The Herald

The Herald | Politics


If men had periods, Scotland?s ?shocking? GP training figures might look diff...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
3 Sep 2026 at 6:00pm
Just 51 Scottish GPs have completed national menstrual health training. Gloria Steinem?s famous question about periods still feels painfully relevant, writes Hannah Brown.


The 'shocking' number of Scottish GPs who completed this women's health course
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
3 Sep 2026 at 6:00pm
Only 1% of Scotland?s GPs have recorded completing a national NHS menstrual health course covering endometriosis - 51 of 4,688 qualified doctors.


'We won?t stop': Protesters demand halt to Scotland?s AI data centre plans
by Danyel VanReenen
3 Sep 2026 at 5:12pm
Campaigners and community members from across Scotland have said they ?won?t stop? until the Scottish Government announces a moratorium on AI data centre development.


Scottish ministers knew UK military lacked wildfire helicopters, Gray admits
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
3 Sep 2026 at 4:55pm
Scottish ministers knew the UK military had no aerial firefighting ability when they requested assistance to battle the Cairngorms wildfire, the Justice Secretary has said.


Scots hospitality warning: 'We have one opportunity to get this right'
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
3 Sep 2026 at 4:28pm
Hospitality chiefs underline importance of business rates reform as new chair appointed to review


SNP bail law changes had ?fatal consequences for women?, Swinney told
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
3 Sep 2026 at 4:12pm
John Swinney faces pressure over SNP bail reforms after opposition leaders linked changes to domestic abuse protections with a series of high-profile killings.


Senior Catholic bishop makes rare political intervention on abortion reform
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
3 Sep 2026 at 4:06pm
One of the leaders of the Catholic Church in Scotland has made a rare political intervention, calling on the Scottish Government to reject liberalisation of abortion laws


Gloria Steinem, journalist and women?s rights campaigner, dies aged 92
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
3 Sep 2026 at 11:50am
American journalist and feminist activist Gloria Steinem has died ?peacefully? aged 92.


Renewable energy giant underlines commitment to Scotland
by mark.williamson@newsquest.co.uk | Mark Williamson
3 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
European investors signal confidence in Scottish offshore wind market in spite of setbacks


Jailed ex-Reform leader told to sell property to repay Russian bribes
by Emily Pennink
3 Sep 2026 at 11:11am
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been ordered to pay more than £22,500 after accepting bribes to make pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament.


MSPs urged to hold an inquiry on impact of VAT on private school fees
by Kathleen Nutt
3 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
MSPs are being urged to hold an inquiry about the impact of VAT on private school fees.


Glasgow addiction services 11 per cent below planned staffing despite £23m spend
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
3 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Glasgow addiction services ended the last financial year almost 11 per cent below budgeted staffing, as spending topped £23m and questions remained over vacancies.


Social care must not be swallowed up by NHS under reform plans, John Swinney ...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
3 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
John Swinney has been warned on the future of social care as he considers widescale reforms of the NHS and wider health service.


Scots housebuilder hails 'massive development' amid 'dwindling supply' warning
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
3 Sep 2026 at 4:32am
Barratt boss reveals progress on 'one of the most significant new communities in Scotland'

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


John Swinney under pressure over SNP bail changes as 'scumbags freed to kill'
3 Sep 2026 at 7:35pm

The First Minister has come under pressure after the deaths of women killed by ex partners who were out on bail.

John Swinney has been warned to may need to provide cash ?upfront? to merge Scotland?s environmental bodies - despite ethe strategy intended to make savings.

Civil servants have expressed dismay that their colleague has been allowed to dress in such an ?unprofessional? manner

The former Scottish Labour leader will now be known as Baron Sarwar of Maxwell Park in the City of Glasgow.

Another manager has left Historic Environment Scotland as questions remain over what the government plans to do about the future of the heritage quango

The flagship court has a key part of the Scottish government?s landmark justice reforms agreed by MSPs last year

Shirley Anne Somerville was quizzed on the government?s plans to recover £36 million in benefits debt after parting ways with the DWP

The Scottish Government is due to give MSPs an update on the wildfires that happened over the summer.

The Scottish government has been warned regional government models can be achieved without a radical overhaul of local councils.

The Accounts Commission has warned Glasgow City Council has reached a ?challenging point? over its finances, homelessness and other pressures.

Wings over Scotland

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 …

You?ll Have Had Your Supper
24 Aug 2026 at 6:22pm
Great news, everyone – Scottish Labour has finally worked out how to talk to the people of Scotland. This video featuring the party’s MP Melanie Ward just appeared on the Scotland Office’s LinkedIn page, and it explains the complexities of the interlinked Scottish and UK economies in terms that the UK government hopes all of …

Before Action
20 Aug 2026 at 8:20pm
Our solicitors have today sent the letter below to Police Scotland. (Click pics to enlarge.) It’s worth remembering what this is about. – Peter Murrell was recently sentenced to over five years in prison for misappropriating approximately £400,000 from the SNP, which is the crime of embezzlement. – John Swinney recently admitted that the SNP …

The Land Of Do-As-You-Please
17 Aug 2026 at 12:15pm
The contempt for the Scottish public being openly shown by public servants paid from the public purse to answer to the public has at this point reached such endemic levels that we’re not sure an acceptable level of trust can ever be salvaged. The reply above is not just evasive, not even just pathetic, it’s …

Believers In The Ruins
13 Aug 2026 at 2:01pm
Not done with celebrating defeat in an imaginary UDI yesterday, The National has gone with another big polling-based front cover today, and the party’s woke young stormtrooper drones are beside themselves with malignant glee. Let’s just see what they’re cheering about. Oh. That 29% figure is actually one point DOWN on the SNP’s support in …

Craig Murray

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

The Hard Right Packing of the UK Supreme Court
2 Aug 2026 at 7:00pm

Unlike the USA, where it is obsessively watched, the UK has no political culture of scrutinising the political composition of its Supreme Court. This is a big mistake. The UK Supreme Court has been deliberately and openly, even ostentatiously, packed with hard-right judges selected on the specific criterion that they will not oppose the will …

The Hard Right Packing of the UK Supreme Court

BBC Scotland

Reform UK's Richard Tice calls for more North Sea drilling
3 Sep 2026 at 11:24pm
Tice spoke to BBC Scotland News ahead of Reform UK's conference in Birmingham this week.

Helicopters to be put on standby when wildfire risk is high
3 Sep 2026 at 7:49pm
The justice secretary says aerial water bombing was a key part of the effort to extinguish a large fire in the Cairngorms.

Call to ease 'burden' of housing refugees on Glasgow City Council
3 Sep 2026 at 3:55pm
The frontrunner to be the next leader of Glasgow City Council said it needed more help to tackle the issue.

Glasgow City Council at 'critical' point over £110m budget gap
3 Sep 2026 at 6:08am
The Accounts Commission warns "robust oversight" is needed to tackle a £110m budget gap spanning the next two financial years.

Electric bus operator concerned about 'slogan' £2 fare cap
3 Sep 2026 at 11:03am
Ember, which operates between cities across Scotland, says it supports cheaper travel but is worried about how the scheme will work.

MG Alba boss says Gaelic media services lack funding
3 Sep 2026 at 12:37pm
John Morrison says Irish and Welsh services receive millions of pounds of public money.

Family of murdered Stacy Hunter say new misogyny bill would not have protecte...
2 Sep 2026 at 1:23pm
First Minister John Swinney said he wanted to use his role to tackle violence against women.

No compulsory redundancies from health board cuts - Swinney
2 Sep 2026 at 11:26am
The first minister has promised to work with trade unions as he embarks on reforming the public sector.

Alyn Smith appointed as Scotland's innovation minister
2 Sep 2026 at 2:23pm
The former MP and MEP has been made minister for innovation, technology and tertiary education following the resignation of Ben Macpherson.

Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
1 Sep 2026 at 9:23pm
First Minister John Swinney announced the move in his programme for government, alongside plans to cut health boards from 14 to two.

Swinney to cut number of health boards from 14 to two
1 Sep 2026 at 4:52pm
Existing boards could be merged so there would be one for the west and another for the east of Scotland.

Swinney 'concerned' over Flynn missing by-election for World Cup
1 Sep 2026 at 3:55pm
Flynn formally asked to attend the tournament in the US less than three weeks after he was elected as an MSP.

Scot Goes Pop

"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...

Another Scottish polling disaster for Burnham: a majority of voters want Scot...
27 Aug 2026 at 10:24pm
Someone asked on the previous comments thread whether it was true that a new Survation poll showed that Andy Burnham is the most popular politician among Scottish voters.  Yes, it is true (albeit w...

The BBC will ALWAYS be fearlessly neutral and even-handed and ask all the imp...
24 Aug 2026 at 10:06pm
*  *  *I'm still urgently trying to make progress towards my blogging and YouTube videos becoming financially sustainable.  If you'd like to help me continue to create content by becoming a support...

Warning - Danger - MASSIVE BLACK HOLE APPROACHING and Stew wants to chuck YOU...
22 Aug 2026 at 10:04pm
Probably because I grew up during the period in which the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six were released, I've always been deeply troubled by the persistent recurrence of severe miscarriages o...

Concerns mount that the "Scottish Daily Express" may be written by clueless H...
22 Aug 2026 at 12:21pm
If it wasn't so outrageous, the latest anti-Gaelic rant from the Scottish Daily Express would be hysterically funny.  The paper reports that "one Holyrood source" (translation: an unspecified Tory ...

Douglas Alexander tacitly admits the choice for Labour is: a) change course o...
21 Aug 2026 at 12:26pm
My seven-day conventional text-blogging blitz to help promote my Ko-Fi fundraising page is now over, and it certainly wasn't a waste of time because it led to several new sign-ups as recurring mont...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

First Minister announces new childcare reforms aimed at getting parents back ...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:07pm
The government will provide a £15m cash boost for flexible childcare provision, as well as a £44m breakfast club investment

John Swinney to face FMQs as Programme for Government unveiled
3 Sep 2026 at 2:01pm
The First Minister will likely face questions on plans to cut Scotland's health boards to just two

Former Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar takes Lords seat
3 Sep 2026 at 2:01pm
The 43-year-old quit his role in Holyrood to take up a post as UK trade minister

Zack Polanski says he will stand in by-election to replace Keir Starmer
3 Sep 2026 at 10:01am
The Green Party leader has announced his intention to stand as a candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election

Prisoners left with human excrement smeared on cell walls for three days, MSP...
2 Sep 2026 at 4:05pm
The chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service said not cleaning 'dirty protests' for three days complied with the law

Swinney appoints ?experienced? Smith as Scottish Government minister
2 Sep 2026 at 3:52pm
Alyn Smith is to be the minister for innovation, technology and tertiary education, replacing Ben Macpherson who quit last week

Sexual offences court will be difficult to deliver but is necessary ? minister
2 Sep 2026 at 2:27pm
Justice secretary Neil Gray said work on the court will not begin until the next financial year

Serious spending questions raised at Andy Burnham?s first PMQs
2 Sep 2026 at 1:07pm
Now that summer recess is over, the Prime Minister faced scrutiny from his political opponents

Drafting Scottish budget will be extremely challenging, admits Gilruth
2 Sep 2026 at 12:02pm
The deputy first minister spoke about the tight fiscal siatuation faced by the Scottish Government

Swinney says ?no question? of compulsory job losses as he cuts NHS boards
2 Sep 2026 at 10:24am
The First Minister made the commitment after revealing plans to cut the number of area health boards in Scotland from 14 to two

John Swinney pledges ?radical reshaping? of Scotland?s public services
1 Sep 2026 at 5:15pm
The First Minister announced his Programme for Government as MSPs returned to Holyrood after the summer recess

Long-term government borrowing costs leap to 28-year high ahead of Budget
1 Sep 2026 at 4:49pm
It came amid a widespread global bond sell-off amid concerns over ratcheting oil prices and wider uncertainty over inflation

£2 bus fare cap to be extended to Glasgow and west of Scotland, Swinney confirms
1 Sep 2026 at 4:30pm
Passengers in Glasgow and the west will see cheaper bus fares from Monday

Ed Miliband pledges to introduce ?reset? of UK policy on Israel ?in coming we...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:39pm
The foreign secretary said the UK Government is looking at how to stop UK companies 'financing, constructing or advertising new settlements' in the West Bank

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

John Swinney blames Westminster for Glasgow homelessness crisis that threaten...
3 Sep 2026 at 1:10pm
A damning report from the Accounts Commission warned a homelessness crisis in the city and equal pay costs are piling pressure on the already struggling City Council.

Civil servant 'dressed as cat' as SNP Government issues reminder on 'appropri...
3 Sep 2026 at 12:00pm
The unnamed male staff member was said to have attended a training session at Victoria Quay wearing the eyebrow-raising attire.

Call to review Holyrood's liberal homelessness laws to tackle Glasgow refugee...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Labour leader hopeful Joe Fagan said rethinking the abolition of "priority need" should be carried out in a "rational" way".

Six issues Glasgow City Council must get a grip on or risk financial meltdown
3 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
A damning report by the independent Audit Commission has painted a grim picture of the finances and performance of Scotland's largest council. But what are the biggest issues currently facing Glasgow?

Glasgow in critical £110m black hole fuelled by refugee homelessness crisis
3 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Total costs for helping people without a home stood at £38m in 2025/26, but estimates suggest this will balloon to £56m this year and then to £75m.

Glasgow must be helped to prosper after £110m black hole bombshell
3 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Record View says Glasgow faces severe problems on several fronts.

'Glaswegians are being gaslit by politicians - John Swinney cannot be allowed...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
The answer to some of Glasgow's mounting problems lies in granting the city more powers - and not handing even more control to Edinburgh, says Chris McCall.

Nicola Sturgeon among 600 women and groups to demand action to combat the far...
2 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm
The open letter also urges "effective and accountable? policing of the far-right.

John Swinney plan to cap Glasgow bus fares is 'voluntary' with operators unde...
2 Sep 2026 at 3:04pm
The SNP has been urged to "come clean" over how many bus firms have agreed to a £2 fare cap that John Swinney claims will start next week.

Scottish Labour MP says indyref3 ban should be condition of second referendum
2 Sep 2026 at 10:54am
Brian Leishman said his party should engage with the process of setting out a route for another vote on independence.

The National

The National | Politics

Pressure on John Swinney as SNP MSP says data centre moratorium ?needs consid...
3 Sep 2026 at 8:02pm

PRESSURE is building on the Scottish Government to back a moratorium on hyperscale data centres after an SNP MSP said it should be given ?serious consideration? ...

Will Scottish Labour sit on their thumbs, or will a new party emerge?
3 Sep 2026 at 7:00pm

REGARDING your article ?Labour hopefuls mocked after floundering over indyref2 route?, about the interview by Bernard Ponsonby on the Go Live radio show ? is it not time for an opening of ?Scottish? Labour?s eyes, ears and minds to their position on independence?

Reform MSP breaches Holyrood rules by walking out of child poverty debate
3 Sep 2026 at 5:28pm

A REFORM MSP has been rapped by the presiding officer after breaking Holyrood rules and walking out of a debate on child poverty.

Which Glasgow bus firms have signed up to new £2 fare cap and which buses?
3 Sep 2026 at 5:24pm

The First Minister announced this week that bus fares across the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) area will be capped at £2 for single journeys from Monday ...

Anas Sarwar chooses ermine over accountability for Scottish Labour's failure
3 Sep 2026 at 5:12pm

ANAS Sarwar could barely hide his delight as he was initiated into the heart of the Westminster establishment this morning.

Protesters urge Scottish Government to fully implement Israel boycott
3 Sep 2026 at 4:11pm

PRO-PALESTINE campaigners have urged the Scottish Government to fully implement the Israel boycott.

How is Scotland expected to fix a problem which Westminster controls?
3 Sep 2026 at 3:40pm

THERE is something almost perfectly British about Scotland being told to solve a problem it is not allowed to control ...

John Swinney declines opportunity to commit to AI data centre pause in Scotland
3 Sep 2026 at 3:02pm

JOHN Swinney refused to commit to a moratorium on AI data centres after pressure from the Scottish Greens.

Surely Labour MP doesn't think the SNP have a right to silence voters?
3 Sep 2026 at 3:00pm

I SEE Labour MP Brian Leishman is saying his party should support calls for a second independence referendum on the condition that the SNP agree to defer any call for a further referendum for a quarter of a century in the event of a vote against independence.

Malcolm Offord panned for 'disinformation' after repeating debunked claims at...
3 Sep 2026 at 2:44pm

JOHN Swinney has panned Reform UK?s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord for spreading ?disinformation? after he used his first question of the new Holyrood session to repeat claims which had already been called ?entirely false? ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Government choices on violence against women ?have been fatal?, John Swinney ...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:13pm
The FM said his government was committed to tackling the issue

AI use is on the up by MPs ? whether they admit it or not, study finds
3 Sep 2026 at 11:36am
Scottish research reveals increase

Glasgow City Council hits ?critical? moment, watchdog warns
3 Sep 2026 at 8:18am
New pay structure vital as homelessness bill rises, report finds

New direction of travel
3 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
VisitScotland is playing a pivotal role in refocusing the tourism and events sector, highlighting its importance to the country?s wider economic strategy

?No reliable picture? of group-based child abuse in Scotland, review finds
3 Sep 2026 at 1:01am
Mairi McAllan says government will 'work urgently' on change

Alyn Smith named as innovation minister
2 Sep 2026 at 3:48pm
The MSP succeeds Ben Macpherson, who resigned last week

A healthy approach
2 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
A dedicated joint strategy to tackle heart and circulatory conditions, kidney disease and diabetes ? a group of illnesses which share common risk factors ? could cut avoidable deaths and reduce health inequalities, says BHF Scotland

Keir Starmer to stand down as an MP
1 Sep 2026 at 2:48pm
The former PM, who was replaced by Andy Burnham in the summer, said he wanted to focus on international relations and tackling violence against women and girls

National guidance cautions Scottish public sector on AI use
1 Sep 2026 at 2:05pm
Publication follows launch of five-year strategy

John Swinney to cut health boards in major realignment of NHS
1 Sep 2026 at 1:18pm
The first minister said it was part of a ?radical reshaping of public services"

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

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...

UK politics: Burnham urges retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues aft...
12 Aug 2026 at 7:10pm
PM warns extreme heat conditions ?could be with us fo some time yet?Just 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the part of government tasked with protecting the environment and maintaining food security, a freedom of information ...

Amnesty International says Farage putting ?hate and inhumanity? over leadersh...
10 Aug 2026 at 5:03pm
A spokesperson for the human rights group likened the proposal to ?financial brutality with British taxpayers? money?Farage and Yusuf are now taking questions.Q: From Jack Fenwick from the BBC Are there other countries where you might send foreign offenders? And how much would this cost?We have...

Nicola Sturgeon ?has not spoken to? estranged husband, Peter Murrell, since h...
8 Aug 2026 at 3:50pm
Scotland?s former first minister says she will not visit Murrell in prison, where he is serving five-year sentence for embezzling SNP fundsNicola Surgeon has said she will not visit her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, in prison, has stopped speaking to him and views herself as a ?mug? for worry...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

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 …

Keir today, gone tomorrow
1 Sep 2026 at 4:08pm
With intentionally spiteful timing, failed prime minister Keir Starmer announced that he’s stepping down as an MP just as his successor was due to address Parliament for the first time. With this move, Starmer has proven that it was all about his ego, careerism, self-aggrandisement, and ambition all along. He’s telling us he has no …

The Record?s proposed trigger for Indyref2 benefits Labour not Scotland
31 Aug 2026 at 8:06pm
The first crack has appeared in the “We’re not nationalists we’re British” dam against the rising tide of support for independence and the generational shift that puts opposition to independence in Scotland on borrowed time. The current Westminster tactic of refusing to countenance another independence referendum, maintaining that the UK is a voluntary union while …

Pros and cons of a defacto indyref, and the SNP conference
30 Aug 2026 at 4:09pm
As ever, when I take a few days off from the blog, there’s a lot to catch up on. There was the Survation poll on independence published on Thursday which reported a 52% result for Yes (with don’t knows removed). It’s worth pointing out that Survation is one of those polling companies which uses weighting …

Meet the new boss, you know the rest
27 Aug 2026 at 5:04pm
As sure as night follows day or the Labour branch office in Scotland is unwilling to learn from its repeated electoral kickings, the Labour party at Westminster is equally unwilling to change, retreating to its comfort zone of corporate centre right politics just as soon as it had defenestrated Keir Starmer for being massively unpopular …

Wind turbines and threats to national security
25 Aug 2026 at 1:12pm
Scotland’s enormous potential for renewable energy could turn the country into a literal European powerhouse and generate immense revenues for an independent Scotland as well as giving Scotland some of the cheapest electricity in Europe, which in turn could generate huge inward investment as companies seek to build factories in Scotland, taking advantage of low …

Graham Grant?s glaikit attack on the Scots language
20 Aug 2026 at 1:48pm
You have probably never heard of Graham Grant, which is a great blessing. Grant is the home affairs editor of the Scottish Daily Mail, a far right rag which devotes itself to stories about celebs and royalty and informing its elderly readership of Tory and Reform UK supporters of all the many and myriad ways …

The BBC?s Glasgow hit piece says more about the BBC than Glasgow
19 Aug 2026 at 6:20pm
I’ve already briefly mentioned BBC Scotland’s disgraceful hit job on Glasgow which was broadcast earlier this week, but it’s worth exploring the issues around the programme in more detail, as the programme and its broadcast tell us far more about the priorities and concerns of the BBC in Scotland than they do about the state …

The BBC, the Reform UK Broadcasting corporation
17 Aug 2026 at 4:04pm
Although in recent weeks the Reform UK bandwagon looks as though it has hit a roadblock in the form of scandals about the party’s addiction to dodgy donations, the media in the UK continues to do its utmost to treat Farage’s party as the government in waiting. Reform has a mere eight MPs, it is …

The Courier

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Scottish Politics News From Holyrood and Westminster | The Courier

Could Rosyth-Europe ferry set sail thanks to Brexit reset?
27 May 2025 at 6:01am
Hopes have been raised for a simple solution to a cross-border problem.

Kirkcaldy MP demands pro-suicide forum is torn down
26 May 2025 at 6:01am
Around 100 suicides have been linked to the sickening forum which provides guidance to people on ending their life.

UHI Perth aviation students warn of ?unsettling times? after training firm?s ...
26 May 2025 at 6:00am
Worried Samuel Hughes, 19, is among students sharing their fears at a time of crisis for Perth College.

Fresh Dundee University strike begins over compulsory Levehulme Centre job cuts
26 May 2025 at 6:00am
University staff are taking five days of industrial action as the institution pushes ahead with plans to axe the forensic research hub.

NHS Fife nurse at centre of controversial trans tribunal suing her own trade ...
25 May 2025 at 2:32pm
A&E medic Sandie Peggie is now taking legal action against the Royal College of Nursing.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University still to strike rescue deal with government
23 May 2025 at 5:46pm
Opposition MSPs have expressed concern at the time taken to agree a deal almost a month after the fresh recovery plan was unveiled.

6 senior figures who left Dundee University during financial crisis
23 May 2025 at 5:10pm
Several university chiefs have moved on since £30m financial black hole emerged.

Dundee University activist artist leads degree show protest over financial cr...
23 May 2025 at 4:45pm
Duncan of Jordanstone student Finn Millar says he wants to play a part in "keeping the university alive".

John Swinney admits constituents have expressed Perth leisure concerns to him
23 May 2025 at 6:01am
The first minister wants further talks between both sides of Perth leisure debate.

EXCLUSIVE: Dundee University chief operating officer Jim McGeorge quits
22 May 2025 at 1:58pm
Dr Jim McGeorge ? who was responsible for good governance - had been on a period of extended leave.

Talking up Scotland

Talking-up Scotland

Millions of litres of raw sewage in 50 toxic waste ponds and tanks, some huge...
3 Sep 2026 at 7:45pm
The view above of five large open-topped raw sewage tanks, from the viewpoint in the red arrow below. To the left, the viewer sees a large building with the moss green flat roof – labs, testing. A wee wall attempts to protect it from sewage bioaerosols containing more bacteria and fungi which travel around 100m, than anyone could list here. To the left again, at the bottom of the image, the mai...

Scotland?s health board restructuring is not unusual and wee local groups can...
3 Sep 2026 at 5:15pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Lesley Riddoch in the National yesterday, with the above and: Leaving aside her invitation to ‘islanders’ to make me ‘walk the ferry gang plank’ after I questioned their awareness of j...

With TWELVE times as many temporary school exclusions and ONE THOUSAND times ...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:13pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Guardian today: The proportion of secondary school students in England removed from class and placed in ?internal exclusion? as a disciplinary measure has almost trebled in thre...

Oil, Renewables and Data Centres
3 Sep 2026 at 4:10pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 There is something very revealing about the way Scotland?s resources are discuss...

Brass Neck ? BBC Scotland returns to the scene of their criminal lies about N...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:07pm
that will no longer exist under these new Government structural reforms but they do have to do something pretty transformational with the NHS because there have long been warnings that it is financially unsustainable. BBC Scotland‘s Health Correspondent Lisa Summers, above, makes a return to NHS Tayside, the exact same spot, 7 years after she decided, all on her own, that it was ‘dysfunctional....

Embrace ?Manchesterism?? What, for more homelessness, crime, corridor care an...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:03pm
Says who? Prof Sir AntonMuscatelli and Iain Anderson (Jethro Tull?). Have they read anything about Manchester recently? Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Wot, like this? Full text at:https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s...

With the greatest respect Mrs/Dr (?) corridor care is far less common in your...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:01pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Am I going to slag an A&E consultant? At my age? In my condition? In the same NHS area where she works? No F Way, pal! I’ve heard she’s very capable and might even be a ‘top’ one. Who ...

Minimum wage shame list reveals Scottish firms significantly more likely to p...
3 Sep 2026 at 9:53am
Top story at BBC Scotland Business and front page on the BBC Scotland News site but barely mentioned across other BBC sites, ‘Minimum wage shame list reveals Scottish firms that failed to pay staff.’ Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Acc...

Another crime surge into Scotland from England that must be fogged
3 Sep 2026 at 9:05am
and is a problem across the UK. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Reporting Scotland last night investigating the sale of illegal tobacco, let slip their awareness that this is linked to organised crime and is a ph...

Child grooming gangs like those in Rochdale and Rotherham in Scotland ? somet...
3 Sep 2026 at 8:42am
the extent of child abuse carried out by grooming gangs in Scotland, according to a review. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 For some reason, but not unusually for Reporting Scotland, this story is not reported more f...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - BBC
28 Aug 2026 at 5:10pm
FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published  BBC

A Voluntary Union? The Scottish Independence Movement at a Legal Impasse - mi...
20 Aug 2026 at 2:44pm
A Voluntary Union? The Scottish Independence Movement at a Legal Impasse  mironline.ca

Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore - Scottish G...
28 Aug 2026 at 11:51am
Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore  Scottish Greens

Will the SNP's plans for government help or hinder the Scottish independence ...
1 Sep 2026 at 7:55pm
Will the SNP's plans for government help or hinder the Scottish independence cause?  The National Scot

The SNP?s reformist agenda proves independence has been put to bed - The Times
2 Sep 2026 at 4:19pm
The SNP?s reformist agenda proves independence has been put to bed  The Times

'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendu...
28 Aug 2026 at 10:33am
'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendum bill  The Scotsman

Draft Independence Referendum Bill published - Wired-Gov
28 Aug 2026 at 12:40pm
Draft Independence Referendum Bill published  Wired-Gov

UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits - Al Jazeera
23 Jul 2026 at 8:00am
UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits  Al Jazeera

Leishman calls for a Labour route to independence referendum - Morning Star |...
2 Sep 2026 at 5:12pm
Leishman calls for a Labour route to independence referendum  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Glasgow at breaking point as migrants ?exploit SNP?s housing policy? - The Te...
3 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
Glasgow at breaking point as migrants ?exploit SNP?s housing policy?  The Telegraph

SNP ministers ?knew UK military did not have support asked for during wildfir...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:25pm
SNP ministers ?knew UK military did not have support asked for during wildfire?  perspectivemedia.com

Pressure on John Swinney as SNP MSP says data centre moratorium ?needs consid...
3 Sep 2026 at 8:27pm
Pressure on John Swinney as SNP MSP says data centre moratorium ?needs consideration?  The National Scot

Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland - The Gua...
1 Sep 2026 at 7:48pm
Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland  The Guardian

SNP bail law changes had ?fatal consequences for women?, Swinney told - The H...
3 Sep 2026 at 4:24pm
SNP bail law changes had ?fatal consequences for women?, Swinney told  The Herald

A government that works for you ? Scottish National Party - snp.org
1 Sep 2026 at 4:30pm
A government that works for you ? Scottish National Party  snp.org

John Swinney under pressure over SNP bail changes as 'scumbags freed to kill'...
3 Sep 2026 at 7:35pm
John Swinney under pressure over SNP bail changes as 'scumbags freed to kill'  The Scotsman

SNP?s failure on Israel Boycott - Bella Caledonia
3 Sep 2026 at 10:16am
SNP?s failure on Israel Boycott  Bella Caledonia

The SNP?s reformist agenda proves independence has been put to bed - The Times
2 Sep 2026 at 4:19pm
The SNP?s reformist agenda proves independence has been put to bed  The Times

SNP councillor reinstated after probe into Jordan Linden complaints - BBC
23 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
SNP councillor reinstated after probe into Jordan Linden complaints  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - BBC
28 Aug 2026 at 12:17pm
FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published  BBC

Draft Independence Referendum Bill published - Scottish Legal News
31 Aug 2026 at 11:29am
Draft Independence Referendum Bill published  Scottish Legal News

Leishman calls for a Labour route to independence referendum - Morning Star |...
2 Sep 2026 at 5:12pm
Leishman calls for a Labour route to independence referendum  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore - Scottish G...
28 Aug 2026 at 11:51am
Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore  Scottish Greens

Brian Leishman says Scottish Labour need to back route to indy referendum - A...
2 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Brian Leishman says Scottish Labour need to back route to indy referendum  Alloa Advertiser

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

'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendu...
28 Aug 2026 at 10:33am
'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendum bill  The Scotsman

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

Scottish Government publishes draft bill for second independence referendum -...
28 Aug 2026 at 3:23pm
Scottish Government publishes draft bill for second independence referendum  The National Scot

Scottish Government publishes new independence bill - Holyrood Website
28 Aug 2026 at 11:31am
Scottish Government publishes new independence bill  Holyrood Website