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Sunak's government will oversee highest tax rises on record
Woman dies 3 days after being hit by cyclist in Scotland
Two dead in Liverpool M53 bus crash
Two teenagers killed and one seriously injured in horror crash
Gravy train: £280 million spent on HS2 consultants in years
School bus carrying pupils overturns motorway with casualties confirmed

Fri, 29th September 2023

Ferguson Marine ferries fiasco: Glen Rosa further delayed to 2025
The total extra cost of completing the two CalMac ferries put at £240 million, plus the £97m original contract price

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    Labour win in Rutherglen would send a message to the failing Tories and SNP Jackie Baillie

    Ayr Station Hotel fire highlights blight of absentee owners Martyn McLaughlin

    Arts industry is paying the price of Scottish Government incompetence Scotsman comment

    Lifestyle

    Kim Allan plays Robyn in Battery Park. Picture: Andy McGregor

    Theatre reviews: Battery Park | 2.22 – A Ghost Story

    Sylvia Rich with her sons Stephen and Rory, when he was a toddler. Picture: Rory Cellan-Jones

    Rory Cellan-Jones: 'My mother’s life, revealed one letter at a time'

    Lau PIC: Genevieve Stevenson

    Fiddler Aidan O’Rourke on Lau-Land: 'we believe this music is for everyone'

    Broken Records PIC: Solen Collent

    Album reviews: Broken Records | Lost Map presents Weird Wave | Devendra Banhart

    Caspar Henderson PIC: Fran Monks

    Book review: A Book of Noises, by Caspar Henderson

    Shears PIC: Tiu Makkonen

    Manifesto music event asks: 'What would a mental health revolution look like?'

    Dot Allison and Alice Allen

    The Scotsman Sessions #381: Dot Allison and Alice Allen

    Rugby World Cup

    Eugen Apjok, head coach of Romania, looks on during the defeat by South Africa.

    Romania know how hard Scotland will be - 'we are in the death pool'

    Romania head coach Eugen Apjok hopes his team have learned lessons from heavy defeats by Ireland and...
    What Scotland require against Romania as promise made over complacency
    Scotland have promised there will be no complacency in the ranks as they face Pool B lightweights Ro...
    Ben Healy will start for Scotland at stand-off.

    Scotland's 'Sherman' backed to deliver in Romania match

    No-one is likely to dislodge Finn Russell and Sione Tuipulotu as Scotland’s first-choice playmakers any time soon but Gregor Townsend has handed Ben Healy and Cam Redpath the chance to start at 10 and 12 in Saturday’s match against Romania at the Rugby World Cup.
    Fraser Brown: Bunker system is turning the Rugby World Cup into a shamblesFraser Brown
    Fraser Brown
    Scotland's Watson urged to play his way into Ireland match after Romania nod
    Gregor Townsend has challenged Hamish Watson to play his way into the squad for the Rugby World Cup ...
    Scotland make 13 changes and pick new captain for Romania clash
    Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland against Romania at the Rugby World Cup in Lille on Saturday in...

    Scotsman Video

    Scotsman Video

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    The latest video from The Scotsman

    Featured Videos

    Scotsman Westminster Correspondent Alexander Brown

    A sideways look at Westminster with Westminster Correspondent, Alexander Brown

    Dot Allison and Alice Allen

    The Scotsman Sessions #381: Dot Allison and Alice Allen

    Exclusive Inside the Queensferry Crossing as you’ve never seen it before

    There was a rare and wonderful sight on southern coastal waters last weekend when two heritage steamships, both built in Scotland and today forming part of the National Historic Fleet, met up with one another off of Bournemouth and the Solent.

    SS Waverley sails alongside Steamship Shieldhall

    44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

    44 Scotland Street

    Scotland Street Volume 17, Chapter 20: Eheu Fugaces

    44 Scotland Street

    Scotland Street Volume 17, Chapter 19: The Rhododendron Man

    44 Scotland Street

    Scotland Street Volume 17, Chapter 18: Icelandic Words

    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

    Politics

    Donald Trump does not have his troubles to seek as he faces dozens of indictments over alleged criminality in the US (Picture: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

    Trump resort customers unlikely to be deterred by hygiene inspection rap

    School support staff members of Unison during a rally outside the Scottish Parliament: Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

    Union warns of bigger strike action by school support staff in Scotland

    Prince Ankit Love is running as a candidate in the Rutherglen and Hamilton-West by-election

    Meet the exiled Indian emperor standing in the Rutherglen by-election

    Falkirk Council is facing a £65m shortfall over next five years. Picture: Michael Gillen

    More cash plea by councillors

    Exclusive 'Short-term let licensing about safety, not increasing home availability'

    Warning 2,000 jobs at risk after Scottish Government arts funding U-turn

    Keir Starmer

    Keir Starmer attacks SNP over Rutherglen zero-hours contract row

    Exclusive Row erupts after SNP figures dismiss Dr Lisa Cameron’s bullying claims

    cut through the noise

    Sport

    Bob MacIntyre tees off on the 12th hole at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

    'Shinty on steriods': MacIntyre on Ryder Cup debut as two songs adapted for Scot

    First things first. “It was like shinty on steroids,” declared Bob MacIntyre of stepping into action...
    Hatate signs new Celtic deal as Rodgers lifts lid on 'great discussions'
    Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has signed a new five-year deal that will tie him to the club until 202...
    Javan Sebastian of Scotland looks on during a training session at the Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

    What Scotland require against Romania as promise made over complacency

    Scotland have promised there will be no complacency in the ranks as they face Pool B lightweights Romania at the Rugby World Cup in Lille.
    The nerds will be loving rugby's controversies, the casual fan ends up baffled

    Aidan Smith

    Hearts 'very disappointed' as Viaplay Cup semi-final ticket details confirmed
    Hearts have expressed disappointment after the SPFL confirmed ticket prices and stadium allocations ...
    Barnes' Scotland defection put on ice for months as extent of injury revealed
    Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has told summer signing Harvey Barnes he will still have a key role this s...

    Opinion

    Grenadine makes a great diabolo but you can get creative and try all sorts with lemonade

    Passions: When it comes to the demon drink, make mine a diabolo

    Historic birthplace of Scottish Reformation should be preserved

    Wendy Wood, one of the founders of SNP forerunner the National Party of Scotland, pictured in 1951 (Picture: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images)

    Readers' Letters: Independence zealots 'more Scottish than the Scots'

    The FCA review found that some sanctions teams are understaffed (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

    FCA review puts sanctions regime in the spotlight - Stacy Keen

    Education

    Unison strike outside Avenue End Primary School in Glasgow. Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

    Unison warns of more strikes and calls on Humza Yousaf to go to picket line

    Schools across Scotland are closing for three days as non-teaching staff go on strike
    Rachel AmeryRachel Amery
    School support workers, who are members of Unison, on the picket line at Portobello High School in Edinburgh. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

    Union says 'significantly' better offer needed to end school strikes

    Schools will be shut across 24 council areas in Scotland for three days. Picture: John Devlin

    Will all schools be closed by strikes? Will there be more strikes?

    Councillors reject plans to cut school bus services

    Kirsty Paterson, Local Democracy Reporter

    Rural Affairs

    A motion raised to scrap plans to allow the male deer cull season to be open all year round has been successful (pic: John Stillwell)

    Deer cull season plans to be debated in Parliament following successful motion

    The Scottish Government proposals have prompted animal welfare concerns
    Charity wins bid to take over Scottish Government-owned farmland in Highlands
    The community aims to build a garden, orchard and allotments...
    Calls have been made to review the right to roam policy in Scotland to address the influx of particularly roadside campers since the legislation was introduced two decades ago (pic: Jeff J Mitchell)

    England should learn from Scotland 'right to roam' issues

    Calls have been made for land access guidance and legislation to be reviewed with an increase in roadside campers over the last two decades.
    Promising lapwing test shows farmers are 'part of the solution not the problem'Katharine Hay
    Katharine Hay
    Seawilding: One community's battle to replenish Scotland's native oyster
    With oyster season having started and a string of festivals dedicated to the bivalve mollusc ahead, ...
    Highland hospitality sector battling to survive with staff shortages
    Pubs, hotels and cafes are having to close more often to give staff a rest due to lack of employees....

    Health

    Exclusive Patrick Harvie criticised for cycling projects ‘drowning in bureaucracy’

    Scotland's falling life expectancy is an indictment of its government Scotsman comment

    The UK's first drug consumption room in Glasgow has been given approval. (Credit: Getty Images)

    UK's first drug consumption room gets approval to open in Glasgow

    UK's first drug consumption room approved for Glasgow

    Scotland set the minimum price for a unit of alcohol at 50p in 2018 – now a consultation has been launched, with proposals to raise the rate to 65p. Picture: PA

    Ministers under fire over ‘mishandling’ of Scotland’s alcohol problems

    After decades of improvement in life expectancy the trend has changed

    Drop in Scottish life expectancy 'a truly sorry reflection of nation's health'

    Ahead of Brodies Tennis Invitational, Judy Murray promotes healthy lifestyle to deal with dementia, supported by Brain Health Scotland

    Ad Feature Healthy lifestyle can help brain health in later life

    Scotsman Passions

    Aisle always smile when supermarket Christmas comes Martin Gray

    Today's best surfing magazines show the way forward for print media

    The secrets of a successful Scottish BBQ Neil McIntosh

    Passions: Move over Steve McQueen, I’m also a hero on my Honda Super Cub Andy O'Brien

    Heritage and Retro

    St John's Kirk Perth Restoration Appeal, pictured from left, Bill Wilson, Maureen Young and Mel Jameson.

    Appeal to save 900-year-old Kirk where John Knox sparked reformation

    The remains of the township of Achblair. Woodland is now being cleared in a bid to preserve the heritage site. PIC: Strathglass Heritage Society.

    Remains of Highland township that vanished from the map found in woodland

    Bethany Kingsley-Garner (right) and Jerome Anthony Barnes (left) on the set of Scottish Ballet's Cinders campaign - but which one will be invited to the ball? PIC: Scottish Ballet/ Mihaela Bodlovic

    Cinderella cast as a male and female in new Scottish Ballet production

    Clachan Church by Loch Broom, where the last communion was held before the Hector voyage. PIC: Creative Commons.

    Emotional search for Highland ancestors 250 years after the Hector sailed

    'This could be the end': Ayr bemoans latest fire to ravage landmark

    Bertie Troughton, resident trustee at Blair Castle in Perthshire, found 40 old bottles in an unassuming cellar room. They are now set to go up for auction. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

    Oldest whisky in the world found behind Blair Castle cellar door set for auction

    Sir Geoff Palmer, who headed the steering group which recommended a national museum of slavery and empire for Scotland, said progress was being made on the proposal at government level. PIC: Phil Wilkinson.

    Scotland's national slavery museum needs to progress 'at greater speed'

    The Scotsman Sessions

    Just a few of the artists who have performed Scotsman Sessions

    The Scotsman Sessions: links to numbers 1-350

    Dot Allison and Alice Allen

    The Scotsman Sessions #381: Dot Allison and Alice Allen

    The Filthy Tongues and Maria Rud

    The Scotsman Sessions #380: The Filthy Tongues and Maria Rud

    Chris Dennis

    The Scotsman Sessions #379: Chris Dennis

    Broken Records

    The Scotsman Sessions #378: Broken Records

    Snows of Yesteryear

    The Scotsman Sessions #377: Snows of Yesteryear

    Hugh McMillan

    The Scotsman Sessions #376: Hugh McMillan

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    According to Vikingeskibsmuseet ( Viking Ship Museum): “The Vikings were probably one of the most important influences in Scotland.”

    Explainer Largs Viking Festival 2023: Full schedule and history of the event

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    Explainer Scottish Pokémon: Did you know Scotland inspired this cute Pokémon?

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    Sport Opinion

    Scotland sing their national anthem during the 150th Anniversary Heritage Match between Scotland and England at Hampden Park, on September 12, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland.

    The booing? Let's not get too woke about what happens at football matches
    We insisted it wasn’t important, that it no longer bothered us. Yes, the fixture used to be yer actual raison d’etre as far as Scots were concerned, but not any more. It used to be the means by which we sought consolation for all manner of historical grudges – social, cultural, political. Now our strong feelings about it were just that – history.

    Supporters buses outside Hampden Stadium.

    Maybe Rishi Sunak has an ulterior motive behind supporters bus' climbdown

    Scotland stand-off Finn Russell could help orchestrate a famous win over South Africa in the rugby world cup (Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

    Three days in which Scotland could find itself in sporting dreamland

    13/05/18 LADBROKES PREMIERSHIP HIBERNIAN V RANGERS EASTER ROAD - EDINBURGH Hibs Manager Neil Lennon celebrates as Jamie MacLaren makes it 5-5

    Lennon back at Hibs would be a disaster. No, he'd be brilliant. No one can agree

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    Ad Feature Changeworks’ biggest impact yet to achieve net zero

    The architect-designed apartments rented by DJ Alexander are in a lovingly restored building off George Square. Picture – supplied.

    Ad Feature DJ Alexander is letting out 12 luxury serviced apartments at Love Loan

    Dogs love gardens - but some common products used to control pests can be toxic for them.

    5 dog friendly alternatives to toxic garden pest deterrents

    Two Edinburgh property investment companies join forces in the city. Submitted picture

    Ad Feature Two Edinburgh property investment companies join forces in city

    Obituaries

    David McCallum at an event in Beverly Hills in 210 (Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

    Scotsman Obituaries: David McCallum, Glasgow-born star of The Man from UNCLE

    Professor E Mary Smallwood was perhaps destined for an academic career after her intellectual talents were spotted in childhood

    Scotsman Obituaries: Professor E Mary Smallwood, classical historian and author

    Rugby Union

    Scotland's lead performance analyst Gavin Vaughan has been studying Pool B opponents Romania and Ireland. (Photo by Gary Hutchison / SNS Group)

    Sri Lanka comparison is stark reminder of Scotland's scarce playing resources

    Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie will miss the Pool B match against Romania and faces a race to be fit for the Ireland game. (Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

    Bunker review system ‘working well’ claims World Rugby amid Scotland criticism

    Johnny Matthews enjoyed a fine season with Glasgow Warriors, scoring 13 tries in 19 appearances. He has now been called into the Scotland World Cup squad. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

    I was walking dogs when RWC call came - this has been some summer

    Vaea Fifita of Tonga leaves the field after receiving a yellow card from referee Karl Dickson against Scotland. It was upgraded to a red card by the bunker review. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

    Tonga player banned for four matches for high hit on Finn Russell

    George Horne of Scotland celebrates victory during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 group B match between Scotland and Tonga at Stade de Nice on September 24, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

    Scotland v Romania Rugby World Cup 2023: Stats and records

    Stuart McInally won 49 caps during a stellar career for Scotland.

    McInally' emotional retirement post after World Cup ended by injury

    Glasgow Warriors' Jonny Matthews has been called into the Scotland squad.

    Hooker Matthews is a perfectly able deputy for Scotland – Dalziel

    Johnny Sexton celebrates Ireland's crucial 13-8 win over South Africa.

    Ireland brush aside complacency and say full focus is on Scotland

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend knows two wins are required against Romania and Ireland.

    Scotland know they will have to 'do it the hard way' in Pool B

    Cars

    The Dolphin is the smallest and most affordable model BYD is introducing to the UK market. Credit: BYD

    BYD Dolphin Review: Cleverly packaged Chinese EV is sure to make a splash

    Your likelihood of being in a car accident can change depending on what part of Scotland you're driving in.

    Figures reveal the 10 worst places for car accidents in Scotland

    Skoda Karoq

    Skoda Karoq SE L 1.5TSI review

    Greens' plan for 'climate-friendly' heating in homes will wreck property prices John McLellan

    Norway has the highest percentage of electric cars per capita in the world (Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty Images,)

    EV hotspot Orkney to drag Scotland into the green industrial revolution?

    Mazda CX-60 254ps diesel in Homura trim. Credit: Mazda Press Office

    Mazda CX-60 254ps review: AWD SUV shows there's life in diesel yet

    Must Read

    Josie Long, comedian, who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe for over two decades, has written her first book of short stories, Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't. She appears at this year's Wigtown Book Festival. Pic: John Devlin

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