Politics

Latest politics news and opinion from expert Scotsman journalists and contributors. The latest from Holyrood, Westminster and a global outlook from a Scottish perspective.

Increasing taxes is not the way to create a more prosperous future (Picture: Henry Nicholls)

Why targeting wealthy non-doms means we'll all pay higher taxes
Be it Scotland or the UK, capital flight is a real and present danger to the economy
Brian Monteith

Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray sits inside a rescue submersible during a visit to defence contractor JFD Global in Renfrew in March

Industrial strategy 'will drive tens of thousands of jobs in Scotland'

Sir Brian Souter (left) and Jack Irvine from the 'Keep the Clause' campaign.

LGBT+ community 'strengthened' by fighting against section 28

Nigel Farage MP

Nigel Farage's Robin Hood-style tax policy for non-doms

An oil platform

7.5 billion barrels of oil and gas 'still recoverable' in North Sea

Fergus Ewing

Fergus Ewing: SNP will 'throw everything' into trying to stop me

Politics

Shell and Scottish Power are bringing forward the MarramWind proposals

Exclusive Crunch talks as Acorn project and wind chiefs to wrestle over seabed

Talks are taking place between the Acorn carbon capture project and a key floating wind farm over wh...

Why are less Scots having babies? The answer is very obvious.

Making Scotland an easier place to be a parent could help tackle historically low birth rates.

The report for councillors said that they intended for the £1.7m spend to be replenished from income from the city’s upcoming visitor levy.

Councillors told 'take back control' over £1.7m Tour de France spend

Edinburgh council officials have recommended a £1.7 million spend on the Tour de France.

Dunard Centre means Edinburgh will join elite group of global cities Jo Buckley

‘Bloated’ civil service in Scotland hits record size

Figures highlighted by Scottish Labour have shown the overall growth in the public sector workforce ...

Analysis Can Fergus Ewing beat the SNP and win as an independent?

Fergus Ewing has announced he will run as an independent in Inverness and Nairn next year, but what ...

Scottish Independence

First Minister John Swinney says independence will be central to the SNP’s 2026 election campaign.

Independence to be 'central' to SNP's 2026 election campaign

Scottish independence supporters on the march. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Here's why John Swinney is talking about Scottish independence again

Donald Dewar and David Steel arrive at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in July 1999 (Picture: Ian Stewart)

Old unionist champions are gone, creating chance for independence push Stephen Gethins

Officers from Police Scotland outside the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh following the arrest of former chief executive Peter Murrell in April 2023. Mr Murrell was later released without charge, pending further enquiries. Picture: PA

Ex-SNP treasurer arrested under Branchform probe bids to stand again

Alex Salmond and Chris McEleny

Salmond wanted to build a new town called 'Independence' - Alba ally

First Minister John Swinney (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Swinney wants Northern Ireland-style trigger for independence poll

Scottish independence supporters on the march. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Exclusive Last indy strategy damaged 'credibility', Pete Wishart says

More Scotsman politics

Nicola Sturgeon (left) leaves the UK Covid Inquiry hearing at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre last year, after admitting to deleting WhatsApp messages.

WhatsApp removed from Scottish Government phones after Covid backlash

Fergus Ewing

Fergus Ewing on the 'scunner' factor and going independent

Veteran SNP MSP Fergus Ewing has refused to be cowed by rules on speaking out in public against his party (Picture: John Devlin)

Ewing to stand as an independent in 2026 Scottish election

The Scottish Parliament.

Holyrood body admits causing 'upset' amid calls for trans WCs U-turn

The Grangemouth complex is one of the biggest single sources of climate-harming greenhouse gases in Scotland, belching out around three million tonnes of emissions each year

SNP will 'not ask the impossible' as weakened climate aims revealed

There is a drive to reskill North Sea oil and gas workers to undertake renewables work.

North Sea oil and gas fields could be approved under new guidelines

Dundee University

University bosses quit after 'devastating' report into cash crisis

The meeting heard concerns over staffing numbers, violence in class and worries over more budget cuts

Swinney: Excluding disruptive pupils risks pushing them into crime

Campaigners take part in a Stop Rosebank emergency protest outside the UK Government building in Edinburgh. PIC: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Exclusive Treasury 'set to miss out on £250m in tax from Rosebank plans'

The radio teleswitch service switch-off has been postponed.

'Relief' as radio teleswitch service switch-off postponed

Trans rights protesters in Edinburgh (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Labour government reveals SNP talks over conversion therapy ban

GV of the Scottish Government building at Victoria Quay in Leith

Exclusive Civil servant anger as Scottish Government nursery to close

GPs in Scotland forced to use decades-old IT systems

Analysis Swinney is resetting public services - but why has he waited 18 years?

The union flag is said to have caused ‘upset’ at a school event.

School forced to apologise for suggesting Union flag is 'sectarian'

Union fury as John Swinney says public sector has to shrink

John Swinney has made a commitment around winter fuel payments in Scotland.

John Swinney gives major update on winter fuel payments for pensioners

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay

Is it really all over for the Scottish Conservatives? Alastair GJ Stewart

It's time for the tale of lost North Sea jobs to stop David Whitehouse

Brexit

Even ardent Remainers know the SNP's Brexit stance makes no sense Murdo Fraser

First Minister Humza Yousaf will rally against Brexit during an address in London.

Humza Yousaf accuses Labour and Tories of being in denial over Brexit

Brexiteers and Scottish nationalists are united by an enthusiasm for censorship Euan McColm

Brexit supporters celebrate as the United Kingdom exits the EU on January 31, 2020 (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Brexit myths created 'Schrodinger’s Britain' but the reality is very different

First Minister and SNP Leader Humza Yousaf who will make the case for righting the "historic wrong" of Brexit as he delivers a speech on independence. PIC: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Humza Yousaf: Independence can "right historic wrong" of Brexit

The clock face of Elizabeth Tower, known after the bell Big Ben, shows the hands at 11 o'clock as a Union Flag flies in front of it in London. Picture Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

Committee on cost-of-living would 'waste taxpayers money’, UK Government say

Has the UK Government turned into a 'Just Say No' machine?