The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Richard Tice backs Malcolm Offord amid Reform's Holyrood controversy
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
8 Apr 2026 at 4:09pm
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has backed Malcolm Offord amid controversy over his Holyrood candidates.


'Safety and dignity': Social care charity backs drug-use facility in Edinburgh
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
8 Apr 2026 at 2:59pm
City of Edinburgh Council is currently consulting residents about the facility, which could open in the Cowgate area of the city.


Reform's Richard Tice calls for 'every last drop' of North Sea oil to be extr...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
8 Apr 2026 at 2:45pm
Richard Tice said Reform UK would extract 'every last drop' of oil from the North Sea as he backed new domestic drilling.


Anas Sarwar: Funding for 'broken' Creative Scotland provides poor value for m...
by brian.ferguson@newsquest.co.uk | Brian Ferguson
8 Apr 2026 at 2:32pm
Scottish Labour leader suggests quango has prioritised organisations which 'make the most noise' in lobbying campaigns.


New poll 'grim reading' for Scottish Labour as they slump behind Greens and R...
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
8 Apr 2026 at 2:20pm
The SNP has extended its lead ahead of May's Holyrood election, while Scottish Labour slumps to fourth place behind the Greens and Reform, according to the latest poll.


Bute House Agreement 2.0 would be 'difficult' because of SNP backsliding, Sla...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
8 Apr 2026 at 2:17pm
Ms Slater, who is seeking to become the party?s first constituency MSP, is locked in a pitched electoral battle with SNP minister Angus Robertson.


Why is a man in a giant bird suit standing for Holyrood in Edinburgh?
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
8 Apr 2026 at 9:35am
The environmental activist will contest the Edinburgh Central constituency in May?s Holyrood election while dressed as a giant gannet.


Keir Starmer welcomes US-Iran ceasefire amid efforts to reopen Strait of Hormuz
by Will Meakin-Durrant
8 Apr 2026 at 7:40am
The Prime Minister is travelling to the Middle East on Wednesday


Presiding Officer warns politics has become 'polarised' ahead of Holyrood exit
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
8 Apr 2026 at 5:30am
Alison Johnstone, the departing Presiding Officer, has shared her concerns for the future of politics in Scotland as the toxic debate increases.


SNP vows £10m resilience fund and islanders on CalMac boards within first weeks
by Craig Paton
8 Apr 2026 at 12:01am
A £10 million island resilience fund will be launched in the first 20 days of an SNP administration, John Swinney has said, with islanders to be put on the boards of Scotland?s ferry operator.


Analysis: Are the Scottish Greens on the cusp of a 'civil war' as polling da...
8 Apr 2026 at 4:00pm
In the run-up to the Scottish Greens leadership race last year there was much public discussion about the party being in the grip of a "civil war" with former co-leader Patrick Harvie warning members against infighting.


Emails show Swinney warned of Youth Parliament claims in The Herald but did n...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
8 Apr 2026 at 10:18am
Emails reveal John Swinney was alerted to Youth Parliament safeguarding concerns raised by The Herald but failed to act, prompting fresh political criticism.


Scottish Tory tax cut plan 'may not survive contact with reality'
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
8 Apr 2026 at 10:27am
A sweeping package of tax cuts, rebates and spending pledges has been unveiled by Russell Findlay ? but the Institute for Fiscal Studies warns the billions in planned savings may prove far harder to deliver than claimed.


Lock out Reform? The SNP's biggest threat in Edinburgh is from the left
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
7 Apr 2026 at 2:47pm
Mr Robertson flipped the Edinburgh Central seat for the SNP from the Conservatives in 2021.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Scottish Labour support slumps as SNP extends its lead, polling shows
8 Apr 2026 at 2:03pm

New polling shows the SNP would be in ?touching distance? of a parliamentary majority but pollsters warn nothing can be taken for granted

Check who is standing in each constituency for the Scottish Parliament.

Here is everything you need to know about the EU?s new Entry/Exit System and how it affects you ahead of its launch on April 10.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland said delayed discharge was making A&E waits worse.

Edinburgh's SNP group has today said it would back a North-South tramline for the Capital, but did not believe either of the options for the northern section ? Roseburn Path or Orchard Brae ? offered the right solution.

£10m funding and CalMac board seats for islanders pledged

The US president has been urged to step back from his threat to wipe out ?a whole civilisation? as his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz draws closer

Green MSP candidate Kate Nevens said she wants the ?complete abolition? of Scotland?s prison estate.

The Scottish Tory leader said he will ?give absolutely everything I?ve got? to stop the SNP

Wings over Scotland

The quality of mercy
3 Apr 2026 at 1:09pm
Let’s just deal with this quickly. Because the truth is that we should all be quietly sending BBC Scotland bouquets in appreciation for doing the independence movement a favour for once. Belief in an independent Scotland IS as strong as ever, which is to say it’s pretty much where it’s been since 2014 – two …

Clocks And Calendars
30 Mar 2026 at 1:06pm
We think the lads at The Scotsman might have gotten a bit confused and/or carried away when it came to putting the clocks forward at the weekend. At 6am on Sunday morning they tweeted this: But the link was a 404. We checked the print edition of Scotland On Sunday but there was nothing there …

Sicknote Slippers
29 Mar 2026 at 6:09pm
The turnout at the “independence march and rally” yesterday was so abysmally poor that it seems almost unfair to pick on any of the scores of SNP elected representatives who didn’t bother to show up. But dear old Cosy Feet Pete Wishart had the most chef’s-kiss excuse of all. The reason he didn’t fancy getting …

Protest But Don?t Survive
28 Mar 2026 at 5:20pm
If events in Edinburgh today are anything to go by – when a march and rally announced with great fanfare seven months ago, backed by both the “independence” parties in the Scottish Parliament and featuring the First Minister as main speaker, attracted perhaps 1,500 people at the most to Calton Hill on a bright and …

Let?s Call The Whole Thing Off
24 Mar 2026 at 12:59pm
The last faint hope of any remotely positive or at least interesting outcome of May’s election just left the building. It wasn’t MUCH of a hope, and it’s absolutely no surprise in the wake of the comically shambolic, belief-defyingly inept farce that has been the birth of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s fringe-of-the fringe party, …

Irony you can?t buy
20 Mar 2026 at 12:09pm
Posted without comment. But the reason you can’t buy the irony is that she doesn’t need the money. So that’s quarter of a million pounds just for running away when things got a bit sticky, on top of the circa £225,000 in wages she’s trousered since resigning as FM despite never turning up for work …

Looking up at the stars
10 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
A fascinating line from the BBC this evening: The number of parties who got MSPs elected at the last election is? five. (Though in fairness there are now six, Reform having a single MSP after Graham Simpson defected from the Tories. The Lib Dems are even outnumbered by independents, of whom there are seven.) Also …

Scotland?s Most Frightened
4 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
This was just two months ago. (Longer version here.) ? And we’ll bet you anything you like he’s already wishing he hadn’t said it. Because a recent study suggested that Swinney might just achieve the impossible task he set for himself, and if he does then he’s REALLY screwed. Now, we don’t actually think that’ll …

Two Men Unalike
28 Feb 2026 at 1:41pm
So Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News got herself a scoop last night. And to be honest, readers, we were a bit confused. “Gender critical views” are not only lawful things to hold and express, they’re one of a small subset of opinions that are explicitly protected as such in law. And why would a …

The Tactics Of Suicide
26 Feb 2026 at 1:48pm
Sorry, readers, we’ve been too busy boiling with rage at revolting, cretinous Americans for the last few days to trust ourselves with writing a full-length article, but we’ve just about calmed down enough in time for this month’s polling analysis. Which is handy, because today is also the day of the Gorton and Denton by-election …

Craig Murray

The Strait of Hormuz
8 Apr 2026 at 5:02pm

In international law, Tehran has every right to close the strait of Hormuz to nations with which it is in armed conflict. Two vital points: 1) States who permit attacks on Iran to be launched from their territory can be blocked 2) Iran can block neutral ships from trading with states with which it is …

The Strait of Hormuz

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez
31 Mar 2026 at 1:16pm

As I was leaving the University of the Communes in Tocuyito, after a joyful and uplifting visit, an earnest young Professor came up to me and pulled me aside. Very quietly, he asked me what was going to happen. A number of the students were terrified there would be regime change and they, picked as …

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez

The Caracas Metro
26 Mar 2026 at 6:46am

The extreme nature of sanctions against Venezuela made it very challenging to keep economic activity going. One example is Caracas’s impressive five-line Metro system, where for almost twenty years they had to keep things running with no spares or maintenance support from the train manufacturers. Yet resilience and ingenuity kicked in, and Venezuela actually reverse …

The Caracas Metro

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag
24 Mar 2026 at 12:04pm

The notion that the Iranian state would discredit itself by choosing to attack an ambulance service in London is crazy. Iran has not even attacked any hospitals or ambulances in Israel. Iran has absolutely zero record of attacks on healthcare facilities. That is of course in stark contrast to Israel which specifically targets them in …

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag

Seeing Trump Clearly
21 Mar 2026 at 12:19pm

What if Trump’s apparently chaotic thought processes and intuitive decision making are all a blind, a charade? What if we are really witnessing, in the Middle East and more widely, a carefully constructed plan with very definite objectives? Has Trump in fact “planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway”, while flinging the …

Seeing Trump Clearly

Radicalism and Scottish Independence
14 Mar 2026 at 4:18pm

There is no place like home, and a few hours after arriving back in Scotland I was in Glasgow giving a talk to Pensioners for Independence. I still covered quite a wide sweep, but my focus came back to what I care about more than anything – the freedom, prosperity and just position in the …

Radicalism and Scottish Independence

BBC Scotland

CalMac ferries problems dominate election campaigning
8 Apr 2026 at 5:21pm
Scotland's political leaders turn their attention to the problems facing ferry services as campaigning continued for Holyrood.

Tax rebate not intended for millionaire pensioners, Findlay says
8 Apr 2026 at 10:54am
The Scottish Tories say they will give £500 to pensioners - but the party's leader says he hopes millionaires will not apply.

Scottish Conservatives pledge tax cuts in election manifesto
7 Apr 2026 at 4:20pm
Leader Russell Findlay announces his party's plans ahead of next month's Holyrood poll.

Green candidate backs abolition of Scotland's prisons
7 Apr 2026 at 1:17pm
The comments, made by Edinburgh and Lothians East hopeful Kate Nevens, have been branded "monumentally stupid".

Scottish Conservative election manifesto at-a-glance
7 Apr 2026 at 6:23pm
The party's priorities include cutting tax bills, raising school standards and delivering faster GP appointments.

SNP chief told of Linden complaints 10 years ago, says ex-official
6 Apr 2026 at 12:51pm
Former council leader Jordan Linden was last month found guilty of five sexual assaults against young men.

What we learned from Scotcast's interviews with party leaders
4 Apr 2026 at 9:18am
The leaders of Scotland's six biggest parties spoke to the BBC's Scotcast ahead of the election.

How does the NHS in Scotland compare with the rest of the UK?
3 Apr 2026 at 6:21am
BBC Verify looks at key measures to see what progress is being made and whether Scotland can be compared with other nations.

'An awful experiment': Cash boost for families as two-child limit scrapped
2 Apr 2026 at 11:00pm
The nine-year policy that capped financial help at two children has been removed.

Swinney softens stance on North Sea drilling as oil prices soar
2 Apr 2026 at 2:01pm
The first minister said energy security should be a primary concern when making decisions on oil and gas projects.

More than 4.2 million registered to vote in Scottish Parliament election
2 Apr 2026 at 11:16am
The overall total, and that of 16 and 17-year-olds, is slightly down on last year.

Navy investigated links between nuclear sub commander and MP
1 Apr 2026 at 5:44pm
No disciplinary action was taken over the allegations of an inappropriate relationship with Scottish MP Joani Reid.

Scot Goes Pop

Pro-independence parties on course to win an astonishing 62% of seats in the ...
8 Apr 2026 at 12:55pm
Scottish Parliament constituency ballot (Ipsos, 26th-31st March 2026):SNP 39% (+3)Reform UK 15% (-1)Labour 15% (-5)Conservatives 11% (+2)Liberal Democrats 10% (-)Greens 7% (-)Scottish Parliament re...

Catastrophe for Starmer as Labour slump to joint all-time low in weekly YouGo...
8 Apr 2026 at 12:07pm
YouGov have suddenly and belatedly started including Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain and Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party as options in their weekly GB-wide polls, which on the whole is a good thing becaus...

More on the MRP poll: the 67-seat projection for the SNP may even be an under...
7 Apr 2026 at 5:52pm
Some more details of the Find Out Now MRP poll for The National have been published on the Electoral Calculus website.  Whoever wrote the article (presumably Martin Baxter) doesn't seem to be fully...

Find Out Now - ZAP WHAM POW - that a new MRP poll shows the SNP on course for...
6 Apr 2026 at 7:07pm
As you may have seen, a new Find Out Now MRP poll commissioned by The National is suggesting that the SNP are on course for an overall majority at the Holyrood election.  They would take 67 seats, ...

Bombshell GB-wide Ashcroft poll is the first not to show Reform in an outrigh...
6 Apr 2026 at 12:37am
So this is a genuine landmark for the reasons given in the title, and it's also worth making the point that the data tables (unless I'm misinterpreting them, but I don't see how I can be) show that...

"C'est trop bruyant!": The settled will klaxon is so piercing tonight that it...
4 Apr 2026 at 9:36pm
Tonight brings word of the latest in the regular series of Norstat polls for the Sunday Times, and although the newspaper has buried the results of the independence question at the bottom of the wr...

"But what if that other voice we all know so well responds by saying 'we say ...
3 Apr 2026 at 9:18pm
A former commenter on this blog from way back in the 2014 indyref period got in touch with a question a few days ago, and I've been so busy that I haven't responded to him yet - but it's an interes...

My plans for Scot Goes Pop's coverage of the Holyrood election campaign
2 Apr 2026 at 8:30pm
This post will come as a relief to some of you, because I've decided to temporarily go back to conventional blogging for the remainder of the Holyrood campaign.  The emphasis is on the word "tempor...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Starmer: Work still to do to end US-Iran conflict and reopen Strait of Hormuz
8 Apr 2026 at 4:43pm
Sir Keir Starmer has said there was a ?sense of real relief? at the ceasefire in...

SNP extends lead while Scottish Labour support slumps, poll shows
8 Apr 2026 at 12:00pm
The SNP remains set to be the largest party at Holyrood

Findlay vows to give ?everything? to stop ?living nightmare? of SNP majority
7 Apr 2026 at 4:46pm
The Scottish Tory leader was speaking as he launched his party?s manifesto ahead of the Holyrood election next month

Swinney apologises to islanders again over ferry disruption
7 Apr 2026 at 2:19pm
Scotland?s west coast ferry network has struggled in recent weeks, with eight vessels out of service at the same time at one point

Tories blast ?permanent crisis? in A&E as waiting times figures published
7 Apr 2026 at 12:23pm
Public Health Scotland published new A&E waiting times figures for both the month of February and the final full week of March

Swinney demands action as he warns cost of living crisis to ?get worse?
7 Apr 2026 at 12:21pm
The Scottish First Minister said the UK Government must protect consumers

Scottish Labour pledge pothole fund to fix ?sorry state? of Scotland?s roads
7 Apr 2026 at 12:17pm
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is vowing to fix Scotland?s roads

Scottish Tory manifesto to launch with focus on tax and cutting benefits bills
7 Apr 2026 at 8:54am
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay is set to make a speech in Edinburgh on Tuesday

SNP calls for inquiry into Trident security after Joani Reid reports
3 Apr 2026 at 1:23pm
The party wants an probe after the Labour MP, whose husband is accused of spying for China, allegedly behaved inappropriately with Navy officers

Unpaid carers should have £400 uplift in support, say Lib Dems
3 Apr 2026 at 12:09pm
Alex Cole-Hamilton said unpaid carers formed the ?backbone? of care in Scotland

?We?ve got the beating of the SNP at this election?, says Scottish Lib Dem le...
3 Apr 2026 at 10:10am
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader tells Scotland Tonight that his party can defeat the SNP in ten constituencies

SNP will deliver revolution in childcare if it wins election, says Jenny Gilruth
3 Apr 2026 at 9:37am
The education secretary said her party would extend support to every family in the country for children from nine months to the end of primary school

Labour will end ?scandalous? failures on young mental health support ? Sarwar
3 Apr 2026 at 9:33am
The Scottish Labour leader unveiled a package of new measures Labour plan to deliver if they win the Holyrood election

Reform has brought ?race-baiting? to Holyrood election campaign, says Sarwar
3 Apr 2026 at 9:30am
The Scottish Labour leader hit out at the party?s new billboard campaign as well as an earlier advert which directly attacked him

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scottish politics today: SNP way out in front as poll shows John Swinney crui...
8 Apr 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the latest stories in Scottish politics.

John Swinney interrupted by heckler demanding Scotland 'gets off its knees' a...
8 Apr 2026 at 4:33pm
Liz Brown accused the First Minister of being ?on your knees? and ? wrongly ? described Scotland as an ?independent country?.

Scottish Conservatives leader Russell Findlay could lose seat at Holyrood ele...
8 Apr 2026 at 1:16pm
Findlay has chosen not to contest a constituency and is instead rely on being elected via the West region list.

SNP open up massive 24 point lead over Scottish Labour in Holyrood election poll
8 Apr 2026 at 12:23pm
A new poll shows John Swinney's party is on the cusp of winning a majority on May 7th.

John Swinney 'did nothing' after SNP Government alerted to issues at Scottish...
8 Apr 2026 at 11:58am
The youth parliament has faced unprecedented scrutiny over how it operates following the recent conviction of its former chairman Jordan Linden

Malcolm Offord missed election campaigning after competing in yachting race i...
8 Apr 2026 at 11:11am
EXCLUSIVE: Reform UK's leader north of the border was hundreds of miles away from Scotland during the first campaign weekend of April.

TikTok ban for controversial Scots website Rebreak backed by UK Government
8 Apr 2026 at 10:54am
Labour ministers got involved in a push to remove Rebreak News from social media after speaking directly with concerned parents

Scottish politics today: John Swinney 'utterly condemns' antisemitic remarks ...
7 Apr 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the day's Scottish politics news.

Reform Scotland leader backs candidate in 'set fire to asylum seeker hotels' row
7 Apr 2026 at 2:47pm
Malcolm Offord took to X to defend candidate Allan Lyons after he downplayed comments by criminal Lucy Connolly.

Scots drivers urged to stick to normal routines as UK has 'no short term conc...
7 Apr 2026 at 1:51pm
The First Minister said he would urge Scots to "carry on about their purchasing patterns in the normal fashion".

The National

The National | Politics

Susie McCabe: Why Scottish Labour are like a toxic ex
8 Apr 2026 at 6:38pm

THERE is a ?real 2014 independence referendum vibe? to polling suggesting Reform?s support in Scotland is dipping ...

Vladimir Putin will do whatever he can to get Viktor Orban re-elected
8 Apr 2026 at 6:30pm

AS if there is not enough going on, there will be another flashpoint this week. The people of Hungary will be voting in an election.

?SNP second vote just in case? strategy just doesn?t add up
8 Apr 2026 at 6:30pm

IN the 2021 Holyrood election, the SNP won 47.7% of the first vote and 62 out of 73 constituencies. That is 84.9% of these seats. The disparity between percentage votes and seats won is grossly unfair in favour of the SNP from a proportional viewpoint.

5 things we learned from major new Scottish election poll as campaign heats up
8 Apr 2026 at 6:14pm

A NEW major Holyrood poll has been released and it has made for great reading for the pro-independence parties ...

How Scotland can play a role in working towards a peaceful world
8 Apr 2026 at 5:44pm

To rebuild the rules-based peace across the world, we must enforce the rules-based peace in Scotland ...

Questions as Anas Sarwar 'backs plans to cut NHS Scotland dental services'
8 Apr 2026 at 5:44pm

ANAS Sarwar is under pressure to explain whether he supports cutting NHS Scotland dentistry so that it no longer provides services such as crowns and braces ? after a report suggested he backed proposals from Reform UK leader Malcolm Offord?s brother to do exactly...

Two Scottish universities blasted as ?innappropriate? arms firm influence rev...
8 Apr 2026 at 5:00pm

TWO of Scotland?s largest universities have been condemned after an investigation revealed that arms firms have been given direct influence over their courses ...

John Swinney heckled and urged to boycott Israel during Stornoway campaign visit
8 Apr 2026 at 4:09pm

JOHN Swinney was heckled by a woman urging him to boycott Israel during a Holyrood campaign visit in the Western Isles.

John Swinney accused of ignoring safeguarding issues in Scottish Youth Parlia...
8 Apr 2026 at 4:08pm

SCOTTISH Labour have accused John Swinney of ignoring potential safeguarding issues at the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP).

How and when to watch Nicola Sturgeon on ITV's The Assembly
8 Apr 2026 at 3:25pm

The Assembly is returning for a second series after it was described by critics as ?extraordinary? and ?the most groundbreaking TV show of the year?

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Poll: Greens to become Scottish Parliament?s second biggest party
8 Apr 2026 at 6:00pm
Scottish Labour predicted to slump to worst-ever result

Scotland must act now on screen time for under-fives, says expert
8 Apr 2026 at 4:52pm
Many children aged five and below are exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for screen time

Conservative manifesto ?may not survive contact with reality?, think tank claims
8 Apr 2026 at 3:00pm
Doubts over Russell Findlay's 'costed and credible' plan

Holyrood editor shortlisted for Scottish Press Awards
8 Apr 2026 at 12:44pm
Mandy Rhodes is nominated in the Interviewer of the Year category

Local Authorities Guide: South Ayrshire Council
8 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
Council leader Brian Connolly answers questions about local authority

Opposition anger as Glen Sannox ferry pulled from service again
7 Apr 2026 at 1:04pm
CalMac blames engine troubles

Scottish Conservatives to launch manifesto focused on lowering income tax and...
7 Apr 2026 at 2:49am
The party will outline its plans today in Edinburgh, with its leader, Russell Findlay, expected to focus on the cost-of-living crisis

Scottish Child Payment must change to end child poverty, think tank says
2 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
The next Scottish Government must be 'clear-eyed' on the problem, it is claimed

Local Authorities Guide: Shetland Islands Council
2 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
Council leader Emma Macdonald answers questions about local authority

SNP candidate dropped over handling of Jordan Linden complaints
1 Apr 2026 at 3:00pm
The SNP councillor has been accused of ignoring or downplaying allegations about Linden in a council motion. ?

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Scottish Labour pledges £30m to top up artists? income to a living wage
8 Apr 2026 at 4:34pm
Anas Sarwar says scheme would be part of overhaul of arts funding in ScotlandLabour has pledged to spend £30m on giving Scottish artists and musicians a living wage, mirroring a similar scheme in Ireland guaranteeing artists a basic income.Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said the scheme ...

UK politics: Starmer warns ?lot of work to do? to make ceasefire permanent at...
8 Apr 2026 at 6:00pm
PM will meet leaders in the region to discuss diplomatic efforts to support the ceasefire agreed between the US and IranOpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is proposing the extension of the four-day working week, as a response to AI taking over some of the work done by humans. But for the Conserv...

UK politics: Farage says Trump?s Iranian ?civilisation will die? threats went...
7 Apr 2026 at 6:28pm
The Reform UK leader says he is ?shocked? by the remarks which were ?over the top in every single way?The Green party is backing resident doctors who are on strike. This morning the party issued a statement on the dispute from its co-deputy leader, Mothin Ali, saying:Rather than shifting goalpost...

?Seismic change?: how election wins for nationalists in Celtic nations could ...
7 Apr 2026 at 6:00am
With polls suggesting Plaid Cymru, the SNP and Sinn Féin could be in power after May vote, constitutional challenges may lie aheadIn four weeks, the shape of British politics is likely to change dramatically. For the first time, nationalists who aspire to break up the UK are expected to be in con...

UK politics Q&A, as it happened: Andrew Sparrow answers your questions on Sta...
2 Apr 2026 at 5:50pm
This blog is now closedQ: Do you agree with the Tories about wanting more oil and gas drilling from the North Sea?Davey says Kemi Badenoch claims she can get an extra £2.5bn in tax revenue by allowing more exploration in the North Sea. He says she is ?just lying?. He says everyone knows that that...

Reeves criticises Trump for starting Iran war with no ?clear plan? to get out...
1 Apr 2026 at 5:15pm
This blog is now closedStarmer says he understands why people are concerned about the cost of living.He says he has already set out a five-point plan to deal with the crisis.Just look at what?s happening today. Today your energy bills will be cut because of the action that we took at the budget. ...

Starmer pledges to tackle new cost of living crisis at May elections campaign...
30 Mar 2026 at 3:11pm
Prime minister says 7 May vote is coming at time of ?war on two fronts? as Labour braces for heavy losses at pollsUK politics live ? latest updatesThe 7 May elections are taking place against a backdrop of ?war on two fronts?, Keir Starmer has said, as he pledged action to tackle the resurgent co...

Glasgow arts hub tenants condemn ?unsustainable? rent rises by landlord
30 Mar 2026 at 8:17am
City Property, which manages buildings for council, accused of ?coercive and unfair? increases and issuing eviction noticesTenants at one of Glasgow?s leading cultural hubs are battling what they describe as ?unsustainable? rent increases, with critics describing the landlord responsible as a ?ro...

Reform busy firefighting in Scotland but may yet set Holyrood?s politics ablaze
26 Mar 2026 at 6:29pm
With Nigel Farage?s party neck and neck with Labour for second place behind the SNP, disruption seems likely Hope, change, progressive change, change with fairness at its heart ? from a harbour north of Edinburgh to a hipster arts venue in Glasgow?s Barras Market, Scotland?s political parties sp...

UK politics: Trump says UK?s aircraft carriers are just ?toys? ? as it happened
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00pm
The comments were part of a broader address in which he condemned Nato alliesYesterday the Conservative party said that it wanted to ban political parties from distributing campaign literature in a foreign language. Announcing a plan to propose an amendement to the representation of the people bi...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Daring to dream of an SNP majority
7 Apr 2026 at 11:35am
Yet another opinion poll has placed the SNP on track to win a majority in its own right in May’s Holyrood election, a majority which First Minister John Swinney has said would trigger a second independence referendum. The new poll, by Find Out Now for The National, projects the SNP to take 67 seats, giving …

Shettleston doesn?t need Reform?s racism, it needs to be part of an independe...
2 Apr 2026 at 1:10pm
On Wednesday, April Fool’s Day, Reform UK unveiled its racist and scaremongering advert for the Scottish election next month. It was appropriate that they did so on April Fool’s Day because they are taking the electorate for mugs. The consists of image showing apparent migrants crowded onto a small inflatable dinghy with text reading “Scotland …

It?s not just independence which is at stake in this election
31 Mar 2026 at 6:13pm
The weekend kicked off the election campaign with a well attended march and rally for independence held in Edinburgh on Saturday. I’m sure you all followed the reports about it on BBC Scotland, oh, right. It was far too busy talking about the ferries again wasn’t it. Every political party talks up its chances during …

The rapid implosion of Reform?s Scottish campaign
26 Mar 2026 at 3:05pm
As the saying goes, you’d need a heart of stone not to laugh. Within just a few days of Reform UK launching its Scottish election campaign to much fanfare and racist ‘jokes’ about tartan burqas, the wheels are already coming off Farage’s septic tank pumper wagon. The party has already lost no less than four …

James Dornan MSP looks back on his career
24 Mar 2026 at 1:49pm
A guest post by James Dornan MSP   Today veteran SNP MSP James Dornan makes his last speech in the Scottish Parliament, and steps down to retirement and to give way to a new generation. To mark the occasion, he has very kindly written a guest post for this blog in which he looks back …

Reform?s chaotic launch and the implications of the Iran war for May?s election
20 Mar 2026 at 8:53pm
Nigel Farage came to Scotland on Thursday to launch his party’s manifesto for the Scottish elections on 7 May and to introduce Reform UK’s almost half former Tory slate of totally well vetted candidates. Reform UK there, promising to fix Broken Britain with a slew of the former Conservatives who were responsible for breaking it …

Thoughts on the failure of the assisted dying bill
18 Mar 2026 at 2:46am
Back in 1998, after we had moved to Spain, my late husband Andy and I became very close friends with our new neighbour, a Norwegian woman called Ellie who had moved to Spain after retiring from a career on the Norwegian oil rigs in the North Sea. She was looking forward to spending her final …

Scotland: Too wee?
17 Mar 2026 at 9:11am
Is it time to look again at the long-debated theory that Scotland is ?too wee? to be a successful independent country? A guest post by Diane Izzett https://bsky.app/profile/dizzyscot.bsky.social With the yes voters taking a lead in recent polls, do the facts support this or is it just the final death throes of a coloniser losing …

Lessons from 2014 for next time round
14 Mar 2026 at 6:23pm
An important new academic book looking at the 2014 Scottish independence referendum has just been published. The snappily titled “Discourse, Voice, and the Politics of Participation in the Scottish Independence Referendum” by Dr Maike Dinger, a Lecturer in Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling is available on Amazon for £104.99 hardback or …

So-called muscular unionism is a sign of Westminster?s fragility
12 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
The Labour party has responded to the leak of a memo from Starmer to cabinet ministers in which he tells them not to be “deferential” to the devolved governments and not to hesitate to override them even on devolved matters. Starmer was questioned about the memo by SNP MP Stephen Gethins at Prime Minister’s Questions …

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

CalMac ?concerns? predicted to have almost no effect on Holyrood election res...
8 Apr 2026 at 2:05pm
The Ipsos poll published today has Public transport/roads 10th, with 18%, in the list of issues respondents say will affect their vote. Perhaps surprisingly, given the MSM obsession with them, no poll ever asks about ferries explicitly. An AI estimate, based on media coverage, of the breakdown is Potholes up to 50% of the 18% or 9%; CalMac 25-35% or 6%, A9 dualing 10-20% or 4% and others 10-15%...

Very short video ? So, rent controls, second home tax hikes, the child paymen...
8 Apr 2026 at 10:05am
More at – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/10/01/so-rent-controls-second-home-tax-hikes-the-child-payment-free-prescriptions-free-tuition-why-would-anyone-in-their-right-mind-ever-want-a-labour-government-in-scotland-never-mind-reform-uk/

Things can only get better as SNP councils boost their income fairly with sec...
8 Apr 2026 at 10:01am

As Telegraph readers splurt into in their cornflakes this morning
8 Apr 2026 at 9:34am

Fantastic news as Telegraph accurately predicts its readers with second homes...
8 Apr 2026 at 9:30am
In the Telegraph yesterday, the above and: They were not wrong. Back in September last year, they had: Scotland plots uncapped council tax rises for second home owners ? Green Party?s ?pile on the costs? proposal will be ?gold standard? for tackling homelessness. Councils in Scotland are poised to be granted powers to penalise second home owners with uncapped council tax premiums. ‘Plots’ not ‘...

Reposted as we head for the line
8 Apr 2026 at 9:19am

Why Labour and others are wrong in seeking to merge CalMac and CMAL, why Norw...
8 Apr 2026 at 8:04am
The initial decision to separate ownership/procurement (CMAL) from operations (CalMac) in 2006, by Jack McConnell and Douglas Alexander, was based on the notion that it can create better incentives for efficiency and performance while allowing the public sector to retain strategic control over fares, service standards, routes, quality, and subsidies, to protect islanders. Contrary to the media ...

Massive fall in numbers waiting in A&E in Scotland in February including 24% d...
7 Apr 2026 at 10:24pm
From Accident and emergency Accredited official statistics, published today, for Type 1 emergency departments, in February 2026: These are dramatic falls in one month.

Scotland?s world-first opioid overdose reversal programme kits being issued ...
7 Apr 2026 at 10:23pm
From National naloxone programme Scotland – Quarterly monitoring bulletin Quarterly Monitoring Bulletin July to September (Q2) 2025/26, published today, the above, and: This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents information on the number of take-home naloxone kits issued by the National Naloxone Programme (NNP) in Scotland (1 July 2025 to 30 September 2025). Figures are presented sep...

NHS Scotland carries out 20 000 more operations in the last 12 months with ne...
7 Apr 2026 at 10:20pm
From Public Health Scotland‘s Cancelled planned operations Month ending 28 February 2026, published today, the above, and: There were 25,520 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 6.7% higher (+1,595) than the number planned in February 2025 (23,925). Over the course of the last 12 months, from March 2025 to February 2026 (304,044), there was a 6.7% increase (+19,154) com...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Scotland political snapshot, Spring 2026 - YouGov
8 Apr 2026 at 10:34am
Scotland political snapshot, Spring 2026  YouGov

Scotland?s voting system is ripe for exploitation - Prospect Magazine
8 Apr 2026 at 9:02am
Scotland?s voting system is ripe for exploitation  Prospect Magazine

2026 Scottish parliament election: Key challenges next Holyrood government wi...
8 Apr 2026 at 3:32am
2026 Scottish parliament election: Key challenges next Holyrood government will face  Sky News

Just 14% of Scots prioritise independence as John Swinney?s mandate logic cru...
8 Apr 2026 at 6:53pm
Just 14% of Scots prioritise independence as John Swinney?s mandate logic crumbles  Scottish Daily Express

Highland Lib Dem candidate: 'Why I voted for Scottish independence' - The Herald
7 Apr 2026 at 5:53am
Highland Lib Dem candidate: 'Why I voted for Scottish independence'  The Herald

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

Scottish independence supporters should heed Bob Dylan's words - Thenational ...
6 Apr 2026 at 5:03am
Scottish independence supporters should heed Bob Dylan's words  Thenational Scot

Scotland?s Unionist parties are sleepwalking into a farce - The Telegraph
6 Apr 2026 at 6:50pm
Scotland?s Unionist parties are sleepwalking into a farce  The Telegraph

John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP...
5 Apr 2026 at 2:00pm
John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP wins majority in Holyrood elections  lbc.co.uk

John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:05am
John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum in 2028  Daily Record

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP extend their lead while Scottish Labour support slumps - Ipsos
8 Apr 2026 at 9:33am
SNP extend their lead while Scottish Labour support slumps  Ipsos

SNP chief told of Linden complaints 10 years ago, says ex-official - BBC
6 Apr 2026 at 12:51pm
SNP chief told of Linden complaints 10 years ago, says ex-official  BBC

Scotland political snapshot, Spring 2026 - YouGov
8 Apr 2026 at 10:34am
Scotland political snapshot, Spring 2026  YouGov

SNP peddles a fantasy while doing more harm than good - The Times
8 Apr 2026 at 5:40pm
SNP peddles a fantasy while doing more harm than good  The Times

?SNP second vote just in case? strategy just doesn?t add up - Thenational Scot
8 Apr 2026 at 6:36pm
?SNP second vote just in case? strategy just doesn?t add up  Thenational Scot

Bute House Agreement 2.0 would be 'difficult' because of SNP backsliding, Sla...
8 Apr 2026 at 2:23pm
Bute House Agreement 2.0 would be 'difficult' because of SNP backsliding, Slater says  The Herald

Scottish Labour support slumps as SNP extends its lead, polling shows - The S...
8 Apr 2026 at 2:03pm
Scottish Labour support slumps as SNP extends its lead, polling shows  The Scotsman

SNP calling, haplotype phasing and allele-specific analysis with long RNA-seq...
30 Mar 2026 at 11:16am
SNP calling, haplotype phasing and allele-specific analysis with long RNA-seq reads  Nature

SNP vow to set up £10 million island resilience fund if they win election - A...
8 Apr 2026 at 3:11pm
SNP vow to set up £10 million island resilience fund if they win election  Ardrossan Herald

? The SNP has urged UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to offer more support ...
8 Apr 2026 at 4:01pm
? The SNP has urged UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to offer more support with the cost of living after a ceasefire deal was negotiated in Iran. Speaking hours after the announcement of the of the US-Iran ceasefire, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn s  facebook.com

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Reform support in Scotland 'has real 2014 referendum vibe', Susie McCabe says...
8 Apr 2026 at 6:47pm
Reform support in Scotland 'has real 2014 referendum vibe', Susie McCabe says  Thenational Scot

John Swinney: There could be a referendum in 2028. I want to press on - The T...
4 Apr 2026 at 6:00pm
John Swinney: There could be a referendum in 2028. I want to press on  The Times

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

John Swinney: Independence referendum could be in 2028 - The Herald
5 Apr 2026 at 11:39am
John Swinney: Independence referendum could be in 2028  The Herald

John Swinney says he wants to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028...
5 Apr 2026 at 2:25pm
John Swinney says he wants to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028  London Evening Standard

John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP...
5 Apr 2026 at 2:00pm
John Swinney wants to ?press on? with Scottish independence referendum if SNP wins majority in Holyrood elections  lbc.co.uk

John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:05am
John Swinney claims he will 'press on' with Scottish independence referendum in 2028  Daily Record

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
26 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push - Reu...
18 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push  Reuters

I want to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028, says John Swinney ...
5 Apr 2026 at 11:20am
I want to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028, says John Swinney  Thenational Scot