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.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with First Minister John Swinney during the Council of the Nations and Regions in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire

Why Swinney is suddenly 'very optimistic' about SNP's election chances
The First Minister made the comments after meeting Sir Keir Starmer in Edinburgh, at the first Council of the Nations and Regions summit
Alistair Grant

Millions in funding are being withheld from Scottish councils in a row over teacher numbers. Picture: Michael Gillen

SNP ministers hold back £145m from councils over teacher numbers row

Sanjeev Gupta is being prosecuted by Companies House for failing to file accounts for more than 70 companies listed in Britain

Axe threatens for Scottish steel workers as Sanjeev Gupta prosecuted

The NHS crisis is now so dire that ensuring no one waits more than two years for treatment would be an achievement (Picture: Cate Gillon)

Plea to restrict waits to two years shows how bad NHS crisis really is Scotsman comment

Children under leaders on both sides of the Middle East conflict are suffering in troubles that are certainly Britain's business, says reader (Picture: Getty Images)

'Like losing my soul': Family of those killed in Gaza speak of justice

The Usher Hall is one of Edinburgh's best-known cultural venues.

SNP and Creative Scotland condemned over treatment of arts industry

Politics

SNP has a 'spring in its step', says Humza Yousaf - and here's why

Humza Yousaf, the former first minister, said his party could be in a ‘really good place’ by the tim...

Up to 390 more prisoners to be released early in Scotland

Prisoners in Scotland serving less than four months will be released early under Scottish Government...

The Faroes' tunnels were funded by loans which, one by one, are being paid off by tolls

Why inter-island tunnels are key test that SNP simply cannot fail

Island communities are not looking for handouts, but rather the power to make their own decisions about what’s best for them

142-mile diversions: How Scotland’s roads have become a laughing stock Stephen Jardine

Storm exposes left-wing inaction, right-wing denial of climate crisis

Centre-left paralysis in the face of climate change is in some ways even more dangerous to our futur...

Labour's vindictive VAT on private school fees policy will harm NHS

Imposing VAT on school fees is prompting parents who are doctors to treat more private patients at t...

Scottish Independence

Dark clouds may have gathered over the SNP and its leader John Swinney recently, but the independence movement's positive message is more appealing than unionists' negative one (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Why cock-a-hoop Scottish unionists are actually LOSING the argument Joyce McMillan

John Swinney calls on SNP to stop focus on route to independence

Retail property investment has rebounded thanks to several factors including the arrival of the flagship St James Quarter in Edinburgh.

Why Indyref was the turning point for the Scottish commercial property market

In 1995, Quebeckers voted by a whisker against seceding from Canada (Picture: Andre Pichette)

Why future of Scotland’s independence movement may be found in Quebec Murdo Fraser

John Swinney must do better as First Minister than his previous two predecessors or the SNP, the independence cause and Scotland itself will all pay the price (Picture: Michael Boyd)

10 years after indyref, SNP must learn hard lesson or face disaster Scotsman comment

Labour is starting to deliver the change that Scotland and the UK need (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

How Scotland can finally break free from endless independence debate Jackie Baillie

Nicola Sturgeon's style of government saw many important issues being sidelined (Picture: Andy Buchanan/pool)

How Sturgeon’s war on Westminster created decade of lost opportunities Henry McLeish

More Scotsman politics

First Minister John Swinney PIC: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

'Unacceptable': John Swinney blasts school strike targeting his seat

John Swinney told rapists and killers could walk free from jails

First Minister John Swinney. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Swinney vows to 'speak frankly' at Edinburgh summit as SNP request list revealed

The Government has published the Employment Rights Bill, promising the biggest overhaul in workers’ rights in a generation.

New worker rights ban zero hour contracts and give unions teeth back

The next Conservative party leader will either be Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick (Pictures: Dan Kitwood and Ian Forsyth)

Tory leadership hopefuls not 'fruit loops', insist Scottish Tory MPs

The panel for Question Time this evening.

Who's on Question Time October 10: US election special panel members

Hundreds of long-term prisoners could find out if they will be released early today.

Hundreds of prisoners to find out if they will be released early

Kate Forbes' suggestion that opposition politicians were putting people off moving to Scotland came after figures showed the biggest population increase since the 1940s, fuelled by immigration (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Kate Forbes' backhanded compliment to opposition was just bizarre Scotsman comment

Cleverly's failed leadership bid makes Tory lurch to right more likely Scotsman comment

Scotland's Health Awards 2024 is celebrating the individuals, teams and unsung heroes on the frontline

The full list of Scotland’s Health Awards 2024 finalists revealed

Lord Mandelson will deliver the speech in Edinburgh on Thursday

New Labour boss issues 'doom loop' message as £25bn tax rises 'needed'

Former home secretary James Cleverly is out of the Tory leadership race. Picture: James Manning/PA Wire

Senior Scottish Tory backs Kemi Badenoch to lead Conservative Party

Greens: SNP must restore 'trust and faith' if budget deal to be struck

The SNP's planned National Care Service is little more than a distraction from fixing the current system's problems (Picture: Christopher Furlong)

How the SNP is betraying more than 9,300 vulnerable Scots right now Jackie Baillie

A partially dismantled oil rig lies on the shore near Lerwick, Shetland (Picture: William Edwards)

How oil and gas workers face sacrifice at altar of just transition Murdo Fraser

Socrates was forced to kill himself by drinking hemlock in 399BC after being found guilty of 'impiety' and 'corrupting the young' (Picture: Hulton Archive)

Insisting on universal benefits shows we've fallen into Socrates' trap Ian Johnston

Russell Findlay Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Russell Findlay reveals Scottish Tory frontbench team

Sir Keir Starmer announced at the Labour Party conference that GB Energy will be based in Aberdeen

GB Energy jobs target, and why there's no time frame for bills falling

SNP ministers have been told to get a grip of the crisis

'Devastating' report reveals drugs deaths crisis has hit 600 children

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