The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Private schools face a new tax under Scottish Greens Holyrood plans
5 Apr 2026 at 3:07pm
The Scottish Greens are proposing to introduce a new tax on private schools in a bid they say to offer more support to state schools and education services.


Alison Johnstone: My relationship with Douglas Ross has 'absolutely not' brok...
5 Apr 2026 at 1:18pm
Holyrood's outgoing Presiding Officer has insisted her relationship with the former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has not broken down.


John Swinney: Independence referendum could be in 2028
5 Apr 2026 at 11:24am
John Swinney has insisted there could be an independence referendum in 2028 if the SNP win next month's Holyrood election.


Scotland?s next government faces tough choices on tax and spending
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
5 Apr 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland?s next government will inherit a £4.7bn funding gap, rising demand for public services and shrinking room to manoeuvre on tax. The real challenge isn?t ambition ? it?s what can realistically be afforded.


'They kill me once, they can't do it again: why I am hunting rapist war crimi...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
5 Apr 2026 at 5:00am
More than 30 years after the Bosnian war, survivors of Srebrenica are still fighting for justice, recognition and truth in a country shaped by denial.


Scottish Labour's bid for Nicola Sturgeon's seat 'in meltdown' amid voter 'co...
5 Apr 2026 at 5:00am
Rivals say Scottish Labour's battle to win Nicola Sturgeon's Holyrood seat is in 'meltdown' following the original candidate's suspension and the last minute selection of a successor.


Poll: Reform support plummets after 'disastrous' start to Holyrood election c...
5 Apr 2026 at 9:45am
Support for Reform UK in Scotland has plummeted to its lowest level in more than a year after a poor start to the party?s Holyrood campaign, a new poll has found.


What Bosnia taught me about a war that never ends and still lingers decades l...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
5 Apr 2026 at 5:00am
Political Correspondent Hannah Brown meets with Srebrenica survivors in Bosnia still living with the legacy of war, denial and the fight for justice.


It seems Billy Connolly may have been right about our ?wee pretendy parliament?
5 Apr 2026 at 6:15am
?So what?s happening in Scotland, then?? my Italian relatives are wont to ask when I tell them we have Holyrood elections next month. And honestly, how to answer? I would like to boast about the parliament I voted enthusiastically in favour of setting up almost three decades ago ? to tell them that, in my country, we do politics a little differently. But that no longer feels true. ?Ci sono molti scandali,? I say, eventually, with what I hope is an appropriate gesture of frustration.


'The regime is collapsing' Meet the women on the frontline of the Iran war
by david.pratt@heraldandtimes.co.uk | David Pratt
5 Apr 2026 at 6:15am
Most fled during brutal crackdowns, making harrowing escapes using safe houses and even swimming winter rivers to cross the border and join the peshmerga. Foreign Editor David Pratt in Northern Iraq meets some remarkable women


Scottish Liberal Democrats pledge to ?get Scotland moving?
by Lucinda Cameron
4 Apr 2026 at 3:51pm
Mr Cole-Hamilton said his party would open up new ways to connect villages, towns and cities


Swinney wants to offer ?hope? in Holyrood election
by Lucinda Cameron
4 Apr 2026 at 1:13pm
Mr Swinney said the SNP message is ?striking a chord? with people around the country


Scottish Greens propose scrapping NHS dental charges
by Craig Meighan
4 Apr 2026 at 10:36am
Co-leader Gillian Mackay said she wanted to see NHS dental charges ended


Civil service: The 'astonishing' cost of Scottish Government's rarely used of...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
4 Apr 2026 at 5:30am
Civil servants are rarely using Scottish Government buildings, according to official statistics. However, there is an 'astonishing' cost to the taxpayer.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Holyrood should consider holding daily question time sessions ? Alison Johnstone
5 Apr 2026 at 4:12pm

Alison Johnstone is stepping down at the election

Holyrood?s outgoing Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone has suggested a daily question time session to help make the Parliament ?responsive?.

The Norstat survey showed backing Nigel Farage?s plummeted since February after a chaotic start to the Holyrood campaign.

The latest whispers, gossip and nonsense from the Holyrood campaign trail

New polling has outlined how Scots feel about the Iran war

Scotland on Sunday?s sister title The Scotsman this week staged an election hustings with Scotland 2050 - but what is the organisation all about?

Wings over Scotland

The quality of mercy
3 Apr 2026 at 1:09pm
Let’s just deal with this quickly. Because the truth is that we should all be quietly sending BBC Scotland bouquets in appreciation for doing the independence movement a favour for once. Belief in an independent Scotland IS as strong as ever, which is to say it’s pretty much where it’s been since 2014 – two …

Clocks And Calendars
30 Mar 2026 at 1:06pm
We think the lads at The Scotsman might have gotten a bit confused and/or carried away when it came to putting the clocks forward at the weekend. At 6am on Sunday morning they tweeted this: But the link was a 404. We checked the print edition of Scotland On Sunday but there was nothing there …

Sicknote Slippers
29 Mar 2026 at 6:09pm
The turnout at the “independence march and rally” yesterday was so abysmally poor that it seems almost unfair to pick on any of the scores of SNP elected representatives who didn’t bother to show up. But dear old Cosy Feet Pete Wishart had the most chef’s-kiss excuse of all. The reason he didn’t fancy getting …

Protest But Don?t Survive
28 Mar 2026 at 5:20pm
If events in Edinburgh today are anything to go by – when a march and rally announced with great fanfare seven months ago, backed by both the “independence” parties in the Scottish Parliament and featuring the First Minister as main speaker, attracted perhaps 1,500 people at the most to Calton Hill on a bright and …

Let?s Call The Whole Thing Off
24 Mar 2026 at 12:59pm
The last faint hope of any remotely positive or at least interesting outcome of May’s election just left the building. It wasn’t MUCH of a hope, and it’s absolutely no surprise in the wake of the comically shambolic, belief-defyingly inept farce that has been the birth of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s fringe-of-the fringe party, …

Irony you can?t buy
20 Mar 2026 at 12:09pm
Posted without comment. But the reason you can’t buy the irony is that she doesn’t need the money. So that’s quarter of a million pounds just for running away when things got a bit sticky, on top of the circa £225,000 in wages she’s trousered since resigning as FM despite never turning up for work …

Looking up at the stars
10 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
A fascinating line from the BBC this evening: The number of parties who got MSPs elected at the last election is? five. (Though in fairness there are now six, Reform having a single MSP after Graham Simpson defected from the Tories. The Lib Dems are even outnumbered by independents, of whom there are seven.) Also …

Scotland?s Most Frightened
4 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
This was just two months ago. (Longer version here.) ? And we’ll bet you anything you like he’s already wishing he hadn’t said it. Because a recent study suggested that Swinney might just achieve the impossible task he set for himself, and if he does then he’s REALLY screwed. Now, we don’t actually think that’ll …

Two Men Unalike
28 Feb 2026 at 1:41pm
So Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News got herself a scoop last night. And to be honest, readers, we were a bit confused. “Gender critical views” are not only lawful things to hold and express, they’re one of a small subset of opinions that are explicitly protected as such in law. And why would a …

The Tactics Of Suicide
26 Feb 2026 at 1:48pm
Sorry, readers, we’ve been too busy boiling with rage at revolting, cretinous Americans for the last few days to trust ourselves with writing a full-length article, but we’ve just about calmed down enough in time for this month’s polling analysis. Which is handy, because today is also the day of the Gorton and Denton by-election …

Craig Murray

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

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

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez

The Caracas Metro
26 Mar 2026 at 6:46am

The extreme nature of sanctions against Venezuela made it very challenging to keep economic activity going. One example is Caracas’s impressive five-line Metro system, where for almost twenty years they had to keep things running with no spares or maintenance support from the train manufacturers. Yet resilience and ingenuity kicked in, and Venezuela actually reverse …

The Caracas Metro

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag
24 Mar 2026 at 12:04pm

The notion that the Iranian state would discredit itself by choosing to attack an ambulance service in London is crazy. Iran has not even attacked any hospitals or ambulances in Israel. Iran has absolutely zero record of attacks on healthcare facilities. That is of course in stark contrast to Israel which specifically targets them in …

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag

Seeing Trump Clearly
21 Mar 2026 at 12:19pm

What if Trump’s apparently chaotic thought processes and intuitive decision making are all a blind, a charade? What if we are really witnessing, in the Middle East and more widely, a carefully constructed plan with very definite objectives? Has Trump in fact “planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway”, while flinging the …

Seeing Trump Clearly

Radicalism and Scottish Independence
14 Mar 2026 at 4:18pm

There is no place like home, and a few hours after arriving back in Scotland I was in Glasgow giving a talk to Pensioners for Independence. I still covered quite a wide sweep, but my focus came back to what I care about more than anything – the freedom, prosperity and just position in the …

Radicalism and Scottish Independence

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?
13 Mar 2026 at 5:48pm

I interviewed a prominent academic who is a profound critic of the Venezuelan government, and in contrast a strong academic supporter. The conversations were relaxed, open and I believe worthwhile. There is no serious dispute that the Venezuelan government shifted to some degree towards economic liberalism under President Maduro. The question is to what extent …

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?

BBC Scotland

What we learned from Scotcast's interviews with party leaders
4 Apr 2026 at 9:18am
The leaders of Scotland's six biggest parties spoke to the BBC's Scotcast ahead of the election.

How does the NHS in Scotland compare with the rest of the UK?
3 Apr 2026 at 6:21am
BBC Verify looks at key measures to see what progress is being made and whether Scotland can be compared with other nations.

'An awful experiment': Cash boost for families as two-child limit scrapped
2 Apr 2026 at 11:00pm
The nine-year policy that capped financial help at two children has been removed.

Swinney softens stance on North Sea drilling as oil prices soar
2 Apr 2026 at 2:01pm
The first minister said energy security should be a primary concern when making decisions on oil and gas projects.

More than 4.2 million registered to vote in Scottish Parliament election
2 Apr 2026 at 11:16am
The overall total, and that of 16 and 17-year-olds, is slightly down on last year.

SNP candidate ditched over handling of Linden complaints
1 Apr 2026 at 3:08pm
Tracy Carragher was a deputy council leader when it was reported that her former colleague had made unwanted advances towards a teenager.

Navy investigated links between nuclear sub commander and MP
1 Apr 2026 at 5:44pm
No disciplinary action was taken over the allegations of an inappropriate relationship with Scottish MP Joani Reid.

Labour drops election candidate after fraud charge
1 Apr 2026 at 2:37pm
Glasgow Southside hopeful Mohammed Ameen made no plea when he appeared in court last week.

Call for business rates reform as Scots face cost of living crunch
1 Apr 2026 at 4:50pm
One live music bar firm in Glasgow says it is facing a near six-fold increase and may have to lay off staff.

The huge task of rewiring Britain's electricity grid from top to bottom
1 Apr 2026 at 9:12am
The massive task of getting the power from where it is generated to where it is used involves a massive upgrade of the grid.

Green candidate replaced by rival who complained about him
31 Mar 2026 at 5:22pm
Guy Ingerson was due to top the North East list for the party until he was dropped due to an unresolved complaint.

Former SNP candidate accused of sex offences
31 Mar 2026 at 5:25pm
Fife councillor Stefan Hoggan claims there is a "a vile and disgusting vendetta" against him.

Scot Goes Pop

"C'est trop bruyant!": The settled will klaxon is so piercing tonight that it...
4 Apr 2026 at 9:36pm
Tonight brings word of the latest in the regular series of Norstat polls for the Sunday Times, and although the newspaper has buried the results of the independence question at the bottom of the wr...

"But what if that other voice we all know so well responds by saying 'we say ...
3 Apr 2026 at 9:18pm
A former commenter on this blog from way back in the 2014 indyref period got in touch with a question a few days ago, and I've been so busy that I haven't responded to him yet - but it's an interes...

My plans for Scot Goes Pop's coverage of the Holyrood election campaign
2 Apr 2026 at 8:30pm
This post will come as a relief to some of you, because I've decided to temporarily go back to conventional blogging for the remainder of the Holyrood campaign.  The emphasis is on the word "tempor...

Joani of (Noah's nuclear-armed) Arc
1 Apr 2026 at 5:04pm
The senior naval officer Reid was reported for 'inappropriate' behaviour with at Faslane is *separate* to the captain she is linked to tonight by the FT's @LOS_FisherThe captain has reportedly step...

Shock poll portends weather boffin coup threat for Atlas chief Lyon
1 Apr 2026 at 8:57am
You've probably seen the propaganda poll from yesterday that the hapless Alliance to Liberate Scotland, aka "the Atlas", commissioned from Find Out Now.  It used the infamous Archie Stirling questi...

The Alliance to Liberate Scotland and their "Big Lie": the Sovereignty Party ...
31 Mar 2026 at 3:06am
My latest Holyrood constituency profile for The National is Edinburgh Northern.

A brief reply to Ballot Box Scotland about my profile of the Edinburgh Centra...
30 Mar 2026 at 2:27am
Allan Faulds, the former serial Scottish Green Party candidate who runs the psephological Ballot Box Scotland site, has taken a passive-aggressive swipe at me because of something I wrote in my pro...

"Alliance to Liberate Scotland" angrily defend their pact with the far-right ...
28 Mar 2026 at 2:44am
Later in this video, I also give my thoughts on the extraordinary but somehow totally unsurprising news that the self-styled 'independence ultra' Chris McEleny, who expelled and drove out so many g...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

SNP calls for inquiry into Trident security after Joani Reid reports
3 Apr 2026 at 1:23pm
The party wants an probe after the Labour MP, whose husband is accused of spying for China, allegedly behaved inappropriately with Navy officers

Unpaid carers should have £400 uplift in support, say Lib Dems
3 Apr 2026 at 12:09pm
Alex Cole-Hamilton said unpaid carers formed the ?backbone? of care in Scotland

?We?ve got the beating of the SNP at this election?, says Scottish Lib Dem le...
3 Apr 2026 at 10:10am
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader tells Scotland Tonight that his party can defeat the SNP in ten constituencies

SNP will deliver revolution in childcare if it wins election, says Jenny Gilruth
3 Apr 2026 at 9:37am
The education secretary said her party would extend support to every family in the country for children from nine months to the end of primary school

Labour will end ?scandalous? failures on young mental health support ? Sarwar
3 Apr 2026 at 9:33am
The Scottish Labour leader unveiled a package of new measures Labour plan to deliver if they win the Holyrood election

Reform has brought ?race-baiting? to Holyrood election campaign, says Sarwar
3 Apr 2026 at 9:30am
The Scottish Labour leader hit out at the party?s new billboard campaign as well as an earlier advert which directly attacked him

Swinney: Rooting out predators from party is more important than independence
3 Apr 2026 at 9:28am
The SNP leader was speaking after a candidate was sacked over claims she did not act on allegations about sex offender Jordan Linden

?I?m in it to win it?: Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord vows to becom...
3 Apr 2026 at 9:20am
Malcolm Offord says he has 'the vision and the capability' to lead the country.

40% of 16 and 17-year-olds not registered to vote in Scottish election
2 Apr 2026 at 11:12am
Scots have until midnight on April 20 to register to cast their ballot in the Holyrood poll

Next government must ensure Scots get ?fair share? of green wealth ? campaigners
2 Apr 2026 at 9:04am
A poll has found about two thirds of Scots are in favour of energy projects being owned by communities and locally authorities

Greens to pledge free bus travel for all as they launch campaign
2 Apr 2026 at 9:01am
The party will promise to expand on the policy they championed while in government

PM urges Farage to sack Reform housing spokesman over ?shameful? Grenfell remark
2 Apr 2026 at 8:54am
Reform's housing spokesperson Simon Dudley said housing safety regulations had gone too far in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Swinney calls on PM to recall House of Commons to deal with UK energy ?crisis?
2 Apr 2026 at 8:53am
Scotland?s First Minister said Keir Starmer was ?sleepwalking? into an ?unprecedented energy crisis?

Royal Navy investigated relationship between nuclear submarine commander and MP
2 Apr 2026 at 8:50am
Joani Reid stepped down from the Labour party last month after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Tax super rich Scots to ensure universal benefits like free bus passes can co...
5 Apr 2026 at 5:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: Ross Greer said he "rejects completely" that popular policies such as free prescriptions and free university tuition for Scots are becoming unaffordable.

John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:05am
Scottish Labour said "no one buys John Swinney?s flimsy pretence that this election is about independence".

Reform UK support in Scotland dropping is 'bad news' for SNP hopes of winning...
5 Apr 2026 at 9:40am
Nigel Farage's right-wing populists have faced a chaotic start to their election campaign with multiple candidates dropping out of the race.

Thousands of Scots 'disenfranchised by poverty' in upcoming Holyrood election
5 Apr 2026 at 4:30am
Research by the Poverty Alliance has found an 11 per cent gap in voter turnout between the richest and poorest constituencies.

Private schools would be hit with new tax under Scottish Greens proposals
5 Apr 2026 at 4:30am
The party's Holyrood election manifesto says the levy would be applied using non-domestic rates and could bring in millions.

Monklands hospital branded 'death trap' as wait for replacement goes on
4 Apr 2026 at 5:00pm
Ward closures because of mould infection are only the latest example of the challenges faced by a 1970s hospital still going in the 2020s.

Scottish politics today: Scotland fans rage over 'dis­gust­ing' World Cup tic...
3 Apr 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the day's Scottish politics news.

SNP 'real threat' to UK nuclear deterrent after party calls for Joani Reid in...
3 Apr 2026 at 2:55pm
The Nationalists - who are committed to scrapping nuclear weapons - claimed Faslane security may have been breached by the Labour MP, despite an MOD investigation already ruling that out.

Nigel Farage accused of dismissing Scotland as a 'department' after Grenfell row
3 Apr 2026 at 1:59pm
EXCLUSIVE: The Reform UK leader was panned by the SNP and Scottish Greens.

Nicola Sturgeon says divorce from Peter Murrell is about more than Operation ...
3 Apr 2026 at 12:59pm
The former first minister announced her separation from the ex-SNP chief executive in January 2025, weeks before his first appearance in court.

The National

The National | Politics

Jackie Baillie hosted by Royal Navy 7 months after Joani Reid flirtations
5 Apr 2026 at 3:30pm

Scottish Labour have been urged to come clean after depute leader Jackie Baillie was hosted by the Royal Navy just months after a party MP?s flirtations with senior navy officers

John Swinney demands Fifa acts on 'unaffordable' World Cup tickets
5 Apr 2026 at 3:20pm

JOHN Swinney has written to the boss of Fifa calling on him to put a stop to sky-high World Cup ticket prices.

White House forced to deny 'Donald Trump is dead' rumours
5 Apr 2026 at 2:27pm

US president Donald Trump is working and alive, White House officials have confirmed after rumours of his death went viral

Holyrood should have daily questioning sessions, says outgoing presiding officer
5 Apr 2026 at 1:43pm

Holyrood should consider introducing a daily question time session to help make the Parliament ?responsive?, outgoing Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone has said

Greens 'not taking votes for granted' as poll projects record Holyrood haul
5 Apr 2026 at 1:02pm

SCOTTISH Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay has said she "will not take votes for granted" despite a poll suggesting they could win a record haul of Holyrood seats

Labour fall behind SNP in mindblowing Westminster poll
5 Apr 2026 at 11:56am

LABOUR have fallen behind the SNP in projected Westminster seats in a mindblowing new poll

Alleged offences in Scotland linked to banned loyalist paramilitaries revealed
5 Apr 2026 at 11:00am

THERE have been 66 alleged offences in Scotland regarding support for banned loyalist paramilitary groups like the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters, and Red Hand Commando since the Terrorism Act 2000 came into force

I want to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028, says John Swinney
5 Apr 2026 at 10:52am

JOHN Swinney has said there could be an independence referendum in 2028 if the SNP wins a majority in next month?s Holyrood elections, adding he would want to ?press on? with such a vote ?as quickly as possible?

Reform support in Scotland slumps to lowest in a year, major poll shows
5 Apr 2026 at 9:55am

SUPPORT for Reform UK has declined for the first time in a Holyrood poll weeks out from the election.

Iranian strikes hit Kuwait, Bahrain and UAE as tensions with US increase
5 Apr 2026 at 9:45am

AN Iranian drone attack has caused significant damage to two power plants in Kuwait and put a water desalination station out of service, according to the nation?s ministry of electricity

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Scottish Child Payment must change to end child poverty, think tank says
2 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
The next Scottish Government must be 'clear-eyed' on the problem, it is claimed

Local Authorities Guide: Shetland Islands Council
2 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
Council leader Emma Macdonald answers questions about local authority

SNP candidate dropped over handling of Jordan Linden complaints
1 Apr 2026 at 3:00pm
The SNP councillor has been accused of ignoring or downplaying allegations about Linden in a council motion. ?

MP Joani Reid in submarine base conduct allegations
1 Apr 2026 at 1:19pm
Reports emerge of separate incidents

AI NHS integration a ?significant challenge?
1 Apr 2026 at 11:27am
Good governance and building public trust must be part of the rollout, an innovation agency has said

Local Authorities Guide: Scottish Borders Council
1 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
Council leader Euan Jardine answers questions about local authority

SNP and Labour blame each other amid jobs risk at Alexander Dennis
31 Mar 2026 at 4:55pm
Up to 115 roles are at risk of redundancy

Scottish university partners with bank on agentic AI research programme
31 Mar 2026 at 12:01pm
Experiments to test the efficacy of agentic AI in software teams

Poll: SNP miss majority but well ahead of nearest rivals
31 Mar 2026 at 11:06am
Reform would be second largest party, beating Labour by one seat

John Swinney says SNP's NHS plan 'working'
31 Mar 2026 at 1:01am
The first minister is expected to be in Dundee today, where he will highlight that the SNP?s NHS ?plan is working?

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

UK politics Q&A, as it happened: Andrew Sparrow answers your questions on Sta...
2 Apr 2026 at 5:50pm
This blog is now closedQ: Do you agree with the Tories about wanting more oil and gas drilling from the North Sea?Davey says Kemi Badenoch claims she can get an extra £2.5bn in tax revenue by allowing more exploration in the North Sea. He says she is ?just lying?. He says everyone knows that that...

Reeves criticises Trump for starting Iran war with no ?clear plan? to get out...
1 Apr 2026 at 5:15pm
This blog is now closedStarmer says he understands why people are concerned about the cost of living.He says he has already set out a five-point plan to deal with the crisis.Just look at what?s happening today. Today your energy bills will be cut because of the action that we took at the budget. ...

Starmer pledges to tackle new cost of living crisis at May elections campaign...
30 Mar 2026 at 3:11pm
Prime minister says 7 May vote is coming at time of ?war on two fronts? as Labour braces for heavy losses at pollsUK politics live ? latest updatesThe 7 May elections are taking place against a backdrop of ?war on two fronts?, Keir Starmer has said, as he pledged action to tackle the resurgent co...

Glasgow arts hub tenants condemn ?unsustainable? rent rises by landlord
30 Mar 2026 at 8:17am
City Property, which manages buildings for council, accused of ?coercive and unfair? increases and issuing eviction noticesTenants at one of Glasgow?s leading cultural hubs are battling what they describe as ?unsustainable? rent increases, with critics describing the landlord responsible as a ?ro...

Reform busy firefighting in Scotland but may yet set Holyrood?s politics ablaze
26 Mar 2026 at 6:29pm
With Nigel Farage?s party neck and neck with Labour for second place behind the SNP, disruption seems likely Hope, change, progressive change, change with fairness at its heart ? from a harbour north of Edinburgh to a hipster arts venue in Glasgow?s Barras Market, Scotland?s political parties sp...

UK politics: Trump says UK?s aircraft carriers are just ?toys? ? as it happened
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00pm
The comments were part of a broader address in which he condemned Nato alliesYesterday the Conservative party said that it wanted to ban political parties from distributing campaign literature in a foreign language. Announcing a plan to propose an amendement to the representation of the people bi...

UK politics: Tories claim McSweeney has ?serious questions? to answer about p...
25 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
Shadow cabinet officer minister claims ?this whole thing stinks to high heaven?Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs.Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has urged people to reject ?conspiracy? theories about the loss of Morgan McSweeney?s phone. Continue reading...

?Anyone but Labour? or ?anyone but Reform?? Clash of animosities likely to de...
23 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
While Labour braces for a rout that could see off Starmer, a rising drive to keep out Farage is complicating expectationsSmall swings, high drama: why UK polls are less volatile than they seem ? in chartsLocal elections are often regarded as a referendum on the sitting government, with many previ...

What?s at stake for UK in May?s elections: six key questions
23 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Reform, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens are all banking on big gains and nationwide repercussionsOn 7 May, three of the UK?s four nations go to the polls in a series of elections with much potential significance, not just for who ends up governing various bodies, but also for the future polit...

Labour dismisses Reform UK MSP candidates as ?hopeless Tory rejects and oddba...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:50pm
This blog is now closedSeverin Carrell is the Guardian?s Scotland editor.Malcolm Offord, Reform UK?s Scottish leader, has doubled down on his defence of the party?s vetting by dismissing remarks by candidates backing Tommy Robinson or describing Humza Yousaf as an ?Islamist moron? (see 10.12am) a...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Shettleston doesn?t need Reform?s racism, it needs to be part of an independe...
2 Apr 2026 at 1:10pm
On Wednesday, April Fool’s Day, Reform UK unveiled its racist and scaremongering advert for the Scottish election next month. It was appropriate that they did so on April Fool’s Day because they are taking the electorate for mugs. The consists of image showing apparent migrants crowded onto a small inflatable dinghy with text reading “Scotland …

It?s not just independence which is at stake in this election
31 Mar 2026 at 6:13pm
The weekend kicked off the election campaign with a well attended march and rally for independence held in Edinburgh on Saturday. I’m sure you all followed the reports about it on BBC Scotland, oh, right. It was far too busy talking about the ferries again wasn’t it. Every political party talks up its chances during …

The rapid implosion of Reform?s Scottish campaign
26 Mar 2026 at 3:05pm
As the saying goes, you’d need a heart of stone not to laugh. Within just a few days of Reform UK launching its Scottish election campaign to much fanfare and racist ‘jokes’ about tartan burqas, the wheels are already coming off Farage’s septic tank pumper wagon. The party has already lost no less than four …

James Dornan MSP looks back on his career
24 Mar 2026 at 1:49pm
A guest post by James Dornan MSP   Today veteran SNP MSP James Dornan makes his last speech in the Scottish Parliament, and steps down to retirement and to give way to a new generation. To mark the occasion, he has very kindly written a guest post for this blog in which he looks back …

Reform?s chaotic launch and the implications of the Iran war for May?s election
20 Mar 2026 at 8:53pm
Nigel Farage came to Scotland on Thursday to launch his party’s manifesto for the Scottish elections on 7 May and to introduce Reform UK’s almost half former Tory slate of totally well vetted candidates. Reform UK there, promising to fix Broken Britain with a slew of the former Conservatives who were responsible for breaking it …

Thoughts on the failure of the assisted dying bill
18 Mar 2026 at 2:46am
Back in 1998, after we had moved to Spain, my late husband Andy and I became very close friends with our new neighbour, a Norwegian woman called Ellie who had moved to Spain after retiring from a career on the Norwegian oil rigs in the North Sea. She was looking forward to spending her final …

Scotland: Too wee?
17 Mar 2026 at 9:11am
Is it time to look again at the long-debated theory that Scotland is ?too wee? to be a successful independent country? A guest post by Diane Izzett https://bsky.app/profile/dizzyscot.bsky.social With the yes voters taking a lead in recent polls, do the facts support this or is it just the final death throes of a coloniser losing …

Lessons from 2014 for next time round
14 Mar 2026 at 6:23pm
An important new academic book looking at the 2014 Scottish independence referendum has just been published. The snappily titled “Discourse, Voice, and the Politics of Participation in the Scottish Independence Referendum” by Dr Maike Dinger, a Lecturer in Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling is available on Amazon for £104.99 hardback or …

So-called muscular unionism is a sign of Westminster?s fragility
12 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
The Labour party has responded to the leak of a memo from Starmer to cabinet ministers in which he tells them not to be “deferential” to the devolved governments and not to hesitate to override them even on devolved matters. Starmer was questioned about the memo by SNP MP Stephen Gethins at Prime Minister’s Questions …

Devolution has run out of road
10 Mar 2026 at 6:48pm
This always happens, every time I decide to take a bit of time off, a big news story breaks and it’s back to the keyboard. On Tuesday, a Labour government memo was leaked which proves that Keir Starmer is hell bent on undermining the devolution settlement. In the memo, sent to all members of the …

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

Herald writer ?admits? to cycling a bike while under the affluence but wants ...
5 Apr 2026 at 3:31pm
In Kevin McKenna‘s piece yesterday in the Herald: In Scot­land, in recent years, the Scot­tish Gov­ern­ment, egged on by the Greens, has con­ferred sac­red status on cyc­ling lanes, turn­ing them into a sort of lux­ury Cale­do­nian cam­ino for the middle-classes. ‘I?ve got noth­ing against cycle travel, but how many middle-aged, work­ing-class women have you seen rid­ing a bicycle into the city...

Everybody complains about their ferry service, from Norway to North America ?...
5 Apr 2026 at 3:04pm
Sources at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/05/norways-superior-ferry-system-exposed-as-failing-to-consult-locals-in-time-to-prevent-unpopular-outcomes-like-service-cuts-route-adjustments-driven-by-budget-constraints-or-central-government-p/ and: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/04/05/nowhere-else-in-the-world-runs-their-ferry-networks-like-this-well-only-the-isle-of-wight-the-cha...

Norway?s ?superior? ferry system exposed as failing to consult locals in time...
5 Apr 2026 at 1:19pm
Norway’s ferry service has been recently portrayed as superior to Scotland’s. I suppose they have got $2 trillion in the bank and we’ve got SFA but, wait what’s this: In Norway there are also reports and criticisms of insufficient or ineffective community involvement in decisions affecting ferry (ferge) and fast ferry (hurtigbåt) services, which serve as vital lifelines for coastal, island, and...

?Nowhere else in the world runs their ferry networks like this?? Well, only t...
5 Apr 2026 at 12:49pm
OK, I’m not going on about all the Scottish Government subsidies the ‘islanders’ get because, according to Lesley Riddoch, it upsets them to be told about them but I cannot, just cannot, ignore the above claims. Are there reports of government’s excluding the communities most affected from decisions which are crucial for their wellbeing in, for example, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, B...

Reports of increasing numbers of girl victims of County Lines drug gangs in E...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:03am
In the Guardian today:

99% of ?hospital infections? were brought in on the patient or by family and ...
5 Apr 2026 at 9:52am
The Sunday Daily Mail today: Where did these infections come from? It would be necessary for them to have been hospital-acquired to claim the QEUH is unsafe. This researched by a TuS contributor Since the SNP took power they have delivered and maintained a significant reduction in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).  In 2005-2006, a national survey reported an HAI prevalence of 9.5% in Scotlan...

?Stealing food from the mouths of animals north of the border? ? Is an Englis...
4 Apr 2026 at 4:33pm
As with O-levels when it should have been O-Grades and 11-plus when it should have been the ‘Qualies’, UK-wide media have confused Scots for decades and RSPCA and SSPCA remains a bone of contention. My family often say RSPCA yet the RSPCA does no work at all in Scotland? Does it raise money from Scots who see the adverts on ‘national’ TV? In 2009, the Herald revealed the above. Is there evidenc...

Are there similarities in the psychology used by Donald Trump against Iran an...
4 Apr 2026 at 3:12pm
Listening to Trump and Starmer, as a former teacher, I couldn’t help but notice how they’re both using psychologies long discredited in teaching – they just don’t work. I have a familiar, a raven on my shoulder called Grok! I asked him. He saw it too and he researched a fully-referenced for me as I tire after a Saturday afternoon beer: Yes, there are notable similarities in the psychological ta...

Now being used by the Daily Record on Child Poverty, why the London lads at t...
4 Apr 2026 at 12:50pm

Reposted in light of Daily Record lies today based on the lads at the not-lea...
4 Apr 2026 at 12:44pm

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

John Swinney: Independence referendum could be in 2028 - The Herald
5 Apr 2026 at 11:38am
John Swinney: Independence referendum could be in 2028  The Herald

John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP...
5 Apr 2026 at 2:00pm
John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP wins majority in Holyrood elections  lbc.co.uk

I want to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028, says John Swinney ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:20am
I want to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028, says John Swinney  Thenational Scot

John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:05am
John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum in 2028  Daily Record

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election - BBC
28 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election  BBC

Repositioning Independence - Nation.Cymru
15 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Repositioning Independence  Nation.Cymru

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

Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan - H...
14 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan  Holyrood Website

These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence - Thenationa...
17 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence  Thenational Scot

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP candidate ditched over handling of Linden complaints - BBC
1 Apr 2026 at 3:08pm
SNP candidate ditched over handling of Linden complaints  BBC

SNP calling, haplotype phasing and allele-specific analysis with long RNA-seq...
30 Mar 2026 at 11:16am
SNP calling, haplotype phasing and allele-specific analysis with long RNA-seq reads  Nature

Labour fall behind SNP in mindblowing Westminster poll - Thenational Scot
5 Apr 2026 at 12:14pm
Labour fall behind SNP in mindblowing Westminster poll  Thenational Scot

Scottish ruling party backs controversial new oil and gas fields - politico.eu
2 Apr 2026 at 3:07pm
Scottish ruling party backs controversial new oil and gas fields  politico.eu

Our poll is a wake-up call for John Swinney and the SNP - The Times
4 Apr 2026 at 8:00pm
Our poll is a wake-up call for John Swinney and the SNP  The Times

Can Labour Break the SNP Hold on Cunningham North? - glasgowguardian.co.uk
5 Apr 2026 at 11:12am
Can Labour Break the SNP Hold on Cunningham North?  glasgowguardian.co.uk

John Swinney is already promising a 'prize' for SNP voters that he has no way...
5 Apr 2026 at 4:55am
John Swinney is already promising a 'prize' for SNP voters that he has no way of delivering  scotsman.com

Scotland fans must not be priced out of the World Cup - snp.org
5 Apr 2026 at 1:56pm
Scotland fans must not be priced out of the World Cup  snp.org

Reform UK support in Scotland dropping is 'bad news' for SNP hopes of winning...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:41am
Reform UK support in Scotland dropping is 'bad news' for SNP hopes of winning a majority  Daily Record

Former SNP candidate accused of sex offences - BBC
31 Mar 2026 at 5:25pm
Former SNP candidate accused of sex offences  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

John Swinney: Independence referendum could be in 2028 - The Herald
5 Apr 2026 at 11:38am
John Swinney: Independence referendum could be in 2028  The Herald

I want to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028, says John Swinney ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:20am
I want to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028, says John Swinney  Thenational Scot

John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP...
5 Apr 2026 at 2:00pm
John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP wins majority in Holyrood elections  lbc.co.uk

John Swinney says he wants to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028...
5 Apr 2026 at 2:49pm
John Swinney says he wants to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028  London Evening Standard

John Swinney: There could be a referendum in 2028. I want to press on - The T...
4 Apr 2026 at 6:00pm
John Swinney: There could be a referendum in 2028. I want to press on  The Times

John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:05am
John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum in 2028  Daily Record

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election - BBC
28 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election  BBC

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