The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Bondi attack ?cruelly marred? first day of Hannukah, says John Swinney
by Craig Paton
15 Dec 2025 at 6:52pm
The attack on a Jewish community in Australia was an ?unspeakable act of hatred and violence? which ?cruelly marred? the first day of Hannukah, John Swinney has said.


The bodies meant to run Scotland?s grooming-gang review are still waiting for...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
15 Dec 2025 at 6:20pm
Weeks after ministers announced a national review into group-based child sexual abuse, the bodies meant to lead it say they are still waiting for details. As confusion grows over Professor Alexis Jay?s role, survivors are still waiting for answers.


Fledging Your Party to settle independence debate at upcoming Dundee conference
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
15 Dec 2025 at 2:22pm
"There are some big debates to be had & decisions to be made. But the conference will also be a chance for members across Scotland to come together."


Labour and Tories urge SNP and Greens to back Constance no-confidence vote
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
15 Dec 2025 at 1:42pm
Labour and the Conservatives have launched a last-ditch appeal to SNP and Green MSPs to abandon Angela Constance ahead of a no-confidence vote, warning that her handling of grooming gang evidence has shattered trust with survivors and Parliament alike.


Jewish leaders warn of growing fear in Scotland after Sydney shooting
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
15 Dec 2025 at 12:24pm
Community leaders warn that Scotland?s Jewish community feels increasingly isolated and unsafe following the deadly Chanukah attack in Sydney.


'My wife was furious': Ian Murray still has no clue why he was sacked as Scot...
by Katrine Bussey
15 Dec 2025 at 6:42am
He was unexpectedly removed from the role when the Prime Minister reshuffled his Cabinet in September


Charity boss warns Scotland 'can't CAMHS way out of child mental health emerg...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
15 Dec 2025 at 6:00am
The Scottish Government has been told it cannot continue to 'CAMHS its way out of the mental health emergency' among children.


Heritage agency hires new interim chief with background in 'complex change'
15 Dec 2025 at 9:59am
The Scottish Government's embattled heritage agency Historic Environment Scotland has appointed a new interim chief operating officer who starts today ahead of major report being published into the organisation.


SNP drop plans to cut speed limit to 50mph after public backlash
15 Dec 2025 at 11:09am
A plan to reduce the speed limit on single carriageway roads in Scotland from 60 to 50mph has been dropped by the SNP Government following a massive public backlash.


'Off our streets': Anti-migrant groups clash with anti-racists in Aberdeen
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
14 Dec 2025 at 6:12pm
One video posted to X shows demonstrators stamping on a sign entitled ?Misconceptions about asylum seekers in Aberdeen?.


Golden goodbye payments for MSPs to cost taxpayers £2.5 million
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
14 Dec 2025 at 12:19pm
Golden goodbye payments from MSPs quitting Holyrood, including Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, will cost taxpayers around £2.5 million.


'We need to move on': SNP minister backs Constance over grooming gangs row
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
14 Dec 2025 at 11:20am
Jenny Gilruth has said MSPs should 'move on' over a row that Justice Secretary Angela Constance misled Parliament on grooming gangs.


Former Herald political editor only Scot among 25 new peers in House of Lords
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
14 Dec 2025 at 9:43am
A former Herald political editor is the only Scot among 25 new Labour peers who will sit in the House of Lords.


How the Sandie Peggie tribunal judgment sent the NHS Fife case into chaos
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
14 Dec 2025 at 6:00am
Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife has rumbled on for a long time and there is no sign of a conclusion. The 312-page judgment sent it into more chaos.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Grangemouth has 'huge potential' and jobs will come soon, says Keir Starmer
15 Dec 2025 at 6:26pm

The Prime Minister said he did not see the closure of the refinery ?as one of those cases where decline is inevitable.?

The Tories called the idea ?ridiculous? and ?senseless?

Moshe Rubin, the Senior Rabbi of Scotland, said there had been a rise in antisemitism

Scottish Labour says the figures reflect the SNP government?s mishandling of the NHS.

John Swinney has written to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper with his concerns.

Port bosses are worried they will miss out financially, despite investing to prepare for future offshore wind projects.

Wings over Scotland

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Craig Murray

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

Your Party, and Its Conference
9 Dec 2025 at 1:14am

It is probably no bad thing that health struggles have delayed my writing up Your Party’s extraordinary Liverpool founding conference. Perspective is definitely helpful to process something unique. Personally, I could not help but be struck by the number of participants who approached me as regular readers of my blog, certainly well into three figures. …

Your Party, and Its Conference

The Filton Trial
7 Dec 2025 at 8:35pm

“The policewoman attacked by a sledgehammer” has been the constant refrain of the government against Palestine Action. A couple of days before the judicial review of the proscription in England, and despite fierce reporting restrictions on the trial, the prosecution released to the media highly edited video footage from the current trial in Woolwich Crown …

The Filton Trial

The Terrifying Case of Natalie Strecker
2 Dec 2025 at 8:30am

I am confident that over 2 million people in the UK have shared thoughts on the Genocide in Gaza that are stronger than anything Natalie Strecker has expressed. I am quite certain that I am one of those 2 million. Yet Natalie Strecker, an avowed pacifist, today faces up to ten years in prison under …

The Terrifying Case of Natalie Strecker

Resisting Authoritarianism
28 Nov 2025 at 8:34am

In the last three days I have been in London at the judicial review of Palestine Action and today I am in Jersey for the terrorist trial of Natalie Strecker. I made a brief impromptu speech outside the High Court, in intervening to try and stop some people in wheelchairs from being arrested as “terrorists”, …

Resisting Authoritarianism

Judicial Malfeasance and Palestine Action
26 Nov 2025 at 2:56am

The Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action – funded so far by readers of this blog – has been simply shelved by delay tactics that plainly break the Scottish legal system’s own rules. Our case was ruled competent for us to serve the petition on the UK government. They replied in the …

Judicial Malfeasance and Palestine Action

BBC Scotland

Justice Secretary to face no confidence vote in grooming gangs row
16 Dec 2025 at 6:29am
Opposition parties have accused Angela Constance of misrepresenting the position of a leading expert on grooming gangs.

Scottish government drops plans to reduce national speed limit
15 Dec 2025 at 5:32pm
Plans to reduce the national speed limit on single carriageways from 60mph to 50mph were unpopular.

Family of man who died in custody call for law change
15 Dec 2025 at 5:23pm
The family of Allan Marshall want to make it mandatory that the recommendations of fatal accident inquiries are implemented.

Scotland's energy - election common ground or battleground?
14 Dec 2025 at 8:14am
Choices over oil, gas, nuclear and the transition to renewables are to set to feature highly in the debate and battle for votes.

Reform wins first by-election in Scotland
12 Dec 2025 at 4:37pm
David McLennan has been elected as a councillor in West Lothian, taking the seat from Scottish Labour.

No need for Covid measures during flu surge, says care home chief
13 Dec 2025 at 2:26pm
Donald Macaskill, the chief executive of Scottish Care, told BBC Scotland a measured approach was needed.

The nuclear power station on the front line of an election battle
12 Dec 2025 at 6:04am
Scotland's last operational plant, at Torness in East Lothian, is scheduled to cease operating in 2030.

Swinney stands by Constance in grooming gangs row
11 Dec 2025 at 6:30pm
The justice secretary is facing calls to resign after being accused of misleading the Scottish Parliament.

Not proven verdict to be scrapped in new trials from 1 January
11 Dec 2025 at 5:28pm
The historic change to Scotland's legal system will not apply to trials that are already under way.

Police apologise to Tory MSP over 'hate incident'
11 Dec 2025 at 12:45pm
Murdo Fraser had threatened legal action after Police Scotland recorded one of his social media posts.

Biotech jobs boost for Grangemouth site
11 Dec 2025 at 11:27am
Up to 460 roles are expected to be created at the site of the former oil refinery and across Scotland.

'Prisoner release is only a short-term solution'
10 Dec 2025 at 8:33am
Overcrowding problems at Barlinnie Prison's are not likely to disappear due to erly release and the building of new prisons.

Scot Goes Pop

As Eurovision winner Nemo returns the trophy, a reply to a supporter of Israe...
14 Dec 2025 at 8:50am
I was a delegate yesterday at the SNP National Council in Dundee.  Regular readers may remember that when I was a delegate at the special SNP constitutional conference in March, I asked for advice ...

Pro-independence parties on course for their BIGGEST EVER majority of seats i...
11 Dec 2025 at 9:12am
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 pretty close to halfway to its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

Ipsos poll puts support for independence at 52% - and says it will go higher ...
10 Dec 2025 at 7:47pm
Should Scotland be an independent country?  (Ipsos / STV)Yes 52%No 48%I have an analysis piece about this poll at The National, which you can read HERE.  I'm also going to try to make a video about...

Eurovision and Israel: No More Hiding Places For The BBC
9 Dec 2025 at 8:09am
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 pretty close to halfway to its target figure of £1700.  A mil...

Nigel Farage's rant about the native languages of Glasgow school pupils revea...
6 Dec 2025 at 7:52am
Today's video commentary below is in two parts.  Firstly, I look at how Nigel Farage's complaint that almost one-third of Glasgow school pupils do not speak English as a native language marks out R...

If Rachel Reeves' rejection of an independence referendum "carries little wei...
4 Dec 2025 at 8:41am
Stephen Flynn has said that Rachel Reeves' rejection of an independence referendum in the event of an SNP overall majority "carries little weight", but if it really doesn't matter what the UK gover...

"Utterly dominant": SNP soar to almost 40% support in latest Scottish subsamp...
3 Dec 2025 at 5:52pm
*  *  *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 pretty close to halfway to its target figure of £1700....

Scot Goes Pop: The Final Fundraiser (plus an update about the video blogging ...
1 Dec 2025 at 6:37am
Click here to go straight to the fundraiser page.Scot Goes Pop's annual fundraiser for 2025 ended up getting much, much closer to its target figure than I ever thought was possible, so a million th...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

MSPs urged to back ?game-changing? outdoor education Bill
16 Dec 2025 at 7:10am
Tory MSP Liz Smith proposed the legislation, which faces a vote at stage three on Tuesday at Holyrood.

Ian Murray says he is yet to receive explanation for sacking as Scottish secr...
15 Dec 2025 at 6:53am
The Edinburgh South politician was made Scottish secretary when Labour swept to power in July last year.

Angela Constance summoned to give evidence at committee after no confidence m...
12 Dec 2025 at 5:48pm
Angela Constance has been accused of 'misrepresenting' the views of a leading child abuse expert.

Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf sign motion in solidarity with Palestine Act...
12 Dec 2025 at 5:02pm
Seven prisoners across the UK are on hunger strike.

Scottish Tories request probe into justice secretary Angela Constance
12 Dec 2025 at 12:52pm
Angela Constance has been accused of 'misrepresenting' the views of a leading child abuse expert.

No evidence Scottish child payment really encourages worklessness, study finds
11 Dec 2025 at 6:24pm
The research found deprivation and food insecurity would be up to 9% higher without the benefit unique to Scotland.

Calls for Scottish justice secretary to go over grooming gangs row
11 Dec 2025 at 12:07pm
Anas Sarwar has accused Angela Constance of 'misleading' the Scottish Parliament.

John Swinney to face FMQs as poll shows Reform surging behind SNP
11 Dec 2025 at 11:52am
Polling suggests Reform UK are gaining ground while Scottish Labour?s support has fallen.

Police Scotland apologises to Tory MSP Murdo Fraser over social media post ac...
11 Dec 2025 at 10:30am
A non-crime hate incident was recorded against Murdo Fraser in 2023.

Reform surges behind SNP as Labour support falls, poll shows
10 Dec 2025 at 12:06pm
Ipsos Scotland Political Pulse survey gives John Swinney's party a 17-point lead over Reform UK ahead of next year's Scottish Parliament election.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces PMQs amid calls to ?modernise? ECHR to tack...
10 Dec 2025 at 11:53am
European ministers, including the deputy prime minister, are due to meet in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday.

Former SNP Aberdeenshire councillor defects to Nigel Farage?s Reform UK 
10 Dec 2025 at 10:29am
John Cox previously represented the SNP until 2017.

Ministers burying their heads in sand over ballooning benefits bill, say Tories
10 Dec 2025 at 7:05am
The Tories will lead a debate at Holyrood on Wednesday urging MSPs to tackle the ?crisis? in Scotland?s welfare system.

Burnham on Labour leadership: ?If the call came I?m not going to turn away?
9 Dec 2025 at 4:49pm
In an interview with ITV News, the Mayor of Greater Manchester hinted at a leadership bid after revealing in the Autumn that MPs were asking him to run.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Mum of grooming gang victim urges MSPs to sack Justice Secretary in harrowing...
16 Dec 2025 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The mother of Taylor, who was sexually abused as a thirteen year old, has written an open letter to MSPs hours before they vote on Constance's future.

Mother of grooming gang victim shares heartbreaking open letter in full
16 Dec 2025 at 4:30am
The mum of a grooming gangs victim has written to MSPs urging them to support a motion of no confidence today in SNP Justice Secretary Angela Constance.

Anas Sarwar calls on Green and SNP MSPs to vote to sack Angela Constance as J...
15 Dec 2025 at 12:54pm
The Scottish Labour leader urged the pro-independence parties to support a motion of no confidence in the embattled Justice Secretary.

Jewish leader in Scotland condemns 'intolerable climate of antisemitism' foll...
15 Dec 2025 at 11:24am
The chair of the Jewish Council in Scotland said the group was liasing with police following the terror attack in Australia.

Plan to reduce speed limit on Scots roads to 50 mph dropped by SNP Government...
15 Dec 2025 at 10:44am
Nine out of 10 responses to a public consultation disagreed with the claim a reduced speed limit would address the number of casualties on roads.

BBC urged to keep Scotland v Denmark footage on iPlayer for Tartan Army fans ...
15 Dec 2025 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: SNP MSP Paul McLennan said it was vital that all future Scotland internationals remain free-to-air so all supporters can enjoy them.

Ian Murray's wife was 'absolutely f****** furious' after Keir Starmer sacked ...
15 Dec 2025 at 4:30am
The long-serving Edinburgh MP was suddenly demoted by the PM as part of a wider Cabinet reshuffle.

SNP 'letting Scotland's NHS crumble' as buildings repair bill tops £1.5 billion
15 Dec 2025 at 4:30am
It would cost a staggering £1,549,777,788 to do all required repairs across the country's hospitals and clinics.

Scotland's energy resources must be used to bring household bills down
15 Dec 2025 at 4:29am
In his regular column for the Record, the First Minister says tackling energy costs for ordinary Scots should be a priority.

'Orwellian' live facial recognition cameras 'should not be waved through in S...
14 Dec 2025 at 4:30am
Scots police chiefs went on a fact-finding mission to London last month to learn how the controversial AI-based tech is deployed by the Met.

The National

The National | Politics

Steph Paton: There?s so much that makes Keir Starmer far from ?inoffensive?
15 Dec 2025 at 8:25pm

I?VE always found ?cult of personality?-style politics to be pretty weird

Wes Streeting?s vision for reform is at odds with Scottish values
15 Dec 2025 at 8:00pm

AS someone who cares deeply about the future of the NHS and about Scotland?s political direction, I am alarmed by the prospect of Wes Streeting becoming the next UK Labour leader. His views on health policy, in particular, represent a real danger to the principles that underpin a public, universal NHS.

Sandie Peggie supporters take aim at tribunal judge ? why is that ok?
15 Dec 2025 at 7:00pm

THE fallout from the Sandie Peggie employment tribunal continues to rumble on, and supporters of the nurse are now taking aim at the Judge in the case

Anas Sarwar is silent about Keir Starmer's additions to the Lords
15 Dec 2025 at 6:30pm

THE Met will not pursue Andrew Windsor? Yaxley-Lennon leads 1000 fundamentalists in a rancid show of bigotry dressed up as a carol service? Reform UK will not be announcing who their as-yet-unidentified patrons are? On top of that, Starmer has announced that some of his best donors will get their snouts into the gravy train that is the unelected House of Lords.

Fifa and Uefa leaders to be reported over 'aiding and abetting Israeli war cr...
15 Dec 2025 at 6:01pm

THE heads of Fifa and Uefa are set to be reported for ?aiding and abetting? alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity for their support for Israeli football teams in occupied Palestine, campaigners have said.

BBC issues correction over Paisley Question Time error
15 Dec 2025 at 5:08pm

THE BBC has issued a correction after a major error was made in a caption during an episode of Question Time filmed in Paisley ...

Greens announce 'huge' defection from Labour in largest mass move of its kind
15 Dec 2025 at 5:00pm

THE Greens have announced a ?huge? defection as five Labour councillors joined the party, in what is claimed to be the largest mass move of its kind.

Scotland signs agreement with UAE to 'strengthen space industry links'
15 Dec 2025 at 4:14pm

SCOTLAND has signed a co-operation agreement with the UAE which is set to strengthen its international space industry links.

Scottish Reform UK councillor left police after criminal charges
15 Dec 2025 at 4:14pm

REFORM UK?s first elected councillor in Scotland left his job as a police officer after being charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, The National can reveal.

John Swinney voices solidarity with Scotland's Jewish community after terror ...
15 Dec 2025 at 4:12pm

THE First Minister has sent a message of solidarity to Jewish communities following the terrorist attack in Sydney.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

We can?t keep tinkering at the edges: how to put prevention into practice now
16 Dec 2025 at 6:00am
If Scotland is serious about tackling its wicked problems, we cannot keep tinkering at the edges. We must line up our budgets with what we know works, back communities with long-term support and allowing evidence to guide us even when it challenges what w

Scotland?s Visitor Economy: Tackling Challenges in a Changing Climate
16 Dec 2025 at 6:00am
Through this, we?ll support businesses to grow and develop and encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more, ultimately growing the value of the visitor economy for Scotland.

Greens urged to rethink Angela Constance backing ahead of confidence vote
15 Dec 2025 at 2:22pm
A vote of no confidence is expected to take place on Tuesday

Ian Murray: My wife was ?absolutely f**king furious? about sacking from Scotl...
15 Dec 2025 at 6:00am
The Labour MP said he still has not had any explanation as to why he was removed from the top job

Prime public interest
15 Dec 2025 at 6:00am
Global firm Leidos is driving swift and ethical innovation for a digital transformation of Scotland?s public services

ScotRail launches new AI announcer
12 Dec 2025 at 2:24pm
ScotRail has?launched a refreshed artificial intelligence (AI) service for onboard announcements

Reform wins first byelection victory in Scotland
12 Dec 2025 at 12:36pm
David McLennan described the victory as a ?vote of faith" in the party

Biotech jobs boost for Grangemouth in ?8.5m fund
11 Dec 2025 at 4:09pm
The Scottish Government has announced funding of ?8.5m to support the creation of up to 460 new jobs at Grangemouth

UK Government partners with Google on AI deal?
11 Dec 2025 at 3:30pm
The UK Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Google to secure priority access for UK scientists to cutting edge artificial intelligence tools.

Edinburgh University scientists use AI to refine prostate cancer care
11 Dec 2025 at 3:29pm
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have used artificial intelligence to identify negative side effects of radiotherapy in patients who have prostate cancer

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

UK politics: Trump talks ?complete nonsense? about crime in London, says Met ...
12 Dec 2025 at 4:30pm
Mark Rowley says capital is a safe city, and claims of no-go areas are ?completely false?Members of the House of Lords have proposed ?totally unnecessary? and ?very cruel? amendments to the assisted dying bill in a bid to scupper it, Kim Leadbeater, the MP leading the campaign for the legislation...

Scotland?s looser rules on assisted dying could lead to ?death tourism?, say ...
10 Dec 2025 at 5:11pm
Cross-party group of MSPs says bill going through Holyrood could attract people from elsewhere in UKSenior Scottish politicians fear there could be a risk of ?death tourism? from terminally ill people travelling from other parts of the UK to end their lives in Scotland.A cross-party group of MSPs...

?It?s Scotland?s energy?: SNP to focus on renewables in Holyrood election
8 Dec 2025 at 6:05pm
Leader John Swinney says independence could cut household energy bills by a third in the long termThe future of Scottish renewables will underpin the Scottish National party?s Holyrood election campaign, the party leader, John Swinney, has said, as he claimed independence could cut household ener...

No 10 declines to comment on White House claim that Europe facing ?civilisati...
8 Dec 2025 at 5:49pm
US national security strategy takes aim at EU and other bodies over issues including migration, free speech and falling birthratesBadenoch is now taking questions.Q: From Sky News You said you did not want to leave any stones unturned. That is what Sajid Javid said when he ordered an inquiry in...

Farage dodges press as he unveils Reform?s first peer after Conservative defe...
6 Dec 2025 at 5:20pm
Party leader leaves latest recruit, Malcolm Offord, to field questions on antisemitism allegations at Scotland rallyNigel Farage has addressed Reform UK?s largest rally in Scotland to date but refused to engage with local journalists ? leaving the newly defected peer Malcolm Offord to field quest...

John Swinney defends immigration as Scotland faces rise of Reform
6 Dec 2025 at 9:00am
Exclusive: First minister mounts robust defence of diversity as SNP prepares campaign for Holyrood election in MayScotland needs immigration to bolster the size of its working-age population, the country?s first minister has said, mounting a forceful defence of diversity in the face of rising su...

Farage criticises BBC over racism allegations and claims one fellow pupil sai...
4 Dec 2025 at 6:01pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereNigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said that in Essex county council elections were postponed. He said district councils were being replaced with a new ?pretty amorphous unitary authority?. Because of that, the area also needed ?a clea...

Starmer says budget did not break manifesto tax pledge ? as it happened
27 Nov 2025 at 5:54pm
PM says: ?We kept to our manifesto in terms of what we?ve promised. But I accept the challenge that we?ve asked everybody to contribute?Ask the Guardian your budget questionsShare your views on the new ?mansion tax?Budget calculator: find out if you are better or worse offThe Conservative party i...

Uk politics: Streeting defends asylum policy, but says he?s not ?comfortable?...
19 Nov 2025 at 5:31pm
Health secretary still maintains that forced removals are ?right thing to do for the country?Healey is now taking questions.Q: How close are are we to war?It is Labour that is the party of defence. Continue reading...

Starmer stands by McSweeney and says he has been ?assured no briefings agains...
13 Nov 2025 at 6:06pm
This blog has now closed, you can read more on this story herePA Media has more on what the monthly performance figures from NHS England show. PA says:The data shows 180,329 people in England had been waiting more than a year to start routine hospital treatment at the end of September, down from ...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

What?s in a name? The SNP and nationalism
15 Dec 2025 at 7:04pm
There’s nationalism and there’s nationalism. On the Rest is Politics podcast hosted by Tony Blair’s erstwhile Director of Communications Alastair Campbell, First Minister John Swinney addressed the issue of the SNP’s name, or rather, the non-issue. Both previous first ministers, Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon had expressed some disquiet that the SNP’s name, Scottish National …

The dangerous stupidity of Keir Starmer
10 Dec 2025 at 4:29pm
You can say many things about the opportunistic moral vacuum that is Keir Starmer, but he’s not stupid, he just behaves as though he was. The one time human rights lawyer Starmer’s latest foray into deliberate and dangerous stupidity was his plea to European leaders yesterday to curb human rights laws in order to introduce …

Westminster and Scotland?s energy, fool me once?
8 Dec 2025 at 6:21pm
Scotland is, by far and away, the most energy rich country of the islands of Britain and Ireland. Moreover it has more in the way of energy resources than just about any other country in Europe, with the exception of Norway (Russia’s vast fossil fuel resources are overwhelmingly concentrated in the Asian part of Russia …

Farage?s contemptible attack on Glesca weans
3 Dec 2025 at 9:15pm
Nigel Farage has been a racist bully again. But don’t worry, he’s only doing it indirectly and without intent to offend or insult. So that’s OK then. Just days after the Scottish Languages Act came into force the English nationalist golf club boor has taken aim at school children in Glasgow. Apparently it’s the “cultural …

The Scottish Languages Act
1 Dec 2025 at 6:56pm
Scotland’s status as a multilingual country is now recognised in law with the Scottish Languages Act coming into force on St Andrew’s Day. The Act beefs up the legal protections previously given to Gaelic and elevates it to the status of an official language of Scotland. For the first time in history, official legal recognition …

I?m disabled, here?s the truth about the Motability scheme.
29 Nov 2025 at 4:06pm
The Labour party has capitulated to right wing demonisation of the most vulnerable minority group in the country, the disabled. I’ve pointed this out before but it bears repeating. The disabled are the only minority group that anyone can become a part of at any time. Anyone can become involved in a serious accident that …

The lie that protects the rich from tax rises
27 Nov 2025 at 3:30pm
Better late than never, Rachel Reeves finally followed the lead of the SNP Government in Holyrood and announced that the heinous two child cap on benefits will finally be abolished from May next year, cue a load of hypocritical Labour MPs trying to pretend that they supported this measure all along despite voting to keep …

Hope of a better Scotland can defeat the far right
25 Nov 2025 at 2:42pm
Racists complain that migrants don’t want to learn English and integrate, but when migrants do want to learn English and integrate, racists mount a protest outside the school where English language lessons are being given to the mothers of some of the pupils, insisting that they are “protecting our kids” from unvetted adults on school …

The Scottish media?s covid double standards
21 Nov 2025 at 1:37pm
Did Nicola Sturgeon get everything right during the Covid pandemic when she headed a devolved government limited powers at its disposal and she was faced with an anti-independence Scottish media that screamed she was politicising the pandemic in order to further the cause of independence whenever she sought to diverge from the line being taken …

A Labour vote in Scotland is a vote not to matter
19 Nov 2025 at 5:01pm
You’ve got to hand it to the Labour party, they are certainly consistent, consistent in their shafting of Scottish workers. It’s almost as though, despite Labour’s protestations to the contrary, Scottish votes don’t matter to the Labour party and its strategists. We’ve seen a party which campaigned on the slogan vote Labour to save Grangemouth …

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 'Albatraz'

Police Scotland ?have no intelligence to suggest threat? and research says th...
15 Dec 2025 at 12:18pm
Professor John Robertson OBA STV yesterday have: Police Scotland is urging the public to ?remain alert? following a Hanukkah terror attack on Bondi Beach in Australia. At least 12 people have died after a shooting at Sydney?s Bondi Beach on Sunday, which authorities have said was a terrorist attack against the Jewish community. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed in a press conference...

As NHS Scotland hits treatment targets for a year, what is the cause of a ?ch...
15 Dec 2025 at 10:48am
Professor John Robertson OBA I am, of course, not competent to evaluate the claims of the charity making them in the Herald above but I am, as are all of you, competent to ask why an apparent improvement in performance in the NHS services for them – CAMHS – now for a year, treating more than 90% of those children referred to it (7 500) in one quarter, within the 18 week target, 50% within only ...

Why the wind doesn?t need to blow all the time ? breakthrough in new technolo...
15 Dec 2025 at 12:31am
EBARGOED UNTIL 15 Dec 2025 00:01 Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland, three days ago: In East Lothian, council leader Norman Hampshire has asked UK ministers to draw up a “characterisation” of the Torness power station site in the hope that it could still be considered for a replacement. The Labour councillor says the closure of Torness without a replacement would be devastating to t...

Not even one one report of a flooded home ? I wonder why? Surely not Scottish...
14 Dec 2025 at 12:37pm
Professor John Robertson OBA STV News, almost exactly 24 hours earlier, as I write: Scots homes ‘likely to be flooded’ as amber weather warning for ‘very heavy rain’ issued – The alert comes into effect from midnight on Sunday and remains in place until 11.59pm. The same hopeful claims were everywhere in Scotland’s media with the same optimism, on their part, we see when such NHS waiting times ...

Campus shootings ? how Scotland?s campuses, safest in the UK, could not be re...
14 Dec 2025 at 10:45am
Professor John Robertson OBA Yesterday’s tragic killings at Brown University in the USA are only the latest in a sequence of 43 such incidents. Ironically, in July this year Police Scotland answered a Freedom of Information request from the US Department of Education on crime data for Scotland’s Higher education campuses, in a surprisingly unhelpful way: I refer to your recent request for crime...

Domestic abuse shockingly far more common in England & Wales than in Scotland
14 Dec 2025 at 10:18am
Professor John Robertson OBA There were 30 227 cases of reported domestic abuse in Scotland in 2024-2025.1 All things being equal, you might expect the figure for England & Wales to be around 11 times greater, reflecting a population around 11 times greater – 330 000? In England & Wales in 2024-2025: The police flagged 797,530 offences as domestic abuse-related in YE June 2025, including 623,43...

UK Labour Government to copy SNP policy on specialist rape and sexual offence...
14 Dec 2025 at 9:21am
Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Politics today: All police forces to get specialist sexual offence teams, Mahmood pledges – Specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams will be introduced to every police force in England and Wales by 2029, the government has pledged. It is part of a long-delayed plan aimed at halving violence against women and girls within a decade. In Scotland:...

It may be a different battle for the SNP in the West and South of Scotland in...
13 Dec 2025 at 9:51pm
Professor John Robertson OBA While Scotland-wide polls have Reform UK in second place pushing Labour down into third place and a major loss of list MPSs, this may conceal regional variations and exaggerate their threat in some parts. Only Paris-based, Ipsos, publish regional breakdowns with consistent scientific sampling that can be reasonably compared over time, though limited slightly by a We...

Will we win independence by our own hands or will events happen to us that ma...
13 Dec 2025 at 9:45pm
Important - I offer this as a starter for comment. I'm not, as you may know, an expert in this geopolitical field in any way. Professor John Robertson OBA Fifty years ago, I had to write an essay about the extent to which Karl Marx believed that individuals or powerful forces determined historical outcomes. The above quote, I thought, was a good starting point. I got a low B pass. He seems to b...

Marine economy sees major growth including massive 2 024% increase in turnove...
12 Dec 2025 at 11:27pm
Professor John Robertson OBA From Scotland’s Marine Economic Statistics 2023 published yesterday, the more positive extracts which may well be selectively ignored by MSM. Scotland?s marine economy includes activities dependent on the marine environment. They provide an important source of income and employment across Scotland. Some key points are: In 2023, the marine economy generated £5.6 bill...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google 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

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

SNP remain ahead but Reform support in Scotland rises, while Labour support s...
10 Dec 2025 at 11:00am
SNP remain ahead but Reform support in Scotland rises, while Labour support slumps  Ipsos

X feature exposes Iranian-run pro-Scottish independence accounts - UKDJ - ???...
24 Nov 2025 at 8:00am
X feature exposes Iranian-run pro-Scottish independence accounts - UKDJ  ????? ??????????

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

Scottish independence could 'reduce energy bills by more than a third', First...
8 Dec 2025 at 3:23pm
Scottish independence could 'reduce energy bills by more than a third', First Minister John Swinney says  Sky News

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

I?m a realist on Scotland's currency ? it should use the pound after independ...
15 Dec 2025 at 9:36am
I?m a realist on Scotland's currency ? it should use the pound after independence  TheNational.scot

Your Party to meet in Dundee amidst indy position debate - The Herald
15 Dec 2025 at 2:27pm
Your Party to meet in Dundee amidst indy position debate  The Herald

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

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Angela Constance must justify her stance, argues Herald reader - The Herald
16 Dec 2025 at 6:33am
Angela Constance must justify her stance, argues Herald reader  The Herald

SNP remain ahead but Reform support in Scotland rises, while Labour support s...
10 Dec 2025 at 11:00am
SNP remain ahead but Reform support in Scotland rises, while Labour support slumps  Ipsos

John Swinney addresses 'SNP name change' after former leaders raise concerns ...
15 Dec 2025 at 2:41pm
John Swinney addresses 'SNP name change' after former leaders raise concerns  TheNational.scot

Save Scotland's high streets: Why SNP can't ignore this urgent plea for help ...
16 Dec 2025 at 6:00am
Save Scotland's high streets: Why SNP can't ignore this urgent plea for help  The Scotsman

SNP was warned flying Palestinian flag would be seen as backing Hamas - The T...
15 Dec 2025 at 5:30pm
SNP was warned flying Palestinian flag would be seen as backing Hamas  The Times

?It?s Scotland?s energy?: SNP to focus on renewables in Holyrood election - T...
8 Dec 2025 at 7:25pm
?It?s Scotland?s energy?: SNP to focus on renewables in Holyrood election  The Guardian

SNP abandons 50mph blanket speed limit after public outcry - The Telegraph
15 Dec 2025 at 4:24pm
SNP abandons 50mph blanket speed limit after public outcry  The Telegraph

SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE: Release according to Article 40, Secti...
15 Dec 2025 at 12:13pm
SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG the German Securities Trading Act with the objective of Europe-wide distribution  TradingView ? Track All Markets

Grooming gang victims need justice and SNP Government cannot hide behind comp...
16 Dec 2025 at 4:30am
Grooming gang victims need justice and SNP Government cannot hide behind complex processes  Daily Record

SNP drops 50mph limit? after spending £500,000 - Daily Mail
15 Dec 2025 at 8:57pm
SNP drops 50mph limit? after spending £500,000  Daily Mail

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google 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

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

Independence takes lead and Labour support plummets in new Scottish poll - Th...
10 Dec 2025 at 3:50pm
Independence takes lead and Labour support plummets in new Scottish poll  TheNational.scot

Scottish independence could 'reduce energy bills by more than a third', First...
8 Dec 2025 at 3:23pm
Scottish independence could 'reduce energy bills by more than a third', First Minister John Swinney says  Sky News

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

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

Part Two: What an independent Scotland could look like - A Fresh Start with I...
8 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Part Two: What an independent Scotland could look like - A Fresh Start with Independence  The Scottish Government

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

Ukraine Today: Russia slams ?flawed? Scotland referendum; Kremlin observers c...
30 Nov 2025 at 12:20pm
Ukraine Today: Russia slams ?flawed? Scotland referendum; Kremlin observers critical of independence vote (VIDEO)  Kyiv Post

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