The Herald

The Herald | Politics


19-year-old Edinburgh student could be elected Scotland's youngest councillor
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
1 Sep 2026 at 5:00pm
19-year-old Sam Mackenzie is standing for the SNP in the Southside/Newington by-election on Thursday.


Boss of troubled heritage agency Katerina Brown to stand down
1 Sep 2026 at 5:00pm
The boss of Scotland's troubled heritage agency Katerina Brown is to stand down, it is being reported.


Swinney unveils bleed kit rollout after ?heart breaking? knife crime deaths
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
1 Sep 2026 at 4:27pm
John Swinney has announced a Scotland-wide rollout of bleed kits and continued prevention work as part of new action on youth violence and knife crime.


Five key points from John Swinney's Programme for Government
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
1 Sep 2026 at 4:15pm
Some of the biggest changes to the public sector in the history of devolution were announced in John Swinney's Programme for Government.


Scottish Greens fury after Swinney shelves plans to ban conversion therapy
1 Sep 2026 at 4:02pm
The Scottish Greens have strongly criticised John Swinney's decision to shelve a promised ban on conversion practices as they attacked his Programme for Government.


Councillor gets formal reprimand over leaked emails to Facebook page
by kevin.dyson@reachplc.com | Kevin Dyson
1 Sep 2026 at 4:02pm
An East Ayrshire councillor pleaded ignorance about the Councillors' Code of Conduct after sending confidential emails via his personal account and sharing them with a contributor to a Facebook page.


£2 bus fare cap to launch in Glasgow and west of Scotland
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
1 Sep 2026 at 3:34pm
Glasgow and west of Scotland bus fares will be capped at £2 from Monday, John Swinney announced.


Swinney announces cull of public bodies amid 'bonfire of the quangos'
1 Sep 2026 at 3:15pm
First Minister John Swinney has confirmed a "bonfire of the quangos" under the Scottish Government's public service reform strategy.


Council hits out at 'entirely false' claims that refugees are prioritised for...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
1 Sep 2026 at 2:33pm
Addressing "misinformation" circulating online, the council confirmed it does not house asylum seekers, as this is a matter reserved to the Home Office.


Labour faces crucial two by-election battles as party fights for momentum in ...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
1 Sep 2026 at 1:36pm
After the resignation of two SNP councillors, Labour has the opportunity to regain momentum locally ahead of council-wide elections in 2027.


Glasgow music and nightlife mogul claims city is a 'broken mess'
by craig.williams@newsquest.co.uk | Craig Williams
1 Sep 2026 at 12:58pm
A Glasgow music and nightlife mogul has claimed that the city is a "broken mess" in an interview with a former prime minister


Sir Keir Starmer quits as MP on eve of Andy Burnham's first PMQs
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
1 Sep 2026 at 12:23pm
Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is to stand down as an MP, triggering a by-election and another major change at the heart of Westminster politics.


Argyll and Bute Council apologises for axing Jura night ferry without warning
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
1 Sep 2026 at 12:18pm
Argyll and Bute Council has apologised for axing a late-night Jura ferry without consultation, but islanders say nothing has changed.


Inside newly-formed 'second smallest country' trying to claim patch of disput...
by donald.erskine@newsquest.co.uk | Donald Erskine
1 Sep 2026 at 11:36am
The "second-smallest country in the world" is attempting to establish itself on a disputed strip of land between Croatia and Serbia.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Programme for government: Follow LIVE as John Swinney sets out his priorities...
1 Sep 2026 at 5:07pm

First Minister John Swinney is to set out his priorities for the year ahead.

The business case underlines the importance of a North-South line in providing fast, efficient public transport for the Capital and its growing population.

But a summary of the strategic business case says: ?It would be highly unlikely that a tram route of this length (18km) would be built in one go.

Katerina Brown?s tenure at Historic Environment Scotland has been tumultuous but she had been expected to stay on as CEO

John Swinney has failed to address how he will deal with the £5 billion black hole in Scotland?s finances

The First Minister set out his legislative plans for the coming years

It is understood the move will form part of efficiency measures contained in the programme for government

Just weeks after standing down as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer is set to leave the House of Commons.

Government documents have warned the strategy could hike food prices when the policy ends while retailers could source cheaper goods from overseas.

It is understood the move will help to cut down on the number of highly-paid NHS managers and duplication

SNP ministers argued the sexual offences court would help cut the backlog of court cases but have not brought forward any funding for the flagship measure.

The increase in cases comes after a record high number of drone detections were recorded last year

Wings over Scotland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craig Murray

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

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

Dr David Halpin and David Kelly

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

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

Of Judges, Juries and Fascism

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

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

Scottish Judicial Review Hearing Tomorrow

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

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

A Tide in the Affairs of Men

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

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

The Hard Right Packing of the UK Supreme Court

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

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

Scottish Independence: Set the Date!

BBC Scotland

Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
1 Sep 2026 at 5:44pm
First Minister John Swinney announced the move in his programme for government, alongside plans to cut health boards from 14 to two.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swinney's 100-day push gives way to bigger battles ahead
30 Aug 2026 at 9:15am
The first minister has been ticking off the pledges from his first 100 days in government but on Tuesday he will unveil the bigger picture.

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published
28 Aug 2026 at 5:10pm
The draft bill would be introduced into Parliament if the Scottish government secured the necessary powers from the UK government.

Scotland's universities face 'bleak' future as £200m funding gap revealed
28 Aug 2026 at 6:18pm
A new report paints a 'bleak' picture of falling income from Scottish students and an over-reliance on international tuition fees.

IVF for single women to be considered in NHS review
28 Aug 2026 at 7:36am
The Scottish government's national review will consider extending eligibility for NHS-funded IVF.

Scot Goes Pop

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food price cap unnecessary and will be ineffective, industry bosses tell Swinney
31 Aug 2026 at 3:52am
Business leaders are urging the First Minister to scrap plans for a food price cap on some items

Scottish Government publishes draft Bill for second independence referendum
28 Aug 2026 at 9:00pm
First Minister John Swinney said the Independence Referendum Bill will be lodged at Holyrood once the powers needed to hold a vote are secured.

John Swinney?s BBC journalist wife Elizabeth Quigley resigns on health grounds
28 Aug 2026 at 11:46am
She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000 aged just 28

Single women and blended families could gain access to NHS-funded IVF under r...
28 Aug 2026 at 7:26am
The Scottish Government has commissioned a review which will examine access to fertility treatment and fertility preservation services

Why Andy Burnham?s trip to Ukraine matters
24 Aug 2026 at 3:59pm
Burnham has made his first foreign trip as Prime Minister, but it comes at a time of personal tumult for the Ukrainian leader

?Devil will be in the detail? of public sector reform, says watchdog
24 Aug 2026 at 3:28pm
The Scottish Government has put public service reform at the centre of its agenda

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scottish politics LIVE John Swinney reveals SNP Government plan to axe health...
1 Sep 2026 at 5:56pm
The First Minister has to make steep savings amid repeated warnings the SNP won't be able to meet its spending commitments by 2030.

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

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

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

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

Food price caps in Scotland could be years away despite John Swinney election...
1 Sep 2026 at 12:11pm
John Swinney has faced a furious backlash from retailers over his plan to impose price caps on certain items - while opponents branded the policy a "political stunt".

Anger as SNP sex pest visits Scottish Parliament to attend Holyrood committee
1 Sep 2026 at 9:51am
EXCLUSIVE: The shamed former MP attended a meeting of the Europe, External Affairs and International Development committee.

John Swinney challenged to fix Scots schools as 'standards down and violence up'
1 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Opposition parties have warned SNP ministers they cannot ignore the situation in many of the country's schools, where parents and pupils have reported worsening behaviour.

John Swinney claims UK is 'falling apart' and in a 'perilous state'
1 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
The SNP First Minister made the claim after May's elections resulted in nationalists in power across the UK.

Last sixteen years have been poor for Westminster but Burnham can win over vo...
1 Sep 2026 at 4:30am
Austerity, Brexit, and party-gate damaged the Commons' reputation but Burnham can turn it around UK-wide, writes Record View.

The National

The National | Politics

Calls for Sovereign Grant to be axed as core royal funding set to double
1 Sep 2026 at 2:57pm

CAMPAIGNERS have called for the Sovereign Grant to be scrapped as the UK Government prepares to bring in legislation that will double the royal family's core funding.

I?ll back ?de facto? route to independence until I hear a better one
1 Sep 2026 at 5:30pm

IN Monday?s paper, Tommy Sheppard states: ?Winning a de facto indyref would get us nowhere!? It?s a bold statement and heading for his column, but I have to disagree with Tommy and until a better solution emerges, I will advocate the de facto route.

Campaigners brand lack of AI data centre moratorium a ?slap in the face?
1 Sep 2026 at 5:11pm

THE lack of an announcement of a moratorium on AI hyperscale data Scotland has been branded a ?slap in the face? for campaigners.

Andy Burnham apologises after Scotland blunder in Commons debut as Prime Mini...
1 Sep 2026 at 4:54pm

ANDY Burnham appeared at the House of Commons despatch box for the first time as Prime Minister on Tuesday ? and wasted no time in proving right the critics ...

Scottish Government delaying LGBT conversion practices ban 'unacceptable'
1 Sep 2026 at 4:23pm

THE Scottish Government delaying plans for a ban on LGBT conversion practices have been branded ?unacceptable?.

Glasgow bus fares to be capped at £2 per journey from next week, SNP announce
1 Sep 2026 at 4:00pm

BUS fares in Glasgow and parts of the west of Scotland will be capped at £2 per journey from next week, the Scottish Government has said ...

John Swinney to identify 'powers that can be quickly devolved' to Scottish Pa...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:38pm

JOHN Swinney has said he will look to identify ?new powers than can be quickly devolved? to the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Government exploring how to help threatened Skye ferry, First Minist...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:33pm

THE Scottish Government is exploring whether it can intervene to help a historic Highland ferry service which is facing an uncertain future due to ancient rights held by an ?absentee landowner?, the First Minister has said ...

Review of parades watchdog launched after court ruling on Orange Order march
1 Sep 2026 at 3:02pm

A JUDGE is set to review the commission which adjudicates on contentious Orange parades in Northern Ireland.

John Swinney to probe legal aid award in Outer Hebrides dog cafe row
1 Sep 2026 at 2:52pm

JOHN Swinney has said he will probe whether the Scottish Legal Aid Board was right to fund a case by an American woman over a row about her dog not being allowed into a cafe.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reasons to be cheerful about Scotland?s energy future
31 Aug 2026 at 7:00am
The UK energy debate is often presented as a stark choice between the oil and gas industry of yesterday and the renewable energy of tomorrow

Scottish Government publishes new independence bill
28 Aug 2026 at 12:25pm
John Swinney pushes on after Andy Burnham rules out indyref2

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UK politics: Tories? Philp rejects French claim that shots fired from naval b...
28 Jul 2026 at 6:01pm
Shadow minister says there was no warning and ?it looked and sounded like deliberate intimidation?Conservative MP accuses French navy of firing shots near him in ChannelIt is not just the Russians firing on Brits in the English Channel; Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, has accused a French...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GERSmas Day 2026
11 Aug 2026 at 8:22pm
It’s always welcome to have some good news for independence, but that’s especially true on GERSmas eve as the British media in Scotland and anti-independence campaigners gear themselves up for their annual orgy of too wee too poor too stupid in the form of GERS Figures which purport to demonstrate that Scotland is an economic …

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

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

More than 80% begin psychological therapies within target, for 17th quarter i...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:43pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Psychological therapies waiting times Quarter ending June 2026 published today: In the quarter ending June 2026: 80.7% of people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, whi...

Glasgow Labour care little for the people of Glasgow as their latest pollutin...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:42pm
The massive incinerator, called the South Clyde Energy Centre, positioned deliberately directly upwind and a short distance from Glasgow’s biggest hospital. Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 The above facility is, of c...

Scotland?s IVF service ? target-busting for 11 years saving lives and reducin...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:39pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From IVF waiting times in Scotland Quarter ending 30 June 2026 published today: During the quarter ending 30 June 2026, 360 patients were screened. The 90% standard was met, with all p...

98% 0f operations done on time despite more than 6% increase in demand
1 Sep 2026 at 3:13pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 31 July 2026, published today, the above graph, and: There were 25,605 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 0.2%...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Scotland hit 90% or more targe...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:12pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times Quarter ending June 2026 Published01 September 2026 (Latest release), the above and: 90.9% of people started trea...

That?s SEVEN US (Cleary Act) requests for data on campus safety that could no...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:09pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From Reference: 26-2051-Clery Act Request (USA University?) Date and time of release: August 31, 2026 14:29, I know, any excuse to repeat this and once more email the interested party....

Nuclear waste would remain dangerous for 2 000 generations of Scots based on ...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:08pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 From LA Jolla News, yesterday: Millions of pounds of spent nuclear fuel will remain in storage at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station for decades ? and potentially much longer ? ...

No cop crisis as only 3.7% of total days is lost and nurses are absent more
1 Sep 2026 at 3:04pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 Crisis? According to the Express, 39,078 working days lost to long-term officer absence in Q1 of 2026/27 – what percentage of all the working days available across all the police offic...

Media operating in Scotland report UK tour to raise awareness of violence and...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:03pm
Help Talking-up Scotland keep going Crowdfunder at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-talking-up-scotland-keep-going Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code ? 08-91-04 Account ? 12266421 Across much of our media today, a ‘UK tour’ to raise awareness of violence and knife crime. If they’re sp keen ot raise awareness, the might share this stuff: And why? Help Talking-up ...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - bbc.co.uk
28 Aug 2026 at 12:17pm
FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published  bbc.co.uk

Will the SNP's plans for government help or hinder the Scottish independence ...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:42pm
Will the SNP's plans for government help or hinder the Scottish independence cause?  The National Scot

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

Scotland?s First Minister claims UK is in ?perilous state? and ?falling apart...
1 Sep 2026 at 9:22am
Scotland?s First Minister claims UK is in ?perilous state? and ?falling apart?  Nation.Cymru

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

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

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

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

Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform - rnz.co.nz
10 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform  rnz.co.nz

UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits - Al Jazeera
23 Jul 2026 at 8:00am
UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits  Al Jazeera

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Supermarkets face unlimited fines under SNP food price cap bill - The Nationa...
1 Sep 2026 at 3:01pm
Supermarkets face unlimited fines under SNP food price cap bill  The National Scot

Swinney to cut number of mainland health boards from 11 to two - BBC
1 Sep 2026 at 4:52pm
Swinney to cut number of mainland health boards from 11 to two  BBC

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

SNP set to discuss Branchform in private at first conference since Murrell ja...
1 Sep 2026 at 1:15pm
SNP set to discuss Branchform in private at first conference since Murrell jailed  The Herald

SNP slammed for ?mind-boggling? food price cap plans - City AM
1 Sep 2026 at 3:19pm
SNP slammed for ?mind-boggling? food price cap plans  City AM

Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland - theguar...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:06pm
Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland  theguardian.com

Top SNP civil servant warns services will 'stop or be consolidated' as John S...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:00am
Top SNP civil servant warns services will 'stop or be consolidated' as John Swinney to set out cuts  The Scotsman

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

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

Will the SNP's plans for government help or hinder the Scottish independence ...
1 Sep 2026 at 6:42pm
Will the SNP's plans for government help or hinder the Scottish independence cause?  The National Scot

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published - bbc.co.uk
28 Aug 2026 at 12:17pm
FM calls for referendum powers as draft independence bill published  bbc.co.uk

Scotland?s First Minister claims UK is in ?perilous state? and ?falling apart...
1 Sep 2026 at 9:22am
Scotland?s First Minister claims UK is in ?perilous state? and ?falling apart?  Nation.Cymru

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

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

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

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

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

UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits - Al Jazeera
23 Jul 2026 at 8:00am
UK?s Burnham tells Scotland new independence vote is off limits  Al Jazeera

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

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