Latest News | The Scotsman

Sat, 17th October 2026

The author of an article launching the SNP's Choose Scotland campaign should take the title of the worst poet in the English language from William McGonagall, who was played by the late, great Spike Milligan in a 1975 comedy. Picture: Ronald Dumont/Express/Hulton Archive

SNP's unintentionally funny new campaign actually debunks nationalism
The misty-eyed author of the SNP’s opening salvo in its Choose Scotland campaign accidentally implies independence would be like ‘burning your front door to keep your home warm’
William Deans

John Swinney delivers his keynote speech at the Scottish National Party (SNP) annual conference

Swinney vow to bring buses under public control condemned as 'theft'

John Swinney

SNP conference diary: Booze, buses and mind-blowing revelations

Don't Miss

Maree Todd MSP applauds First Minister and party leader John Swinney after he delivered his keynote speech at the Scottish National Party (SNP) annual conference in Aberdeen

Analysis Swinney's Choose Scotland campaign shows indy push is treading water

Feolin ferry terminal on the Isle of Jura

‘Our day doesn’t stop at 6.30pm’: Island fight to restore axed ferry

The mission statement of state-owned ScotRail sounds like it was written by someone who has never been on a train. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell

43mph? How slow train to Waverley revealed ScotRail’s lack of ambition Stephen Jardine

Ottolenghi, Edinburgh, review: 'Taking Scottish mission seriously'

As the SNP campaign for a second independence referendum, Brian Wilson suggests a vote on greater devolution of powers from Edinburgh to the regions would be a foregone conclusion. Picture: Matt Cardy

A referendum 95% of Scots would vote 'yes' in, and the SNP would hate Brian Wilson

The European Court of Human Rights is not perfect but the principles enshrined in the Convention's articles are as strong and relevant now as they were when drafted after the Second World War. Picture: Frederick Florin

How European Court of Human Rights defends free speech in Scotland John McLellan

From left, students Veronica Jafali, Comfort Galimoto and Elida Chithumba outside the Great Hall of the University of Malawi, known as Unima.

The Catch-22 that keeps the world's poorest countries mired in poverty Susan Dalgety

Andy Burnham delivers a speech focusing on forming closer ties with the Scottish government at New College Lanarkshire's Motherwell Campus. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell

SNP must start taking Burnham's offers to work together more seriously Scotsman comment

'Espionage on campus'

Scots universities warned over Chinese and Russian spies

Sport

Celtic striker Callum Osmand races clear to score the third goal against Hearts back in May.

Hearts will have a go at Celtic after 155 days of hurt and unjustness

Duo clash for first time since crazy end to last season’s title race

McInnes not expecting busy January transfer window at Rangers

Manager says ‘we want to maintain what we’ve got in the building’

Toulon get to grips with Edinburgh Rugby scrum-half Hector Patterson.

Analysis Intriguing Patterson v White battle but another class act stole show

Talking points from Edinburgh’s defeat by Toulon in Europe

90-year-old's reason for running should inspire everyone in Scotland Scotsman comment

Scotsman comment

Glasgow relish unleashing their new signing on Sale in Champions Cup

Warriors fans will get their first sight of Van der Merwe

Scotland lose eighth game in row as familiar failings rear head

Australia far too strong for tourists in Sydney

Featured Video

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Featured Video

Featured Videos

All Scotland Championships

Behind the scenes at the All Scotland Irish Dance Championships

A Daily Mile runner races across the Old Course.

WATCH: Hundreds of children take part in Daily Mile at Home of Golf

Dave Hook and Kimberly Mandindo

The Scotsman Sessions #446: Dave Hook and Kimberly Mandindo

Meet Scotland's youngest lighthouse keeper in her 'whole new world'

Food and drink

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Ottolenghi, Edinburgh, review: 'Taking Scottish mission seriously'

Yarrow Cookery School exterior

Inside the sell-out success of Yarrow Cookery School

Inside, the historic grandeur of the former banking hall meets the glamour of The Ivy, with striking interiors, bespoke artwork and design details creating two distinctly different spaces for each restaurant.

Look inside Ivy Asia ahead of first Scottish restaurant opening

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Celebrated chef on his new role at ‘brilliant’ Scottish hotel

A winter foodies road trip has been launched by a Scottish adventure drive company.

'Scotland's Winter Table' Highlands and Islands road trip launches

Business

Ad Feature Expert trio gives us well-rounded views on circular economy

The Beyond the Startup podcast will focus on how Scotland can build more globally successful tech companies (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

A podcast to match the ambition of our subjects

Worrying data reveals state of Scotland’s retail sector ahead of golden quarter

Scottish medtech firm hails US breakthrough in £13bn robotic surgery market

Rockstar Games president did not ‘scream’ at anyone, tribunal told

A cyber attack on critical infrastructure could put the safety of the nation at risk (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

Cyber security is now a whole-of-state effort

Arts news

Jack Vettriano

Play about Vettriano in 'call to arms' to examine late artist's work

Jack Vettriano’s painting is believed to be the best-selling image in the UK

'Tapestry of national writing heritage' on Saltires shortlist

The book awards has previously recognised authors including Muriel Spark in its 90 year history

The banknotes raised £85,000.

Charity shop 'flabbergasted' as banknote donation raises £85,000

The banknotes were handed in to a charity shop in Edinburgh

Ticket holders left out of pocket after cancelled Scottish gigs Jane Bradley

Jane Bradley

Legend to inspire Christmas decorations at Palace of Holyroodhouse

The palace will be decorated for the festive period

RSNO faces 'most serious challenges in a generation' amid funds crisis

The RSNO is one of Scotland’s five national performing companies

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

Scotsman Sessions

Just a few of the artists who have performed Scotsman Sessions

The Scotsman Sessions: links to numbers 1-400

Arab Strap performing Be a Man for The Scotsman Sessions

The Scotsman Sessions #448: Arab Strap

Jack Cochrane

The Scotsman Sessions #447: Jack Cochrane

Dave Hook and Kimberly Mandindo

The Scotsman Sessions #446: Dave Hook and Kimberly Mandindo

Readers Gallery

A lovely view of the Wallace Monument

September 2026: A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our rea...

August 2026: A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our reader...

Beautiful North Berwick

July 2026:A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our readers

Heritage and Retro

The rare Mackintosh lamp which sold for just under £610,000 - 20 times its original estimate

Rare Mackintosh lantern sells for more than 20 times expected price

Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders

Alan Carr castle plan given boost by heritage officers

Tree sculpture tribute to navvies who built 125-year-old Mallaig line

Ad Feature Discover something new at Rosslyn Chapel

Great Scott: Abseilers spotted cleaning Edinburgh's iconic monument

Competitors in a Highland Reel at Aboyne Highland Gathering, Aberdeenshire

In pictures: Unearthed images show Scottish life in 1930s

John Duns Scotus's Quaestiones in primum librum Sententiarum Petri Lombardi.

How a brilliant Scottish philosopher became a byword for stupidity Scotsman comment

Arts and Culture

Arab Strap performing Be a Man for The Scotsman Sessions

The Scotsman Sessions #448: Arab Strap

Mari Samuelsen

Mari Samuelsen on playing Max Richter's radical Vivaldi remix

The Social Reckoning

The Social Reckoning review: 'perfectly enraging'

David Byrne

Sleeping Beauties, by David Byrne review: 'a rattle-bag project'

East is East at the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow

Theatre reviews: East is East | Barnum

Art reviews: Claire Barclay | John Bellany | James Cumming

The Pussycat Dolls

Pussycat Dolls, Glasgow review: 'lots of lady boss poses'

Education

Mike Corbett from the NASUWT who attended a fringe event wearing a t-shirt with the slogan Protect The Dolls at the Scottish National Party

Teacher union boss criticised for 'deeply offensive' pro-trans t-shirt

Mike Corbett of the NASUWT wore the ‘Protect the Dolls’ t-shirt at a fringe event at SNP conference

Catriona Stewart

Catriona Stewart

EX-MSP calls for single reform commission for university and colleges

Construction of a supercomputer at a site near Roslin, Midlothian, is now well underway with operation due to start in 2028. PIC: University of Edinburgh

Scots software breakthrough could spur big quantum computer advance

Public sector reform will be chance to examine 'education funding'Catriona Stewart

Catriona Stewart

Hay's Way

Lerwick Harbour

Norwegian vessel lands half Shetland fish species quota in one day

Sheep grazing at Shemore Farm in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Three Loch Lomond farms chosen to future-proof food production

Isle of Jura

Hay's Way: Hard to remain a mere passing visitor on Jura

Recommended

Bunches has plenty of options to choose from including flowers, hampers and greeting cards.

Bunches sells more than flowers, including plants and hampers

This three-bedroom semi-detached house in Nether Craigour is on the market for £295,000, with a multi-car driveway and a quiet cul-de-sac setting

Edinburgh three-bedroom house with driveway and enclosed garden

The Santa Fe remains as striking to look at as it did when it first launched in the UK

Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV review: big, clever and surprisingly sensible

I use face mist every day and this e.l.f skincare spray is on my autumn shopping list

The e.l.f face mist I’m eyeing up for my autumn skincare routine

Hear'Say shot to fame on Popstars in 2001, when this photo was taken. From left to right, they are Noel Sullivan, Suzanne Shaw, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh and Danny Foster. Here's what they have all been up to in the last 25 years.

What have Hear'Say done since the band split? Where to see them now

The three-night breaks combine accommodation with live entertainment, tribute acts and a packed programme of activities.

Parkdean Resorts Celebrity Weekender serves up 90s nostalgia

Get away for less than £100 during the half-term week with these holiday park deals

We've found a few half-term beach breaks starting from just £99

Sport Opinion

Richemont Johann Rupert, second right, pictured with Tommy Fleetwood, Ogden Phipps II and Aldrich Potgieter on the Swilcan Bridge during the final round of last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Why Scotland hosting Dunhill Links should never be taken for granted
DP World Tour Pro-Am celebrates 25th anniversary at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Amdrews
Martin Dempster

Golf, a game so popular that they once decided to ban it (Picture: Mark Runnacles)

Why Royal Dornoch's new course shouldn't break 1457 law banning golf Scotsman comment

Bob MacIntyre discusses a club selection with caddie Mike Burrow during the final round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday

'Volatile' MacIntyre deserves break heading into Dunhill Links defence

Danny McGrain seen with John Barnes during a Celtic vs Liverpool legends charity match in 2006 (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Danny McGrain deserves all our best wishes after Alzheimer's diagnosis Scotsman comment