The Herald

The Herald | Politics


John Swinney's NHS health board shake-up could work. But there's a danger
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
31 Aug 2026 at 5:02pm
John Swinney's plan to cut the number of health boards could be exactly what Scotland needs. But there's a risk.


Offshore wind in Scotland 'at risk' ahead of new UK Government plans
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
31 Aug 2026 at 6:29am
A trade union has warned offshore wind projects in Scotland could be "delayed, reduced or cancelled" as the UK Government is set to publish infrastructure plans


John Swinney 'considering health board cull' as NHS 'fighting for survival'
31 Aug 2026 at 5:03am
First Minister John Swinney is considering cutting the number of health boards amid warnings the NHS is "fighting for survival".


Marra highlights career outside politics as Labour race enters final straight
31 Aug 2026 at 5:00am
Michael Marra will cite his successful career outside of politics in a message to party members this week as the race to succeed Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader enters its final weeks.


Business leaders challenge Swinney over Scotland's tax burden
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
31 Aug 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland risks falling behind the rest of the UK unless ministers cut taxes and reduce the cost of doing business, the Scottish Chamber of Commerce has warned.


Andy Burnham urged to cut fuel duty as pump prices soar to four year high
31 Aug 2026 at 5:00am
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being urged to follow Ireland and cut fuel duty amid warnings over the soaring price of energy and growing cost-of-living pressures this autumn and winter.


Industry groups call SNP food price cap plans 'unnecessary' and 'ineffective'
by Rachel Keenan
31 Aug 2026 at 12:01am
A proposed cap on the price of some food items is ?unnecessary? and will be ?ineffective?, business groups have said as they urged the Scottish Government to scrap the plans.


Free school breakfast clubs to expand with £15m funding
by Ryan McDougall
31 Aug 2026 at 12:01am
The Scottish Government has announced £15 million to expand school breakfast clubs as part of its bid to ?eradicate child poverty?.


Both Scottish Labour leadership candidates back North Sea drilling
30 Aug 2026 at 5:18pm
Both candidates in the Scottish Labour leadership race have backed new drilling in the North Sea, calling for the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields to be approved ?as soon as possible?.


Terminally-ill Scots expected to receive energy bills support
by Neil Pooran
30 Aug 2026 at 4:11pm
The programme will set out a roadmap of the Government?s priorities for the rest of the parliamentary term until


Law Society: Sentencing must remain a matter for judiciary
by Neil Pooran
30 Aug 2026 at 11:22am
Ministers have said the problem of prison overcrowding is growing rapidly


Swinney considering cutting the number of health boards in bid to save public...
30 Aug 2026 at 11:13am
First Minister John Swinney Minister may reduce the number of health boards in Scotland in public service reforms and a bid to save money and protect frontline services, it is being reported.


Seriously, when will SNP members wake up to the big John Swinney 'Yes' swindle?
30 Aug 2026 at 6:15am
It?s difficult to state with any degree of certainty that the SNP?s core supporters are among the most gullible groups on the planet. To paraphrase the great English football manager Brian Clough though, they?re probably in the top one.


Should Peter Murrell really be in prison for SNP embezzlement?
30 Aug 2026 at 5:00am
Peter Murrell would not be in prison if he had committed his crimes and been convicted in Norway, according to a leading criminologist Professor David Wilson.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Bring back district and regional councils, say Scottish Greens
31 Aug 2026 at 9:04am

The Scottish Greens say a range of measures should be introduced to improve local government in Scotland.

Ms Gilruth was more admired in the school than she was ever feared

The UK Labour government is under pressure to ensure floating offshore wind plans are not derailed by an upcoming flagship energy plan

Poverty is the result of ?policy choices?, commission says

The challenge could not be more stark

Scotland?s sea lochs play an important role in storing carbon which would otherwise be released into the environment

The SNP leader has warned his government will be required to ?embrace very actively? vast cuts to the public sector when he sets out his prospectus tomorrow.

Wings over Scotland

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Craig Murray

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

Scottish Independence: Set the Date!
29 Jul 2026 at 6:30pm

  The Scottish Government urgently needs a bold and radical approach to achieving Independence in spite of the firm London veto on a referendum. It is plain that there is no plan at present. The Scottish Parliament has a pro-Independence majority and government. This is how to achieve Independence consistent with international law and practice. …

Scottish Independence: Set the Date!

BBC Scotland

Business groups urge Swinney to scrap 'ineffective' food price cap plan
31 Aug 2026 at 12:56pm
More than 20 organisations have written a joint letter to John Swinney urging him to scrap his plan for a legal cap on some food and drink prices.

Scottish hospitals told corridor care 'unacceptable' in new NHS plan
31 Aug 2026 at 4:56pm
Health Secretary Angela Constance said the scheme would deliver more treatment at home and in communities, with new hubs to direct people to these sources of care.

Swinney's 100-day push gives way to bigger battles ahead
30 Aug 2026 at 9:15am
The first minister has been ticking off the pledges from his first 100 days in government but on Tuesday he will unveil the bigger picture.

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published
28 Aug 2026 at 5:10pm
The draft bill would be introduced into Parliament if the Scottish government secured the necessary powers from the UK government.

Scotland's universities face 'bleak' future as £200m funding gap revealed
28 Aug 2026 at 6:18pm
A new report paints a 'bleak' picture of falling income from Scottish students and an over-reliance on international tuition fees.

IVF for single women to be considered in NHS review
28 Aug 2026 at 7:36am
The Scottish government's national review will consider extending eligibility for NHS-funded IVF.

Wind farm planned close to Flow Country World Heritage Site
28 Aug 2026 at 4:30pm
The developer says its project involves up to 12 turbines and would see the restoration of peatbog.

Supreme Court asked to settle dispute over Sturgeon inquiry documents
27 Aug 2026 at 5:39pm
Scotland's information commissioner wants to challenge the Scottish government's use of exemptions to block the release of information.

Burnham calls summit of Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish first ministers
27 Aug 2026 at 4:21pm
The announcement came as the prime minister makes first official visit to Wales since taking office.

'I spent two years looking for work before I got a job'
27 Aug 2026 at 6:01am
Neala was one of growing number of young people classed as Neet, meaning they are not in education, employment or training.

More than £700m to be cut from Scottish Budget next year
25 Aug 2026 at 4:11pm
The Scottish Fiscal Commission said the reduction would correct the difference between forecast and actual income tax revenues.

Scottish National Investment Bank makes 'painful' £138m net loss
24 Aug 2026 at 3:06pm
The publicly-owned body, which operates independently, has invested in several firms that collapsed last year.

Scot Goes Pop

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...

YouGov poll suggests Andy Burnham is faring about as well in Scotland as the ...
19 Aug 2026 at 1:24pm
History doesn't record whether the Roman Emperor tried to win over the reluctant Caledonian tribes by setting up a "Senate North" somewhere really northern and close to them (like Milan), but even ...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Ministers promise more Scots treated at home as part of new hospital flow plan
31 Aug 2026 at 5:01pm
Health Secretary Angela Constance unveiled the new plan, designed to improve the flow of patients through hospitals, on Monday.

Food price cap unnecessary and will be ineffective, industry bosses tell Swinney
31 Aug 2026 at 3:52am
Business leaders are urging the First Minister to scrap plans for a food price cap on some items

Scottish Government publishes draft Bill for second independence referendum
28 Aug 2026 at 9:00pm
First Minister John Swinney said the Independence Referendum Bill will be lodged at Holyrood once the powers needed to hold a vote are secured.

John Swinney?s BBC journalist wife Elizabeth Quigley resigns on health grounds
28 Aug 2026 at 11:46am
She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000 aged just 28

Single women and blended families could gain access to NHS-funded IVF under r...
28 Aug 2026 at 7:26am
The Scottish Government has commissioned a review which will examine access to fertility treatment and fertility preservation services

Why Andy Burnham?s trip to Ukraine matters
24 Aug 2026 at 3:59pm
Burnham has made his first foreign trip as Prime Minister, but it comes at a time of personal tumult for the Ukrainian leader

?Devil will be in the detail? of public sector reform, says watchdog
24 Aug 2026 at 3:28pm
The Scottish Government has put public service reform at the centre of its agenda

Junior education minister Ben Macpherson resigns
24 Aug 2026 at 3:21pm
The Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith MSP did not provide a specific reason for his resignation

Ferguson Marine ferries have taken an ?obscene amount of time?, Flynn says
23 Aug 2026 at 6:53pm
Transport secretary Stephen Flynn however said the Scottish Government had made a ?huge investment? in trying to improve CalMac?s fleet

Scottish Government denies deputy first minister ?bullying? claims
23 Aug 2026 at 3:32pm
The Scottish Sun on Sunday alleged that Gilruth wrote an email naming and shaming officials in her new department

Scottish minister urges more action on energy bills from UK Government
22 Aug 2026 at 5:20pm
Scottish households need ?real support?, energy minister Stephen Gethins has said

Scottish Greens call on SNP to guarantee free childcare from third birthday
22 Aug 2026 at 1:29pm
Gillian Mackay said it would end the burden for families who have to pay nursery fees until the next school term

Decision on Rosebank and Jackdaw fields needed as soon as possible ? Badenoch
21 Aug 2026 at 5:08pm
Consultations on both sites have closed in recent weeks, with the final decision now to be taken by the UK Government

Malcolm Offord diagnosed with prostate cancer on day of Holyrood election
20 Aug 2026 at 4:44pm
The Reform UK Scottish leader said he had surgery last week and is now 'raring to go'

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Inside the onion bhaji summit where John Swinney mapped out the SNP's next fi...
31 Aug 2026 at 4:30pm
In an analysis, Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the First Minister will reach out to his opponents to secure support for his legislative plans.

Call for retired footballers with dementia to receive benefits from SNP Gover...
31 Aug 2026 at 11:59am
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Marra, who is trying to succeed Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader, said he would commit a future Labour Government to the policy.

Councillor reveals she could not eat or sleep during free speech battle with ...
31 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Fiona Higgins has opened up on the personal off of taking on the Standards Commission.

Council mergers could be given green light under plans by First Minister John...
31 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Enabling legislation allowing fewer local authorities is being considered by the Scottish Government.

Nazi sympathiser unmasked as key player linking Scottish far right with banne...
31 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
The extremist stood with other fanatics beside the banners of the UDA and UFF on Princes Street to drum up support for hate mobs.

John Swinney must end SNP 'gesture politics' if he wants to improve lives
31 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
In her Daily Record column, Scottish Labour acting leader Jackie Baillie says the SNP Government must urgently get to grips with the problems faced by voters.

Michael Marra slams Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza and defends protesters threat...
30 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
Marra is the bookies favourite to replace Anas Sarwar in the Scottish Labour leadership contest where he faces new MSP Joe Fagan.

Scots face crippling fuel bills hike as Labour's GB Energy branded 'complete ...
30 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
A Sunday Mail investigation found the much-lauded publicly owned energy company has yet to invest in a single homegrown Scottish firm.

Terminally ill Scots to get energy bills support in major Sunday Mail campaig...
30 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
John Swinney set to announce measures in Tuesday's Programme for Government after our Lifeline for the Dying campaign.

Scandal-hit NHS boards could be axed by SNP in huge shake up of services
29 Aug 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Insiders say the SNP Government is looking at making a big reduction to the 20-plus health boards in Scotland.

The National

The National | Politics

MoD refuses to confirm or deny if Scottish sites used by US in conflict with ...
31 Aug 2026 at 3:47pm

THE Ministry of Defence (MoD) has refused to confirm or deny if defence facilities in Scotland were used by US forces in the conflict with Iran.

Glasgow nightclub mogul appears on Liz Truss podcast to attack 'Nico-liar Stu...
31 Aug 2026 at 3:30pm

LIZ Truss has mocked Nicola Sturgeon and claimed that Scotland is "going down the drain" under the SNP on a podcast.

Number of Scottish AI data centres could TRIPLE, new figures suggest
31 Aug 2026 at 2:26pm

EVIDENCE from a UK Government agency suggests that there could be many more data centres built in Scotland than are currently planned ...

First Minister rules out Reform UK deal after SNP Westminster leader's comments
31 Aug 2026 at 1:47pm

THE SNP will not work with Reform UK in any ?way, shape, or form?, the First Minister has said ...

Files shed light on claim 'Prime Minister agreed to independence referendum t...
31 Aug 2026 at 1:17pm

NEW files from the UK and Scottish Governments have shed light on the confusion around talks on a second independence referendum allegedly agreed to by No 10 ...

Palantir boss given VIP viewing of Bayeux tapestry by British Museum
31 Aug 2026 at 12:21pm

PALANTIR boss Peter Thiel was privately hosted by the British Museum for a viewing of the Bayeux tapestry, it has been reported.

Labour minister bills taxpayer £34,000 for four-day trip to US during World Cup
31 Aug 2026 at 12:15pm

A JUNIOR Labour minister billed the taxpayer £34,000 for a trip to the US during the World Cup ...

John Swinney stands by SNP's food price cap pledge as business groups call fo...
31 Aug 2026 at 11:13am

FIRST Minister John Swinney has insisted that the SNP?s plans for a food price cap remain unchanged despite pressure from business groups ...

Israeli officials 'held secret meetings with Sudanese group accused of genocide'
31 Aug 2026 at 10:28am

ISRAELI officials reportedly held secret meetings with senior figures from a Sudanese paramilitary group accused of genocide and other atrocities during the country's brutal civil war ...

Andy Burnham 'at odds' with deputy Louise Haigh on Irish unification
31 Aug 2026 at 9:47am

LOUISE Haigh has been urged to clarify whether she thinks Irish unification should be "off the table" after previously suggesting the people of Northern Ireland should "determine their own constitutional future".

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

UK Government launches ?100m AI contest to fix public services
31 Aug 2026 at 3:18pm
Competition opens across four key challenges

Fringe benefits: Edinburgh?s visitor levy goes some way to addressing the imp...
31 Aug 2026 at 1:00pm
There are early teething problems which need to be addressed but the city's tourist tax is a welcome development

Reasons to be cheerful about Scotland?s energy future
31 Aug 2026 at 7:00am
The UK energy debate is often presented as a stark choice between the oil and gas industry of yesterday and the renewable energy of tomorrow

Scottish Government publishes new independence bill
28 Aug 2026 at 12:25pm
John Swinney pushes on after Andy Burnham rules out indyref2

?Bleak? and ?unsustainable?: Funding gap puts universities under significant ...
28 Aug 2026 at 1:02am
Institutions collectively recorded a ?200m deficit in 2023/24

Information commissioner asks Supreme Court to rule in Sturgeon document disc...
27 Aug 2026 at 6:38pm
The Court of Session had ruled some information was covered by legal privilege

Edinburgh councillors reject MSPs? calls for exemption from council tax premium
27 Aug 2026 at 4:08pm
Edinburgh councillors have rejected the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body?s request to exempt MSPs from a 300 per cent council tax premium for second homes in the city

Walk away from walk-in clinics, Scottish health bodies urge government
27 Aug 2026 at 4:00pm
System risks unintended consequences, ministers are told

No evidence of ?Burnham bounce? despite PM being most popular leader in Scotland
27 Aug 2026 at 2:00am
The number of people saying they would vote Scottish Labour in a UK general election remains largely the same as earlier in the year

To Nicola, Love Peter: Channel 5 announces Sturgeon-Murrell drama
26 Aug 2026 at 5:15pm
Drama announced at Edinburgh TV Festival

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

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...

UK politics: Tories? Philp rejects French claim that shots fired from naval b...
28 Jul 2026 at 6:01pm
Shadow minister says there was no warning and ?it looked and sounded like deliberate intimidation?Conservative MP accuses French navy of firing shots near him in ChannelIt is not just the Russians firing on Brits in the English Channel; Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, has accused a French...

Poll shows Labour ahead of Reform UK for first time since Burnham became PM ?...
27 Jul 2026 at 5:45pm
New PM says he ?wouldn?t get carried away? by latest polling but says he is pleased if he has ?connected with people?I have already posted lines from Andy Burnham?s BBC interview on reforming social care (see 9.03am), making council tax fairer (see 10.03am), and ruling out an early election (see ...

Evacuated villagers in Cairngorms allowed home after wildfire threat lifts
25 Jul 2026 at 11:08pm
Scottish first minister thanks Nethy Bridge residents and aid workers after earlier requesting UK military aid to fight 10-day fireResidents of Nethy Bridge have been told they can return to their homes after a large fire broke out in the Cairngorms national park.Supt Judy Hill of Police Scotland...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

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 …

Farage?s pyrrhic victory over a bin
14 Aug 2026 at 11:38am
Of course Farage won the by election in Clacton which he called in an attempt to pre-empt a Parliamentary investigation into his dodgy finances. And of course Farage is crowing about his “decisive victory against the “establishment” candidate, a vainglorious boast when that candidate was a man with a bin on his head and all …

GERSmas Day 2026
11 Aug 2026 at 8:22pm
It’s always welcome to have some good news for independence, but that’s especially true on GERSmas eve as the British media in Scotland and anti-independence campaigners gear themselves up for their annual orgy of too wee too poor too stupid in the form of GERS Figures which purport to demonstrate that Scotland is an economic …

The nasty party gets nastier
9 Aug 2026 at 3:04pm
The Tories are on a mission. Having had the title of the Nasty Party wrested away from them by Reform UK and by the even more unpleasant Restore Britain, Kemi Badenoch is determined to prove that the Conservatives are the original and best, or should that be worst, nasties of them all. Last week we …

Even good news is spun into SNPbad by the media in Scotland
5 Aug 2026 at 6:58pm
It’s often said there are two kinds of people in the world, those who say the glass is half full, and those who say it’s half empty. This is in fact inaccurate as there is a third kind, those who say: “Oh my God! That glass is about to shatter into a thousand jaggy shards, …

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

Greenock ? If you don?t keep RAAC dry it all needs knocking down
31 Aug 2026 at 5:52pm
was really upset about everything. 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 Down today, hear about flats in Greenock with RAAC in them, to be puled down and have a evidence of the above upset. What’s th...

NHS Scotland ordered to cut corridor care from already the lowest by far in t...
31 Aug 2026 at 5:26pm
departments and aim to discharge patients from hospital within three days of admission, under new Scottish Government plans. Hospitals will also be required to focus on patients with life-threatening conditions and those needing specialist care, with others directed to alternative sources of healthcare. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-tal...

Cyprus catamaran ferry turns over and sinks losing up to 26 in wind speeds fa...
31 Aug 2026 at 3:25pm
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 Yesterday’s tragedy in Cyprus caused me to wonder if any CalMac ferry had ever sunk with the loss of life? When you look at the far worse weather conditions around the West Coast of Sc...

Funding Talking-up Scotland ? What can we do?
31 Aug 2026 at 3:23pm
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 stewartb ?What can we do?? ? I wish I knew. I do hope the many ?visitors? offer up some useful ideas! Just one of the things that I value about TuS is its provision of ?perspective?...

The misogynistic exclusion of Monica Lennon ? a debate between the two cheeks...
31 Aug 2026 at 3:21pm
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 Anonymous I am stepping aside a little from the main thrust of this series of postings about the decision to locate what is now the QEUH on the former Southern General Hospital site...

There are no plans in Scotland to end indefinite sentences where there is a h...
31 Aug 2026 at 3:19pm
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 his BBC interview yesterday, aimed at reassuring voters than violent offenders would not be released early, PM Burnham suggested that ending ‘controversial indefinite sentences’ mig...

Further evidence that Scotland does not need cheap catamaran ferries ? ?a mon...
31 Aug 2026 at 8:50am
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 Widely broadcast this morning and from BBC Europe yesterday, the above and: At least eight people have died and 18 others are still missing after a passenger boat a twin-hulled catama...

Glasgow?s super-hospital ? We and our children, irrespective of ?class? or ?w...
31 Aug 2026 at 8:27am
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 Anonymous Those who instruct the architects and engineers were aware in 1910 when the sewage works were opened?next to a poorhouse with a hospital wing?who gave a f*** about segrega...

How in 2001 Labour?s Malcolm Chisholm MSP condemned Glasgow and it?s child ca...
31 Aug 2026 at 8:26am
From clear liability for a looming health disaster in 2001 to a media transferring the blame to an innocent party in 2017 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 stewartb The full transcript of this debate in the Scottish...

Funding education ?for the good of society? but ?whose society??
31 Aug 2026 at 8:21am
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 Alasdair Macdonald Within the pre-school and school sector, funding per capita allocations increased as age groups increased. So, allocations to pre-school organisations were less t...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - 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

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

'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

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 draft second independence referendum bill - Mor...
28 Aug 2026 at 4:27pm
Scottish government publishes draft second independence referendum bill  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

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

Opponents mock John Swinney?s ?zombie independence bill? - The Times
28 Aug 2026 at 6:36pm
Opponents mock John Swinney?s ?zombie independence bill?  The Times

Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform - RNZ
10 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform  RNZ

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP food price cap ?will drive up cost of living? - The Telegraph
31 Aug 2026 at 6:30am
SNP food price cap ?will drive up cost of living?  The Telegraph

SNP members demand island flights overhaul amid ?extortionate? fares - The Na...
31 Aug 2026 at 9:27am
SNP members demand island flights overhaul amid ?extortionate? fares  The National Scot

Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband stole SNP ...
26 Aug 2026 at 2:00pm
Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband stole SNP funds  The Guardian

Councillor accused of 'continuing to exercise influence' after decision to qu...
31 Aug 2026 at 1:07pm
Councillor accused of 'continuing to exercise influence' after decision to quit role  The Herald

How SNP reneged on promise of £10 million to compensate islanders for ferry c...
31 Aug 2026 at 4:45pm
How SNP reneged on promise of £10 million to compensate islanders for ferry chaos ? Stuart Beaufoy  The Scotsman

Business groups urge Swinney to scrap 'ineffective' food price cap plan - BBC
31 Aug 2026 at 10:18am
Business groups urge Swinney to scrap 'ineffective' food price cap plan  BBC

SNP branches fight for lower flight costs - We love Stornoway
31 Aug 2026 at 11:40am
SNP branches fight for lower flight costs  We love Stornoway

Swinney must take control of civil service for meaningful change - The Times
31 Aug 2026 at 3:59pm
Swinney must take control of civil service for meaningful change  The Times

SNP must deliver on promise for simpler ticketing - Scottish Greens
26 Aug 2026 at 10:27am
SNP must deliver on promise for simpler ticketing  Scottish Greens

John Swinney stands by SNP's food price cap pledge as business groups call fo...
31 Aug 2026 at 11:22am
John Swinney stands by SNP's food price cap pledge as business groups call for U-turn  The National Scot

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Draft Independence Referendum Bill published - Scottish Legal News
31 Aug 2026 at 11:29am
Draft Independence Referendum Bill published  Scottish Legal 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 - Wired-Gov
28 Aug 2026 at 12:40pm
Draft Independence Referendum Bill published  Wired-Gov

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

'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 government publishes draft second independence referendum bill - Mor...
28 Aug 2026 at 4:27pm
Scottish government publishes draft second independence referendum bill  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

Scottish voters back independence and more powers for Holyrood in stunning ne...
27 Aug 2026 at 5:10am
Scottish voters back independence and more powers for Holyrood in stunning new poll  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

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

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