The Herald

The Herald | Politics


'Disingenuous' messaging and half-baked apologies: How Angus Robertson lost h...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
10 May 2026 at 6:30am
On Friday, it was the Scottish Greens? day in Edinburgh Central, gaining their first-ever constituency MSP and three more on the regional list.


?When things happen in Russia, they happen fast? Is the end of Putin?s rule i...
by david.pratt@heraldandtimes.co.uk | David Pratt
10 May 2026 at 6:15am
In Moscow suspicions of a coup or assassination attempt have raised questions over the Russian leader?s grip on power. Foreign Editor David Pratt examines the evidence


What fuelled Greens surge - and who will their Holyrood tax plans hit?
10 May 2026 at 5:00am
The Scottish Greens hailed their election result as "seismic" with the party winning a record 15 Holyrood seats including its first two constituencies.


The radical activists, the crofters, and the former MPs: Meet the class of 2026
10 May 2026 at 5:00am
The seventh session of the Scottish Parliament will welcome 64 new faces, nearly half of the chamber.


There's a massive indyref challenge facing the SNP - but there's this silver ...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
10 May 2026 at 5:00am
John Swinney was ready to celebrate an SNP victory. But lingering in the background, is the scale of the independence challenge facing his next five years in government.


Scottish Labour begin post-mortem after worst result since devolution
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
10 May 2026 at 5:00am
Labour was confident going into the election. And it was not a front or bravado ? it was a confidence that stemmed from a genuine belief that they were in a better place than the polls suggested.


??Unspun: Election Briefing: The morning after the day before
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
10 May 2026 at 9:00am
SNP back for a fifth term, Greens surge to 15 seats, Reform rocks up to Holyrood and Labour wonders where it all went wrong.


Reform?s new MSPs could make this Holyrood?s most volatile parliament yet
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
10 May 2026 at 5:00am
Reform UK?s arrival as Holyrood?s joint second-largest party is set to reshape Scottish politics, with Malcolm Offord promising disruption, scrutiny and a challenge to the ?political consensus?.


Hundreds march in Glasgow for 'day of rage' against Reform UK
by Nicole.Mitchell@newsquest.co.uk | Nicole Mitchell
9 May 2026 at 5:41pm
Hundreds of people marched through Glasgow for a ?day of rage against Reform UK?.


The real Dr Frankenstein? Meet the scientist at the forefront of a 'second Ge...
10 May 2026 at 6:15am
Dr Adrian Woolfson is pioneering technologies which he says will lead to a ?Second Genesis?, where humans can create life like God. He meets our Writer at Large


John Swinney: 'Scotland must be independent before Nigel Farage enters Downin...
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
9 May 2026 at 3:12pm
John Swinney has said Scotland has to be independent before Nigel Farage becomes Prime Minister.


Former Scottish Labour MP takes up job as adviser to Reform's Malcolm Offord
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
9 May 2026 at 1:07pm
Former Glasgow South West MP Ian Davidson has become an adviser to Reform UK?s Malcolm Offord. After 60 years in Labour, the veteran Eurosceptic claims Holyrood needs a "kick up the backside."


Gordon brown given new role by Sir Keir Starmer after bruising election
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
9 May 2026 at 1:03pm
The Former Prime Minister has been brought into the fold


'Historic and overdue': Greens hail election of first two openly transgender ...
9 May 2026 at 10:23am
Scotland sees the election of the country's first two openly transgender MSPs, both from the Scottish Greens.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Why the inevitability of an SNP victory is dangerous for our democracy
10 May 2026 at 6:00am

There is also a growing generation of civil servants and those working in government agencies who have only ever served a nationalist government

There was a low voter turnout at the 2026 Holyrood election - something that should concern us all.

John Swinney has done more than steady the ship, he taken control of it and steered it to a decisive victory

There will be very little demand for Sarwar to stand down

It is important now the party regroups and repositions itself in line with Scottish views and demands

Yesterday saw some dramatic winners and losers as the results of Thursday?s Scottish Parliament elections were announced.

The First Minister said Holyrood must be ?fully Farage-proofed?

The veteran former Labour MP Ian Davidson has been brought in as an advisor to Reform UK as the party attempts to rebrand as a Scottish political force

We take a look at what the opposition will look like in this newly-elected parliament.

The US President has shared his thoughts on Mr Swinney and the SNP?s election result

Wings over Scotland

And Nothing Happened Forever
9 May 2026 at 3:22am
Well, we told you so. We told you in March (and indeed long before then) that the 2026 Holyrood election was a giant waste of time and money that would deliver exactly the same useless Parliament we already had, and so it proved. The SNP ended up giving half-a-dozen seats to the Greens, Labour donated …

Pick Your Poison
7 May 2026 at 12:43am
At the end of last year we noted the unusual and persistent levels of divergence in Scottish political polling. As polls have become much more frequent during the election campaign, nothing about that has changed. The final polls, published yesterday, are so far apart from each other that they tell us basically zip. Analysing this …

The value bet
6 May 2026 at 4:25pm
To pass the time on (praise be to Baby Jeebus) the last day of the Holyrood election campaign, we thought we’d do a catch-up summary of all the seat projections we could find from last month and this month. Here it is. Now, as it happens we think the potential seat ranges are significantly wider. …

Anas Sarwar is a winner
6 May 2026 at 3:14am
Specifically, of the Single Most Toe-Curlingly, Face-Palmingly Cretinous Thing Said In The 2026 Holyrood Election Campaign, And Possibly Any Election Ever, Prize. We mean, wow. We could easily write a 1000-word article purely on the top 10 things that are fatuously, obviously idiotic about those three short sentences, and so could you. So imagine how …

Binfire Of The Vanities
4 May 2026 at 3:52pm
For a nation that prides itself on hating the Tories, this is very odd. And if you don’t see how, let us illustrate. If you simply combined the Tory and Reform votes from the latest poll, the election would be on a knife-edge, with the right-wing alliance just three points behind the SNP on the …

Seven Days Too Long
30 Apr 2026 at 1:57pm
It’s nearly over, readers. Just one more week of this to endure. The most miserable Holyrood election campaign of all time will end next Thursday with an election which will deliver Scotland’s most miserable devolved government of all time. Only the exact form, colour and shape of the misery remains to be determined. So as …

Push The Button
25 Apr 2026 at 12:43pm
We’ve been thinking about this all morning, readers. To the point where we’d vote for any party pledging to implement it at once. It’s the best such moral-dilemma question we’ve ever seen, and the absolute key to the state of humankind as a species. It’s a near-perfect practical illustration of the concept of “suicidal empathy”, …

How To Get Away With Crimes
22 Apr 2026 at 6:03pm
After many years of vindictively, vexatiously and maliciously plaguing innocent people, it seemed in February this year that disgraced and deranged former policeman Lynsay Watson‘s campaign of terror might be finally beginning to draw to a close. ? Attending the Civic Justice Centre in Manchester as part of an ongoing attempt to persecute the feminist …

The Pit Of Vipers
19 Apr 2026 at 2:50pm
It’s hard to know where to start with the Sunday Mail’s lead story today. Especially if one doesn’t want sent to prison. So we hope you’ll forgive us if we’re extra-careful. The article contains things even we’d never read before. The Mail has redacted some of the names, but – well, we’re not going to …

The Narcissism Of No Differences
17 Apr 2026 at 3:29pm
So that’s the full set of manifestos in. You can download them all here in a oner, if you’re REALLY bored. But we don’t advise it, because we can just tell you what they say in a couple of minutes. SNP: “If you’re even reading this we know you’re absolute idiots, so here are a …

Craig Murray

The 2026 Scottish Elections
6 May 2026 at 5:40pm

We get so trapped inside the logic of the UK’s crazy electoral systems we often do not see what is really happening. Two thirds of active voters, voted against Starmer’s Labour at the last general election. He was always highly unpopular. Just as Starmer’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election was based on only …

The 2026 Scottish Elections

The Morass of Injustice
2 May 2026 at 11:24am

A vast cloying morass of injustice has visibly submerged the British legal systems in anything connected to Palestine. In a quite incredible series of linked and kinked events this week, the senior KC representing one of the Palestine Action activists in the Filton trial was in the Court of Appeal arguing against being found in …

The Morass of Injustice

An Inspiring Story
21 Apr 2026 at 7:54am

In 2018, at the height of the economic crisis in Venezuela through crippling sanctions, Kellogg’s announced the overnight closure of their Maracay factory with hundreds of redundancies – and massive knock-on effects in the local community. The workers refused to accept the closure and, with government assistance, restarted the factory. It is still running eight …

An Inspiring Story

Vote for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland
15 Apr 2026 at 12:48pm

It was not my intention to run for election to the Scottish parliament from a hospital bed in Caracas, but sometimes we have to take what life gives us. I went to a clinic a week ago feeling dizzy and was immediately rushed to hospital. My heart rate was fluttering and below 20 bpm. I …

Vote for the Alliance to Liberate Scotland

The Strait of Hormuz
8 Apr 2026 at 5:02pm

In international law, Tehran has every right to close the strait of Hormuz to nations with which it is in armed conflict. Two vital points: 1) States who permit attacks on Iran to be launched from their territory can be blocked 2) Iran can block neutral ships from trading with states with which it is …

The Strait of Hormuz

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez
31 Mar 2026 at 1:16pm

As I was leaving the University of the Communes in Tocuyito, after a joyful and uplifting visit, an earnest young Professor came up to me and pulled me aside. Very quietly, he asked me what was going to happen. A number of the students were terrified there would be regime change and they, picked as …

The Weight on Delcy Rodriguez

BBC Scotland

SNP leader John Swinney rules out Holyrood talks with Reform UK
9 May 2026 at 5:30pm
The nationalists secured 58 seats in their fifth consecutive election win, but that is short of an overall majority.

Security passes, buddies, and who gets the best office - what awaits the newb...
10 May 2026 at 8:05am
A whole new group of MSPs travel to Holyrood for the first time on Monday but their arrival has been prepared for.

Eight of the biggest casualties of the Holyrood election
9 May 2026 at 2:34pm
From government ministers to a former party leader, 22 MSPs lost their seats in the Scottish Parliament.

SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second
9 May 2026 at 1:55am
John Swinney's party finished comfortably ahead of its rivals, but short of an overall majority.

Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood
9 May 2026 at 8:41am
John Swinney will return as first minister after a fifth Scottish election victory for the SNP.

Scottish election 2026: Results in maps and charts
9 May 2026 at 9:49am
A guide to how the 2026 Holyrood election panned out.

Greens oust SNP's Robertson as they win first Holyrood constituencies
9 May 2026 at 2:00am
The party has secured its best ever election result after taking seats across the country.

Reform wins 17 seats at Holyrood
9 May 2026 at 1:34am
Nigel Farage's party secured MSPs in a number of regional lists across Scotland.

SNP dominates west of Scotland as Labour struggles in heartlands
8 May 2026 at 9:42pm
The SNP sweeps to victory throughout much of Glasgow, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.

SNP lose seats in capital but hold on in Lothians and Fife
8 May 2026 at 10:20pm
In Fife the SNP have held onto every constituency but across the Firth in Edinburgh there is a very different picture.

Veteran Fergus Ewing finishes third as SNP take Inverness and Nairn
8 May 2026 at 10:16pm
Emma Roddick held the constituency seat for the SNP.

Conservative 'blue wall' holds firm in south of Scotland
8 May 2026 at 8:57pm
The Scottish Conservatives retain three seats and the SNP one across the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

Scot Goes Pop

The full results of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election: and how the bigges...
9 May 2026 at 12:10pm
For those of you who were asking, here is the final result of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, both in terms of vote shares and seats.Seats:SNP 58Reform UK 17Labour 17Greens 15Conservatives 1...

Free Money with the Reverend Stuart Campbell: an update on how to collect you...
9 May 2026 at 10:20am
Seriously, folks, I've never steered you wrong on a bet recommendation about Scottish politics, and 5/4 on Angus Robertson is absolutely free money. pic.twitter.com/cGvR1ZzIBD? Wings Over Scotland ...

Scottish Parliament election results 2026: How we've moved closer to a decisi...
9 May 2026 at 12:10am
 If you'd be interested in having another Scot Goes Pop poll at some point in the future, please check out our polling fundraiser HERE.

The SNP must go ahead with the Section 30 vote on day one of the parliamentar...
8 May 2026 at 6:57pm
I suppose when election results come in, we all tend to look back at the predictions we made during the campaign and compare it to reality.  I used to pride myself in avoiding hard predictions, but...

The rumour mill and the art of the possible
8 May 2026 at 11:52am
As we await the initial results and as the first strong rumours start to come through, could I just make a gentle suggestion to all SNP supporters.  Just completely stop talking about an SNP overal...

Final Holyrood opinion poll round-up, plus the seven constituencies YouGov sa...
7 May 2026 at 1:23pm
So I voted a couple of hours ago, and I Made Mine A Double, Stoo. No real clues about the turnout because I always choose a quiet time of day, but there was a steady trickle of people going in and ...

Make Mine A Double: as the polling stations open, be a 'peach' and listen to ...
7 May 2026 at 8:44am
The polling stations are now open and the Scottish Parliament election of 2026 is well underway, so let's be 'peachy' and have a final word about the voting system.  I've been writing this blog sin...

MRP latest: Survation sizzler gives SNP huge 20-point lead over Labour on the...
6 May 2026 at 8:24pm
There may be blogposts coming at you all evening, because we've got polls coming out of our ears at the moment.  Hot off the press is the Survation MRP poll, which I find really interesting, becaus...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Greens and SNP have ?mandate to deliver? second independence vote
10 May 2026 at 9:45am
The Scottish Greens picked up a record 15 MSPs in Thursday?s election

Hundreds take to Glasgow streets in ?day of rage? against Reform UK
10 May 2026 at 9:21am
It comes after Nigel Farage's party made significant gains in the Scottish and English local elections

Reform UK elects Scottish deputy leader
10 May 2026 at 9:12am
Thomas Kerr is one of the party?s 17 MSPs to be elected to Holyrood

Election brings down big beasts of Scottish politics
10 May 2026 at 8:52am
Angus Robertson, Fergus Ewing and Jackson Carlaw all lost their seats in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord brands John Swinney ?arrogant and pe...
9 May 2026 at 4:28pm
Malcolm Offord accuses FM of making a 'disgraceful attempt' to silence thousands of people who voted for Reform UK in the Scottish Parliament election.

Scotland needs independence before Nigel Farage becomes prime minister, says ...
9 May 2026 at 1:48pm
First Minister said it was vital the Scottish Parliament was 'fully Farage-proofed'.

Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman given jobs by Keir Starmer
9 May 2026 at 12:58pm
Brown will be the Prime Minister?s special envoy on global finance

Who is your MSP after Scottish 2026 election?
9 May 2026 at 11:01am
129 politicians have been elected to repsent the people of Scotland at Holyrood

Donald Trump congratulates John Swinney on ?Big Election Victory?
9 May 2026 at 10:31am
The SNP has won a fifth victory in Scotland

Two transgender MSPs elected to Holyrood in first for Scottish parliament
9 May 2026 at 9:05am
Dr Q Manivannan and Iris Duane both secured regional list seats for the Scottish Green Party

Former Tory leads Nigel Farage?s party to joint second place at Holyrood
9 May 2026 at 8:49am
Lord Malcolm Offord joined Reform from the Conservatives in December 2025

Reform leader Offord brands opponents ?disrespectful? at end of election count
8 May 2026 at 10:49pm
Lord Offord finished third in Inverclyde, though he was still elected on the regional list

John Swinney leads SNP to record fifth Holyrood victory
8 May 2026 at 10:07pm
This election campaign has been a far cry from previous ones he fought as party leader.

Downing Street has ?a lot of listening to do? after election, says Swinney
8 May 2026 at 4:36pm
Despite the party?s win, they are expected to fall short of the 65 seats needed for a majority.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scottish election 2026 aftermath LIVE as John Swinney pushes for IndyRef2
10 May 2026 at 10:03am
The Daily Record's top team brings you all the latest news and reaction as the fall-out from Thursday's Holyrood election rolls on.

Scottish Labour MP urges Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie to quit after electio...
10 May 2026 at 9:36am
EXCLUSIVE: Brian Leishman said there should be no "dilly-dallying? from the Scottish Labour leadership team.

Keir Starmer calls in Gordon Brown in 'desperate bid to fend off leadership c...
10 May 2026 at 4:30am
The Prime Minister is fighting for his political survival after disastrous ­elections across the UK.

John Swinney vows IndyRef2 bid restart within days after SNP sweep to victory
10 May 2026 at 4:30am
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour sources said defeated party leader Anas Sarwar will stay in post 'for the foreseeable future'.

John Swinney wants to 'Farage-proof' Holyrood and will work with rival partie...
9 May 2026 at 2:44pm
The First Minister says he will work with opposition parties to keep Nigel Farage?s Reform UK ?locked out? of power at Holyrood.

The SNP victory was made in Downing Street by a hapless Prime Minister
9 May 2026 at 4:30am
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the Holyrood election was unwinnable for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

SNP wins Holyrood election but falls short of majority needed for indyref2 push
8 May 2026 at 10:08pm
John Swinney's party will form the Government again after a resounding victory.

SNP has 'significant mandate' for independence referendum and UK Government '...
8 May 2026 at 6:58pm
Neil Gray told the Record the UK Government "should not stand in the way of the will of the people of Scotland".

Scottish politics today: Historic election victory for SNP as Labour vote col...
8 May 2026 at 5:00pm
The Record brings you its 5pm round-up of the big election stories so far.

SNP veteran Angus Robertson crashes out of Holyrood after Greens gain Edinbur...
8 May 2026 at 4:06pm
Lorna Slater has won the Edinburgh Central constituency in a breakthrough moment for the environmentalists.

The National

The National | Politics

Andrew Neil destroyed by economic expert over 'drivel' Daily Mail column
10 May 2026 at 9:50am

AN economic expert has ripped into Andrew Neil for writing "specious drivel" about Scotland in his column for the Daily Mail.

How would a Labour leadership challenge play out?
10 May 2026 at 8:45am

Here is a look at how a potential Labour leadership contest could play out

Live as Keir Starmer clings to power amid leadership challenge threat
10 May 2026 at 9:08am

Keir Starmer has insisted he will not quit as Prime Minister after a set of bruising election results across the UK

Fears over women?s representation realised as Scottish Parliament numbers fall
10 May 2026 at 5:54am

FEARS that women?s representation in Scotland would reverse have been ?realised?, with fewer women elected to Holyrood than in the last Parliament.

Mark Brown: We must defend Jewish voices for Palestine ? not denigrate them
10 May 2026 at 5:00am

NEXT Saturday, central London will witness demonstrations by two very different groups of people. On the one hand will be the united demonstration of the Palestine solidarity movement and the campaigns against racism and the far right

Inside Scottish Labour as activists and officials give verdict on Holyrood el...
10 May 2026 at 5:00am

FOR months, Anas Sarwar insisted the doubters would be silenced ...

Women in war zones face danger from every side. Here are their stories
10 May 2026 at 5:00am

A BLUE flak jacket and a helmet previously afforded a journalist more than just physical protection; it visibly identified a neutral, non-combatant civilian. But now, that same jacket is making them a target

The cringiest and silliest moments of the 2026 Holyrood election campaign
10 May 2026 at 5:00am

IT WOULDN?T be a Scottish election without some cringey, silly and outrageous moments.

Andrew Tickell: Sarwar came. Sarwar saw. Sarwar lost. And still they don?t learn
10 May 2026 at 5:00am

ANAS Sarwar, on his own account, is a man with remarkably little political agency or influence. Things seem to happen to him in politics

How Scotland's energy bills subsidise larids? wind farm jackpots
10 May 2026 at 5:00am

WEALTHY landowners including a Swedish aristocrat, the family of a former prime minister and a Tory donor, are earning millions in rent from wind farms which are subsidised by the public?s energy bills, The Ferret can reveal

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

SNP wins election with Labour and Reform tied in second place
9 May 2026 at 10:52am
The final result puts the SNP in 58, Reform and Labour on 17, the Greens on 15, Conservatives on 12 and Lib Dems on 10

John Swinney on track to remain first minister - but there's some parliamenta...
9 May 2026 at 10:30am
Your guide to deal making and the first minister election

Election withdrawal? Never fear, there are two Westminster byelections to come
9 May 2026 at 2:00am
The victory of the Stephens means two MPs will need to resign from the Commons

Scottish Election: SNP on course for victory as results continue
8 May 2026 at 7:21pm
Majority out of reach for John Swinney despite Labour woes

The former SNP MPs now heading for the Scottish Parliament
8 May 2026 at 6:30pm
Not all the new faces elected to Holyrood are unknowns

The Greens win big in Nicola Sturgeon?s former seat
8 May 2026 at 6:20pm
The Scottish Greens have won its second ever constituency seat in the Scottish Parliament, securing Nicola Sturgeon?s former seat, Glasgow Southside

Greens' Lorna Slater unseats SNP?s Angus Robertson
8 May 2026 at 5:08pm
Robertson is unlikely to be saved by the list as he was only placed fourth

Anas Sarwar concedes defeat in Scottish Parliament election: 'My party is hur...
8 May 2026 at 3:08pm
'Disappointment' for Scottish Labour as party suffers big losses in England

Scottish election: Scottish Labour concedes defeat as SNP makes early gains
8 May 2026 at 3:00pm
SNP leader John Swinney won his seat and said his party was on course for victory

Scottish election: Lib Dems hold Orkney but lose Shetland as results begin
8 May 2026 at 1:27pm
SNP wins declared in Dundee, Aberdeen and Ayrshire

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Swinney keen to work with fellow nationalist devolved leaders in UK
9 May 2026 at 5:24pm
SNP leader wants to ensure voices of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ?are heard loud and clear?John Swinney has said he plans to work with the nationalist first ministers in Wales and Northern Ireland in a coordinated opposition to Labour?s policies on the cost of living and UK government sp...

2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes
9 May 2026 at 4:02pm
From devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales to councils and mayoralties in England, find out what happened in your areaElections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directions Continue reading...

The SNP may have won again but Scottish politics has been upended
9 May 2026 at 7:50am
Public frustration gave the SNP a muted victory, while Labour tied with Reform for second and the Greens claimed a ?seismic? resultLong before the final votes were counted in Scotland, veteran Labour politicians said it was a defeat made in Downing Street.When the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sar...

2026 elections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directions
9 May 2026 at 7:34am
Keir Starmer?s party lost out to Reform and the Greens, with no respite in Scotland, Wales or England. These maps show the scale of the historic resultsFull results from England, Scotland and WalesLabour has suffered heavy losses across England, Scotland and Wales, losing ground to opponents on t...

John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victory
9 May 2026 at 1:36am
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, concedes his party was comprehensively beaten in election as count puts his party on 17 seats, a tie with ReformElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesJohn Swinney, the Scottish National party leader, has challenged...

Labour suffers historic defeat in Wales as Reform surges in English council e...
9 May 2026 at 12:07am
Welsh Labour leader and first minister Eluned Morgan loses seat with party pushed into third place behind Plaid Cymru and ReformThis liveblog is now closed. Read the Guardian?s report on the elections here and find all our election coverage here.2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish ...

Reform UK gains at Labour?s expense in local elections ? podcast
8 May 2026 at 5:53pm
It has been a crushing set of local and devolved elections for Labour, with Reform UK making huge gains across the country and the Greens winning in London. Keir Starmer is under pressure to announce a timeline for his departure ? yet he insists he will not walk away Continue reading...

Friday briefing: What the local election results tell us so far
8 May 2026 at 6:58am
In today?s newsletter: gains for Reform and losses for Labour in early results, but experts say overall picture underlines ?the fracturing of British politics?Good morning. If yesterday had been a general election, then by now, thanks to thousands of people beavering through the night counting vo...

Polls close in elections across England, Scotland and Wales
7 May 2026 at 10:00pm
Results of elections for councils in England, the Senedd in Wales and the Scottish parliament could transform Great Britain?s political landscape2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votesPolls have closed across England, Scotland and Wales for local, mayoral and parliament...

STV?s Scotland election coverage to be hit by strike action over pay
7 May 2026 at 12:46pm
About 120 journalists and broadcast staff expected to protest about pay freeze as STV invests in new radio stationCoverage of Scotland?s election counts by STV, the commercial broadcaster, is expected to be heavily hit by strike action in an escalating dispute over pay.The National Union of Journ...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Mission (almost) accomplished
9 May 2026 at 2:40pm
Originally I had intended to blog yesterday as the results came in, but they arrived later than I had expected and we did not have the certainty that the new Scottish Parliament would have a pro-independence majority until well into the evening. The final set of results, the allocation of list seats for the Highlands …

The British media is getting its excuses in early
6 May 2026 at 1:58pm
The British media in Scotland is getting its excuses in early. Gina Davidson, the Scotland political editor of LBC, wrote on social media that the SNP falling a couple of seats short of an absolute majority – based on the YouGov poll published the day before the election – would be a “poor result for …

Thomas Kerr, the Dumb Corleone of Scottish politics
5 May 2026 at 4:22pm
Reform’s opportunistic Thomas Kerr has completed his transformation from one nation liberal Tory to complete heid banging fascist. On Tuesday, Shettleston’s Dumb Corleone doubled down on his party’s exciting new election tactic of threatening the voters, proving that Reform UK struggles to grasp the difference between a democratic election and a protection racket. Kerr released …

Reform UK, the bastard offspring of Oswald Mosley and Coco the Clown
4 May 2026 at 5:17pm
  Reform has introduced a novel new campaigning tactic in the days leading up to the Holyrood election. Vote for us or we’ll put a concentration camp in your neighbourhood. It’s certainly a ‘bold’ move, but only if you define bold as utterly insane and disgustingly vile. On Monday Reform’s chairman Zia Yusuf, who is …

Shooting for the Moon on Thursday
3 May 2026 at 3:41pm
Shoot for the moon, as the saying goes, even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars. With that in mind that’s what independence supporters need to do on Thursday. An opinion poll by the traditionally No-friendly Norstat for the Sunday Times records a whopping 55% Yes response. The media in Scotland have been very …

Whisky, Labour?s leadership, and polling, fingers crossed for a record pro-in...
2 May 2026 at 4:09pm
We’re on the home straight now for the Scottish election on Thursday, and we are well into that nail biting phase when things seem to be going well but we are always aware of the uncanny ability of Scots to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The overwhelmingly anti-independence British media in Scotland is …

George Monbiot is right, the Union has nothing good for Scotland
1 May 2026 at 3:03pm
In an interview with The National, environmental campaigner George Monbiot, perhaps the highest profile person on the English left to have come out in favour of Scottish independence during the 2014 independence referendum campaign, has said that there is “nothing in the Union” for Scotland. In 2014 independence campaigners constantly asked Better Together supporters for …

Six houses, five cars, six yachts and zero self-awareness
29 Apr 2026 at 8:39pm
I didn’t watch the STV leaders’ debate as we had visitors, which meant I missed the moment that Malcolm Offord torpedoed Reform UK’s “We’re the party which is opposed to the elite” schtick. It was always bollocks, but on Tuesday night Offord slipped up. When you are cos-playing as the party which is on the …

A new chapter in the quest for independence starts next week
27 Apr 2026 at 2:55pm
First Minister John Swinney has promised that on the first day the new Scottish Parliament is in session, a vote would be brought forward to “approve the development of a Section 30 Order to give Scotland the power to hold an independence referendum.” He also promised that a referendum bill would be introduced within the …

A tale of three polls which give hope for a pro-indy majority in May
26 Apr 2026 at 3:29pm
Three opinion polls came out over the weekend which were not asking about voting intention in the Holyrood election which is now only a week and a half away. Nevertheless, all these polls are instructive about the kind of country Scotland could be, and their trust in the various parties contesting the election, and that …

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

Shooting ourselves in the foot ? how a fringe group handed Labour an SNP seat...
10 May 2026 at 9:46am
There’s the result for the ‘shock’ Labour win over the SNP in the Western Isles. BBC Scotland seem not to publishing the actual numbers, the raw data, though they do mention that, the winner: MacKinnon, who works in community development and manages a community-owned trust in Carloway on Lewis, won by 154 votes. Only 154? I can’t help but wonder how many voted for Kenny Mackenzie of the Allianc...

Sunday Post fails to tell us how an SNP Health Secretary made sure hospital-a...
10 May 2026 at 9:23am
The Sunday Post, above today makes much, much too much, of one case of sepsis where diagnosis was later than it might have been. What does it tel us about the wider situation, the ‘news’ dare I say it? Nothing. There is, in the Post, of course, no fuller explanation of the situation with regard to sepsis, in Scotland, just the one wee story. Here it is: How under Scottish Labour, hospitals were...

What does a political mandate for putting a major constitutional question to ...
9 May 2026 at 3:31pm
By stewartb Recall that Prime Minister, David Cameron announced on 23 January 2013 that if the Conservative Party was elected to power following the 2015 general election, it would hold a referendum on the UK?s membership of the EU in the next Parliament. Cameron?s government published a draft European Union (Referendum) Bill in May 2013. The Tories won the 2015 GE: the European Union Referendu...

As the National and the Ferret today expose navy cover-up of radiation, what ...
9 May 2026 at 11:00am

Music festival-goers in England asked to pay TWELVE times the fare for a ferr...
9 May 2026 at 10:14am
From Isle of Wight County Press yesterday, the above and: Conservative MP Joe Robertson has taken to social media to blast Isle of Wight ferry firm Wightlink after spotting a return vehicle ferry fare costing more than £500 during the Isle of Wight Festival. The Isle of Wight East MP said the operator had ?smashed the £500 barrier? by charging £511.50 for a return car journey across The Solent....

Scottish Labour collapsed because Anas was so unpopular not because Sir Keir was
9 May 2026 at 8:53am
The Guardian‘s supposed Scottish correspondents, Libby Brooks and Severin Carrell, today, repeat this myth: Starmer?s unpopularity was insurmountable for Scottish Labour ? and a boon for Reform – Long before the final votes were counted in Scotland, veteran Labour politicians said it was a defeat made in Downing Street. When the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, strode into the Glasgow count...

Newborn health at real risk near nuclear plants but Scottish Labour double do...
8 May 2026 at 10:30am
The Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) is located near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California, on approximately 1,000 acres along the Pacific coast. It is the state?s largest single power station and the only operational nuclear plant in California following the 2013 closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. From the Santa Barbara Independent, yesterday: Just weeks after th...

If all the ice caps melted, Scotland and Wales should agree to run remains of...
8 May 2026 at 8:17am
From Epic Maps: https://x.com/theepicmap/status/2052329817929035945

?The teen knife death massacre? ? Does the Daily Record actually have a ?new ...
8 May 2026 at 7:54am
The evil that never sleeps – the Daily Record ignores the election (Do they know Anas is gubbed?) and repeats an old story thanks to an intervention in the national debate by ‘Kenzo’ (17), above to get started right away undermining the ‘new’ SNP Government. Why is it mince?

Latest poll today of only those likely to vote puts SNP up at 41% with massiv...
7 May 2026 at 9:11am
From pollsters Find out Now, the above and: We ask respondents how likely they are to vote in the Scottish Parliament election on 7th May. For those who give a 7 or above, we then ask their vote choice If a respondent answers ?Don?t know? they see an additional question, prompting them again to give an answer. If they then give a valid vote choice they are included in the final calculation, but...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform - RNZ
9 May 2026 at 11:14pm
Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform  RNZ

Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood - BBC
9 May 2026 at 8:41am
Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood  BBC

Swinney: election result shows 'urgent' need for Scottish independence - Sky ...
9 May 2026 at 3:43pm
Swinney: election result shows 'urgent' need for Scottish independence  Sky News

A divided kingdom: pro-independence parties surge across Britain - Reuters
8 May 2026 at 5:55pm
A divided kingdom: pro-independence parties surge across Britain  Reuters

Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties - Financial Times
9 May 2026 at 4:05pm
Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties  Financial Times

Swinney calls for independence vote to ?Farage-proof? Scotland - The Telegraph
9 May 2026 at 5:52pm
Swinney calls for independence vote to ?Farage-proof? Scotland  The Telegraph

Scottish independence - Institute for Government
1 May 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence  Institute for Government

Result shows 'urgent' need for Scottish independence - MSN
10 May 2026 at 2:56am
Result shows 'urgent' need for Scottish independence  MSN

SNP, Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party, Benefits From Labour?s Struggles With...
8 May 2026 at 3:50pm
SNP, Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party, Benefits From Labour?s Struggles With Voters  The New York Times

The massive independence challenge facing John Swinney after SNP fail to win ...
10 May 2026 at 7:24am
The massive independence challenge facing John Swinney after SNP fail to win majority  The Herald

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP leader John Swinney rules out Holyrood talks with Reform UK - BBC
9 May 2026 at 5:30pm
SNP leader John Swinney rules out Holyrood talks with Reform UK  BBC

The SNP may have won again but Scottish politics has been upended | Scottish ...
9 May 2026 at 9:44am
The SNP may have won again but Scottish politics has been upended | Scottish elections 2026  The Guardian

Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform - RNZ
9 May 2026 at 11:14pm
Scottish leader John Swinney calls for independence to thwart Reform  RNZ

Scottish election results 2026 live: SNP wins 58 seats as Labour and Reform t...
8 May 2026 at 11:36am
Scottish election results 2026 live: SNP wins 58 seats as Labour and Reform tie for second with 17 each  BBC

Eight of the biggest casualties of the Holyrood election - BBC
9 May 2026 at 2:34pm
Eight of the biggest casualties of the Holyrood election  BBC

Scottish election 2026: Results in maps and charts - BBC
9 May 2026 at 9:49am
Scottish election 2026: Results in maps and charts  BBC

Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood - BBC
9 May 2026 at 8:41am
Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood  BBC

John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victo...
8 May 2026 at 3:15pm
John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victory | Scottish politics  The Guardian

SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second - BBC
9 May 2026 at 1:55am
SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second  BBC

Swinney keen to work with fellow nationalist devolved leaders in UK - The Gua...
9 May 2026 at 8:45pm
Swinney keen to work with fellow nationalist devolved leaders in UK  The Guardian

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

SNP leader John Swinney rules out Holyrood talks with Reform UK - BBC
9 May 2026 at 5:30pm
SNP leader John Swinney rules out Holyrood talks with Reform UK  BBC

The next Scottish and Welsh governments are likely to put constitutional chan...
6 May 2026 at 4:32pm
The next Scottish and Welsh governments are likely to put constitutional change back on the agenda  Institute for Government

Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties - Financial Times
9 May 2026 at 4:05pm
Wales and Scotland turn to independence parties  Financial Times

SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely t...
9 May 2026 at 11:18am
SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely to follow  Sky News

A divided kingdom: pro-independence parties surge across Britain - Reuters
8 May 2026 at 5:55pm
A divided kingdom: pro-independence parties surge across Britain  Reuters

SNP, Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party, Benefits From Labour?s Struggles With...
8 May 2026 at 3:50pm
SNP, Scotland?s Pro-Independence Party, Benefits From Labour?s Struggles With Voters  The New York Times

John Swinney ?peddling lie? with claim of mandate for referendum - The Times
8 May 2026 at 11:09pm
John Swinney ?peddling lie? with claim of mandate for referendum  The Times

Scotland?s pro-independence SNP wins; misses out on majority - chinadailyasia...
9 May 2026 at 9:02am
Scotland?s pro-independence SNP wins; misses out on majority  chinadailyasia.com

Pro-independence majority in Scottish Parliament revives referendum push as L...
9 May 2026 at 3:25pm
Pro-independence majority in Scottish Parliament revives referendum push as Labour suffers sweeping UK defeats  Dailynewsegypt

Scotland?s push for independence could be back in play after Labour flops - Y...
9 May 2026 at 3:58am
Scotland?s push for independence could be back in play after Labour flops  Yahoo Finance Singapore