The Herald

The Herald | Politics


John Swinney failed to respond to complaint over SNP probe of Jordan Linden
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
29 Mar 2026 at 1:34pm
John Swinney was sent a letter six months ago calling for a probe into how the complaints were handled - but complainers said they did not receive a response.


Richard Nixon advisor urges Russia to target Britain's undersea cables
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
29 Mar 2026 at 11:41am
A former advisor to Richard Nixon has told the Russian government it should cut undersea cables to the UK if threats to seize 'shadow fleet' vessels become a reality


Charity 'urged to drop sexual assault campaign' due to Salmond trial 'embarra...
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
29 Mar 2026 at 8:36am
A charity allegedly dropped a planned campaign around sexual harassment and sexism after it was deemed 'embarrassing' for the Scottish Government with the Alex Salmond trial set to start


John Swinney apologises to victims of SNP council boss convicted of sexual as...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
29 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
John Swinney has apologised after former SNP councillor Jordan Linden was convicted of multiple sexual assaults. Victims say warnings were ignored, raising serious questions about how complaints were handled by the party.


Thousands attend independence rally as SNP stakes election on referendum
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
29 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
Thousands marched through Edinburgh in a renewed push for Scottish independence, with voices from across the movement demanding change. But as polls suggest shifting priorities, a deeper question emerges: how much does independence still matter to voters?


A year on: Keith Brown on love, loss and the enduring legacy of Christina McK...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
29 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
A year on from Christina McKelvie?s death, her partner Keith Brown sits down with The Herald to reflect on her life, her legacy and the lessons she leaves behind for the next generation of MSPs.


John Swinney insists majority for SNP will trigger independence referendum
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
28 Mar 2026 at 4:01pm
John Swinney has urged independence supporters to give the SNP both their votes at the Holyrood election, arguing only a majority can unlock a referendum and tackle poverty, energy costs and Scotland?s global voice.


Scotland?s top human rights lawyer: ?The CIA kept my client in a coffin for 1...
29 Mar 2026 at 6:15am
Professor Helen Duffy has just closed a major court battle which put British intelligence in the frame for colluding in torture at Guantanamo. She talks to our Writer at Large about Britain?s role in the collapse of human rights globally


Lib Dems ?on verge? of beating SNP in many seats, Alex Cole-Hamilton says
by Nick Forbes
28 Mar 2026 at 10:51am
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are ?on the verge of winning against the SNP? in many constituencies, the party?s leader has said.


Sturgeon among Glasgow MSPs urging UK Gov to 'play part' in Union Street fire...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
28 Mar 2026 at 5:30am
Nicola Sturgeon has joined six SNP MSPs to write to the UK Government demanding financial aid to help recover Glasgow's Union Corner after the devastating fire.


Former Alex Salmond aide looked to swap Alba job for Reform
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
27 Mar 2026 at 5:40pm
A former aide to Alex Salmond during his time with with the Alba Party applied for a job with Reform UK


John Swinney orders probe into SNP complaints process after Jordan Linden con...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
27 Mar 2026 at 5:13pm
John Swinney has ordered an independent review of SNP complaints procedures after former councillor Jordan Linden was convicted of multiple sexual offences.


Protest outside City Property as Glasgow arts groups face eviction from Trong...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
27 Mar 2026 at 3:05pm
Artists and campaigners have staged a protest over steep rent increases at Trongate 103, as Glasgow cultural organisations warn new lease terms could force them out.


Stephen Flynn urges SNP candidate to clarify position after defending Jordan ...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
27 Mar 2026 at 2:08pm
Stephen Flynn has said SNP councillors and candidates who defended or downplayed complaints about disgraced former council leader Jordan Linden must now ?outline their position? following his conviction for multiple sexual offences.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Are politicians held to too high a standard?
29 Mar 2026 at 6:00am

Several would-be politicians have come under fire for comments they have made - is it fair to hold them to such a standard?

Digital politics expert says SNP appears to be ?experimenting? with new social media approach

Expert Andy Sloan said there is ?absolutely no fundamental reason? why tunnels cannot be built

Independence supporters from all over Scotland took part in a big march and rally in Edinburgh on Saturday ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on May 7.

Thousands of people marched through Edinburgh on Saturday in support of independence and heard Succession star Brian Cox speak alongside First Minister John Swinney at a rally on Calton Hill.

Wings over Scotland

Protest But Don?t Survive
28 Mar 2026 at 5:20pm
If events in Edinburgh today are anything to go by – when a march and rally announced with great fanfare seven months ago, backed by both the “independence” parties in the Scottish Parliament and featuring the First Minister as main speaker, attracted perhaps 1,500 people at the most to Calton Hill on a bright and …

Let?s Call The Whole Thing Off
24 Mar 2026 at 12:59pm
The last faint hope of any remotely positive or at least interesting outcome of May’s election just left the building. It wasn’t MUCH of a hope, and it’s absolutely no surprise in the wake of the comically shambolic, belief-defyingly inept farce that has been the birth of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s fringe-of-the fringe party, …

Irony you can?t buy
20 Mar 2026 at 12:09pm
Posted without comment. But the reason you can’t buy the irony is that she doesn’t need the money. So that’s quarter of a million pounds just for running away when things got a bit sticky, on top of the circa £225,000 in wages she’s trousered since resigning as FM despite never turning up for work …

Looking up at the stars
10 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
A fascinating line from the BBC this evening: The number of parties who got MSPs elected at the last election is? five. (Though in fairness there are now six, Reform having a single MSP after Graham Simpson defected from the Tories. The Lib Dems are even outnumbered by independents, of whom there are seven.) Also …

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craig Murray

The Caracas Metro
26 Mar 2026 at 6:46am

The extreme nature of sanctions against Venezuela made it very challenging to keep economic activity going. One example is Caracas’s impressive five-line Metro system, where for almost twenty years they had to keep things running with no spares or maintenance support from the train manufacturers. Yet resilience and ingenuity kicked in, and Venezuela actually reverse …

The Caracas Metro

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag
24 Mar 2026 at 12:04pm

The notion that the Iranian state would discredit itself by choosing to attack an ambulance service in London is crazy. Iran has not even attacked any hospitals or ambulances in Israel. Iran has absolutely zero record of attacks on healthcare facilities. That is of course in stark contrast to Israel which specifically targets them in …

The London Ambulances Attack: Of Course It Was A False Flag

Seeing Trump Clearly
21 Mar 2026 at 12:19pm

What if Trump’s apparently chaotic thought processes and intuitive decision making are all a blind, a charade? What if we are really witnessing, in the Middle East and more widely, a carefully constructed plan with very definite objectives? Has Trump in fact “planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway”, while flinging the …

Seeing Trump Clearly

Radicalism and Scottish Independence
14 Mar 2026 at 4:18pm

There is no place like home, and a few hours after arriving back in Scotland I was in Glasgow giving a talk to Pensioners for Independence. I still covered quite a wide sweep, but my focus came back to what I care about more than anything – the freedom, prosperity and just position in the …

Radicalism and Scottish Independence

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?
13 Mar 2026 at 5:48pm

I interviewed a prominent academic who is a profound critic of the Venezuelan government, and in contrast a strong academic supporter. The conversations were relaxed, open and I believe worthwhile. There is no serious dispute that the Venezuelan government shifted to some degree towards economic liberalism under President Maduro. The question is to what extent …

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK
12 Mar 2026 at 8:06am

I today met our legal team and instructed them to submit an application for interim relief in the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. If successful this will immediately lift the proscription in Scotland, pending the review. Scores of people in Scotland face imminent conviction for terrorist offences simply for exercising free …

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK

BBC Scotland

Five years on: Why the SNP is still the party to beat in Scotland
29 Mar 2026 at 8:17am
After a major setback two years ago when Labour defeated them in the UK general election, the SNP's political luck seems to have turned.

First Minister apologises to victims of ex-council leader
29 Mar 2026 at 11:28am
Jordan Linden was last week found guilty of five assaults and sending unwanted sexual communications to teenagers.

It felt surreal to go shopping without police protection - Humza Yousaf
29 Mar 2026 at 11:31am
Scotland's former first minister has bid farewell to the Scottish Parliament, marking the end of his 15-year SNP career as an MSP.

SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election
28 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
SNP leader John Swinney and the Greens co-leaders led thousands on an independence march down the Royal Mile.

China bus photo removed from Scottish Highlands travel campaign
28 Mar 2026 at 8:21am
Eagle-eyed social media users noticed that the road had bright green crash barriers and a green bus.

Offord says he is fit to be first minister after homophobic joke
27 Mar 2026 at 6:34pm
Malcolm Offord denied being homophobic after apologising for a joke he made about George Michael during a Burns Night speech.

Party leaders make pitches to Scots as they hit campaign trail
26 Mar 2026 at 1:35pm
With the Holyrood election just six weeks away, hopefuls have kick-started their campaigns.

Farage defends Scottish Reform leader Offord over homophobic joke
26 Mar 2026 at 6:27pm
Malcolm Offord has apologised for the "crude" remark he told at a rugby club dinner in 2018 but denies he is homophobic.

Health, education, tax and more - Has the SNP delivered on its promises at Ho...
26 Mar 2026 at 6:21am
As parties draw up their election manifestos, has the SNP ticked off the goals it set out in 2021?

Smoking ban in Scotland's pubs was a 'PR war' - but has it saved lives?
26 Mar 2026 at 6:21am
Exactly 20 years ago, Scotland became the first part of the UK to outlaw smoking in bars, restaurants and offices.

Why was a £1.5bn Chinese plan to invest in a Highland yard blocked?
26 Mar 2026 at 3:31pm
Ming Yang proposed building a wind turbine manufacturing plant at Ardersier.

Findlay felt capable of killing attacker but says 'I'm not a scrapper'
26 Mar 2026 at 10:13am
The Scottish Conservative leader discussed his visceral reaction to an acid attack in 2015 with the BBC's Scotcast.

Scot Goes Pop

"Alliance to Liberate Scotland" angrily defend their pact with the far-right ...
28 Mar 2026 at 2:44am
Later in this video, I also give my thoughts on the extraordinary but somehow totally unsurprising news that the self-styled 'independence ultra' Chris McEleny, who expelled and drove out so many g...

Revealed: the far-right have almost totally taken over the "Alliance to Liber...
26 Mar 2026 at 6:45pm
I said in my video about the far-right elements of Barrhead Boy's new fringe party "Alliance to Liberate Scotland" (aka "the Atlas") that I had spotted at least two of the party's candidates as bei...

Let's keep the independence movement clean: avoid the dodgy far-right links o...
25 Mar 2026 at 3:02am

The NHS is Reform's Achilles heel, and they should be hammered on it
24 Mar 2026 at 11:23am
I received a Reform leaflet through the door this morning, emblazened with photos of Malcolm Offord.  And because I'm interested in polls, I immediately noticed the rather amusing error in the Lib ...

Lord Ashcroft's dodgiest poll question is one the health inspectors should be...
24 Mar 2026 at 2:14am
I've been having a more leisurely look through the results of the supplementary questions in the Ashcroft poll, and I think there are three worth drawing to your attention.  First of all, Ashcroft ...

Ashcroft poll: pro-independence parties could take overall majority of VOTES ...
23 Mar 2026 at 9:24pm

Thank you, your lordship! Sensational Ashcroft poll shows SNP on highest vot...
23 Mar 2026 at 9:58am
The contents have it!  I'll try to make a video about this poll when I have a spare moment, but for now the basic facts deserve mentioning, because they bode extremely well for the SNP.  Lord Ashcr...

A further thought on the defeat of the assisted dying bill
23 Mar 2026 at 12:53am
I just want to comment briefly on Andrew Tickell's column about the Scottish Parliament's rejection of the assisted dying bill.  He argues that the opponents of the bill, if they want to be logical...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Lib Dems pledge youth work Bill in new parliament
29 Mar 2026 at 12:53pm
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the proposals would help to improve opportunities for young people who require support.

Zia Yusuf: Reform ?taking action? after ?Nazi salute? photo
29 Mar 2026 at 12:51pm
It comes after Reform UK?s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord stood by his Holyrood candidates, after past social media posts emerged.

Yousaf: SNP must reflect on criticism in case of sex offender ex-council leader
29 Mar 2026 at 12:36pm
Jordan Linden was convicted of 10 separate offences on Thursday, including five sexual assaults.

Scotland held back by the decisions of Westminster, Swinney tells rally
29 Mar 2026 at 10:54am
The SNP leader believes an overall majority for his party will force the UK Government to allow a second Scottish independence referendum.

SNP has ?effective process? for dealing with abusive behaviour, Swinney insists
28 Mar 2026 at 5:25pm
Mr Swinney was speaking the day after party announced an independent review into its complaint handling procedures.

Sarwar pledges to slash NHS waiting times and end 8am GP appointment ?scramble?
28 Mar 2026 at 12:38pm
The Scottish Labour leader said his party would ?build a better future for Scotland?.

Lib Dems ?on verge? of beating SNP in many seats, Cole-Hamilton says
28 Mar 2026 at 11:59am
Alex Cole-Hamilton was campaigning in Linlithgow on Saturday, where he set out his party?s plans for bringing down the cost of living.

Island communities ?failed? by SNP amid ongoing ferry disruption ? Cole-Hamilton
27 Mar 2026 at 8:26pm
The Lib Dem leader was speaking after ferry operator CalMac reported major issues with some services due to mechanical issues with vessels.

Labour ?ready to deliver? while SNP and Reform ?mired in scandal?, says Sarwar
27 Mar 2026 at 8:23pm
The Scottish Labour leader was speaking as he campaigned in Coatbridge ahead of the Holyrood poll in May.

Findlay: Tory Scottish government would embrace defence industry
27 Mar 2026 at 8:23pm
He also said the party would reinstate funding cut from colleges to tackle the ?skills shortage?.

John Swinney orders review into SNP complaints procedure after Jordan Linden ...
27 Mar 2026 at 6:07pm
Former North Lanarkshire Council leader Linden was found guilty of ten sex offences on Thursday following a trial

Fifth Reform UK candidate quits Holyrood election race
27 Mar 2026 at 5:01pm
James Glen said he supported partner Linda Holt's decision to withdraw from the election race on Thursday

Reform?s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord criticises ?over the top? reaction to...
27 Mar 2026 at 2:18pm
Malcolm Offord also U-turned on a previous statement when he said the joke was 'probably homophobic'

Energy crisis will define Holyrood election, says Flynn
27 Mar 2026 at 7:16am
He said voters face a choice of ?a permanent cost-of-living crisis under Westminster or lower energy bills with independence?.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

John Swinney 'ignored' call to investigate Jordan Linden complaints process
29 Mar 2026 at 10:13am
The First Minister has been accused of failing to respond six months ago to a plea by a North Lanarkshire councillor.

Council tax a 'subsidy' for wealthy Scots and should be scrapped to help poor...
28 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said it was "perfectly reasonable" to ask Scots who have done well from the housing market to pay more tax on their properties.

Labour demands John Swinney answers 'crucial questions' after Jordan Linden c...
27 Mar 2026 at 5:18pm
EXCLUSIVE: Jackie Baillie accused the First Minister of "hiding" following the conviction of a former Nationalist rising star.

Scottish politics today: Reform loses fifth Holyrood candidate as civil war e...
27 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its regular 5pm round-up of the day's Scottish politics news.

Malcolm Offord admits 'shame' and 'embarrassment' over homophobic George Mich...
27 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
Nigel Farage's handpicked leader for the Holyrood election has endured a torrid week.

SNP election candidate who gave evidence at Jordan Linden trial told to 'refl...
27 Mar 2026 at 1:58pm
Tracy Carragher is an SNP candidate in May 7 despite defending a disgraced ex-council leader in court.

Homeless mum's horror in notorious "hellhole" hotel with traumatised kids
27 Mar 2026 at 12:00pm
Allison has moved from one cramped flat to another - and endured a stay in notorious hotel - with her and five children in one room.

Reform UK's Holyrood campaign in meltdown as fifth candidate quits
27 Mar 2026 at 10:11am
James Glen said he had ?withdrawn? his candidacy a week after he had been unveiled as one of the party?s hopefuls.

John Swinney urged to 'come clean' on SNP role in Jordan Linden sex assault '...
27 Mar 2026 at 9:03am
Labour says the SNP have "serious questions to answer" after the former leader of North Lanarkshire council was found guilty.

Buckle up for the most bitter Holyrood election campaign in decades
26 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon offers his thoughts on an election in which the SNP finds themselves in the surprising position of favourite.

The National

The National | Politics

Tony Blair panned for 'unholy alliance between left and Islamists' claim
29 Mar 2026 at 2:45pm

FORMER prime minister Tony Blair has been panned after claiming there has been an ?unholy alliance? between ?parts of the left and Islamists?.

'Chancer' Anas Sarwar slated for 'galling' energy bills claim
29 Mar 2026 at 2:42pm

Anas Sarwar has been branded a 'chancer' and slated for his 'galling' pledge to lower energy bills in Scotland ahead of the Holyrood elections

Scottish Greens pledge ban on 'cruel' shock collars
29 Mar 2026 at 1:18pm

The Scottish Greens will include a ban on shock collars in the party?s manifesto for May?s election

Anas Sarwar 'faces questions' after Labour spy scandal MP says 'sorry'
29 Mar 2026 at 12:58pm

ANAS Sarwar has questions to answer after a former minister caught up in a ?creepy? spying scandal admitted he was ?so sorry?, the SNP have said.

Zia Yusuf claims BBC 'disproportionate' over Reform 'mishaps' amid Nazi salut...
29 Mar 2026 at 12:16pm

REFORM UK?s Zia Yusuf has accused the BBC of ?vastly disproportionate coverage? of scandals surrounding his party, including a candidate who was pictured making a Nazi salute.

Zack Polanski slams Daily Mail journalist over 'antisemitism' piece
29 Mar 2026 at 11:05am

Zack Polanski has slammed a Daily Mail journalist over a story which alleged his family members 'fear' they will be forced to leave the UK if he becomes prime minister

Donald Trump golf resort the only top Scottish course to breach environmental...
29 Mar 2026 at 11:00am

DONALD Trump?s Aberdeenshire resort is the only one of Scotland?s top golf venues confirmed to have broken environmental rules in recent years, The Ferret has found.

Humza Yousaf's in-laws 'still not the same' after escaping Gaza
29 Mar 2026 at 10:42am

Humza Yousaf has said that having family trapped in Gaza while serving as first minister was the 'most pressured and most traumatic' period of his life.

John Swinney apologises to victims of ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden
29 Mar 2026 at 10:31am

John Swinney has apologised to the victims of former council leader Jordan Linden as he insisted the SNP has 'an effective process in place' for scrutinising abusive behaviour

Kemi Badenoch caught out on North Sea campaign in disastrous BBC interview
29 Mar 2026 at 9:34am

The Conservative Party's new oil and gas campaign has got off to a disastrous start after Kemi Badenoch admitted North Sea drilling would not 'directly' help consumers

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Almost half a million affected by Lloyds banking app glitch
27 Mar 2026 at 11:50am
The banking group includes Lloyds, Halifax and the Bank of Scotland

We asked MSPs: what is your top advice to newbies?
27 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
With an eye to dissolution of the sixth session of this parliament, Holyrood asked some of our sitting politicians the simple question

Former council leader found guilty of sexually assaulting three men
26 Mar 2026 at 5:08pm
Jordan Linden was convicted of 10 charges, including sexual?assault, at?Falkirk?Sheriff Court

Court finds Meta and Google built intentionally addictive platforms
26 Mar 2026 at 12:48pm
Jurors in Los Angeles found a woman should receive damages after determining Facebook owner Meta and Google, which owns YouTube, 'acted with malice, oppression, or fraud'

Independence will 'lock Nigel Farage out' of Scottish politics, John Swinney ...
26 Mar 2026 at 12:00pm
Scottish Labour also launched its campaign, with leader Anas Sarwar promising to deliver a ?more positive and hopeful future?

One in five children in Scotland living in poverty despite recent improvements
26 Mar 2026 at 11:41am
Action call as election nears

Karen Meechan leaving tech body ScotlandIS after 22 years
26 Mar 2026 at 11:28am
The organisation said it would appoint a new leader in due course

Local Authorities Guide: Orkney Islands Council
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Council leader Heather Woodbridge answers questions about local authority

Malcolm Offord denies homophobia after apologising for George Michael joke
25 Mar 2026 at 4:00pm
'Clumsy mistake' claim after outcry

Malcolm Offord ?unfit? to be MSP says John Swinney
25 Mar 2026 at 1:43pm
The Reform Scotland leader has said he "instantly regretted" a homophobic comment

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Reform busy firefighting in Scotland but may yet set Holyrood?s politics ablaze
26 Mar 2026 at 6:29pm
With Nigel Farage?s party neck and neck with Labour for second place behind the SNP, disruption seems likely Hope, change, progressive change, change with fairness at its heart ? from a harbour north of Edinburgh to a hipster arts venue in Glasgow?s Barras Market, Scotland?s political parties sp...

UK politics: Trump says UK?s aircraft carriers are just ?toys? ? as it happened
26 Mar 2026 at 6:00pm
The comments were part of a broader address in which he condemned Nato alliesYesterday the Conservative party said that it wanted to ban political parties from distributing campaign literature in a foreign language. Announcing a plan to propose an amendement to the representation of the people bi...

UK politics: Tories claim McSweeney has ?serious questions? to answer about p...
25 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
Shadow cabinet officer minister claims ?this whole thing stinks to high heaven?Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs.Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has urged people to reject ?conspiracy? theories about the loss of Morgan McSweeney?s phone. Continue reading...

?Anyone but Labour? or ?anyone but Reform?? Clash of animosities likely to de...
23 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
While Labour braces for a rout that could see off Starmer, a rising drive to keep out Farage is complicating expectationsSmall swings, high drama: why UK polls are less volatile than they seem ? in chartsLocal elections are often regarded as a referendum on the sitting government, with many previ...

What?s at stake for UK in May?s elections: six key questions
23 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Reform, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens are all banking on big gains and nationwide repercussionsOn 7 May, three of the UK?s four nations go to the polls in a series of elections with much potential significance, not just for who ends up governing various bodies, but also for the future polit...

Labour dismisses Reform UK MSP candidates as ?hopeless Tory rejects and oddba...
20 Mar 2026 at 4:50pm
This blog is now closedSeverin Carrell is the Guardian?s Scotland editor.Malcolm Offord, Reform UK?s Scottish leader, has doubled down on his defence of the party?s vetting by dismissing remarks by candidates backing Tommy Robinson or describing Humza Yousaf as an ?Islamist moron? (see 10.12am) a...

Reform UK suspends Scottish candidate less than a day after announcing him
20 Mar 2026 at 2:24pm
Stuart Niven found to have diverted Covid grants to personal account as party faces criticism for candidates? Islamophobic remarksReform UK has suspended one of its Scottish candidates after it emerged he had been struck off as a company director, and the party faces growing attacks for fielding ...

Supporters of Scotland?s assisted dying bill frustrated by lack of backing fr...
18 Mar 2026 at 6:41pm
Just three of Labour?s 20 MSPs in Holyrood voted for bill, despite support for legislation in House of CommonsSupporters of Scotland?s assisted dying bill have said they are frustrated a significant majority of Labour MSPs voted against the proposals, despite Labour?s substantial support for the ...

Scottish parliament votes against legalising assisted dying
17 Mar 2026 at 10:44pm
MSPs reject bill after concerted campaign to block it and despite amendments intended to placate criticsThe Scottish parliament has voted against legalising assisted dying after critics and religious groups led a concerted campaign to block the measures.MSPs voted 69 to 57 to reject the proposals...

The Guardian view on the fragile politics of the union: Labour?s woes have co...
17 Mar 2026 at 6:41pm
Following May?s elections, first ministers committed to independence could be in place in Edinburgh, Cardiff and BelfastThe general election of July 2024 did not just call time on a decade and a half of Conservative rule. It also delivered the most pro-Union parliament since the early 2010s, when...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

The rapid implosion of Reform?s Scottish campaign
26 Mar 2026 at 3:05pm
As the saying goes, you’d need a heart of stone not to laugh. Within just a few days of Reform UK launching its Scottish election campaign to much fanfare and racist ‘jokes’ about tartan burqas, the wheels are already coming off Farage’s septic tank pumper wagon. The party has already lost no less than four …

James Dornan MSP looks back on his career
24 Mar 2026 at 1:49pm
A guest post by James Dornan MSP   Today veteran SNP MSP James Dornan makes his last speech in the Scottish Parliament, and steps down to retirement and to give way to a new generation. To mark the occasion, he has very kindly written a guest post for this blog in which he looks back …

Reform?s chaotic launch and the implications of the Iran war for May?s election
20 Mar 2026 at 8:53pm
Nigel Farage came to Scotland on Thursday to launch his party’s manifesto for the Scottish elections on 7 May and to introduce Reform UK’s almost half former Tory slate of totally well vetted candidates. Reform UK there, promising to fix Broken Britain with a slew of the former Conservatives who were responsible for breaking it …

Thoughts on the failure of the assisted dying bill
18 Mar 2026 at 2:46am
Back in 1998, after we had moved to Spain, my late husband Andy and I became very close friends with our new neighbour, a Norwegian woman called Ellie who had moved to Spain after retiring from a career on the Norwegian oil rigs in the North Sea. She was looking forward to spending her final …

Scotland: Too wee?
17 Mar 2026 at 9:11am
Is it time to look again at the long-debated theory that Scotland is ?too wee? to be a successful independent country? A guest post by Diane Izzett https://bsky.app/profile/dizzyscot.bsky.social With the yes voters taking a lead in recent polls, do the facts support this or is it just the final death throes of a coloniser losing …

Lessons from 2014 for next time round
14 Mar 2026 at 6:23pm
An important new academic book looking at the 2014 Scottish independence referendum has just been published. The snappily titled “Discourse, Voice, and the Politics of Participation in the Scottish Independence Referendum” by Dr Maike Dinger, a Lecturer in Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling is available on Amazon for £104.99 hardback or …

So-called muscular unionism is a sign of Westminster?s fragility
12 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
The Labour party has responded to the leak of a memo from Starmer to cabinet ministers in which he tells them not to be “deferential” to the devolved governments and not to hesitate to override them even on devolved matters. Starmer was questioned about the memo by SNP MP Stephen Gethins at Prime Minister’s Questions …

Devolution has run out of road
10 Mar 2026 at 6:48pm
This always happens, every time I decide to take a bit of time off, a big news story breaks and it’s back to the keyboard. On Tuesday, a Labour government memo was leaked which proves that Keir Starmer is hell bent on undermining the devolution settlement. In the memo, sent to all members of the …

What the end of Alba means for May?s election and the broader independence mo...
9 Mar 2026 at 5:35pm
Well that’s it. The Alba party has gone and will not be contesting the Holyrood election in May, or indeed any elections in the future. Unlike some, I am not gloating about the party’s demise even though I was never a supporter of it. I kept my thoughts about Alba largely to myself despite coming …

Labour?s dangerous plans for NHS Scotland
8 Mar 2026 at 4:33pm
The Holyrood elections are just eight weeks away. This will be a critical election for Scotland’s future and it is more important than ever that Scotland returns a pro-independence majority, ideally an SNP majority to the Scottish Parliament. It’s not just the future of hopes for independence which is at stake. This election is also …

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

Will Scotland?s model for pharmacy offers lessons for predicted ?Ian war? sho...
29 Mar 2026 at 2:51pm
In the Guardian today: Britain sic is ?a few weeks away? from medicine shortages ranging from painkillers to cancer treatment if the Iran war continues, according to experts, while drug prices could also rise. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/28/uk-weeks-away-medicine-shortages-iran-war-impacts-experts-warn The above makes no mention of Scotland. Searching for reports of shortage...

?I cannot see 408 as just a statistic? ? Thyroid cancer deaths, after Fukushi...
29 Mar 2026 at 2:50pm
From UCA News two days ago on Fukushima: 15 years after Fukushima, debate continues on radiation exposure – Large amounts of radioactive material were released when the magnitude 9.0 earthquake on March 11 that year triggered a tsunami, causing meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). The catastrophe killed more than 18,000 people ...

Meningitis ? another case for border checks
29 Mar 2026 at 2:48pm
From GB News today: Vital safety lessons from past meningococcal disease are not being acted on – with researchers saying coroners have raised the same concerns for more than a decade. Twenty confirmed cases and two deaths linked to meningococcal infection have been reported in Kent this month, in what health officials say is a fast-moving cluster affecting young people. Vaccination failures we...

Never mind those terribly inconvenient ferry delays, Scotland has by far the ...
29 Mar 2026 at 12:17pm
The above is frankly shocking and would still be so even if it were not for this: Why Scots have a ?critically low? democratic well-being score ? the 50 years theft of their energy supplies for one thing? Carnegie UK today have reported (previous TuS post) that Scots have a ?critically low? democratic well-being score of only 40%. Who is surprised? I?m surprised it?s not zero, same as mine. If ...

You?ll think I must be making this stuff up but English schools permanently e...
29 Mar 2026 at 12:03pm

Scotland avoids large classes and lack of support staff found in England to h...
29 Mar 2026 at 11:59am
In the Guardian today: Lack of specialist staff hinders support for Send children, teacher survey finds – National Education Union poll finds 89% feel class sizes in England are too big to be ?properly inclusive?. Oversized classes and inadequate staffing levels are hindering teachers? capacity to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), according to a large surv...

Birmingham measles outbreak brings threat even closer to the border with no c...
29 Mar 2026 at 9:51am
Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: In the Sunday Express today, and similarly in other UK media, the above and: This follows the large outbreak reported two weeks ago in Enfield, London. In the Daily Mirror, 15 March 2026 A Victorian disease that had been eliminated in the UK has returned in 50 council areas ? and a new map has highlighted the low vaccine-rate areas where it is spreading...

Latest research ? 90% of Scots think current levels of wealth inequality are ...
28 Mar 2026 at 3:19pm
Just published, using a survey of 2 321 Scots, over 16 years of age and 6 focus groups, The Diffley Partnership attempted to measure attitudes to wealth inequality and support for redistributive policies. First (above) on views of how wealth comes about, a majority of nearly two in three (63%) selected that most individuals are wealthy because of luck or the circumstances they were born into, w...

The Glasgow waste depot workers strike, Anas Sarwar and Holyrood Election 202...
28 Mar 2026 at 3:17pm
Nicely timed for the next Scottish election, the GMB staff at the Polmadie waste recycling centre in Glasgow have been called out by their Labour-affiliated leaders. They did the same thing, again in alliance with the city’s rats, furry and Labour versions, in October 2021 to try to undermine the SNP Council and SNP Government: Cleansing staff in Glasgow have confirmed they will strike for a we...

Latest figures reveal that child poverty in London at shocking 38% is massive...
28 Mar 2026 at 9:03am
Thanks again to Dottie for alerting me to this: From the Guardian two days ago: London has England?s highest levels of child poverty, data shows – About 38% of children in London live in relative poverty, compared with 29% in England as a whole. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/26/child-poverty-london-housing-crisis The equivalent figure for Glasgow, which has the highest level in S...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election - BBC
28 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election  BBC

Five years on: Why the SNP is still the party to beat in Scotland - BBC
29 Mar 2026 at 8:17am
Five years on: Why the SNP is still the party to beat in Scotland  BBC

Thousands march for Scottish independence in major Edinburgh rally - Thenatio...
28 Mar 2026 at 3:50pm
Thousands march for Scottish independence in major Edinburgh rally  Thenational Scot

15 pictures from Edinburgh march and rally for independence from Royal Mile t...
28 Mar 2026 at 6:56pm
15 pictures from Edinburgh march and rally for independence from Royal Mile to Calton Hill  Edinburgh News

Vote for a fairer, greener and independent Scotland - Scottish Greens
28 Mar 2026 at 7:54am
Vote for a fairer, greener and independent Scotland  Scottish Greens

Thousands attend Believe in Scotland rally in Edinburgh - The Edinburgh Reporter
28 Mar 2026 at 8:32pm
Thousands attend Believe in Scotland rally in Edinburgh  The Edinburgh Reporter

Thousands attend independence rally as SNP stakes election on referendum - Th...
29 Mar 2026 at 5:03am
Thousands attend independence rally as SNP stakes election on referendum  The Herald

Scotland held back by the decisions of Westminster, Swinney tells rally - The...
28 Mar 2026 at 7:38pm
Scotland held back by the decisions of Westminster, Swinney tells rally  The Independent

Pro-independence March led by John Swinney mocked over ' 'pathetic' turnout -...
28 Mar 2026 at 4:24pm
Pro-independence March led by John Swinney mocked over ' 'pathetic' turnout  Scottish Daily Express

Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan - H...
14 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan  Holyrood Website

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Five years on: Why the SNP is still the party to beat in Scotland - BBC
29 Mar 2026 at 8:17am
Five years on: Why the SNP is still the party to beat in Scotland  BBC

How the SNP spends billions ?to buy loyalty from charities? - thetimes.com
28 Mar 2026 at 9:30pm
How the SNP spends billions ?to buy loyalty from charities?  thetimes.com

Jenny Gilruth accused of pushing SNP bias in school textbook - The Sunday Post
29 Mar 2026 at 2:12pm
Jenny Gilruth accused of pushing SNP bias in school textbook  The Sunday Post

John Swinney apologises to victims of ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden - T...
29 Mar 2026 at 10:53am
John Swinney apologises to victims of ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden  Thenational Scot

Ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden guilty of multiple sex offences against y...
27 Mar 2026 at 2:00pm
Ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden guilty of multiple sex offences against young men and boys  Sky News

Scotland's papers: SNP 'cover up' claims and fuel shortage warning - BBC
28 Mar 2026 at 9:00am
Scotland's papers: SNP 'cover up' claims and fuel shortage warning  BBC

Why is Scotland's political establishment fomenting anti-Christian intoleranc...
29 Mar 2026 at 10:27am
Why is Scotland's political establishment fomenting anti-Christian intolerance?  The Herald

Labour promises to fix SNP?s shameful record on ferry services - Morning Star...
29 Mar 2026 at 3:20pm
Labour promises to fix SNP?s shameful record on ferry services  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election - BBC
28 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election  BBC

John Swinney ignored pleas to probe SNP's complaint process SIX months ago - ...
29 Mar 2026 at 8:44am
John Swinney ignored pleas to probe SNP's complaint process SIX months ago  Scottish Daily Express

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election - BBC
28 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
SNP and Greens join independence march ahead of Holyrood election  BBC

Scotland held back by the decisions of Westminster, Swinney tells rally - Per...
28 Mar 2026 at 7:40pm
Scotland held back by the decisions of Westminster, Swinney tells rally  Perspective Media

See Brian Cox's full speech at major Believe in Scotland independence rally -...
28 Mar 2026 at 3:03pm
See Brian Cox's full speech at major Believe in Scotland independence rally  Thenational Scot

Thousands attend Believe in Scotland rally in Edinburgh - The Edinburgh Reporter
28 Mar 2026 at 8:32pm
Thousands attend Believe in Scotland rally in Edinburgh  The Edinburgh Reporter

John Swinney insists majority for SNP will trigger independence referendum, -...
28 Mar 2026 at 5:39pm
John Swinney insists majority for SNP will trigger independence referendum,  The Herald

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

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

Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push - Reu...
18 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish first minister says a May majority means new independence push  Reuters

Scottish independence poll 2025 - Statista
24 Feb 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence poll 2025  Statista

First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference - ...
14 Mar 2026 at 7:00am
First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference  snp.org