The Herald

The Herald | Politics


The by-election that could redraw the British left for a generation
by Douglas Beattie
7 Sep 2026 at 3:21pm
Keir Starmer's decision to stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras has set the stage for a pivotal by-election. With Green leader Zack Polanski confirmed to run, Labour's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces an early and uncomfortable test.


All the force of the law to be used if Glasgow tenement fire was deliberate -...
by Craig Paton and Nick Forbes
7 Sep 2026 at 12:30pm
John Swinney has vowed ?all the force of the law? will be applied if a Glasgow tenement fire was deliberate.


MSPs to quiz McAllan on exit of Katerina Brown and Sir Mark Jones from herita...
by Kathleen Nutt
7 Sep 2026 at 9:50am
MSPs will quiz Mairi McAllan about the sudden resignations of the Katerina Brown as chair of Historic Environment Scotland and its chair Sir Mark Jones.


John Swinney warned NHS shake-up risks QEUH corporate homicide investigation
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
7 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
SNP ministers are under pressure to guarantee evidence and potential criminal liabilities are preserved as they press ahead with plans to merge health boards.


Former MSPs condemn 'underperforming' Holyrood as politicians 'scroll on phones'
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
7 Sep 2026 at 12:01am
Politicians scrolling on phones during debates, weak scrutiny and party tribalism are among the concerns raised by former MSPs in a scathing assessment of Holyrood.


Football fandom in Scotland can be a gambit of two halves when it comes to bu...
by Community contributor
7 Sep 2026 at 9:23am
Loyalty is big business in football, helping to sell not only match tickets but merchandise, mostly in replica shirts, but there are potential risks to clubs? reliance on allegiance. By Aidan Rooney Assistant Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute


Politicians condemn masked 'stop the boats' protest at Port of Dover
by Press Association
6 Sep 2026 at 3:09pm
Politicians have condemned anti-illegal migrant protests which blocked the Port of Dover on Saturday.


Iran claims to have hit U.S ship in Strait of Hormuz as fighting escalates
by Samy Magdy and Julia Frankel
6 Sep 2026 at 1:58pm
Iran said on Sunday that it struck an unmanned US vessel trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz, the latest salvo in a new flare-up of fighting between the two countries


Donald Trump envoys in Kyiv after 'constructive and frank' talks with Putin
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
6 Sep 2026 at 12:43pm
Donald Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held "constructive and extremely frank" discussions with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, ahead of a visit to Kyiv on Sunday


John Swinney accused of ?wasting? cash on overseas office expansion
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
6 Sep 2026 at 12:19pm
John Swinney fails to say how many NHS jobs will be lost as the Scottish Government looks to expand its overseas offices.


Reform UK 'want to buy' camper van Peter Murrell purchased with SNP funds
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
6 Sep 2026 at 8:24am
Reform UK are reportedly looking to buy a camper van Peter Murrell bought with SNP funds as part of next year's local election campaign


So Mr Burnham, will you refuse to be an apologist for Israel as PM?
by Dani Garavelli
6 Sep 2026 at 6:15am
THE death of Ratko Mladi? ? otherwise known as the Butcher of Bosnia ? was a timely reminder of what happens when the international community fails in its duty to protect civilians and turns a blind eye to war crimes.


Can Scotland learn lessons from Ireland's thriving lower-fee private school s...
by Kathleen Nutt
6 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Private school fees in Ireland are much lower than in the UK. Why is that the case and can lessons be learnt for the school system in Scotland?


Charities facing 'far-right harassment' need emergency security cash, ministe...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
6 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Ministers are being urged to fund CCTV, personal alarms and other security measures for charities facing alleged far-right harassment in Scotland.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Starmer's swift exit made Burnham look good, but now he must become a statesm...
7 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
Andy Burnham looked adept at Prime Minister?s Questions but the world stage is a much bigger one


John Swinney's jobs uncertainty 'damaging the NHS'
7 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

Unison Scotland said the First Minister?s inability to say whether people will be made redundant as part of his plans to axe health boards is ?causing anger and frustration throughout the NHS?

Interviews conducted by IPPR Scotland lay bare the level of internal frustration with Holyrood

Michael Marra urged the Scottish Government to match the £10m offered by the UK Government for defence technical excellence colleges.

Demanding the complete attention of members is the first step to improving the work of the Scottish Parliament

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

Swinney suggests Scots will not travel further for health care under reforms
6 Sep 2026 at 12:30pm
Plans are in motion to cut Scotland's mainland health boards from 14 to two, but questions remain about how they would work in practice.

Offord pledges to scrap tax system and boost jobs under Reform
5 Sep 2026 at 6:25pm
Reform UK's leader in Scotland has set out his priorities in a speech to the party conference.

Controversial Jackdaw gas field set to be approved in weeks, sources say
4 Sep 2026 at 6:59am
The government is set to give the go-ahead for the gas field off the coast of Aberdeen, the BBC understands.

Scottish independence referendum 'a million miles away' - Offord
4 Sep 2026 at 2:36pm
The Reform UK Scotland leader told the BBC that there would need to be a "groundswell" of support for a fresh poll.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Scot Goes Pop

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...

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 ...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

John Swinney refuses to say when NHS job cut numbers will be announced
7 Sep 2026 at 1:09pm
The Government is set to embark on a major public sector reform programme.

Swinney can?t give ?specific figure? on NHS job losses under planned reforms
6 Sep 2026 at 4:24pm
The First Minister said that he has been open about the fact he thinks 'public sector employment will fall' over the parliamentary term

Malcolm Offord used private healthcare to treat prostate cancer
4 Sep 2026 at 12:47pm
The Reform UK Scotland leader was diagnosed on election day in May

Insight: Will dodgy donation allegations overshadow Reform?s conference?
4 Sep 2026 at 11:54am
A Channel 4 investigation exposed key Reform figures taking donations from non-UK donors, which breaks electoral law

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

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Old Firm policing costs 'unsustainable' as MSP backs law change to make SPFL ...
7 Sep 2026 at 11:31am
An MSP says clubs should pay a "much fairer share towards the costs of policing the public spaces surrounding their stadiums" after costs rocketed.

Justice system is failing women as revenge porn victim forced into hiding
7 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Record View says too many times the justice system fails to keep women safe by failing to keep violent or abusive men away from them.

Scots public sector workers 'panicking' as John Swinney 'hell bent' on centra...
7 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Unite chief Dougie Maguire warned unions would not tolerate job losses and accused the SNP Government of "kidding on" that centralisation would lead to better public services.

£2 bus fare cap launches across Strathclyde as calls grow for nationwide roll...
7 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
England will enjoy a nationwide cap on bus fares from January 1 - but no date has been fixed for when all of Scotland will enjoy the same.

'The SNP is putting more money in the pocket of Scots at a time they really n...
7 Sep 2026 at 4:29am
Writing in his regular column for the Record, the First Minister says his Government is focused on helping Scots with the cost of living.

John Swinney fails to say how many NHS jobs will go as health boards are axed
6 Sep 2026 at 11:06am
The First Minister said he "can't put a specific figure" on how many public sector roles will be chopped as the SNP Government struggles to plug a £5 billion financial blackhole.

Polish firm announce jobs boost for Scottish ferry project as Ferguson Marine...
6 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Ferguson missed out on the £175million taxpayer funded order for seven CalMac electric vessels in 2025 despite ?aggressively bidding? for the work.

Edinburgh councillors 'threatened' for scrutinising role of top official in t...
6 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Councillors in the capital were warned not to quote parts of the Edinburgh Trams inquiry report which criticised a top city official.

George Galloway suing Bank of Scotland 'after closing his account of 40 years'
5 Sep 2026 at 2:55pm
The firebrand left-wing politician alleged the bank had shut down his accounts without notice or explanation.

SNP slams 'classist' UK Government energy saving advert starring animated fam...
5 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: An SNP MSP questioned why a Whitehall department used a family of mice to appeal to fuel-poor "working class households".

The National

The National | Politics

Westminster group led by Scottish Labour MP challenged in open letter over Fa...
7 Sep 2026 at 5:00pm

A WESTMINSTER group set up to promote Fairtrade has been urged to subject the organisation to greater scrutiny ...

King Charles snubs slavery reparations petition while in Balmoral
7 Sep 2026 at 4:37pm

KING Charles has been slated for not meeting Jamaican officials to receive a petition over slavery reparations while he enjoys a break in Scotland.

Greens making no secret of targeting Nicola Sturgeon supporters
7 Sep 2026 at 4:10pm

The Greens forgave the end of the Bute House Agreement but it's clear they won't forget as they go after Nicola Sturgeon supporters ...

George Foulkes begs Andy Burnham to intervene on Scottish overseas embassies
7 Sep 2026 at 4:05pm

LABOUR peer George Foulkes is lobbying Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander to intervene following reports that the Scottish Government is set to expand its network of international offices

Protesters take on Crown Office over 'hate-crime charges for pro-Palestine ch...
7 Sep 2026 at 3:23pm

A GROUP of Scottish Palestine protesters has submitted a formal complaint to the Crown Office after a racial hate-crime aggravation was dropped from their charges by a court.

Developer behind fire-ravaged Glasgow tenements hits out over 'false claims'
7 Sep 2026 at 3:06pm

THE property developer behind a tenement in Glasgow that was set on fire has hit out at the ?false claims? that it was being renovated to house migrants ...

Home Office insider laughs off claim 'only 1 in 100 asylum seekers are genuine'
7 Sep 2026 at 2:58pm

A HOME Office insider?s claims that just one in 100 asylum claims are genuine is an ?exaggeration? that must have come from a ?human lie detector?, according to a second Home Office insider ...

Border poll conditions ?have to be discussed?, Fianna Fail Taoiseach says
7 Sep 2026 at 2:19pm

THE conditions for calling a border poll is ?an issue that has to be discussed?, the Taoiseach has said

SNP in 'Chancellor of England' jibe as John Healey pledges £150m for English ...
7 Sep 2026 at 2:13pm

ANDY Burnham?s UK Government is ?all for England?, the SNP have said after the Chancellor announced a £150 million fund for firms south of the Border ...

Scottish Government under fire as Wales looks to launch publicly owned energy...
7 Sep 2026 at 1:11pm

THE Scottish Government has come under fire for having "no ambition" after the Welsh Government took its next step in creating a new publicly owned national energy company.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Murdo Fraser challenges John Swinney over ?fag packet? NHS plans
7 Sep 2026 at 4:20pm
Detail lacking on NHS board plans, Tories say

?Underperforming? Scottish Parliament beset by ?shallow partisanship?
7 Sep 2026 at 2:19pm
?Rubbish? questions and social media scrolling ? report finds serious concerns about quality of Holyrood politics

?2 bus fare cap comes into force across Strathclyde region
7 Sep 2026 at 7:54am
Greens press John Swinney to go further

A strong future for universities starts with hard data on the here and now
7 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
By beginning with a shared understanding of the facts, we create the conditions for informed debate and durable solutions. That is the best foundation on which to secure a strong and sustainable future for Scotland?s universities.

Jackdaw gas field in North Sea set to be approved ? reports
4 Sep 2026 at 12:08pm
Previously approved by the Conservative government in 2022, Jackdaw was delayed by a Court of Session ruling which said the decision?failed to take into account the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels

Government choices on violence against women ?have been fatal?, John Swinney ...
4 Sep 2026 at 7:58am
The FM said his government was committed to tackling the issue

Why green gas is Scotland?s ?10bn economic opportunity
4 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
Biomethane can unlock Scotland?s economic potential, create jobs and support a pragmatic, more affordable energy transition

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

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 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 …

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 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

Does Jackie Baillie realise that any QEUH corporate homicide investigation wo...
7 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 In the Herald today, the above and: Source: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26526174.swinney-told-protect-qeuh-evidence-nhs-overhaul/ Baillie has not been keeping up. The Glasgow h...

Nuclear energy?s biggest selling point WAS running 365 days of the year, wind...
7 Sep 2026 at 4:09pm
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 From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, yesterday, the above and: One of nuclear energy?s biggest selling points is its claims of reliability. ?Nuclear energy is the only large-sca...

Bus fares £2 cap ? SNP acts in your interests, ?ah but??.?some???.
7 Sep 2026 at 4:08pm
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 Liz S BBC website top story on their Scotland page this morning 7 September 2026: ?Swinney?s £2 cap on bus fares kicks in ? but some call it ?half a solution’?. So yet again the sam...

Ignore the Record ? Extreme Right-Wing elements are almost three times more c...
7 Sep 2026 at 4:07pm
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 The Daily Record, above, desperately tying to drag Scotland down into the hole the rest of the UK is already in. How many far-right extremists are there in Scotland and how does that c...

Nottingham, Sussex, Shrewsbury and now Leeds ? Why England?s national materni...
7 Sep 2026 at 9:37am
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 above image and: Bereaved parents to give evidence at independent review of Sussex maternity services Review led by Donna Ockenden launches after campaign by...

Attacks on NHS Scotland staff plummet by 27% in only 4 years
7 Sep 2026 at 8:41am
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 The UK media today have blanket coverage of a Royal College of Emergency Medicine survey suggesting: The RCEM are now calling for the Government to take ?immediate action? after quizzi...

The Power of Nightmares Episode 147 ? ?A [one] mother whose son was murdered ...
7 Sep 2026 at 8:02am
the First Minister today. 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 Scotland’s Reporting Scotland team’s wee insert in BBC Breakfast, several times today, returns to Scotland’s supposed knife murder crisis, exploiting anot...

Only 1% of sewer overflows is sewage, 100% of rivers are clean but Scottish L...
7 Sep 2026 at 7:38am
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 a TuS comment yesterday: Scottish Water is being attacked for releasing data that shows a four-fold rise in ?overflows? in the last year . What the data also shows ? but which is no...

The UK State is ?ducked? and cannot now be salvaged
6 Sep 2026 at 5:03pm
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 Liz S BBC website : ?Disruption at Port of Dover as masked men hold protest? ?masked men? and then according to the BBC they were holding a ?protest?. More like thugs on the loose d...

Anas ?No shame? Sarwar is a perfect fit for the Lords and the ugliest buildin...
6 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm
Did the new Baron of Maxwell Park, Anas Sarwar, like the look of this pile? Scottish Baronial is one of Scotland’s most embarrassing contributions to the world. It’s by miles the ugliest architectural style in the world and that above Burgh Hall in Maxwell Park is the bloody ugliest example of it I’ve ever seen. Appropriate for the c…………..ountry gentleman? Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Cr...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

The 1800s group paving the way for independence ? and Walter Scott's influenc...
7 Sep 2026 at 5:45am
The 1800s group paving the way for independence ? and Walter Scott's influence  The National Scot

Second Scottish independence referendum 'a long way off' - Offord - Yahoo New...
4 Sep 2026 at 2:36pm
Second Scottish independence referendum 'a long way off' - Offord  Yahoo News Canada

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - BBC
28 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
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

The Scottish nationalists questioning English ?settler? migration - The Times
5 Sep 2026 at 4:02pm
The Scottish nationalists questioning English ?settler? migration  The Times

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

Full list of road closures and bus diversions amid Scottish independence marc...
5 Sep 2026 at 11:29am
Full list of road closures and bus diversions amid Scottish independence march  Edinburgh News

'Deal or no deal, Mr Leishman - independence is inevitable' - The Herald
4 Sep 2026 at 6:38am
'Deal or no deal, Mr Leishman - independence is inevitable'  The Herald

Burnham tells Swinney independence is 'off limits' at Commonwealth Games meet...
23 Jul 2026 at 8:00am
Burnham tells Swinney independence is 'off limits' at Commonwealth Games meeting  BBC

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

SNP leadership 'dangerously diverging from party policy', members body warns ...
7 Sep 2026 at 5:58am
SNP leadership 'dangerously diverging from party policy', members body warns  The National Scot

SNP in 'Chancellor of England' jibe as John Healey pledges £150m for English ...
7 Sep 2026 at 2:13pm
SNP in 'Chancellor of England' jibe as John Healey pledges £150m for English firms  uk.news.yahoo.com

Leaked SNP agenda includes motion to decriminalise self-administered abortion...
7 Sep 2026 at 6:04am
Leaked SNP agenda includes motion to decriminalise self-administered abortion  The Catholic Herald

Exclusive: Labour and SNP should work together on £20m defence skills boost, ...
7 Sep 2026 at 4:00am
Exclusive: Labour and SNP should work together on £20m defence skills boost, says Michael Marra  The Scotsman

SNP to expand overseas Scotland House network to 40 locations - The Times
6 Sep 2026 at 5:25pm
SNP to expand overseas Scotland House network to 40 locations  The Times

There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Sc...
6 May 2026 at 8:00am
There?s little love for the SNP ? so why does the party look set to win in Scotland?  The Conversation

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

SLK vs SNP, 5th Match, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - Commentary - Cricbuzz
7 Sep 2026 at 10:58am
SLK vs SNP, 5th Match, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - Commentary  Cricbuzz

Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband stole SNP ...
26 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband stole SNP funds  The Guardian

SNP's plans will keep lifting children out of poverty in Inverclyde, says MSP...
7 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
SNP's plans will keep lifting children out of poverty in Inverclyde, says MSP  Greenock Telegraph

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - BBC
28 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published  BBC

Second Scottish independence referendum 'a long way off' - Offord - Yahoo New...
4 Sep 2026 at 2:36pm
Second Scottish independence referendum 'a long way off' - Offord  Yahoo News Canada

Special Celtic Alliance event to explore route to Scottish independence - The...
6 Sep 2026 at 5:59pm
Special Celtic Alliance event to explore route to Scottish independence  The National Scot

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

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

'Deal or no deal, Mr Leishman - independence is inevitable' - The Herald
4 Sep 2026 at 6:38am
'Deal or no deal, Mr Leishman - independence is inevitable'  The Herald

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

Labour should 'lay out democratic route to independence referendum', says Sco...
2 Sep 2026 at 10:43am
Labour should 'lay out democratic route to independence referendum', says Scottish Labour MP  The Scotsman

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

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