The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Sir Alex Ferguson would make 'effective' mayor of Aberdeen says PM
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 3:09pm
Andy Burnham invoked Sir Alex Ferguson's name during a Motherwell speech on deepening Scottish devolution, but stopped short of calling for elected mayors ? as Glasgow's £7.3bn productivity gap sharpens the debate.


Burnham makes 'deeper devolution' vow and sets out view on independence refer...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 1:54pm
Andy Burnham made a "deeper devolution" pitch to John Swinney in Motherwell, offering DWP and employment powers to Scotland ? but his refusal to explicitly rule out a second independence referendum was described as "a significant moment" by Stephen Flynn.


UK Government 'cautious' over controversial Rosebank field to avoid 'mistakes'
by Nick Forbes
16 Oct 2026 at 9:34am
The UK Government is being ?cautious? about making public announcements over its decisions on the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas fields in order to avoid the ?mistakes? of the previous government, the Scottish Secretary has said


Scottish Government to abandon 12-week orthopaedic target, leaked NHS plan re...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
A confidential NHS blueprint, obtained by The Herald, reveals the Scottish Government is set to abandon its legally-backed 12-week orthopaedic target ? replacing it with a 26-week standard ? while centralising surgery into regional hubs and telling patients to expect to travel.


Bishop of Paisley attacks SNP for revoking anti-abortion group's fringe slot
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland's Catholic hierarchy has criticised the SNP for cancelling a fringe event by a controversial anti-abortion group.


Andy Burnham to offer John Swinney deal to 'hand more power to Scotland's reg...
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
15 Oct 2026 at 10:30pm
Andy Burnham is set to offer John Swinney a deal to empower Scotland?s regions, shifting power from Westminster and Holyrood to boost jobs and growth.


'Devolution's not a religion' Badenoch raises prospect of nuclear Holyrood po...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
15 Oct 2026 at 4:41pm
Kemi Badenoch has raised the prospect of rewriting the Scotland Act to end what she calls the SNP's use of planning rules to veto reserved energy policy, while branding John Swinney a broken record with no answers on drug deaths or education.


The SNP's internal independence divide won't disappear after party conference
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
15 Oct 2026 at 3:47pm
This article appears as part of the Unspun: Scottish Politics newsletter.


'A significant moment for Edinburgh': Capital to host G20 finance meeting nex...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
15 Oct 2026 at 11:28am
Finance ministers and central bank governors will meet at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on July 8 and 9.


World faces big challenges but ?we can be better?, Obama tells Glasgow audience
by Danyel VanReenen
15 Oct 2026 at 7:54am
Barack Obama has told an audience in Glasgow that hope is worth fighting for despite the big challenges facing the modern world.


Reform UK candidate resigns over claims of ?nepotism, cronyism and bullying?
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
15 Oct 2026 at 6:30am
Former Reform UK candidate Paul Bennie resigns, accusing its Scottish leadership of "nepotism, cronyism and bullying" while questioning deputy leader Thomas Kerr?s "fitness for his role".


Council plans £23.5m hygiene facilities overhaul after EHRC single-sex guidance
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
15 Oct 2026 at 6:00am
According to the local authority, improvements to the public hygiene facilities could cost as much as £23.5 million in capital funding over a ten-year span.


Scotland's hybrid working crackdown for civil servants is 'unworkable', union...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
15 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
The Scottish Government has been told its hybrid working crackdown for civil servants is unworkable, according to a trade union chief.


?No standing ovation?: What Greens expect from Gillian Mackay at SNP conference
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
15 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Scottish Greens were surprised by Gillian Mackay?s SNP conference invite, with one source admitting they do not expect a ?standing ovation?.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Andy Burnham in Scotland: PM calls for deeper devolution from Holyrood
16 Oct 2026 at 1:01pm

He said devolution ?was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament?

Ivan McKee was repeatedly challenged over the Scottish government?s ?disruptive? proposals

Labour MP Kirsteen Sullivan has urged Labour ministers to ?secure jobs? at Invinity Energy Systems - which has sites in Motherwell and Bathgate.

The Prime Minister will say at an event in Lanarkshire on Friday that the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe.

The latest whispers, gossip and nonsense from the SNP conference in Aberdeen

John Swinney?s government has been urged to be more explicit in its support for specific North Sea oil and gas projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw.

The SNP conference has kicked off in Aberdeen, with the focus on independence strategy and oil and gas policy

Neil Gray said the Scottish government is looking at what has been done in Nottingham

She was speaking during a visit to Edinburgh

Wings over Scotland

The fight about to come
14 Oct 2026 at 3:20pm
The obvious question is “Why haven’t you made a bigger one in all that time?” Did it not seem important until now? Was there nothing significant going on? Or were they just a little short of cash for some unknowable reason? Still, Keith’s going to make a “launch” speech. He makes it every year. It’ll …

Still Time To Save Her
9 Oct 2026 at 2:32pm
We’ve just had an extraordinary email from Police Scotland, readers. Here it is. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the real-life Timecops. Operation Branchform was closed on 20 March 2025. Nicola Sturgeon gave her infamous interview to Laura Kuenssberg – stating that she would not be handing back any of the items gifted to her by Peter …

There May Be Justice
5 Oct 2026 at 12:40pm
In a little under three days, Phase 1 complete. Wings readers: still the best. But what now? A couple of people have asked about the “stretch target” on the website. That was something CrowdJustice asked for and the reason it’s so high is that that figure was our lawyers’ estimate of the total cost of …

The Love Of Big Brother
3 Oct 2026 at 1:24pm
We were trying to work out what this reminded us of. And the answer was in the same place it usually is. It all checks out. The SNP spend their time grooming your children and trying to make basic parenting a crime. They endorse “gender-affirming care” that sterilises them and will stop them ever having …

In The Eyes Of The Law
1 Oct 2026 at 2:15pm
Our fundraiser to bring a judicial review of Police Scotland’s decision not to charge anyone with embezzlement in the case of the SNP’s missing £700,000 indyref fund is now live, and can be reached by clicking on this image, or here. The target of £30,000 represents the cost of the initial application (with contingency for …

Whatever Can Have Happened?
30 Sep 2026 at 1:50pm
Yesterday afternoon John Swinney announced an independent review into the dual roles of Scotland’s main law officers, the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General, which have been a subject of great controversy since the Scottish Parliament was re-convened in 1999. Wings welcomes this development unequivocally, albeit we’re slightly concerned that the former judge leading the …

The Turning Point
28 Sep 2026 at 1:10pm
We don’t have much to say about this graph that it doesn’t say for itself. The arrest of Peter Murrell on 5 April 2023, just a couple of weeks after his wife had realised the game was up and walked away before the cops came round and put a big blue tent up on their …

Cowering From Destiny
24 Sep 2026 at 11:29am
Alert readers will recall that last year the SNP convened a summit in Glasgow for the sole purpose of uniting the nation in preventing Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister. The party also regularly tells us that to actually achieve independence, support would have to build to an overwhelming consensus into the 60-65% range, rather than …

His Majesty?s Loyal Sabre
21 Sep 2026 at 1:50pm
Funny how people change, isn’t it? That sounds a lot to us like “Bombs Not Bairns”. We watched the first episode of “The Wargame” at 2am this morning (it’s toe-curlingly bad, shot like a soft-focus corporate promo with three-second cuts, constant dramatic music and the politicians delivering wooden press-conference soundbites rather than any sense of …

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

Craig Murray

The Unjust State
15 Oct 2026 at 2:06pm

“Forget justice, it’s much too expensive and time consuming. Plus if you take the government to court, you will have to spend your own money, and we are saving you from that”. That is a fair summary of the judgement by Lords Pentland and Troy and Lady Wise in our appeal against the suspension of …

The Unjust State

Does the Act of Union Still Apply?
12 Oct 2026 at 10:29am

Tomorrow at 10am we get the judgement in our appeal against the suspension of the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. We cannot have won as the appeal – held by “urgent process” – was intended to allow a judicial review before the Supreme Court meets in the Ammori case on 4 …

Does the Act of Union Still Apply?

Fatuous False Flags
2 Oct 2026 at 10:16am

Rather than abandoning the plainly nuts Fairford narrative, Burnham and his government are doubling down on the claim it is an Iranian terror plot. It remains quite possible the men were indeed fuel thieves, simply stealing fuel from farms. They appear to have been equipped for fuel theft and all they were carrying was petrol. …

Fatuous False Flags

Losing My Religion
29 Sep 2026 at 12:07pm

I have lost faith both in Western social democracy, and in the institutions of international law. As both have been fundamental to the work of my life, this is rather a blow as I approach 70. A number of deeply shocking things have happened this past three years, not as extraneous events, but as conscious …

Losing My Religion

Palestine Action Judicial Review
23 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm

On Friday we have our appeal against the suspension of the Palestine Action judicial review in Scotland. Our legal crowdfunder has been closed down by the card processors following Trump’s designation of Palestine Action as a global terrorist organisation. https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/scottish-challenge-to-proscription/dashboard/ If you can, please come to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for 10am. If …

Palestine Action Judicial Review

Four Days in Ekaterinburg
21 Sep 2026 at 1:26pm

I was surprised a few weeks ago to get an invitation from Yana Lantratova, Russian Federal Commissioner for Human Rights, to deliver a speech on human rights to the International Youth Festival in Ekaterinburg. It is approaching 20 years since I was last in Russia, and I tend to avoid invitations from governments. But on …

Four Days in Ekaterinburg

BBC Scotland

Burnham invites Swinney to work together on 'deeper Scottish devolution'
16 Oct 2026 at 3:36pm
On his first substantive trip to Scotland since becoming PM, he says politicians should focus on solutions "right now" and move beyond the issue of Scottish independence.

'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum
15 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
The SNP's Stephen Flynn tells his party's conference independence supporters are "winning the argument".

What does Andy Burnham have up his sleeve as he crashes SNP conference?
15 Oct 2026 at 6:18am
The prime minister's first substantive visit to Scotland coincides with the SNP's conference in Aberdeen.

Fewer than 800 Scots have received jabs for weight loss on NHS, BBC finds
15 Oct 2026 at 6:17am
Only five of Scotland's 14 health boards currently offer the treatment specifically for weight loss, it has emerged.

Obama says drift towards extremism 'not inevitable'
15 Oct 2026 at 11:51am
More than 12,000 people filled a major venue in the city to hear the former US president's take on the challenges the world is facing. .

I do not have confidence UK is safe from Russian threats - Swinney
14 Oct 2026 at 5:57pm
The first minister speaks to BBC Scotland News ahead of the SNP's annual conference in Aberdeen.

Burnham - Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas decisions coming 'shortly'
14 Oct 2026 at 3:13pm
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged the prime minister to stop "faffing about" with the North Sea oil and gas fields.

Swimmer Archie Goodburn thanks prime minister as brain cancer review announced
14 Oct 2026 at 8:04pm
The Scottish athlete, who has inoperable brain tumours, previously made a tearful plea for more investment in brain cancer research on BBC Breakfast.

John Cleese urges St Andrews students not to elect Q Manivannan as rector
13 Oct 2026 at 5:29pm
The actor and former rector of St Andrews says the MSP has understated the psychological effects of rape.

Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference
13 Oct 2026 at 11:29am
The prime minister is expected to head to the central belt while SNP members gather in Aberdeen.

Shetland MSP defends hiring artist with public money
12 Oct 2026 at 6:30pm
Hannah Mary Goodlad says she is using language and culture to reach the public across her islands constituency.

No probe into claims Swinney misled Holyrood
12 Oct 2026 at 5:47pm
The first minister is facing no investigation into his comments on plans to adjust the pension triple lock.

Scot Goes Pop

52% support for independence - 14-point lead for SNP - new Scottish poll is C...
15 Oct 2026 at 10:35pm

I'm standing in this week's SNP internal elections - I believe we have a duty...
14 Oct 2026 at 12:57pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.

Nick Robinson and the dehumanisation of Palestinians demanded by official BBC...
11 Oct 2026 at 8:42am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Sky News goes full Pravda in its coverage of the Holborn & St Pancras by-elec...
9 Oct 2026 at 1:04pm
Holborn & St Pancras by-election result (8th October 2026):Labour 45.2% (-3.7)Greens 32.8% (+22.4)Conservatives 7.1% (-0.1)Reform UK 5.9% (-0.2)Liberal Democrats 3.4% (-2.4)Restore Britain 2.5% (n/...

Tories' plan to impose new nuclear power stations on Scotland means they have...
7 Oct 2026 at 2:39am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Watch out for ORCS! Rory Stewart thrillingly brings back "The Middleland", by...
4 Oct 2026 at 3:29pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham's TIME-BENDING hypocrisy: "It's fine for us to consider overturning t...
1 Oct 2026 at 1:35am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham uses the loss of his father as an excuse for stripping Scotland of it...
29 Sep 2026 at 7:00pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Scotland is one of the most centralised nations in Europe, says Burnham
16 Oct 2026 at 1:14pm
Speaking in Motherwell, the Prime Minister said devolution 'was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament'

UK ban on strangulation and incest in porn to come into force
16 Oct 2026 at 9:03am
The content will be outlawed from November 6 after cross-party pressure about the negative impact on women and girls

Scottish Government pledges £10 million for two specialist defence colleges
16 Oct 2026 at 7:11am
Innovation minister Alyn Smith confirmed the Scottish Government would work with the UK Government to establish two such colleges in Scotland

Prime Minister Burnham to urge John Swinney to shift power to councils across...
15 Oct 2026 at 10:30pm
The Prime Minister is visiting Lanarkshire, crashing the SNP's national conference in Aberdeen.

Public sector reforms could be ?building blocks of independent state? ? minister
15 Oct 2026 at 5:06pm
Public service reform seretary Ivan McKee spoke out during a fringe meeting at the SNP conference

Time ahead the greatest challenge ever for independence movement, says Flynn
15 Oct 2026 at 1:18pm
Economy secretary Stephen Flynn addressed the SNP conference on Thursday

Burnham urged to ?bring it on? and allow second Scottish independence vote
15 Oct 2026 at 7:40am
Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn will make the demand as the SNP conference gets under way in Aberdeen on Thursday.

Reform councillors told to resign after ?chilling? ITV investigation
14 Oct 2026 at 9:04pm
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said anyone found to have made "such despicable comments" must be made to leave Reform UK "immediately". 

Decision on North Sea?s Jackdaw gas field ?imminent?, Energy Secretary says
14 Oct 2026 at 5:37pm
The UK Government is considering whether to grant permission for two projects

Archie Goodburn thanked as ministers announce plans to improve brain cancer care
14 Oct 2026 at 5:22pm
The Scottish swimmer, 25, has been praised for his advocacy work

First Minister John Swinney backs second Brexit vote ahead of SNP conference
14 Oct 2026 at 4:48pm
The First Minister also highlighted a poll commissioned by the SNP, which shows a majority support for independence

Former US President Barack Obama touches down in Glasgow for Hydro event
14 Oct 2026 at 4:21pm
An Evening with President Barack Obama will be held at the OVO Hydro on Wednesday evening

Swinney: I will use every opportunity to challenge Badenoch devolution push
14 Oct 2026 at 6:58am
It comes after reports Tory leader Kemi Badenoch would review devolution if her party wins the keys to Downing Street in 2029.

Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled Parliament over pensions
12 Oct 2026 at 3:52pm
The First Minister said he had been informed by his independent advisers that ?no investigation is required?

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Andy Burnham says he wants to 'move beyond constitutional questions' on Scotl...
16 Oct 2026 at 1:28pm
Speaking on a visit to a college built on the site of the former Ravenscraig steel works, the Prime Minister said devolution was "never meant to end at the doors of Holyood".

Andy Burnham offers to work with John Swinney to push power out of Holyrood a...
15 Oct 2026 at 10:30pm
The Prime Minister will use a speech in Lanarkshire to emphasise the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe.

Fed-up SNP members tell party bosses to spend 'less time fixating on Westmins...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:15pm
In a rare example of dissent, SNP activists gathered away from the party conference to discuss how to kick-start the stalled campaign for ending the Union.

Half of Scots view SNP as incompetent with majority branding party 'out of to...
15 Oct 2026 at 1:10pm
The Nationalists are preparing to launch another push for independence since 2014 at a time many voters are turning their back on the party.

John Swinney denies he faces a 'rammy' with unions as 20,000 workers face 'un...
15 Oct 2026 at 12:45pm
The SNP leader said he wanted to achieve "consensus" on plans to axe councils health boards and denied he faced a "rammy" with unions over inevitable job cuts.

"My partner died begging for help - then system failed my kids" Mum in desper...
15 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
Luke Henderson died by suicide after begging for help in December 2017 - then his two children were rejected from CAMHS.

John Swinney warned against pushing through 'barbarous' public sector job cuts
15 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
The First Minister will arrive in Aberdeen for the SNP's annual conference amid mounting concerns over his plans to radically reform the NHS and local government.

John Swinney branded 'clueless' on achieving independence as 'depressed' SNP ...
15 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: A veteran Nationalist said there was "utter depression" among ordinary party members over the performance of the Scottish Government.

Andy Burnham urged to 'help' Glasgow as Reform accused of 'exploiting' public...
14 Oct 2026 at 1:56pm
Labour MP Maureen Burke said there was now an urgent need for an "honest discussion" on the pressures facing Glasgow.

Commandos build underground hospital near Glasgow to combat drones on battlef...
14 Oct 2026 at 12:10pm
The subterranean hospital, which was inspired by the war in Ukraine, took six days to build.

The National

The National | Politics

Scottish Government awards £600,000 to digital Gaelic spoken language project
16 Oct 2026 at 2:39pm

A DIGITAL Gaelic platform has received £600,000 to support the development of advanced technologies through the Scottish Government's innovation programme.

Anyone in SNP who joins Lords should be expelled from party, says ex-MP
16 Oct 2026 at 2:31pm

ANYONE in the SNP who accepts a seat in the House of Lords should be kicked out of the party, according to a former MP ...

SNP minister suggests new independence pressure group is 'waste of time'
16 Oct 2026 at 1:38pm

AN SNP minister has suggested that the formation of a new internal independence pressure group within the party is a ?waste of time? ...

Andy Burnham refuses to rule out second independence referendum during his ti...
16 Oct 2026 at 1:19pm

Andy Burnham has refused to rule out holding a second Scottish independence referendum during his time as Prime Minister

SNP see hung Westminster parliament as ?most realistic? route to indyref2, MP...
16 Oct 2026 at 12:36pm

A HUNG parliament at Westminster is the most realistic route to a second independence referendum ? and the one the SNP aim to pursue, a party MP has said.

Green deputy hails victory against GB News pundit in riot smear row
16 Oct 2026 at 12:30pm

A DEPUTY leader of the Green Party of England and Wales has claimed victory in a defamation battle against a GB News pundit and social media personality who smeared him as participating in a riot.

John Swinney responds to Andy Burnham's devolution offer to SNP
16 Oct 2026 at 12:12pm

JOHN Swinney has said he will work with the Prime Minister if he wants to devolve more powers to Scotland ...

We must promote the positives achieved by the SNP in government
16 Oct 2026 at 12:00pm

AS a follow-on to Stan Grodynski?s letter of October 9 and as a grassroots member of the SNP for a very long time, like Mr Grodynski, I know public criticism of the SNP from within will do nothing to convince voters of our ultimate goal of independence.

New major poll predicts Labour majority government
16 Oct 2026 at 11:58am

AN MRP poll has predicted a Labour majority government if a general election were held now

Wife of Andy Burnham's top aide backs Palestine Action in shock intervention
16 Oct 2026 at 11:43am

THE wife of Andy Burnham?s top national security adviser has backed Palestine Action.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Andy Burnham: Power too centralised in Scotland
16 Oct 2026 at 1:01am
Burnham will meet young people in Lanarkshire during a visit to Scotland which coincides with the SNP conference in Aberdeen.

Dave Doogan has a secret defence plan for an independent Scotland
15 Oct 2026 at 11:00pm
He also admitted to harbouring an ambition to be the defence secretary

Dave Doogan: A plan to defend an independent Scotland is ?not an ambition, it...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:54pm
Doogan warned that ?the threats are there? and Scotland must have a plan for defence in the buildup to independence

Polling: SNP on track to be in ?most powerful position at Westminster in our ...
14 Oct 2026 at 4:26pm
The deputy first minister reacted to new polling suggesting the SNP could receive 34 per cent of the vote at the next general election

Andy Burnham: Manchester-style approach can clean up Glasgow
14 Oct 2026 at 3:59pm
Pledge to MP during Prime Minister's Questions

Majority of Scots back ?pragmatic? North Sea approach
14 Oct 2026 at 6:00am
Over two-thirds of Scots agree decisions on oil and gas should be made on a case-by-case basis

AI ?supercharging? cyber threats, MI5 chief warns
13 Oct 2026 at 5:00pm
MI5 has launched a new AI Threat Assessment Centre

Prime minister to visit Scotland during SNP conference
13 Oct 2026 at 12:22pm
The prime minister will be north of the border to discuss his plans to devolve more powers to local authorities

John Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled parliament with p...
12 Oct 2026 at 4:49pm
The first minister said independent advisers had decided that "no investigation is required"

John Swinney urged to condemn Ross Greer remarks on Zionism
8 Oct 2026 at 6:00pm
Malcolm Offord said the comments were "blatantly antisemitic", while the FM accused Reform of "bringing racism into the chamber"

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Burnham v Swinney: will the UK PM overshadow the SNP?s conference?
15 Oct 2026 at 7:00am
Prime minister presents new kind of challenge for SNP, and his Scottish visit will loom large over its big eventThis year, even Andy Burnham is invited to the Scottish National party conference. But by the time John Swinney stands up to address members on Saturday afternoon in Aberdeen to reinvig...

Burnham tells Zelenskyy?s UK?s support for Ukraine ?will not change? ? as it ...
14 Oct 2026 at 6:06pm
Zelenskyy says he will be discussing intelligence sharing ?difficulties? and Starlink access with BurnhamPMQs is about to start.Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.After @genevieve_holl reported this last night, various sources in the Trump administration who are supportive of Farage s...

MI5 chief Ken McCallum confirms Russia did interfere in Brexit referendum but...
13 Oct 2026 at 5:23pm
He argued there was no evidence to suggest the result of the Brexit vote had been swayed as a result of the effortAndy Burnham promises ?serious dialogue? over UK?s relationship with EUZia Yusuf, Reform UK?s home affairs spokesperson, has said he does not agree with his colleague Suella Braverman...

UK politics live: Pat McFadden tells Labour activists they should not defend ...
27 Sep 2026 at 6:11pm
Work and pensions secretary says the current system is flawed because it consigns too many people to a life on benefits when they would be better off working?I can deliver?: Burnham pledges radical change on eve of Labour conferenceKuenssberg puts it to Burnham that, according to the Health Found...

New powerful synthetic opioids behind sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths
23 Sep 2026 at 2:12pm
Eleven per cent increase in fatalities last year partly down to presence of nitazenes in Scotland?s illicit drug marketNew forms of a powerful synthetic opioid have contributed to a sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths, with the latest data showing an 11% increase in fatalities last yearAnnual figu...

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

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

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

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

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

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

It?s time to abolish the Scotland Office
16 Oct 2026 at 1:06pm
On the first day of the SNP conference, the membership voted overwhelmingly for the abolition of the Scotland Office and the post of Secretary of state for Scotland, also known as the Scottish Secretary. The vote was of course symbolic as the Scotland Office is a department of the Westminster government while its head, the …

SNP conference, day 1 and the Choose Scotland campaign
15 Oct 2026 at 2:46pm
It’s sod’s law. Just as the SNP party conference gets underway and the biggest push for independence in a decade has been announced, WordPress, the platform this blog uses, has implemented an update which has run into some glitches and is preventing many people from being able to post comments or replies. If you are …

Emily Thornberry?s EU English exceptionalism
14 Oct 2026 at 3:53pm
Labour MP Emily Thornberry has suggested that the UK could rejoin the EU without another referendum to overturn the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Speaking to Sky News, she said the majority agree that Brexit was a disaster and the UK should just rejoin the EU, another referendum is not necessary in her view. …

The SNP is right to maintain its boycott of the Lords
13 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
Last week, the SNP’s former Westminster leader Ian Blackford, speaking to The National newspaper’s podcast, suggested that the party’s refusal to take any seat in Westminster?s upper chamber was a weakness as it left them with “no way of affecting legislation in that House”. While insisting that he accepts the long standing SNP policy of …

Sticking with the status quo isn?t working
12 Oct 2026 at 2:53pm
Andy Burnham has decided to reopen the question of the UK’s relationship with the EU, telling MPs on Monday that it is time to “face up to the reality that Brexit has done more harm than good” and “the status quo is not good enough for Britain,” and that and “the status quo isn’t working …

America?s moral turpitude is infesting British politics
10 Oct 2026 at 2:58pm
I don’t usually blog about America unless it directly affects or involves Scotland, but for the latest example of how far that once great country has fallen into moral turpitude under Trump, I’ll make an exception. The very same people who had a collective meltdown over the sight of a Black mermaid or Black Helen …

Badenoch has killed off the once in a generation claim
7 Oct 2026 at 1:51pm
The Tories have officially ripped up the Vow to which they were signatories in 2014. This was the panicked promise made by the Better Together parties – one of which was the Conservatives – two days before the independence referendum which promised extensive new powers for Scotland, quasi-federal status, a guarantee that the Scottish Parliament …

The British right has Holyrood in its sights
6 Oct 2026 at 2:29pm
The Tories have crossed the Rubicon. Since the independence referendum of 2014, which Better Together won on the basis of false promises, not the least of which was the promise that the powers of the Scottish Parliament would never be clawed back by Westminster, the Westminster parties have largely attempted to maintain a fig leaf …

Labour?s gone from jam tomorrow to maybe jam eventually
5 Oct 2026 at 9:43am
One of the key promises of the Labour party in Scotland during the 2024 Westminster general election campaign was that a vote for Labour was a vote to save the jobs of the workers at the Grangemouth refinery which at that time was threatened with closure. As we all know, the refinery closed despite Labour’s …

Burnham pensions off two Better Together arguments
2 Oct 2026 at 12:41pm
One of the ways in which the Better Together campaign won the referendum in 2014 was to successfully scaremonger Scotland’s pensioners into believing that their state pensions would not be safe in an independent Scotland and that Scotland’s pensioners needed Westminster to guarantee their meagre state pensions. There were even disgraceful reports of Better Together …

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

Daily Record desperately predicts fireworks violence again despite ?no report...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:24pm
Notably, unlike in October 2025 (below), BBC Scotland is not attempting to scare us with a similar damp squib but the Record is. Here’s why: On 6 November 2025: Police say there was a “notable” reduction in Bonfire Night disorder with the number of calls received down by 37% across Scotland. Between 31 October and 5 November, 833 calls needed a local or specialist response, almost 500 fewer tha...

NHS Scotland treating 20% more in 12 weeks than NHS England as think-tank pre...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:21pm
Typically dishonest, gutter-level journalism from the Herald today. Moving the formal maximum target from an unmet 12 weeks to a 26-week aim by 2031 is a relaxation of ambition relative to the old legal standard, but it does not mean the plan is to increase waits to twice what people experience today. For a large number of current long-waiters it would still represent an improvement if achieved...

Scotland has twice as many ?probation officers?
16 Oct 2026 at 2:20pm
After several decades in journalism, the daughter of a history prof, remains fully Anglocentric, writing once more to conflate England’s woes with Scotland today. She only once reveals that this is all about England & Wales (poor things) in the very last paragraph. Her main concern, highlighted in the headline, is: Today it?s the probation officers, whose conference in Newcastle is launching a ...

Time for Scotland to wake up to the double standards, hypocrisy, propaganda a...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:16pm
By Liz S ?Scotland?s drug deaths crisis IS a human rights scandal but it is also a fundamental consequence of our subjection still within a dying, dysfunctional but still dominant and brutal empire?. Indeed and as ?consequences? it is yet another terrible legacy that the SNP have inherited but now they , the SNP, are getting all of the blame for what ? In them , the SNP to be seen as creating t...

?I believe that the UK (sic) is decades behind other countries?: Unlike in Sc...
16 Oct 2026 at 10:12am
Typically the above expert on BBC Breakfast this morning knows nothing of Scotland. Scotland already has a published Strategic Action Plan for Wildfires (5 March 2026), produced with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), land managers and the Scottish Wildfire Forum. More below. Above, a lightly-clad firefighter working in Dunwich heat next to a nuclear power station. In the Guardian tod...

YouGov?s naked bias still using the thousands who have passed since 2014 to m...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:14pm
The pollster YouGov above today still trying to tell us we don’t want independence. Below, telling with unerring regularity the same story in the face of a powerful trend telling us the opposite. It?s not just the last four or five YouGov polls, going back years they almost never get a Yes lead. YouGov is of course, Tory-owned. So how might they be doing this. Have a look at the way they have a...

Too few people are ready yet to really go for it
15 Oct 2026 at 5:47pm
Lesley Riddoch above telling viewers that the SNP leadership is too comfortable in their jobs and that ‘to too many people, they look like they’re behind an ivory tower.’ I know, there are those in the SNP leadership a bit too comfortable but I remain convinced that the party heads inevitably toward independence and I see little evidence for Riddoch’s claims. There is evidence from polls that v...

Reform UK candidates will be vetted
15 Oct 2026 at 5:26pm
By Liz S Calling Malcolm Offord & Thomas Kerr to ask them if they watched last night?s ITV news report on the racist & sexist comments made by Reform UK Councillors and Candidates in England (is it only there though ?). Reminds me of when the BBC reported on Reform UK on their BBC website in March 2026 via this headline ?Reform UK suspends Scotland candidate over financial allegations? . That a...

Why UK Labour?s risky nuclear changes are just like Trump?s ?pro-cancer? age...
15 Oct 2026 at 1:32pm
In the Scotsman, yesterday, in a sequence of anti-SNP pieces recently, the above from the woman below: Melanie Ward has worked for several charities, including Christian Aid, and ActionAid UK. For a time she chaired The Circle, which is a charity that Annie Lennox founded to empower women. By December 2015, Ward was the associate director of policy and advocacy for International Rescue Committe...

Scotland?s drug deaths crisis IS a human rights scandal but it is also a fund...
15 Oct 2026 at 12:56pm
From Third Force yesterday, the above, and: The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) chair has challenged ministers over their response to the continuing drugs’ death toll, insisting the loss of life is neither acceptable nor inevitable. Professor Angela O’Hagan’s intervention follows figures showing 1,133 people died from drugs in Scotland during 2025 ? an increase of 116 on the previous ye...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum - The Telegraph
16 Oct 2026 at 3:40pm
Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum  The Telegraph

Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum - ITN
16 Oct 2026 at 10:38am
Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum  ITN

Stop dramas and help people?s lives, says Burnham in Scotland visit - The Times
16 Oct 2026 at 4:00pm
Stop dramas and help people?s lives, says Burnham in Scotland visit  The Times

'Independence movement bigger than any party,' Gillian Mackay says - The Nati...
16 Oct 2026 at 9:36am
'Independence movement bigger than any party,' Gillian Mackay says  The National Scot

Burnham makes 'deeper devolution' vow and sets out view on independence refer...
16 Oct 2026 at 3:32pm
Burnham makes 'deeper devolution' vow and sets out view on independence referendum  The Herald

Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference - Financial...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference  Financial Times

'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum - BBC
15 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum  BBC

Dave Doogan: I am an operative charged with delivering Scotland?s independenc...
15 Oct 2026 at 1:00am
Dave Doogan: I am an operative charged with delivering Scotland?s independence  Holyrood Website

SNP says it is launching biggest Scottish independence campaign since referen...
15 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
SNP says it is launching biggest Scottish independence campaign since referendum  The Scotsman

Burnham urged to ?bring it on? and allow second Scottish independence vote - ...
15 Oct 2026 at 11:05pm
Burnham urged to ?bring it on? and allow second Scottish independence vote  London Evening Standard

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

You take the high road: why is Andy Burnham ?crashing? the SNP conference? - ...
16 Oct 2026 at 2:28pm
You take the high road: why is Andy Burnham ?crashing? the SNP conference?  The Week

SNP turns back on ?presumption against? oil and gas - Energy Voice
16 Oct 2026 at 3:30pm
SNP turns back on ?presumption against? oil and gas  Energy Voice

Burnham v Swinney: will the UK PM overshadow the SNP?s conference? - The Guar...
15 Oct 2026 at 7:00am
Burnham v Swinney: will the UK PM overshadow the SNP?s conference?  The Guardian

SNP minister suggests new independence pressure group is 'waste of time' - Th...
16 Oct 2026 at 1:56pm
SNP minister suggests new independence pressure group is 'waste of time'  The National Scot

Could the UK actually split? Experts explain the legal route for pro-independ...
16 Oct 2026 at 1:40pm
Could the UK actually split? Experts explain the legal route for pro-independence leaders  The Conversation

Andy Burnham urges SNP?s John Swinney to team up on devolving jobs support - ...
16 Oct 2026 at 4:00pm
Andy Burnham urges SNP?s John Swinney to team up on devolving jobs support  Financial Times

'The SNP has a problem it can no longer dodge if it wants independence' - The...
16 Oct 2026 at 10:34am
'The SNP has a problem it can no longer dodge if it wants independence'  The Herald

SNP councillors revolt over local government reform plans - The Scotsman
16 Oct 2026 at 12:40pm
SNP councillors revolt over local government reform plans  The Scotsman

Questions over SNP policy on oil and gas - Sky News
16 Oct 2026 at 7:33am
Questions over SNP policy on oil and gas  Sky News

What does Andy Burnham have up his sleeve as he crashes SNP conference? - BBC
14 Oct 2026 at 10:58pm
What does Andy Burnham have up his sleeve as he crashes SNP conference?  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Andy Burnham?s speech a distraction from anti-democratic block on independenc...
16 Oct 2026 at 3:09pm
Andy Burnham?s speech a distraction from anti-democratic block on independence referendum, say Greens  Scottish Greens

Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum - ITN
16 Oct 2026 at 10:38am
Labour: There won?t be a Scottish independence referendum  ITN

'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum - BBC
15 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum  BBC

Scotland has right to decide constitutional future, new Scottish Labour leade...
22 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland has right to decide constitutional future, new Scottish Labour leader says  BBC

Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference - Financial...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference  Financial Times

New polls undermine John Swinney?s independence claims - The Times
15 Oct 2026 at 6:15pm
New polls undermine John Swinney?s independence claims  The Times

Douglas Alexander defends revisiting Brexit referendum but not independence -...
16 Oct 2026 at 9:11am
Douglas Alexander defends revisiting Brexit referendum but not independence  The National Scot

The SNP's internal independence divide won't disappear after party conference...
16 Oct 2026 at 1:06am
The SNP's internal independence divide won't disappear after party conference  The Herald

Flynn urges Burnham to ?bring it on? and call a second Scottish independence ...
15 Oct 2026 at 5:20pm
Flynn urges Burnham to ?bring it on? and call a second Scottish independence referendum  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

SNP says it is launching biggest Scottish independence campaign since referen...
15 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
SNP says it is launching biggest Scottish independence campaign since referendum  The Scotsman