The Herald

The Herald | Politics


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.


UK fuel shortage: Emergency plan outlines precautionary steps including restr...
7 Apr 2026 at 12:30pm
Sir Keir Starmer last week told business leaders that the UK is working on a ?viable plan? for the Strait of Hormuz as fears mount over a shortage of fuel.


John Swinney drawn into Kanye West row as Wireless festival cancelled
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Apr 2026 at 1:49pm
John Swinney has been branded out of touch after he appeared to be unaware of the controversy around Kanye West?s planned London festival appearance. The comments from the First Minister came as the UK Government moved to block the artist?s entry to the UK.


Trump threatens 'a whole civilisation will die tonight' as Iran war escalates
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
7 Apr 2026 at 1:42pm
Donald Trump has threatened "a whole civilisation will die tonight" and Iran has said it will extend its response beyond the Middle East as tensions rise ahead of an American deadline for a ceasefire


Scottish Green candidate sparks outrage with call to abolish prisons
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Apr 2026 at 12:20pm
A row has erupted after Kate Nevens called for the abolition of prisons, with critics branding the idea ?monumentally stupid? and ?dangerously naive?.


Pollster says SNP list votes will be ?wasted? under Holyrood system
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Apr 2026 at 11:57am
A leading pollster has told SNP supporters their regional vote may not translate into seats. He suggested pro-independence supporters could get a majority in Holyrood with less than 50% of the popular vote.


Swinney criticises Starmer as SNP launches fuel price campaign
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Apr 2026 at 7:33am
Fuel prices, potholes and political pressure are colliding in Scotland as John Swinney and Anas Sarwar set out rival visions.


'We need answers': Greens activists demand emergency meeting as Chapman row d...
7 Apr 2026 at 7:21am
Scottish Green Party members are demanding an extraordinary general meeting in the wake of a controversy which saw Maggie Chapman top the party's candidates' list in North East Scotland.


Skills shortage sees Scotland at risk of losing thousands of quality defence ...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Apr 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland?s booming defence sector is creating thousands of high-quality jobs ? but a growing skills shortage risks holding it back.


Highland Lib Dem candidate: 'Why I voted for Scottish independence'
by caroline.wilson@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Caroline Wilson
7 Apr 2026 at 5:47am
The election candidates for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch were challenged over their views on Scottish independence.


Forged in industry, Falkirk's two constituencies meet at a political crossroads
by Sandradickmedia@gmail.com | Sandra Dick
7 Apr 2026 at 6:02am
For generations, Falkirk and its surrounding communities provided the industrial heartbeat of the nation.


Findlay pledges to ?get Scotland working? as he unveils party manifesto
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
7 Apr 2026 at 5:00am
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay will unveil a Holyrood manifesto focused on tax cuts, reducing benefits spending and tackling the cost-of-living crisis in Scotland.


Iran rejects U.S ceasefire deal despite Donald Trump deadline looming
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
6 Apr 2026 at 4:01pm
Iran has reportedly rejected a ceasefire offer put forward to end the war


What the hell is going on with Reform UK? Inside the Holyrood election turmoil
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
6 Apr 2026 at 3:39pm
Reform UK's support in Scotland appears to be on the decline, if polls can be believed. Nine candidates have been lost amid internal drama What's going on?

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Swinney: Ming Yang would not have been blocked if it was in England
7 Apr 2026 at 12:54pm

The First Minister said the decision by the UK government was ?unacceptable?

The aspiring MSP is up against Angus Robertson and Lorna Slater.

GMB Scotland has called for the Navantia yard in Fife to be given a new Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract to build huge dry docks for the UK?s nuclear submarine fleet.

The Scottish Labour leader said the First Minister had ?built? a culture within the SNP where ?protecting the party is more important than doing what's right by the people of Scotland.?

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 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

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?
13 Mar 2026 at 5:48pm

I interviewed a prominent academic who is a profound critic of the Venezuelan government, and in contrast a strong academic supporter. The conversations were relaxed, open and I believe worthwhile. There is no serious dispute that the Venezuelan government shifted to some degree towards economic liberalism under President Maduro. The question is to what extent …

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?

BBC Scotland

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".

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.

SNP candidate ditched over handling of Linden complaints
1 Apr 2026 at 3:08pm
Tracy Carragher was a deputy council leader when it was reported that her former colleague had made unwanted advances towards a teenager.

Labour drops election candidate after fraud charge
1 Apr 2026 at 2:37pm
Glasgow Southside hopeful Mohammed Ameen made no plea when he appeared in court last week.

Call for business rates reform as Scots face cost of living crunch
1 Apr 2026 at 4:50pm
One live music bar firm in Glasgow says it is facing a near six-fold increase and may have to lay off staff.

The huge task of rewiring Britain's electricity grid from top to bottom
1 Apr 2026 at 9:12am
The massive task of getting the power from where it is generated to where it is used involves a massive upgrade of the grid.

Scot Goes Pop

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...

Joani of (Noah's nuclear-armed) Arc
1 Apr 2026 at 5:04pm
The senior naval officer Reid was reported for 'inappropriate' behaviour with at Faslane is *separate* to the captain she is linked to tonight by the FT's @LOS_FisherThe captain has reportedly step...

Shock poll portends weather boffin coup threat for Atlas chief Lyon
1 Apr 2026 at 8:57am
You've probably seen the propaganda poll from yesterday that the hapless Alliance to Liberate Scotland, aka "the Atlas", commissioned from Find Out Now.  It used the infamous Archie Stirling questi...

The Alliance to Liberate Scotland and their "Big Lie": the Sovereignty Party ...
31 Mar 2026 at 3:06am
My latest Holyrood constituency profile for The National is Edinburgh Northern.

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

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

Swinney: Rooting out predators from party is more important than independence
3 Apr 2026 at 9:28am
The SNP leader was speaking after a candidate was sacked over claims she did not act on allegations about sex offender Jordan Linden

?I?m in it to win it?: Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord vows to becom...
3 Apr 2026 at 9:20am
Malcolm Offord says he has 'the vision and the capability' to lead the country.

40% of 16 and 17-year-olds not registered to vote in Scottish election
2 Apr 2026 at 11:12am
Scots have until midnight on April 20 to register to cast their ballot in the Holyrood poll

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

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".

Green call to abolish prisons in Scotland branded 'ludicrous' by John Swinney
7 Apr 2026 at 12:18pm
A Scottish Greens candidate likely to be elected in May said she was "keen to live in a Scotland" with no jails.

Reform candidate defended criminal who called for asylum hotels to be set on ...
7 Apr 2026 at 12:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: Allan Lyons has been blasted after he criticised the decision to pursue Lucy Connolly over her arson comments.

Donald Trump threats to bomb Iran back to the stone age are 'unconscionable',...
7 Apr 2026 at 11:41am
The erratic US President gave the Tehran regime until 1am on Wednesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in an expletive-laden social media post.

John Swinney refuses to intervene in Kanye West row and says 'it's a free cou...
7 Apr 2026 at 11:18am
The SNP leader previously called for Irish rap group Kneecap to be dropped from the line-up of Glasgow's TRNSMT festival - but said he would not give a "running commentary on Kanye West.

Reform Scotland in 'cronyism' row after top candidate's girlfriend handed pre...
7 Apr 2026 at 10:45am
EXCLUSIVE: Reform candidate Thomas Kerr defended his partner Aimee Alexander being given the post.

More Scots working a four-day week without loss of pay would 'ease pressure o...
7 Apr 2026 at 4:30am
Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay wants more bosses to offer a four-day working week to help boost staff productivity and wellbeing.

Anas Sarwar needs a plan to combat the Scottish Greens if he is to turnaround...
6 Apr 2026 at 5:00pm
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says Scottish Labour needs to squeeze the left-wing Greens and right wing Reform to succeed on May 7th.

SNP has 'one rule for themselves and another for everybody else' when dealing...
6 Apr 2026 at 1:19pm
Senior Nationalists have faced questions over when they first became aware of complaints raised against former North Lanarkshire Council leader and convicted sex abuser Jordan Linden.

The National

The National | Politics

Shona Craven: Let boys know that not all 'masculinity' is toxic
7 Apr 2026 at 2:46pm

ANOTHER week, another set of alarming headlines about the behaviour of boys in UK schools ...

'A whole civilisation will die tonight': Donald Trump issues evil threat to Iran
7 Apr 2026 at 1:56pm

Donald Trump has said ?a whole civilisation will die tonight? as he upped his chilling commentary ahead of the deadline he has set before unleashing ?hell? on Iran

The state of play in every Scottish constituency explained ? find yours here
7 Apr 2026 at 1:33pm

The National is publishing a profile for every constituency in the upcoming Holyrood elections on May 7 ? here's how to find information about your area

British bases 'off limits' to US for strikes on bridges and power plants
7 Apr 2026 at 12:56pm

BRITAIN will reportedly refuse the US access to its RAF bases to launch strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants.

Donald Trump's war on Iran 'unwarranted and illegal,' says John Swinney
7 Apr 2026 at 12:44pm

DONALD Trump and Israel?s ?unwarranted and illegal? war on Iran cannot be ended by the United States, Scotland?s First Minister has said ...

Donald Trump?s Iran deadline ? what happens if Tehran defies his ultimatum?
7 Apr 2026 at 12:09pm

THE world is on edge as Donald Trump?s Iran deadline nears ...

If in doubt, get out and vote, and give both votes to the SNP
7 Apr 2026 at 12:00pm

RATHER than take sides in the ongoing debate in these pages as to the merits, or otherwise, of the SNP?s aim to gain votes in both the constituency and list ballots, I?d suggest perhaps there is more common ground than there might appear to be.

Reform candidate defends party official girlfriend amid 'cronyism' row
7 Apr 2026 at 11:48am

A REFORM UK Scotland candidate has defended his girlfriend from cronyism allegations after she was appointed the party?s press officer.

'People don't need advice from John Swinney', FM says in Kanye West row
7 Apr 2026 at 11:46am

JOHN Swinney has responded to the scandal surrounding Kanye West after the US rapper was announced as the headliner at a music festival in London despite previous antisemitic comments ...

John Swinney launches new campaign demanding fuel price cuts from UK Government
7 Apr 2026 at 11:00am

THE cost-of-living crisis will ?get worse? as a result of US and Israeli action in Iran, Scotland?s First Minister has said as he called for action ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

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

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. ?

MP Joani Reid in submarine base conduct allegations
1 Apr 2026 at 1:19pm
Reports emerge of separate incidents

AI NHS integration a ?significant challenge?
1 Apr 2026 at 11:27am
Good governance and building public trust must be part of the rollout, an innovation agency has said

Local Authorities Guide: Scottish Borders Council
1 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
Council leader Euan Jardine answers questions about local authority

SNP and Labour blame each other amid jobs risk at Alexander Dennis
31 Mar 2026 at 4:55pm
Up to 115 roles are at risk of redundancy

Scottish university partners with bank on agentic AI research programme
31 Mar 2026 at 12:01pm
Experiments to test the efficacy of agentic AI in software teams

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Farage says he would let Trump use UK bases to attack civilian infrastructure...
7 Apr 2026 at 4:03pm
The Reform UK leader indicated he would let the US use British bases if the president gave assurances about the ?end game? of the attacksThe 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, s...

?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...

UK politics: Tories claim McSweeney has ?serious questions? to answer about p...
25 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
Shadow cabinet officer minister claims ?this whole thing stinks to high heaven?Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs.Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has urged people to reject ?conspiracy? theories about the loss of Morgan McSweeney?s phone. Continue reading...

What?s at stake for UK in May?s elections: six key questions
23 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Reform, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens are all banking on big gains and nationwide repercussionsOn 7 May, three of the UK?s four nations go to the polls in a series of elections with much potential significance, not just for who ends up governing various bodies, but also for the future polit...

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

In February 2026, more than 3 000 Scots were treated on time in Type 1 A&E uni...
7 Apr 2026 at 2:29pm
From Public Health Scotland’s Accident and Emergency: Accredited Official Statistics, published today, NHS Scotland’s Type 1 emergency departments (full, consultant led) treated 62.4% of those attending in February 2026, within the target time of 4 hours. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/overview/ In the same period, NHS ...

As US/Israel/Iran war escalates out of control, new generations of terrorists...
7 Apr 2026 at 2:12pm
On April 3, 2026, The American Nuclear Society supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reacted to the spiralling destruction in Iran, spreading violence in the Middle East and President Trump’s latest apocalyptic threats, in the wake of existing threats to nuclear plants in the Ukraine, by calling for urgent steps to ensure nuclear safety and security during armed conflict....

Times figures reveal that SNP Government has saved more than £300 million by ...
7 Apr 2026 at 2:11pm
The Times in England today has the above on the front page but in Scotland has a hatchet piece on the Greens. The Daily Mail in England has the same story on its front page but in Scotland has the Tory manifesto. Here’s the basis for their claim. Simple then? The same would apply in Scotland so the SNP Government, these last three years has saved more than £300 million to offset the costs of pa...

In no other part of the UK, Europe or North America does the state broadcaste...
7 Apr 2026 at 8:59am

Always choosing the darkness for you ? BBC Scotland give you one rape and hid...
7 Apr 2026 at 8:51am
Above BBC Scotland, below BBC UK: In more than 1 000 words, BBC Scotland’s report on a rape case, above, offers no context of the kind student journalists must have or they fail, eg, ‘Is this offence more common in Scotland than elsewhere as drug deaths apparently are?‘ Would a bit of context have been useful for readers? This kind of thing? On 25 June 2025, I wrote: The media in Scotland are h...

BBC Scotland Disclosure team catch-up three years after we disclosed Anas Sar...
7 Apr 2026 at 8:31am

This the post that Lesley Riddoch said, in a shocked voice was hurtful to isl...
6 Apr 2026 at 7:29pm

Daily Record suggests Canadian bus company already given £62 million to stay ...
6 Apr 2026 at 5:59pm
Alexander Dennis (ADL), owned by a Canadian multinational, NFI Group Inc., had already signalled major restructuring and at least partial withdrawal from full bus-building in Scotland. They had £58 million from you since 2020 and in September 2025, a further £4.1 million. In March 2026 won a Scottish Government contract for 123 buses but Chinese manufacturer Yutong won a contract for 166. On Ma...

Before we get another Annie Wells fib in the media operating in Scotland duri...
6 Apr 2026 at 3:28pm

As thyroid cancer surges globally a serious warning from Japan for Scotland o...
6 Apr 2026 at 3:24pm
From researchers working outside the Japanese government departments and those higher education institutions dependent on funds from that government or the nuclear industry itself, the above headline and this: As we approach the 15-year mark since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNS) disaster, brought about by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and the Japanese government, the g...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

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

An independent Scotland would quickly be on a path to financial ruin - The Te...
7 Apr 2026 at 7:00am
An independent Scotland would quickly be on a path to financial ruin  The Telegraph

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

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 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

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

Pollster says SNP list votes will be ?wasted? under Holyrood system - The Herald
7 Apr 2026 at 12:08pm
Pollster says SNP list votes will be ?wasted? under Holyrood system  The Herald

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

Repositioning Independence - Nation.Cymru
15 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Repositioning Independence  Nation.Cymru

Kemi sounds warning that Starmer is 'weak' on Scottish independence - MSN
6 Apr 2026 at 9:24am
Kemi sounds warning that Starmer is 'weak' on Scottish independence  MSN

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP back Rosebank and Jackdaw: comment - eciu.net
7 Apr 2026 at 9:37am
SNP back Rosebank and Jackdaw: comment  eciu.net

SNP candidate ditched over handling of Linden complaints - BBC
1 Apr 2026 at 3:08pm
SNP candidate ditched over handling of Linden complaints  BBC

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

If in doubt, get out and vote, and give both votes to the SNP - Thenational Scot
7 Apr 2026 at 12:01pm
If in doubt, get out and vote, and give both votes to the SNP  Thenational Scot

?Seismic change?: how election wins for nationalists in Celtic nations could ...
7 Apr 2026 at 6:00am
?Seismic change?: how election wins for nationalists in Celtic nations could reshape UK  The Guardian

'SNP should be forced to make brutal choices' - The Herald
7 Apr 2026 at 6:32am
'SNP should be forced to make brutal choices'  The Herald

Why we 'presume' the SNP will start listening to business leaders about taxes...
7 Apr 2026 at 6:00am
Why we 'presume' the SNP will start listening to business leaders about taxes and growth  The Scotsman

Starmer ?like rabbit in headlights?, says Swinney as SNP demand fuel price cu...
7 Apr 2026 at 11:06am
Starmer ?like rabbit in headlights?, says Swinney as SNP demand fuel price cuts  London Evening Standard

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

SNP call for Westminster to act on fuel bills - The Edinburgh Reporter
7 Apr 2026 at 8:04am
SNP call for Westminster to act on fuel bills  The Edinburgh Reporter

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

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

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

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

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

John Swinney says he wants to ?press on? with independence referendum in 2028...
5 Apr 2026 at 2:49pm
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

First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference - ...
14 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference  snp.org