The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Sexual offences court ?difficult to deliver?, Justice Secretary admits
by Craig Meighan
2 Sep 2026 at 6:01pm
Neil Gray told MSPs that implementation work is not expected to begin until the next financial year, after the Crown Office said it had received no additional funding for the sizeable reform.


Major Glasgow bus operators back £2 fare cap despite 'astonishing' timescale
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
2 Sep 2026 at 5:19pm
The voluntary £2 cap on bus fares in Glasgow and the west of Scotland has been backed by two major operators.


Excrement smeared on prison walls not cleaned for three days, MSPs told
by Craig Meighan
2 Sep 2026 at 4:31pm
Prisoners in segregation units are being left with ?human excrement? smeared across the walls of their cell for three days at a time, MSPs have heard.


Meet the 'pragmatic' SNP activist fighting progressive foes to retain council...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
2 Sep 2026 at 4:23pm
Silas McGilvray will stand in the Portobello/Craigmillar ward following Kate Campbell?s resignation from City of Edinburgh Council earlier this year.


Michael Marra: My biggest concern about Labour leadership is impact on family
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
2 Sep 2026 at 3:22pm
Michael Marra speaks to The Herald about why he wants to succeed Anas Sarwar and what Scottish Labour needs to do to win.


Swinney appoints ?experienced? Alyn Smith as Scottish Government innovation m...
by Katrine Bussey
2 Sep 2026 at 2:31pm
Former SNP MEP and MP Alyn Smith has joined the Scottish Government as the minister for innovation, technology and tertiary education.


E-bike and e-scooter licensing being considered amid 'organised crime' concerns
by Craig Meighan
2 Sep 2026 at 1:27pm
The Justice Secretary has suggested a licensing scheme for e-bikes and e-scooters amid concerns over anti-social behaviour and crime involving the vehicles.


Burnham pledges to work with SNP on energy transition after £79bn ScotWind wa...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
2 Sep 2026 at 1:16pm
Andy Burnham used his first Prime Minister's Questions to promise to co-operate with the SNP on ScotWind.


Everything you need to know about Edinburgh's two high-stakes by-elections
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
2 Sep 2026 at 12:01pm
An electronic count will take place at the council?s Waverley Court headquarters following the closure of the polls at 10 pm.


Labour leadership contender Fagan calls for SNIB overhaul to back worker-owne...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
2 Sep 2026 at 11:25am
Joe Fagan wants to redirect the Scottish National Investment Bank toward worker-owned firms and community energy.


Swinney guarantees no NHS redundancies but says public sector job losses inev...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
2 Sep 2026 at 9:18am
John Swinney has pledged no compulsory NHS redundancies even as he confirmed wider public sector job losses are unavoidable.


Swinney's World Cup warning to Flynn about missing Aberdeen by-election
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
2 Sep 2026 at 9:05am
John Swinney has refused to explain private concerns he raised about Economy Minister Stephen Flynn attending the World Cup during the Aberdeen South by-election.


HES appoints interim CEO with 'immediate effect' after Katerina Brown's resig...
by Kathleen Nutt
2 Sep 2026 at 9:00am
The chief operating officer of HES has taken over the duties of chief executive with "immediate effect" following the resignation of Katerina Brown, The Herald can reveal.


Transport boss won?t apologise for calling SNP 'reckless' despite similar tra...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
2 Sep 2026 at 6:30am
At the time, Councillor Jenkinson said that the plan was ?premature and reckless?, and accused the party of playing politics.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Andy Burnham v Kemi Badenoch first PMQs match report
2 Sep 2026 at 5:09pm

Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch were a good match for each other on their first PMQs together

The First Minister?s programme for government includes legislation to introduce two new council tax bands

The former MP and MEP will take over from Ben Macpherson who stood down from the role last week

Brian Leishman said the party ?must appeal to what was once a large chunk of our core vote that left us for the SNP?

The first of four volumes of evidence to be published as part of the next phase of the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry has been released.

Trade unions say they are worried John Swinney?s programme for government will result in public sector job losses

A new report argues the economic contribution of housing associations is significant, but remains largely invisible in Scotland

The new Prime Minister did one thing much better than than his predecessor: he actually answered questions.

Reforms to Scotland?s public sector are long-overdue but are being driven by an unsustainable financial model.

Unite accused the First Minister of setting out a ?slash and burn programme?

Wings over Scotland

Anything But That
1 Sep 2026 at 1:04pm
The SNP really really don’t want to have another independence referendum, but if somebody somehow FORCES them into one, they DEFINITELY don’t want to have it in circumstances where they’d be starting the campaign with a 16-point lead. (We must conclude from all this, incidentally, that John Swinney LOVES the Tories, because he had no …

Haven?t had a dream in a long time
31 Aug 2026 at 8:43pm
These are strange days, readers. It’s getting hard to tell who’s on which side. To be honest, we’d take George Foulkes’ offer in a heartbeat. It’s not ideal, because there should be no limits on democracy, but the UK government can perfectly lawfully deny another indyref indefinitely anyway (and seem entirely inclined to), so we’d …

The Shortest Day
29 Aug 2026 at 1:07pm
Something rather extraordinary happened yesterday, dearest readers. Very briefly, we absolutely genuinely thought someone in a position of some influence in the SNP had taken a meaningful step towards being serious about independence. We are not being sarcastic. Look: here it is. (Transcript at bottom of article.) ? Dave Doogan is the SNP’s leader at …

The Slowest Dawning
28 Aug 2026 at 1:44pm
Now, readers, it’s not much of a secret that anyone who’s still supporting the SNP in the hopes that they’ll deliver Scottish independence is – and let’s put this as gently and kindly as possible – a bit thick. From a membership high of 125,000 in the run-up to the 2021 Holyrood election, fully 60% …

Spot The Problem
27 Aug 2026 at 12:19pm
See if you can identify why this isn’t an ideal way to run a justice system. We’ve put a couple of clues in for the slower folk. Answer below. Still, the Crown Office IS at least theoretically accountable to Parliament, so as long as the governing party is full of strong, independent, fair-minded MSPs willing …

This Other Earth
26 Aug 2026 at 2:22pm
We’ve had another email from the Crown Office. Stand by for a surprise! Well, that seems fair enough: other than the fact that almost £700,000 in “ringfenced” fundraiser money is (still) visibly missing, and the fact that the First Minister of the country and the leader of the party the money was entrusted to has …

You?ll Have Had Your Supper
24 Aug 2026 at 6:22pm
Great news, everyone – Scottish Labour has finally worked out how to talk to the people of Scotland. This video featuring the party’s MP Melanie Ward just appeared on the Scotland Office’s LinkedIn page, and it explains the complexities of the interlinked Scottish and UK economies in terms that the UK government hopes all of …

Before Action
20 Aug 2026 at 8:20pm
Our solicitors have today sent the letter below to Police Scotland. (Click pics to enlarge.) It’s worth remembering what this is about. – Peter Murrell was recently sentenced to over five years in prison for misappropriating approximately £400,000 from the SNP, which is the crime of embezzlement. – John Swinney recently admitted that the SNP …

The Land Of Do-As-You-Please
17 Aug 2026 at 12:15pm
The contempt for the Scottish public being openly shown by public servants paid from the public purse to answer to the public has at this point reached such endemic levels that we’re not sure an acceptable level of trust can ever be salvaged. The reply above is not just evasive, not even just pathetic, it’s …

Believers In The Ruins
13 Aug 2026 at 2:01pm
Not done with celebrating defeat in an imaginary UDI yesterday, The National has gone with another big polling-based front cover today, and the party’s woke young stormtrooper drones are beside themselves with malignant glee. Let’s just see what they’re cheering about. Oh. That 29% figure is actually one point DOWN on the SNP’s support in …

Craig Murray

Dr David Halpin and David Kelly
29 Aug 2026 at 12:26pm

Dr David Halpin, a redoubtable campaigner over the murder of Dr David Kelly, and a friend of this blog for over twenty years, has died. He will be missed. His sister Mary was for many years an invaluable commenter here and occasional researcher for me. Unfortunately about ten years ago I banned her for comments …

Dr David Halpin and David Kelly

Of Judges, Juries and Fascism
25 Aug 2026 at 5:50pm

We still don’t have a decision on whether the Scottish judicial review of Palestine Action can proceed. Lord Young is thinking about it. Last Thursday’s hearing went about as well as it could go. The UK government produced no written argument and barely seemed to be trying. They moved in court for the Scottish judicial …

Of Judges, Juries and Fascism

Scottish Judicial Review Hearing Tomorrow
19 Aug 2026 at 10:05pm

After eight months of obstructionism from the Labour Friends of Israel government of the UK, tomorrow is the day on which the Scottish Court of Session will finally decide whether to go ahead with the judicial review it granted in January, or kowtow to Downing St. I publish below two of the three main papers …

Scottish Judicial Review Hearing Tomorrow

A Tide in the Affairs of Men
7 Aug 2026 at 9:20pm

Between ten and five years ago, specifically in the light of Brexit, it was not in the least unusual for Scottish Independence supporters to discuss a declaration of Independence as the way forward. Debate more often centred on who should make the declaration – the Scottish parliament or some form of national convention or assembly. …

A Tide in the Affairs of Men

The Hard Right Packing of the UK Supreme Court
2 Aug 2026 at 7:00pm

Unlike the USA, where it is obsessively watched, the UK has no political culture of scrutinising the political composition of its Supreme Court. This is a big mistake. The UK Supreme Court has been deliberately and openly, even ostentatiously, packed with hard-right judges selected on the specific criterion that they will not oppose the will …

The Hard Right Packing of the UK Supreme Court

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

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

Scottish Independence: Set the Date!

BBC Scotland

How will Swinney 'rewire' local government and public services?
2 Sep 2026 at 3:39pm
The first minister announced wide-ranging plans to shake-up Scotland's public sector.

Family of murdered Stacy Hunter say new misogyny bill would not have protecte...
2 Sep 2026 at 1:23pm
First Minister John Swinney said he wanted to use his role to tackle violence against women.

No compulsory redundancies from health board cuts - Swinney
2 Sep 2026 at 11:26am
The first minister has promised to work with trade unions as he embarks on reforming the public sector.

Alyn Smith appointed as Scotland's innovation minister
2 Sep 2026 at 2:23pm
The former MP and MEP has been made minister for innovation, technology and tertiary education following the resignation of Ben Macpherson.

Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
1 Sep 2026 at 9:23pm
First Minister John Swinney announced the move in his programme for government, alongside plans to cut health boards from 14 to two.

Food price cap and public sector reform: Five things from the programme for g...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:33pm
A summary of the key announcements from John Swinney's programme for government.

Swinney to cut number of health boards from 14 to two
1 Sep 2026 at 4:52pm
Existing boards could be merged so there would be one for the west and another for the east of Scotland.

Swinney 'concerned' over Flynn missing by-election for World Cup
1 Sep 2026 at 3:55pm
Flynn formally asked to attend the tournament in the US less than three weeks after he was elected as an MSP.

Delays and £20m cost rise for new Turkish-built CalMac ferries
1 Sep 2026 at 9:17am
The second of four ordered ships will be handed over in October, about 20 months later than originally planned.

Early release: What's happening with prisoners in Scotland?
1 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
Letting prisoners out early to ease prison overcrowding is proving politically fraught both sides of the border.

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

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

Scot Goes Pop

RevStew can squeal but *of course* the SNP have done the right thing by rulin...
31 Aug 2026 at 9:19am
The most dispiriting aspect of the controversy surrounding Dave Doogan is that it's given the controversial Somerset-based "Stew" blogger an excuse to yet again trot out his barking mad fantasy abo...

The refusal to allow a debate and vote on independence strategy at the SNP co...
29 Aug 2026 at 10:15am
I initially assumed that the timing of the publication of a draft indyref bill was directly connected to the news having just broken that this year's SNP conference is being effectively blocked fro...

Another Scottish polling disaster for Burnham: a majority of voters want Scot...
27 Aug 2026 at 10:24pm
Someone asked on the previous comments thread whether it was true that a new Survation poll showed that Andy Burnham is the most popular politician among Scottish voters.  Yes, it is true (albeit w...

The BBC will ALWAYS be fearlessly neutral and even-handed and ask all the imp...
24 Aug 2026 at 10:06pm
*  *  *I'm still urgently trying to make progress towards my blogging and YouTube videos becoming financially sustainable.  If you'd like to help me continue to create content by becoming a support...

Warning - Danger - MASSIVE BLACK HOLE APPROACHING and Stew wants to chuck YOU...
22 Aug 2026 at 10:04pm
Probably because I grew up during the period in which the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six were released, I've always been deeply troubled by the persistent recurrence of severe miscarriages o...

Concerns mount that the "Scottish Daily Express" may be written by clueless H...
22 Aug 2026 at 12:21pm
If it wasn't so outrageous, the latest anti-Gaelic rant from the Scottish Daily Express would be hysterically funny.  The paper reports that "one Holyrood source" (translation: an unspecified Tory ...

Douglas Alexander tacitly admits the choice for Labour is: a) change course o...
21 Aug 2026 at 12:26pm
My seven-day conventional text-blogging blitz to help promote my Ko-Fi fundraising page is now over, and it certainly wasn't a waste of time because it led to several new sign-ups as recurring mont...

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

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Prisoners left with human excrement smeared on cell walls for three days, MSP...
2 Sep 2026 at 4:05pm
The chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service said not cleaning 'dirty protests' for three days complied with the law

Swinney appoints ?experienced? Smith as Scottish Government minister
2 Sep 2026 at 3:52pm
Alyn Smith is to be the minister for innovation, technology and tertiary education, replacing Ben Macpherson who quit last week

Sexual offences court will be difficult to deliver but is necessary ? minister
2 Sep 2026 at 2:27pm
Justice secretary Neil Gray said work on the court will not begin until the next financial year

Serious spending questions raised at Andy Burnham?s first PMQs
2 Sep 2026 at 1:07pm
Now that summer recess is over, the Prime Minister faced scrutiny from his political opponents

Drafting Scottish budget will be extremely challenging, admits Gilruth
2 Sep 2026 at 12:02pm
The deputy first minister spoke about the tight fiscal siatuation faced by the Scottish Government

Swinney says ?no question? of compulsory job losses as he cuts NHS boards
2 Sep 2026 at 10:24am
The First Minister made the commitment after revealing plans to cut the number of area health boards in Scotland from 14 to two

John Swinney pledges ?radical reshaping? of Scotland?s public services
1 Sep 2026 at 5:15pm
The First Minister announced his Programme for Government as MSPs returned to Holyrood after the summer recess

Long-term government borrowing costs leap to 28-year high ahead of Budget
1 Sep 2026 at 4:49pm
It came amid a widespread global bond sell-off amid concerns over ratcheting oil prices and wider uncertainty over inflation

£2 bus fare cap to be extended to Glasgow and west of Scotland, Swinney confirms
1 Sep 2026 at 4:30pm
Passengers in Glasgow and the west will see cheaper bus fares from Monday

Ed Miliband pledges to introduce ?reset? of UK policy on Israel ?in coming we...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:39pm
The foreign secretary said the UK Government is looking at how to stop UK companies 'financing, constructing or advertising new settlements' in the West Bank

Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to stand down as an MP
1 Sep 2026 at 12:29pm
Sir Keir was replaced by Andy Burnham in July after losing the support of his party

Insight: What Kemi Badenoch?s reshuffle means for Scotland
1 Sep 2026 at 9:38am
The Tory leader spent the August bank holiday and the last of the summer recess reshuffling her frontbench

Kemi Badenoch sacks senior Tories in major shake-up of her front bench team
31 Aug 2026 at 8:14pm
The Conservative leader carried out the reshuffle of her inner circle before Parliament?s return on Tuesday, and ahead of the party?s conference.

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

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Nicola Sturgeon among 600 women and groups to demand action to combat the far...
2 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm
The open letter also urges "effective and accountable? policing of the far-right.

John Swinney plan to cap Glasgow bus fares is 'voluntary' with operators unde...
2 Sep 2026 at 3:04pm
The SNP has been urged to "come clean" over how many bus firms have agreed to a £2 fare cap that John Swinney claims will start next week.

Scottish Labour MP says indyref3 ban should be condition of second referendum
2 Sep 2026 at 10:54am
Brian Leishman said his party should engage with the process of setting out a route for another vote on independence.

John Swinney claims 'no compulsory redundancies' under SNP plan to scrap heal...
2 Sep 2026 at 10:33am
The First Minister has placed himself on a collision course with trade unions over his plans to further centralise public services.

Glasgow council workers 'walk out in tears' as wages to be cut for 'equal pay'
2 Sep 2026 at 8:45am
Domestic abuse workers, janitors, cleansing staff, park workers and parking attendants say they face financial destitution.

Scottish politics RECAP after John Swinney reveals SNP Government plan to axe...
1 Sep 2026 at 8:02pm
The First Minister has to make steep savings amid repeated warnings the SNP won't be able to meet its spending commitments by 2030.

Dodgy supermarket price cap plan risks derailing John Swinney's SNP Government
1 Sep 2026 at 4:28pm
In his response to the Programme for Government, Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the food price cap plan is going nowhere.

Bus fares across Glasgow and the west of Scotland to be capped at £2, John Sw...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:23pm
Passengers will pay £2 for single bus journeys from Monday, September 7.

John Swinney pulled up SNP Cabinet colleague Stephen Flynn over World Cup trip
1 Sep 2026 at 1:21pm
EXCLUSIVE: The clash was contained in Scottish Government emails released under freedom of information.

Keir Starmer stepping down as Labour MP after resigning as PM in July
1 Sep 2026 at 12:26pm
A by-election is expected to take place in Holborn and St Pancras to elect his successor, with the timetable for selecting candidates due to be announced in the coming weeks.

The National

The National | Politics

Secrecy row as SNP Government refuses to name 13 firms banned under genocide ...
2 Sep 2026 at 6:00pm

THE Scottish Government has been accused of ?smoke and mirrors? after declining to reveal which companies are banned from receiving public money under a new policy prohibiting grants to arms firms dealing with Israel.

Environmental warnings emerge over huge £2bn AI data centre linked to Scottis...
2 Sep 2026 at 5:34pm

A HUGE planned £2 billion AI data centre linked to a Scottish aristocrat has been warned that it could affect local water supplies and have a ?significant impact? on a protected stretch of the River Tweed, The National can reveal ...

How Andy Burnham's first PMQs was a perfect parody of modern politics
2 Sep 2026 at 5:28pm

ANDY Burnham is turning into the ?is there nothing else on?? Prime Minister ...

Why won't Scottish Government give us details of the Israel genocide ban?
2 Sep 2026 at 4:57pm

ONE year ago, the First Minister made a significant announcement: in the face of what he described as plausible evidence of genocide in Gaza, the Scottish Government would ban arms companies involved in supplying Israel and other states plausibly suspected of genocide...

Reform UK MSP accidentally backs SNP call for further devolution to Scotland
2 Sep 2026 at 5:05pm

A REFORM UK MSP has accidentally backed calls for further powers to be devolved to Scotland ...

Scottish Government 'must rule out support for new oil and gas after UN warning'
2 Sep 2026 at 4:50pm

A CHARITY has urged the Scottish Government to rule out support for new oil and gas fields after the UN warned that the world is set to breach a 1.5C global warming threshold.

Disbelief as BBC host asks John Swinney 'the most crass question ever'
2 Sep 2026 at 4:17pm

THE BBC have been blasted after lining up three guests to slag off the SNP?s flagship food price cap policy ? giving only the First Minister himself the chance to champion it ...

SNP hail ScotRail passenger boom as peak fares scrapped one year ago
2 Sep 2026 at 4:03pm

THE SNP have hailed new data which showed that ScotRail recently recorded an all-time high of passenger numbers ...

Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid among 600 urging MSPs to stand up to far right
2 Sep 2026 at 3:19pm

FORMER first minister Nicola Sturgeon, author Val McDermid, and actor Kate Dickie have signed an open letter to MSPs calling on them to tackle the rise of far-right racism and misogyny ...

FM's pledge to tackle violence against women and girls is welcome
2 Sep 2026 at 3:00pm

I WAS very happy to read that one of the Scottish Government?s commitments for the next parliamentary year is to address the continuing ?epidemic of violence against women and girls?.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Alyn Smith named as innovation minister
2 Sep 2026 at 3:48pm
The MSP succeeds Ben Macpherson, who resigned last week

A healthy approach
2 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
A dedicated joint strategy to tackle heart and circulatory conditions, kidney disease and diabetes ? a group of illnesses which share common risk factors ? could cut avoidable deaths and reduce health inequalities, says BHF Scotland

Keir Starmer to stand down as an MP
1 Sep 2026 at 2:48pm
The former PM, who was replaced by Andy Burnham in the summer, said he wanted to focus on international relations and tackling violence against women and girls

National guidance cautions Scottish public sector on AI use
1 Sep 2026 at 2:05pm
Publication follows launch of five-year strategy

John Swinney to cut health boards in major realignment of NHS
1 Sep 2026 at 1:18pm
The first minister said it was part of a ?radical reshaping of public services"

Tech solutions push to ease hospital pressures
1 Sep 2026 at 11:17am
Scottish Government plan to tackle corridor care and patient backlog

Scottish Government publishes draft food price cap proposals
1 Sep 2026 at 11:14am
The consultation does not set out the price at which items would be sold

Striking a balance
1 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners? Sam Jones says regulation shouldn?t stifle growth or innovation

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

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

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

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

Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland
1 Sep 2026 at 5:52pm
First minister sets out his government?s agenda and defends policy described by industry groups as a ?potty gimmick?John Swinney insisted on Tuesday he still planned to introduce a legally binding price cap on bread, milk and other essential food items in Scotland despite fierce opposition from f...

Tuesday briefing: Scotland has promised on violence against women ? can it de...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:46am
In today?s newsletter: First minister John Swinney has pledged to put an end to violence against women and girls. But can he turn ambitious laws into real change?Good morning. Violence against women and girls, in all its myriad forms ? physical and mental, blatant and insidious ? is a global chal...

Channel 5 drama to examine how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband stole SNP ...
26 Aug 2026 at 2:00pm
To Nicola, Love Peter will focus on couple?s relationship during 12-year period of embezzlement and fallout of caseChannel 5 is reuniting with the producers of Power: the Downfall of Huw Edwards for a drama about how Nicola Sturgeon?s estranged husband embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish Nationa...

?Never seen this level of objection?: Scotland pushes back against datacentre...
25 Aug 2026 at 6:00am
Holyrood ?inching towards moratorium? amid concerns over massive proposed developments in Auchtertool and beyondIn a village 21 miles north of Edinburgh, a real estate consultancy plans to build a datacentre larger than the village itself ? 35 metres high, with an area larger than 100 football pi...

Police Scotland warns ?robust security? needed to stop attacks on AI datacentres
14 Aug 2026 at 5:05pm
?A great deal of public opposition is likely? to a proposed datacentre near Edinburgh, the force saysPolice in Scotland have issued a stark warning about the need for ?robust security measures? to stop proposed AI datacentres from being attacked by protesters.There has been mounting opposition to...

Polls open in Clacton, where Farage spent more than £10,000 in byelection aga...
13 Aug 2026 at 3:54pm
The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelectionThe number of patients in England being cared for in hospital corridors or makeshift areas has remained above 3,000 a day for the second month in a row, as the NHS experiences a ?summer surge?, the Pre...

UK politics: Burnham urges retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues aft...
12 Aug 2026 at 7:10pm
PM warns extreme heat conditions ?could be with us fo some time yet?Just 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the part of government tasked with protecting the environment and maintaining food security, a freedom of information ...

Amnesty International says Farage putting ?hate and inhumanity? over leadersh...
10 Aug 2026 at 5:03pm
A spokesperson for the human rights group likened the proposal to ?financial brutality with British taxpayers? money?Farage and Yusuf are now taking questions.Q: From Jack Fenwick from the BBC Are there other countries where you might send foreign offenders? And how much would this cost?We have...

Nicola Sturgeon ?has not spoken to? estranged husband, Peter Murrell, since h...
8 Aug 2026 at 3:50pm
Scotland?s former first minister says she will not visit Murrell in prison, where he is serving five-year sentence for embezzling SNP fundsNicola Surgeon has said she will not visit her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, in prison, has stopped speaking to him and views herself as a ?mug? for worry...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The branch office?s stagnant talent puddle
2 Sep 2026 at 4:42pm
The Labour party in Scotland has got itself into a hopeless mess on the topic of another independence referendum. Actually, that previous sentence could just have stopped at the word mess. The two contenders for the position of Labour’s Scottish branch manager, Michael Marra and Jackie Baillie’s wee pet Joe Fagan, had an embarrassing car …

Keir today, gone tomorrow
1 Sep 2026 at 4:08pm
With intentionally spiteful timing, failed prime minister Keir Starmer announced that he’s stepping down as an MP just as his successor was due to address Parliament for the first time. With this move, Starmer has proven that it was all about his ego, careerism, self-aggrandisement, and ambition all along. He’s telling us he has no …

The Record?s proposed trigger for Indyref2 benefits Labour not Scotland
31 Aug 2026 at 8:06pm
The first crack has appeared in the “We’re not nationalists we’re British” dam against the rising tide of support for independence and the generational shift that puts opposition to independence in Scotland on borrowed time. The current Westminster tactic of refusing to countenance another independence referendum, maintaining that the UK is a voluntary union while …

Pros and cons of a defacto indyref, and the SNP conference
30 Aug 2026 at 4:09pm
As ever, when I take a few days off from the blog, there’s a lot to catch up on. There was the Survation poll on independence published on Thursday which reported a 52% result for Yes (with don’t knows removed). It’s worth pointing out that Survation is one of those polling companies which uses weighting …

Meet the new boss, you know the rest
27 Aug 2026 at 5:04pm
As sure as night follows day or the Labour branch office in Scotland is unwilling to learn from its repeated electoral kickings, the Labour party at Westminster is equally unwilling to change, retreating to its comfort zone of corporate centre right politics just as soon as it had defenestrated Keir Starmer for being massively unpopular …

Wind turbines and threats to national security
25 Aug 2026 at 1:12pm
Scotland’s enormous potential for renewable energy could turn the country into a literal European powerhouse and generate immense revenues for an independent Scotland as well as giving Scotland some of the cheapest electricity in Europe, which in turn could generate huge inward investment as companies seek to build factories in Scotland, taking advantage of low …

Graham Grant?s glaikit attack on the Scots language
20 Aug 2026 at 1:48pm
You have probably never heard of Graham Grant, which is a great blessing. Grant is the home affairs editor of the Scottish Daily Mail, a far right rag which devotes itself to stories about celebs and royalty and informing its elderly readership of Tory and Reform UK supporters of all the many and myriad ways …

The BBC?s Glasgow hit piece says more about the BBC than Glasgow
19 Aug 2026 at 6:20pm
I’ve already briefly mentioned BBC Scotland’s disgraceful hit job on Glasgow which was broadcast earlier this week, but it’s worth exploring the issues around the programme in more detail, as the programme and its broadcast tell us far more about the priorities and concerns of the BBC in Scotland than they do about the state …

The BBC, the Reform UK Broadcasting corporation
17 Aug 2026 at 4:04pm
Although in recent weeks the Reform UK bandwagon looks as though it has hit a roadblock in the form of scandals about the party’s addiction to dodgy donations, the media in the UK continues to do its utmost to treat Farage’s party as the government in waiting. Reform has a mere eight MPs, it is …

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

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

Jackie Baillie?s hypocrisy as Keir Starmer spends £60 130 of taxpayer money o...
2 Sep 2026 at 6:17pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 By Liz S Jackie Baillie posted this on X on 20 August (based on a BBC article that had a headline ?John Swinney defends £45,000 business-class flights to World Cup?). ?Such luxury in a...

Lucy Whyte didn?t appear to know that freezing the cost of supermarket staple...
2 Sep 2026 at 6:09pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 By Liz S As Jackie Baillie was interviewed by the BBC radio in Scotland in a softly softly interview that was mostly, as per, an opportunity for her to have yet another public platform...

1 586 fully-researched rebuttals and revelations in 2026 so far ? help us kee...
2 Sep 2026 at 4:10pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goinghttps://crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-goingOr by direct bank transfer to:JOHN WATSON ROBERTSONSort Code ? 08-91-04Account 12266421Many thanks to the 104 supporters so far.36 000 visitors in August1586 researched posts in 2026 so farJohn

Thanks to Glasgow Labour ? From your child?s hospital bed, so close you can s...
2 Sep 2026 at 3:45pm
The Shieldhill Prelimary Works, Pre-sedimentation at the end of Hospital Boulevard, on the right, a few hundred metres from the QEUH main entrance with the Royal hospital for Children where a much-reported cancer ward death linked to bacterial infection took place. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by dir...

Glasgow Labour?s new giant incinerator upwind of the QEUH associated with con...
2 Sep 2026 at 3:44pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Ends Waste & Bioenergy in January 2015: Plans to build the UK?s largest waste management complex image at top and energy-from-waste plant have come to an end, it has emerged. Li...

Swinney accused by Herald of starting wars to distract from his Ferry Fiasco 2
2 Sep 2026 at 3:40pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From the Herald of Free Enterprise’s Maritime Williams today, the latest in his wrecking yard of journalism on ferries: Ferry fiasco 2.0? Why is £20m more needed for Turkish ships? Aft...

Massive growth in key economic sectors since early days of SNP administration
2 Sep 2026 at 10:47am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Industry statistics: Economic statistics for industry sectors in Scotland published today, the above data: From 2010, just before the first majority SNP Government in 2011 and unt...

Violence against women ? does the Guardian?s Scottish Correspondent ever read...
2 Sep 2026 at 8:56am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 The Guardian’s Scotland Correspondent, Libby Brooks, is often ill-informed and this show little sign of doing any better. The image is, of course, from a march in London. Good morning....

Blaming the Scottish Government for the plague of English organised crime gangs
2 Sep 2026 at 7:54am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 Headlining on BBC Scotland‘s inserts to BBC Breakfast every 30 minutes this morning, making it onto the national UK broadcasts, illegal tobacco products and vapes in Inverness. Inverne...

Nearly 5 000 Scots treated in A&E within 4 hours who might not have been had t...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:45pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 In July 2026 NHS Scotland’s full, consultant led, Type 1 emergency departments, 148 029 attended and 65% were treated within 4 hours. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-s...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - BBC
28 Aug 2026 at 12:17pm
FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published  BBC

Paul Kavanagh: BBC bias against Scotland has ramped up to hysterical levels -...
2 Sep 2026 at 7:26am
Paul Kavanagh: BBC bias against Scotland has ramped up to hysterical levels  The National Scot

Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore - Scottish G...
28 Aug 2026 at 11:51am
Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore  Scottish Greens

'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendu...
28 Aug 2026 at 10:33am
'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendum bill  The Scotsman

Draft Independence Referendum Bill published - Wired-Gov
28 Aug 2026 at 12:40pm
Draft Independence Referendum Bill published  Wired-Gov

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

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

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

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

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Meet the 'pragmatic' SNP activist fighting progressive foes to retain council...
2 Sep 2026 at 7:22pm
Meet the 'pragmatic' SNP activist fighting progressive foes to retain council seat  heraldscotland.com

Scottish Labour MP says party should back indyref2 ? if SNP accept restrictio...
2 Sep 2026 at 12:26pm
Scottish Labour MP says party should back indyref2 ? if SNP accept restrictions  The National Scot

Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland - The Gua...
1 Sep 2026 at 7:48pm
Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland  The Guardian

Previewing the five council by-elections of 3rd September 2026 - Andrew?s Pre...
2 Sep 2026 at 12:03pm
Previewing the five council by-elections of 3rd September 2026  Andrew?s Previews

SNP admits price cap may force shops to stop selling groceries - The Telegraph
1 Sep 2026 at 4:52pm
SNP admits price cap may force shops to stop selling groceries  The Telegraph

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

SNP conference motion to raise concern about ?extreme cost? of island flights...
2 Sep 2026 at 10:00am
SNP conference motion to raise concern about ?extreme cost? of island flights  Shetland News

Burnham on ?lecturing tour? with Britain in peril of breaking up, SNP leader ...
1 Sep 2026 at 12:05am
Burnham on ?lecturing tour? with Britain in peril of breaking up, SNP leader claims  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

SNP slammed for ?mind-boggling? food price cap plans - cityam.com
1 Sep 2026 at 3:19pm
SNP slammed for ?mind-boggling? food price cap plans  cityam.com

The SNP?s food price cap bill is stupid and cynical - The Spectator
1 Sep 2026 at 11:59am
The SNP?s food price cap bill is stupid and cynical  The Spectator

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - BBC
28 Aug 2026 at 12:17pm
FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published  BBC

Draft Independence Referendum Bill published - Wired-Gov
28 Aug 2026 at 12:40pm
Draft Independence Referendum Bill published  Wired-Gov

Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore - Scottish G...
28 Aug 2026 at 11:51am
Scottish Independence is a demand that Westminster cannot ignore  Scottish Greens

Draft Independence Referendum Bill published - Scottish Legal News
31 Aug 2026 at 11:29am
Draft Independence Referendum Bill published  Scottish Legal News

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

'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendu...
28 Aug 2026 at 10:33am
'A complete waste of time': SNP publishes new Scottish independence referendum bill  The Scotsman

Scottish Government publishes draft bill for second independence referendum -...
28 Aug 2026 at 3:23pm
Scottish Government publishes draft bill for second independence referendum  The National Scot

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

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

Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause? -...
4 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Does the Scottish election result advance or hinder the independence cause?  The Conversation