The Herald

The Herald | Politics


John Swinney to be sworn in as First Minister and appoint Cabinet
by Craig Paton
20 May 2026 at 6:53am
The SNP leader was elected as First Minister for the second time on Tuesday


Women being 'erased' say MSPs as Holyrood quietly scrubs sex data from website
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
20 May 2026 at 5:22am
Holyrood's new Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson faces urgent calls to reinstate MSP sex data on the Scottish Parliament website.


Councils 'abandon' planned health and safety visits amid financial pressures
20 May 2026 at 5:00am
Councils across Scotland are "abandoning" routine planned health and safety inspections of workplaces amid financial cuts, according to a research briefing by the Jimmy Reid Foundation (JRF).


Justice Secretary warns clubs 'nothing off the table' after Celtic Trongate d...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 May 2026 at 5:14pm
Justice Secretary Angela Constance has warned football clubs that all options are on the table and criticised Glasgow City Council over the disorder following Celtic's title win.


Swinney promises to be First Minister for all Scotland as he ramps up indyref...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 May 2026 at 3:33pm
John Swinney has promised to govern for all of Scotland after securing the backing of MSPs to remain First Minister.


Edinburgh clinic praised for same-day treatment and walk-in help
by rose.moncur@newsquest.co.uk | Rose Moncur
19 May 2026 at 3:07pm
Edinburgh clinic offering same-day access to addiction treatments has been praised for helping people into recovery faster and improving long-term support rates.


Sarwar disputes claims new MSP called for Israel's 'crushing defeat' after Oc...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
19 May 2026 at 2:47pm
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has disputed claims that list MSP Irshad Ahmed called for Israel to suffer a crushing defeat in the wake of the October 7 attacks.


Edinburgh Greens elect new co-convenors after new MSP relinquishes role
by Josh.Pizzuto-Pomaco@newsquest.co.uk | Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
19 May 2026 at 11:55am
Councillors Alys Mumford and Ben Parker were chosen to lead the group on City of Edinburgh Council until the contest next May.


Businessman funding Salmond case backs Sarwar remaining Scottish Labour leader
19 May 2026 at 5:00am
A musician and businessman funding the late Alex Salmond's case against the Scottish Government is backing Anas Sarwar remaining in charge of Scottish Labour.


John Swinney 'confident he will win the vote' as MSPs to elect new first mini...
19 May 2026 at 12:01am
MSPs will vote for Scotland?s newest first minister following the Holyrood elections.


Reform candidate admits calling actors 'satanic' was 'overly emotive'
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
19 May 2026 at 3:05pm
Reform Scotland says Aberdeen South candidate Jo Hart accepts comments describing actors as "satanic worshipping trash" used "overly emotive" language and would be expressed differently today.


Kate Forbes is gone - now John Swinney faces a cabinet reshuffle puzzle
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
19 May 2026 at 2:09pm
John Swinney faces big decisions as he builds his new Cabinet after Kate Forbes' departure, with Stephen Flynn and other key figures tipped for top jobs.


SNP MSP urges Scottish Government to rebalance business rates ?as soon as pos...
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
19 May 2026 at 12:07pm
An SNP MSP has urged the Scottish Government to rebalance business rates ?as quickly as possible?, saying reform must be a top priority for John Swinney?s new cabinet.


??Unspun Morning Briefing: Return of the John and a crude awakening
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
19 May 2026 at 8:00am
John Swinney is set to return as First Minister while questions over independence, North Sea policy and Holyrood?s newest faces begin shaping the next Parliament.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


MPs vote against supporting Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields
20 May 2026 at 6:01am

The Conservatives had forced a vote on whether the Commons should signal its support for drilling in the two sites off the Scottish coast.

John Swinney has a busy inbox after being elected first minister by MSPs.

The charity regulator has launched a probe into Scottish party leader?s Edinburgh-based charity

Melanie Ward and Gordon McKee have said they will be in Makerfield to support the Greater Manchester Mayor?s bid to return to the Commons

John Swinney will appoint a new finance secretary soon - but whoever gets the job as the unenviable task of grappling with a looming £5 billion black hole in the public finances

More than 900 police officers were called in to deal with the unrest

The SNP leader ? as expected ? was formally elected to the role by MSPs at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

The Scottish parliament has been criticised for removing the ?sex? category from its website after the election of two trans MSPs

Irshad Ahmed reportedly made the comments in Urdu during a speech in 2024

Wings over Scotland

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Craig Murray

Dr Manivannan
14 May 2026 at 6:00pm

The furore around the election of Dr Manivannan to the Scottish Parliament is deeply troubling. There is no argument whatsoever that they were eligible to stand for election. The law was changed specifically in order for those on temporary visas to be able to stand in Scottish parliamentary elections. I confess I am not sure …

Dr Manivannan

URGENT FILTON TRIAL UPDATE
13 May 2026 at 6:03am

While the Court of Appeal has now stopped the High Court contempt of court action against Rajiv Menon KC for defending his client, this is purely on procedural grounds. They ruled that Judge Johnson had to go via the Attorney General to the High Court, not direct. It is now referred back to Johnson who …

URGENT FILTON TRIAL UPDATE

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK?s Central Nervous System
11 May 2026 at 7:32pm

Unquestioning Zionism has for decades been the entry ticket to the British political and media Establishment. Anybody who was not a fully certified and compliant zionist would find their career limited – as Jeremy Corbyn, Alan Duncan, Robin Cook and David Mellor all found. Most others, of course, were never allowed to progress that far. …

Zionism Has Poisoned the UK’s Central Nervous System

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

BBC Scotland

Greens candidate claims she was told to withdraw over student visa
20 May 2026 at 6:09am
Sai Shraddha Suresh Viswanathan hoped to be a prospective MSP in the North East of Scotland in the Scottish Parliament election.

Prisoner numbers at record high despite 600 releases in six months
20 May 2026 at 6:33am
Numerous attempts to address overcrowding have failed to make a long-term impact and the population has reached critical levels.

John Swinney wins vote to be re-appointed first minister
19 May 2026 at 5:01pm
The SNP leader is to be formally sworn in on Wednesday before he chooses a new cabinet.

By-elections to replace former MPs set for next month
19 May 2026 at 4:18pm
Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins stood down as MPs after being elected to Holyrood earlier this month

Swinney defends food prices policy ahead of first minister vote
19 May 2026 at 10:06am
The SNP leader says the proposed price cap on basic foodstuffs is not intended to force a fight with the UK government.

'I've had my nose broken twice' - assaults in schools 'becoming the norm'
18 May 2026 at 6:03am
The incident is one of thousands of attacks on teaching staff each year and many now say violence in the classroom is out of control

Scotland's top law officer Dorothy Bain to step down
15 May 2026 at 9:46am
The lord advocate leads the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and also acts as chief legal adviser to the Scottish government.

How holding the UK together became part of Labour's power struggle
15 May 2026 at 11:55am
The leadership drama at Westminster has implications that reach into the UK's home nations.

Potholes compensation: How much is your council paying out?
15 May 2026 at 6:44am
Scottish councils paid out more than £2m to drivers for pothole-inflicted vehicle damage over the past five years, a BBC investigation has found.

MSPs sworn in at Holyrood before electing new presiding officer
14 May 2026 at 7:54pm
Kenneth Gibson has seen off competition from two party rivals and Lib Dem Liam McArthur to land the job.

Starmer agrees to meet Swinney in face-to face meeting
12 May 2026 at 11:30pm
Swinney says the meeting will discuss the constitution but Sir Keir says it is just to talk about "shared issues".

Expert calls for safety review at Scotland's troubled superhospital
13 May 2026 at 6:10am
Andrew Poplett says it is "incredibly difficult" to say whether the hospital is safe or unsafe for all patients.

Scot Goes Pop

The Welsh language double-edged sword for the new Plaid Cymru government
19 May 2026 at 11:11am
There's been some social media chatter in recent days suggesting that the new Cabinet of the Plaid Cymru government in Wales is composed exclusively of fluent Welsh speakers and will be conducting ...

The Scot Goes Pop fundraiser: time to aim for a rocket boost
19 May 2026 at 10:23am
So I just thought I'd put this post up to try to give another little boost to the ongoing Scot Goes Pop fundraiser, and I'll probably keep it pinned second from top on the blog over the coming few ...

Israel's need to artwash the genocide continues to bring Eurovision to its kn...
17 May 2026 at 2:32am
At this time last year, someone left a comment on this blog to say that they'd actually been hoping for an Israeli win, because the prospect of a contest in Tel Aviv would have caused the whole hou...

How rigged will Eurovision be in favour of Israel this time?
16 May 2026 at 6:33pm
That, I'm afraid, is the correct way of posing the question, because there is no doubt that the voting system remains wide open to abuse by Israel's supporters across Europe, who will not only cast...

It's all or nothing for Andy Burnham - the by-election of the century will ta...
15 May 2026 at 1:32pm
Catch up with Wednesday night's blogpost: "S*** just got real, lads. The famously always wrong blogger "Stew", who said there was "zero chance, barring nuclear war or an alien invasion" of the Holy...

Two crucial Scottish parliamentary by-elections have been triggered - one sho...
14 May 2026 at 4:22pm
So the moment that couldn't be avoided has now arrived: Reform UK have, at least for the time being, overtaken the SNP as the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons due to Stephen Flynn and S...

The BBC's sly defence of Israel's Eurovision participation is profoundly cyni...
14 May 2026 at 12:22pm
*  *  *If you enjoyed Scot Goes Pop's 2026 election coverage so much that you started to feel an inexplicable urge to buy me a hot chocolate or a ham-and-cheese toastie, donations are very welcome....

S*** just got real, lads. The famously always wrong blogger "Stew", who said...
13 May 2026 at 8:10pm
One of the most important truths about life, which has been passed down from father to son and from mother to daughter over the centuries, is that you always know you've succeeded in getting right ...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

Swinney to be sworn in as First Minister and appoint Cabinet
20 May 2026 at 7:01am
John Swinney will be sworn in at the Court of Session on Wednesday

Nothing off the table in responding to Celtic disorder, says justice secretar...
19 May 2026 at 6:25pm
Some 900 police officers responded to the unrest, Angela Constance told MSPs.

John Swinney ready to ?get on with the job? as he is re-elected First Minister
19 May 2026 at 4:17pm
The SNP leader, whose party is the biggest in the Scottish Parliament, was voted back into the role in Holyrood on Tuesday

MSPs to elect new First Minister after Scottish elections
19 May 2026 at 6:57am
John Swinney says he is confident of winning the vote at Holyrood on Tuesday.

First Minister John Swinney to look at football banning orders and pitch inva...
18 May 2026 at 1:08pm
John Swinney said the scenes that unfolded at Celtic Park on Saturday were 'completely and utterly unacceptable'

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain tells First Minister John Swinney she intends to s...
15 May 2026 at 8:55am
Dorothy Bain came under fire earlier this year after it emerged she told John Swinney of the charges against Peter Murrell before they were made public

MP quits to make way for Burnham to return to Parliament and challenge Starmer
14 May 2026 at 5:59pm
Josh Simons said he was standing down so the Mayor of Greater Manchester can 'drive the change our country is crying out for'

SNP?s Kenneth Gibson voted in as Scottish Parliament?s new presiding officer
14 May 2026 at 5:05pm
Gibson saw off challenges from fellow MSPs Liam McArthur, Stuart McMillan and Clare Haughey

Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary as pressure on Prime Minister Keir ...
14 May 2026 at 1:14pm
Streeting said in his resignation that it has become 'clear' that Starmer will not lead the party into the next general election

MSPs sworn in at Holyrood for new Scottish Parliament term
14 May 2026 at 12:58pm
SNP leader John Swinney was the first of 129 MSPs to take the oath in a ceremony at the Scottish Parliament

Ex-Aberdeen and Angus SNP MPs Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins hit out at We...
14 May 2026 at 12:23pm
The former SNP MPs have been elected to the Scottish Parliament after last week?s election.

Swinney to discuss independence referendum with Starmer in bid to end ?stalem...
13 May 2026 at 6:33pm
Swinney has said he will discuss the cost of living concerns during the face-to-face meeting

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces parliamentary watchdog investigation over...
13 May 2026 at 1:04pm
Farage received the undeclared gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024

SNP seeks to force vote on Keir Starmer?s future
13 May 2026 at 10:57am
New SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan said the 'leadership circus can?t go on any longer'.

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Drug deaths soar in Edinburgh amid calls for second safe consumption facility
20 May 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: Campaigners working to end Scotland's shameful record as the drug deaths capital of Europe have said opening a second site would play a crucial role in creating a nationwide network.

John Swinney says he'll do 5 years as First Minister but choppy waters could ...
20 May 2026 at 4:30am
Reelected as First Minister, John Swinney must now undertake a Cabinet reshuffle and steer a minority government under darkening economic skies. It would be a tough job for any politician, says Chr...

SNP Government under fire over 'dangerously long' A&E waits at Scots hospitals
19 May 2026 at 3:27pm
The rise in waiting times comes despite pre-election claims by John Swinney that the health service had turned a corner.

John Swinney denies wanting a 'punch up' with UK Government over SNP plans to...
19 May 2026 at 2:04pm
Retailers warned the SNP policy could have a "damaging" impact on Scotland's food supply chain.

George Galloway giving 'active consideration' to fighting Westminster by-elec...
19 May 2026 at 12:00pm
The left-wing firebrand has made winning Westminster by-elections a speciality - but has tasted less success in Scotland.

John Swinney to be reelected First Minister as poll finds independence is not...
19 May 2026 at 4:30am
The NHS, the economy, and the cost of living are all ranked as greater priorities for voters than an IndyRef2, according to a new poll.

Holyrood can't go into hiding any time disorder rears its head at Scottish fo...
18 May 2026 at 5:00pm
Politics and football don't always mix - but MSPs must make their views known on important matters of public safety, says Chris McCall

John Swinney has 'no intention' of apologising for Sinn Fein remarks
18 May 2026 at 2:52pm
Families of Scots killed in the Troubles have demanded the SNP leader apologise.

John Swinney says pitch invasions could become illegal in Scotland following ...
18 May 2026 at 11:40am
The First Minister condemned the aftermath of Saturday's dramatic Scottish Premiership title decider and slammed the "unacceptable behaviour of a minority of fans" who invaded the pitch.

IRA victims to protest outside Holyrood after John Swinney says people must '...
18 May 2026 at 10:44am
The First Minister claimed people had to "move on" after he was questioned about Sinn Fein's historic links to the Provisional IRA.

The National

The National | Politics

MPs reject Tory bid to issue new North Sea oil and gas licences
19 May 2026 at 8:43pm

A BID to permit licences to explore new oil and gas fields has been rejected by MPs

If you don?t like our voting system, why not push for change?
19 May 2026 at 6:48pm

IT must have been around November last year that readers of this paper began in earnest putting pen to paper ? well, maybe pounding their keyboards ? over who we should vote for on the list vote.

Far-right rally was a big failure for an underachieving grifter
19 May 2026 at 6:46pm

THE self-prophesied ?million man? march by the followers of Yaxley-Lennon was a bit of a damp squib, with only 6% of that number turning up.

Reform UK Makerfield by-election candidate was 'friends' with neo-fascist leader
19 May 2026 at 6:10pm

REFORM UK?s candidate in the Makerfield by-election was formerly ?friends? on Facebook with a neo-fascist leader ...

Malcolm Offord skipped new MSP inductions but ?took the free lunches?
19 May 2026 at 6:00pm

MALCOLM Offord didn?t show up for any first-time MSP induction sessions but took advantage of the free lunches, an MSP has said.

'Not vandalism': Scottish council responds after claims made about Jewish graves
19 May 2026 at 5:29pm

A Scottish council has rubbished social media claims that a Jewish cemetery was 'vandalised'

Did Scotland's party leaders just signal a new kind of Holyrood parliament?
19 May 2026 at 5:25pm

MEET the new boss, same as the old boss ...

Sally Rooney to publish book in Hebrew in deal with BDS-backed Israeli firm
19 May 2026 at 5:04pm

SALLY Rooney will release her latest novel in Hebrew after partnering with a small publisher backed by the Israeli boycott movement.

Scottish Labour MP ignores pro-Palestine campaigners' call for meeting
19 May 2026 at 4:29pm

A SCOTTISH Labour MP ignored her constituents? request for a meeting to talk about the genocide in Gaza, The National can reveal.

Read John Swinney's full acceptance speech after being re-elected First Minister
19 May 2026 at 4:24pm

JOHN Swinney has been re-elected as Scotland?s First Minister after a vote of MSPs in the new Holyrood parliament ...

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Scottish Parliament removes male/female MSP data from website
19 May 2026 at 1:18pm
Data now obscured, critics say

Tories set to force vote on new North Sea drilling during energy security debate
19 May 2026 at 1:00am
The Conservatives have called Labour's Energy Independence Bill, which seeks to ban the awarding of new oil and gas licences, 'deluded'

Jack McConnell joins Lisa Nandy?s team for ?ambitious? sports push
18 May 2026 at 12:35pm
Labour peer appointed as ministerial adviser

The Cost of Inaction to the Scottish Public Purse: Why Restoring Nature Is No...
18 May 2026 at 8:00am
Investing in nature is not an optional environmental concern, it is a fundamental economic necessity.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain to step down
15 May 2026 at 11:26am
Scotland's most senior law officer set to leave office

Kenneth Gibson elected Scottish Parliament presiding officer
14 May 2026 at 5:31pm
Gibson was elected after three rounds of voting, winning by 74 votes to Clare Haughey?s 54

Wes Streeting resigns from UK Government
14 May 2026 at 2:44pm
He is the first cabinet minister to resign since Labour suffered heavy defeats in the Scottish, Welsh, and English local elections

Wes Streeting resigns from government: Statement in full
14 May 2026 at 2:39pm
Wes Streeting has resigned as health secretary - read his statement in full

Swinney says food price cap plan won?t see costs passed onto farmers
14 May 2026 at 2:20pm
The SNP leader said the cost-of-living crisis would be top of his agenda as first minister

Whip Scottish MPs to vote down Starmer, SNP urges Anas Sarwar
14 May 2026 at 8:00am
Call to back amendment to King's Speech

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

UK supermarkets urged to consider voluntary price caps on essential foods
20 May 2026 at 12:03am
Retail sources rebuff government proposal as ?unjustified? and likely to push costs up across boardUK supermarkets have been asked by the government to consider freezing the prices of some essential foodstuffs to protect the public from inflation fuelled by the Middle East conflict.Retailers reje...

Minister defends Mandelson file redactions and says documents to be released ...
19 May 2026 at 5:15pm
Darren Jones says release will be ?one of the largest government publications ever laid in this house?On Friday parliament?s intelligence and security committee issued a damning statement about the government?s response to the humble address requiring the release of documents relating to the appo...

Starmer has ?full confidence? in Streeting despite health secretary?s allies ...
13 May 2026 at 6:00pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story here:Streeting to resign and challenge Starmer, allies sayLibby Brooks is the Guardian?s Scotland correspondent.An odd dispute of interpretation has emerged overnight between the Scottish and UK governments. Yesterday evening a Scottish gov...

Streeting to meet Starmer on Wednesday as the prime minister defies calls to ...
12 May 2026 at 9:22pm
A number of Streeting?s allies resigned from their ministerial posts on Tuesday and called for Keir Starmer to quitStarmer tells cabinet he will not quit without leadership challengeHere are some pictures from No 10 this morning.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the PM, is now being interviewe...

2026 UK elections: full results from local, Scottish and Welsh votes
12 May 2026 at 8:35am
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...

2026 elections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directions
11 May 2026 at 7:43am
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...

Minority groups brace for surge in racism after Reform UK election gains
11 May 2026 at 6:00am
Members of minority communities in Birmingham and elsewhere fear results could lead to rise in hostile rhetoricConceding defeat at the election count at Birmingham?s Utilita Arena on Friday, the outgoing Labour leader of the city council, John Cotton, made a plea. ?What I would encourage the next...

Angela Rayner calls blocking Andy Burnham?s return to parliament a mistake as...
10 May 2026 at 6:09pm
Catherine West issues ultimatum for PM as ex-minister Josh Simons joins calls for prime minister to quitAt the start of her programme Laura Kuenssberg addressed Catherine West and Bridget Phillipson who were sitting waiting for the main interviews.Kuenssberg told West she wanted a cabinet ministe...

Don?t let Farage and Reform divide us, Labour?s Sarwar urges Holyrood leaders
10 May 2026 at 1:30pm
Scottish Labour leader says he aims to hold SNP to account after his party tied for second with Reform in electionsThe Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, has warned other Scottish political leaders not to spend the next Holyrood parliament ?shouting about Nigel Farage?, saying his job is to ens...

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...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Something wicked this way comes
17 May 2026 at 1:27pm
We are rightly concerned about Reform UK, which has now gained representation in the Scottish Parliament, although as I had hoped, it performed more poorly than most polls forecast and failed to win a single constituency seat, narrowly missing out to the SNP in the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency which had been widely tipped …

The Celtic Alliance can break Westminter?s constitutional logjam
15 May 2026 at 6:33pm
One of the biggest developments in British political history came to pass after the recent parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, yet it predictably went all but unnoticed by a British media which struggles to comprehend England outwith the M25 and for which Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are terra incognita marked “here be dragons” …

Labour?s rigged electoral system has bitten it on the bum
13 May 2026 at 3:51pm
Ever since the Holyrood election last week in which the SNP won a crushing victory over the dependency parties, those parties and their client media have been crowing that John Swinney must drop his “obsession” with independence because the SNP “failed” in the election and did not win an outright majority for the SNP. Alex …

John Swinney is right to lock out Reform
12 May 2026 at 3:02pm
It hasn’t even been a week since the Holyrood election which took the SNP to its record fifth election win in a row, securing more MSPs than all the anti-independence parties combined, and winning more seats than Labour ever has. The British parties and their friends in the press are getting their hysteria and outrage …

Labour and the British media, stuck in the first stages of grief
10 May 2026 at 7:37pm
They’re not taking it at all well are they. Ever since the SNP handsomely won the Holyrood election, for the fifth time in a row, winning more seats than all the branch office parties combined, and together with a record performance from the Scottish Greens, the two pro-independence secured the largest ever independence majority in …

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 …

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

Swinney praised by all right-thinking folk ie not James Cook for his compassi...
19 May 2026 at 5:12pm
By Liz S BBC website top story Scottish politics page: ?Swinney defends food prices policy ahead of first minister vote? ?SNP leader John Swinney has denied his food prices policy is an attempt to force a fight with the UK government? ?defends? and ?attempt to force a fight with the UK government? ? So we are still in a cost of living crisis where it seems that the Labour UK government are not ...

After nearly 20 years of SNP Governments most Scots no longer so desperate fo...
19 May 2026 at 2:29pm
From Smoking attributable hospital admissions and deaths Scotland 2024 published today: There were an estimated 1,107 smoking?attributable hospital admissions per 100,000 population (38,675 admissions). This is a 36% decrease since 2008 (1,735 per 100,000). There were an estimated 204 smoking?attributable deaths per 100,000 population (7,085 deaths). This is a 39% decrease since 2008 (334 per 1...

Youth unemployment 17% higher in UK average than in Scotland
19 May 2026 at 2:20pm
From BBC Business, based on the latest ONS data, today: The UK unemployment rate has unexpectedly gone up while the number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in five years as the initial impact of the Iran war on firms starts to be felt. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 5% in the three months to March from 4.9% in the three months to February. Analysts said the figures show t...

How BBC Scotland tried to shift the blame for a Labour council?s ?litany of f...
19 May 2026 at 8:27am
Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this: From BBC Scotland yesterday: Edinburgh council reaches settlement after suing tram law firm – The City of Edinburgh Council has settled its multi-million pound damages claim against a law firm that advised it over the first tram project. The local authority was seeking more than £200m in compensation, claiming DLA Piper failed to give adequate warnings ...

Only BBC Scotland reports on racism in the NHS yet on their own figures it is...
19 May 2026 at 7:57am
in Scotland last year. BBC Scotland‘s short insert in BBC Breakfast show this morning reports on a survey by the Royal College of Nursing on racist incidents in the NHS and suggests the above figures for NHS Scotland. It’s not covered by BBC Breakfast or on the websites of BBC Wales, Northern Ireland, nor for that matter, BBC Scotland with the implication then that it must be worse here. The Gu...

Significantly fewer Scots dissatisfied with social care services but Royal Co...
18 May 2026 at 6:37pm
Treat negativity about Scotland?s NHS and social care services with healthy scepticism: evidence of the Royal College of Nursing being plain wrong and opting to omit relevant positives. My apologies to stewartb but I’ve used my perhaps unattractive unilateral editorial powers to replace his more mature header above with my more combative version at the top! By stewartb When political advocacy i...

Massive fall in violent crime in Scotland especially among younger adults as ...
18 May 2026 at 3:15pm
There is a clear positive trend revealed in the data above from Re-conviction statistics for male offenders: FOI release published today. Violent crimes over the eight year period from 2012/13 to 2020/21, among under 21s fell from 181 to 44, more than three-quartered! For 21 to 30 year-olds from 492 to 231, it more than halved! Then, however, for all of the over 30 years groups, there were much...

Restore Britain?s position ? You live in England, you speak English
18 May 2026 at 1:58pm
By Liz S Rupert Lowe , an English Nationalist , has now created a new party that he has called ?Restore Britain?. Reading his many daily posts on ?X? you will see how often he sees England and English as the same as Britain and Britishness , as for him there seems to be no distinction between the two. Yesterday he wrote (yet another) long post about Councils , Reform UK ones, ?spending hundreds...

Top History Professor says ?All of my students must use AI? ? Me too!
18 May 2026 at 1:57pm
Regulars will have noted that TuS has been making increased use of AI in the last year or so and getting some criticism of that. I understand why many are concerned but my view is that this is another technology, like those before, we must master, a ‘tiger we must ride.’ Famous last words perhaps but we humans didn’t get where we are, on top because we are the meanest SOBs on the planet, just t...

Nurses fight for band 7 status after missing out on £9,000 pay rise in NHS Wa...
18 May 2026 at 1:55pm
From Nursing Standard on 7 May 2026, the above and: A group of 100 health visitors are taking to picket lines for two more months after their NHS employer ?refused to acknowledge? a job evaluation appeal that would see them get a pay increase of up to £9,000. The specialist nurses, who work at the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB ) in south Wales, are fighting for their Agenda ...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

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

Scotland?s independence movement must find an answer to this economic questio...
18 May 2026 at 8:07pm
Scotland?s independence movement must find an answer to this economic question  The National Scot

SNP can't put Scottish independence before school violence, NHS waiting list ...
19 May 2026 at 4:45pm
SNP can't put Scottish independence before school violence, NHS waiting list crisis...  The Scotsman

Caught between the UK and EU: What?s next for young Scots? - France 24
27 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Caught between the UK and EU: What?s next for young Scots?  France 24

The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking - The Economist
30 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking  The Economist

Swinney says Scottish independence referendum could be held in 2028 - BBC
12 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Swinney says Scottish independence referendum could be held in 2028  BBC

SNP can make ?Scotland?s oil? a rallying cry for independence once again - Th...
17 May 2026 at 4:51pm
SNP can make ?Scotland?s oil? a rallying cry for independence once again  The Times

Swinney must keep day one promise on independence, say Greens - Scottish Greens
18 May 2026 at 12:18pm
Swinney must keep day one promise on independence, say Greens  Scottish Greens

Greens: Swinney must keep day one promise on independence - The Herald
18 May 2026 at 6:14pm
Greens: Swinney must keep day one promise on independence  The Herald

The Scottish independence lie - The Spectator
29 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
The Scottish independence lie  The Spectator

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP wins 58 seats as Labour and Reform tie for second with 17 each - BBC
9 May 2026 at 8:00am
SNP wins 58 seats as Labour and Reform tie for second with 17 each  BBC

John Swinney wins vote to be re-appointed first minister - BBC
19 May 2026 at 5:01pm
John Swinney wins vote to be re-appointed first minister  BBC

The SNP may have won again but Scottish politics has been upended | Scottish ...
9 May 2026 at 8:00am
The SNP may have won again but Scottish politics has been upended | Scottish elections 2026  The Guardian

Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of...
6 May 2026 at 8:00am
Final YouGov MRP of the 2026 Holyrood election shows the SNP falling short of a majority  YouGov

SPICe general election Scotland 2026 results and analysis - SPICe Spotlight
9 May 2026 at 8:00am
SPICe general election Scotland 2026 results and analysis  SPICe Spotlight

SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely t...
9 May 2026 at 8:00am
SNP is Scotland's biggest winner with pressure for independence vote likely to follow  Sky News

More in Common Final Holyrood MRP - More in Common UK
4 May 2026 at 8:00am
More in Common Final Holyrood MRP  More in Common UK

SNP on track for majority ? and fresh referendum on breaking up the UK - The ...
15 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
SNP on track for majority ? and fresh referendum on breaking up the UK  The Telegraph

John Swinney urges Starmer to show Scotland ?greater respect? after SNP victo...
8 May 2026 at 8:00am
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
8 May 2026 at 8:00am
SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

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

Scotland's head of government vows to hold another independence referendum - ...
12 May 2026 at 1:00am
Scotland's head of government vows to hold another independence referendum  ConstitutionNet

Swinney says Scottish independence referendum could be held in 2028 - BBC
12 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Swinney says Scottish independence referendum could be held in 2028  BBC

SNP can't put Scottish independence before school violence, NHS waiting list ...
19 May 2026 at 4:45pm
SNP can't put Scottish independence before school violence, NHS waiting list crisis...  The Scotsman

Scotland?s independence movement must find an answer to this economic questio...
18 May 2026 at 8:07pm
Scotland?s independence movement must find an answer to this economic question  The National Scot

The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking - The Economist
30 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
The question of Scottish independence is alive but not kicking  The Economist

Caught between the UK and EU: What?s next for young Scots? - France 24
27 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Caught between the UK and EU: What?s next for young Scots?  France 24

SNP vows to push for new independence vote with or without a majority - Finan...
27 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
SNP vows to push for new independence vote with or without a majority  Financial Times

Scotland?s parliamentary election 2026: what are the big economic choices? - ...
28 Apr 2026 at 8:00am
Scotland?s parliamentary election 2026: what are the big economic choices?  Economics Observatory

Greens: Swinney must keep day one promise on independence - The Herald
18 May 2026 at 6:14pm
Greens: Swinney must keep day one promise on independence  The Herald