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.

Keir Starmer, seen shaking hands with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, is seeking to remove barriers to trade with the European Union but there will be no return to the customs union (Picture: Benjamin Cremel/pool)

How Scottish businesses are crying out for better trade deal with EU
Scottish industry sees the potential in a more collaborative UK-EU relationship. It’s time to do better than the Conservatives’ Brexit deal and put Britain back on the world stage, writes EU relations minister Nick Thomas–Symonds
Nick Thomas–Symonds

George Orwell’s dystopian visions of the future are becoming a reality (Picture: Aaron Tam)

‘No such thing as society’: How Thatcher’s dream is coming true Henry McLeish

A “secret weapon” is being developed and could be used by Royal Navy technicians to search for Russian submarines. Pictured: HMS Tyne with Russian Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar in the background.

"Secret weapon" being tested for Royal Navy to hunt Russia submarines

Liam McArthur’s assisted dying legislation will be subject to amendments

Explainer The amendments that could be made to Scotland's assisted dying laws

The MV Glen Rosa was launched last year but now won't be ready until April next year at the earliest (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Massive symbol of SNP failure to loom large over Holyrood election Scotsman comment

The move includes a new energy campus in Aberdeen

Civil service jobs moving to Scotland in UK Government shake-up

Politics

History as assisted dying legislation passes first stage in Scotland

Scotland’s assisted dying legislation has passed its first legislative hurdle after MSPs voted in fa...

Assisted dying Scotland: How every MSP voted on the Bill

Check how each MSP voted in the assisted dying bill at stage one.

Analysis Assisted dying passes historic first step - but hard work begins now

Liam McArthur is due praise for his assisted dying legislation - but the campaign to change the law is far from over.

The ridiculous way fox hunts are being allowed to flout the law Robbie Marsland

Robbie Marsland

Why I decided to vote against Scotland's Assisted Dying Bill

Jackie Baillie MSP explains that she did not want anyone to feel pressured into ending their life pr...

Ex-SNP minister says mother starved herself to 'hasten death'

A former SNP minister has spoken passionately about the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death...

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

John Swinney failed to prioritise growing Scotland's economy in his recent Programme for Government (Picture: Jane Barlow/pool)

How SNP just proved they’re all talk and no action on economic growth Murdo Fraser

This data shows 218 Afghan refugees and 651 Ukrainian refugees were living in Edinburgh at the end of March.

Visa changes 'lowest point' of Labour tenure - ex-Scottish leader

A forensics officer with a dog is seen in Kentish Town, north London. Police are investigating a fire at Sir Keir Starmer's house in north London. Picture: James Manning/PA Wire

Man arrested after three fires at property linked to Starmer

Energy Minister Michael Shanks with Cerulean Winds' alliance partners on a tour of the Port of Ardersier near Inverness hearing about the Aspen floating windfarm which will create over 1,000 jobs.

Labour minister: £11bn wind boom shows Grangemouth lessons learned

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur poses has published his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Assisted dying final plea over 'choice, control and dignity'

Keir Starmer is leading Labour into the same immigration trap that is destroying the Conservative party (Picture: Benjamin Cremel/WPA pool)

How Keir Starmer is playing into Nigel Farage's hands on immigration Scotsman comment

Old College at the University of Edinburgh

Exclusive Visa changes ‘deeply damaging’ to Scottish universities, minister says

Restaurateur, broadcaster and cookery writer Prue Leith shakes hands with Liam McArthur MSP as she lends her support to his bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

The cases both for and against Scotland's Assisted Dying Bill Professor June Andrews and Liam McArthur

As Reform UK's popularity continues to rise, other parties are starting to sound like Nigel Farage (Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe)

Reform UK is on the rise, but don't dismiss Starmer as one-term PM Brian Monteith

Soldiers of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, take part in a training exercise (Picture: Alexander Koerner)

How Germany has gone from hated world war foe to indispensible ally Dr Bernhard Blumenau

Female Care Worker In Uniform Bringing Meal On Tray To Senior Woman Sitting In Lounge At Home

Exclusive Immigration crackdown on care sector that will 'see homes close'

McGlynn was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh. Pic: Ian Georgeson

Ex-council employee who embezzled over £1m ordered to repay £165k

Stephen Flynn MP, Anas Sarwar MSP and Maree Todd MSP

The 16 seats to watch out for in the 2026 Scottish election

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks outside her home after being cleared by police in Operation Branchform

Sturgeon reveals her vote on assisted dying in 'hardest decision'
Nicola Sturgeon has become the latest high-profile MSP to confirm how they will vote on Scotland’s Assisted Dying Bill.

The Tories say patients' lives are being "put at risk" after figures revealed some waited almost five years for key diagnostic tests

Health board escalated to stage 4 as risk branded 'hugely concerning'

Campaigners hold placards in support of assisted dying in November last year in London. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images

Explainer How will MSPs vote on Assisted Dying Bill and what will happen

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes

Forbes reveals how she will vote on Scotland assisted dying laws

Immigration and border control signs at Edinburgh Airport. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Strict immigration plans unveiled by Starmer, including on citizenship

The speculum and soft brush they use for the smear test

Exclusive Cervical smears: Number of women receiving vital health test plummets

Donald Trump shakes hands with Peter Mandelson, the UK's ambassador to the US, during the announcement of a new trade deal between the two countries (Picture: Anna Moneymaker)

Starmer needs to rebuild relations with UK's biggest trading partner Christine Jardine

Labor party leader Anthony Albanese, seen holding up his Medicare card, was successful because of a focus on issues that matter to people's lives, like healthcare (Picture: Asanka Ratnayake)

Four big lessons from Australian Labor party's surprise landslide Professor Ariadne Vromen

Housing emergency alert is fine - but real action desperately needed Scotsman leader comment

Piecemeal policies for Scotland's housing crisis don't cut it Professor Duncan Maclennan

Dalzell Steelworks in Motherwell.

Calls for SNP reopen mothballed steelworks branded 'insulting'

A Scottish immigration system could allow people to live and work in Scotland, but not other parts of the UK (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

'Absolute folly': Swinney slams plans to axe care worker visas

Swinney must explain how he'll get steel plants back in operation Ian Murray

John Swinney has spoken movingly about his struggle to decide how to vote on the assisted dying Bill (Picture: Andy Buchanan/pool)

MSPs must consider effects of assisted dying law on doctors Scotsman comment

Leading Conservative politicians, including Kemi Badenoch, with farmers as they protest about changes to inheritance tax. Family business owners may also join their ranks (Picture: Dan Kitwood)

Family businesses could be bankrupted by Labour's inheritance tax plan John Lamont

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?