The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Welcome to Nigel Farage's one-man political circus over £5m gift row
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
7 Jul 2026 at 4:13pm
Nigel Farage triggering a by-election in Clacton uses the electorate as props in a political theatre.


Nigel Farage resigns as MP to force by-election amid probe into £5m donation
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Jul 2026 at 2:00pm
The Reform UK leader has dramatically resigned his seat in parliament following intense pressure over a £5 million donation and undeclared financial staffing support from a convicted fraudster.


SNP MSP breaks ranks and calls for Jackdaw and Rosebank oil fields approval
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
7 Jul 2026 at 1:38pm
An SNP MSP has broken with his party, calling for the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil fields to be approved by the UK Government.


Just £1m of £10m Scottish emergency heating oil fund paid out to households
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Jul 2026 at 1:05pm
Only £1 million of a £10 million Scottish Government emergency fund for soaring heating oil costs has reached struggling households, sparking fierce criticism.


Nigel Farage to make statement on political future amid funding probe
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Jul 2026 at 12:24pm
The Reform UK leader is set to make a high-stakes address regarding his future in Westminster following intense pressure over a £5 million donation and undeclared financial assistance from a convicted fraudster.


Heriot-Watt graduate Kaci McEwan designs official America250 commemorative ta...
by rose.moncur@newsquest.co.uk | Rose Moncur
7 Jul 2026 at 11:47am
A Heriot-Watt University graduate has designed the official America250 commemorative tartan.


Scottish Labour MPs call on UK Government to approve new oil and gas
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
7 Jul 2026 at 7:05am
A group of Scottish Labour MPs have called for controversial new oil and gas projects in Scotland to be approved


SPS refuses to say if trans women still allowed in female prison estate
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Jul 2026 at 5:00am
The Scottish Prison Service has failed to confirm whether transgender women are still participating in daytime activities alongside female prisoners, despite withdrawing its controversial gender-identity housing policy following a Court of Session ruling last month.


Firm ordered to pay £54k to lift attendant sacked for asking about holidays
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
7 Jul 2026 at 5:00am
Ross & Liddell has been ordered to pay a lift attendant over £54,000 after an employment tribunal found he was unfairly dismissed simply for raising questions about his holiday pay.


SNP plans for data centre moratorium slammed as 'Scotland risks losing billions'
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
6 Jul 2026 at 5:53pm
The SNP's plans to back a temporary ban on AI data centre developments have been slammed by business leaders, who say it risks "undermining economic growth" across the country.


Scottish Government reveals new mansion tax could raise just £12m annually
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
6 Jul 2026 at 12:49pm
The Scottish Government's new "mansion tax" on properties worth more than £1 million could raise as little as £12m a year, according to its own consultation on the policy.


MSP touted as Sarwar's successor at odds with Burnham over second independenc...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
6 Jul 2026 at 12:22pm
Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney has broken ranks with Andy Burnham after the likely next prime minister blocked a second independence referendum.


Scots back compulsory voting - but would it really fix low turnout?
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
6 Jul 2026 at 5:00am
New polling suggests Scots are open to compulsory voting, but would it fix low turnout in Scotland or risk forcing people into broken politics?


Can Andy Burnham make good on pledge to revive our high streets?
by David Lonsdale
6 Jul 2026 at 4:32am
Would-be Prime Minister Andy Burnham struck an optimistic note in speech about economy, but can he deliver?

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Nigel Farage has resigned as MP and will fight by-election
7 Jul 2026 at 3:00pm

The Reform UK leader said in a post on social media that he would be making the statement at 2pm on Tuesday.

The Scottish government has not called for the two North Sea fossil fuel projects to be approved.

We take a look at the public outcry after a convicted rapist taxi driver was allowed to keep his operator?s licence.

The Scottish Police Federation want officers to be able to stop and search people for knives without requiring suspicion they are committing a crime.

Graeme Downie, Richard Baker, Kenny Stevenson, Torcuil Crichton and Lillian Jones have all said that the projects should be given the go ahead.

Emily Kuroda played Mrs Kim in Gilmore Girls

Wings over Scotland

The Interests Of The Many
7 Jul 2026 at 11:50am
As we told you last week, we’ve now had counsel draft our application for a group proceedings action on behalf of donors to the “ringfenced” independence referendum campaign funds which were stolen and spent by the SNP on party business. The draft can be read below. We’ve already gathered dozens of people who are unhappy …

Search And Replace
5 Jul 2026 at 3:34pm
Here’s a passage from Crown Agent John Logue’s recent BBC interview in which he described the crime for which Peter Murrell was just sentenced to five years and three months in prison. You’ll note that we’ve highlighted a few words and phrases in red. JOHN LOGUE: I think the best way I can describe it …

Narrowing the options
3 Jul 2026 at 12:12pm
We’ve just sent this letter to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Dear Sirs/Madams, Thank you for your response, which I have considered with care. I note you have advised that ?full consideration was given to whether the crime of fraud could be established. That investigation did not disclose sufficient evidence of fraud, or …

Fob, Fob, Fobbing Along
2 Jul 2026 at 4:49pm
We have received a further reply from the Crown Office. Alert readers may note that while Wings has repeatedly noted that the misappropriation of the fundraiser money by the SNP could constitute either fraud OR embezzlement (or both), entirely separate to the embezzlement FROM the SNP by Peter Murrell, the Crown Office continues – as …

Tuning In The Shine
2 Jul 2026 at 1:39pm
For any of you who haven’t caught it yet, my interview from Monday’s BBC Scotcast (which is also available on Spotify). ? Sadly due to a summer scheduling quirk the video version won’t go out on the telly, and seemingly not on the BBC YouTube page either, so you’ll just have to listen to the …

Strike A Pose, There?s Nothing To It
1 Jul 2026 at 12:05pm
We’ve already discussed the contents of the videos released last week by the BBC containing interviews with Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston of Police Scotland and Crown Agent John Logue of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. But videos (especially lengthy ones) are always a bit of a pain to reference, and these are …

ACC Houston, We Have A Problem
1 Jul 2026 at 12:04pm
We’ve already discussed the contents of the videos released last week by the BBC containing interviews with Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston of Police Scotland and Crown Agent John Logue of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. But videos (especially lengthy ones) are always a bit of a pain to reference, and these are …

The Fast Track
29 Jun 2026 at 2:32pm
I’ve just recorded an episode of the BBC ScotCast podcast, which should “drop”, as we say in the media biz, around teatime tonight. It focused largely on issues around Operation Branchform, and the fact that only one of the two crimes it concerned has been resolved. Time always flies when you’re having fun, so I …

Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No
27 Jun 2026 at 2:44pm
Alert readers will have found it hard not to notice that Wings is currently focused on trying to solve one mystery above all others: why nobody has been prosecuted for a massive theft of hundreds of thousands of pounds, which took place in open sight, beyond any dispute, and is openly admitted by someone who …

The Promise
26 Jun 2026 at 3:18pm
This is the letter the SNP sent donors to the ringfenced 2017 fundraiser. The terms are right there in the first sentence, and repeated several more times. The money will be “ring fenced for a future referendum”. It’s to “build up a sizeable war chest to fight the campaign when the time comes”. It’s to …

Craig Murray

Palestine Action Proscription: We Fight Back
1 Jul 2026 at 12:50pm

I publish below in full the Note we have submitted to Court today to re-establish the separate Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. Not only is the state doubling down on prosecution of pro-Palestine activists, a new National Security State Threats Bill is being fast tracked through parliament to extend the attack …

Palestine Action Proscription: We Fight Back

The Middle East, Hormuz and the New Mercantilism
29 Jun 2026 at 9:50am

The provisional surrender document signed by Donald Trump appeared to represent a triumph for Iran and indeed for the world; but neither the USA nor Israel has the slightest sense of honour and they cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith. Iran knows this – after all, the USA twice attacked Iran actually during …

The Middle East, Hormuz and the New Mercantilism

The UK Joins the Pirates
15 Jun 2026 at 1:21pm

I was genuinely surprised by the Starmer regime’s refusal to state that the Israeli boarding of the Global Sumud flotilla on the High Seas was illegal. I did not realise it was because the UK was planning to undertake similar illegal seizure itself. The Gaza Flotilla seizure was illegal: while for obvious reasons freedom of …

The UK Joins the Pirates

Sentencing the Innocent
13 Jun 2026 at 4:41pm

Judge Johnson had proved his fascist credentials through rulings much earlier in the Filton trial than his vicious sentencing. Indeed, he had arguably already shown them when he released Tommy Robinson from a prison sentence, or when as a barrister he had chosen to work for the intelligence services and Ministry of Defence. But in …

Sentencing the Innocent

The Joy of Resistance
6 Jun 2026 at 9:51am

Just a quick note to say that I am very aware that lately I have been rather bitter, which is not good for anybody, especially me. The disappointments and state outrages have been no worse than usual; my frustration at my poor health, and the subsequent constraint of my ability to fight back, has rather …

The Joy of Resistance

The Power of the UK State Over Scotland
28 May 2026 at 7:50am

I went through yesterday’s preliminary hearing in the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action with a sense of mounting horror. We had the same judge as at the permission hearing, Lord Young. We had exactly the same arguments and the same case law being deployed again by the UK government as at …

The Power of the UK State Over Scotland

BBC Scotland

'Mansion tax' could double rates on Scotland's most expensive homes
6 Jul 2026 at 1:34pm
SNP ministers have has proposed a steep council tax increase for properties worth more than £1m.

Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum
6 Jul 2026 at 9:30am
The Labour MP, who is expected to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, has ruled out agreeing to a vote.

Four councillors quit after vote for rapist taxi driver to keep operator licence
7 Jul 2026 at 2:16pm
The four have resigned from Highland licensing committee after voting to allow David Brown to keep an operator's licence.

Police inquiry into Yes Scotland campaign's 'missing £1.5m' claim
5 Jul 2026 at 1:05pm
It is claimed funds raised for the group which campaigned for independence in the 2014 referendum are "unaccounted for".

I was 'slam dunk' for SNP leadership until revealing gay marriage views - Forbes
3 Jul 2026 at 6:23am
The former deputy first minister says she was advised to lie about her opinions on same-sex marriage.

Burnham showed 'lack of knowledge' about Scotland - Swinney
1 Jul 2026 at 12:07pm
The first minister has criticised the Labour MP after he suggested power north of the border was too centralised.

What does the Royal Navy's drone warship plan mean for Scotland?
1 Jul 2026 at 6:15am
The UK government's long-awaited defence spending plans are out, but is it good or bad news for Scottish shipbuilders?

Charges for hate crimes in Scotland soar to record high
30 Jun 2026 at 11:55am
A total of 7,115 charges with at least one element of hate crime were recorded in 2025-26.

Andy Burnham vows to decentralise power in Scotland
29 Jun 2026 at 2:18pm
The Labour MP, who is expected to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, said he wants to take power away from devolved parliaments and empower communities.

Scottish Labour's election 'disaster' due to unpopular PM - Lennon
28 Jun 2026 at 12:43pm
Former Labour MSP Monica Lennon says voters could not get beyond Keir Starmer's unpopularity.

Scottish Parliament restores online gender search for MSPs
29 Jun 2026 at 5:45pm
Visitors to the Holyrood website are able to search for parliamentarians by their sex and trans status.

King urges MSPs to help build a 'fair and prosperous society'
27 Jun 2026 at 1:13pm
The ceremony, which featured pageantry, poetry, drama and music, marked the beginning of the seventh session of Holyrood.

Scot Goes Pop

Another stunning SNP by-election GAIN as the Tories go into FREEFALL in the n...
4 Jul 2026 at 2:11pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE. A great reply semi-ruined by the final sentence. Stew? In Scotland?! The very ...

"IS THAT IT, ANDY?!" Only a 2% Burnham bounce for Labour with YouGov, as SNP ...
1 Jul 2026 at 11:59am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Other recent videos:Burnham in danger of making government from Manchester as remote...

King of the South: Andy Burnham will make rule from Manchester as detested in...
30 Jun 2026 at 3:42am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Other recent videos:Yet another poll suggests Burnham surge is a damp squib - SNP do...

Yet another poll suggests Burnham surge is a damp squib - SNP are dominant in...
29 Jun 2026 at 2:28am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.As regular readers may recall, I've been an elected member of the SNP's Policy Devel...

By-election sensation as SNP *gain* seat in Aberdeen - John Swinney's party a...
27 Jun 2026 at 8:40pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Other recent videos:Scotland immune to Burnham effect? SNP buoyed by stellar subsamp...

Scotland immune to Burnham effect? SNP buoyed by stellar subsample result in ...
26 Jun 2026 at 9:27am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Other recent videos:Andy Burnham's plan to rip up the Barnett Formula means he is ri...

How it is still mathematically possible for Scotland to qualify for the secon...
25 Jun 2026 at 2:12pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Other recent videos:Andy Burnham's plan to rip up the Barnett Formula means he is ri...

REVEALED: Andy Burnham wants to rip up "The Vow", making a second independenc...
24 Jun 2026 at 3:47am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.Other recent videos:Grim news for Labour, but good cheer for the SNP, in first poll ...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Al Carns: Who is the Scottish Royal Marines colonel who hasn?t backed Andy Bu...
7 Jul 2026 at 1:45pm
One Labour MP has very publicly refused to make up his mind about the former Manchester mayor

Nigel Farage to resign as MP to trigger by-election
7 Jul 2026 at 12:12pm
The Reform UK leader will fight the forthcoming vote in Clacton in a contest he said was the 'people versus the establishment'

SNP MSP breaks with Scottish Government on Jackdaw and Rosebank
7 Jul 2026 at 11:50am
The announcement comes after the party lost the Aberdeen South by-election last month

Nato to unveil multibillion defence plans to prove its firepower to Trump
7 Jul 2026 at 8:40am
Donald Trump has previously said he was disappointed that some Nato allies refused to join the Iran war.

Consultation opens on Scottish Government?s ?mansion tax? proposals
6 Jul 2026 at 12:00pm
Deputy first minister Jenny Gilruth said the Scottish Government?s approach was 'based on fairness'

Andy Burnham should scrap ?short-sighted? NI tax hike ? new SNP MP
5 Jul 2026 at 11:18am
Lara Bird said the policy was ?choking-off? economic growth in Scotland.

Scots counting cost of two years of ?disastrous? Labour government, Tories say
4 Jul 2026 at 10:04am
Scottish Conservatives deputy leader Rachael Hamilton says Sir Keir Starmer?s time in office had been 'disastrous'

Starmer must say what he will cut to fund £15bn defence rise, SNP says
2 Jul 2026 at 6:57am
Dave Doogan, the party?s Westminster leader, warned the PM's 'unfunded' plans could take 'vital' money away from schools and hospitals

Westminster asks Holyrood about joint inquiry into SNP Murrell scandal
1 Jul 2026 at 5:25pm
The Scottish Affairs Committee is writing to MSPs in a bid to work together

Former MSP to face trial accused of causing crashes while drink-driving
1 Jul 2026 at 2:33pm
Colin Smyth, 53, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday

Starmer accuses SNP of ?pretending? not to know about Peter Murrell crimes
1 Jul 2026 at 1:45pm
Murrell was jailed for five years and three months for embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period.

Swinney rejects Burnham?s claim Scots feel distant from Holyrood
1 Jul 2026 at 10:56am
The First Minister accused the Labour leadership hopeful of trying to ?lecture? him and described his comments as ?polemics?

Nigel Farage declares £270,000 payment for promoting gold bullion
30 Jun 2026 at 8:23pm
This is Farage's single biggest payment for work outside his role as an MP.

Cancer patients ?waiting longer than they should? as treatment targets missed
30 Jun 2026 at 1:39pm
No health board in Scotland achieved the goal of having 95% of patients urgently referred start their treatment within two months

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Nigel Farage to quit as MP and force by-election in Clacton after facing ques...
7 Jul 2026 at 2:32pm
The Reform UK leader used an online video to rant about how unfairly he was being treated by sections of the media.

Andy Burnham criticised by Scots health campaigners over call to end ban on f...
7 Jul 2026 at 1:28pm
The sale and consumption of alcohol at football grounds has been banned in Scotland for more than 40 years and has become an emotive issue.

Scotland can 'no longer pretend' its immune to racism and hatred, warns Humza...
7 Jul 2026 at 4:30am
Writing for the Record, the former first minister called for "the good and decent people of Scotland" to stand up to "fascists and Nazis" who spread hatred and violence.

Patients are paying the price for Scotland's ambulance crisis
6 Jul 2026 at 5:57pm
In his regular column for the Record, the Scottish Labour leader warns many Scots in serious pain are being left waiting for hours for an ambulance due to an on-going crisis in the service.

Currency is a question Scottish independence supporters would rather not answer
6 Jul 2026 at 5:02pm
Scots deserve clarity on the SNP's currency plans now if the party is serious about an IndyRef2, says Chris McCall

Mansion tax could raise £16m with plan for new levies on most valuable Scots ...
6 Jul 2026 at 2:04pm
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth insisted the Government?s tax approach was ?based on fairness?.

Independent Scotland would commit to joining Euro as condition of joining EU,...
6 Jul 2026 at 11:31am
Alyn Smith even suggested a second referendum may be required to ask Scots if they were in favour of ditching the pound.

John Swinney urged to implement tougher measures against domestic abuse follo...
6 Jul 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Alex Cole-Hamilton said a recent sharp rise in sexual crime proved the need for the tougher measures against domestic abusers.

Glasgow and Edinburgh deserve directly-elected leaders capable of standing up...
5 Jul 2026 at 5:00pm
Some Nationalists cannot tolerate the idea of powerful council leaders "undermining" the Scottish Parliament, says Chris McCall

Cops probe claims of 'missing £1.5m' from Indy campaign group with close link...
5 Jul 2026 at 4:30am
Police are investigating claims £1.5million went missing from the accounts of the 2014 Yes campaign.

The National

The National | Politics

Labour 'going la la la' as 2-year silence on ICJ's Israel ruling goes on, top...
7 Jul 2026 at 5:16pm

A SENIOR Labour MP has accused the UK Government of ?just going la la la la la? in response to a top international court ruling that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian land ...

Rupert Lowe rules out Restore Britain challenge against Nigel Farage in by-el...
7 Jul 2026 at 5:05pm

NIGEL Farage?s main rival to his right has ruled his party from running against Reform in the ?sham? by-election he has triggered in his constituency.

We?re energy experts. Here?s why Labour?s nuclear plans are wrong for Scotland
7 Jul 2026 at 5:00pm

THE UK Government has used the distraction of Andy Burnham?s coronation and the row over defence spending to quietly ...

Labour ?scaremongering? to pressure Scotland into new nuclear, experts warn
7 Jul 2026 at 5:00pm

LABOUR ministers are ?scaremongering? in the hope of pressuring Scotland into building new nuclear power stations, a group of energy experts has warned ...

John Curtice gives verdict as Nigel Farage resigns as MP and triggers by-elec...
7 Jul 2026 at 4:38pm

POLLING expert John Curtice has given his verdict after Nigel Farage?s resignation announcement ? which will trigger a by-election in his Clacton constituency ...

SNP call Nigel Farage 'dangerous chancer' as chaos continues at Westminster
7 Jul 2026 at 4:28pm

THE SNP have called Nigel Farage "a dangerous chancer" following his resignation statement, which will trigger a by-election in his own parliamentary seat

Stonewall Inn owners accuse JK Rowling of 'damaging LGBT community globally'
7 Jul 2026 at 4:23pm

THE owners of the Stonewall Inn ? the birthplace of the modern gay Pride movement ? have accused JK Rowling of "doing damage" to the LGBT+ community "globally".

Pressure mounts as AI data centre anger now 'impossible to ignore' in Holyrood
7 Jul 2026 at 3:42pm

Campaigners have said community backlash against AI data centres in Scotland is now 'impossible to ignore' ...

Nigel Farage resignation as MP panned as 'cynical political stunt'
7 Jul 2026 at 3:29pm

NIGEL Farage?s decision to resign as an MP and trigger a by-election in his own seat has been branded a ?cynical political stunt? ...

See the full 2024 Clacton result as Nigel Farage forces a by-election
7 Jul 2026 at 3:18pm

NIGEL Farage has announced he will force a by-election in Clacton amid growing pressure over his personal finances after he took donations from a convicted criminal ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Farage to resign as MP for Clacton as he rails against the media in televised...
7 Jul 2026 at 3:42pm
The Reform leader said he would contest the resulting by-election. It comes amid increased scrutiny of his finances.

Scottish A&E in ?permanent crisis? as thousands wait 12 hours or more
7 Jul 2026 at 2:11pm
The new data shows that one in eight patients waited 12 or more hours before being admitted, discharged or transferred in May 2026

Police investigating Yes Scotland over ?missing? ?1.5m
6 Jul 2026 at 1:00pm
A complaint has been made about the finances of the company which campaigned for independence

SNP MSP calls for free-to-air TV for Commonwealth Games
6 Jul 2026 at 12:00pm
Glasgow MSP David Linden said it is ?simply wrong? that the games will be broadcast on a subscription-based service

The public sector has a duplication problem. And we?re all paying for it.
6 Jul 2026 at 10:33am
How shared digital components can cut duplication, free up staff time and make every pound of public money work harder.

Swinney ?running scared? of inquiry into Murrell scandal
2 Jul 2026 at 6:45pm
Tory MSP Tim Eagle, a member of the standards committee, urged the Scottish Affairs Committee to carry out its own investigation

Lisa Nandy announces government department will leave X
2 Jul 2026 at 6:38pm
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is the second to do so

Anti-torture group calls for ?coherent strategy? to address overcrowding in S...
2 Jul 2026 at 6:03pm
A?human rights organisation?has published a report calling for a ?coherent strategy? to address overcrowding in Scottish prisons

Murrell scandal: MPs call on Holyrood committees to help investigate
1 Jul 2026 at 5:50pm
Scottish Affairs Committee decides next steps

ScotlandIS appoints new chief executive
1 Jul 2026 at 2:44pm
ScotlandIS has appointed Andrew Weir as its new chief executive

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Celtic leaders doubt Burnham?s devolution drive will go beyond England?s borders
6 Jul 2026 at 4:00pm
Would-be prime minister has made basic missteps in pitches to Wales, Scotland and Northern IrelandAndy Burnham?s devolution promises are yet to impress sceptical Celtic administrations hoping for a reset with Westminster, sources in Cardiff and Edinburgh have said.Burnham, who is expected to take...

Celtic nations begin to plan for breakup of UK in event of Reform election win
4 Jul 2026 at 7:00am
Politicians brace for constitutional turmoil if Nigel Farage?s party ends up in government ? or even as a strong oppositionThe rise of Nigel Farage has prompted political leaders across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to game the unthinkable: the breakup of the United Kingdom.Unioni...

Badenoch urges Burnham to condemn defence investment plan as No 10 says fundi...
1 Jul 2026 at 6:00pm
Minister and MPs have raised concerns that his ?poisoned chalice? plan will take cash from much-needed road projectsMinister and MP ?furious? over cuts to road projects to fund defence planDan Sabbagh is the Guardian?s defence and security editor.Andy Burnham is a ?true patriot? who will provide ...

The Guardian view on the politics of Scotland: like Labour, the SNP is in nee...
23 Jun 2026 at 6:25pm
The sentencing of Peter Murrell brings limited closure to a major scandal. But John Swinney?s government faces new challenges in a changing landscapeThe Scottish National party (SNP) is accustomed to presenting Westminster dysfunction as a boost to its case for independence. But the political dra...

Peter Murrell jailed for five years after embezzling £400,000 from SNP
23 Jun 2026 at 2:29pm
Estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon is sentenced for stealing from party over 12-year periodMontblanc pens to Le Creuset ramekins: police photos show Peter Murrell?s spending habitPeter Murrell has been sentenced to five years and three months in jail after he admitted embezzling more than £400,...

Montblanc pens to Le Creuset ramekins: police photos show Peter Murrell?s spe...
23 Jun 2026 at 1:37pm
Haul is only a fraction of what the former SNP chief executive bought using embezzled party moneyPeter Murrell jailed for five years after embezzling £400,000 from SNPThe white police evidence tags on the unused Montblanc pens, picnic sets, Le Creuset ramekins and the chrome Alessi teapot tell a ...

?This changes everything?: how Brexit altered Scotland?s political landscape
21 Jun 2026 at 12:00pm
Former party leaders reflect on the turbulence that followed the referendum in which most Scottish voters backed the losing sideThe decision to quit the EU bolstered support for Scottish independence, which a decade after the Brexit referendum is at near record levels, according to Scottish Labou...

Burnham calls for ?new path for Britain? as Starmer vows to fight any leaders...
19 Jun 2026 at 6:30pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story here:Cabinet loyalists tell PM he has weekend to set out timetable for exit?Now is the change moment?: Burnham staff have no doubtsPodcast: will Burnham become prime minister?What would ?change? look like if Burnham becomes PM?David Blunket...

Scottish Conservatives win Aberdeen South in shock loss for the SNP
19 Jun 2026 at 12:29pm
Tories? Douglas Lumsden says city has spoken ?loud and clear? in support of the North Sea oil and gas industryThe Scottish National party has lost the formerly safe seat of Aberdeen South in a shock loss to the Scottish Conservatives.Douglas Lumsden beat the SNP?s Richard Thomson by 6,050 votes, ...

?No friends to the oil and gas industry?: Aberdeen South, the byelection wher...
17 Jun 2026 at 3:00pm
Peter Murrell affair may feature, but contest seen as straight fight between SNP and Tories over energy policyThe contest for Aberdeen South, a constituency that spans urban social housing and detached homes with sculpted gardens, has been dominated by one topic: the future of North Sea oil and g...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The junkies and their dealers
5 Jul 2026 at 4:40pm
A number of peculiar developments have taken place in Scotland since the Holyrood election in May. These have been disguised by the anti-SNP media feeding frenzy which took place after the conviction of Peter Murrell for the crime of embezzlement, a crime whose victim was the SNP, despite the efforts of the British media in …

Labour?s attempted theft of the Holyrood election is being aided by the media
3 Jul 2026 at 3:32pm
Something is seriously wrong with democracy in Scotland, but the media has told us vastly more about Peter Murrell’s cruet sets than it has about what can only be described as an attempt by the Labour party to steal the Holyrood election. In fact the attempted subversion of the result of the recent election has …

Labour?s nuclear power, an offer we can refuse
2 Jul 2026 at 3:30pm
It’s an offer we can refuse. The Labour government has identified a number of sites across Scotland on which it would like to build new nuclear power plants. A report was published this week by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the political ashtray Michael Shanks, the most disappointing MP in a …

Burnham, the GB Energy of devolution
29 Jun 2026 at 9:06pm
Andy Burnham’s big plan for the UK is still lacking in detail, but it’s already looking suspiciously like another of Westminster’s power grabs at the expense of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. Burnham’s big speech on Monday during which he unveiled his plans for a Number Ten North. No, Scotland, not THAT north, Burnham’s north. …

The feeding frenzy
26 Jun 2026 at 12:13pm
Peter Murrell was sentenced on Tuesday for a crime of which the SNP was the victim. That has not diminished the appetite of the media in Scotland to continue its witch hunt. Ever since Murrell pleaded guilty the media in Scotland has descended into a feeding frenzy. You’d be forgiven for thinking that it was …

Burnham?s threat to the Scottish budget
25 Jun 2026 at 1:18pm
While the media in Scotland continues to scrabble around in the bins in search of another desperate angle on the Murrell scandal, it’s looking almost certain that there will be no leadership contest in the Labour party. Close Starmer ally Darren Jones, who had been tipped to make a leadership bid, has said he will …

The burst socks of British politics
22 Jun 2026 at 3:49pm
Starmer has gone, a man whose main achievement as Prime Minister was to throw away a landslide majority in the House of Commons and make himself even more unpopular than Liz Truss. The UK is now heading for its seventh prime minister in ten years, meaning that British prime ministers don’t last as long as …

Three by elections and no one cared about the Murrell affair
19 Jun 2026 at 12:42pm
The Tories are celebrating their Westminster by election win in Aberdeen South today. But just as Labour celebrated its Holyrood by election win in Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse in 2025 only to go on to lose this year’s Holyrood election, all this by election result really tells us is that tactical voting in by elections …

The world?s crappiest whodunnit
17 Jun 2026 at 12:20pm
I’ve had my cataract operation, the op was a couple of days early as there was a cancellation. The recovery period is four weeks, but I already notice a massive improvement in my eyesight. The fog has lifted and I’m now able to read much more comfortably. I’m hugely relieved it’s over. Right now, there’s …

Sarwar learns the law of unintended consequences
11 Jun 2026 at 11:52am
Anyone with two functioning braincells knows that the only reason the anti-independence parties and the SNP’s enemies are so keen on an inquiry into the Murrell scandal is because they seek to make political capital out of it, damage a party that keeps defeating them at the ballot box, and with it hinder progress to …

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

If NHS Scotland had the same level of admissions per head of population to A&E...
7 Jul 2026 at 4:32pm
In May 2026 63.6% of 129 279 attending Type 1 A&E in Scotland were seen within 4 hours. The equivalent percentage for England was 61.9% of 923 959 admissions. If you were a Scottish MSM journo, you’d be quick to claim that’s little different. 1.7% better but: First, 1.7% of those 129 279 attending is 2 198 more treated on time who would not have been had they live in England. Tell them they’re ...

Deeply impressive ? month after month, year after year, NHS Scotland is staff...
7 Jul 2026 at 4:26pm
From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 31 May 2026, published today, we can extract the above in a graphical form and read: There were 24,951 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 0.5% less (-116) than the number planned in May 2025 (25,067). Over the course of the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026 (308,249), there was a 7.7% increase (+21,911) compared ...

BBC Scotland?s Endometriosis claims are based on an unreliable survey
7 Jul 2026 at 4:25pm
Under a tasteless image of a woman grimacing in pain, BBC Scotland today is using the news on new testing for endometriosis to suggest waiting times are longer in NHS Scotland than in NHS England based on the average. Using this measure, we hear it’s 10 years and 2 months in Scotland but 9 years and 4 months in England. There’s a problem. This is not based on Public Health Scotland officially c...

Serendipitous National Party Government has ?failed to exploit potential? in ...
7 Jul 2026 at 4:24pm
From BBC England this morning, the above, and: The cost of damages paid out to people injured in the UK by e-scooters and e-bikes has topped £110m, the BBC has learned. It is only seven years since the first claim was made, with the biggest individual payout being for £20m. Such claims have also led to premiums for drivers being pushed up, to effectively cover the bill for insurers. https://www...

As Sky News worries about killers and rapists released early from prison in E...
7 Jul 2026 at 9:14am
Both Sky News and BBC Breakfast today have reported concerns about early prisoner release in England including killers and rapists. BBC Scotland has no equivalent today though they have tried before to be Reporting Scotland Down this way. They struggled. Here’s why: On 17 June 2026 officers is raising concerns about the early release of hundreds of prisoners over the past two years. The early r...

For the fiftieth time SNP government works respectfully with a health union t...
7 Jul 2026 at 8:57am
There isn’t a precise record of this but I make it, conservatively, around 50 distinct strike actions and more than 100 days lost over the last 5 years, in NHS England and, in NHS Scotland, none, zero. What is the situation with consultants in Scotland? BMA Scotland has been in discussions/negotiations with the government. A recent pay offer for consultants is now being put to members in a cons...

Students in England ?mis-sold? loans as Nurse students there owe £77k and tho...
7 Jul 2026 at 8:42am
BBC UK today has: Comparing student loan repayments to phone contracts or cinema tickets “amounted to mis-selling” by government, a group of MPs has said. In a new report, the Treasury Committee also said students were not told clearly enough loan terms could change retrospectively, and called for a U-turn on the decision to freeze the income threshold at which some graduates start repaying the...

Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme reminds of Scotland?s higher blood pri...
6 Jul 2026 at 8:53pm
Ah lateral thinking! WordPress has been refusing my wee videos recently as direct posts but seems ok with them indirectly via X/Twitter. No idea why.

SNP?s ?Mansion Tax? will be popular, raise revenue and have no effect on inwa...
6 Jul 2026 at 7:45pm
From the Scottish Government today: Views are being sought on plans to introduce two new council tax bands for properties worth more than £1 million and £2 million respectively to help fund local public services across Scotland. A public consultation seeks responses on possible increases of around £720 and £3,600 above the current highest Band H council tax charges. The final proposed rates for...

Scotland?s islanders paying between one quarter and a half of the price paid ...
6 Jul 2026 at 5:33pm
Travelling to Scotland’s West Coast islands with Calmac typically costs between £0.20 to £0.70 per nautical mile. For example, Ardrossan to Brodick one way, 19nm, 55 min, for a foot passenger – £5-101 Similarly subsidised, the Northern Isles pay the same rate. Isle of Wight with Wightlink typically costs £1.50 to £2.50 per nm. For example, Plymouth to Fishbourne, one-way for a foot passenger, 1...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum - BBC
6 Jul 2026 at 9:30am
Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum  BBC

Burnham ?not willing to consider? Scottish independence referendum - thecanar...
7 Jul 2026 at 10:00am
Burnham ?not willing to consider? Scottish independence referendum  thecanary.co

Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum - The Telegraph
5 Jul 2026 at 1:09pm
Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum  The Telegraph

Andy Burnham REJECTS second Scottish independence referendum if he becomes PM...
5 Jul 2026 at 10:14am
Andy Burnham REJECTS second Scottish independence referendum if he becomes PM  The National Scot

Scottish Independence: More show. Less tell - Enlighten - Scotland's Independ...
16 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Independence: More show. Less tell  Enlighten - Scotland's Independent Think Tank

Andy Burnham ?rules out? Scottish independence referendum - The Times
5 Jul 2026 at 5:03pm
Andy Burnham ?rules out? Scottish independence referendum  The Times

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

SNP urges Andy Burnham ?not to repeat mistakes? on independence - London Even...
7 Jul 2026 at 12:23pm
SNP urges Andy Burnham ?not to repeat mistakes? on independence  London Evening Standard

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

Andy Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum - The Scotsman
5 Jul 2026 at 10:57am
Andy Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum  The Scotsman

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Scotland could freeze datacentre projects in challenge to UK?s AI strategy - ...
7 Jul 2026 at 12:49pm
Scotland could freeze datacentre projects in challenge to UK?s AI strategy  The Guardian

SNP call Nigel Farage 'dangerous chancer' as chaos continues at Westminster -...
7 Jul 2026 at 5:09pm
SNP call Nigel Farage 'dangerous chancer' as chaos continues at Westminster  The National Scot

Former SNP chief Peter Murrell leaves court as new images show items bought w...
2 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Former SNP chief Peter Murrell leaves court as new images show items bought with embezzled funds  BBC

How former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell spent the £400,000 he embezzled ...
1 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
How former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell spent the £400,000 he embezzled  BBC

Operation Branchform timeline: The downfall of ex-SNP chief executive Peter M...
30 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Operation Branchform timeline: The downfall of ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell  Sky News

Former Scottish National Party chief pleads guilty to embezzling $540,000 - R...
25 May 2026 at 8:00am
Former Scottish National Party chief pleads guilty to embezzling $540,000  Reuters

Big salaries, a motorhome and SNP accounts: The Nicola Sturgeon interview unw...
1 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Big salaries, a motorhome and SNP accounts: The Nicola Sturgeon interview unwrapped  BBC

Motorhome bought by Murrell with stolen SNP money was driven only 4 miles, co...
2 Jun 2026 at 8:00am
Motorhome bought by Murrell with stolen SNP money was driven only 4 miles, court told  The Guardian

Sturgeon wishes she had not kept Murrell on as SNP chief executive - BBC
29 May 2026 at 8:00am
Sturgeon wishes she had not kept Murrell on as SNP chief executive  BBC

I was 'slam dunk' for SNP leadership until revealing gay marriage views - For...
2 Jul 2026 at 11:04pm
I was 'slam dunk' for SNP leadership until revealing gay marriage views - Forbes  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum - BBC
6 Jul 2026 at 9:30am
Andy Burnham would oppose second Scottish independence referendum  BBC

Burnham ?not willing to consider? Scottish independence referendum - thecanar...
7 Jul 2026 at 10:00am
Burnham ?not willing to consider? Scottish independence referendum  thecanary.co

Andy Burnham ?rules out? Scottish independence referendum - The Times
5 Jul 2026 at 5:03pm
Andy Burnham ?rules out? Scottish independence referendum  The Times

SNP urges Andy Burnham ?not to repeat mistakes? on independence - The Irish News
7 Jul 2026 at 12:19pm
SNP urges Andy Burnham ?not to repeat mistakes? on independence  The Irish News

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

Andy Burnham REJECTS second Scottish independence referendum if he becomes PM...
5 Jul 2026 at 10:14am
Andy Burnham REJECTS second Scottish independence referendum if he becomes PM  The National Scot

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

Andy Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum - The Scotsman
5 Jul 2026 at 10:57am
Andy Burnham rules out second Scottish independence referendum  The Scotsman

Andy Burnham tells Scottish Labour MPs he will not agree to independence refe...
5 Jul 2026 at 11:03am
Andy Burnham tells Scottish Labour MPs he will not agree to independence referendum  The Herald

Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote - NZ Herald
26 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish Parliament backs move for new independence vote  NZ Herald