatic improvement in the last year, and: At 30 June 2026, there were an estimated 580,545 individuals on at least one new outpatient, inpatient or day case waiting list. This is equivalent to around 1 in 10 of Scotland?s populatio...

The Canary in the Coalmine warning ? Teenage pregnancies in Scotland signific...
28 Jul 2026 at 2:39pm
From Teenage pregnancies Year of conception, ending 31 December 2024 Published 28 July 2026 (Latest release), the above and: The teenage pregnancy rate in Scotland decreased slightly from 25.8 per 1,000 women in 2023 to 25.6 in 2024. This is equivalent to 3,833 teenage pregnancies in 2024. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/teenage-pregnancies/teenage-pregnancies-year-of-concept...

Shocking 4 times as many waiting for care in England
28 Jul 2026 at 2:37pm
Public Health Scotland today has: The number of people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care was 6,600 on 6 July 2026. The number of people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) assessed and waiting for a care at home package was 3,001 on 6 July 2026. This is a decrease of just over 3% compared to the number of people waiting for a care at home ...

Scotland?s fairer system means they have less reason to ?tussle over inherita...
28 Jul 2026 at 11:19am
In The Economist, this week, the above, and: When there?s a will, there?s a war. Or so they say in the courts of England and Wales, which are growing busier with fights over the dead?s estates. The number of probate claims listed at the High Court has grown by over 400% over the past decade, according to Solomonic, a legal-analytics company. https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/07/23/britons-...

UK Government is now dishonestly claiming a ?central? and ?instrumental? role...
28 Jul 2026 at 9:48am
By stewartb The UK government and especially the Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander have been commenting on their role in having the Commonwealth Games come to Glasgow: ?a central role?; ?instrumental?; ?huge supporters of the Games? etc. From the UK government in a press release dated July 24, 2026: ?Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow with UK Government backing?: ?The UK Gove...

As Cairngorm burned and Ireland?s two helicopters ?pounded? a wildfire, the R...
28 Jul 2026 at 9:25am
Thanks to rtpscott for alerting us to this. From RAF Odiham News on 21 May 2026, the above image and: Across the training period, crews have been practising the full firefighting cycle – dipping the suspended bucket into open water before delivering controlled drops over designated areas. This essential training ensures crews are prepared to support wildfire response efforts as the season begin...

Burnham needs to copy SNP policies to reduce massive gap in youth unemploymen...
28 Jul 2026 at 8:49am
BBC Home today reporting on the new PM’s latest announcement: Secondary school pupils in England will be able to study subjects like manufacturing and AI in addition to core academic learning under reforms outlined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The government said the courses, which would be available from Year 10, would be linked to local industries and designed to give children a clearer pa...

Scottish Government accused of being too late to plan for soaring house price...
27 Jul 2026 at 6:12pm
Happened upon this forecast for rainfall in August, beginning next week and couldn’t help seeing that dark blue blob and wider dark green area encompassing the Cairngorms and Nethy Bridge which suggests significantly higher-than-average rainfall there. What are the locals, well just three of the 670, the local Tory MP and the media going to do now? Suggestions wanted in the comments section bel...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits - Al Jazeera
23 Jul 2026 at 7:12pm
UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits  Al Jazeera

Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform - RNZ
10 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform  RNZ

Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause? -...
4 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause?  The Conversation

New Scottish independence referendum ?off limits,? UK prime minister tells Sc...
23 Jul 2026 at 7:20pm
New Scottish independence referendum ?off limits,? UK prime minister tells Scottish leader  Anadolu Ajans?

Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum - BBC
6 Jul 2026 at 8:00am
Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum  BBC

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

Andy Burnham 'won't overrule devolution' ? but says referendum 'off limits' -...
23 Jul 2026 at 8:26pm
Andy Burnham 'won't overrule devolution' ? but says referendum 'off limits'  The National Scot

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

UK Prime Minister Burnham has ruled out the possibility of a new referendum o...
24 Jul 2026 at 12:53am
UK Prime Minister Burnham has ruled out the possibility of a new referendum on Scottish independence  ?????????? ??????????? ?????? (???)

Beyond Constitutional Groundhog Day: The 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election...
15 Jul 2026 at 9:48am
Beyond Constitutional Groundhog Day: The 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election  Verfassungsblog

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP income tax rise ?cost Scotland £22m? - The Telegraph
27 Jul 2026 at 2:36pm
SNP income tax rise ?cost Scotland £22m?  The Telegraph

As wildfire risk grows, guess what the SNP has been cutting by £900 million ?...
28 Jul 2026 at 4:45pm
As wildfire risk grows, guess what the SNP has been cutting by £900 million ? Jackie Baillie  The Scotsman

Westminster must go further and faster on the cost of living ? Scottish Natio...
28 Jul 2026 at 4:58pm
Westminster must go further and faster on the cost of living ? Scottish National Party  snp.org

Scottish councils 'starved of cash and powers' by SNP, says Alexander - BBC
24 Jul 2026 at 11:46am
Scottish councils 'starved of cash and powers' by SNP, says Alexander  BBC

SNP ?obstructed police? in Peter Murrell investigation, insider claims - The ...
25 Jul 2026 at 8:00pm
SNP ?obstructed police? in Peter Murrell investigation, insider claims  The Times

Exploring imputation performance of phenotype-associated SNPs for forensic pr...
22 Jul 2026 at 5:02am
Exploring imputation performance of phenotype-associated SNPs for forensic prediction models  Nature

WATCH: Accent-Shifting SNP MP Complains About People Pointing It Out - Guido ...
28 Jul 2026 at 5:22pm
WATCH: Accent-Shifting SNP MP Complains About People Pointing It Out  Guido Fawkes

Scottish Government blame election for poor take up of emergency heating oil ...
28 Jul 2026 at 9:08am
Scottish Government blame election for poor take up of emergency heating oil fund  The Herald

Offer of jam tomorrow won?t shift the dial of independence support - The Nati...
28 Jul 2026 at 3:07pm
Offer of jam tomorrow won?t shift the dial of independence support  The National Scot

SNP backs national data center moratorium in Scotland - Data Center Dynamics
8 Jul 2026 at 11:35am
SNP backs national data center moratorium in Scotland  Data Center Dynamics

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits - Al Jazeera
23 Jul 2026 at 7:12pm
UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits  Al Jazeera

New Scottish independence referendum ?off limits,? UK prime minister tells Sc...
23 Jul 2026 at 7:20pm
New Scottish independence referendum ?off limits,? UK prime minister tells Scottish leader  Anadolu Ajans?

Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum - BBC
6 Jul 2026 at 8:00am
Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum  BBC

UK Prime Minister Burnham has ruled out the possibility of a new referendum o...
24 Jul 2026 at 12:53am
UK Prime Minister Burnham has ruled out the possibility of a new referendum on Scottish independence  ?????????? ??????????? ?????? (???)

Andy Burnham 'won't overrule devolution' ? but says referendum 'off limits' -...
23 Jul 2026 at 8:26pm
Andy Burnham 'won't overrule devolution' ? but says referendum 'off limits'  The National Scot

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

Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform - RNZ
10 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform  RNZ

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

Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause? -...
4 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause?  The Conversation

John Swinney says he will continue independence push despite Downing Street s...
23 Jul 2026 at 7:15pm
John Swinney says he will continue independence push despite Downing Street saying referendum is ?off limits?  Holyrood Website