The Herald

The Herald | Politics


SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders expected to sign joint agreement in Cardiff
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
14 Sep 2026 at 8:06am
Constitutional change for the UK's constituent countries is back on the agenda


Peter Murrell could be ordered to repay more than he embezzled from SNP
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Why Peter Murrell may have to repay more than the £400,000 he embezzled from the SNP after inflation is applied to his criminal benefit.


Families of women killed by men take calls for action to Holyrood
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Families and survivors will tell MSPs of the devastating impact of male violence as Russell Findlay hosts a Holyrood roundtable on women?s safety.


'Dying too young': 35 Scottish men die early every day as health crisis costs...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
More than 35 men die before 75 every day in Scotland as poor men?s health costs £1.73bn a year, prompting fresh calls for government action.


Trump revels in Irish unity backlash but 'saves Scottish independence views, ...
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
13 Sep 2026 at 3:49pm
US President Donald Trump has said he ?loved? the backlash to his comments in support of Irish unification, but said he'll "save comments on Scottish independence for another day".


'A proud moment': Perth chosen as host of Scotland's first democracy festival
by craig.williams@newsquest.co.uk | Craig Williams
13 Sep 2026 at 2:57pm
Perth has been selected as the host location for the launch of the Scottish People's Meeting, a major new democracy festival inspired by the highly successful Danish Folkemødet.


Swinney to join Welsh and Irish leaders to sign independence referendum pact
by Craig Paton and Jonathan McCambridge
13 Sep 2026 at 1:31pm
The First Ministers of the UK?s devolved nations will sign a landmark agreement on Monday aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence.


Independence referendum ?not off the table?, says McAllan
by Craig Paton
13 Sep 2026 at 12:41pm
A referendum on Scottish independence is ?not off the table?, Scotland?s Education Secretary has said, despite comments from the Prime Minister.


I do not intend to stand still on improving performance in schools, says McAllan
by Craig Paton
13 Sep 2026 at 12:15pm
Scotland?s Education Secretary has said she ?does not intend to stand still? following the results of a key international league table this week.


'It beggars belief': The inside story of Scots fighting the far-right on the ...
by Neil Mackay
13 Sep 2026 at 6:15am
With right-wing extremists dominating the news, our Writer at Large talks to the ordinary men and women standing up to racists and defending their communities against hatred


Sorry John, the SNP has turned Scotland into a rotten borough unfit for indep...
by Kevin McKenna
13 Sep 2026 at 6:15am
SNP have turned Scotland into a rotten borough not fit for independence


Why SNP activists think John Swinney missed the best independence opportunity...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
13 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Andy Burnham's remarks sparked hope among independence supporters, but some SNP activists believe John Swinney failed to seize the moment


Salmond Files court battle: Ministers 'want power to decide what stays secret'
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
13 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland's Information Commissioner accuses ministers of seeking to rewrite freedom of information law ahead of a Court of Session hearing later this month over the long-withheld Salmond files


New ScotRail app contract could outlast Scotland?s integrated ticketing rollout
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
13 Sep 2026 at 6:01am
The contract for ScotRail's new mobile app and digital retailing platform could outlive the implementation of integrated ticketing on Scottish public transport, as the earliest possible start date for the system has been revealed.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Primary school art and music 'gutted' by SNP, claims Labour
14 Sep 2026 at 6:00am

The party accused the SNP of ?hollow rhetoric?

Fresh insight into allegations of bullying, racism and harassment have been revealed as a senior HR manager moves to take the quango to an employment tribunal

Movember is calling on the Scottish government to deliver a men?s health action plan

The former Conservative education secretary said his offer to help ?remains open?

Wings over Scotland

A Long Hard Think
11 Sep 2026 at 3:37pm
More than three months ago now, we sent Police Scotland a Freedom Of Information request. A few minutes ago we finally received a response. Brace yourselves. That is, um… interesting. Retaining gifts you know were bought with embezzled money is the common-law crime of reset in Scots law, under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act …

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 …

Craig Murray

Dishonesty and Deceit
7 Sep 2026 at 7:31pm

UPDATE We got an expedited date to “reclaim” (appeal) against the suspension of the case, on 25 September. We shall also be reclaiming against the decision not to send the case straight to the Inner House. All parties seemed to agree there may just be time, if our appeal is successful, to finish the Scottish …

Dishonesty and Deceit

Nonsense Drones and Novichok
3 Sep 2026 at 2:14pm

Europe urgently needs to re-establish access to Russian oil and gas. Gas prices are high – as all UK energy consumers know – and German gas storage is at a record low for September. Gulf production is degraded, supplies are cut off and its long-term strategic stability undermined. German manufacturing already suffered a 9.5% production …

Nonsense Drones and Novichok

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

BBC Scotland

Photo call or 'pivotal moment' - How significant is leaders summit?
14 Sep 2026 at 6:15am
The first minister will meet the leaders of Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein in Cardiff on Monday.

Tributes to former Labour MSP Cathie Craigie who died after short illness
12 Sep 2026 at 2:56pm
The Scottish Labour MSP represented Cumbernauld and Kilsyth between 1999 and 2011.

Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed
11 Sep 2026 at 12:17pm
The court action will determine how much he will repay of the £400,000 he embezzled from the party.

PM says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off limits'
10 Sep 2026 at 9:34pm
Andy Burnham clarifies remarks he made in the House of Commons and says his focus is on economic growth and the cost of living.

Watchdog warns Scotland's colleges face increasing financial pressure
10 Sep 2026 at 1:13pm
A new report says the country's 19 colleges had an overall deficit of £5.6m in 2024/25 - up from £1.9m.

Education reform under way as Scotland sees 'poorest' Pisa results
9 Sep 2026 at 12:47pm
Màiri McAllan said while the results "indicate success in our education system" they also "indicate change is required".

FM warns police will pursue anyone spreading lies about fire-hit flats
8 Sep 2026 at 5:11pm
Housing association NG Homes said rumours that the flats would be used to house asylum seekers were false.

Lord Advocate 'concerned' as domestic abuse charges rise by 14%
8 Sep 2026 at 3:25pm
Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC said protecting women and girls from abusive men would be a priority during her time in office.

PM would consider independence referendum if 'clear consensus' emerges
9 Sep 2026 at 6:32pm
Andy Burnham had previously told First Minister John Swinney that a second referendum is "off limits".

Bluetongue restrictions in place for at least two years
8 Sep 2026 at 2:56pm
A restricted zone for Dumfries and Galloway and parts of Ayrshire will be put in place on Thursday.

Food price cap plans giving farmer 'sleepless nights'
8 Sep 2026 at 6:40am
East Lothian farmer Jamie Wyllie says he's worried costs will get passed down the line to the food producers.

Primary teachers hired to teach Glasgow secondary pupils to read
8 Sep 2026 at 4:07pm
Intensive catch-up classes are being held for pupils who are starting at high school without basic literacy skills.

Scot Goes Pop

Burnham U-turns on the U-turn: after just 24 hours, he reverts to the previou...
11 Sep 2026 at 5:01pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham's REVOLUTIONARY U-turn as he accepts Scotland can have an independenc...
10 Sep 2026 at 1:09pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham suffers more Scottish poll MISERY as SNP enjoy 17-point lead in YouGo...
9 Sep 2026 at 1:15pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

A de facto referendum on independence would self-evidently not be "bonkers" -...
7 Sep 2026 at 11:01am
There has been just one occasion in history in which an integral part of the United Kingdom became an independent country, and it did not happen as the result of a 2014-style agreed referendum.  In...

"Well THAT one was worth waiting for!": SNP have DOUBLE Labour's support in d...
2 Sep 2026 at 11:38pm

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...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders expected to sign joint agreement in Cardiff
14 Sep 2026 at 8:51am
They will meet in their capacity as party leaders, rather than as officials in their respective governments

Donald Trump to save Scottish independence thoughts for ?another day?
13 Sep 2026 at 4:24pm
On Saturday, Trump said he 'would love to see' Ireland unified, adding 'it?s going to happen eventually.'

Devolved First Ministers to sign independence declaration
13 Sep 2026 at 1:32pm
SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O?Neill will meet in Cardiff on Monday

Andy Burnham ?knows he would lose? second independence vote, says Jenny Gilruth
11 Sep 2026 at 3:11pm
Scottish deputy first minister Jenny Gilruth said the Prime Minister was ?scared? to agree a mechanism for a second independence vote.

Peter Murrell to return to court as Crown lawyers try to recover embezzeled f...
11 Sep 2026 at 10:31am
Crown lawyers will attempt to recover assets that the former SNP CEO seized illegally from the political party

Independent Scotland in EU would make Scots £3,000 a year richer, claims SNP
11 Sep 2026 at 7:01am
The party said the 'independence dividend' would come as a result of the economic cost of Brexit.

Andy Burnham tells John Swinney again that indyref2 is ?off limits?
10 Sep 2026 at 7:55pm
The Scottish First Minister had claimed remarks from the Prime Minister earlier this week showed a ?big shift? in his stance.

Insight: Is IndyRef2 any closer after Andy Burnham?s PMQs comments? 
10 Sep 2026 at 4:23pm
The Prime Minister's off the cuff remarks seem to have opened the floodgates on the constitution

John Swinney to face FMQs amid pressure on Burnham for indyref2 vote
10 Sep 2026 at 1:56pm
The First Minister is calling for a meeting with the PM to discuss an agreed legal mechanism to hold a second vote

Scottish Government to review parental access rules for convicted sex offenders
10 Sep 2026 at 12:01pm
Campaigners have welcomed a government review into rules around convicted sex offenders having access to their children

John Swinney writes to Prime Minister Andy Burnham in bid to legally launch i...
10 Sep 2026 at 10:18am
The PM suggested that a second independence referendum could be held if public opinion 'shows demand for one'

Swinney announces cash to help workers with ?transition to clean energy?
10 Sep 2026 at 7:16am
The First Minister has announced the latest awards from the Government?s £500 million 10-year Just Transition fund

MPs launch party funding inquiry after Peter Murrell?s embezzlement from SNP
9 Sep 2026 at 5:44pm
The Scottish Affairs Committee said it will investigate the Electoral Commission?s oversight of party cash.

Susan Aitken: ?Glasgow is safe and in a better place than before I became lea...
9 Sep 2026 at 5:29pm
Aitken is preparing to step down nine years after becoming leader of Glasgow City Council

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

'John Swinney and the SNP have allowed a steep decline in Scotland's educatio...
14 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Writing for the Record, acting Scottish Labour leader Jackie Baillie says there must be a relentless focus on driving up standards in our schools.

Glasgow can't be expected to shoulder the UK's asylum crisis alone
14 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Record View says Glasgow has long welcomed refugees, but the city is now struggling under the growing cost of an asylum system already stretched to breaking point.

Glasgow MP begs to temporarily halt housing more asylum seekers in the city
14 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Dr Zubir Ahmed warned Glasgow's growing homelessness is "fracturing" trust between residents and putting minority communities "in the firing line".

Mairi McAllan 'in denial' as standards in Scots schools drop further behind E...
13 Sep 2026 at 12:01pm
McAllan was mocked by opposition parties after she previously suggested the 2026 Pisa report did not reflect Scots schools' success in "artistic expression".

Nicola Sturgeon appearance in Wargame reality TV show will 'remind people of ...
13 Sep 2026 at 11:15am
The former SNP leader will join a fictional UK Government at war with Russia in the new Sky series, which launches next week.

Andy Burnham urged to ban firm linked to illegal Israeli settlements from Nor...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Delek Group, whose subsidiary Ithaca Energy is involved with Rosebank oil field, is accused of providing services to West Bank settlers.

Scottish Labour's Joe Fagan says SNP should 'fix the basics' before demanding...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Party leadership hopeful speaks to the Sunday Mail as he vies to replace Anas Sarwar following Labour's disastrous Holyrood election result.

John Swinney to face crunch Holyrood vote aiming to pause supersized AI data ...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
The First Minister could face a backbench rebellion with some SNP backbenchers facing controversial 'hyperscale' projects in their backyards.

Reform MSP's hate speech complaint against leading Scots lawyer thrown out by...
12 Sep 2026 at 5:56pm
Thomas Kerr claimed Aamer Anwar had broken the law in a speech at a counter-protest to a far-right rally on July 25.

Andy Burnham tying himself in knots over Scottish independence is a gift to t...
12 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
The Prime Minister must learn that if he gives an inch on independence, the SNP will take a mile, says Chris McCall

The National

The National | Politics

How to watch as devolved leaders sign historic independence declaration
14 Sep 2026 at 8:56am

THE UK's devolved leaders are set to meet in Cardiff to sign an agreement aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence ...

Live updates as devolved leaders unite to sign historic independence declaration
14 Sep 2026 at 8:41am

Follow along as the leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin meet in Cardiff to sign an agreement aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence ...

Devolved leaders to sign agreement to put pressure on UK over indy referendums
14 Sep 2026 at 8:22am

THE leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin are expected to meet in Cardiff to sign an agreement aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence ...

Boris Johnson narrowly escapes Russian drone attack 'possibly meant for him'
14 Sep 2026 at 7:51am

A RUSSIAN drone attack on a station in Ukraine may have been aimed at a train carrying dignitaries including Boris Johnson, the country?s railways operator has said ...

Greens to force vote to close ?loopholes? in Scottish Government Israel boycott
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

THE Scottish Greens will use an opposition debate at Holyrood this week to force a vote on strengthening the Scottish Government?s boycott of Israel ...

Lessons have to be learned after the relentless racialised scrutiny of Jason ...
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

AS academics who are proud to describe ourselves as both educators and anti-racist activists, we were profoundly saddened by the hostility Jason Arday faced and by his death. While we did not know him personally, we knew of his reputation and standing within the field and had the privilege of presenting alongside him professionally.

Why scunnered SNP members MUST attend party conference
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

IT is becoming an almost annual ritual, The SNP releases its draft conference agenda, members look at it, members are unhappy, then come the familiar complaints:

Poor SNP policy choices are holding back the cause for Scottish independence
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

IN a couple of years from now a policy the Scottish Government is about to introduce will be assessed and will not only have failed but might very possibly have backfired.

Andy Burnham slipped up ? so how can we take advantage?
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

ANDY Burnham?s statement last Wednesday that the trigger for a referendum in Scotland should be the same as laid out in the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) has been seized upon by all sides as evidence of something.

Scottish Government rejects men's health plan as '35 a day die prematurely'
14 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

THE Scottish Government has rejected calls for a men?s health strategy after a new report found that more than 35 men are dying prematurely a day in Scotland.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

John Swinney meets nationalist leaders of Northern Ireland and Wales in Cardiff
14 Sep 2026 at 1:01am
Leaders of SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein call on UK Government to prepare for constitutional change

Scots pupils falling behind England a ?national emergency?, says Reform
10 Sep 2026 at 4:36pm
John Swinney said Pisa was only ?one part of the dataset? and insisted he was ?proud? of his government?s record

John Swinney apologises to two women amid call for miscarriage care to be rev...
10 Sep 2026 at 4:06pm
Labour's Jackie Baillie said the first minister must ensure "women?s voices are heard"

John Swinney calls for legal mechanism to trigger indyref2
10 Sep 2026 at 11:32am
The letter comes after Burnham said a second referendum was possible if a ?majority? wanted one

Auditor General calls for ?urgent? action for cash-strapped colleges
10 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
New report lays out financial challenge

Indyref possible if majority support one, Andy Burnham says
9 Sep 2026 at 4:00pm
Downing Street previously said a referendum was ?off limits?

Researchers warn AI ?could kill us all? by the end of the decade
9 Sep 2026 at 3:42pm
A number of developers at AI company Anthropic have warned about the looming dangers associated with the technology

Volunteering is an investment in stronger communities
9 Sep 2026 at 7:00am
By encouraging and investing in volunteering, we can strengthen communities, create opportunities and build lasting social connections. Stronger communities are built through participation, partnership and shared purpose, and volunteering remains one of t

Domestic abuse charges up by 14 per cent
8 Sep 2026 at 4:22pm
Over 34,500 charges with a domestic abuse identifier were reported

Scotland pupils continue to lag English counterparts in science, maths and re...
8 Sep 2026 at 11:33am
The educational performance of Scottish teenagers remains ?significantly below? historic levels

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

Burnham?s expected reverse ferret
10 Sep 2026 at 7:23pm
Andy Burnham has replied to John Swinney after the latter wrote to him asking for a meeting to put the process for triggering a Scottish independence referendum on a legal basis after Burnham replied to a question from SNP MP Chris Law at PMQs on Wednesday asking him about that process detailed in the Good …

The independence cat is out of the bag
10 Sep 2026 at 2:43pm
Speaking to The National this week after Andy Burnham – perhaps inadvertently – set out the conditions for Scotland to hold an independence referendum, polling expert Professor John Curtice acknowledged that if an independence referendum were to be held tomorrow, Scotland would most likely vote Yes. He stated that a vote is going to be …

Burnham?s crack in the constitutional dam
9 Sep 2026 at 3:17pm
In PMQs on Wednesday, Andy Burnham was asked by SNP MP Chris Law about the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) and the trigger for an Irish unification referendum, and after Burnham stated that he was aware of every word in the Good Friday Agreement, Law asked: “So he Burnham will therefore know that the Northern Ireland …

BBC Scotland?s educational F grade
8 Sep 2026 at 8:28pm
BBC Scotland’s latest ‘Scotland is shite’ story is to tell us that Scottish educational performance has fallen behind that of England. This finding is based on Pisa rankings. However BBC Scotland, ahem, ‘forgot’ to mention a critical piece of information in its rush to let viewers know how terrible Scottish education is. That information is …

The smokiest of smoking guns
4 Sep 2026 at 4:36pm
If there are smoking guns, Channel 4 and Verbatim’s undercover sting on Reform UK is a slow motion video of the bullet exiting the barrel and hitting its target. If you haven’t seen the report it’s available on catch up or YouTube. It is very, very bad for Farage who was already in deep trouble …

The BBC?s clutching pearls are in aisle three
3 Sep 2026 at 3:43pm
You might have thought that any measure aimed at helping struggling households during a cost of living crisis would be welcome, particularly at a time when there’s an ever widening gap between the richest and the poorest. The Scottish Government has proposed to introduce a price cap on essential basic grocery items in order to …

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 …

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

Scotland?s industrial development and competitiveness is damaged by UK energy...
14 Sep 2026 at 9:52am
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 stewartb The cost of electricity in the UK has surged in recent years, far beyond that of comparable countries, largely because expensive gas-fired generation sets the price most of ...

Revealed ? Prof Paterson?s failed ?Circuits and efficiency in incomplete bloc...
14 Sep 2026 at 9:37am
Oh, OK, I admit it, I only got a C2 for the infant stage in West Quarter Primary School (1980?) after the class accused me of cheating on caterpillar/butterfly metamorphosis, but I then got a B+ with the ‘big yins’ (11 year-olds) in Bantaskine, before going on to great success in Stirling, corrupting young minds in the school football team with the cynical Italian ‘Catennacio’ defensive system....

Pisa?s in the bin, Pizza too? England lags years behind Scotland?s school din...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:57am
Today, BBC England return to their greasy school kitchens strangely located next to, according to the junk statistics of Pisa, high achieving classrooms. It doesn’t add up. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 BBC England,...

Reform UK?s funding lead over Labour is far less than Labour?s over the SNP ?...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:19pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 the Guardian today, the Labour Party rails against the apparent injustice of another political party getting bigger donations than they get and, thus damaging democracy. According to...

Student loans in England to be tweaked so they know earlier of a life in debt
13 Sep 2026 at 3:53pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 BBC England today: University applicants in England will be given clearer information about student loans before they take them out, the government has said. Ministers said they wo...

Metering the Border
13 Sep 2026 at 3:51pm
The above dynamic map adds the new power lines (yellow) often from the bottom (south) to the top (north) as if to imply that the power might ever flow that way in this United Kingdom. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 F...

The prof who believes that Pisa tests prove England?s schools are better is a...
13 Sep 2026 at 12:50pm
Not just posing in front of books but higgledy-piggledy ones? Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin 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 Regulars here will know that we’ve been reacting, often angrily, to Prof Paterson’s attempts to shame Scottish schools, bas...

Major comparative study by respected London-based Nuffield Foundation reveale...
13 Sep 2026 at 9:59am
The Nuffield Foundation’s finding are entirely welcomed across education, considered useful and trusted on the basis of its transparent and rigorous methods. Many prominent educationist see Pisa as a destructive force narrowing and distorting curricula. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transf...

No credible researcher into pupil attainment, values the Pisa tests but Linds...
13 Sep 2026 at 9:38am
Professor John Robertson OBA, for nearly 40 years a schoolteacher, a teacher education lecturer, Associate Dean for Quality Assurance, research methods lecturer, PhD supervisor and Faculty Research Ethics Chair The Holyrood podcast Politically Speaking is owned by the Tory, Lord Ashcroft. He owns the Holyrood magazine too. They currently have Prof (rtd) Lindsay Paterson on to tell you plainly t...

Scotland?s glowing report from Pisa ? this is a must read ? from Jackie Kemp
12 Sep 2026 at 7:35pm
This is essential. Read it in full at: England v Scotland, the battle of the PISA tests John

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to demand UK allow independence referendum ...
13 Sep 2026 at 12:08pm
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to demand UK allow independence referendum  The Jerusalem Post

First ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to meet in Cardiff - BBC
13 Sep 2026 at 9:58pm
First ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to meet in Cardiff  BBC

Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish Leaders To Sign Joint Declaration on Independ...
13 Sep 2026 at 9:51pm
Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish Leaders To Sign Joint Declaration on Independence  The Media Line

Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wa...
13 Sep 2026 at 3:17pm
Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  The Independent

Scottish Labour leadership hopeful would not 'stand in way' of independence -...
14 Sep 2026 at 5:08am
Scottish Labour leadership hopeful would not 'stand in way' of independence  The National Scot

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will demand the right to hold independen...
14 Sep 2026 at 12:32am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will demand the right to hold independence referendums - The Telegraph  ?????????? ??????????? ?????? (???)

Leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meet after Trump backs a unit...
14 Sep 2026 at 5:13am
Leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meet after Trump backs a united Ireland  EUalive

Trump reiterates support for united Ireland, says won't talk about Scotland '...
13 Sep 2026 at 6:21pm
Trump reiterates support for united Ireland, says won't talk about Scotland 'yet'  Reuters

Leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to sign memorandum on indepen...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:39pm
Leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to sign memorandum on independence on Monday  The Irish Times

Trump revels in Irish unity backlash but 'saves Scottish independence views, ...
13 Sep 2026 at 6:44pm
Trump revels in Irish unity backlash but 'saves Scottish independence views, for now'  heraldscotland.com

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed - bbc.com
11 Sep 2026 at 12:17pm
Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed  bbc.com

Peter Murrell could be ordered to repay more than he embezzled from SNP - her...
14 Sep 2026 at 9:13am
Peter Murrell could be ordered to repay more than he embezzled from SNP  heraldscotland.com

Primary school art and music 'gutted' by SNP, claims Labour - The Scotsman
14 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
Primary school art and music 'gutted' by SNP, claims Labour  The Scotsman

Why scunnered SNP members MUST attend party conference - The National Scot
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Why scunnered SNP members MUST attend party conference  The National Scot

SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders expected to sign joint agreement in Cardiff ...
14 Sep 2026 at 2:49am
SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders expected to sign joint agreement in Cardiff  London Evening Standard

Leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to sign memorandum on indepen...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:39pm
Leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to sign memorandum on independence on Monday  The Irish Times

Devolved leaders unite to sign independence declaration in Cardiff - dailypos...
14 Sep 2026 at 7:20am
Devolved leaders unite to sign independence declaration in Cardiff  dailypost.co.uk

Leaders of Plaid Cymru, SNP and Sinn Féin to meet in Cardiff - Wales Online
13 Sep 2026 at 5:40pm
Leaders of Plaid Cymru, SNP and Sinn Féin to meet in Cardiff  Wales Online

Poor SNP policy choices are holding back the cause for Scottish independence ...
14 Sep 2026 at 5:08am
Poor SNP policy choices are holding back the cause for Scottish independence  The National Scot

SNP must get rid of their policy blinkers - Miles Briggs - edinburghnews.scot...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:59am
SNP must get rid of their policy blinkers - Miles Briggs  edinburghnews.scotsman.com

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

First ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to meet in Cardiff - ...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:07am
First ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to meet in Cardiff  bbc.com

PM Andy Burnham says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off lim...
10 Sep 2026 at 12:56pm
PM Andy Burnham says second Scottish independence referendum remains 'off limits'  BBC

Leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to sign memorandum on indepen...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:39pm
Leaders of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to sign memorandum on independence on Monday  The Irish Times

Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wa...
13 Sep 2026 at 3:17pm
Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  The Independent

Swinney Seizes on Burnham Shift to Push Scotland Referendum - Bloomberg.com
10 Sep 2026 at 9:30am
Swinney Seizes on Burnham Shift to Push Scotland Referendum  Bloomberg.com

Independence referendum ?not off the table?, says McAllan - heraldscotland.com
13 Sep 2026 at 12:51pm
Independence referendum ?not off the table?, says McAllan  heraldscotland.com

Sinn Féin to sign independence referendum pact with Welsh and Scottish leader...
14 Sep 2026 at 7:57am
Sinn Féin to sign independence referendum pact with Welsh and Scottish leaders at summit  The Journal

Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wa...
13 Sep 2026 at 4:18pm
Independence referendum ?not off the table? amid meeting between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  Forex Factory

Is this the beginning of UK?s end? Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland unite t...
14 Sep 2026 at 3:28am
Is this the beginning of UK?s end? Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland unite to push for independence | Videos  hindustantimes.com

Independence must be up to people of Scotland, not Burnham - Scottish Greens
10 Sep 2026 at 11:32am
Independence must be up to people of Scotland, not Burnham  Scottish Greens