The Herald

The Herald | Politics


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.


Tribunal service at risk of breaching open justice rules in Sandie Peggie hea...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
17 Sep 2026 at 5:14pm
Oxford law professor and campaign group Women Won't Wheesht warn the Dundee hearing into Sandie Peggie's case against the RCN risks shutting out press and legal scrutineers.


Scottish senior doctors to vote on strike action after pay talks 'refused'
by Craig Paton
17 Sep 2026 at 5:10pm
Senior doctors have accused the Scottish Government of having its ?head in the sand? over pay after it refused to engage in talks.


Baillie calls on Swinney to explain why SNP is fighting transparency watchdog
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
17 Sep 2026 at 4:43pm
John Swinney declined to discuss the Court of Session showdown over Salmond inquiry evidence, as Jackie Baillie accused the SNP of seeking the power to decide what the public can and cannot know.


Russia is holding its first parliamentary election since invading Ukraine
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
17 Sep 2026 at 4:39pm
Russia will hold its first parliamentary election since the beginning of the War in Ukraine, with the only anti-war party banned from competing


Standards watchdogs branded 'untenable' as councillors back no-confidence vote
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Sep 2026 at 4:29pm
Elected members from all parties have formally declared their lack of confidence in the Ethical Standards Commissioner and the Standards Commission.


'I will deliver that in this term': Swinney doubles down on indyref2 before 2...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
17 Sep 2026 at 3:41pm
John Swinney has insisted Scotland he will deliver an independence referendum before 2031, as he faced questions over this week's meeting with nationalist leaders in Cardiff.


Highland Council passes no-confidence vote over rapist taxi driver licence row
by Olivia Andrews
17 Sep 2026 at 2:57pm
A vote of no confidence has been passed by Highland Council against the five councillors who voted in favour of a convicted rapist to retain his taxi driver?s licence.


The Salmond files case could change how Freedom of Information works in Scotland
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
17 Sep 2026 at 2:53pm
A student's FOI request has grown into a defining test of whether ministers or an independent regulator holds the final say over government secrecy.


Ex-council leader Cammy Day appointed to prominent ceremonial position
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Sep 2026 at 1:25pm
Councillor Day will serve as one of the council?s five baillies, a public-facing role which includes standing in for the Lord Provost at ?functions and events".


SNP: Labour leadership contenders must answer basic Indy question
by Craig Meighan
17 Sep 2026 at 8:03am
Keith Brown, the party?s deputy leader, challenged Joe Fagan and Michael Marra


Fire site gift shops excluded from FOI response over harm to 'commercial inte...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
17 Sep 2026 at 6:30am
Under Freedom of Information legislation, The Herald had asked for electronic copies of any correspondence between the council, landlord, and tenants.


Scottish Government agreed to alert unions over hybrid working FOI row
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
17 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Transparency concerns have been raised after the Scottish Government agreed to keep unions informed about FOI requests concerning hybrid working.


The FOI rules at the heart of the Scottish Government union row
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
17 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Why the Scottish Government's decision to notify unions about FOI requests has sparked concerns over transparency and precedent.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


SNP to boycott Westminster?! The £100,000 reason why it's never going to happen
17 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
The suggestion that the SNP should adopt a Sinn Fein-like policy of refusing to send their elected representatives to Westminster may not go down well in some quarters


SNP handed stark 'wake-up call' over frittering away £100m ScotWind revenues ...
17 Sep 2026 at 6:00am

Ministers have used more than £100m of ScotWind funds to balance its annual budget and have anticipated using a further £507m of the revenue by 2031

Scotland?s two government should stop squabbling over the future of the North Sea and work in sync to ensure the nation benefits from the renewables revolution.

Four in five women say they are not taken seriously by healthcare professionals - and it is leading to women dying avoidable deaths.

SNP ministers have insisted they do not expect any more AI data centre plans to be approved before national guidance is drawn up by the end of the year.

Twenty Scottish MPs have signed a letter urging the SNP administration to give officers the power to shut businesses selling illicit tobacco - like their counterparts down south can.

Steven Bonnar said the Nationalists should think about copying Sinn Fein abstentionist policy - if the UK government continues to block an independence referendum

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

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.

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".

Tributes to former Labour MSP Cathie Craigie who died after short illness
12 Sep 2026 at 2:56pm
The Scottish Labour MSP represented Cumbernauld and Kilsyth between 1999 and 2011.

Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed
11 Sep 2026 at 12:17pm
The court action will determine how much he will repay of the £400,000 he embezzled from the party.

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

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

Donald Trump to save Scottish independence thoughts for ?another day?
13 Sep 2026 at 4:24pm
On Saturday, Trump said he 'would love to see' Ireland unified, adding 'it?s going to happen eventually.'

Devolved First Ministers to sign independence declaration
13 Sep 2026 at 1:32pm
SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O?Neill will meet in Cardiff on Monday

Andy Burnham ?knows he would lose? second independence vote, says Jenny Gilruth
11 Sep 2026 at 3:11pm
Scottish deputy first minister Jenny Gilruth said the Prime Minister was ?scared? to agree a mechanism for a second independence vote.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

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.

MSPs reject pause on building massive data centres across Scotland
16 Sep 2026 at 6:24pm
The Greens accused the SNP of taking the "bare minimum" of action to regulate a surge in planning applications for controversial data centres.

Young Scots wearing balaclavas while driving e-bikes are 'terrifying' communi...
16 Sep 2026 at 12:32pm
An SNP MSP warned young men were roaming Scots communities "dressed in black, wearing face coverings, terrifying people".

Nicola Sturgeon wants to abolish the monarchy ? because of Prince George
16 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
Nicola Sturgeon has shared her thoughts on the future of the monarchy in a new Channel 4 documentary, raising a striking argument over Prince George's future

Alex Salmond legal action against SNP Government postponed as both sides prep...
16 Sep 2026 at 10:07am
Millionaire businessman Paul McManus is funding the action after the ex-SNP leader's widow Moira agreed to transfer the legal rights of the case.

SNP reduced to 'gimmicks' to sell independence to voters as Cardiff summit br...
16 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Professor James Mitchell rubbished John Swinney's prediction that Andy Burnham would be the last Prime Minister of the UK - and said the case for independence had not been moved forward ...

Domestic abuse victims warn more women could be killed by men unless SNP Gove...
15 Sep 2026 at 5:14pm
Helen Simpson, whose daughter Demi Hannaway died in 2021, said: "Perpetrators need to understand - no more. You're not getting away with it."

The National

The National | Politics

King Charles condemned over ?secretive? Scotland summit with AI executives
17 Sep 2026 at 7:46pm

A SUMMIT organised by King Charles in Scotland with the world?s biggest AI companies in attendance has been condemned as a ?secretive? meeting that excluded local communities ...

Has this Scottish Labour leadership race been the least inspiring of all time?
17 Sep 2026 at 6:32pm

The Scottish Labour leadership race is coming to an end, with today the last day for members to cast their votes ...

Inside the room as Larbert community confronted AI data centre developers
17 Sep 2026 at 5:20pm

WHILE MSPs voted on a moratorium on data centres in the Scottish Parliament, a heated debate was held between the developers behind the plans for a ?hyperscale? AI data centre and a united local community in Falkirk ...

Orange Order Unionist 'summit' flops as photos show tiny turnout
17 Sep 2026 at 5:19pm

A Unionist summit organised by the Orange Order has flopped after just a handful of people turned up

Ross Greer hits out at 'confusion' after Holyrood vote on AI data centre mora...
17 Sep 2026 at 4:27pm

ROSS Greer has hit out at what he called ?confusion? over the Scottish Government?s position on a moratorium for hyperscale data centres after yesterday?s Holyrood vote ...

New Glasgow council leader tears into Thomas Kerr's 'nonsense' Govanhill comm...
17 Sep 2026 at 3:51pm

The new leader of Glasgow Council has hit out at Thomas Kerr?s comments about Govanhill ...

Scotland receives 'pocket change' from new GB Energy fund in 'shameful token ...
17 Sep 2026 at 1:24pm

Scotland will only receive 'pocket change' from a new GB Energy fund to help communities across the country set up their own green energy supplies

Compulsory redundancies may be needed, Scottish Government warned
17 Sep 2026 at 1:22pm

The Scottish Government may need to consider compulsory redundancies if it is to meet its target of reducing the public sector workforce, an economist has warned

Irish president Catherine Connolly addresses Scottish independence
17 Sep 2026 at 1:06pm

The Irish president has revealed that she spoke with First Minister John Swinney about the 'importance of self-determination' during their meeting in Edinburgh

Ireland will not participate in Eurovision in 2027, RTE announces
17 Sep 2026 at 12:35pm

IRELAND will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria, broadcaster RTE has confirmed.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

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

ScotlandIS appoints Professor Gordon Morison as new chair ?
14 Sep 2026 at 1:28pm
Morison?takes on the role after four years as a member of the ScotlandIS board.?

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

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...

Polls open in Clacton, where Farage spent more than £10,000 in byelection aga...
13 Aug 2026 at 3:54pm
The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelectionThe number of patients in England being cared for in hospital corridors or makeshift areas has remained above 3,000 a day for the second month in a row, as the NHS experiences a ?summer surge?, the Pre...

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

US citizens able to claim $150 000 for illness due to nuclear, points to unfa...
17 Sep 2026 at 1:34pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 From TCD Tech yesterday, the above and: Federal legislation under consideration would offer financial help to Coloradans who say old nuclear contamination caused lasting health impacts....

When the QEUH opened to receive child cancer cases in April 2015, six Labour ...
17 Sep 2026 at 1:08pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 In the Herald yesterday: Scots ?did not get the hospital the country paid for? with the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), the Health Secretary has said. The flagship Glasgow f...

Life-extending drug for ?incurable cancer? now on NHS in England, three years...
17 Sep 2026 at 10:03am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 From BBC UK this morning, the above, and: Patients in England with a specific type of incurable breast cancer can now access a life-extending drug on the NHS, two years after it was dee...

14 more of ?the smallest and sickest babies? who make it in Scotland would no...
17 Sep 2026 at 9:46am
are being put at risk by delaye in the reorganisation of neonatal care. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 BBC Scotland‘s insert in BBC Breakfast today includes this evidence from Dr Stephen Wardle, president of the Brit...

Drawing a Line in the Constitutional Sand ? Should SNP MPs withdraw from West...
17 Sep 2026 at 9:02am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 By Mark E. Saunders of ?The Scottish Minuteman? https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=61575625542197 ?It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but ...

Large and hyperscale datacentres are not even required
17 Sep 2026 at 9:00am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 From one of our many Anonymouses yesterday this comment relevant to the current debate on large data centres in Scotland. it is, of course, beyond my competence. Large and hyperscale da...

Consent for large AI data centres ? BBC Scotland deliberately conceals the ri...
16 Sep 2026 at 7:11pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 Earlier today, the Scottish Government published the above statement after the Holyrood debate on large data centres. At around 18:00, BBC Scotland, the taxpayer-funded, public service ...

English single malt whisky fails the test
16 Sep 2026 at 8:28am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 By Liz S The Herald posted the above yesterday, mainly I suspect , because the video they attached to their post was of a UK politician , Wendy Chamberlain, highlighting this in the HOC...

As Police Scotland confiscate more of this ?preferred transport for [English...
16 Sep 2026 at 8:14am
e-bikes and e-scooters were taken off Scotland’s streets in 2025. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder 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 The Daily Record, four days ago, put its finger on the underlying factor in the above surge of e-bike police confisca...

Near-Shore Underwater Data Centres with Waste Heat Recovery ? A Distinctly Sc...
16 Sep 2026 at 7:54am
I sense danger here for the Scottish Government, the SNP and the wider movement as the media operating in Scotland increasingly focus on the debate over large data centres and see opportunities to divide it within itself. A growing grass roots opposition and Scottish Greens campaigning for a ‘pause’ is get increasing attention and putting the SNP Government on the back foot. Help Talking-up Sco...

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

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

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  courthousenews.com

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push - washi...
15 Sep 2026 at 4:39am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push  washingtonpost.com

United Kingdom?s unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Norther...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:01pm
United Kingdom?s unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland  AP News

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

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

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

Irish president Catherine Connolly addresses Scottish independence - The Nati...
17 Sep 2026 at 1:22pm
Irish president Catherine Connolly addresses Scottish independence  The National Scot

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

The SNP says the EU's Canada proposal proves an independent Scotland could re...
16 Sep 2026 at 4:02pm
The SNP says the EU's Canada proposal proves an independent Scotland could rejoin Europe. Here's the case they're making (with video)  Plataforma Media

SNP: Labour leadership contenders must answer basic Indy question - The Herald
17 Sep 2026 at 8:59am
SNP: Labour leadership contenders must answer basic Indy question  The Herald

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

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?s leaders join forces for independence p...
14 Sep 2026 at 12:31pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?s leaders join forces for independence push  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

?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

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

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

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
14 Sep 2026 at 3:47pm
John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031  BBC

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  courthousenews.com

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push - washi...
15 Sep 2026 at 4:39am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push  washingtonpost.com

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  nz.news.yahoo.com

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

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

Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish parties to hold independence summit - Le Mond...
14 Sep 2026 at 12:25am
Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish parties to hold independence summit  Le Monde.fr

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

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