The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Scotland's FOI watchdog sounds alarm over funding as AI fuels surge in appeals
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
15 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
Scotland's Information Commissioner David Hamilton has warned his office cannot guarantee adequate regulatory oversight after FOI appeals surged 83% in a year, with a third of all appeals in one quarter found to be AI-generated and closed without investigation.


Tobacco, alcohol, and junk food giants 'undermining health policies'
by Danyel VanReenen
15 Sep 2026 at 8:10am
?Our country now has the lowest life expectancy in western Europe,? the report said.


Sturgeon reported to the police for 'allegedly handling stolen goods'
by Kathleen Nutt
15 Sep 2026 at 5:28am
Nicola Sturgeon has been reported to the police for allegedly handling stolen goods after her estranged husband was jailed for embezzlement.


Call for new National Performing Company to be in Glasgow after Highlands MSP...
by Kathleen Nutt
15 Sep 2026 at 5:01am
A call is being made for the new National Performing Company dedicated to traditional music - and which was announced by John Swinney - to be based in Glasgow.


SNP call on Labour leadership hopefuls to spell out positions on tuition fees
by Kathleen Nutt
15 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
The two Scottish Labour leadership candidates Michael Marra and Joe Fagan are being urged to spell out if they support the continuation of free university tuition in Scotland.


'Our country won't be broken up': Unionists fight back as Swinney ramps up in...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy and Andrew Learmonth
15 Sep 2026 at 5:00am
Unionists are stepping up their campaign after John Swinney's latest independence push, with the DUP warning of growing constitutional challenges.


Scotland 'risks missing defence investment benefits amid skills shortages'
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
15 Sep 2026 at 12:30am
Scotland could miss out on the benefits of increased UK defence spending unless longstanding skills shortages are tackled, MPs have warned.


Nicola Sturgeon: Putin will be watching me in Sky's The Wargame
by alison.rowat@theherald.co.uk | Alison Rowat
15 Sep 2026 at 12:01am
The former First Minister says the Kremlin will study a TV simulation of a Russian attack as she reveals 'jaw-dropping' concerns about Scotland's military readiness.


Glasgow's new council chief says Oasis shows will bring the world to the city
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
14 Sep 2026 at 6:21pm
Glasgow City Council leader Ricky Bell has hailed Oasis's forthcoming shows at Celtic Park as a major boost for the city, saying the concerts will attract visitors from around the world and provide a significant economic benefit for local businesses.


Andy Burnham won't be the last Prime Minister - but John Swinney has got a point
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
14 Sep 2026 at 3:57pm
The UK is not on the brink of breaking up. But John Swinney's Cardiff summit shows why Westminster should be worried about the future of the Union.


Andy Burnham's father Roy dies aged 86 as Prime Minister cancels engagements
by Carlo.Simone@newsquest.co.uk | Carlo Simone
14 Sep 2026 at 2:01pm
Andy Burnham's father Roy has died at the age of 86, after living with Alzheimer?s


Fishers and coastal communities asked to help rewrite rules for Scotland's seas
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
14 Sep 2026 at 1:59pm
Scottish Government consults on fisheries management for 160+ Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features in Scotland?s inshore seas until January 18, 2027.


Read in full: SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin sign joint memorandum of underst...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
14 Sep 2026 at 11:43am
John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Mary Lou McDonald have signed a formal memorandum pledging cross-border cooperation on the economy, energy and Europe ? and issuing a joint demand that Westminster begin preparing for constitutional change across all three nations.


'Westminster's time is coming to an end': Cardiff pact signed by devolved lea...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
14 Sep 2026 at 11:30am
The First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, alongside the Sinn Féin president, have signed a joint memorandum declaring that "Westminster's time is coming to an end" and calling on the UK Government to facilitate constitutional change.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Punters calling time on the pub due to weight-loss drugs
15 Sep 2026 at 6:00am

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association says they need better support from the Scottish Government as it navigates difficult market conditions.

Experts have said the Scottish Police Authority should be asking questions about the force?s approach to sex and gender

Theresa Shearer, the chief executive of Enable, said pay must be boosted or reforms will be irrelevant

UK Labour ministers have been urged to prioritise domestic production of oil and gas over imported fossil fuels in Chancellor John Healey?s autumn Budget next month.

The First Minister said the PM would be the last in the job because people in Scotland would vote to leave the union if there is a second referendum.

Wings over Scotland

Like Responsible Citizens Do
14 Sep 2026 at 12:13pm
Given the refusal of Police Scotland to meaningfully answer our questions, we’ve been left with no alternative but to report Nicola Sturgeon for the crime of reset. We’re sure the matter will be handled with the exact same professional diligence and complete and fearless impartiality that it would be for any other accused person. The …

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 …

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

Building more data centres could push up electricity prices, expert warns
15 Sep 2026 at 1:16pm
Scotland has been identified as a key location for building hyperscale AI data centres because of the high potential for renewable energy.

UK could 'unlock' 100 more oil and gas projects, say North Sea bosses
15 Sep 2026 at 7:45am
The UK could supply half of its oil and gas needs without imports if the government showed more support for the sector, an OEUK report claims.

Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031
14 Sep 2026 at 3:47pm
The FM has signed an agreement with other nationalist leaders predicting "Westminster's time is coming to an end".

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.

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.

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

Andy Burnham cancels engagements following death of father 
14 Sep 2026 at 1:46pm
Burnham has previously spoken about his father?s Alzheimer's diagnosis, which meant that he did not know his son had become Prime Minister.

Burnham will be last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, says Swinney
14 Sep 2026 at 1:15pm
Scotland?s First Minister says a Scottish independence referendum should take place within the next five years

Westminster?s time is coming to an end ? SNP, Plaid and Sinn Féin leaders
14 Sep 2026 at 11:34am
John Swinney has said Scots must be able to express their view on whether to remain in the UK

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'

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Irish PM says Sinn Fein working with SNP and Plaid Cymru won't help reunifica...
15 Sep 2026 at 2:09pm
The Taoiseach said his party had "never embroiled Northern Ireland in British politics. We?ve always identified the north as exceptional."

DUP to meet Orange Order in Scotland as Unionists fight back against Cardiff ...
15 Sep 2026 at 10:11am
Stormont politician Phillip Brett said the event in Scotland would show "the next generation of Unionism is stepping forward".

SNP supporters hesitant to accept IndyRef2 in short term 'as they might not win'
15 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Professor John Curtice told the Record that support for an immediate referendum in Scotland was low.

Nicola Sturgeon reported to Police Scotland for 'handling stolen goods'
14 Sep 2026 at 3:34pm
Stuart Campbell, who runs the Wings over Scotland website, announced today he had filed a complaint with cops as he had been "left with no alternative".

John Swinney's Cardiff summit answers none of the difficult questions about S...
14 Sep 2026 at 1:11pm
Scots voters deserve clear answers on what exactly the SNP is proposing when it comes to building a new Scottish state. But photo calls with other nationalist leaders won't provide them, says Chris...

John Swinney says he will push for second independence referendum by 2031 des...
14 Sep 2026 at 11:59am
The SNP leader met with Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru in Cardiff to back calls for the break-up of the UK.

'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".

The National

The National | Politics

Sarah Pochin goes on furious rant about 'protecting indigenous white women'
15 Sep 2026 at 12:31pm

REFORM MP Sarah Pochin has gone on a furious rant complaining about how "indigenous white women" need to be "protected" amid an English village staging a revolt against asylum seekers.

Nicola Sturgeon suggests new reason why monarchy should be abolished
15 Sep 2026 at 12:22pm

NICOLA Sturgeon has raised the idea of abolishing the monarchy as it would ?free Prince George? from the burden of becoming King ...

Rupert Lowe announces ?rolling back devolution? policy after Celtic Alliance ...
15 Sep 2026 at 10:54am

RESTORE Britain leader Rupert Lowe has announced the party?s policy of ?rolling back devolution? after a historic meeting of Plaid Cymru, SNP and Sinn Fein leaders ...

Independence debate reignites online ? and even Big John is weighing in
15 Sep 2026 at 9:48am

Are we witnessing the most organic wave of online discussion about the break-up of the United Kingdom in a decade? Even Big John is weighing in

Scottish surfing resort wins global award for community impact
15 Sep 2026 at 8:37am

A SCOTTISH surfing resort ? Europe's largest inland surfing destination ? has one a global award for community impact

The English village holding a symbolic referendum on independence from UK today
15 Sep 2026 at 7:57am

A rural Oxfordshire village will hold a symbolic independence ?referendum? today to protest against controversial Government plans to house more than 1000 asylum seekers at a nearby former military base

Scottish independence faces new opportunities and dilemmas as global order sh...
15 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

Ordinarily, the summit in Cardiff jointly organised by the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin, could be written off as another photo opportunity

It?s time to tax the plague of the super-rich out of existence
15 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

The UK is not a democracy. Some of the reasons why are obvious, writes Ellie Gomersall

John Swinney vows action ahead of Holyrood debate on violence against women a...
15 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

John Swinney has pledged his Government will work 'to ensure women and girls can live their lives free from all forms of men's violence'

Nurse alerts NHS boss to 'safety risks' of huge AI data centre near Scottish ...
15 Sep 2026 at 5:00am

A NURSE has claimed in an email to NHS bosses that a huge proposed AI data centre near a Scottish hospital could pose a ?dangerous? risk to patients ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

One in five Brits use AI to follow the news?
15 Sep 2026 at 1:13pm
Ofcom found that?13 per cent of adults have used ChatGPT to?access the news?in the last year

Trump condemns AI slowdown as MPs and Lords call for new?law to protect?human...
14 Sep 2026 at 5:10pm
Dario Amodei,?head of AI company Anthropic, called for a slowdown in the speed of AI development

John Swinney: Andy Burnham will be the last prime minister of the United Kingdom
14 Sep 2026 at 1:54pm
PM reaffirms commitment to the union as first ministers meet

ScotlandIS appoints Professor Gordon Morison as new chair ?
14 Sep 2026 at 1:28pm
Morison?takes on the role after four years as a member of the ScotlandIS board.?

In full: The SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn F?in memorandum of understanding
14 Sep 2026 at 12:27pm
Leaders meet in Wales

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

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

UK politics: Farage hints that Reform?s £72m donations may not be legal under...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:04pm
In an interview about the donations, he said they are compliant with the law ?today?Andy Burnham has cancelled engagements today and tomorrow following the death of his father Roy, who was suffering from Alzheimer?s, the Press Association reports.Burnham has spoken about his father?s illness whic...

Westminster?s time is coming to an end, say first ministers of UK?s Celtic na...
14 Sep 2026 at 2:21pm
Leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland discuss independence and call for constitutional change at summitWestminster?s time is coming to an end, the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have said at a summit aimed at putting the UK?s Celtic nations on the path to indepe...

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 ...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The Cardiff Agreement marks a new chapter in the path to independence
14 Sep 2026 at 7:06pm
On Monday there was a historic meeting in Cardiff, the first time ever that pro-independence First Ministers from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland met and agreed a common framework for the pursuit of self-determination for their respective nations. The meeting was a sharp rebuke to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, telling him that self-determination can …

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 …

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

Talking-up Scotland to continue despite sobering figures
15 Sep 2026 at 9:46am
170 supporters of Talking-up Scotland have made donations via the crowdfunder app or by direct bank transfer. Many of these have been, to my mind, particularly generous. I’m very grateful to them all and they can be sure that we will continue for them and for those who I know were not able to donate. The 170 represent 10% of the TuS subscribers who get an email link for every post and around 1%...

Only 8% of the population but 82% of the oil and gas yet ?UK? gets 20 times t...
15 Sep 2026 at 9:44am
BBC Reporting Scotland in BBC Breakfast today and on their website, below: 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 text, ‘Scot’ appears only once in the 700 plus word report, 17 paragraphs down: Both projects had alrea...

Half the domestic violence, one quarter of the children exposed and better po...
15 Sep 2026 at 9:04am
….violence during a debate in Parliament today. The First minister could personally (sic) finance the £2 million ‘Fund to Leave’ scheme which assists women and children to flee violence and danger in their own homes – as well as piloting GPS monitoring for suspected domestic abusers on bail awaiting court. Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-t...

Glasgow is the best large city in the UK regardless of the sneering from Kev ...
15 Sep 2026 at 8:40am
Kev with Reform UK in the streets of the far-right of Lanarkshire (well, East) What on earth is he on about? Isn’t that just work going on to improve Sauchiehall Street? It won’t be forever Kev. And what’s that about the ‘far right?’ Is the contractor on the ‘far right?’ And those ‘artisan radicals?’ Kevin McKenna is such an intellectual, eh? Help Talking-up Scotland keep goin Crowdfunder at: h...

Is it fair to say Talking-up Scotland is not a luxury item or that someone el...
14 Sep 2026 at 4:20pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going 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 Very many thanks to the 170 supporters so far, inc bank transfers not listed in crowdfunder. You are very much appreciated. We’re still struggling to even approach our target despite around 8 fully-...

Shock (well a bit) as Pisa proves to be correct on declining educational stan...
14 Sep 2026 at 3:52pm
What is happening to crime in Scotland, these days? It’s surging pal, they shout! How dae ye ken? Ah read in the…I heard it on the….. 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 Police Scotland Freedom of Information Response ref...

Exceptional? Maybe not but different enough to make a difference to be differ...
14 Sep 2026 at 3:50pm
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 National today, the above, and: I see no mention of just who the author is but I think it’s this Lib Dem councillor: I’m not for a minute disagreeing with all of the above but I ...

Why are so many young men committing sex crimes? Why don?t you start asking t...
14 Sep 2026 at 3:42pm
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 Sounds yesterday, the above, and: Sexual crimes recorded by Police Scotland are at their highest level since 1971. With the Scottish Government preparing to recognise misogyny ...

E-bike crime ? Another ?Scottish? Westminster Labour MP educated in England t...
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 From the Daily Record two days ago, the above scare story with Labour MP Richard Baker trying to get an attack on the SNP Government going, based on the experience of only one of his co...

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....

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination - A...
14 Sep 2026 at 7:34pm
Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination  Al Jazeera

Scottish, Welsh, N. Irish party leaders claim right to choose independence - ...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:37pm
Scottish, Welsh, N. Irish party leaders claim right to choose independence  nzherald.co.nz

John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031 - BBC
14 Sep 2026 at 3:47pm
John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031  BBC

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push - washi...
15 Sep 2026 at 4:39am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push  washingtonpost.com

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push f...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:14pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push from UK  Courthouse News

United Kingdom?s unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Norther...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:01pm
United Kingdom?s unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland  AP News

Scotland, Wales, NI target independence - China Daily
15 Sep 2026 at 3:51am
Scotland, Wales, NI target independence  China Daily

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK - ABC Ne...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:33pm
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK  ABC News & Headlines ? Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Wales, Scotland and unclear exits from the UK - Financial Times
15 Sep 2026 at 9:30am
Wales, Scotland and unclear exits from the UK  Financial Times

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Andy Burnham cannot stop end of United Kingdom, says Sinn Fein - The Telegraph
14 Sep 2026 at 1:11pm
Andy Burnham cannot stop end of United Kingdom, says Sinn Fein  The Telegraph

Westminster's time is coming to an end, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish leade...
14 Sep 2026 at 4:23pm
Westminster's time is coming to an end, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish leaders say  BBC

SF, SNP, Welsh leaders sign deal pushing for independence - RTE.ie
14 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
SF, SNP, Welsh leaders sign deal pushing for independence  RTE.ie

?Burnham will be the last PM of the UK?: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland...
14 Sep 2026 at 4:54pm
?Burnham will be the last PM of the UK?: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?s leaders sign independence pact  The Independent

John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031 - BBC
14 Sep 2026 at 3:47pm
John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031  BBC

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

SNP write-off value of Murrell motorhome in party accounts - BBC
6 Aug 2026 at 8:00am
SNP write-off value of Murrell motorhome in party accounts  BBC

Tuesday briefing: How to understand Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?s jo...
15 Sep 2026 at 6:50am
Tuesday briefing: How to understand Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?s joint call for change  The Guardian

Relentless negativity towards the SNP won?t advance our cause - The National ...
15 Sep 2026 at 10:20am
Relentless negativity towards the SNP won?t advance our cause  The National Scot

SNP MSPs urged to follow party members and back Greens? AI data centre pause ...
15 Sep 2026 at 10:48am
SNP MSPs urged to follow party members and back Greens? AI data centre pause  Scottish Greens

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination - A...
14 Sep 2026 at 7:34pm
Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination  Al Jazeera

John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031 - BBC
14 Sep 2026 at 3:47pm
John Swinney aiming for independence referendum by 2031  BBC

Scottish, Welsh, N. Irish party leaders claim right to choose independence - ...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:37pm
Scottish, Welsh, N. Irish party leaders claim right to choose independence  nzherald.co.nz

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push - washi...
15 Sep 2026 at 4:39am
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland join in Celtic independence push  washingtonpost.com

United Kingdom's unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Norther...
15 Sep 2026 at 8:55am
United Kingdom's unity threatened by pact between Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push f...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:14pm
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland leaders unite behind independence push from UK  Courthouse News

Scotland, Wales, NI target independence - China Daily
15 Sep 2026 at 3:51am
Scotland, Wales, NI target independence  China Daily

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

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  Yahoo News New Zealand

Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK - ABC Ne...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:33pm
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders unite in push to leave UK  ABC News & Headlines ? Australian Broadcasting Corporation