Fri, 21st March 2025

Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney have spoken about the former first minister being cleared in the SNP finances probe

Sturgeon's 'vindication' as Swinney says SNP in 'clearer position'
Peter Murrell has appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with embezzlement

Nicola Sturgeon speaks to media outside her house near Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin

Sturgeon: Never a 'scrap of evidence' against me in SNP police probe

Swinney blamed over Ferguson Marine’s ‘uncertain future’

Don't Miss

Students sit an exam. Picture: John Devlin

Exams to be scrapped for pupils taking 3 subjects in Scottish schools

The National.

The Scottish attraction celebrating 'record-breaking year'

The Bank of England's monetary policy committee voted to hold the bank base rate at 4.5% at the March meeting but further cuts are expected before the end of 2025.

Interest rates: The impact on savings and mortgages and when rates will be cut

Councillor Alex Staniforth

Charity criticises 'veiled threat' against its funding in trans row

Like these zombie enthusiasts, populists seem to keep coming back from the dead (Picture: Sean Gallup)

Populist right-wingers are turning into an undefeatable undead army Joyce McMillan

The arrival of bird flu on a farm results in a mass cull of the animals and stringent controls to prevent any further spread of the disease(Picture: Matt Cardy)

Why the threat posed by bird flu is a ticking timebomb for humanity Philip Lymbery

Vulnerable people in remote parts of Scotland could see their heating stuck at 'on' when the automatic radio teleswitch service is switched off in June (Picture: CM Dixon/Heritage Images)

100 days to save rural Scots from dangerous energy system shutdown Alistair Carmichael

Keir Starmer's flawed economic policies are undermining much-needed efforts to increase defence spending (Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA pool)

How Keir Starmer is turning UK into second-rate European power Azeem Ibrahim

44 Scotland Street

44 Scotland Street

Scotland Street Volume 18, Chapter 34: A place of greater safety

44 Scotland Street

Scotland Street Volume 18, Chapter 33: Don Pasquale

44 Scotland Street

Scotland Street Volume 18, Chapter 32: Return of the romantic potato man

Scotsman Video

Scotsman Video

The latest video from The Scotsman

Featured Videos

Ruth Gipps

Watch: The SCO Digital Season Part Three: Ruth Gipps, Seascape

Janice Forsyth

Janice Forsyth on why she's smiling after her Alzheimer's diagnosis

James McAvoy at Glasgow Film Festival.

McAvoy: Growing up on estate 'wasn’t always hard - it was brilliant'

Scottish Opera has created a 14 minute animated opera.

Award-winning Scottish Opera animation to be screened in Edinburgh

Puzzles

Quick CrosswordTo test and hone your word skills

SudokuThe ultimate logic-based numbers game

WordwheelPit yourself against the clock with our simple anagram game

Highlights

Through the Shortbread Tin: Dramatising Scotland's great literary hoax

Installation view of Ian Hamilton Finlay at Modern Two, Edinburgh

Ian Hamilton Finlay, Edinburgh review: 'very personal'

Ox and Finch will reopen on 8 April

Re-opening date announced for Michelin recommended Scottish restaurant

Charles Palmer competes at the first Coe Cup in 2012

Skiing: A bold new plan for the Scottish Freedom Series

The Darkness

The Darkness, Edinburgh review: 'pop rocket fuel'

I tried Scotland's first assisted stretching studio - ahead of Hyrox

The new design of Port Ellen is making the most of new technology

Scottish whisky distillery named in world’s greatest places list

Sport

Scotland players greet fans at the end of the Nations League play off first leg win over Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greek lasers, why Tierney didn't start and Clarke's 2 selection risks

Scotland head coach reacts to 1-0 win in Greece

Scotland survive scares in Greece with super-human front and centre

Scotland secure slender advantage in Nations League play-off

Sione Tuipulotu missed the Six Nations through injury.

Sione Tuipulotu update as 'quick healer's' Lions chances assessed

Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith upbeat on centre’s progress

Fraser Brown: If you replace Townsend, you must appoint someone better Fraser Brown

Fraser Brown

Retrospective ban for France hooker is of little use to Scotland

Peato Mauvaka received only a yellow card during Six Nations decider

Memories of Duncan Ferguson's stockings as Scotland return to Greece

Nations League play-off kicks off big year for Scotland

Get The Scotsman app for mobile and tablet

The Scotsman app brings you exclusive, quality news and analysis from The Scotsman, Scotland’s National Newspaper.

Scotsman Sessions

Just a few of the artists who have performed Scotsman Sessions

The Scotsman Sessions: links to numbers 1-400

Kevin Lennon and Molly Innes

The Scotsman Sessions #430: Kevin Lennon and Molly Innes

Constant Vigier

The Scotsman Sessions #429: Constant Vigier

Jennie Lee: Tomorrow is a New Day

The Scotsman Sessions #428: Kit Laveri, George Docherty & Trish Mullin

Business

Who is Scotland's highest paid player in 2025? Cr: SNS Group.

Here are Scotland's 15 highest paid players in 2025

Andy Hadden, Founder of Lost Shore, and Richard Lochhead, Business Minister

Tourism minister hails adventure and wellbeing tourism after visiting Lost Shore...

Politics

What we know so far about the police investigation into SNP finances
The investigation into the party’s funding and finances has been ongoing since July 2021.

Doncaster MP and Net Zero secretary Ed Miliband believes in a green transition

Labour told to 'come clean' as documents show net-zero 10% economy hit

Police officers outside the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell as part of Operation Branchform.

John Curtice: Operation Branchform could hit SNP's election spending

Stephen Gethins MP

SNP MP looking to win Holyrood seat after just 9 months in Westminster

Hopes are rising that a long-term future for the Grangemouth industrial hub can be drawn up (Picture: Lisa Ferguson/National World)

Analysis Saving Grangemouth needs cash and political will to become a reality

John Swinney, left, speaks to Mark Simmers, chief executive of biorefinery Celtic Renewables, during a visit to the Grangemouth plant (Picture: WPA pool)

Grangemouth is a vital test case for Scotland's oil and gas industry Scotsman comment

Adam Nols-McVey

Exclusive Former SNP minister faces selection battle with ex-city leader

The low turnout at the 2024 general election was a warning sign for democracy in the UK (Picture: Ian Forsyth)

Why a 'Bonfire of the Quangos' is crucial to defeating Reform UK Henry McLeish

Opinion

£10 million has been awarded as part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal to look into extending the Borders railway (Picture: Scott Louden)

Readers' Letters: Borders railway expansion would not benefit Scotland

A new stamp to be issued later this month features the Loch Ness Monster (Picture: Royal Mail)

How Scotland's Loch Ness Monster is about to get the ultimate accolade Scotsman comment

Gillian Martin said the draft Heat in Buildings Bill would ‘make people poorer’

Reality check for Scottish Government's housing policies is a welcome sign

Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to media in Edinburgh after announcing she won't seek re-election to Holyrood next year (Picture: Robert Perry/PA Wire)

Readers' Letters: Sturgeon came so close to assuring a legacy to be proud of

Heritage and Retro

Barnton Bunker in Corstorphine Hill, Clermiston, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Cold War nuclear bunker in Scotland that 'could be used' by army

A mourning ring engraved with 19th Century Scottish geologist Hugh Miller's name and the date of his birth and death

19th century ring linked to Scottish geologist found on African beach

In the present day, Halloween is largely used as an excuse to whip out your best fancy dress costume and eat lots of sweets. However, in ancient Scotland the festival represented not only a significant milestone in the year relating to the harvest but also the time of year when the veil between the world of the living and the world of spirits such as demons, spirits and witches was at its thinnest. As such, this was when the Celts would take action to ward off the evil which threatened them and their land.

Story of Scotland's 'witches' revealed in book by pair who won pardon

The romantic Scottish riverside hotel opening after £2.5m makeover

Drumsheugh Baths in Dean Village is one of the buildings chosen by architecture critic Robin Ward in his new book, The Pocket Guide to Edinburgh's Best Buildings.

11 of Edinburgh's lesser-seen architectural gems, as chosen by critic

The fallen Aberlemno III stone surrounded by its protective box

The Picts: Call for 'full and open' investigation into toppled stone

Princes Street at night

I feel Princes Street is less of a zombie thoroughfare now Gaby Soutar

Arts and Culture

Deacon Blue

Album reviews: Deacon Blue, Alison Krauss & Union Station & more

Rachel Zegler in Snow White

Snow White review: 'Ill-advised' Disney remake is 'soulless'

Maxim Emelyanychev

Maxim Emelyanychev on the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's 2025/26 Season

The Darkness

The Darkness, Edinburgh review: 'pop rocket fuel'

Callum McSorley

Books: Paperboy by Callum McSorley | Greater Sins by Gabriel Griffiths

Through the Shortbread Tin: Dramatising Scotland's great literary hoax

Installation view of Ian Hamilton Finlay at Modern Two, Edinburgh

Ian Hamilton Finlay, Edinburgh review: 'very personal'

Education

The University of Dundee's Queen Mother Building

Scottish university would run out of money within weeks without help

‘Very grave cash crisis’ outlined to MSPs as university chiefs give evidence to MSPs

Calum Ross

Dundee University

The 6 key things learned from 'jaw-dropping' Dundee University hearing

Catchment changes may be required for Boroughmuir High School in the long term, officials say

Edinburgh schools face catchment changes and temporary classrooms

Inside story of the moment a Scottish university plunged into crisis Calum Ross

Calum Ross

Hay's Way

Coul Links, near Embo, in the Scottish Highlands, which has been earmarked for a golf course development that has promised to bring money to the area, but has caused concern for conservationists

The 'special' habitat in spotlight as decision on golf course looms

Brewdog has a major planting plan for Kinrara estate, which stalled last year after half of the saplings planted died

BrewDog to replace 250,000 dead trees in £2.7m Highlands forest scheme

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is warning of “very high” and “extreme” wildfire risk

These are the areas where an 'extreme' wildfire alert is in place

Health

User (UGC) Submitted

World Oral Health Day: A quarter of parents ‘forget’ to brush their kids teeth

There are calls for cat cafes to be 'phased out'

Cat cafes should be 'phased out', as charities raise welfare concerns

Greyfriars Bobby joins in with the mask wearing.

Remembering Lockdown: 25 pictures of Scotland in the pandemic

Dr Clara Doran has turned the personal challenges we into a business opportunity

How a doctor turned brain fog into a business with a simple supplement

Women with early stage cervical cancer can end up waiting years to get a hysterectomy (Picture: Christopher Furlong)

Told she may have cancer, Jenny had to wait nearly a year to find out Jackie Baillie

Shoppers rave about powerful IPL hair removal device that gives 98% hair reduction in 4 weeks - now on sale

Shoppers rave about at home IPL hair removal device that's now on sale

Get 10% off your next beauty treatment with Treatwell with this exclusive code for a limited time only

Get 10% off your next beauty treatment with Treatwell

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How a VPN can save you money on holidays as flight myths busted

The crowd watching Coldplay performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival

The best VIP seats for Oasis, Beyonce, Glastonbury and more

Shark's corded upright vacuums don't come this cheap very often

Dirt-cheap way to get a top-spec Shark vacuum thanks to a big discount

The Garmin Mini 3 has all the features you'd need, and hides away so discreetly

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 review: Good things do come in small packages

The Rola PetTracker clamps to a collar and connects to your smartphone

Review: We test a smart pet tracker with a camera built in

The Amazon Spring Sale 2025 is from March 25-31

Everything you need to know about the Amazon Spring Sale 2025

(Photo: Pexels)

Pay just £1 for QuickBooks and save eight hours a week on money admin

Sport Opinion

James McFadden celebrates after scoring against France at the Parc De Princes stadium in Paris in 2007 (Picture: Franck Fife)

Scotland can beat France if they show some James McFadden-style gallus
Finn Russell should take heart from James McFadden’s 2007 wonder goal against France
Scotsman comment

Scotland struggled in the final quarter against Wales, conceding three tries.

I have concerns about the Scotland bench but pressure is on France

King Charles with Sir Chris Hoy during the launch of the Commonwealth Sport King's Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace on Monday (Picture: Jonathan Brady)

Why it's important to send small piece of Scotland to the Commonwealth Scotsman comment

Cyriel Dessers celebrates his goal against Fenerbahce for Rangers.

We owe apologies to Rangers' headwrecker - although that could change

Obituaries

Celebrate your loved one with GUESTPIX – The thoughtful way to cherish memories

Celebrate your loved one with a thoughtful way to cherish memories

The estimable Wendy Jones as captured by talented artist Verna Bond

Scotsman Obituaries: Wendy Jones, Scotsman Publicity department legend

Rugby Union

Franco Smith during a Glasgow Warriors training session at Scotstoun Stadium.

Franco Smith addresses his Glasgow budget amid flurry of departures

Scotland's Blair Kinghorn (left) and Huw Jones are included in the Six Nations team of the championship. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

2 Scots in Six Nations team of tournament as England outnumber France

Bristol Bears’ Hollie Cunningham will make her Scotland debut against Wales at lock. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

Scotland reward form over legacy as team named for Women's Six Nations opener

Edinburgh's Ben Vellacott has signed a two-year contract extension.

Edinburgh Rugby co-captain signs new contract and outlines dual aims

Cousins Gregor Brown and Blair Kinghorn with friends and family after they started together for the first time for Scotland, against France in Paris.

My first Scotland start alongside my cousin was a special moment

Scotland's Ben Muncaster with family after the match against France in Paris.

'Capable of winning whole competition' - Edinburgh player's URC aim

Henco Venter poses with the URC trophy after Glasgow Warriors' win over Vodacom Bulls in the final at Loftus Versfeld.

'Tremendous influence' - Glasgow URC title winner set for exit

Ben White, grounded, holds his face after France's Peato Mauvaka had launched himself at the Scotland scrum-half.

France player who butted Scotland scrum-half summoned to hearing

Scotland players during the national anthem ahead of the final Six Nations match against France in Paris. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Scotland player ratings across Six Nations as star man breaks record

Cars

Steven Chisholm with the Mazda CX-80 in Limekilns, Fife

Mazda CX-80 PHEV review: 7-seat Mazda impresses despite one flaw

The AMG 63S Convertible is a gorgeous car from any angle

Someone will win this £48,000 convertible V8 Mercedes for just 6p

Car batteries can be one of the most expensive parts to change in your car - so it's worth shopping sensibly, and there’s a price-matching scheme that can save a lot of money

Need a new car battery? Here's how to get one fitted cheaply

Some very alarming issues with modern cars can be caused just by having a weak battery

The 10 surprising car faults that can be caused by a weak battery

BOTB's latest prize draw is this stunning Aston Martin Vantage V8

You can win this Aston Martin for just 19p - but you need to be quick

Last chance to win your dream car for less than £1 – Enter this week before it’s too late!

Last chance to win your dream car for less than £1

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Edinburgh ranked as the most sustainable UK city

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Ad Feature Edinburgh estate agent shares the secrets to selling your home