The Herald

The Herald | Politics


Sally Rooney books no longer to be sold in UK over Palestine Action support
by Sean O'Grady
14 Oct 2026 at 8:49pm
Sally Rooney?s books can no longer be sold in the UK after her support for banned group Palestine Action, with Faber citing legal risks following July 5 2025.


Councillor cleared of standards breach after forwarding constituent's email t...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
14 Oct 2026 at 4:07pm
Councillor James Dalgleish, the capital?s education convener, had been reported to the Ethical Standards Commissioner after the incident in September 2025.


Ministers must step up to help creatives facing eviction from Scotland's arts...
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
14 Oct 2026 at 4:00pm
Bit by bit, the nation?s creative spaces are being sold off, plunging Scotland?s artists and makers into an uncertain future. Urgent action must be taken.


Scottish Greens call for ?Amazon tax? on big online retailers
by Craig Meighan
14 Oct 2026 at 3:43pm
Scottish Greens call for an ?Amazon tax? on major online retailers, saying it could support local businesses and high streets; retail chiefs oppose the plan.


SNP to launch biggest pro-independence campaign since 2014 referendum
by Craig Meighan
14 Oct 2026 at 3:16pm
John Swinney announces the SNP?s Choose Scotland campaign, the biggest pro-independence drive since 2014, launching at the party conference in Aberdeen.


Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn to meet PM to discuss brain tumours
by Ella Pickover
14 Oct 2026 at 11:18am
Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn has said his meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham is a ?unique opportunity for change?.


'Help us survive': Rape crisis centre warns of more cuts as it launches urgen...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Glasgow & Clyde Rape Crisis has warned of further cuts within weeks unless funding is secured as it launches its 50th anniversary For Her appeal.


Failure to approve Rosebank would cost UK billions, report finds
by scott.wright@heraldandtimes.co.uk | Scott Wright
14 Oct 2026 at 4:34am
A report warns the UK could lose £10.8bn in economic value and thousands of jobs if ministers fail to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea projects, as Oxfam Scotland dismisses the findings.


Scots back renewables but reject immediate end to North Sea drilling, study s...
by Ryan McDougall
14 Oct 2026 at 12:01am
Most Scots back net zero and renewable energy investment, while IPPR Scotland research finds support for case-by-case North Sea oil and gas decisions.


Taxpayers could be out £40,000 if Moray councillor who moved to Cairo quits
by Olivia Andrews
13 Oct 2026 at 7:52pm
If an under-fire Moray councillor decided to resign in the next three weeks, it would cost the taxpayer up to £40,000.


John Cleese urges St Andrews students not to vote for Green MSP Q Manivannan
by Craig Meighan
13 Oct 2026 at 5:57pm
John Cleese urges University of St Andrews students not to elect Green MSP Q Manivannan as rector, citing comments about rape and its psychological effects.


Children at risk of criminal exploitation more than double in four years
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Police Scotland figures show that almost 2,000 children are vulnerable to sexual or criminal exploitation in Scotland.


Scotland records second-worst week on record for long A&E waits
by Craig Meighan
13 Oct 2026 at 3:25pm
Scotland records second-worst A&E week as 12,074 patients wait over four hours, with just 58.9% seen on time, figures for October 4 show.


Andy Burnham has been invited to SNP conference - but should he actually go?
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
13 Oct 2026 at 1:02pm
Andy Burnham has been invited to SNP conference during his Scotland visit, setting up an intriguing political dilemma over whether he should accept.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Kemi Badenoch passes up big chance to make Andy Burnham squirm at PMQs
14 Oct 2026 at 3:37pm

Kemi Badenoch fell back into her old scattergun ways in the Commons on Wednesday.

Liz Lloyd says the Prime Minister must announce something ?meaningful? when he visits Scotland later this week.

The trade body said people deserve to know who is behind Project Slingshot

The co-founder of Monty Python has seized on remarks made by the MSP about the ?spectrum? of rape, which the politican then apologised for and said had been taken out of context

Wings over Scotland

The fight about to come
14 Oct 2026 at 3:20pm
The obvious question is “Why haven’t you made a bigger one in all that time?” Did it not seem important until now? Was there nothing significant going on? Or were they just a little short of cash for some unknowable reason? Still, Keith’s going to make a “launch” speech. He makes it every year. It’ll …

Still Time To Save Her
9 Oct 2026 at 2:32pm
We’ve just had an extraordinary email from Police Scotland, readers. Here it is. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the real-life Timecops. Operation Branchform was closed on 20 March 2025. Nicola Sturgeon gave her infamous interview to Laura Kuenssberg – stating that she would not be handing back any of the items gifted to her by Peter …

There May Be Justice
5 Oct 2026 at 12:40pm
In a little under three days, Phase 1 complete. Wings readers: still the best. But what now? A couple of people have asked about the “stretch target” on the website. That was something CrowdJustice asked for and the reason it’s so high is that that figure was our lawyers’ estimate of the total cost of …

The Love Of Big Brother
3 Oct 2026 at 1:24pm
We were trying to work out what this reminded us of. And the answer was in the same place it usually is. It all checks out. The SNP spend their time grooming your children and trying to make basic parenting a crime. They endorse “gender-affirming care” that sterilises them and will stop them ever having …

In The Eyes Of The Law
1 Oct 2026 at 2:15pm
Our fundraiser to bring a judicial review of Police Scotland’s decision not to charge anyone with embezzlement in the case of the SNP’s missing £700,000 indyref fund is now live, and can be reached by clicking on this image, or here. The target of £30,000 represents the cost of the initial application (with contingency for …

Whatever Can Have Happened?
30 Sep 2026 at 1:50pm
Yesterday afternoon John Swinney announced an independent review into the dual roles of Scotland’s main law officers, the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General, which have been a subject of great controversy since the Scottish Parliament was re-convened in 1999. Wings welcomes this development unequivocally, albeit we’re slightly concerned that the former judge leading the …

The Turning Point
28 Sep 2026 at 1:10pm
We don’t have much to say about this graph that it doesn’t say for itself. The arrest of Peter Murrell on 5 April 2023, just a couple of weeks after his wife had realised the game was up and walked away before the cops came round and put a big blue tent up on their …

Cowering From Destiny
24 Sep 2026 at 11:29am
Alert readers will recall that last year the SNP convened a summit in Glasgow for the sole purpose of uniting the nation in preventing Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister. The party also regularly tells us that to actually achieve independence, support would have to build to an overwhelming consensus into the 60-65% range, rather than …

His Majesty?s Loyal Sabre
21 Sep 2026 at 1:50pm
Funny how people change, isn’t it? That sounds a lot to us like “Bombs Not Bairns”. We watched the first episode of “The Wargame” at 2am this morning (it’s toe-curlingly bad, shot like a soft-focus corporate promo with three-second cuts, constant dramatic music and the politicians delivering wooden press-conference soundbites rather than any sense of …

A Thousand Islands In The Sea
16 Sep 2026 at 1:22pm
We’re getting so much correspondence from Police Scotland at the moment that we’re starting to feel like their guiltily-neglected penpal. This one, though, is slightly more involved than their usual two-paragraph brushoff. Don’t get too excited, though – it amounts to the same thing. This is self-evident gibberish. Nobody was prosecuted, let alone convicted, over …

Craig Murray

Does the Act of Union Still Apply?
12 Oct 2026 at 10:29am

Tomorrow at 10am we get the judgement in our appeal against the suspension of the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. We cannot have won as the appeal – held by “urgent process” – was intended to allow a judicial review before the Supreme Court meets in the Ammori case on 4 …

Does the Act of Union Still Apply?

Fatuous False Flags
2 Oct 2026 at 10:16am

Rather than abandoning the plainly nuts Fairford narrative, Burnham and his government are doubling down on the claim it is an Iranian terror plot. It remains quite possible the men were indeed fuel thieves, simply stealing fuel from farms. They appear to have been equipped for fuel theft and all they were carrying was petrol. …

Fatuous False Flags

Losing My Religion
29 Sep 2026 at 12:07pm

I have lost faith both in Western social democracy, and in the institutions of international law. As both have been fundamental to the work of my life, this is rather a blow as I approach 70. A number of deeply shocking things have happened this past three years, not as extraneous events, but as conscious …

Losing My Religion

Palestine Action Judicial Review
23 Sep 2026 at 4:51pm

On Friday we have our appeal against the suspension of the Palestine Action judicial review in Scotland. Our legal crowdfunder has been closed down by the card processors following Trump’s designation of Palestine Action as a global terrorist organisation. https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/scottish-challenge-to-proscription/dashboard/ If you can, please come to the Court of Session in Edinburgh for 10am. If …

Palestine Action Judicial Review

Four Days in Ekaterinburg
21 Sep 2026 at 1:26pm

I was surprised a few weeks ago to get an invitation from Yana Lantratova, Russian Federal Commissioner for Human Rights, to deliver a speech on human rights to the International Youth Festival in Ekaterinburg. It is approaching 20 years since I was last in Russia, and I tend to avoid invitations from governments. But on …

Four Days in Ekaterinburg

Dishonesty and Deceit
7 Sep 2026 at 7:31pm

UPDATE We got an expedited date to “reclaim” (appeal) against the suspension of the case, on 25 September. We shall also be reclaiming against the decision not to send the case straight to the Inner House. All parties seemed to agree there may just be time, if our appeal is successful, to finish the Scottish …

Dishonesty and Deceit

BBC Scotland

I do not have confidence UK is safe from Russian threats - Swinney
14 Oct 2026 at 5:57pm
The first minister speaks to BBC Scotland News ahead of the SNP's annual conference in Aberdeen.

Burnham - Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas decisions coming 'shortly'
14 Oct 2026 at 3:13pm
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged the prime minister to stop "faffing about" with the North Sea oil and gas fields.

Swimmer Archie Goodburn thanks prime minister as brain cancer review announced
14 Oct 2026 at 8:04pm
The Scottish athlete, who has inoperable brain tumours, previously made a tearful plea for more investment in brain cancer research on BBC Breakfast.

John Cleese urges St Andrews students not to elect Q Manivannan as rector
13 Oct 2026 at 5:29pm
The actor and former rector of St Andrews says the MSP has understated the psychological effects of rape.

Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference
13 Oct 2026 at 11:29am
The prime minister is expected to head to the central belt while SNP members gather in Aberdeen.

Shetland MSP defends hiring artist with public money
12 Oct 2026 at 6:30pm
Hannah Mary Goodlad says she is using language and culture to reach the public across her islands constituency.

No probe into claims Swinney misled Holyrood
12 Oct 2026 at 5:47pm
The first minister is facing no investigation into his comments on plans to adjust the pension triple lock.

Voting records show gender splits at rapist taxi driver licence row committee
13 Oct 2026 at 6:14am
The decision by Highland councillors to let a convicted rapist keep his licences has sparked criticism.

Emergency doctor 'completely terrified' of looming winter pressures on NHS
11 Oct 2026 at 1:53pm
Dr Fiona Hunter says A&E departments are providing "unsafe" levels of care, with some patients spending 72 hours on trolleys in hospital corridors.

Swinney backs Flynn in ferry gas leak row and says 'nobody's perfect'
11 Oct 2026 at 12:43pm
The first minister says he has confidence in his transport secretary, who denies being briefed about the ferry incident.

Reform MSPs accused of racism over burka ban debate at Holyrood
8 Oct 2026 at 6:42pm
John Swinney criticised the party after it suggested religious face coverings should be outlawed in public.

Watchdog and critics raise concerns over reliability of NHS medical records
8 Oct 2026 at 6:02am
Victims of disgraced brain surgeon Sam Eljamel are complaining of "significant gaps" in their records.

Scot Goes Pop

I'm standing in this week's SNP internal elections - I believe we have a duty...
14 Oct 2026 at 12:57pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.

Nick Robinson and the dehumanisation of Palestinians demanded by official BBC...
11 Oct 2026 at 8:42am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Sky News goes full Pravda in its coverage of the Holborn & St Pancras by-elec...
9 Oct 2026 at 1:04pm
Holborn & St Pancras by-election result (8th October 2026):Labour 45.2% (-3.7)Greens 32.8% (+22.4)Conservatives 7.1% (-0.1)Reform UK 5.9% (-0.2)Liberal Democrats 3.4% (-2.4)Restore Britain 2.5% (n/...

Tories' plan to impose new nuclear power stations on Scotland means they have...
7 Oct 2026 at 2:39am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Watch out for ORCS! Rory Stewart thrillingly brings back "The Middleland", by...
4 Oct 2026 at 3:29pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham's TIME-BENDING hypocrisy: "It's fine for us to consider overturning t...
1 Oct 2026 at 1:35am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Burnham uses the loss of his father as an excuse for stripping Scotland of it...
29 Sep 2026 at 7:00pm
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

Is Robin McAlpine hallucinating, or is he trying to gaslight us?
26 Sep 2026 at 2:06am
An audio podcast version of the above video can be heard HERE, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts HERE.*  *  *If you'd like to help Scot Goes Pop to continue, please check out my Ko-Fi pa...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Decision on North Sea?s Jackdaw gas field ?imminent?, Energy Secretary says
14 Oct 2026 at 5:37pm
The UK Government is considering whether to grant permission for two projects

Archie Goodburn thanked as ministers announce plans to improve brain cancer care
14 Oct 2026 at 5:22pm
The Scottish swimmer, 25, has been praised for his advocacy work

First Minister John Swinney backs second Brexit vote ahead of SNP conference
14 Oct 2026 at 4:48pm
The First Minister also highlighted a poll commissioned by the SNP, which shows a majority support for independence

Former US President Barack Obama touches down in Glasgow for Hydro event
14 Oct 2026 at 4:21pm
An Evening with President Barack Obama will be held at the OVO Hydro on Wednesday evening

Swinney: I will use every opportunity to challenge Badenoch devolution push
14 Oct 2026 at 6:58am
It comes after reports Tory leader Kemi Badenoch would review devolution if her party wins the keys to Downing Street in 2029.

Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled Parliament over pensions
12 Oct 2026 at 3:52pm
The First Minister said he had been informed by his independent advisers that ?no investigation is required?

More than half think Scotland ?heading in wrong direction?, poll finds
12 Oct 2026 at 7:02am
Ipsos Scotland said the figure of 51% will be a concern for John Swinney, as it has increased from 45% in May.

Corridor care ?not acceptable?, Constance says ahead of NHS winter period
11 Oct 2026 at 3:11pm
The Health Secretary said she would have a ?laser focus? on building capacity for healthcare in the community.

Scottish Government urging public to ?ask for help? this World Mental Health Day
10 Oct 2026 at 1:39pm
World Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10.

Flynn?s office emailed about ferry gas leak before he said he was not briefed
9 Oct 2026 at 2:15pm
The transport secretary was asked about the incident on the Glen Sannox during an appearance at a Holyrood committee last month

Green MSP Manivannan allowed to continue working in UK after visa extended
9 Oct 2026 at 12:23pm
The Edinburgh and Lothians East member has secured a three-year graduate visa, to replace their student visa

College courses for parents offer sustainable route out of poverty ? Somerville
9 Oct 2026 at 10:46am
Alongside training courses, the project will provide additional support with childcare and transport costs

£1m pledged to create ?areas of linguistic significance? to help Gaelic thrive
9 Oct 2026 at 7:05am
The Scottish Languages Act ? passed last year by Holyrood ? paves the way for 'areas of linguistic significance' to be created in Gaelic communities

MSPs debate face coverings amid calls for ban after Glasgow protest
8 Oct 2026 at 4:56pm
It comes after one man was charged over the assault of a police officer at a protest in Glasgow, in which a number of men wore face coverings

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Andy Burnham urged to 'help' Glasgow as Reform accused of 'exploiting' public...
14 Oct 2026 at 1:56pm
Labour MP Maureen Burke said there was now an urgent need for an "honest discussion" on the pressures facing Glasgow.

Commandos build underground hospital near Glasgow to combat drones on battlef...
14 Oct 2026 at 12:10pm
The subterranean hospital, which was inspired by the war in Ukraine, took six days to build.

Most Scots back 'pragmatic' approach to future of North Sea oil and gas industry
14 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
Speculation is mounting the UK Government will soon announce approval for the development of the Jackdaw gas field off the coast of Aberdeen.

SNP challenges Andy Burnham to use Budget to 'get serious' on tackling child ...
14 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Prime Minister must announce "concrete policies" to help families struggling with stubbornly high-inflation and rising fuel costs.

Andy Burnham trying to 'steal the limelight' from SNP conference with Scotlan...
14 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: A senior SNP minister said the PM's planned visit north of the Border showed he was "lacking in confidence about his message to Scots".

Andy Burnham to visit Scotland hours before John Swinney makes SNP conference...
13 Oct 2026 at 7:28am
The Prime Minister is expected to use a speech to call for Holyrood to hand more powers to local authorities.

NHS health boards not consulted before John Swinney announced they would be s...
13 Oct 2026 at 4:31am
EXCLUSIVE: Scots living in rural parts of the country are concerned they will be "forced to travel to the central belt" for treatment as a result of the health board mergers.

John Swinney denies attacking Andy Burnham over pensions triple lock change f...
13 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
The First Minister was accused by Labour of "playing to his base and feeding into a narrative of grievance".

Glasgow City Council fire and rehire scandal proves trade unions are 'more im...
13 Oct 2026 at 4:30am
Ewan Gibbs, the author of a new book on the recent history of Britain's working class, said the dispute proved the value of trade union membership.

Andy Burnham says closer ties with EU would boost Scots businesses and grow U...
12 Oct 2026 at 4:12pm
The Prime Minister told MPs that rules imposed as a result of Brexit currently cost £100m a year in lost Scottish salmon exports.

The National

The National | Politics

Benjamin Netanyahu sued over claims he ignored warnings before October 7
14 Oct 2026 at 7:48pm

ISRAEL'S former domestic intelligence chief has launched a defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of spreading a "blood libel" to shift responsibility for the security failures surrounding the October 7 attacks.

Manchester City staff invited on UK trade trip amid Burnham scandal
14 Oct 2026 at 7:16pm

MANCHESTER City staff have been invited on a UK Government-backed trade trip to India despite the club being found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League rules, it has emerged.

The tie between the SNP and independence was cut long ago
14 Oct 2026 at 6:30pm

NICE one, Stan! (Relentless criticism of the SNP won?t help inspire indy support, Oct 9).

Scotland's future can't just be AI slop machines and bomb factories
14 Oct 2026 at 6:08pm

IT doesn?t do to get caught up in nostalgia.

Reform UK accuses ITV of 'criminal activity' after discovering undercover jou...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:13pm

REFORM UK has accused ITV of ?criminal activity? after Nigel Farage?s party hired an undercover reporter from the broadcaster ...

Majority of Scots support independence as SNP hail ?emphatic? poll
14 Oct 2026 at 5:09pm

A MAJORITY of Scots would vote for independence in a second referendum, a new poll has found, as the SNP said Scotland?s constitutional future is becoming the ?dominant question? in UK politics

In pictures: Former US president Barack Obama arrives in Glasgow in six-car c...
14 Oct 2026 at 4:48pm

Former American president Barack Obama has arrived at his hotel in Glasgow ahead of his talk at the OVO Hydro

Zack Polanski issues furious response after Andy Burnham's 'antisemitism' acc...
14 Oct 2026 at 4:43pm

GREEN Party leader Zack Polanski has issued a furious response to Andy Burnham after he condemned a motion passed by the party as "antisemitic"

Fury as BBC debate panel in Aberdeen 'stacked' in favour of fossil fuel lobby
14 Oct 2026 at 4:25pm

THE BBC has been blasted after unveiling a debate panel ?stacked? in favour of the fossil fuel industry.

Hope not Hate warns of rising far-right violence after MI5 threat report
14 Oct 2026 at 4:10pm

Far-right groups are becoming ?more and more confrontational and violent?, a leading campaign group has said

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Polling: SNP on track to be in ?most powerful position at Westminster in our ...
14 Oct 2026 at 4:26pm
The deputy first minister reacted to new polling suggesting the SNP could receive 34 per cent of the vote at the next general election

Andy Burnham: Manchester-style approach can clean up Glasgow
14 Oct 2026 at 3:59pm
Pledge to MP during Prime Minister's Questions

Majority of Scots back ?pragmatic? North Sea approach
14 Oct 2026 at 6:00am
Over two-thirds of Scots agree decisions on oil and gas should be made on a case-by-case basis

AI ?supercharging? cyber threats, MI5 chief warns
13 Oct 2026 at 5:00pm
MI5 has launched a new AI Threat Assessment Centre

Prime minister to visit Scotland during SNP conference
13 Oct 2026 at 12:22pm
The prime minister will be north of the border to discuss his plans to devolve more powers to local authorities

John Swinney will not be investigated over claims he misled parliament with p...
12 Oct 2026 at 4:49pm
The first minister said independent advisers had decided that "no investigation is required"

John Swinney urged to condemn Ross Greer remarks on Zionism
8 Oct 2026 at 6:00pm
Malcolm Offord said the comments were "blatantly antisemitic", while the FM accused Reform of "bringing racism into the chamber"

More than 2,000 objections to plans for ?world?s largest? data centre
7 Oct 2026 at 3:25pm
Locals are concerned about the environmental impact of the project at an old nuclear power plant

Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer says 'Zionism is racism'
6 Oct 2026 at 6:20pm
Scottish Greens co-leader describes the creation of the state of Israel as an 'act of ethnic cleansing'

Scottish civil servants required to work two days a week in the office, accor...
6 Oct 2026 at 6:20pm
Civil servants will be required to use a new self-reporting tool to record where they are working from

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Burnham tells Zelenskyy?s UK?s support for Ukraine ?will not change? ? as it ...
14 Oct 2026 at 6:06pm
Zelenskyy says he will be discussing intelligence sharing ?difficulties? and Starlink access with BurnhamPMQs is about to start.Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.After @genevieve_holl reported this last night, various sources in the Trump administration who are supportive of Farage s...

MI5 chief Ken McCallum confirms Russia did interfere in Brexit referendum but...
13 Oct 2026 at 5:23pm
He argued there was no evidence to suggest the result of the Brexit vote had been swayed as a result of the effortAndy Burnham promises ?serious dialogue? over UK?s relationship with EUZia Yusuf, Reform UK?s home affairs spokesperson, has said he does not agree with his colleague Suella Braverman...

UK politics live: Pat McFadden tells Labour activists they should not defend ...
27 Sep 2026 at 6:11pm
Work and pensions secretary says the current system is flawed because it consigns too many people to a life on benefits when they would be better off working?I can deliver?: Burnham pledges radical change on eve of Labour conferenceKuenssberg puts it to Burnham that, according to the Health Found...

New powerful synthetic opioids behind sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths
23 Sep 2026 at 2:12pm
Eleven per cent increase in fatalities last year partly down to presence of nitazenes in Scotland?s illicit drug marketNew forms of a powerful synthetic opioid have contributed to a sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths, with the latest data showing an 11% increase in fatalities last yearAnnual figu...

Scottish Labour?s new leader backs Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields
19 Sep 2026 at 1:52pm
Michael Marra supports development of the North Sea sites, calling for a ?more rational? approach to energy policyScottish Labour?s new leader Michael Marra has backed the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea in one of his first acts after being elected, call...

Planning permission for new Scottish AI datacentres suspended for up to a year
16 Sep 2026 at 7:28pm
MSPs vote for strict environmental impact assessments and will delay decisions until national strategy is developedHolyrood has voted to pause planning applications for all new AI datacentres for up to a year until the Scottish government has developed a national strategy.On Wednesday, MSPs backe...

UK politics: Farage hints that Reform?s £72m donations may not be legal under...
14 Sep 2026 at 6:04pm
In an interview about the donations, he said they are compliant with the law ?today?Andy Burnham has cancelled engagements today and tomorrow following the death of his father Roy, who was suffering from Alzheimer?s, the Press Association reports.Burnham has spoken about his father?s illness whic...

Westminster?s time is coming to an end, say first ministers of UK?s Celtic na...
14 Sep 2026 at 2:21pm
Leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland discuss independence and call for constitutional change at summitWestminster?s time is coming to an end, the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have said at a summit aimed at putting the UK?s Celtic nations on the path to indepe...

UK politics: Andy Burnham pressed on borrowing costs and spending at first PM...
2 Sep 2026 at 5:36pm
Burnham faced questions from Kemi Badenoch and other MPs amid speculation over budgetIn the news release to mark the first anniversary of his election as the Green party?s leader, Zack Polanski highlighted what he described as 10 achievements during his first year in charge. For the record, this ...

Swinney sticks with pledge to cap prices on basic foods in Scotland
1 Sep 2026 at 5:52pm
First minister sets out his government?s agenda and defends policy described by industry groups as a ?potty gimmick?John Swinney insisted on Tuesday he still planned to introduce a legally binding price cap on bread, milk and other essential food items in Scotland despite fierce opposition from f...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Emily Thornberry?s EU English exceptionalism
14 Oct 2026 at 3:53pm
Labour MP Emily Thornberry has suggested that the UK could rejoin the EU without another referendum to overturn the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Speaking to Sky News, she said the majority agree that Brexit was a disaster and the UK should just rejoin the EU, another referendum is not necessary in her view. …

The SNP is right to maintain its boycott of the Lords
13 Oct 2026 at 3:08pm
Last week, the SNP’s former Westminster leader Ian Blackford, speaking to The National newspaper’s podcast, suggested that the party’s refusal to take any seat in Westminster?s upper chamber was a weakness as it left them with “no way of affecting legislation in that House”. While insisting that he accepts the long standing SNP policy of …

Sticking with the status quo isn?t working
12 Oct 2026 at 2:53pm
Andy Burnham has decided to reopen the question of the UK’s relationship with the EU, telling MPs on Monday that it is time to “face up to the reality that Brexit has done more harm than good” and “the status quo is not good enough for Britain,” and that and “the status quo isn’t working …

America?s moral turpitude is infesting British politics
10 Oct 2026 at 2:58pm
I don’t usually blog about America unless it directly affects or involves Scotland, but for the latest example of how far that once great country has fallen into moral turpitude under Trump, I’ll make an exception. The very same people who had a collective meltdown over the sight of a Black mermaid or Black Helen …

Badenoch has killed off the once in a generation claim
7 Oct 2026 at 1:51pm
The Tories have officially ripped up the Vow to which they were signatories in 2014. This was the panicked promise made by the Better Together parties – one of which was the Conservatives – two days before the independence referendum which promised extensive new powers for Scotland, quasi-federal status, a guarantee that the Scottish Parliament …

The British right has Holyrood in its sights
6 Oct 2026 at 2:29pm
The Tories have crossed the Rubicon. Since the independence referendum of 2014, which Better Together won on the basis of false promises, not the least of which was the promise that the powers of the Scottish Parliament would never be clawed back by Westminster, the Westminster parties have largely attempted to maintain a fig leaf …

Labour?s gone from jam tomorrow to maybe jam eventually
5 Oct 2026 at 9:43am
One of the key promises of the Labour party in Scotland during the 2024 Westminster general election campaign was that a vote for Labour was a vote to save the jobs of the workers at the Grangemouth refinery which at that time was threatened with closure. As we all know, the refinery closed despite Labour’s …

Burnham pensions off two Better Together arguments
2 Oct 2026 at 12:41pm
One of the ways in which the Better Together campaign won the referendum in 2014 was to successfully scaremonger Scotland’s pensioners into believing that their state pensions would not be safe in an independent Scotland and that Scotland’s pensioners needed Westminster to guarantee their meagre state pensions. There were even disgraceful reports of Better Together …

Hysterical history revisited
1 Oct 2026 at 1:09pm
This is a revised version of a piece first published on this blog way back in April 2014, but I’ve republished it as it has become relevant again. Former Tory MP and erstwhile Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart’s unionist propaganda thinly disguised as a BBC history documentary, broadcast back in March and April 2014 during …

Burnham?s crude emotional manipulation reveals the poverty of Westminster?s case
30 Sep 2026 at 3:50pm
The only living politician mentioned by Andy Burnham during his jam tomorrow speech to the Labour party conference was John Swinney, and that was only in order to take a nasty, underhanded and emotionally manipulative dig at the First Minister in which Burnham linked the ‘hurt’ he’d felt at John Swinney calling him the last …

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

As twice as many wait more than 12 hours in NHS England?s A&E, Jackie Baillie...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:30pm
Scottish Labour’s unhealthy spokesperson seem to be a columnist at the Unhealthy Scotsman these days. Today, further riding the Scotsman off its readership cliff, she has: The shocking figures that reveal how bad Scotland’s A&E crisis has got under SNP ? Jackie Baillie Emergency departments in two flagship hospitals can sometimes be forced to deal with more than double or triple the number of p...

There has been a massive but unreported reduction in the number of children o...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:20pm
In the Herald, today, the above and: and: Nowhere in this report is the question ‘Why is there an increase?’ even considered never mind answered. The answer is in existing MSM reports: First, there is a huge surge in child exploitation ? carrying drugs in body cavities and sexual abuse ? by English county lines drug gangs in Scotland From Human Trafficking NRM referrals re county lines ? 10yrs ...

Half the recorded rape offence rate but more funding in Scotland ? THE News?
14 Oct 2026 at 10:42am
because of a funding shortage. Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis has launched an urgent appeal to raise more money in the next four weeks. It comes amid a series of protests about cuts to similar services across the country when the number of sexual crimes recorded here reached its highest since the 1970s. BBC Scotland leading off today, as often before, with a story not fully worked out on its web...

12 years after Erin Brockovich, Labour councillors approved massive nearby wa...
14 Oct 2026 at 9:03am
Thanks to reader Joe Murray for alerting us to this. As the media operating in Scotland desperately struggle to blame the SNP for a problem in the QEUH water supply and drainage, signed off by a Labour dominated health board in a Labour-led authority, in 2015, two years before the SNP victory, another problem for them emerges. Surely, they?d seen Erin Brockovich (2 000) and would have known abo...

How the middle-class activists of Newton Mearns avoided Govan?s fate as Glasg...
14 Oct 2026 at 8:59am
From Ends Waste & Bioenergy in January 2015: Plans to build the UK?s largest waste management complex image at top and energy-from-waste plant have come to an end, it has emerged. Lifetime Recycling Village Ltd, which had planned to build the £640m plant 12 kilometres south of Glasgow, was officially wound up in February, according to government records. Proposal to build the facility were fi...

It?s a giant incinerator just upwind of a giant hospital full of immuno-compr...
14 Oct 2026 at 8:51am
From STV yesterday, the above and, in the whole report, zero mentions of the word ‘incinerator‘ as the launch by end 2026 looms. We had a lot to say about this last month: The massive incinerator, called the South Clyde Energy Centre, positioned deliberately directly upwind and a short distance from Glasgow?s biggest hospital. The above facility is, of course, an incinerator. Located directly u...

Has any country ever becoming independent of the UK or British Empire ever ne...
13 Oct 2026 at 7:34pm
Has any country ever becoming independent of the UK or British Empire ever needed to explain how it would be able to pay pensions? No. There is no historical precedent of a country becoming independent from the UK or British Empire being required to publicly explain, in detail, how it would fund pensions for its own population as a condition of independence. What actually happened in practice P...

Producing fish-free omega-3 from whisky waste using SNP Government funds
13 Oct 2026 at 6:43pm
In Green Queen yesterday: University of Edinburgh spinout MiAlgae has secured £2.5M ($3.3M) from the Scottish National Investment Bank to support the construction of its facility to produce fish-free omega-3 from whisky waste. Scottish startup MiAlgae?s efforts to build a commercial-scale algal omega-3 facility have received a funding boost from the federal (sic) government. The Scottish Nation...

Far lower crime, more police officers, enough to help Northern Ireland three ...
13 Oct 2026 at 6:28pm
From STV News, two days a go, the above and: Whether it?s policing high profile football games, or demonstrations between pro and anti-immigration groups, Police Scotland?s officers are feeling the strain. The most senior police chief in the country, Chief Constable Jo Farrell, is calling on the Scottish Government to provide millions of pounds in additional funding. She has said this can hopef...

Huge poll confirms that Scots are more content and feel safer in their neighb...
13 Oct 2026 at 3:29pm
From: Scottish Household Survey 2025 findings: Neighbourhoods and Communities published today, the above and: In 2025, the majority of people (80%) said they felt ?very? or ?fairly safe? walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark (Table 37), this is a an improvement from 78% in 2024.  These are remarkable results from large sample research. After decades of Tory/Labour austerity moderated ...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference - Financial...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference  Financial Times

I do not have confidence UK is safe from Russian threats - Swinney - BBC
14 Oct 2026 at 5:57pm
I do not have confidence UK is safe from Russian threats - Swinney  BBC

Majority of Scots support independence as SNP hail ?emphatic? poll - The Nati...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:19pm
Majority of Scots support independence as SNP hail ?emphatic? poll  The National Scot

Scottish First Minister: 'Rethink Brexit? Rethink independence!' - Sky News
14 Oct 2026 at 4:32pm
Scottish First Minister: 'Rethink Brexit? Rethink independence!'  Sky News

SNP to launch biggest pro-independence campaign since 2014 referendum - The H...
14 Oct 2026 at 3:19pm
SNP to launch biggest pro-independence campaign since 2014 referendum  The Herald

Swinney: Burnham has made case for independence vote undeniable - The Telegraph
14 Oct 2026 at 8:34pm
Swinney: Burnham has made case for independence vote undeniable  The Telegraph

Burnham showing 'hypocrisy' on independence and the EU, says ex Sturgeon chie...
14 Oct 2026 at 12:47pm
Burnham showing 'hypocrisy' on independence and the EU, says ex Sturgeon chief  The Scotsman

Push for Scottish independence has ?turned a corner? says Swinney - Morning S...
12 Oct 2026 at 8:58pm
Push for Scottish independence has ?turned a corner? says Swinney  Morning Star | The People?s Daily

Scottish independence push has ?turned a corner?, Swinney claims - The Indepe...
12 Oct 2026 at 12:01am
Scottish independence push has ?turned a corner?, Swinney claims  The Independent

The tie between the SNP and independence was cut long ago - The National Scot
14 Oct 2026 at 6:34pm
The tie between the SNP and independence was cut long ago  The National Scot

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference - Financial...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference  Financial Times

Andy Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference - BBC
13 Oct 2026 at 11:29am
Andy Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference  BBC

The tie between the SNP and independence was cut long ago - The National Scot
14 Oct 2026 at 6:34pm
The tie between the SNP and independence was cut long ago  The National Scot

Polling: SNP on track to be in ?most powerful position at Westminster in our ...
14 Oct 2026 at 3:26pm
Polling: SNP on track to be in ?most powerful position at Westminster in our history?, says Jenny Gilruth  Holyrood Website

Greens urge SNP to introduce ?Amazon tax? on big online businesses - The Inde...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:27pm
Greens urge SNP to introduce ?Amazon tax? on big online businesses  The Independent

SNP to launch ?biggest independence campaign? since 2014 referendum - London ...
14 Oct 2026 at 3:48pm
SNP to launch ?biggest independence campaign? since 2014 referendum  London Evening Standard

I do not have confidence UK is safe from Russian threats - Swinney - BBC
14 Oct 2026 at 4:30pm
I do not have confidence UK is safe from Russian threats - Swinney  BBC

SNP set for ?emphatic? Westminster win, says Scotland?s Deputy First Minister...
14 Oct 2026 at 2:25pm
SNP set for ?emphatic? Westminster win, says Scotland?s Deputy First Minister  Belfast Telegraph

Andy Burnham to visit Scotland in middle of SNP party conference - The Times
12 Oct 2026 at 7:25pm
Andy Burnham to visit Scotland in middle of SNP party conference  The Times

Scottish National Party cancels pro-life event after pro-abortion backlash - ...
14 Oct 2026 at 6:50pm
Scottish National Party cancels pro-life event after pro-abortion backlash  Live Action

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference - Financial...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:00am
Path to Scottish independence back in spotlight at SNP conference  Financial Times

Scottish First Minister: 'Rethink Brexit? Rethink independence!' - Sky News
14 Oct 2026 at 4:32pm
Scottish First Minister: 'Rethink Brexit? Rethink independence!'  Sky News

Majority of Scots support independence as SNP hail ?emphatic? poll - The Nati...
14 Oct 2026 at 5:19pm
Majority of Scots support independence as SNP hail ?emphatic? poll  The National Scot

Andy Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference - BBC
13 Oct 2026 at 11:29am
Andy Burnham to visit Scotland during SNP conference  BBC

SNP to launch ?biggest independence campaign? since 2014 referendum - London ...
14 Oct 2026 at 3:48pm
SNP to launch ?biggest independence campaign? since 2014 referendum  London Evening Standard

Scotland has right to decide constitutional future, new Scottish Labour leade...
22 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland has right to decide constitutional future, new Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra says  BBC

Burnham showing 'hypocrisy' on independence and the EU, says ex Sturgeon chie...
14 Oct 2026 at 12:47pm
Burnham showing 'hypocrisy' on independence and the EU, says ex Sturgeon chief  The Scotsman

Push for independence has 'turned a corner', Swinney claims - The Herald
12 Oct 2026 at 7:11am
Push for independence has 'turned a corner', Swinney claims  The Herald

Scottish independence push has ?turned a corner?, Swinney claims - The Indepe...
12 Oct 2026 at 12:01am
Scottish independence push has ?turned a corner?, Swinney claims  The Independent

Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination - A...
14 Sep 2026 at 8:00am
Leaders of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland unite for self-determination  Al Jazeera