The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Marra urges Burnham to approve Rosebank and Jackdaw and accelerate EPL end
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Sep 2026 at 1:43pm
Michael Marra, in his first press conference as Scottish Labour leader, demands UK Government approval for Rosebank and Jackdaw and an early end to the windfall tax.


New national dental nursing education centre opens
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
19 Sep 2026 at 12:17pm
A new national centre for dental nursing education has been launched in Lanarkshire, with ministers hailing it as a vital step in supporting Scotland's future healthcare workforce.


?I have no confidence in the UK?, says chemicals giant boss Ratcliffe
by Clara Margotin
19 Sep 2026 at 11:00am
Bold words from the billionaire boss


Michael Marra sees off Joe Fagan to become Scottish Labour's 11th leader
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 Sep 2026 at 9:54am
Michael Marra has beaten Joe Fagan to lead a party reduced to just 17 Holyrood seats, vowing to build a completely different Scottish Labour from the ground up


Green MSP lifts lid on anger at Q rape comments amid violence against women d...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
19 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
A Scottish Green MSP says she was ?deeply disappointed? by Q Manivannan?s rape remarks and calls for a victim-centred approach to violence against women.


Wargame TV review: Sturgeon is playing a game here. Next stop, Celebrity Trai...
by alison.rowat@theherald.co.uk | Alison Rowat
19 Sep 2026 at 12:01am
The Wargame, Sky/Now, Monday-Thursday, Alison Rowat, two stars: A fictional Russian attack forces political rivals into an unlikely coalition government, with Nicola Sturgeon emerging as a dominant figure in Sky's entertaining if unconvincing crisis simulation.


Scot imprisoned in India granted bail after eight years detention
by Craig Meighan
18 Sep 2026 at 9:27am
The 39-year-old was arrested in 2017 over alleged terrorism offences


Today's cartoon from Steven Camley - on Scottish Government FOI handling
by Camley's Cartoons
18 Sep 2026 at 8:20am
You can find Steven Camley in The Herald and online at heraldscotland.com


Jenny Gilruth: '1m new voters must be able to decide their future in indyref2'
by Craig Meighan
18 Sep 2026 at 7:22am
Speaking on the anniversary of the vote, Jenny Gilruth said a new generation of Scots should be allowed to have their say


Council secures 23,000 warrants to recover unpaid rates from capital's busine...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
18 Sep 2026 at 6:30am
A summary warrant allows the council to take enforcement action against businesses, including stock seizures and financial penalties.


Councillor 'ready to quit' after 20 years amid suspension over 'conduct'
by Marc McLean
17 Sep 2026 at 8:40pm
Dumfries and Galloway councillor Andrew Wood faces a 30-day suspension and may quit after criticising chief executive Dawn Roberts and council governance


Scotland gets £1.8m from £30m community energy fund dubbed ?pocket change?
by Katrine Bussey
17 Sep 2026 at 8:22pm
Scotland will only receive ?pocket change? from a new UK Government fund to help communities across the country set up their own green energy supplies.


Scottish Government may be forced into compulsory redundancies to meet reforms
by Craig Paton
17 Sep 2026 at 7:31pm
The Scottish Government may need to consider compulsory redundancies to meet its target of reducing the public sector workforce, an economist has warned.


Ferguson Marine to receive 'working capital' to build tugboats amid 2027 work...
by Katrine Bussey
17 Sep 2026 at 6:17pm
A publicly owned shipyard with no work on its order books for next year will receive capital to help it build a ?small number of tugboats?, MSPs were told.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Michael Marra under no illusion over long road ahead to rebuild Scottish Labour
19 Sep 2026 at 2:13pm

Michael Marra faces an uphill battle to transform Scottish Labour back into a political force at Holyrood.

Michael Marra has replaced Anas Sarwar as the leader of Scottish Labour.

The Nationalists have extended a ?European hand of friendship? to the Lib Dems ahead of their conference in Brighton this weekend.

?This is a massive betrayal by the Scottish Government? - Cllr Chas Booth

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow Caledonian and Heriot Watt universities are all taking part in industrial action this month.

Community Justice Scotland said merely strengthening the existing presumption did not go far enough

Wings over Scotland

A Thousand Islands In The Sea
16 Sep 2026 at 1:22pm
We’re getting so much correspondence from Police Scotland at the moment that we’re starting to feel like their guiltily-neglected penpal. This one, though, is slightly more involved than their usual two-paragraph brushoff. Don’t get too excited, though – it amounts to the same thing. This is self-evident gibberish. Nobody was prosecuted, let alone convicted, over …

Fear And Favour
15 Sep 2026 at 1:10pm
This is what it looks like, if you’ve ever wondered. It’s basically the police’s own version of a seven-hour “no comment” interview. Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of that letter of 20 August, because it was a pretty significant and serious piece of professional correspondence to have been so casually tossed away in …

Like Responsible Citizens Do
14 Sep 2026 at 12:13pm
Given the refusal of Police Scotland to meaningfully answer our questions, we’ve been left with no alternative but to report Nicola Sturgeon for the crime of reset. We’re sure the matter will be handled with the exact same professional diligence and complete and fearless impartiality that it would be for any other accused person. The …

A Long Hard Think
11 Sep 2026 at 3:37pm
More than three months ago now, we sent Police Scotland a Freedom Of Information request. A few minutes ago we finally received a response. Brace yourselves. That is, um… interesting. Retaining gifts you know were bought with embezzled money is the common-law crime of reset in Scots law, under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act …

Anything But That
1 Sep 2026 at 1:04pm
The SNP really really don’t want to have another independence referendum, but if somebody somehow FORCES them into one, they DEFINITELY don’t want to have it in circumstances where they’d be starting the campaign with a 16-point lead. (We must conclude from all this, incidentally, that John Swinney LOVES the Tories, because he had no …

Haven?t had a dream in a long time
31 Aug 2026 at 8:43pm
These are strange days, readers. It’s getting hard to tell who’s on which side. To be honest, we’d take George Foulkes’ offer in a heartbeat. It’s not ideal, because there should be no limits on democracy, but the UK government can perfectly lawfully deny another indyref indefinitely anyway (and seem entirely inclined to), so we’d …

The Shortest Day
29 Aug 2026 at 1:07pm
Something rather extraordinary happened yesterday, dearest readers. Very briefly, we absolutely genuinely thought someone in a position of some influence in the SNP had taken a meaningful step towards being serious about independence. We are not being sarcastic. Look: here it is. (Transcript at bottom of article.) ? Dave Doogan is the SNP’s leader at …

The Slowest Dawning
28 Aug 2026 at 1:44pm
Now, readers, it’s not much of a secret that anyone who’s still supporting the SNP in the hopes that they’ll deliver Scottish independence is – and let’s put this as gently and kindly as possible – a bit thick. From a membership high of 125,000 in the run-up to the 2021 Holyrood election, fully 60% …

Spot The Problem
27 Aug 2026 at 12:19pm
See if you can identify why this isn’t an ideal way to run a justice system. We’ve put a couple of clues in for the slower folk. Answer below. Still, the Crown Office IS at least theoretically accountable to Parliament, so as long as the governing party is full of strong, independent, fair-minded MSPs willing …

This Other Earth
26 Aug 2026 at 2:22pm
We’ve had another email from the Crown Office. Stand by for a surprise! Well, that seems fair enough: other than the fact that almost £700,000 in “ringfenced” fundraiser money is (still) visibly missing, and the fact that the First Minister of the country and the leader of the party the money was entrusted to has …

Craig Murray

Dishonesty and Deceit
7 Sep 2026 at 7:31pm

UPDATE We got an expedited date to “reclaim” (appeal) against the suspension of the case, on 25 September. We shall also be reclaiming against the decision not to send the case straight to the Inner House. All parties seemed to agree there may just be time, if our appeal is successful, to finish the Scottish …

Dishonesty and Deceit

Nonsense Drones and Novichok
3 Sep 2026 at 2:14pm

Europe urgently needs to re-establish access to Russian oil and gas. Gas prices are high – as all UK energy consumers know – and German gas storage is at a record low for September. Gulf production is degraded, supplies are cut off and its long-term strategic stability undermined. German manufacturing already suffered a 9.5% production …

Nonsense Drones and Novichok

Dr David Halpin and David Kelly
29 Aug 2026 at 12:26pm

Dr David Halpin, a redoubtable campaigner over the murder of Dr David Kelly, and a friend of this blog for over twenty years, has died. He will be missed. His sister Mary was for many years an invaluable commenter here and occasional researcher for me. Unfortunately about ten years ago I banned her for comments …

Dr David Halpin and David Kelly

Of Judges, Juries and Fascism
25 Aug 2026 at 5:50pm

We still don’t have a decision on whether the Scottish judicial review of Palestine Action can proceed. Lord Young is thinking about it. Last Thursday’s hearing went about as well as it could go. The UK government produced no written argument and barely seemed to be trying. They moved in court for the Scottish judicial …

Of Judges, Juries and Fascism

Scottish Judicial Review Hearing Tomorrow
19 Aug 2026 at 10:05pm

After eight months of obstructionism from the Labour Friends of Israel government of the UK, tomorrow is the day on which the Scottish Court of Session will finally decide whether to go ahead with the judicial review it granted in January, or kowtow to Downing St. I publish below two of the three main papers …

Scottish Judicial Review Hearing Tomorrow

A Tide in the Affairs of Men
7 Aug 2026 at 9:20pm

Between ten and five years ago, specifically in the light of Brexit, it was not in the least unusual for Scottish Independence supporters to discuss a declaration of Independence as the way forward. Debate more often centred on who should make the declaration – the Scottish parliament or some form of national convention or assembly. …

A Tide in the Affairs of Men

BBC Scotland

Michael Marra announced as new Scottish Labour leader
19 Sep 2026 at 11:59am
Anas Sarwar's replacement has been announced as the MSP for the North East region.

Tugs plan offers short-term lifeline for Ferguson Marine shipyard
17 Sep 2026 at 7:16pm
Ministers have agreed to provide financial backing for construction of the small vessels.

MSP considered taking own life over chronic pain
18 Sep 2026 at 6:01pm
Cara McKee MSP is preparing to return to Holyrood next week after undergoing brain surgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

Minister defends MSP colleague after Transport Scotland blunder
17 Sep 2026 at 9:56am
Collette Stevenson, who is on the transport committee, asked a meeting whether government body Transport Scotland was a registered charity.

Delay to neonatal reform is putting babies at risk, warn doctors
17 Sep 2026 at 6:04am
The plan to cut the number of neonatal intensive care units from eight to three was announced in 2017.

Irish president meets Swinney at start of four-day visit to Scotland
16 Sep 2026 at 6:32pm
John Swinney was joined by his wife as he greeted Catherine Connolly and her husband before a meeting at Bute House.

No consent for large AI data centres before Christmas, MSPs told
16 Sep 2026 at 5:52pm
The growth of AI is happening at lightning pace, so what are the advantages and disadvantages of Scotland being at the forefront?

ScotRail app problems may not be fixed by end of the year, MSPs hear
16 Sep 2026 at 3:49pm
The rail operator admitted the launch of the app had "not been good enough" but could not say when the problems would be rectified.

GPS tracking of bailed suspects to start next year, says Swinney
15 Sep 2026 at 5:19pm
A pilot scheme in Tayside, Central and Fife is expected to start in 2027, the first minister has announced.

Building more data centres could push up electricity prices, Holyrood committ...
15 Sep 2026 at 1:16pm
Scotland has been identified as a key location for building hyperscale AI data centres because of the high potential for renewable energy.

UK could 'unlock' 100 more oil and gas projects, say North Sea bosses
15 Sep 2026 at 7:45am
The UK could supply half of its oil and gas needs without imports if the government showed more support for the sector, an OEUK report claims.

Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031
14 Sep 2026 at 3:47pm
The FM has signed an agreement with other nationalist leaders predicting "Westminster's time is coming to an end".

Scot Goes Pop

Labour slump to THIRD PLACE in Scottish subsample as Burnham's YouGov horror ...
16 Sep 2026 at 1:53pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham U-turns on the U-turn: after just 24 hours, he reverts to the previou...
11 Sep 2026 at 5:01pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham's REVOLUTIONARY U-turn as he accepts Scotland can have an independenc...
10 Sep 2026 at 1:09pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham suffers more Scottish poll MISERY as SNP enjoy 17-point lead in YouGo...
9 Sep 2026 at 1:15pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

A de facto referendum on independence would self-evidently not be "bonkers" -...
7 Sep 2026 at 11:01am
There has been just one occasion in history in which an integral part of the United Kingdom became an independent country, and it did not happen as the result of a 2014-style agreed referendum.  In...

"Well THAT one was worth waiting for!": SNP have DOUBLE Labour's support in d...
2 Sep 2026 at 11:38pm

RevStew can squeal but *of course* the SNP have done the right thing by rulin...
31 Aug 2026 at 9:19am
The most dispiriting aspect of the controversy surrounding Dave Doogan is that it's given the controversial Somerset-based "Stew" blogger an excuse to yet again trot out his barking mad fantasy abo...

The refusal to allow a debate and vote on independence strategy at the SNP co...
29 Aug 2026 at 10:15am
I initially assumed that the timing of the publication of a draft indyref bill was directly connected to the news having just broken that this year's SNP conference is being effectively blocked fro...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Michael Marra announced as new Scottish Labour leader
19 Sep 2026 at 11:34am
The North East Scotland MSP defeated rival Joe Fagan by 4,266 votes to 2,485.

Tories launch new campaign aimed at keeping Scotland in the UK
18 Sep 2026 at 1:57pm
The campaign came as Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said she was ?confident? independence campaigners would win if there is another referendum

One million new voters must be able to decide their future in indyref, says G...
18 Sep 2026 at 6:59am
The deputy first minister said a new generation of Scots should be allowed to have their say on independence

Insight: The constitution is back at the forefront of the political agenda
17 Sep 2026 at 5:52pm
A Unionist fight back meeting has been held in Edinburgh, on the eve of the anniversary of indyref

Scrap ?net zero? phrase, MPs urge government
17 Sep 2026 at 9:05am
MPs believe the rising cost of living and soaring gas prices have made people increasingly view the net zero agenda with animosity

MSPs reject moratorium on data centres as minister vows new guidance in weeks
16 Sep 2026 at 8:34pm
Public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad made the commitment as Holyrood rejected a Green motion

Large-scale data centres will require environmental assessment, Scottish Gove...
16 Sep 2026 at 12:39pm
The change will affect plans for all new data centres with a power capacity exceeding 50 megawatts

Domestic abusers on bail to be GPS-tracked from next year, Swinney announces
15 Sep 2026 at 6:35pm
Swinney said the pilot would begin next year in the Tayside, Central and Fife sheriffdom.

Insight: Scotland?s defence sector is facing a looming jobs crisis
15 Sep 2026 at 4:52pm
A report from the Scottish Affairs Committee moves quickly to highlight crucial warnings facing Scotland?s defence sector ? and urges both the UK and Scottish governments to step up

First Minister to lead debate on ending violence against women and girls
15 Sep 2026 at 3:16pm
The First Minister previously announced plans to launch a multi-year, public health campaign to challenge misogynistic attitudes in boys and young men

Andy Burnham cancels engagements following death of father 
14 Sep 2026 at 1:46pm
Burnham has previously spoken about his father?s Alzheimer's diagnosis, which meant that he did not know his son had become Prime Minister.

Burnham will be last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, says Swinney
14 Sep 2026 at 1:15pm
Scotland?s First Minister says a Scottish independence referendum should take place within the next five years

Westminster?s time is coming to an end ? SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders
14 Sep 2026 at 11:34am
John Swinney has said Scots must be able to express their view on whether to remain in the UK

SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders expected to sign joint agreement in Cardiff
14 Sep 2026 at 8:51am
They will meet in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Who is Michael Marra? The proud Dundonian now leading Scottish Labour
19 Sep 2026 at 2:14pm
The new Scottish Labour leader is an unknown figure to many Scots. The Record takes a look at his views on some of the big issues.

Scots don't want independence referendum 'right now', insists Michael Marra
19 Sep 2026 at 1:29pm
The new Scottish Labour leader accused John Swinney of "trying to move the goal posts" on an IndyRef2 after the SNP failed to win a majority of MSPs at May's election.

Michael Marra named Scottish Labour leader after seeing off challenge from Jo...
19 Sep 2026 at 11:11am
Marra becomes Scottish Labour's 11th permanent leader of the devolution era after Anas Sarwar quit to take up a peerage.

Scottish Labour to announce new leader after Anas Sarwar quit to join House o...
19 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
The party, which suffered its worst ever result at a Holyrood election in May, must undergo another attempt to rebuild after losing more ground to the Nationalists.

Andy Burnham urged to ditch fuel duty increase as Scots drivers face soaring ...
18 Sep 2026 at 1:06pm
Inflation has reached 3.1 per cent as a result of Donald Trump's war against Iran pushing up petrol and diesel prices.

Scots want rich households to pay more council tax under new system that reva...
18 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The most popular option in a government consultation was a revalued 14-band system that would ask owners of higher-value homes to contribute more.

Scots public sector workers deserve urgent clarity over compulsory redundancies
17 Sep 2026 at 4:20pm
Trade unions and fiscal experts have warned that compulsory redundancies could be on the cards. John Swinney insists there is "no question" of such a move. Someone's got to be wrong, says Chris McC...

John Swinney says Julie Parker case 'profoundly disturbing' after 999 call tr...
17 Sep 2026 at 3:01pm
The Record first reported how Julie, 55, died on her way to hospital after collapsing at the flat where she lived alone with her dog in Kilmarnock.

SNP Government may be forced to sack civil servants to meet savings target, e...
17 Sep 2026 at 1:29pm
Holyrood is facing a £5 billion blackhole with SNP ministers now scrambling to plug it.

Scots losing confidence in ability of councils to deliver services after year...
17 Sep 2026 at 12:25pm
Labour said it was "no wonder" confidence in local services has collapsed "after years of SNP cuts" to town hall budgets.

The National

The National | Politics

SNP and Greens pile pressure on Michael Marra after Scottish Labour victory
19 Sep 2026 at 12:14pm

MICHAEL Marra has faced immediate challenges from the SNP and Scottish Greens after being elected the new leader of Scottish Labour.

Michael Marra elected as new Scottish Labour leader
19 Sep 2026 at 11:23am

MICHAEL Marra has been elected as the new leader of Scottish Labour.

SNP urge Lib Dems to ?work together? in push to rejoin EU
19 Sep 2026 at 10:59am

THE SNP have urged the Liberal Democrats to join forces in a push to return to the European Union.

Ed Sheeran to face pro-Palestine protest amid Macklemore row as ticket prices...
19 Sep 2026 at 8:55am

PRO-PALESTINE protests are set to take place outside Ed Sheeran?s latest US concert following the removal of Macklemore from his tour.

US handed ?permanent control? over Greenland security after months of threats
19 Sep 2026 at 8:15am

DONALD Trump has said the US has secured ?permanent control? over Greenland?s security under a new agreement with Denmark and the Arctic island.

Why Scotland was chosen for major European Catholic gathering on nuclear disa...
19 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

THIS weekend, Catholics from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and Ukraine are converging on Glasgow to discuss the theme of nuclear disarmament ...

Labour ?softening? UK up for a ?brutal budget?, SNP warn
19 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

The UK is facing ?another brutal budget?, the SNP have claimed, warning the tax and spending plans could bring a ?bad case of Westminster deja vu?.

Mhairi Black: Ed Sheeran?s silence on genocide is anything but neutral
19 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

ANOTHER week in which a cowardly capitalist rears their ginger head. Of course, I?m referring to Ed Sheeran?s craven actions this week in removing Macklemore from his tour because the rapper dared to say, ?Free Palestine? while on stage ...

How independence campaigners in Edinburgh plan to unite the Celtic nations
18 Sep 2026 at 7:00pm

While First Ministers and senior politicians have led the conversation with reciprocal visits, there is a clear need for grassroots networks to connect across the nations

The National team looks back on 2014 independence referendum ? and where we a...
18 Sep 2026 at 6:00pm

It is 12 years to the day since Scotland went to the polls to decide whether it wanted to become an independent country ? and got closer than many had predicted ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

John Swinney named MSP of the Year at Holyrood Political Awards
18 Sep 2026 at 12:00am
The first minister was among those in attendance from across Scottish politics at the event which took place at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Malcolm Offord accuses John Swinney of attending ?pretendy summit? instead of...
17 Sep 2026 at 3:58pm
The first minister said his government has made ?significant progress? on the priorities he set out when entering office

Minister defends Transport Scotland gaffe MSP
17 Sep 2026 at 3:12pm
Questions raised over committee appearance

Watchdog raises transparency questions over ScotWind millions
17 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
Scottish Government claims vindication as opposition accuse ministers of 'shambolic' management

Scottish Government adds environmental check to?new data centre applications?
16 Sep 2026 at 7:00pm
The announcement coincides with a Scottish Greens vote scheduled for today, calling for a moratorium on new AI data centres

MSPs reject Scottish Green bid to halt the construction of new AI data centres
16 Sep 2026 at 6:27pm
MSPs instead backed amendments put forward by public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad and Scottish Labour MSP Daniel Johnson

Innovation activity of Scottish businesses falls behind?UK average ?
16 Sep 2026 at 2:13pm
Scotland ranks in the bottom quartile of UK regions and countries in terms of its share of businesses that were innovation active

One in five Brits use AI to follow the news?
15 Sep 2026 at 1:13pm
Ofcom found that?13 per cent of adults have used ChatGPT to?access the news?in the last year

Trump condemns AI slowdown as MPs and Lords call for new?law to protect?human...
14 Sep 2026 at 5:10pm
Dario Amodei,?head of AI company Anthropic, called for a slowdown in the speed of AI development

John Swinney: Andy Burnham will be the last prime minister of the United Kingdom
14 Sep 2026 at 1:54pm
PM reaffirms commitment to the union as first ministers meet

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Scottish Labour?s new leader backs Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields
19 Sep 2026 at 1:52pm
Michael Marra supports development of the North Sea sites, calling for a ?more rational? approach to energy policyScottish Labour?s new leader Michael Marra has backed the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea in one of his first acts after being elected, call...

Planning permission for new Scottish AI datacentres suspended for up to a year
16 Sep 2026 at 7:28pm
MSPs vote for strict environmental impact assessments and will delay decisions until national strategy is developedHolyrood has voted to pause planning applications for all new AI datacentres for up to a year until the Scottish government has developed a national strategy.On Wednesday, MSPs backe...

UK politics: Farage hints that Reform?s £72m donations may not be legal under...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:04pm
In an interview about the donations, he said they are compliant with the law ?today?Andy Burnham has cancelled engagements today and tomorrow following the death of his father Roy, who was suffering from Alzheimer?s, the Press Association reports.Burnham has spoken about his father?s illness whic...

Westminster?s time is coming to an end, say first ministers of UK?s Celtic na...
14 Sep 2026 at 2:21pm
Leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland discuss independence and call for constitutional change at summitWestminster?s time is coming to an end, the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have said at a summit aimed at putting the UK?s Celtic nations on the path to indepe...

UK politics: Andy Burnham pressed on borrowing costs and spending at first PM...
2 Sep 2026 at 5:36pm
Burnham faced questions from Kemi Badenoch and other MPs amid speculation over budgetIn the news release to mark the first anniversary of his election as the Green party?s leader, Zack Polanski highlighted what he described as 10 achievements during his first year in charge. For the record, this ...

Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland
1 Sep 2026 at 5:52pm
First minister sets out his government?s agenda and defends policy described by industry groups as a ?potty gimmick?John Swinney insisted on Tuesday he still planned to introduce a legally binding price cap on bread, milk and other essential food items in Scotland despite fierce opposition from f...

Tuesday briefing: Scotland has promised on violence against women ? can it de...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:46am
In today?s newsletter: First minister John Swinney has pledged to put an end to violence against women and girls. But can he turn ambitious laws into real change?Good morning. Violence against women and girls, in all its myriad forms ? physical and mental, blatant and insidious ? is a global chal...

Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband stole SNP ...
26 Aug 2026 at 2:00pm
To Nicola, Love Peter will focus on couple?s relationship during 12-year period of embezzlement and fallout of caseChannel 5 is reuniting with the producers of Power: the Downfall of Huw Edwards for a drama about how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish Nationa...

?Never seen this level of objection?: Scotland pushes back against datacentre...
25 Aug 2026 at 6:00am
Holyrood ?inching towards moratorium? amid concerns over massive proposed developments in Auchtertool and beyondIn a village 21 miles north of Edinburgh, a real estate consultancy plans to build a datacentre larger than the village itself ? 35 metres high, with an area larger than 100 football pi...

Police Scotland warns ?robust security? needed to stop attacks on AI datacentres
14 Aug 2026 at 5:05pm
?A great deal of public opposition is likely? to a proposed datacentre near Edinburgh, the force saysPolice in Scotland have issued a stark warning about the need for ?robust security measures? to stop proposed AI datacentres from being attacked by protesters.There has been mounting opposition to...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Labour?s lying reply to Believe in Scotland?s petition
16 Sep 2026 at 2:57pm
You’ve probably never heard of Elaine Stewart. She’s my local MP, one of the least distinguished Labour MPs out of the undistinguished bunch of careerists and lobby fodder elected to Westminster in July 2024, supposedly to represent Scottish constituencies. Stewart features amongst the six Labour MPs representing Scottish constituencies who appear in list compiled by …

The positive case for the Union will be along shortly, this time they mean it.
15 Sep 2026 at 2:49pm
The flag waving We’re not nationalists we’re British brigade are seriously rattled by the Celtic Alliance, although of course they’d never admit to it, they’re currently doing their best impression of the Catherine Tate character Lauren, screaming, “Lookit my face am I bovvered?” as they go red white blue and puce in their ostensibly unbovvered …

The Cardiff Agreement marks a new chapter in the path to independence
14 Sep 2026 at 7:06pm
On Monday there was a historic meeting in Cardiff, the first time ever that pro-independence First Ministers from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland met and agreed a common framework for the pursuit of self-determination for their respective nations. The meeting was a sharp rebuke to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, telling him that self-determination can …

Burnham?s expected reverse ferret
10 Sep 2026 at 7:23pm
Andy Burnham has replied to John Swinney after the latter wrote to him asking for a meeting to put the process for triggering a Scottish independence referendum on a legal basis after Burnham replied to a question from SNP MP Chris Law at PMQs on Wednesday asking him about that process detailed in the Good …

The independence cat is out of the bag
10 Sep 2026 at 2:43pm
Speaking to The National this week after Andy Burnham – perhaps inadvertently – set out the conditions for Scotland to hold an independence referendum, polling expert Professor John Curtice acknowledged that if an independence referendum were to be held tomorrow, Scotland would most likely vote Yes. He stated that a vote is going to be …

Burnham?s crack in the constitutional dam
9 Sep 2026 at 3:17pm
In PMQs on Wednesday, Andy Burnham was asked by SNP MP Chris Law about the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and the trigger for an Irish unification referendum, and after Burnham stated that he was aware of every word in the Good Friday Agreement, Law asked: “So he Burnham will therefore know that the Northern Ireland …

BBC Scotland?s educational F grade
8 Sep 2026 at 8:28pm
BBC Scotland’s latest ‘Scotland is shite’ story is to tell us that Scottish educational performance has fallen behind that of England. This finding is based on Pisa rankings. However BBC Scotland, ahem, ‘forgot’ to mention a critical piece of information in its rush to let viewers know how terrible Scottish education is. That information is …

The smokiest of smoking guns
4 Sep 2026 at 4:36pm
If there are smoking guns, Channel 4 and Verbatim’s undercover sting on Reform UK is a slow motion video of the bullet exiting the barrel and hitting its target. If you haven’t seen the report it’s available on catch up or YouTube. It is very, very bad for Farage who was already in deep trouble …

The BBC?s clutching pearls are in aisle three
3 Sep 2026 at 3:43pm
You might have thought that any measure aimed at helping struggling households during a cost of living crisis would be welcome, particularly at a time when there’s an ever widening gap between the richest and the poorest. The Scottish Government has proposed to introduce a price cap on essential basic grocery items in order to …

The branch office?s stagnant talent puddle
2 Sep 2026 at 4:42pm
The Labour party in Scotland has got itself into a hopeless mess on the topic of another independence referendum. Actually, that previous sentence could just have stopped at the word mess. The two contenders for the position of Labour’s Scottish branch manager, Michael Marra and Jackie Baillie’s wee pet Joe Fagan, had an embarrassing car …

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

Scotland's First and biggest Rebuttal Service -Talking-up Scotland

?Cost of housing crunch in England looms for low-income families, warns Resol...
19 Sep 2026 at 3:02pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 In the Guardian today: More than 1.1 million low-income families in rented homes face a ?cost of housing? crunch without action from John Healey in next month?s budget, the Resolution Fo...

?Drinks Spiking Danger? FALLS to just over a quarter of that at the peak four...
19 Sep 2026 at 3:00pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 There is no standalone ?drink-spiking? offence in Scots law. Police record relevant cases mainly as the common-law crime of drugging (feloniously administering a substance with intent to...

How new Scottish Labour leader lied in a rant on the best NHS in the UK but i...
19 Sep 2026 at 2:57pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 I could not sleep waiting for this result. ? Yes, yes but: Indeed but sadly, I do, quite a bit having, sadly again, written about him a few times here. Here’s the latest from February 20...

Scotland performs better than ?European education powerhouses rocked by falli...
19 Sep 2026 at 10:54am
Scotland, second top in Maths, top in Reading and second-top in Science. England? Faked their sample again. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 In the Guardian today: France?s were its worst ever. Germany?s, too. In the Ne...

Why abuse victims calling for help are far less likely to be arrested in Scot...
19 Sep 2026 at 10:53am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From OpenDemocracy, three days ago, the above headline and: Domestic abuse victims in England and Wales are facing arrest when calling the emergency services for help, according to new d...

The problem with BBC Scotland?s lack of research before reporting on ?ageing?...
19 Sep 2026 at 12:50am
The 67 year-old, still in-service MV Tillikum in Washington State USA, 23 years older than CalMac’s oldest The 62 year-old, still in-service MV Queen of New Westminster in Canada 18 years older than CalMac’s oldest Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ?...

Islanders? fury and tourists put off visiting as Channel Islands winter sched...
19 Sep 2026 at 12:17am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From BBC UK today, the above, and: Passengers say they feel like nothing is being done as they face an “extremely frustrating” wait for winter ferry timetables to be published. People in...

?Shameful? ? Labour?s GB Energy to allocate only 6% of £30m community fund to...
19 Sep 2026 at 12:00am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 By stewartb From the Aberdeen-based Energy Voice news website (September 18): ??Shameful?: GB Energy to allocate 6% of £30m community fund to Scotland?. ?The announcement that as little ...

Who exactly are those 37 ?Scottish? Labour MPs really working for ?
18 Sep 2026 at 11:49pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goingCrowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 By Liz S So Sky News reported today that: ?British Steel losing £1.3m a day ? and there is no ?credible? survival plan yet, MPs warn?. In a new report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC...

I hope you see the value in funding Talking-up Scotland today
18 Sep 2026 at 3:39pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON, Sort Code ? 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Very many thanks to the 184 supporters so far, inc bank transfers not listed in crowdfunder. You are very much appreciated. Today’s posts:

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination - A...
14 Sep 2026 at 7:34pm
Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination  Al Jazeera

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push f...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:08pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push from UK  Courthouse News

Scotland Independence: Can Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Legally Leave...
14 Sep 2026 at 5:24am
Scotland Independence: Can Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Legally Leave the UK?  Diplomacy and Law

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to demand UK allow independence referendum ...
13 Sep 2026 at 12:08pm
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to demand UK allow independence referendum  The Jerusalem Post

After leaving the UK, Scotland would be completely on her own - Shetland News
19 Sep 2026 at 1:43pm
After leaving the UK, Scotland would be completely on her own  Shetland News

PM says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off limits' - BBC
10 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
PM says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off limits'  BBC

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Unite in Calls for Independence and EU R...
18 Sep 2026 at 6:35am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Unite in Calls for Independence and EU Return  politicstoday.org

Scotland, Wales, NI target independence - China Daily
15 Sep 2026 at 3:51am
Scotland, Wales, NI target independence  China Daily

Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wa...
13 Sep 2026 at 3:17pm
Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  The Independent

Is the UK heading toward a ?breakup?? - Global Times
16 Sep 2026 at 1:51pm
Is the UK heading toward a ?breakup??  Global Times

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP urge Lib Dems to ?work together? in push to rejoin EU - The National Scot
19 Sep 2026 at 1:44pm
SNP urge Lib Dems to ?work together? in push to rejoin EU  The National Scot

Labour ?softening? UK up for a ?brutal budget?, SNP?s Dave Doogan claims - Th...
19 Sep 2026 at 9:54am
Labour ?softening? UK up for a ?brutal budget?, SNP?s Dave Doogan claims  The National Scot

New DDRop Attack Breaks Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP Confidential Computing - Th...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:00pm
New DDRop Attack Breaks Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP Confidential Computing  The Hacker News

Andy Burnham cannot stop end of United Kingdom, says Sinn Fein - The Telegraph
14 Sep 2026 at 1:11pm
Andy Burnham cannot stop end of United Kingdom, says Sinn Fein  The Telegraph

Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed - BBC
11 Sep 2026 at 12:17pm
Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed  BBC

Read in full: SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin sign joint memorandum of underst...
14 Sep 2026 at 11:52am
Read in full: SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin sign joint memorandum of understanding  The Herald

?Burnham will be the last PM of the UK?: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland...
14 Sep 2026 at 4:54pm
?Burnham will be the last PM of the UK?: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?s leaders sign independence pact  The Independent

SF, SNP, Welsh leaders sign deal pushing for independence - RTE.ie
14 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
SF, SNP, Welsh leaders sign deal pushing for independence  RTE.ie

SNP write-off value of Murrell motorhome in party accounts - BBC
6 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
SNP write-off value of Murrell motorhome in party accounts  BBC

John Swinney hasn?t steadied the SNP ship, so much as becalmed it - The Times
19 Sep 2026 at 4:50pm
John Swinney hasn?t steadied the SNP ship, so much as becalmed it  The Times

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination - A...
14 Sep 2026 at 7:34pm
Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination  Al Jazeera

John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031 - bbc.com
14 Sep 2026 at 3:47pm
John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031  bbc.com

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push f...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:08pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push from UK  Courthouse News

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push - The W...
15 Sep 2026 at 4:39am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push  The Washington Post

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Signed an Independence Pact. Westminster...
15 Sep 2026 at 7:14pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Signed an Independence Pact. Westminster Still Holds Every Legal Card  Modern Diplomacy

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland voice united calls for independence and ...
15 Sep 2026 at 10:18am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland voice united calls for independence and a return to the EU  Eunews

Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wa...
13 Sep 2026 at 3:17pm
Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  Yahoo News New Zealand

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK - ABC Ne...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:33pm
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK  ABC News & Headlines ? Australian Broadcasting Corporation

PM says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off limits' - BBC
10 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
PM says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off limits'  BBC

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Unite in Calls for Independence and EU R...
18 Sep 2026 at 6:35am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Unite in Calls for Independence and EU Return  politicstoday.org