The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Scottish Labour MP chaired Westminster drop-in with China spy accused think tank
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
5 Mar 2026 at 5:55pm
The company which employed a man arrested on suspicion of spying for China held a drop-in session at the House of Commons chaired by a Scottish Labour MP


Scottish Lib Dem candidate donated £25,000 to party after Holyrood selection
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
5 Mar 2026 at 5:15pm
According to the Electoral Commission, Ms Alliston Pickard donated £25,000 to the party around three months later, on November 3.


The man we had questions for at Scottish Labour conference - it wasn't Anas ...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
5 Mar 2026 at 4:04pm
There was one man at Scottish Labour conference that every journalist wanted to speak to ? and it wasn?t Anas Sarwar.


Pro-Palestinian protesters rally outside Holyrood urging action on Gaza
by rose.moncur@newsquest.co.uk | Rose Moncur
5 Mar 2026 at 3:48pm
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions protesters rally outside Scottish Parliament, urging John Swinney and the Scottish Government to back boycotts and take action.


Fano community hold first-ever demonstration in Edinburgh outside Holyrood
by rose.moncur@newsquest.co.uk | Rose Moncur
5 Mar 2026 at 1:55pm
London Fano community stages first Edinburgh protest outside the Scottish Parliament, urging UK Government action in Ethiopia.


Cancer ward alert level upgraded to red at troubled Glasgow hospital
by Craig Meighan
5 Mar 2026 at 1:38pm
A cancer ward at a flagship Scottish hospital that was partially closed due to mould and dirty water ingress has had its infection incident alert level upgraded.


Labour 'considering' action against Joani Reid MP after husband's 'spying' ar...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
5 Mar 2026 at 1:25pm
Anas Sarwar has said Labour is considering whether to suspend MP Joani Reid after her husband was arrested on allegations of spying for China.


Alba rebels in talks with Kenny MacAskill to keep party's dream alive
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
5 Mar 2026 at 1:35pm
The group is seeking a way forward aster the leader warned of dire financial straits


Scots businessman donates £89,000 to Nigel Farage's Reform UK ahead of election
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
5 Mar 2026 at 1:25pm
According to new figures from the Electoral Commission, Mr McIntosh, founder of Emerald Investment Partners, made the five-figure donation on November 27.


Jenny Gilruth ?determined to find a resolution? to stop teachers from striking
by Katrine Bussey
5 Mar 2026 at 1:03pm
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has pledged there will be ?additional new investment? to help with the costs of employing more teachers as she seeks to prevent strike action that could impact schools in the ?crucial period? leading up to exams.


Former Edinburgh B&B owner to go on trial for war crimes from beyond the grave
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
5 Mar 2026 at 11:42am
A former Nazi who fled to Scotland after the Second World War will go on trial for genocide - despite having died in 2001


These are the people funding Scottish Labour ahead of May's election
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
5 Mar 2026 at 11:18am
According to the Electoral Commission, the paper firm made two donations to Scottish Labour in December 2025, totalling £233,000.


Maligned North Sea policy under pressure as Middle East crisis deepens
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
5 Mar 2026 at 4:33am
Chancellor under fresh pressure to ditch energy profits levy following attacks on Iran


SNP says Labour has 'betrayed' Scotch whisky as figures reveal plunge
by ian.mcconnell@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Ian McConnell
5 Mar 2026 at 4:35am
The SNP claims the Labour Party has 'betrayed' Scotland?s whisky industry, flagging new figures showing a plunge

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Your country needs you: What we can all do to prepare for war
5 Mar 2026 at 4:45pm
Russia?s hybrid warfare tactics means every citizen should remember John F Kennedy?s famous words: ?Ask not what your country can do for you ? ask what you can do for your country.?


Mould outbreak at infection scandal hospital upgraded to 'red' as Swinney acc...
5 Mar 2026 at 4:45pm

John Swinney has denied disrespecting bereaved relatives from the hospitals infection scandal.

The First Minister was quizzed on The Scotsman?s story in Holyrood

The Scottish Labour leader revealed he last met with Joani Reid?s husband in the last year at a party event.

It comes amid escalating tensions in the region after the US?s attack on Iran.

Iran?s place at the World Cup 2026 is in ?serious doubt?

The Accounts Commission says the council?s reliance on financial reserves is ?unsustainable?.

Wings over Scotland

Scotland?s Most Frightened
4 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
This was just two months ago. (Longer version here.) ? And we’ll bet you anything you like he’s already wishing he hadn’t said it. Because a recent study suggested that Swinney might just achieve the impossible task he set for himself, and if he does then he’s REALLY screwed. Now, we don’t actually think that’ll …

Two Men Unalike
28 Feb 2026 at 1:41pm
So Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News got herself a scoop last night. And to be honest, readers, we were a bit confused. “Gender critical views” are not only lawful things to hold and express, they’re one of a small subset of opinions that are explicitly protected as such in law. And why would a …

The Tactics Of Suicide
26 Feb 2026 at 1:48pm
Sorry, readers, we’ve been too busy boiling with rage at revolting, cretinous Americans for the last few days to trust ourselves with writing a full-length article, but we’ve just about calmed down enough in time for this month’s polling analysis. Which is handy, because today is also the day of the Gorton and Denton by-election …

When the law breaks the law
19 Feb 2026 at 1:33pm
There is a not particularly funny joke that is sometimes told in legal circles about why a law student failed to finish his coursework ? because he had no conviction. With rare exceptions lawyers aren?t renowned for their sense of humour but I can?t help thinking someone, at the highest levels of our justice system, …

The Future Is Yesterday
18 Feb 2026 at 2:10pm
So on the one hand there’s obviously very little point paying attention to the SNP’s regional list candidates for May’s Holyrood election, because as this website has comprehensively demonstrated over recent months, the chances of the SNP having any list MSPs elected are remote. However, nothing is impossible, so let’s take a look at the …

Scotland In Numbers
17 Feb 2026 at 11:30pm
Cost of keeping vital rape crisis services in Glasgow operating: £500,000. Amount of money wasted by the Scottish Government fighting and losing court cases to try to remove women’s rights: £1.14 million. Angry yet?

The Longest Road
16 Feb 2026 at 1:23pm
As the six-year fight for justice for Alex Salmond continues, we thought you might like to see this clip from this morning’s Mike Graham Show, interviewing Paul McManus, the businessman and drummer in Glasgow rock band Gun who’s stepped up to fund the Salmond family’s case against the Scottish Government despite disagreeing with much of …

The Modern Politician
10 Feb 2026 at 5:17pm
A play in three acts: And you thought ours were spineless. Poor old Anas, though. If 24 hours is a long time in politics these days, a week is forever. And a month hardly even bears thinking about. As for a year and a half, well, the less said the better.

A Dumber Nation
9 Feb 2026 at 3:52pm
In politics, readers, evil and stupidity aren’t the same thing. But nor are they exclusive. Before we ask you to consider which of the terms applies to the Scottish Government led by John Swinney, we’d like you to read this letter sent to Wings by the auntie of two women imprisoned in Scottish jails. “I …

Echoes of history
8 Feb 2026 at 5:26pm
The Sunday National’s front page today elicited a sigh of “So what?” from most. We’ve already GOT a “pro-indy” majority at Holyrood and have done for the last 10 years, for all it’s been worth. But to be fair there was a paragraph in the article that at least raised a quizzical eyebrow. Because, y’know, …

Craig Murray

The War for Greater Israel
1 Mar 2026 at 2:21pm

There has scarcely been an attempt to pretend any justification in international law for the attack on Iran and murder of its leader. The response of the UK government, focusing almost entirely on condemning Iran for exercising its legitimate right of self-defence, takes the Starmer dishonesty meter further off the scale. The RAF has been …

The War for Greater Israel

Rival Demonstrations in Caracas
23 Feb 2026 at 8:28am

There are two things which are extremely difficult to find in Venezuela – government repression and opposition support. I am pretty long in the tooth and very experienced in understanding politics and people around the world, and I have found it difficult to locate either. I would particularly warn you against accepting the political prisoners …

Rival Demonstrations in Caracas

Two Little Caracas Videos
17 Feb 2026 at 6:34am

I hope to write a serious article shortly about the position of Venezuela, which is rather that of a hostage with a gun to their head, attempting to appease a psychopath. But for now here are a couple of small videos illustrating that it is a lie that the country is failed, starving or repressive. …

Two Little Caracas Videos

Postpone The Celebrations
14 Feb 2026 at 7:46am

On the face of it the English High Court ruling that the Palestine Action proscription is unlawful makes the decision that the proscription remains in place pending appeal utterly illogical. But what if the High Court ruling is deliberately designed to fail at appeal? I believe that it is. They chose an extremely narrow path …

Postpone The Celebrations

Is The USA Controlling Venezuela
7 Feb 2026 at 5:54pm

My first video report from Venezuela: My being here reporting is entirely possible due, as is all my journalism and activism, to your individual subscriptions and donations. We now have a Venezuela reporting crowdfunder. I have simply edited the Lebanese GoFundMe crowdfunder, because that took many weeks to be approved and I don’t want to …

Is The USA Controlling Venezuela

Filton Acquittals Demolish Starmer and Cooper Lies About Palestine Action
5 Feb 2026 at 6:49pm

As the trial finished at Woolwich Crown Court of the six Palestine Action activists who entered the Filton factory to destroy Israeli killer drones, Starmer, Cooper, Lammy and Mahmood are left bereft of a single guilty verdict in the case on which they relied heavily to label Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. I could …

Filton Acquittals Demolish Starmer and Cooper Lies About Palestine Action

BBC Scotland

MP investigated by Labour after husband accused of spying
5 Mar 2026 at 2:26pm
Joani Reid says she has never seen anything to make her suspect her spouse had "broken any law".

Families of cancer patients to raise infection concerns with first minister
5 Mar 2026 at 6:20am
Charly's dad says the public inquiry is not going to give patients and families the answers they are looking for.

SNP candidate stands down after benefits fraud claim
4 Mar 2026 at 5:18pm
Sally Donald, who was selected to stand for the party in May's election, has denied any wrongdoing.

Teachers vote to strike over class contact time
4 Mar 2026 at 8:07pm
The EIS wants to cut the maximum time each teacher spends in front of a class by 90 minutes a week.

Ferguson shipyard to be given contracts to build four new ships
3 Mar 2026 at 5:09pm
The Clyde yard is to be commissioned to construct two small ferries and two fisheries research and protection vessels.

Scotland needs new approach to deal with feral pigs, report says
4 Mar 2026 at 10:48am
Researchers say there are "tensions" around whether they are a pest or should be left to roam free.

Ardrossan harbour to be taken into public ownership
3 Mar 2026 at 3:07pm
Scottish government-owned ports body CMAL is expected the finalise the purchase by the end of the month.

Four homeless deaths in Scotland a week, data suggests
3 Mar 2026 at 3:42pm
The new data was a slight decrease on the previous year's figures but "not statistically significant".

Scottish government increases funding for culling Uist geese
3 Mar 2026 at 11:17am
The birds are blamed for damaging crops and grazing in parts of the Western Isles.

Sir John Curtice: Which issues will decide the elections in Scotland and Wales?
2 Mar 2026 at 6:28am
A poll carried out for the BBC examines the issues which will influence how people plan to vote on 7 May.

Sarwar rejects father's tribute to Iran's supreme leader
2 Mar 2026 at 6:23pm
Former Scottish Labour MP Mohammad Sarwar praised Ayatollah Khamenei as a martyr after he was killed in a US-Israeli strike.

Alba members call on leader to 'fight election or resign'
1 Mar 2026 at 2:42pm
The Alba Continuation Group demands that leader Kenny MacAskill stand down after he said it was unlikely the party would contest May's Scottish parliament election.

Scot Goes Pop

WAA WAA BRAHP AHOOGAH SCREEEEEEEECH - "All right, all right, you've made your...
4 Mar 2026 at 11:43pm
My latest constituency profile for The National is Argyll & Bute, and it can be read HERE.

Greens OVERTAKE Labour in sensational Britain-wide YouGov poll - and SNP have...
3 Mar 2026 at 8:34pm
In the second half of this video, I also take a look at the story in the Daily Record about a nameless former member of the Alba Party's Finance and Audit Committee, who suggests the party wasted £...

Alba's self-appointed Continuity Junta is accused of "lying" about its claim ...
2 Mar 2026 at 8:13pm
The dam has well and truly burst with Alba - over the last few days I've been receiving emails containing nuggets of information from multiple different sources within the party, including some I h...

244 people have pledged loyalty so far to the Alba Continuity Junta - and onl...
2 Mar 2026 at 4:47pm
As regular viewers of my YouTube channel will recall, the little-known Alba businessman Abdul Majid has an exciting habit of doing things in bulk.  In 2023, he was one of the five clear beneficiari...

Profound shock in Alba ranks after Susan MacAskill, the spouse of party leade...
1 Mar 2026 at 4:55pm
I was contacted earlier today by a member of the Alba Party, who I think was genuinely quite shocked that a controversial fellow member and convicted criminal called Dave Llewellyn had posted on Fa...

Corri Wilson, straight-talking, totally unfiltered, on why the Alba Party mus...
1 Mar 2026 at 1:17am
I've been sent an audio recording of Corri Wilson, matriarch of Alba's Corri Nostra faction and also the party's "Director of Operations", addressing what appears to be some sort of internal party ...

Popular factional matriarch Corri Wilson sends tidings of great joy to local ...
28 Feb 2026 at 4:34pm
It's the puzzler that has gripped and perplexed fashionable salons like no other since the Schleswig Holstein Question: are Alba branches accounting units in their own right?  Does their money belo...

"From this day forth, it's DNA, NOT DEMOCRACY": Christina Hendry stakes her "...
28 Feb 2026 at 8:56am
I've rarely before had much sympathy for the views of the self-styled "straight-talking totally unfiltered independent woman" Shannon Cullen (formerly Donoghue), but I checked her Twitter account l...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Scottish Labour MP being investigated by party after husband accused of spyin...
5 Mar 2026 at 2:00pm
David Taylor, the husband of East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Joani Reid, was arrested by counter-terrorism officers

Benefits probe into SNP candidate shows system is working, Swinney claims
5 Mar 2026 at 1:06pm
Sally Donald stepped down as the candidate for Edinburgh Southern on Wednesday

John Swinney faces questions after teachers back strike action
5 Mar 2026 at 12:03pm
The education secretary said she hoped negotations would find a solution

Husband of Labour MP Joani Reid released on bail after arrest on suspicion of...
5 Mar 2026 at 9:38am
David Taylor, 39, whose wife is Joani Reid, was taken into custody on Wednesday

Husband of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid questioned after arrest on suspicion...
5 Mar 2026 at 8:17am
David Taylor, 39, whose wife is Joani Reid, was taken into custody on Wednesday

MPs dance with Strictly stars as Middle East ?on brink of World War Three?
4 Mar 2026 at 8:58pm
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle danced with Rippon after welcoming the celebrities from the BBC programme to Westminster to promote the advantages of dance for the nation?s health and wellbeing.

Teachers across Scotland vote for strike action over ?excessive workloads?
4 Mar 2026 at 5:31pm
The education secretary said she hoped negotations would find a solution

Edinburgh SNP candidate quits race amid benefits investigation
4 Mar 2026 at 4:44pm
Sally Donald had been selected to run in Edinburgh Southern, but told local members on Wednesday she had ?regrettably? decided to stand down

Husband of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid among three men arrested on suspicio...
4 Mar 2026 at 12:42pm
Joani Reid's spouse David Taylor, 39, was taken into custody on Wednesday

Reform falls behind Labour in Scottish Parliament election, poll shows
4 Mar 2026 at 12:03pm
The SNP remains set to be the largest party at Holyrood, 20 points ahead of Nigel Farage's party

Keir Starmer to face grilling amid fallout with Donald Trump over Iran
4 Mar 2026 at 11:47am
The US president said 'this is not Winston Churchill that we?re dealing with'

Scottish Government to directly award four ship contracts to Ferguson Marine
3 Mar 2026 at 9:46pm
The Scottish Government rescued the yard from administration in 2019.

?Many uncertainties? over cost of introducing assisted dying, MSPs told
3 Mar 2026 at 9:05pm
Health Secretary Neil Gray faced questions over what the cost could be if MSPs back a Bill to introduce assisted dying for terminally ill Scots.

Clarity sought on whether aircraft used in Iran operations stopped in Scotland
3 Mar 2026 at 5:09pm
The Scottish Government is seeking clarity from the UK Government as some airports in the country are used as stopover points for air forces

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Health Secretary Wes Streeting defends Scots Labour MP facing suspension afte...
5 Mar 2026 at 5:40pm
EXCLUSIVE: Streeting suggested it was unfair to judge Reid based on the situation facing her husband.

'Spying' scandal is the last thing Labour needs in the run up to the Holyrood...
5 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon analyses the latest national security row for the UK.

Cancer ward at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital upgraded to red alert leve...
5 Mar 2026 at 2:17pm
The £1 billion super hospital has been rocked by a series of infection scandals.

SNP Government forced to take down part of Alex Salmond Files over 'shambolic...
5 Mar 2026 at 1:53pm
It comes amid fears over the handling of the 5,000 documents that were suddenly dumped online with little warning on February 25.

Labour considering suspending Scots MP whose husband was arrested as part of ...
5 Mar 2026 at 1:13pm
Anas Sarwar said an independent body is "considering all these matters" in relation to Joani Reid.

SNP struggling to raise cash for Holyrood election as just three Scots make m...
5 Mar 2026 at 12:00pm
The SNP is trailing behind Scottish Labour in terms of spending power after Anas Sarwar's party recorded a £100,000 donation from an energy magnate.

Labour MP Joani Reid's husband David Taylor bailed over China spying allegations
5 Mar 2026 at 9:48am
David Taylor was arrested yesterday after a property in East Kilbride was searched by cops.

Shetland and Orkney Russian threat fears as MP calls for defence spending boost
5 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Lib Dem MP Alister Carmichael said the "security of the United Kingdom" has to be "security for everybody in the United Kingdom".

Scottish politics today: Joani Reid insists 'I have never been to China' as h...
4 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
The Daily Record brings you its daily 5pm briefing of the top stories in Scottish politics.

SNP Holyrood candidate Sally Donald quits amid benefits allegations
4 Mar 2026 at 3:51pm
Donald stood down amid questions about her claims on the public purse.

The National

The National | Politics

Defence Secretary fails to rule out UK taking part in strikes on Iran
5 Mar 2026 at 6:22pm

DEFENCE Secretary John Healey has declined to rule out UK aircraft taking part in strikes on Iran

The SNP aren't making the most of this chance to reset the independence debate
5 Mar 2026 at 5:56pm

As global politics is reshaped in the image of Donald Trump, Scotland is being left behind in yesterday?s politics ...

Fears over Scotland's World Cup games as Fifa fails to obtain stadium license
5 Mar 2026 at 5:32pm

FIFA bosses are in a standoff with officials in a Boston town who have said they will not provide a license to host World Cup games ? including two of Scotland's ? amid a $7.8 million security costs row

Keir Starmer says Morgan McSweeney is 'one of world's best strategists' at le...
5 Mar 2026 at 5:14pm

LADIES and gentlemen, the final verdict is in. The one you?ve all been waiting for.

Plans to use abandoned Scottish mine to heat homes gets major cash boost
5 Mar 2026 at 4:25pm

A SCOTTISH village hoping to turn its long abandoned coal mine into a renewable energy source has received a major boost to its campaign.

Who is on BBC Question Time tonight and what time does it start?
5 Mar 2026 at 3:17pm

THE BBC is due to broadcast its flagship politics debate show Question Time from Kettering this evening (March 5 ...

Five things to know as Keir Starmer leaves door open to offensive action in Iran
5 Mar 2026 at 2:40pm

KEIR Starmer has refused to rule out offensive action against Iran as he stressed the need for ?deescalation?.

UK sending four more Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar amid war in Middle East
5 Mar 2026 at 2:09pm

THE UK is sending four more Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar amid the war in the Middle East, Keir Starmer has announced ...

Anas Sarwar speaks out after Scottish Labour MP?s husband arrested
5 Mar 2026 at 1:47pm

THE arrest of a Scottish Labour MP?s husband on suspicion of spying for China is ?deeply concerning?, the party?s leader has said

Labour 'rehashing old BNP policy' with cash offer for people to leave Britain
5 Mar 2026 at 1:29pm

LABOUR have been accused of trying to ?rehash an old BNP policy? with a controversial policy to pay immigrants to leave the UK.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

China spying arrest ?deeply concerning? says Anas Sarwar
5 Mar 2026 at 2:05pm
One of the men arrested is married to Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid

SNP candidate?s alleged benefits fraud shows system ?open to abuse?
5 Mar 2026 at 1:09pm
The Scottish Tory leader raised the case of Sally Donald at FMQs

China spy suspects released on bail
5 Mar 2026 at 12:02pm
Husband of Joani Reid MP and two others were arrested by counter-terror police

Reform UK receives millions more from crypto investor
5 Mar 2026 at 10:23am
Labour donations revealed as Electoral Commission publishes 2025 quarter 4 records

Mental health warning over psychiatrists shortage
5 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Tom Arthur says Scottish Government is 'making progress'

Local Authorities Guide: East Lothian Council
5 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Council leader Norman Hampshire answers questions about local authority

Husband of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid arrested on China spy claims
4 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
Counter-terrorism police arrest three under the National Security Act

SNP candidate steps down amid investigation into benefit claim
4 Mar 2026 at 4:00pm
Sally Donald is reportedly facing a probe by Social Security Scotland?regarding?alleged fraud

?No place in Scotland? for live facial recognition, charity warns police force
4 Mar 2026 at 3:44pm
Amnesty International has warned that implementing the technology would show an ?alarming disregard for fundamental human rights?

SNP maintains lead but Labour beats Reform in new poll
4 Mar 2026 at 1:24pm
But four in ten voters say they might change their mind

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Scotland becomes first UK country to legalise water cremations
2 Mar 2026 at 3:24pm
Hydrolysis uses alkaline and water to break down body in a few hours and is part of demand for more sustainable funeralsScotland has become the first part of the UK to legalise hydrolysis, an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial, reflecting increasing demand for more sustai...

PM vows to ?keep fighting? after Greens sweep past Labour and Reform to win b...
27 Feb 2026 at 5:57pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story here:Report: Labour MPs demand Starmer change directionAnalysis: clock is ticking for StarmerProfile: who is Hannah Spencer, new Green MP?Reform activists are ?hearing Matt Goodwin has all but conceded defeat to the Greens?, the UK poll agg...

Sarwar gambles on break with Starmer as Labour support slumps
26 Feb 2026 at 10:03am
Scottish Labour leader hopes distancing himself from PM will shift focus to SNP?s record, but voters remain unconvinced?People look at Holyrood and think: ?Lets give them all a bloody nose?,? says Alex, a betting shop manager. Speaking in a focus group of people who voted Labour at the 2024 gener...

Foreign Office denies minister?s claim the Chagos Islands deal has been pause...
25 Feb 2026 at 5:30pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published figures showing that local authorities in England dealt with 1.26m flytipping incidents in 2024/25 ? 9% increase on the previous year.And there was an 11% increase in ...

Role of Scotland?s top law officer questioned after ?bombshell? over Peter Mu...
25 Feb 2026 at 2:52pm
Lord advocate Dorothy Bain informed first minister of embezzlement charges against former SNP chief executive a year before they were made publicSerious doubts have been raised about the dual role of Scotland?s top law officer after it emerged that the first minister was informed of criminal char...

The Guardian view on Scottish Labour: Keir Starmer needs Anas Sarwar?s act of...
22 Feb 2026 at 5:30pm
The leader of Scottish Labour will use its spring conference to demonstrate that he is his own man. Ironically, the prime minister?s survival may depend on his successAt Scottish Labour?s spring conference last year, Sir Keir Starmer bullishly addressed mounting discontent at his government?s per...

The Guardian view on Scotland?s housing crisis: supply has failed to keep pac...
18 Feb 2026 at 6:25pm
The country?s homelessness legislation is ambitious and humane. But too many people are still sleeping on the streets or in temporary accommodationRough sleeping in Scotland has risen by 106% over the past three years. Record numbers of children are now living in temporary accommodation, official...

?It?s betrayal?: Shetland?s scallop fishers brace for arrival of UK?s largest...
17 Feb 2026 at 12:00pm
Huge project by Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms gets go-ahead amid concerns over the environmental cost of fish farming and threat to traditional way of lifeAt Collafirth, north Shetland, Sydney Johnson is unloading two-dozen bags of scallops by throwing them over his head like medicine balls ...

Tuesday briefing: The factors that will shape the future of Scotland
17 Feb 2026 at 7:55am
In today?s newsletter: As Scottish voters prepare to go to the polls, how can Labour, Reform and the Conservatives capitalise on weakening trust in the SNP?Good morning. The SNP has been in government since 2007, a phenomenal 19-year run, but polling suggests Scottish voters? trust in its ability...

Mick Duncan obituary
16 Feb 2026 at 8:39pm
My friend and fellow architect Mick Duncan, who has died aged 86, imbued his architecture with human scale and proportion, whether for the extensive buildings for Stirling University, at Victoria Quay housing the Scottish Executive in Leith, or in the modest yet stately headquarters for United Di...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

A personal milestone and yet more good polling news
5 Mar 2026 at 4:19pm
I’m going to start on a personal note. Almost eight years after we got married and over ten years that we have been together, my husband has finally become a British, or should I say Scottish citizen. It’s been a long, expensive, and stressful journey, but we got there, and now we are immune to …

The BBC?s odd indy poll, more polls, and BBC Scotland?s double standards
4 Mar 2026 at 3:38pm
There are some very odd things going on with the BBC’s Savanta poll on Scottish independence. An analysis of the polling data by Independent Voices, @indyvoices.bsky.social on BlueSky, also pointed out by the regular poster Statgeek in the comments section of this blog, notes that the poll reports a peculiarly high percentage of those who …

Humiliation for BBC Scotland as its own poll shows a Yes majority
3 Mar 2026 at 3:26pm
BBC Scotland has done one of its pre-election polls to tell us what Scotland “really thinks” as we go into the Scottish election in nine weeks time. On Tuesday, BBC Scotland unveiled its findings on the crucial question of independence. Despite the BBC’s very own poll finding that support for independence is in the majority, …

Reform?s election denial is a cancer on democracy
3 Mar 2026 at 11:47am
Nigel Farage is not taking the electoral humiliation dished out to by the voters of Gorton and Denton at all well. Farage lied multiple times at his press conference on the Monday after the vote which saw his hand picked candidate trounced by the Greens. Farage claimed that no-one who voted Green in Gorton and …

Starmer?s support for Trump?s Epstein war may be the final blow to Labour in ...
1 Mar 2026 at 11:50am
America has gone to war in the Middle East at the behest of Netanyahu again, when Trump attacked Iran in June last year and assured us that Iran’s nuclear weapons programme had been completely destroyed it hadn’t really been completely destroyed at all. Trump lied. I’m shocked I tell you, shocked. I’m no fan of …

Goodwin ? Bad Loser, lessons from Gorton & Denton for Scotland
27 Feb 2026 at 2:23pm
Imagine being called Goodwin but being such a bad loser. This week’s by-election in Gorton and Denton in Manchester was initially portrayed in the British media as being a contest between Labour and Reform UK, with the expectation that Reform UK would coast to an easy victory. In recent days as the Greens pulled ahead …

57% support for independence in the most recent poll
26 Feb 2026 at 1:50pm
There has been another poll on voting intention in a Scottish independence referendum. The poll from Stonehaven polling for The Times newspaper which I reported on yesterday also included a question on independence. This poll had fantastic news for the SNP, reporting that an SNP majority is possible. It also has fantastic news for the …

Second poll in a month puts the SNP on track for a majority in Holyrood
25 Feb 2026 at 2:10pm
  In this bin-fire of a UK it’s nice to be able to report a glimmer of hope for a change. For the second time within a month, an opinion poll has put the level of support for the SNP at a level which would allow it to win an outright majority in its own …

Cruelty built on lies, Reform?s immigration plans
23 Feb 2026 at 3:35pm
On Monday Reform UK’s home affairs spokes bigot the millionaire Zia Yusuf announced his party’s plans for the immigration system should we be unfortunate enough to see Reform UK take power after the next Westminster general election, which due to Westminster’s corrupt and undemocratic first past the post voting system could allow Farage and his …

Rejoining the EU looks set to get much easier for an independent Scotland
22 Feb 2026 at 2:52pm
According to former SNP MP and MEP Alyn Smith, who is well informed about developments within the EU, joining the EU looks set to become a whole lot easier for an independent Scotland. The EU Commission is proposing to revamp and speed up the process through which states which are candidates for EU membership accede …

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

The evidence suggests that Reform UK seem unlikely to be ?main threat? in Ayr
5 Mar 2026 at 5:33pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON Analyst James Kelly in the National Today, has: Reform UK could be main threat to SNP in Ayr. Well maybe, maybe not. I’d be a fool to say it could never happen but the evidence so far says Refor...

12 hour A&E waits ? TWICE as common in NHS Wales than in NHS Scotland and not ...
5 Mar 2026 at 5:31pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON This was researched by stewartb. I’ve just framed it a bit. Here’s what stewartb sent me: Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM Vice President for Scotland is quoted in a press statement (March 3) headed: ?Scot...

Royal College of Emergency Medicine points to NHS England fiddling the figure...
5 Mar 2026 at 5:30pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON Another post, on NHS England manipulating stats again, researched by stewartb and just framed by me. From stewartb: RCEM press release (march 4): ?NHS England corridor care definition interestin...

Swinney slashes 103 miles, 4 hour, Wick to Inverness bus fare from £31 to onl...
5 Mar 2026 at 5:27pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON From Cheaper bus travel for Highland communities published yesterday: People across the Highlands and Islands are set to benefit from more affordable public transport as £2 capped bus fares are ...

Golf-based therapy for veterans is latest addition to Scotland?s greater care...
5 Mar 2026 at 5:25pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON From Help for veterans and families published yesterday: A scheme to help wounded or sick veterans recover their confidence through golf is among 30 projects to receive backing from the Scottish...

In the new ?alternative? British media it?s often still the same mindset when...
5 Mar 2026 at 9:32am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON By Liz S ?That is the mindset of many in the media? There is also a ?mindset? sourced from some of the new alternative British media as well, such as some of those who write articles for the Byl...

The run of bad luck for Labour , much of which is self inflicted, just keeps ...
5 Mar 2026 at 9:31am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON By Liz S Breaking news: ?Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid has said ?she is not part of her husband?s business activities? after he was arrested on suspicion of spying for China? The BBC have report...

The MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven falls far from Jimmie Reid?s tree, to...
5 Mar 2026 at 9:30am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON In the Guardian and on X today, the above and: A former Labour adviser married to a Labour MP is among three men who have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China. David Taylor, the husban...

As the International Council of Nurses calls for investment how Labour Govern...
5 Mar 2026 at 9:28am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON In the Guardian yesterday: Howard Catton of the International Council of Nurses calls for a co-investment mechanism in global nursing education. Your report on the 93% fall in overseas nurses (D...

Unable to find a comparable brutal drug gang or child rape grooming gang base...
5 Mar 2026 at 9:27am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above.Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON I’ll spare you the full detail of the Herald‘s latest sick titillation image, above. Today, they have: MSPs have pressed ministers on why they have failed to implement a female genital mutilatio...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
3 Mar 2026 at 6:16am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

Scottish independence ? The NEN - The NEN - North Edinburgh News
5 Mar 2026 at 1:00pm
Scottish independence ? The NEN  The NEN - North Edinburgh News

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - AOL.com
5 Mar 2026 at 2:05pm
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  AOL.com

SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change the...
4 Mar 2026 at 10:16am
SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change their minds  Ipsos

Scottish independence is sneaking up on Westminster - New Statesman
20 Feb 2026 at 6:03am
Scottish independence is sneaking up on Westminster  New Statesman

John Swinney to address Scottish independence rally during Holyrood election ...
2 Mar 2026 at 4:05pm
John Swinney to address Scottish independence rally during Holyrood election campaign  TheNational.scot

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

The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage - politico.eu
13 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage  politico.eu

'Scottish independence? Yes - but make it egalitarian' - The Herald
21 Feb 2026 at 8:00am
'Scottish independence? Yes - but make it egalitarian'  The Herald

Scottish independence ?within reach? as Westminster ?unravelling? amid scanda...
21 Feb 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence ?within reach? as Westminster ?unravelling? amid scandals, Swinney says  The Independent

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Exclusive: SNP Holyrood candidate investigated over benefits claims - The Sco...
4 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Exclusive: SNP Holyrood candidate investigated over benefits claims  The Scotsman

SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change the...
4 Mar 2026 at 10:16am
SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change their minds  Ipsos

'If teacher strikes close schools, the SNP will be entirely to blame' - The H...
5 Mar 2026 at 4:00pm
'If teacher strikes close schools, the SNP will be entirely to blame'  The Herald

The SNP aren't making the most of this chance to reset the independence debat...
5 Mar 2026 at 6:05pm
The SNP aren't making the most of this chance to reset the independence debate  TheNational.scot

SNP candidate?s alleged benefits fraud shows system ?open to abuse? - Holyroo...
5 Mar 2026 at 1:25pm
SNP candidate?s alleged benefits fraud shows system ?open to abuse?  Holyrood Website

SNP candidate drops out of election race amid benefit fraud investigation - T...
5 Mar 2026 at 10:53am
SNP candidate drops out of election race amid benefit fraud investigation  The Telegraph

SNP forced to REMOVE 'Salmond Files' pages in shock twist amid fears of posti...
5 Mar 2026 at 12:10pm
SNP forced to REMOVE 'Salmond Files' pages in shock twist amid fears of posting banned details  The Scottish Sun

Linux Preps IBPB-On-Entry Feature For AMD SEV-SNP Guest VMs - Phoronix
4 Mar 2026 at 1:25pm
Linux Preps IBPB-On-Entry Feature For AMD SEV-SNP Guest VMs  Phoronix

SNP candidate stands down after benefits fraud claim - BBC
4 Mar 2026 at 5:18pm
SNP candidate stands down after benefits fraud claim  BBC

Major new Holyrood poll predicts huge SNP win as party just short of majority...
5 Mar 2026 at 11:14am
Major new Holyrood poll predicts huge SNP win as party just short of majority  TheNational.scot

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
3 Mar 2026 at 6:16am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - AOL.com
5 Mar 2026 at 2:05pm
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  AOL.com

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

Why Alberta?s push for independence pales in comparison to Scotland?s in 2014...
27 May 2025 at 8:00am
Why Alberta?s push for independence pales in comparison to Scotland?s in 2014  The Conversation

The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage - politico.eu
13 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
The new hero of Scottish independence? Nigel Farage  politico.eu

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

In the United Kingdom, prime minister rejects possibility of Scotland indepen...
3 Jun 2025 at 8:00am
In the United Kingdom, prime minister rejects possibility of Scotland independence referendum  ConstitutionNet

Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum - BBC
4 Sep 2025 at 8:00am
Swinney sets out latest plan for an independence referendum  BBC

Swinney says SNP win would trigger new Scotland referendum | Daily Sabah - Da...
18 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Swinney says SNP win would trigger new Scotland referendum | Daily Sabah  Daily Sabah

No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says - BBC
27 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
No independence referendum if SNP wins majority, Reeves says  BBC