The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Councils to meet with minister over fears UK growth fund could cost Scotland ...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
6 Feb 2026 at 2:28pm
Scotland?s council leaders warn that UK Government changes to the Local Growth Fund could strip cash from frontline services and put hundreds of jobs at risk, despite claims overall investment is rising.


Second man taken from Scotland to US from seized tanker was Ukrainian, Kyiv c...
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
6 Feb 2026 at 1:36pm
The first officer of the tanker seized north of Scotland and berthed in the Moray Firth has been taken for trial in the United States, Ukraine has confirmed


ScotGov urged to extend presumption against short sentence to two years
by Craig Paton
6 Feb 2026 at 12:27pm
The move is being urged to cut the record prison population


Reform closes to within five points of SNP in regional vote poll
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
6 Feb 2026 at 10:18am
A dramatic new poll from More in Common shows Reform UK surging to 20% in the regional vote ? just five points behind the Scottish National Party ? as the unionist vote splinters.


Swinney pledges to ?secure bright future? for Scotland?s farmers
by Rachel Keenan
6 Feb 2026 at 7:42am
Mr Swinney said he pledges to work with Scotland?s farmers ?to protect the industry?


Jim Sillars: 'Time for SNP to end victimhood narrative to win independence'
by jody.harrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Jody Harrison
6 Feb 2026 at 7:22am
Sillars, 88, sets out his path to independence in a new "final contribution" book


IFS: Scottish Budget leaves NHS facing 'deterioration' without ?heroic? effic...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
6 Feb 2026 at 12:01am
The IFS says Scottish ministers face stark trade-offs as NHS funding shifts away from hospitals and efficiency demands rise.


Your Party to hold founding Scottish conference as independence to be debated
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
6 Feb 2026 at 10:56am
Jeremy Corbyn will join members in Dundee as Your Party holds its Scottish conference, with independence and Holyrood election plans to be debated.


Operators must clear space for 'emergency' travel, Northern Isles ferry users...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
5 Feb 2026 at 4:51pm
The report states that ?capacity? issues were of particular concern, especially if trips were not ?planned and booked well in advance?.


Teaching unions demand answers after being barred from entering Palestine
by gaby.mckay@newsquest.co.uk | Gabriel McKay
5 Feb 2026 at 4:00pm
Three teaching unions have written to the foreign secretary after being denied permission to enter Palestine on an educational visit


Can Starmer survive? Plausible deniability only works if it's plausible
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
5 Feb 2026 at 3:53pm
A Cabinet Office vetting report flagged Mandelson?s Epstein ties. None of it was new ? and Starmer cannot claim surprise.


Swinney stayed with Mandelson in Washington DC to be 'prudent with public purse'
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
5 Feb 2026 at 2:41pm
John Swinney has defended staying at the Washington residence of Peter Mandelson, insisting the decision was about saving taxpayers? money. He said critics would have complained had he booked a hotel instead.


Court hears blanket ban on trans women in jails would increase suicide risk
by Neil Pooran
5 Feb 2026 at 1:55pm
Scotland?s highest civil court has heard arguments that banning trans women from female prisons would breach human rights and heighten suicide risk.


?Utterly disgusted?: Anas Sarwar turns on Starmer over Mandelson
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
5 Feb 2026 at 1:33pm
Anas Sarwar has questioned Sir Keir Starmer?s judgement over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain?s ambassador to the United States.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Poll: Gap between SNP and Reform UK narrows, but nationalists on track to win...
6 Feb 2026 at 9:30am

The new polling suggests support for the SNP is falling while Reform UK continues to be popular in Scotland.

Mr Doyle reportedly campaigned for Morton when he ran as an independent in May 2017.

Russell Findlay extended an usual offer to the First Minister at FMQs: a pint.

A warning has been issued over an impending substantial reduction in the share of funding going towards hospitals and the ambulance service as more investment is planned for health and social care.

Wings over Scotland

A Stitch In Timing
5 Feb 2026 at 4:09pm
Readers will probably be aware that literally as you read this, the Scottish Government is in court trying to defend its policy of letting male murderers be housed in women’s prisons by arguing that the Equality Act 2010 (as ruled on by the Supreme Court in the For Women Scotland case) is incompatible with the …

The Marshalling Plan
2 Feb 2026 at 1:25pm
Another month has passed, so we suppose it must be time for the third of our polling-analysis pieces for the Scottish Parliament election in May. (Last time round we assessed the grotesque rank idiocy of voting SNP on the list if you want a pro-indy majority, and the time before that we considered the possible …

Shield Of The Phantom
26 Jan 2026 at 1:02pm
Well, we gave it a go. It seems that it’s fine to farm important judgments out to mysterious shadowy figures who just make important chunks of them up out of thin air, and then issue them in your own name. Back in your boxes, plebs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craig Murray

Filton Acquittals Demolish Starmer and Cooper Lies About Palestine Action
5 Feb 2026 at 6:49pm

As the trial finished at Woolwich Crown Court of the six Palestine Action activists who entered the Filton factory to destroy Israeli killer drones, Starmer, Cooper, Lammy and Mahmood are left bereft of a single guilty verdict in the case on which they relied heavily to label Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. I could …

Filton Acquittals Demolish Starmer and Cooper Lies About Palestine Action

Trump, Pirate of the Caribbean
3 Feb 2026 at 11:14am

I have now been here a week and I think that I have absorbed enough to attempt a little analysis, as opposed to the simple impressions I gave shortly after arrival. Those impressions remain valid however: this is not a repressive state. I was on the Randy Credico show live on WBAI New York on …

Trump, Pirate of the Caribbean

Palestine Action Judicial Review
29 Jan 2026 at 6:59pm

I attach the full text of Lord Young’s decision granting the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine. A few points. Judicial Review can only be granted where the judge believes it has a realistic chance of success. Lord Young evidently believes that we have a realistic chance of success on our three grounds …

Palestine Action Judicial Review

Being There ? In Venezuela
26 Jan 2026 at 9:46am

I have now been in Caracas for 48 hours and the contrast between what I have seen, and what I had read in the mainstream media, could not be more stark. I drove right through Caracas, from the airport through the city centre and up to posh Las Mercedes. The next morning I walked all …

Being There – In Venezuela

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

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

Resisting the Respectable Opinion on Iran

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

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

A Step Towards Sanity

BBC Scotland

Ministers urged to rethink jail sentences of less than two years
6 Feb 2026 at 4:08pm
If recommendations go ahead, judges would have to provide reasons why jailing someone for two years or less was the only option.

NHS budget plans rely on ambitious efficiency savings, warns think tank
6 Feb 2026 at 3:01pm
Spending strategy assumes hospitals and the ambulance service can make efficiency savings, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Chief nurse's 'Disney trip' suggestion for bereaved families 'shameful' - Sarwar
5 Feb 2026 at 1:26pm
Scotland's ex-chief nursing officer has been criticised over remarks she allegedly made about bereaved families.

Asylum seeker barracks plans could face further delays
6 Feb 2026 at 6:16am
The Home Office may need planning permission before using Cameron Barracks as accommodation.

New rules for botox and Brazilian butt lifts backed by MSPs
5 Feb 2026 at 5:19pm
The Scottish Parliament has provisionally approved regulations for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Suicide risk if trans prisoners are put in jails based on sex at birth, court...
5 Feb 2026 at 3:08pm
Lawyers for the Scottish government say moving trans woman prisoners to male-only jails would create an unacceptable safety risk.

Plan to jail bosses of major polluters passes Holyrood vote
5 Feb 2026 at 5:18pm
The ecocide bill would allow for people to be jailed for up to 20 years for damaging the environment.

MSP behind assisted dying bill backs change to eligibility rules
4 Feb 2026 at 2:42pm
The proposals would restrict assisted dying in Scotland to people with six months or less left to live.

Watchdogs raise concerns over transgender prisoners
4 Feb 2026 at 5:06pm
The government has argued having a "blanket rule" for where prisoners are housed could breach human rights law.

'Our daughter's cancer symptoms were dismissed because she was a child'
5 Feb 2026 at 6:24am
Isla Sneddon died in March 2025 aged 17, just six months after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Fire service warns funding gap could mean cut of 500 firefighters
4 Feb 2026 at 5:49pm
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service claims it is facing a £6m funding gap in the next financial year.

Scottish Parliament rejects prostitution bill at stage one
3 Feb 2026 at 7:38pm
Ash Regan's proposals would have made the act of paying for sexual services a criminal offence.

Scot Goes Pop

"Well, they're certainly keeping quiet about THAT bit!": More In Common poll ...
6 Feb 2026 at 3:14pm
There aren't many outlets that report Scottish polling accurately and without unionist bias.  If you value the service Scot Goes Pop provides, you currently have a thrilling opportunity to help wit...

My appearance on the "Two Davies" show
5 Feb 2026 at 5:55pm
Earlier today, I took part in a live stream on the "Two Davies" YouTube channel, and we all answered viewers' questions about quite a wide variety of subjects, including the current polling situati...

Gosh, I wonder if Stew has ever demonstrated quite so unwittingly and vividly...
4 Feb 2026 at 1:17am
Quite a number of years ago now, I got into a mildly bizarre email debate with someone who shall remain nameless, but who is widely regarded in Scotland as bona fide journalistic royalty.  Basicall...

Why is YouGov under-representing Yes-voting Glaswegians in its independence p...
3 Feb 2026 at 4:06pm
Towards the end of this video, I also give my reaction to the Scottish Government's welcome announcement that they will not be supporting Ash Regan's private member's bill, which seeks to introduce...

Stew's "ten-year masterplan" nears its petty climax: how Somerset's most cont...
2 Feb 2026 at 4:47pm
Incidentally, I recorded this video before I saw Campbell's latest "I luv Nige" fanboy blogpost, so the similarity of titles is just a coincidence - albeit an extremely telling coincidence in the c...

Sizzling YouGov numbers put pro-independence parties on course for 53% of sea...
30 Jan 2026 at 5:11pm
There aren't many outlets that report Scottish polling accurately and without unionist bias.  If you value the service Scot Goes Pop provides, you currently have a thrilling opportunity to help wit...

Spectacular full-scale Scottish poll from YouGov shows the SNP and Greens on ...
29 Jan 2026 at 6:48pm
I will record a video about this poll at some point, but as I'm on a bus right now, I'll go retro and briefly give you the results in text form for the time being.Should Scotland be an independent ...

"Unaffordable and exploitative": the Alba Party hammers its long-suffering me...
27 Jan 2026 at 3:53am
Apart from the shocking membership fee news, which Alba members already know about (as long as they've been checking their emails closely enough), this video also contains the latest gossip from my...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

First Minister pledges to ?secure bright future? for Scotland?s farmers
6 Feb 2026 at 7:33am
Mr Swinney will deliver a keynote speech to the NFU Scotland Conference.

MSPs back plans to improve regulation of Botox and Brazilian butt lifts
5 Feb 2026 at 6:26pm
The Bill cleared its first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament after it was passed at stage one on Thursday

Starmer ?sorry for believing Mandelson?s lies? as vows to continue as Prime M...
5 Feb 2026 at 2:21pm
Sir Keir Starmer apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein

Ban phones in schools to protect children from online dangers, parents urge
5 Feb 2026 at 1:21pm
Campaigners are meeting the education secretary at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday

John Swinney to face FMQs after calling for investigation into Mandelson
5 Feb 2026 at 12:00pm
John Swinney will face First Minister's Questions on the sixth anniversary of The Promise

MPs back release of files on Lord Peter Mandelson appointment as US ambassador
4 Feb 2026 at 7:32pm
The PM backed down from his original plans for Sir Chris Wormald to choose which files could be released

John Swinney orders investigation into Scottish Government dealings with Lord...
4 Feb 2026 at 5:16pm
The First Minister said the probe will look into whether Peter Mandelson undermined the interests of Scotland

PM: Lord Peter Mandelson ?lied repeatedly? over relationship with Jeffery Eps...
4 Feb 2026 at 3:38pm
Keir Starmer said Mandelson 'betrayed our country' by leaking information to the disgraced financier

Mandelson should not have been US ambassador, says Sarwar
4 Feb 2026 at 1:34pm
The Scottish Labour leader said the appointment was ?clearly a mistake?

Keir Starmer to face PMQs after criminal investigation launched into Mandelson
4 Feb 2026 at 11:50am
Britain?s former US ambassador is alleged to have passed market-sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein

I support the court judgment in the case of Lucy Letby, Wes Streeting says
4 Feb 2026 at 9:24am
A new documentary, The Investigation Of Lucy Letby, has been released on Netflix

Officials ?looking at? release of QEUH documents, says health secretary
3 Feb 2026 at 9:28pm
MSPs demanded the Scottish Government release documents relating to the Glasgow hospital last week

Holyrood pays emotional tributes to its first deputy first minister Lord Wallace
3 Feb 2026 at 5:09pm
A motion of condolence was heard in the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Government ?committed to dualling A96? despite fiscal challenges
3 Feb 2026 at 3:46pm
A more phased approach to delivery of the project will be taken

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Scottish Labour spends nearly £80k promoting Anas Sarwar on social media ahea...
6 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: A database shows Labour out-spending the SNP while also downplaying their own party brand.

John Swinney's independence majority strategy will damage the SNP
5 Feb 2026 at 8:00pm
Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says the First Minister betting the house on an outright win in May is good for him, but not his party.

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital families offered 'trip to Disneyland' ins...
5 Feb 2026 at 2:49pm
The cases of seven patients who died at the QEUH following its botched opening in 2015 are currently being assessed by prosecutors.

Anas Sarwar gives cautious support to Keir Starmer to stay on as Prime Minist...
5 Feb 2026 at 1:28pm
The Scottish Labour leader said Mandelson was a "shame to our nation" after emails showed he leaked sensitive Government information to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Hollywood star Brian Cox calls for action to end Scotland's housing emergency
5 Feb 2026 at 11:02am
The Dundee-born star said "everyone deserves somewhere affordable, safe, and stable to call home".

Anas Sarwar told to apologise to WASPI campaigners in person after UK Governm...
5 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The SNP will host a delegation of WASPI campaigners at the Scottish Parliament and has challenged the Labour leader to meet them.

Dad of teen who died after hospital infection would back probe into "pressure...
5 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
John Cuddihy said he would support calling additional witnesses to find out the truth on claims of pressure applied to hospital bosses, following 23-year-old Molly's death last year.

UK Government spends £56,000 on Inverness barracks earmarked for asylum seekers
5 Feb 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The cash was spent on legionella testing and removing the MOD?s secure IT network

SNP urged to apologise for 'playing politics' over Queen Elizabeth University...
4 Feb 2026 at 2:26pm
Gordon Macdonald was accused of engaging in "whataboutery and deflection" after he dragged up 20-year-old infection statistics.

Keir Starmer says Peter Mandelson 'betrayed' his country over leaks to paedop...
4 Feb 2026 at 12:56pm
The Prime Minister rounded on Mandelson on the ongoing scandal.

The National

The National | Politics

Peter Mandelson issues secret notice demanding press leave him alone ? read i...
6 Feb 2026 at 6:47pm

LATE on Friday evening, this notice was circulated from representatives of Peter Mandelson, via press regulator IPSO and the Press Association news wire, to all media across the UK.

I went to the first ever Declassified summit ? here's what I thought
6 Feb 2026 at 6:10pm

WHY should The National be represented at a media and politics summit in London? 

Here's our top 6 good news stories in Scotland from 2026 so far
6 Feb 2026 at 6:00pm

IT has been quite the start to the new year, hasn?t it?

Scottish Government finally updates guidance after Holyrood Israel boycott vote
6 Feb 2026 at 5:26pm

THE Scottish Government has now updated its procurement rules after pressure over the Holyrood vote demanding an immediate boycott of Israel.

Mandelson scandal takes Keir Starmer's premiership into purgatory
6 Feb 2026 at 5:20pm

THIS is the week that Keir Starmer lost control ...

Stark difference between Peter Mandelson and Nicola Sturgeon police home sear...
6 Feb 2026 at 5:19pm

Officers erected a forensic tent outside of the former first minister's home, did Peter Mandelson get the same treatment?

World Cup boycott 'a step too far', Scotland fans group says
6 Feb 2026 at 5:00pm

A BOYCOTT on fans travelling to the World Cup later this year is "a step too far" and "will not work", a Scottish football fans organisation has said.

Police searching Peter Mandelson's houses amid criminal investigation
6 Feb 2026 at 3:56pm

POLICE are searching Peter Mandelson?s houses as part of the investigation into alleged leaks from Downing Street to Jeffrey Epstein during the financial crisis.

John Curtice's two-word verdict on Anas Sarwar's chances of leading Scotland
6 Feb 2026 at 3:51pm

THE likelihood of Anas Sarwar becoming the next first minister of Scotland is ?virtually zero?, Professor John Curtice has said ...

Inside Scottish Labour as MPs fear Mandelson impact on Holyrood election
6 Feb 2026 at 3:18pm

SCOTTISH Labour MPs have told The National they fear the Peter Mandelson scandal will tank the party?s chances at the Holyrood election in May.

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Jack McConnell calls for ?complete reset? in Labour leadership
6 Feb 2026 at 2:53pm
The former first minister said somebody in Labour needed to 'step up' and take over

Scotland?s prisons approach needs fundamental reform, according to watchdog r...
6 Feb 2026 at 10:33am
The report has called for stronger rehabilitation in prison, earlier release with enhanced community supervision, and long-term planning to reduce Scotland?s prison population to around the European average

John Swinney accuses Anas Sarwar of ?shameful? interference in hospitals inquiry
5 Feb 2026 at 4:00pm
The Scottish Labour leader said the FM had told parliament a "blatant untruth"

John Swinney: I stayed with Mandelson on Trump trip to save money
5 Feb 2026 at 1:51pm
Starmer says no one in government knew 'depth and darkness' of former ambassador's Epstein friendship

Set out Mandelson links, SNP urges Scottish Labour
4 Feb 2026 at 5:22pm
SNP claims are 'morally bankrupt', Scottish Labour hits back

Edinburgh Council refuses planning permission for AI data centre
4 Feb 2026 at 3:35pm
Planning officers had recommended the project be approved

Anas Sarwar backs child social media ban
4 Feb 2026 at 1:00am
The UK Government announced last month it was consulting on such a measure

From shared services to smart government
4 Feb 2026 at 12:01am
With over 40 years of experience in the Scottish market, global technology firm TCS is well placed to play a leading role in the country?s public services reform

MSPs vote down Ash Regan?s prostitution bill
3 Feb 2026 at 5:06pm
The government said it could not support it despite agreeing in principle the purchase of sex should be criminalised

Peter Mandelson quits Lords as UK Government refers Epstein leak fears to police
3 Feb 2026 at 3:04pm
Keir Starmer says the former US ambassador 'let his country down'

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Blanket rule on trans women in men?s prisons would deny their identity, says ...
5 Feb 2026 at 5:06pm
SNP?s lawyer argues the ?mental health and rehabilitation? of prisoners is more important than their biological sexA blanket rule to house transgender women in men?s prisons, even when they pose no risk to others, would be a ?fundamental denial? of their identity, the Scottish government has argu...

Starmer faces rising anger over Mandelson as MPs agree to release files to se...
4 Feb 2026 at 8:24pm
Starmer faces criticism from MPs on all sides of the CommonsThis liveblog is now closed. Read the politics team?s report on today?s developments herePMQs is starting soon. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.The Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has dismissed claims that his party?s plan to su...

Campaigners challenge Scottish policy on transgender inmates in female prisons
3 Feb 2026 at 2:45pm
For Women Scotland objects to use of individual risk assessments, saying it is contrary to supreme court rulingFemale prisoners are paying the price for an ?Orwellian? Scottish government policy that allows some transgender inmates to be housed in female prisons, Scotland?s highest civil court ha...

Lord Wallace of Tankerness obituary
1 Feb 2026 at 5:39pm
Influential Liberal and Lib Dem politician who served as Scotland?s deputy first minister from the outset of devolutionJim Wallace, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, who has died aged 71 following complications after surgery, was an influential Liberal figure who achieved the extremely rare distinction...

Starmer announces visa-free travel to China after talks with Xi in Beijing ? ...
29 Jan 2026 at 5:32pm
Downing Street gives no date for when the agreement of 30 days of visa-free travel will come into forceFor more context on today?s Starmer-Xi meeting, China is the world?s second-biggest economy and Britain?s third-largest trading partner ? to which it exports £45bn of goods and services a year ?...

Deacon Blue ?appalled? by Reform UK?s Scottish leader quoting their song lyrics
27 Jan 2026 at 11:04am
Exclusive: Band hit out at party?s ?poisonous rhetoric? after Malcolm Offord makes reference to Dignity during speechOne of Scotland?s most celebrated rock bands, Deacon Blue, say they are ?appalled? that one of their greatest hits is being used by Reform UK?s new Scottish leader to bolster his p...

Tories withdraw ?mental health? briefing about Suella Braverman after former ...
26 Jan 2026 at 6:10pm
Her defection means there are now eight Reform MPs in the CommonsKeir Starmer was being interview by Beth Rigby from Sky News this morning when he defended the decision not to let Andy Burnham be a byelection candidate.After Starmer delivered his first answer (see 10.15am), Rigby asked him to wha...

Reform says it would cut green policies to fund £2bn income tax cut in Scotland
26 Jan 2026 at 4:36pm
Party?s pitch to voters in May Holyrood elections dismissed as ?profoundly unserious, almost comically so? by head of IPPR ScotlandReform UK would slash what it calls ?highly dubious? environmental protection measures to help fund a £2bn cut to income tax in Scotland if it won May?s Holyrood elec...

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

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

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

YouGov?s independence polls are comfort blankets for Unionists
6 Feb 2026 at 12:28pm
This is an expanded and revised version of a piece I wrote for The National newspaper earlier this week. Since writing it further information has come to light which casts even greater doubt on the validity of a YouGov poll on Scottish independence which was published last week, a poll which was received with immense …

Mandelson, the sleazy heart of Starmer?s right wing Labour party
5 Feb 2026 at 3:13pm
Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour party and his position as Prime Minister have been on a shoogly peg for some time. After being elected in July 2024 with a landslide victory in the Commons, albeit on a mere one third of the popular vote, Labour MPs were looking forward to settling down to a …

The independence movement must commit to a Scottish republic
4 Feb 2026 at 2:02pm
It’s well known that people in Scotland are less enamoured with the self-promoting antics of the Windsor family than people in other parts of the UK. Large royal events with all their pomp and pageantry paid for at public expense are typically met in Scotland with widespread apathy, if not anger and ridicule. The street …

What happens in the Welsh election could be key to Scotland too
2 Feb 2026 at 4:27pm
The well known traditional curse, “May you live in interesting times” is often ascribed to an ancient Chinese text, although there is no evidence for this. Be that as it may, it cannot be denied that we are cursed with living through interesting times. Keir Starmer was elected to head a Labour government with a …

BBC Scotland?s look at nuclear through Labour Rose tinted glasses
31 Jan 2026 at 1:39pm
The bias of the BBC, particularly BBC Scotland, against the SNP Scottish Government in particular and the wider Scottish independence movement in general is well documented by pro-independence campaigners, but ignored by the Scottish media which is itself overwhelmingly biased against Scottish independence, the somewhat less than half of the Scottish population which opposes independence …

Wee Ginger Annual Fundraiser 2026 part 2
30 Jan 2026 at 6:08pm
Unfortunately when I published the previous post about this year’s fundraiser, I pressed publish too quickly and omitted the full details for donating via PayPal or Ko-fi. Here they are now and here is the link again to the GoFundMe fundraiser. Many thanks for supporting my work. It’s greatly appreciated.   https://www.gofundme.com/f/wee-ginger-dug-annual-fundraiser-2026   I?ve added …

Wee Ginger Annual Fundraiser 2026
30 Jan 2026 at 1:33pm
It’s that time of the year again, when I ask readers of this blog to make a contribution, big or small, to keeping this blog running for another year. As we approach the Holyrood elections, I have been increasing the frequency of new posts on the blog from theprevious two or three per week to …

Trump?s lawlessness comes to Scotland
29 Jan 2026 at 3:48pm
Donald Trump is infamously lawless. He is the first convicted criminal to be elected to the White House. That conviction alone, by no means the worst crime the oranged faced felon has allegedly committed, should have been enough to disqualify him from holding public office, but he was ushered into power by a corrupt Republican …

Reform UK?s authoritarian project for power
28 Jan 2026 at 2:55pm
The American author and poet Maya Anjelou famously wrote: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” That has never been more true than where we are now in British politics with the rise of the far right, the performative cruelty it espouses and its dehumanisation of minority groups. Reform UK …

England is driving on the right politically
26 Jan 2026 at 3:05pm
All is not well in the Labour party. Over the weekend Keir Starmer and his allies took the decision to throw away a by election in order to buy the politically ailing Starmer some more time in office. Starmer and his allies on Labour’s NEC voted to refuse permission to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to …

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

Experienced researcher finds AI far more trustworthy on Scottish politics tha...
6 Feb 2026 at 5:11pm
I had to laugh. I’ve done a lot of searching for information and sometimes analysis and evaluation using Grok, chatgpt and other general AI platforms. I do find bias against the independence movement, the SNP and the Scottish Government but only when the AI gives to much credence to the so-called Scottish media, especially those in my headline above. Mostly, however, if I’m careful with my ques...

Blue tent big enough for Mandelson police inquiry located in Ayr, Scotland ? ...
6 Feb 2026 at 5:10pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Readers will remember the scale of the police investigation into £600 000 given to the SNP by its own members for a campaign, and which they then, according to one complaint from a member of Sperm of the Gall, spent on something else. A blue tent had to be put on Nicola?s lawn, ...

Almost all terror-related offences in Scotland carried out by whites
6 Feb 2026 at 5:09pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. From a Police Scotland Freedom of Information request 25-2862 Crime stats – Terrorism inc. accused gender/ age/ ethnicity – 2025 published today, where ethnicity was recorded: Ethnicity Total White Scottish 9 White British 6 White Irish 1 White Other 1 White European 6 White Nor...

As Mandelson case exposes the risks of using US company Palantir for health d...
6 Feb 2026 at 5:08pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. In the Guardian today: Labour should halt public contracts with the US tech company Palantir, opposition politicians have said, amid growing concern at the lack of government transparency over dealings with the company and Peter Mandelson. Since 2023, Palantir has secured more t...

Steady progress as 107 out of nearly 2 000 Talking-up Scotland subscribers co...
6 Feb 2026 at 1:56pm
Steady progress as 107 out of nearly 2 000 Talking-up Scotland subscribers contribute. Many thanks to them. If you really value this service and want it to continue, please contribute, if you can, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland

Reposted as Auditor General Stephen Boyle in Herald accuses Scottish Governme...
6 Feb 2026 at 9:20am

SNP-led Highland Council unable to prevent English drug gang invasion will us...
6 Feb 2026 at 9:04am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. The plague of County Lines drug gangs, based in English cities, bringing with them increased drug deaths, extreme violence, prostitution, child abuse and general crime, is well-known in Highland Region, if not well-reported by ther news agency many of them pay a licence fee for....

Scottish Labour ? Not just friends of paedophiles but by far the most actual ...
6 Feb 2026 at 8:34am
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Two Scottish Labour MSP, Anas Sarwar and Pam Duncan Glancy, both long-term friends of known paedophiles, but the problems run far deeper at Scottish Labour. Based on extensive searches 100 web pages and posts across web sources and X posts, the Scottish Labour Party has had th...

Creating opportunities for care experienced young people today ? important ne...
5 Feb 2026 at 10:03pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. As far as I can see, no sign of this major Scottish Government announcement being covered beyond the ‘Midlothian View.’ The announcement did take place in Edinburgh. More good news for the SNP not wanted in these months before an election? This is no accident. It’s bias by omiss...

Surely that should be Anas Sarwar to face questions after John Swinney calls ...
5 Feb 2026 at 10:02pm
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotlandClick on the above. Who on earth wrote that headline? Anas Sarwar’s spad? John Swinney will be answering questions on this: The Promise is a landmark report which followed Scotland?s Independent Care Review, which set out a long-term commitment to transform the care system for children and young pe...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Your Party Scotland to decide independence stance at founding Dundee conferen...
6 Feb 2026 at 4:07pm
Your Party Scotland to decide independence stance at founding Dundee conference  TheNational.scot

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

New book charts writer?s role in thwarting Scottish independence - gatescambr...
3 Feb 2026 at 10:32am
New book charts writer?s role in thwarting Scottish independence  gatescambridge.org

Jim Sillars: 'Time for SNP to end victimhood narrative to win independence' -...
6 Feb 2026 at 7:35am
Jim Sillars: 'Time for SNP to end victimhood narrative to win independence'  The Herald

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

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

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  Sky News

Stop the bots if we want to save democracy - The Times
2 Feb 2026 at 5:04pm
Stop the bots if we want to save democracy  The Times

SNP veteran blasts the party for acting as 'victims' of the British state - S...
6 Feb 2026 at 6:08pm
SNP veteran blasts the party for acting as 'victims' of the British state  Scottish Daily Express

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Poll: Gap between SNP and Reform narrows, but nationalists on track to win - ...
6 Feb 2026 at 9:30am
Poll: Gap between SNP and Reform narrows, but nationalists on track to win  The Scotsman

New Holyrood poll shows Reform UK gaining ground on SNP - TheNational.scot
6 Feb 2026 at 11:32am
New Holyrood poll shows Reform UK gaining ground on SNP  TheNational.scot

Scotland's papers: SNP reports Mandelson to police over Epstein - BBC
3 Feb 2026 at 7:04am
Scotland's papers: SNP reports Mandelson to police over Epstein  BBC

Jim Sillars: 'Time for SNP to end victimhood narrative to win independence' -...
6 Feb 2026 at 7:35am
Jim Sillars: 'Time for SNP to end victimhood narrative to win independence'  The Herald

Crédit Agricole differentiates from competition with 'untested' 12 year SNP b...
6 Feb 2026 at 4:24pm
Crédit Agricole differentiates from competition with 'untested' 12 year SNP bullet  GlobalCapital

Reform UK narrows gap with SNP as Labour dips - Daily Business
6 Feb 2026 at 6:25pm
Reform UK narrows gap with SNP as Labour dips  Daily Business

Reform closes to within five points of SNP in regional vote poll - Yahoo News UK
6 Feb 2026 at 10:18am
Reform closes to within five points of SNP in regional vote poll  Yahoo News UK

Ex-SNP councillor made false sexual assault allegation against woman - thesco...
6 Feb 2026 at 6:28pm
Ex-SNP councillor made false sexual assault allegation against woman  thescottishsun.co.uk

SNP veteran blasts the party for acting as 'victims' of the British state - S...
6 Feb 2026 at 6:08pm
SNP veteran blasts the party for acting as 'victims' of the British state  Scottish Daily Express

SNP secures first Gaza debate since 2024 - Morning Star | The People?s Daily
5 Feb 2026 at 5:10pm
SNP secures first Gaza debate since 2024  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

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

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

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

Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would ...
17 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish leader John Swinney says SNP winning majority in May election would be green light for indyref2  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

Scottish independence polls & surveys - YouGov
30 Jan 2026 at 8:00am
Scottish independence polls & surveys  YouGov

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

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