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.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a visit Babcock in Rosyth, to talk about growing the defence sector to kickstart economic growth and bolster national security

Reeves doubles down on welfare and says ministers must get a grip

Chancellor faces opposition to reform from within Labour as new figures reveal economy shrinking

Paul Wilson

Nicola Sturgeon's legacy is her insistence that men can be women if they choose and the backlash this view sparked (Picture: Andy Buchanan)

Why Sturgeon will be remembered as a mediocre politician who failed Susan Dalgety

A rally by university union members outside the Scottish Parliament (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

University’s troubles worsened by UK’s hostility towards migrants Stephen Gethins

A woman sheds tears at a makeshift memorial for fallen soldiers in Kyiv's Independence Square on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion (Picture: Sergei Supinsky)

No one should be in any doubt about who's to blame for Ukraine War Scotsman comment

Keir Starmer's decision to scrap arms-length quango NHS England and bring the NHS under democratic control has lessons for the SNP (Picture: Oli Scarff/WPA pool)

Starmer's decision to scrap huge quango should shame SNP into action Brian Wilson

Dundee University plans to cut 632 jobs, about 20 per cent of its workforce, as it struggles to deal with £35 million deficit (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

Additional £10m support announced amid Dundee University cash crisis

Politics

Left to right: Stephen Flynn and Michael Matheson have passed vetting to stand in the 2026 Holyrood election

Matheson, Flynn pass vetting decisions to stand in Scottish election

Decisions around the vetting process involving Stephen Flynn and other SNP MPs for the 2026 Holyrood...

Analysis Reeves was tight-lipped on details, but difficult weeks lie ahead

The Chancellor faces a party revolt over expected welfare cuts

The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh. Picture: PA

Third SNP Cabinet minister announces resignation from politics

Mairi Gougeon has been an MSP since 2016, but says she will stand down in 2026.

Scotland can beat France if they show some James McFadden-style gallusScotsman comment
Scotsman comment
Rachel Reeves: I strongly disagree with SNP position on Trident

The Chancellor said the world ‘has changed before our eyes’

Lib Dem MP urges ministers to help farmers with universal credit

The transition to universal credit has not worked, the MP claimed

Scottish Independence

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

Keir Starmer's plans to bulldoze through housing and infrastructure construction ─ including the relentless march of wind turbines ─ may not go down well with voters (Picture: Chris Radburn)

Labour's disastrous start is setting up a 2029 independence showdown John McLellan

Any decision to scrap independence spending from the Scottish Budget next month could have consequences

SNP must not axe independence spending in Budget, say Greens

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dances at a campaign rally at Greensboro Coliseum (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Swinney backs Harris for president after Trump opposes independence

Former Scotland first minister and current Alba Party leader Alex Salmond has died aged 69.

Tributes for 'monumental figure' Alex Salmond pour in

More Scotsman politics

Keir Starmer delivers a speech on his plans to reform the civil service and the NHS during a visit to Hull (Picture: Oli Scarff-WPA pool)

Why SNP need to be as brave as Keir Starmer if NHS is to be saved Scotsman comment

A muzzle flash lights up pine trees as the British Army's new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun fires, as British Army soldiers take part in training near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Finland, in November 2024.

Rachel Reeves unveils £2bn boost for UK defence sector

Kemi Badenoch in Glasgow today <