The Herald

The Herald | Politics


How every MSP voted as 12 MSPs switched to reject assisted dying Bill
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
17 Mar 2026 at 11:07pm
This is how MSPs voted in a crunch vote on assisted dying, which resulted in the proposals being rejected.


MSPs reject Bill to legalise assisted dying following late night crunch vote
17 Mar 2026 at 10:01pm
Liam McArthur has vowed the fight for assisted dying in Scotland will continue after MSPs rejected his bill. The final vote followed an emotionally charged debate in Holyrood.


Scottish Parliament election 2026: Key dates for polls in Edinburgh and Lothians
by rose.moncur@newsquest.co.uk | Rose Moncur
17 Mar 2026 at 5:54pm
Notice of election published for Scottish Parliament vote in Edinburgh and Lothians. Register by April 20 to vote on May 7. Postal and proxy options available.


Inside John Curtice's latest election briefing - insights and forecasts
17 Mar 2026 at 3:50pm
Hundreds of investors, businesses, civil servants and local government officials gathered today in Glasgow for the annual conference of the Scottish Property Federation.


Christians in Scotland losing faith with traditional party politics, research...
17 Mar 2026 at 12:18pm
A newly-published study reveals that Scottish Christians are no longer being drawn to one particular political party ahead of national elections in May.


Former leader of council Tory group confirms defection to SNP
17 Mar 2026 at 12:01pm
The former leader of Midlothian Council?s Conservative group has confirmed he has joined the SNP after describing the UK union as ?no longer serving Scotland?s best interests?.


What time is the vote on assisted dying in Scotland? Time, place and key points
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
17 Mar 2026 at 6:47am
What time is the assisted dying vote in Scotland? Key timings, what the Bill does, and why the Holyrood decision is on a knife edge.


RECAP: Assisted dying vote hangs in the balance as MSPs face final decision
17 Mar 2026 at 6:33am
Tonight's vote on assisted dying at Holyrood is too close to call, with just a handful of MSPs expected to decide the outcome after weeks of intense debate and major changes to the Bill.


Somerville defends child poverty plan as projections warn targets to be missed
by rebecca.mccurdy@newsquest.co.uk | Rebecca McCurdy
17 Mar 2026 at 5:30am
Shirley-Anne Somerville has defended the Scottish Government's action on tackling child poverty as projections suggest targets will be substantially missed.


MSPs prepare for knife-edge vote on assisted dying in Scotland
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
17 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
Scotland?s parliament faces a deeply divisive vote on assisted dying, with just a handful of MSPs likely to decide the outcome. Supporters say the Bill offers compassion and choice for terminally ill adults, while critics warn it risks exposing vulnerable people to pressure.


Labour ministers ?exploring all funding avenues' to help Union Corner rebuild
17 Mar 2026 at 5:00am
The UK Government is "exploring" all avenues to help fund the restoration of Union Corner after a leading architect estimated how much a new buidling on the site would cost


Scottish Government ?needs to do more? on dental care, says minister
by hannah.brown@newsquest.co.uk | Hannah Brown
17 Mar 2026 at 3:04pm
Jenni Minto says the Scottish Government must ?do more? to improve NHS dentistry as a new poll reveals one in five adults in Scotland cannot access dental care.


Why isn't Big Tech doing more to stop false claims spreading on social media?
by alison.rowat@theherald.co.uk | Alison Rowat
16 Mar 2026 at 9:58pm
Review: Inside the Rage Machine review, BBC Two/iPlayer, Monday: Marianna Spring, the BBC's social media investigations correspondent, looks at social media algorithms and their real-world consequences in this new documentary. Why isn't Big Tech doing more to stop false claims spreading?


Taxpayers hit for �3.2m by near-record 90 ?golden goodbyes? for axed public s...
by andrew.learmonth@newsquest.co.uk | Andrew Learmonth
16 Mar 2026 at 6:43pm
Scottish public bodies signed 90 settlement agreements costing �3.2m last year, with 28 including confidentiality clauses. The figures, revealed in a report to Holyrood?s Public Audit Committee, have triggered fresh political attacks over transparency and taxpayer value.

The Scotsman

The Scotsman Politics


Assisted dying legislation rejected by MSPs following emotional debate in Hol...
17 Mar 2026 at 10:18pm

Liam McArthur, the MSP behind the bill, said many of those who voted against it would come to regret it deeply

The emotional assisted dying debate was a display of Holyrood at its best.

Neil Gray was admitted to hospital on Monday night

Malcolm Offord said ?every barman in Glasgow, every barman in Edinburgh has got a degree?

The final vote on the historic bill will take place at 10pm today

The Scottish government hopes a new national agency can help speed up slow planning decisions, seen as a key barrier to housebuilding.

Wings over Scotland

Looking up at the stars
10 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
A fascinating line from the BBC this evening: The number of parties who got MSPs elected at the last election is? five. (Though in fairness there are now six, Reform having a single MSP after Graham Simpson defected from the Tories. The Lib Dems are even outnumbered by independents, of whom there are seven.) Also …

Scotland?s Most Frightened
4 Mar 2026 at 5:52pm
This was just two months ago. (Longer version here.) ? And we’ll bet you anything you like he’s already wishing he hadn’t said it. Because a recent study suggested that Swinney might just achieve the impossible task he set for himself, and if he does then he’s REALLY screwed. Now, we don’t actually think that’ll …

Two Men Unalike
28 Feb 2026 at 1:41pm
So Cathy Newman of Channel 4 News got herself a scoop last night. And to be honest, readers, we were a bit confused. “Gender critical views” are not only lawful things to hold and express, they’re one of a small subset of opinions that are explicitly protected as such in law. And why would a …

The Tactics Of Suicide
26 Feb 2026 at 1:48pm
Sorry, readers, we’ve been too busy boiling with rage at revolting, cretinous Americans for the last few days to trust ourselves with writing a full-length article, but we’ve just about calmed down enough in time for this month’s polling analysis. Which is handy, because today is also the day of the Gorton and Denton by-election …

When the law breaks the law
19 Feb 2026 at 1:33pm
There is a not particularly funny joke that is sometimes told in legal circles about why a law student failed to finish his coursework ? because he had no conviction. With rare exceptions lawyers aren?t renowned for their sense of humour but I can?t help thinking someone, at the highest levels of our justice system, …

The Future Is Yesterday
18 Feb 2026 at 2:10pm
So on the one hand there’s obviously very little point paying attention to the SNP’s regional list candidates for May’s Holyrood election, because as this website has comprehensively demonstrated over recent months, the chances of the SNP having any list MSPs elected are remote. However, nothing is impossible, so let’s take a look at the …

Scotland In Numbers
17 Feb 2026 at 11:30pm
Cost of keeping vital rape crisis services in Glasgow operating: �500,000. Amount of money wasted by the Scottish Government fighting and losing court cases to try to remove women’s rights: �1.14 million. Angry yet?

The Longest Road
16 Feb 2026 at 1:23pm
As the six-year fight for justice for Alex Salmond continues, we thought you might like to see this clip from this morning’s Mike Graham Show, interviewing Paul McManus, the businessman and drummer in Glasgow rock band Gun who’s stepped up to fund the Salmond family’s case against the Scottish Government despite disagreeing with much of …

The Modern Politician
10 Feb 2026 at 5:17pm
A play in three acts: And you thought ours were spineless. Poor old Anas, though. If 24 hours is a long time in politics these days, a week is forever. And a month hardly even bears thinking about. As for a year and a half, well, the less said the better.

A Dumber Nation
9 Feb 2026 at 3:52pm
In politics, readers, evil and stupidity aren’t the same thing. But nor are they exclusive. Before we ask you to consider which of the terms applies to the Scottish Government led by John Swinney, we’d like you to read this letter sent to Wings by the auntie of two women imprisoned in Scottish jails. “I …

Craig Murray

Radicalism and Scottish Independence
14 Mar 2026 at 4:18pm

There is no place like home, and a few hours after arriving back in Scotland I was in Glasgow giving a talk to Pensioners for Independence. I still covered quite a wide sweep, but my focus came back to what I care about more than anything – the freedom, prosperity and just position in the …

Radicalism and Scottish Independence

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?
13 Mar 2026 at 5:48pm

I interviewed a prominent academic who is a profound critic of the Venezuelan government, and in contrast a strong academic supporter. The conversations were relaxed, open and I believe worthwhile. There is no serious dispute that the Venezuelan government shifted to some degree towards economic liberalism under President Maduro. The question is to what extent …

Has Venezuela Abandoned Socialism?

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK
12 Mar 2026 at 8:06am

I today met our legal team and instructed them to submit an application for interim relief in the Scottish judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action. If successful this will immediately lift the proscription in Scotland, pending the review. Scores of people in Scotland face imminent conviction for terrorist offences simply for exercising free …

Fighting Back Against Zionist Control of the UK

Metro Workers of Caracas
10 Mar 2026 at 6:39am

President Nicol�s Maduro is a working-class man, a bus driver who worked his way to office through the trade union movement. Compare that to the Western “elite”. In Caracas I joined a rally of his fellow Metro workers, many of whom know him personally, demanding his release after kidnap by the US. I intend to …

Metro Workers of Caracas

Joy at Death and Destruction
7 Mar 2026 at 12:39pm

The United States and Israel are both revelling in inflicting the maximum possible death and suffering on Iran. After the genocide in Gaza, on a far larger field in Iran, those in power in Israel and the USA have a lust to kill and they revel in impunity. The Epstein files reveal the same dynamic. …

Joy at Death and Destruction

The War for Greater Israel
1 Mar 2026 at 2:21pm

There has scarcely been an attempt to pretend any justification in international law for the attack on Iran and murder of its leader. The response of the UK government, focusing almost entirely on condemning Iran for exercising its legitimate right of self-defence, takes the Starmer dishonesty meter further off the scale. The RAF has been …

The War for Greater Israel

BBC Scotland

Scotland's assisted dying bill rejected after emotional debate
18 Mar 2026 at 12:04am
Scotland would have become the first part of the UK to legalise the process had MSPs backed the proposals.

Scotland's assisted dying bill has fallen - what happens now?
18 Mar 2026 at 12:14am
Debate on the issue has been ongoing in parliament for more than 15 years but this is the closest legislation has made it to become a law.

Botox and Brazilian butt lift law passed by parliament
17 Mar 2026 at 10:07pm
Delivering treatments to someone under the age of 18 is to be outlawed under the legislation.

Almost a decade after Grenfell, my flat still isn't safe
17 Mar 2026 at 10:10pm
As MSPs vote on proposals to fund repairs to unsafe claddings, residents say they are still waiting for action.

Starmer announces �53m support to help with heating oil costs
16 Mar 2026 at 9:25pm
The money will be for "vulnerable" households who have faced a sharp rise in energy bills since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Council leader calls for more powers to protect Glasgow's buildings
15 Mar 2026 at 1:19pm
Susan Aitken wants Glasgow City Council to have greater powers in the wake of the Union Street fire.

Swinney promises �500m childcare boost and more GP walk-in clinics
14 Mar 2026 at 4:42pm
The first minister told his party's spring conference he will extend childcare if re-elected in May.

Teachers' union calls off strikes after workload deal
13 Mar 2026 at 2:50pm
Strike action in six Scottish council areas next week has been called off after a deal was agreed.

Parliament misconduct allegations reported to police
13 Mar 2026 at 11:42am
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone told MSPs that parliament police had been made aware of the report.

NHS Scotland chief executive Caroline Lamb to step down
13 Mar 2026 at 11:24am
During the Covid pandemic she oversaw the Test and Protect contact tracing system and the vaccination programme.

Watchdog says he 'can't trust ministers' with Sturgeon inquiry files
12 Mar 2026 at 8:12pm
The information commissioner has threatened the government with more legal action over the release of files.

Swinney seeks UK meeting over US military use of Prestwick Airport
12 Mar 2026 at 4:15pm
Three American military refuelling aircraft that previously stopped at the airport are believed to be supporting US-Israeli airstrikes.

Scot Goes Pop

Stephen Daisley owes the Scottish Parliament an apology tonight
17 Mar 2026 at 10:51pm
The vote on assisted dying went the way I hoped it would, although even three hours ago I was still very pessimistic.  I think one thing all of us can agree on is that the standard of debate was ex...

Reddit tries to explain Stew - but struggles
17 Mar 2026 at 10:28am
Today is going to be an unpleasant day, because the stakes are high and the outcome is unpredictable, so I thought you might appreciate some light relief.  A Reddit thread suddenly appeared yesterd...

Why I hope the Scottish Parliament rejects assisted dying this week
15 Mar 2026 at 8:16pm
Not that I expect my opinion to make the remotest difference, but as the Scottish Parliament is about to make one of the most consequential decisions in its history, I thought I'd offer my opinion ...

The "Liberate Scotland" alliance continues to both disintegrate and drift to ...
15 Mar 2026 at 4:56pm
The Independence For Scotland party, which until today was one of the three component parts of the Liberate Scotland alliance along with the far-right Sovereignty and "Independents for Independence...

SNP conference, and a housekeeping note
14 Mar 2026 at 1:08pm
Never let it be said that I don't take my SNP membership seriously, because I've given up on watching the rugby today in order to attend the SNP campaign conference in Edinburgh.  (And there's prec...

This election is not a game. As yet another fringe pro-indy party starts bru...
12 Mar 2026 at 9:23pm
Until today, when he suddenly left the party after an angry tirade, Allan Petrie was the designated Nominating Officer of the "Alliance to Liberate Scotland".  (Indeed he technically still is, beca...

GB-wide YouGov poll: Greens STAY AHEAD of Labour, and SNP lead by 8 in Scotland
11 Mar 2026 at 11:02pm
Later in this video, I also provide some more information / offer some thoughts on why YouGov may be systemically underestimating independence support in their full-scale Scottish polls.

Questions mount over Stew's "I'm a fearsome journalist, can make mincemeat of...
10 Mar 2026 at 7:06pm
 But yeah, Allan, it *was* actually pretty rude of you to make Stew's involvement a condition of you taking part if you hadn't even bothered to check with him whether he was willing to do it.  Hope...

STV Politics News

Latest Politics News | STV News

MSPs reject Assisted Dying Bill after emotionally charged Holyrood debate
17 Mar 2026 at 10:12pm
Liam McArthur?s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is defeated by 69 votes to 57 in the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs expected to back Bill to regulate ?wild west? beauty procedures
17 Mar 2026 at 8:07pm
The Bill will limit who can carry out procedures

Neil Gray to miss historic assisted dying vote after being admitted to hospital
17 Mar 2026 at 5:19pm
Neil Gray said he would instead vote by proxy and will abstain given the Scottish Government's position

MSPs set for historic vote on whether to legalise assisted dying in Scotland
17 Mar 2026 at 6:37am
Members will be asked if terminally ill adults with decision-making capacity - and six months or less to live - should be allowed to seek medical help to die.

Starmer says UK working with allies on ?viable plan? to open Strait of Hormuz
16 Mar 2026 at 4:34pm
The Prime Minister has resisted Trump?s demands to send Royal Navy warships to help secure the vital shipping route

Ministers accused of using ?hugely inflated? jobs figures for data centres
15 Mar 2026 at 12:28pm
The Action to Protect Rural Scotland is demanding more scrutiny of such claims.

John Swinney promises ?transformational? help with childcare if SNP re-elected
14 Mar 2026 at 5:33pm
The SNP leader also promised help for those seeking to buy their first home if his party wins the Scottish Parliament election in May.

Better future possible for Scotland away from Westminster, John Swinney to say
14 Mar 2026 at 12:42pm
The First Minister will tell an SNP conference that Westminster?s economic model is ?totally broken?.

Scottish Government to give first-time buyers up to �10,000 to escape ?rent t...
13 Mar 2026 at 6:13pm
First Minister announced he would create a �100 million First Homes Fund if the SNP are re-elected

MSP ?witnessed? sexually assaulting young female members of staff
13 Mar 2026 at 3:20pm
A survey of workers at Holyrood revealed 84 previously unreported cases of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment

Rare Friday sitting at Holyrood as MSPs debate assisted dying Bill amendments
13 Mar 2026 at 6:56am
MSPs are seeking to conclude debating more than 300 amendments lodged to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

Scots have growing confidence in SNP, claims Swinney ahead of conference
13 Mar 2026 at 6:37am
Delegates will meet in Edinburgh for the one-day event on Saturday

More than 80 unreported cases of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct a...
12 Mar 2026 at 6:24pm
The findings come from a Dignity at�Work survey of all staff who work for MSPs, or for the Parliamentary Corporate Body

?Not enough? in new child poverty plan to meet 2030 target, warns charity
12 Mar 2026 at 6:21pm
Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville described the plan as a ?catalyst? to bring poverty rates down

Daily Record

Daily Record - Politics

Assisted dying in Scotland law rejected by MSPs following emotional debate at...
17 Mar 2026 at 10:12pm
The defeat marks the third time that legislation to legalise assisted dying has been voted down in the last two decades.

What is Assisted Dying and how would the law work in Scotland?
17 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
MSPs will finally decide whether the controversial Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill makes it on the statute books.

Health Secretary Neil Gray admitted to hospital ahead of assisted dying vote ...
17 Mar 2026 at 1:14pm
No information was given on why Gray had been admitted to hospital.

Assisted dying on brink of being legalised in Scotland as MSPs set for landma...
17 Mar 2026 at 10:38am
MSPs will be given a free vote - meaning they don't have to follow a party line - following months of intensive lobbying from either side of the debate.

Vape shop 'farce' uncovered after Daily Record confronts store near Glasgow Q...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
Quick Stop shop is one of hundreds that dodged registration and which refuse to be transparent about who owns them

10 areas of�Scotland facing highest council tax increases from next month
16 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm
Local authorities across the country are struggling to make ends meet and many have resorted to steep increases in council tax charges from April 1 to ensure they can continue delivering vital serv...

Close all wards at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital that put patients at r...
16 Mar 2026 at 2:48pm
A specialist cancer ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital may be rebuilt over contamination fears despite only opening in 2015.

Keeping women safe in Scots city centres at night means investment in police ...
16 Mar 2026 at 12:36pm
The Scottish Labour leader spoke out in response to claims by Malcolm Offord that by women and girls don't feel safe on the streets on Glasgow after dark.

Analogue John Swinney has left Scotland's NHS in the dark ages
16 Mar 2026 at 7:13am
Writing in his regular column for the Record, the Scottish Labour leader pledges to deliver a working app for NHS Scotland within a year of the election.

Waiting times for NHS hearing tests 'out of control' as audiology services fa...
16 Mar 2026 at 4:30am
EXCLUSIVE: The SNP Government admitted there were "difficulties facing the audiology sector" but refused to commit to implementing the recommendations of an independent review of services.

The National

The National | Politics

Here's how MSPs voted on historic assisted dying bill ? see the full list
17 Mar 2026 at 10:31pm

THE Scottish Parliament voted to reject legislation to legalise assisted dying in a late-night historic vote following hours of passionate debate ...

MSPs reject assisted dying legislation in landmark vote
17 Mar 2026 at 10:13pm

MEMBERS of the Scottish Parliament have rejected legislation to legalise assisted dying in a late-night landmark vote ...

Trump supporters did not vote for a war costing billions per day
17 Mar 2026 at 7:00pm

I?VE read that the war on Iran is costing the US probably at least a billion quid a day, with some reckoning it?s nearer �2 billion! This definitely ain?t what Trump?s support voted for. They, and more fool them, swallowed his lies that he would make them all better-off.

5 unhinged Donald Trump comments from his St Patrick's Day press conference
17 Mar 2026 at 5:47pm

DONALD Trump has threatened Cuba as he met with the Irish Taoiseach to mark St Patrick?s Day, while he said the UK-US relationship was ?always was the best until Keir came along?.

Crunch court date for Scottish activists on Palestine Action terror charges
17 Mar 2026 at 5:06pm

A SCOTTISH court is to be met with protests ahead of a key hearing that could change the course of Palestine Action ?terrorism? cases in Scotland and the wider UK ...

What we learned from this huge study on Scottish voters ahead of the election
17 Mar 2026 at 5:00pm

THE experts from the Scottish Election Study (SES) have given their verdict on some of trends going into May?s Holyrood election ...

Nigel Farage 'promoted neo-Nazi event and repeated racist slogans' in paid-fo...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:47pm

NIGEL Farage has reportedly promoted neo-Nazi events and repeated extremist slogans in personal paid-for video messages online, while pocketing hundreds of pounds in doing so.�

Reform UK 'breaching law' with energy bill prize draw stunt
17 Mar 2026 at 4:27pm

REFORM UK have been accused of breaching the law over a stunt in which the party pledged to cut the energy bills of one street in Britain.

Scotland's Health Secretary issues statement after being admitted to hospital
17 Mar 2026 at 4:13pm

SCOTLAND'S Health Secretary has issued a statement after being admitted to hospital ahead of a crucial vote on proposed assisted dying legislation

'Serious questions' over falling number of Scots awarded disability benefits
17 Mar 2026 at 3:31pm

The Scottish Government has 'serious questions' to answer over the falling number of people being awarded disability benefits, the Scottish Greens have said

Holyrood Magazine

Holyrood Website

Neil Gray ?sorry and frustrated? to miss assisted dying vote after hospital stay
17 Mar 2026 at 4:40pm
Health secretary thanks medical staff for treatment

Rachel Reeves targets AI and EU in economic growth plan
17 Mar 2026 at 3:22pm
Chancellor eyes closer alignment with bloc and promises 'the fastest AI adoption in the G7'

Local Authorities Guide: Inverclyde Council
17 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Council leader Stephen McCabe answers questions about local authority

MSPs prepare for final vote on assisted dying bill
17 Mar 2026 at 12:59am
The bill, which has been brought forward by Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, will be voted on at 10pm tonight

Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan
14 Mar 2026 at 12:24pm
Addressing the SNP's spring conference in Edinburgh, the first minister also set out details for a recovery fund following the fire in Glasgow city centre

Parliament survey finds evidence of bullying and sexual harassment
13 Mar 2026 at 9:06am
The parliament?s chief executive and the presiding officer said they were ?deeply concerned? by the findings, with the incidents only coming to light because of the review.

Local Authorities Guide: Fife Council
13 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Council leader David Ross answers questions about local authority

Scottish Government ?can?t be trusted? with Salmond files, information commis...
12 Mar 2026 at 10:34pm
David Hamilton said he had been met with a series of 'excuses' from the government that were 'preposterous and unacceptable'?

Glasgow fire is ?wake-up call? to service cuts, says Anas Sarwar
12 Mar 2026 at 1:08pm
The Scottish Labour leader also called for an ?urgent investigation? into whether reductions to capacity may have had an impact

Local Authorities Guide: East Renfrewshire Council
12 Mar 2026 at 6:00am
Council leader Owen O'Donnell answers questions about local authority

Guardian - Scottish Politics

Scottish politics | The Guardian

Scottish parliament votes against legalising assisted dying
17 Mar 2026 at 10:44pm
MSPs reject bill after concerted campaign to block it and despite amendments intended to placate criticsThe Scottish parliament has voted against legalising assisted dying after critics and religious groups led a concerted campaign to block the measures.MSPs voted 69 to 57 to reject the proposals...

The Guardian view on the fragile politics of the union: Labour?s woes have co...
17 Mar 2026 at 6:41pm
Following May?s elections, first ministers committed to independence could be in place in Edinburgh, Cardiff and BelfastThe general election of July 2024 did not just call time on a decade and a half of Conservative rule. It also delivered the most pro-Union parliament since the early 2010s, when...

Zelenskyy says Europe is a ?global force? that can stand against any other po...
17 Mar 2026 at 6:22pm
Keir Starmer previously reassured that the war in Iran would not distract the UK from supporting Ukraine Nigel Farage is speaking now at the Reform UK event.The website promoting the lottery is up. It is called nigelcutmybills.com. Continue reading...

Trump says he is ?not happy? with UK as he criticises Starmer for being overl...
16 Mar 2026 at 6:19pm
President says PM should be more supportive over strait of Hormuz Keir Starmer is speaking at his press conference.The war is entering its third week, he says.First, we will protect our people in the region.Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not ...

UK faces ?seismic moment? as nationalists target election wins, says John Swi...
14 Mar 2026 at 6:22pm
SNP leader hails prospect of success for parties in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that want to break up unionThe UK is facing an ?absolutely seismic moment?, John Swinney has said, with the prospect of the election of first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May who are a...

Glasgow?s only high-ladder fire engine unavailable during office block inferno
12 Mar 2026 at 2:12pm
Revelation prompts questions over Scottish fire service?s capacity to deal with large fires after 2023 cutsConcerns have been raised about the capacity of Scotland?s fire service to deal with large fires like the one that gutted a Victorian office block in Glasgow as it emerged that the city?s on...

Starmer warned cabinet against ?overly deferential? relations with devolved g...
11 Mar 2026 at 10:46am
Leaked memo dates from shortly after Labour Senedd members raised alarm devolution is being rolled backUK politics live ? latest updatesKeir Starmer warned his cabinet against an ?overly deferential? approach to the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish governments, according to a leaked memo.In the...

Alba party to wind up and not contest Scottish election
8 Mar 2026 at 8:28pm
Pro-independence party formed by Alex Salmond in 2021 had suffered membership fall and financial crisisThe Alba party has announced that it will wind up and not field any candidates for the 2026 Scottish parliament election.The pro-independence party was formed in 2021 by the late Alex Salmond as...

Scotland becomes first UK country to legalise water cremations
2 Mar 2026 at 3:24pm
Hydrolysis uses alkaline and water to break down body in a few hours and is part of demand for more sustainable funeralsScotland has become the first part of the UK to legalise hydrolysis, an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial, reflecting increasing demand for more sustai...

PM vows to ?keep fighting? after Greens sweep past Labour and Reform to win b...
27 Feb 2026 at 5:57pm
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story here:Report: Labour MPs demand Starmer change directionAnalysis: clock is ticking for StarmerProfile: who is Hannah Spencer, new Green MP?Reform activists are ?hearing Matt Goodwin has all but conceded defeat to the Greens?, the UK poll agg...

Wee Ginger Dug

Wee Ginger Dug

Scotland: Too wee?
17 Mar 2026 at 9:11am
Is it time to look again at the long-debated theory that Scotland is ?too wee? to be a successful independent country? A guest post by Diane Izzett https://bsky.app/profile/dizzyscot.bsky.social With the yes voters taking a lead in recent polls, do the facts support this or is it just the final death throes of a coloniser losing …

Lessons from 2014 for next time round
14 Mar 2026 at 6:23pm
An important new academic book looking at the 2014 Scottish independence referendum has just been published. The snappily titled “Discourse, Voice, and the Politics of Participation in the Scottish Independence Referendum” by Dr Maike Dinger, a Lecturer in Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling is available on Amazon for �104.99 hardback or …

So-called muscular unionism is a sign of Westminster?s fragility
12 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
The Labour party has responded to the leak of a memo from Starmer to cabinet ministers in which he tells them not to be “deferential” to the devolved governments and not to hesitate to override them even on devolved matters. Starmer was questioned about the memo by SNP MP Stephen Gethins at Prime Minister’s Questions …

Devolution has run out of road
10 Mar 2026 at 6:48pm
This always happens, every time I decide to take a bit of time off, a big news story breaks and it’s back to the keyboard. On Tuesday, a Labour government memo was leaked which proves that Keir Starmer is hell bent on undermining the devolution settlement. In the memo, sent to all members of the …

What the end of Alba means for May?s election and the broader independence mo...
9 Mar 2026 at 5:35pm
Well that’s it. The Alba party has gone and will not be contesting the Holyrood election in May, or indeed any elections in the future. Unlike some, I am not gloating about the party’s demise even though I was never a supporter of it. I kept my thoughts about Alba largely to myself despite coming …

Labour?s dangerous plans for NHS Scotland
8 Mar 2026 at 4:33pm
The Holyrood elections are just eight weeks away. This will be a critical election for Scotland’s future and it is more important than ever that Scotland returns a pro-independence majority, ideally an SNP majority to the Scottish Parliament. It’s not just the future of hopes for independence which is at stake. This election is also …

A personal milestone and yet more good polling news
5 Mar 2026 at 4:19pm
I’m going to start on a personal note. Almost eight years after we got married and over ten years that we have been together, my husband has finally become a British, or should I say Scottish citizen. It’s been a long, expensive, and stressful journey, but we got there, and now we are immune to …

The BBC?s odd indy poll, more polls, and BBC Scotland?s double standards
4 Mar 2026 at 3:38pm
There are some very odd things going on with the BBC’s Savanta poll on Scottish independence. An analysis of the polling data by Independent Voices, @indyvoices.bsky.social on BlueSky, also pointed out by the regular poster Statgeek in the comments section of this blog, notes that the poll reports a peculiarly high percentage of those who …

Humiliation for BBC Scotland as its own poll shows a Yes majority
3 Mar 2026 at 3:26pm
BBC Scotland has done one of its pre-election polls to tell us what Scotland “really thinks” as we go into the Scottish election in nine weeks time. On Tuesday, BBC Scotland unveiled its findings on the crucial question of independence. Despite the BBC’s very own poll finding that support for independence is in the majority, …

Reform?s election denial is a cancer on democracy
3 Mar 2026 at 11:47am
Nigel Farage is not taking the electoral humiliation dished out to by the voters of Gorton and Denton at all well. Farage lied multiple times at his press conference on the Monday after the vote which saw his hand picked candidate trounced by the Greens. Farage claimed that no-one who voted Green in Gorton and …

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

Major ?gold standard? research reveals Scots are significantly less worried a...
17 Mar 2026 at 10:38pm
From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking images. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, worry about all forms of violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures, has fallen, in the case of physical violence of a personal nature, by around just under hal...

Violent crime as experienced by people, beyond police reporting, reveals huge...
17 Mar 2026 at 10:37pm
From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking figures. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures – a 37% fall and 118 000 fewer victims per year! Imagine the media coverage if these trends went the opposite way. T...

Suspected drug deaths static but official figures point to greater optimism
17 Mar 2026 at 10:33pm
Suspected (left) and official drug deaths (right) in Scotland From Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: October to December 2025, published today, the above, and: There were 248 suspected drug deaths recorded during the period October to December 2025. This was 15% (43) fewer than the previous quarter (July to September 2025, 291 deaths), and 7% (16) more than the same calendar quarter in the pre...

Labour?s crisis in social care disappears when the figures come in
17 Mar 2026 at 10:32pm
In December 2025, Jackie Baillie, Labour Party Health spokesperson said: That the Parliament believes that the Scottish Government?s failure to prioritise social care has fuelled a crisis, harming some of Scotland?s most vulnerable people, and calls on the Scottish Ministers to work to close the funding gap facing health and social care partnerships and value Scotland?s care workforce. In respo...

New Zealand Green Party Warns Of ?Perfect Storm? As Ferry Breakdowns Disrupt ...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:33pm
From SCOOP on 14th March 2026: The Green Party is warning that New Zealand is facing a “perfect storm” of transport disruption after the latest ferry breakdowns and cancellations left travellers stranded and freight operators scrambling to move goods between the North and South Islands. The Interislander’s Kai?rahi has been out of service since Tuesday night because of a technical fault. An Int...

Affluent Washington State refuses to fund even starting the replacement of 50...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
From the Washington State Standard: Budget writers in the Washington Legislature on Monday declared their intent to eventually buy more hybrid electric ferries to modernize the state ferry fleet.  But newly unveiled House and Senate�transportation spending proposals�left at the dock a $1 billion borrowing request from the governor to pay the tab, raising doubts about when and how a new shipyard...

?Robust and consistent signal: Cancer mortality rates higher near nuclear pow...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:29pm
From the US health research journal Healio, yesterday: U.S. counties located closer to nuclear power plants have higher cancer mortality rates than those located farther away, results of a national analysis showed. The study ? which accounted for environmental, socioeconomic and other factors ? yielded results that remained consistent through multiple sensitivity analyses. In light of increased...

?Everyone who dies on this street dies of cancer? ? why do only German resea...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:27pm
From the New Hampshire Bulletin, yesterday: In the late 1970s, when Seabrook resident David Wright was about 9 years old, his father began bringing him along to protest the construction of a nuclear power plant across the marsh from their family home. Some locals were fired up. ?They didn?t want a reactor in their backyard,? Wright said. Thousands who shared that sentiment turned out in the Sea...

In Labour?s second year, MOD spending in Scotland is still lower than the UK ...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:26pm
From the UK Government‘s defence minister Luke Pollard, above, yesterday: Long-term defence commitment in Scotland helps secure jobs and billions in export deals – Increased defence investment and dedication to Scottish defence industry directly supported �1.1bn in inward investment with defence firm Thales, securing and sustaining over 500 jobs. Hundreds of Scottish jobs are being created as t...

Pollster YouGov long-mistrusted by the Yes movement and the SNP may be up to ...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:25pm
YouGov responds above, after these claims in the Times: YouGov to publish more data after Nigel Farage row – The Reform UK leader had accused the pollster of being ?deceptive? and underplaying the popularity of his party in its voting intention surveys I couldn’t help but smile after our years of noting YouGov‘s complete inability to ever find a Yes lead and to always find a smaller SNP lead, t...

Scotland and Independence

"scotland independence -guardian" - Google News

These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence - Thenationa...
17 Mar 2026 at 7:46pm
These two simple steps are needed to get Scotland's independence  Thenational Scot

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

Dullness, not revolution, is Scotland?s midwife of seismic change - The Times
17 Mar 2026 at 4:30pm
Dullness, not revolution, is Scotland?s midwife of seismic change  The Times

SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change the...
15 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change their minds  Ipsos

How Iran outdid SNP in promoting Scottish independence on social media - The ...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:45pm
How Iran outdid SNP in promoting Scottish independence on social media  The Scotsman

Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan - H...
14 Mar 2026 at 4:51pm
Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan  Holyrood Website

Swinney: Scottish independence is 'within grasp' as he shrugs off 'failure' c...
14 Mar 2026 at 12:01am
Swinney: Scottish independence is 'within grasp' as he shrugs off 'failure' criticism  The Herald

First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference - ...
14 Mar 2026 at 4:07pm
First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference  snp.org

SNP tell UK Government 'to prepare for loss of Scottish subsidies after Yes v...
14 Mar 2026 at 2:09pm
SNP tell UK Government 'to prepare for loss of Scottish subsidies after Yes vote'  Thenational Scot

Repositioning Independence - Nation.Cymru
15 Mar 2026 at 8:00pm
Repositioning Independence  Nation.Cymru

SNP

"SNP" - Google News

SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change the...
15 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
SNP maintain polling lead in Scotland but four in ten say they may change their minds  Ipsos

SNP Government 'to more than double' Labour's heating oil fund for Scotland -...
17 Mar 2026 at 5:56pm
SNP Government 'to more than double' Labour's heating oil fund for Scotland  Thenational Scot

Swinney pledges �10,000 deposit to support first-time buyers - BBC
13 Mar 2026 at 7:44pm
Swinney pledges �10,000 deposit to support first-time buyers  BBC

Former Tory councillor confirms defection to SNP - The Herald
17 Mar 2026 at 12:48pm
Former Tory councillor confirms defection to SNP  The Herald

First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference - ...
14 Mar 2026 at 4:07pm
First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference  snp.org

How Iran outdid SNP in promoting Scottish independence on social media - The ...
17 Mar 2026 at 4:45pm
How Iran outdid SNP in promoting Scottish independence on social media  The Scotsman

SNP to give mentally ill criminals the vote - The Telegraph
16 Mar 2026 at 5:42pm
SNP to give mentally ill criminals the vote  The Telegraph

Young women voters flocking from SNP to Scottish Greens, new research suggest...
17 Mar 2026 at 3:23pm
Young women voters flocking from SNP to Scottish Greens, new research suggests  Thenational Scot

SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray admitted to hospital - The Scotsman
17 Mar 2026 at 1:12pm
SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray admitted to hospital  The Scotsman

John Swinney delivers keynote speech at SNP conference - BBC
14 Mar 2026 at 3:08pm
John Swinney delivers keynote speech at SNP conference  BBC

Referendum (Google News)

"Scotland referendum -guardian -telegraph" - Google News

Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland - BBC
2 Mar 2026 at 8:00am
Why independence is still a political dividing line in Scotland  BBC

First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference - ...
14 Mar 2026 at 4:07pm
First Minister John Swinney?s speech to the SNP?s 2026 Campaign Conference  snp.org

Only one in 12 Scots want independence vote as priority - Yahoo News UK
13 Mar 2026 at 10:57am
Only one in 12 Scots want independence vote as priority  Yahoo News UK

Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan - H...
14 Mar 2026 at 4:51pm
Swinney says independence 'within our grasp' as he unveils childcare plan  Holyrood Website

Swinney: Scottish independence is 'within grasp' as he shrugs off 'failure' c...
14 Mar 2026 at 12:01am
Swinney: Scottish independence is 'within grasp' as he shrugs off 'failure' criticism  The Herald

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

SNP tell UK Government 'to prepare for loss of Scottish subsidies after Yes v...
14 Mar 2026 at 2:09pm
SNP tell UK Government 'to prepare for loss of Scottish subsidies after Yes vote'  Thenational Scot

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

Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shi...
24 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Scotland casts fresh eye on independence vote as UK's political landscape shifts  Courthouse News Service