The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Holyrood committee split on Ash Regan prostitution Bill as concerns raised
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
23 Jan 2026 at 12:01am
A Holyrood committee is split on a new Bill which would criminalise the buyers of sex


Residents of small Scottish island take to the streets over 'radical' ferry cuts
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
23 Jan 2026 at 12:01am
Campaigners will take to the streets in Millport to protest the planned cuts, which would reduce ferry frequency and capacity by 25%.


Labour MP confirms he will stand down amid Andy Burnham by-election rumours
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
22 Jan 2026 at 4:07pm
Andrew Gwynne has confirmed he will stand down as an MP due to health reasons, opening the door for Andy Burnham to stand for parliament


The downfall of Scottish Labour and why Anas Sarwar's strategy won't save it
22 Jan 2026 at 4:11pm
Scottish Labour is in long-term decline, writes former executive committee member Coll McCail


SNP top councillor writes to Scottish Government about 'very poor' budget
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
22 Jan 2026 at 2:00pm
Ricky Bell of council umbrella group COSLA criticised the ?very poor? budget in a letter to Finance Secretary Shona Robison.


Swinney urged to intervene as Cumbrae faces summer ferry cuts
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
22 Jan 2026 at 2:30pm
John Swinney has been urged to step in after CalMac proposed cutting summer ferry sailings to Cumbrae. Kenneth Gibson warned the move could hit the island economy and make hospital visits harder, as concerns were raised at Holyrood.


Swinney brands Scottish Secretary ?juvenile? in row over seized Russian tanker
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
22 Jan 2026 at 1:31pm
John Swinney accuses Douglas Alexander of a ?juvenile? letter after a dispute over a US-led tanker operation and defence cooperation.


UK won't join Donald Trump's Board of Peace after Putin invited
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
22 Jan 2026 at 10:21am
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC Breakfast that the UK will eventually join the board but said ?there?s a huge amount of work to do? first.


Sir Tom Hunter: Why doesn't Scottish Government ask entrepreneurs for help?
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
22 Jan 2026 at 4:34am
High-profile Scottish leader unveils blueprint to support economy and job creation


What now for Scotch whisky after latest Trump move on Greenland?
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
22 Jan 2026 at 4:33am
Distillers are currently keeping their own counsel as Greenland row brings risk of higher tariffs


Audit finds public confidence in local policing has declined in Scotland
by Rachel Keenan
22 Jan 2026 at 12:01am
Recommendations have been made for policing in Scotland as an audit found confidence in local policing has declined and modernisation of the force has been slow.


Futureproofing offshore projects is quay to avoiding financial blows
22 Jan 2026 at 4:43pm
George McKinlay, Ports and infrastructure specialist and Partner in the Clean Energy sector of leading Scottish-headquartered law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, explains some of the challenges facing the offshore construction sector in meeting net zero targets...


Watchdog hits out at Scottish Government over delay on HES leadership
22 Jan 2026 at 2:01pm
The Scottish Government should have acted 'sooner' in dealing with a leadership issue at its heritage agency, according to the Auditor General Stephen Boyle.


Analysis: Who is the auditor general blaming for the HES crisis?
22 Jan 2026 at 12:02pm
So what did we learn from Stephen Boyle's evidence to MSPs today on the crisis at the troubled Historic Environment Scotland?

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


There?s a glaring omission in the SNP?s climate change plan. Why are they so ...
22 Jan 2026 at 6:00pm
The Scottish Government appears gripped by political hesitancy over persuading people to eat a healthier and more climate friendly diet


Donald Trump?s threats to Greenland have touched a Viking nerve in Shetland
22 Jan 2026 at 6:00pm
Shetland?s fire festival feels more poignant after the US President's threats to the High North


SNP accused of 'jeopardising national security' as huge defence row erupts be...
22 Jan 2026 at 4:09pm

A row has erupted between John Swinney and the UK government over national security.

The SNP?s sports minister has also been asked to attend a summit on democratising football.

John Swinney was grilled on who knew what and when at first minister?s questions.

First Minister John Swinney is to be questioned on the scandal-hit Glasgow hospital.

Cosla says the budget is a ?very poor settlement? despite Finance Secretary Shona Robison hailing ?record? local government funding.

Yvette Cooper says the UK is concerned with Russia?s involvement in the board of peace signing ceremony in Davos.

The UK Government has called the programme ?the biggest homes upgrade plan in British history? and said it will lower people?s energy bills.

The Ministry of Defence said 300 jobs in Edinburgh will be sustained by the contract

A new report warns the situation is ?not sustainable?

Wings over Scotland

Yelling at the tide
21 Jan 2026 at 9:26am
We figured someone had to at least try. So in the light of this, we’ve sent a letter. - TO: Judge Susan Walker, President, Employment Tribunal (Scotland) Dear Madam President, I read with considerable dismay and alarm your response to a recent complaint from a Mr Ewan Kennedy regarding the conduct of Employment Judge Alexander …

The Secondhand Amendment
19 Jan 2026 at 12:04am
We’re really not sure this makes things any better with regard to the incredible tale that’s unfolded around the judgment in Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife. In fact, on any interpretation we can think of, quite the reverse. But we’d better give you some context. The quote in the image above comes from the reply …

Learning Insanity
14 Jan 2026 at 4:29pm
This clip was broadcast on ITV News Wales this week. ? It’s a staggeringly obvious mess for a whole raft of reasons – a number of completely spurious, illogical and unsupported claims are accepted as facts without any sort of challenge or balancing voice (which has been standard practice on ITV News for a while …

Governing For Beginners
12 Jan 2026 at 2:31pm
My first ever real experience of politics was playing Dictator. Originally written by Don Priestley for the Sinclair ZX81 in 1982, it was a simple text-based game which subsequently came to other formats including the Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Elan Enterprise and the ZX Spectrum, which is where I encountered it. (Its legacy very much …

Grandpa John?s Nightmare
7 Jan 2026 at 12:17pm
It’s almost – almost – worth voting SNP in May because of this: ? Because it would be at least momentarily absolutely hilarious watching Swinney try to explain why his “100% guaranteed” second indyref didn’t happen if the SNP actually did get a majority on 30% of the vote (which is narrowly feasible on current …

Failure To Learn
5 Jan 2026 at 1:32pm
Scotland take on Haiti on Sunday 14 June (in the wee small hours of the morning), so this is nice, isn’t it? At least, it would be if incompetent idiots weren’t in charge. Firstly because the SNP – a party with a long and dismaying record of promising things it then doesn’t deliver – has …

And every day was exactly the same
3 Jan 2026 at 7:00am

List Voting For Cretins
2 Jan 2026 at 9:00am
This week The National published a poll it commissioned from Find Out Now for this May’s Scottish Parliament election, alongside a seat projection from Sir John Curtice. Here are the list-vote figures from the poll. The seat projection calculated that the election would result in 59 SNP MSPs (six short of the number John Swinney …

The Gulf War
1 Jan 2026 at 7:00am
Yesterday we noted in passing that independence support now outstrips that of the SNP by more than 20 points, making the party into a gigantic liability as the vehicle for enabling Scots to leave the UK. Put simply, even when voters want independence (as most now do), they’re not willing to vote SNP to get …

The Fear Of The Briar
31 Dec 2025 at 11:42am
With Reform now pretty consistently miles in front in polling for the next UK election, logically this is brilliant news for the Scottish independence movement, isn’t it? So can anyone explain why the SNP is so desperate to stop them? That’s a rhetorical question, of course. As we’ve repeatedly explored on Wings over the last …

Craig Murray

Resisting the Respectable Opinion on Iran
15 Jan 2026 at 3:13pm

Iraq. Libya. Egypt. Syria. Gaza. Somalia. No CIA- and Mossad-constructed regime change operation in the Middle East has ever made life better for the ordinary people of the country, nor even delivered the promised increase in personal and political freedoms. The only limited improvement that might be gained comes from the lifting of Western sanction …

Resisting the Respectable Opinion on Iran

A Step Towards Sanity
13 Jan 2026 at 6:50pm

To my great surprise, the video recording of yesterday’s Court of Session hearing on the judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action is still active on the court’s website, and you can watch it. I do not know how long this will last. https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/livestream/court-of-session/case-p1017-25/#6dcfe87a-d9b7-49ba-9f01-ad69b8ad9c45 I have been used to the ludicrous restrictions on the …

A Step Towards Sanity

Court of Session Tomorrow on Palestine Action
11 Jan 2026 at 1:45pm

In the Western world today, fighting for freedom feels Quixotic, but I shall nevertheless wake early tomorrow to be at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by 9am to fight the proscription in Scotland of Palestine Action. I remain extremely concerned for the lives of the Palestine Action hunger strikers. As I predicted, Starmer’s government …

Court of Session Tomorrow on Palestine Action

Venezuela and Truth
4 Jan 2026 at 10:21am

The mainstream media covered Venezuela non-stop yesterday. They many times mentioned Delcy Rodríguez, Vice President, because Trump stated she is now in charge. They never mentioned that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the torture to death of her father, socialist activist Jorge Rodríguez, by the CIA-backed security services of the US-aligned Pérez regime in …

Venezuela and Truth

Hunger Strikes and Court Cases
16 Dec 2025 at 9:15pm

Fighting the proscription of Palestine Action has become more urgent as eight brave activists enter the crucial period of their hunger strike. 12 January has finally been set for the court hearing on holding a Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. I am frankly terrified for the hunger strikers. Qesser Zuhrah Amu …

Hunger Strikes and Court Cases

The Skripal Novichok Hoax
12 Dec 2025 at 9:58am

I did not anticipate that an open public meeting in Salisbury itself would be 95% sceptical of the official Novichok hoax – but it was. Thanks to UK Column for putting this on. I hope you find it enlightening – there is information which goes beyond my previous articles on the subject. In about a …

The Skripal Novichok Hoax

BBC Scotland

Swinney denies government pressure to open scandal-hit hospital
22 Jan 2026 at 2:22pm
It has been claimed the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened in 2015 despite not being "ready".

Will the ferry link between Scotland and mainland Europe be restored?
22 Jan 2026 at 10:51pm
Speculation is mounting about a potential new route between Rosyth in Fife and Dunkirk in France.

First minister rejected meeting on tanker seizure, says Alexander
22 Jan 2026 at 4:26pm
John Swinney has criticised "appalling" communication from the UK government on national security issues.

Why Scotland's assisted dying bill is on a knife edge
21 Jan 2026 at 6:21am
As they prepare for a final vote on the historic bill, MSPs are weighing a life and death decision.

Swinney announces plan for national housing agency
22 Jan 2026 at 1:54pm
The first minister says the proposals will deliver new homes more quickly and more affordably.

Key section of assisted dying bill must be cut, MSPs told
20 Jan 2026 at 2:44pm
MSPs have been told protections for medics who conscientiously object will have to be added retrospectively.

Scotland's biggest hospital 'opened too early' despite safety fears
20 Jan 2026 at 6:02pm
The public inquiry will hear final statements after NHS Greater Glasgow conceded a hospital's water system probably caused infections.

Six key takeaways from the hospitals inquiry
20 Jan 2026 at 9:10pm
As final submissions are made to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, we now have a clearer picture of what went wrong.

Teaching union announces details of new strike ballot
20 Jan 2026 at 9:44pm
A previous vote in favour of strike action was unable to pass due to a low turnout.

'Blanket rule' for trans prisoners would violate rights, ministers to argue
20 Jan 2026 at 1:54pm
The Scottish government is being challenged in court by the campaign group For Women Scotland.

Peter Murrell due in court over embezzlement charge
19 Jan 2026 at 5:04pm
The former SNP chief executive was arrested as part of a police investigation into the party's finances.

Sarwar calls for Swinney and Sturgeon to be investigated over QEUH
19 Jan 2026 at 7:53pm
The Scottish Labour leader says complications at the hospital were "the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish Parliament".

Scot Goes Pop

Yet ANOTHER poll shows a pro-independence majority as natty Norstat (formerly...
20 Jan 2026 at 2:44pm
Before anyone says anything, yes, I know I screwed up and randomly started referring to Norstat as "Panelbase" midway through the video.  I haven't got time to re-record it at the moment, so just s...

Will the Greenland - Trump crisis boost support for Scottish independence?
20 Jan 2026 at 8:43am
I made this video before the news broke about Donald Trump's comments on Diego Garcia, which has resulted in this bizarre commentary from Henry Zeffman on the BBC News website (it's possibly a tran...

It's happened: now even SURVATION are showing a pro-independence majority (al...
19 Jan 2026 at 1:39pm
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

SNP and Greens remain firmly on course for Holyrood pro-indy majority in supe...
16 Jan 2026 at 8:50am
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

Sensational numbers for both the SNP and Plaid Cymru in two new YouGov polls
14 Jan 2026 at 8:36am
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

The party of Tas-beens: Alba's notorious unelected dictator finally departs -...
13 Jan 2026 at 4:20pm
Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser is underway (you can read more about why I anticipate it being the final one HERE) and it's already a bit over halfway towards its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

Has Trump ushered in an American FASCISM? His administration now has SEVEN o...
11 Jan 2026 at 9:45am
I know we were all keen for RevStew to finally put a sock in it about the trans issue, but given that he's replaced that obsession with 24/7 apologism for a woman's murder, perhaps he should be enc...

SNP have FOUR TIMES as much support as Labour in YouGov's astounding first su...
9 Jan 2026 at 1:35am
In the video below, I also give my thoughts on Stuart Campbell's frankly disturbing reaction to the fatal shooting in Minneapolis, which has shocked even his habitual supporters and defenders to th...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Keir Starmer and Danish PM discuss ?vital steps? towards Arctic security
22 Jan 2026 at 8:51pm
The Prime Minister and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen met at Chequers.

John Swinney faces FMQs amid pressure from fatal water infection scandal
22 Jan 2026 at 11:39am
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is at the centre of the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.

New agency to focus on boosting affordable, rural and island housing supply
22 Jan 2026 at 10:38am
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has announced his Government is setting up More Homes Scotland.

NHS staff could miss out on Scotland?s World Cup Bank Holiday
22 Jan 2026 at 10:30am
Scotland's deputy first minister said that a public holiday for staff would be a decision for each individual NHS board.

Law Society of Scotland calls for legal aid reform under justice system overhaul
21 Jan 2026 at 9:43pm
It said ?political inaction? has caused an ?ever-worsening crisis in access to justice in Scotland?.

Social media ban for under-16s backed by Lords
21 Jan 2026 at 8:45pm
Supporters of the Australian-style ban have argued parents are in 'an impossible position'.

Trump rows back on Greenland tariff threats after ?deal? talks with Nato chief
21 Jan 2026 at 7:58pm
The US president had only earlier on Wednesday doubled down on his threats to secure the Arctic island.

Quangos bonfire and 100,000 new jobs pitched in Tom Hunter?s Holyrood manifesto
21 Jan 2026 at 1:35pm
The billionaire has released a pro-business manifesto he said would let Scotland?s economy flourish while increasing investment in public services.

John Swinney urges Ofcom to reject STV plans to cut north of Scotland programme
21 Jan 2026 at 1:03pm
The First Minister said the proposals would ?set a damaging precedent and accelerate the decline of public interest journalism in Scotland?.

Keir Starmer faces PMQs as tensions flare over Greenland
21 Jan 2026 at 11:48am
The Prime Minister previously said the future status of Greenland belongs solely to the people of Greenland and Denmark.

World Cup boycott not the answer to Trump?s threats, says SNP Westminster leader
21 Jan 2026 at 9:40am
Stephen Flynn said there needs to be serious and committed international dialogue with allies.

Higher taxes a ?political reality? to maintain services, MSPs told
20 Jan 2026 at 8:05pm
David Heald told Holyrood?s Finance Committee that this was ?a political reality?.

Trans prison ban would violate human rights, Scottish Government argues
20 Jan 2026 at 1:39pm
For Women Scotland has lodged legal action against Ministers over the Government's management of transgender people in custody.

UK Government considers social media ban for under-16s
20 Jan 2026 at 8:58am
A consultation will look at options including raising the digital age of consent and restricting potentially addictive app design features.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

SNP opposition to nuclear weapons 'jeopardising' UK national security in era ...
22 Jan 2026 at 1:45pm
The First Minister said he "completely and utterly" refuted the comments from Defence Secretary John Healey.

Scottish Labour MPs fear Andy Burnham standing in Westminster by-election wou...
22 Jan 2026 at 1:10pm
Scottish Labour MPs say Burnham quitting his current role would trigger a Greater Manchester mayoral contest and lead to resources being shifted from Scotland.

John Swinney denies Nicola Sturgeon put pressure on Queen Elizabeth Universit...
22 Jan 2026 at 12:39pm
NHS bosses told a public inquiry they had faced "pressure" to ensure the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened in April 2015.

World Cup bank holiday at risk for 180,000 Scots NHS workers, says MSP
22 Jan 2026 at 11:08am
MSP Ash Regan said NHS workers benefit from a bank holiday announced by the First Minister.

Families 'failed' by Scots superhospital say they were 'lied to and smeared'
22 Jan 2026 at 8:47am
Families of 18 children and adults, some who died, have said they were "lied to and smeared" by the health board.

SNP chief blasts Iran's 'bloody ridiculous' interference in Scottish independ...
22 Jan 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Flynn said the fake X accounts were "humiliating" for the brutal regime in Tehran.

Ed Miliband 'exhorting Scots to spend money they can't afford' on heat pumps
22 Jan 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The GMB said the cost of heat pumps will remain too high for most Scots despite the Labour Government investment.

Donald Trump blasts UK Government over North Sea oil in rambling Davos speech
21 Jan 2026 at 3:06pm
In a long-winded speech to the World Economic Forum, the US President said it was becoming "impossible" to extract oil and gas from the waters around Scotland.

Voters continuing to receive 'dodgy' Scottish Labour leaflet a week after apo...
21 Jan 2026 at 3:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: Anas Sarwar said sorry for a leaflet falsely quoting a maternity campaigner, but locals in Wishaw received one this morning.

Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney urged to reveal what they knew about botched...
21 Jan 2026 at 12:14pm
Sturgeon and Swinney led the SNP Government at a time health bosses claimed they were under "pressure" to open the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The National

The National | Politics

Chippy hits out over boycott calls after mistaken link to Reform UK candidate
22 Jan 2026 at 8:52pm

A CHIPPY has pleaded with customers not to believe in ?harmful misinformation? after receiving a flyer calling for the boycott of the business over a mistaken link to a Reform UK election candidate ...

It?s clear Nigel Farage?s top priority is lining his own pockets
22 Jan 2026 at 6:30pm

SO Nigel Farage failed to declare on time more than £380,000 of outside earnings in the parliament?s register of interests. This is blatant ignorance of parliamentary rules.

Glaring hypocrisy from Labour over the ?right to exert sovereignty?
22 Jan 2026 at 6:30pm

ON BBC Politics Live after PMQs, Lisa Nandy stated ?when it comes to the matter of Greenland, and the future of Greenland, he Starmer has been absolutely crystal clear from the outset: the future of Greenland is a matter for the people of Greenland and the people of the Kingdom of Denmark."

Fury as Labour let Israeli fighter jets use UK air base despite weapons expor...
22 Jan 2026 at 6:11pm

THE Labour Government is facing questions over whether its weapons export policy is ?fit for purpose? after it defended allowing three Israeli fighter jets to use a British air force base

Why the SNP's defence policy is a barrier to Scottish independence
22 Jan 2026 at 6:00pm

The idea that the breakdown in the world order (so far as there ever was one) counts against Scottish independence is becoming a consistent theme

Fact check: Donald Trump claim of 500 years' worth of oil in North Sea
22 Jan 2026 at 5:36pm

Donald Trump has made some further wild claims about the amount of oil in Scottish waters.

Keir Starmer makes bizarre 'I'm John Swinney' error in letter to John Swinney
22 Jan 2026 at 5:03pm

IMAGINE for a second, you are the Prime Minister ...

Who is on Trump's Board of Peace and who has been invited?
22 Jan 2026 at 4:23pm

Around 50 countries received invitations from U.S. president Donald Trump to join his Board of Peace

Nato deal will give US 'full access' to Greenland, Donald Trump suggests
22 Jan 2026 at 3:59pm

THE US will have full and permanent access with ?no time limit? to Greenland, Donald Trump has said, following a reported deal with Nato.

Labour MP Andrew Gwynne announces he will stand down, triggering by-election
22 Jan 2026 at 3:53pm

Andrew Gwynne has announced he will stand down as an MP for medical reasons, triggering a by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Grok generated around three million sexualised images this month, according t...
22 Jan 2026 at 4:31pm
The Center for Countering Digital Hate said the AI tool "became an industrial-scale machine for the production of sexual abuse material?

Ministers did not pressure scandal-hit hospital to open too soon, John Swinne...
22 Jan 2026 at 1:29pm
He also committed to release any information held by government relating to the opening of the hospital

John Swinney accused of hiding behind Salmond complainers in freedom of infor...
22 Jan 2026 at 1:13pm
Fergus Ewing joins questions at FMQs

Rural affairs committee supports general principles of greyhound racing ban, ...
22 Jan 2026 at 1:06pm
The committee could not reach a consensus on whether?there is sufficient evidence supporting?a ban

?No evidence? Scottish police numbers are right for the future, watchdogs say
22 Jan 2026 at 7:00am
Report raises concerns over data inadequacies

Ex-musician named Scotland?s new Chief Inspector of Education
21 Jan 2026 at 2:37pm
Excellence pledge following education reform

Opposition MSPs demand government releases all information on Glasgow hospita...
21 Jan 2026 at 12:01pm
The health board has admitted in that the super hospital was opened too soon

Gaming sector launches plan to grow to ?1bn
21 Jan 2026 at 12:01am
The plan,?Level Up Scotland,?sets out how the industry will transform Scotland?s ?secret weapon? into a major contributor to the economy

Trans prisoners rule change would violate human rights, Scottish Government c...
20 Jan 2026 at 3:29pm
Campaign group For Women Scotland seeks guidance update

Ministers presided over ?culture of secrecy? at Glasgow hospital says Tory MSP
20 Jan 2026 at 3:10pm
Health secretary Neil Gray said it would be ?inappropriate? to comment as the issue was the subject of a live inquiry

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Scottish health board admits hospital water system linked to fatal infections
19 Jan 2026 at 12:03pm
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde makes last-minute U-turn in submission to hospitals inquiryScotland?s largest health board has finally admitted that contaminated water at a Glasgow super-hospital caused serious infections in child cancer patients that were linked to four deaths.NHS Greater Glasgow ...

Multimillionaire leader of Reform in Scotland refuses to reveal net worth
15 Jan 2026 at 3:26pm
Newly appointed Malcolm Offord, who became a Tory life peer in 2021, plans to stand for Holyrood in MayUK politics live ? latest updatesThe multimillionaire financier who has been made leader of Reform UK in Scotland has refused to say how wealthy he is, claiming that is a private matter.Malcolm ...

Scottish budget: SNP government cuts taxes for lowest earners
13 Jan 2026 at 7:06pm
Ministers will hope package of measures can aid efforts to retain power in May?s Holyrood electionsMinisters in Scotland have cut taxes for the lowest earners by a modest £11 a year, as the government dug into its reserves, cut spending and increased borrowing to fund new election pledges.With fo...

UK politics: Tories call for block on Chinese super-embassy amid claims of hi...
13 Jan 2026 at 6:11pm
Shadow home office minister Alicia Kearns says unredacted plans show 208 secret rooms and approving plans would be ?insanity?Q: Why are the Liberal Democrats still using X?Davey says he is not afraid to pick a fight with Elon Musk. He says Musk has interfered in British democracy ?in the most out...

?The response is a beautiful thing?: how Glasgow is squaring up to Reform
12 Jan 2026 at 5:36am
In the face of Nigel Farage, flag-waving and a longstanding housing crisis, some Glaswegians are taking on anti-immigration rhetoricSelina Hales has a thing about pineapples. She is talking in a quiet office, set aside from the bustle of Refuweegee, the charity she founded 10 years ago, and the w...

Software tackling deepfakes to be piloted for Scottish and Welsh elections
8 Jan 2026 at 6:07pm
Electoral Commission says tools to detect AI-generated content could be in place before campaigns beginElection officials are working ?at speed? with the Home Office on a pilot project to combat the use of deepfakes to target candidates standing in this year?s Scottish and Welsh elections.Officia...

Liz Kendall says Elon Musk?s X must urgently deal with ?appalling? sexualised...
6 Jan 2026 at 5:49pm
Science secretary says the deepfake content being produced on the platform is ?unacceptable in decent society?In her Today programme interview this morning Kemi Badenoch tried to outflank Nigel Farage on net zero scepticism by claiming (wrongly) that she started talking out this before he did.Ask...

No 10 suggests UK would not vote for UN security council resolution condemnin...
5 Jan 2026 at 6:10pm
PM?s spokesperson did not contest report claiming that the UK will abstain on a possible UN voteSpeaking to reporters this morning, Keir Starmer said Nicolás Maduro, who was president of Venezuela until he was arrested by the Americans on Saturday and taken to a US jail, was not a legitimate rule...

Scottish Labour urges Keir Starmer to stay out of Holyrood campaign
5 Jan 2026 at 2:53pm
Anas Sarwar says prime minister?s missteps have left party clear underdogs in run-up to May electionUK politics live ? latest updatesKeir Starmer and senior ministers have been urged by Scottish Labour to ?stay behind their doors? in Whitehall to avoid turning the next Holyrood election into a re...

Nativism and the disintegration of the UK
1 Jan 2026 at 5:07pm
With the weakening of pro-integration parties, Ben Wellings warns that the continuation of the UK in its current form cannot be taken for grantedStalking your editorial on the new political geography emerging in Britain (25 December) is the fear of disintegration. This is a political outcome that...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The fork in the road for Scotland, independence or the Golf of America
21 Jan 2026 at 1:51pm
Over the past week, the reasons for Scottish independence got even more pressing and urgent. Donald Trump, the so-called ‘Peace President’, is openly threatening Greenland, Denmark, Canada, and Latin America. Trump’s unilateral destruction of the post WW2 international order as he seeks total US hegemony over the Western hemisphere and the annexation of Greenland. Once …

The days of playing by rules stacked against Scotland will soon be over
19 Jan 2026 at 4:44pm
Just eighteen months ago, we were looking at the prospect of this year’s Scottish elections with dread and trepidation. Labour was in the ascendant on the back of its victory in the July 2024 Westminster General election and Anas Sarwar was confidently expecting to install himself in Bute House as First Minister, some excitable Labour …

Reform?s Scottish ?leader? ? the FIFA Peace Prize of Scottish politics
15 Jan 2026 at 2:15pm
Spare a thought for poor wee Malkie Offord, over the years he’s thrown hundreds of thousands of pounds at the political scene in a bid to make himself relevant, firstly with his ludicrously misnamed and suspiciously well funded Vote No Borders astroturfing campaign during the 2014 independence referendum, a cringeworthy campaign which made no impact …

Reform?s failing charade and the three pronged attack on Westminster rule
14 Jan 2026 at 4:34pm
Perhaps Reform UK’s bubble is about to burst. Although the private company owned by Nigel Farage is still leading in the polls in England, the far right ghouls’ polling lead has been falling in recent weeks. On Tuesday the weekly Sky News poll from YouGov put Reform on 24% across the UK as a whole, …

Farage?s new tartan puppet
12 Jan 2026 at 8:00pm
On Monday, Nigel Farage preened his insufferably smug way through a press conference at which he introduced the latest opportunistic Tory defector to Reform UK. This time it was Nadhim Zahawi, who was very briefly the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson. Zahawi was later found to have paid a seven figure penalty to …

BBC Scotland, an anti-independence party in May?s Scottish election
11 Jan 2026 at 4:57pm
The parties are gearing up for May’s Scottish elections. On one side there’s the SNP and their frenemies the Scottish Greens – parties which disagree on many things but which share a common belief in the principle that the people of Scotland should be the sole arbiters of government policy in Scotland and the future …

The BBC?s shameful enabling of fascism
8 Jan 2026 at 3:56pm
The failure of the BBC to report fairly and without bias on Scottish politics is a regular theme in this blog and amongst other supporters of Scottish independence. The favouritism which the Corporation displays towards Nigel Farage and his ghouls is likewise well documented, especially on the disgrace to political broadcasting that is BBC Question …

A fake rebellion from a fake party
7 Jan 2026 at 11:28am
While we are distracted by Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela, the kidnapping of its president and his threats to take over Greenland, here in Scotland the parties are getting into gear for the Holyrood election campaign. Anas Sarwar has got off the starting blocks with a carefully orchestrated ‘rebellion’ against his intensely unpopular boss, Keir …

Greenland, a nation, not an American possession
6 Jan 2026 at 4:46pm
With the Trump regime ramping up its threats against the Arctic nation of Greenland, it’s a good time to take a closer look at the history and culture of Greenland. Greenland is officially called Kalaallit Nunaat in the Greenlandic language, the language of the great majority of the country’s 57,000 population. Greenlandic, or Kalaallisut, is …

In May Scotland?s destiny is in our hands
5 Jan 2026 at 6:51pm
Speaking to SNP party members in Glasgow as the campaign for the Scottish elections in May starts to ramp up, First Minister John Swinney has said that the Scottish media should be ?livid? at the UK Government’s refusal to spell out the democratic route to a second independence referendum. If we lived in a normal …

The Courier

[CaRP] Can't open remote newsfeed [403].
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 'Albatraz'

As Tunbridge Wells runs dry, Motherwell looks well-watered for years to come ...
22 Jan 2026 at 6:01pm
In the Guardian today: You get up and go to the loo, only to find the flush doesn?t work. You try the shower, except nothing comes out. You want a glass of water, but on turning the tap there is not a drop. Your day stumbles on, stripped of its essentials: no washing hands, no cleaning up the baby, neither tea nor coffee, no easy way to do the dishes or the laundry. Dirt accumulates; tempers fr...

Daily Mail report highlights the great CalMac service we all enjoy by looking...
22 Jan 2026 at 6:00pm
In the Daily Mail, 8 January 2026 and the astonishing images above from the Independent two years ago: Almost a third of the lifeline ferries operating in Washington state are out of action because of lawmakers’ obsessions with electric boats, Republicans have claimed.  Six out of the 21 vessels used for critical operations off the coast of the Pacific Northwest state are currently unable to sa...

English County Lines drug gangs make it to Shetland but Scottish Government p...
22 Jan 2026 at 5:59pm
From the Shetland Times today: A second one-off payment of £30,000 has been made to vital charity Dogs Against Drugs by the Scottish government. This will help the cash-strapped charity to detect illegal substances which are brought to the isles as well as continue its important educational classes to Shetland schools. Who is bringing these illegal substances to the Shetlands? From the same sou...

Scottish Government delivers on pledge to increase dentistry student numbers ...
22 Jan 2026 at 5:57pm
From Scottish dentistry student numbers increase, published 22 January 2026 11:35 The number of Scottish students starting Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) courses has increased by 7% – the highest increase in a decade. The boost in student numbers fulfils a Scottish Government pledge to deliver an expanded pipeline of new dentists joining the workforce from 2029. The increase, which came in 20...

Major Scottish Government investments in eradicating child poverty that you?l...
22 Jan 2026 at 5:56pm
From Investing in Scotland?s children, published 22 January 2026 09:20, covered by STV but nowhere else I can see: Children and families across Scotland will benefit from the Scottish Government?s sustained investment in Education and Skills as part of the national mission to eradicate child poverty. The proposed Scottish Budget for 2026-27 commits up to £200 million to the Scottish Attainment ...

Research by Royal College finds TWICE as many over 60s, per head of populatio...
22 Jan 2026 at 9:51am
When I saw the above from MSM Monitor yesterday, you can imagine what I was thinking but there are no directly comparable figures for Scotland. However, there are two reports from the usually very reliable Royal College of Emergency Medicine published in 2025. First, for NHS Scotland on 14 August 2025: ?Shocking and shameful?: 51,400 older people endured dangerous 12 hour waits in Scotland?s A&...

Reposted as media deliberately ignore health boards explicit denial of respon...
22 Jan 2026 at 9:22am

Far more police officers and far less crime ? what today?s Reporting Scotland...
22 Jan 2026 at 9:13am
In BBC Reporting Scotland’s, BBC Breakfast, inserts and all today today, you’ll be hearing this meaningless fact – ‘but officer numbers have fallen 5% over five years.‘ BBC Scotland, the Daily Record, the Herald and the Scotsman are now fully dedicated to platforming Scottish Labour?s stash of manipulated Freedom of Information data on any aspect of public service that might look bad for the SN...

12 YouGov sub-polls in three months with 6 of last 8 at 39/40% suggest SNP is...
21 Jan 2026 at 5:59pm
YouGov is no friend of the SNP nor of Scottish Independence. They have an unerring ability to pluck out a NO lead in a stream of YES leads found by other pollsters and lower SNP figures than others. See below: They do this over and over by adjusting the sample so that, even after 11 or 12 years, it has a 55 to 45 ratio of No and Yes voters in 2014, in full Scotland only polls. In their most rec...

After 8 years of English drug gang terror in the North of Scotland, BBC Scotl...
21 Jan 2026 at 5:57pm
From STV and in the Aberdeen-based Press & Journal today, the above headline, carefully avoiding the origins of the dealer, in England:: A county lines drug dealer from Liverpool will serve almost six years for using a stolen BMW to supply class A narcotics in Scotland. James Stephen, 31, was arrested on June 17 last year after police in Aberdeen tracked down a white car that had been stolen fr...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

On Scotland?s nationalist fringes, a new Tartan intolerance rises - The Econo...
22 Jan 2026 at 2:07pm
On Scotland?s nationalist fringes, a new Tartan intolerance rises  The Economist

Why the SNP's defence policy is a barrier to Scottish independence - TheNatio...
22 Jan 2026 at 6:09pm
Why the SNP's defence policy is a barrier to Scottish independence  TheNational.scot

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

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

Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scotti...
9 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Twenty-five years of data shows how link between identity and views on Scottish independence has grown stronger  The Conversation

Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shi...
24 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shifts  Courthouse News

A Fresh Start with Independence - The Scottish Government
8 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
A Fresh Start with Independence  The Scottish Government

Scottish independence accounts go dark after Iran internet blackout - The Tel...
12 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence accounts go dark after Iran internet blackout  The Telegraph

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

Farage is pushing Scotland to independence - The Times
30 Dec 2025 at 8:00am
Farage is pushing Scotland to independence  The Times

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Fascinating new book charts SNP?s transformation from fringe party to elector...
22 Jan 2026 at 3:55pm
Fascinating new book charts SNP?s transformation from fringe party to electoral force  TheNational.scot

There?s a glaring omission in the SNP?s climate change plan. Why are they so ...
22 Jan 2026 at 6:00pm
There?s a glaring omission in the SNP?s climate change plan. Why are they so scared?  scotsman.com

SNP councillor hits out at 'very poor' Scottish Budget - The Herald
22 Jan 2026 at 2:00pm
SNP councillor hits out at 'very poor' Scottish Budget  The Herald

Peter Murrell due in court over embezzlement charge - BBC
19 Jan 2026 at 5:04pm
Peter Murrell due in court over embezzlement charge  BBC

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 5:03pm
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

Scottish Conservatives warn SNP?s national housing agency will fail to fix Sc...
23 Jan 2026 at 12:03am
Scottish Conservatives warn SNP?s national housing agency will fail to fix Scottish housing crisis  Property118

John Swinney announces plan for national housing agency - BBC
22 Jan 2026 at 11:01am
John Swinney announces plan for national housing agency  BBC

SNP announces new comms lead - PR Week UK
22 Jan 2026 at 2:20pm
SNP announces new comms lead  PR Week UK

SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation - Claim ...
22 Jan 2026 at 6:35pm
SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation  Claim Depot

Scottish Labour accuses SNP of ?shameless self-interest? over arts cuts - Mor...
21 Jan 2026 at 2:51pm
Scottish Labour accuses SNP of ?shameless self-interest? over arts cuts  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

David Cameron - Scottish Referendum, 2015 Election, Brexit - Britannica
19 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
David Cameron - Scottish Referendum, 2015 Election, Brexit  Britannica

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 5:03pm
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

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

Second independence referendum should be 'parked', says Scotland Reform leade...
18 Jan 2026 at 11:06am
Second independence referendum should be 'parked', says Scotland Reform leader  TheNational.scot

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

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

Scottish leader vows another independence vote if his party wins in May - Pre...
18 Jan 2026 at 6:59pm
Scottish leader vows another independence vote if his party wins in May  Press TV

Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shi...
24 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shifts  Courthouse News

Scottish independence poll 2025 - Statista
28 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
Scottish independence poll 2025  Statista

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