UK News

Despite advances in obstetric medicine, pregnancy and childbirth remain significant health risks to women (Picture: David Jones/PA)

Surrogacy is morally wrong, reducing poor women to incubators for the rich

Liz Truss arrives at Conservative headquarters on September 5 after being elected party leader (Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images)

I was wrong about American-style TV debates. They're vital – Alastair GJ Stewart

Lloyds Group and NatWest Group have said that the sites in England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man will close between July and November this year.

Full list of NatWest, Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and RBS branches to shut

Boris Johnson broke his own Covid lockdown rules, then lied about it (Picture: Alberto Pezzali/pool/Getty Images)

Covid lawbreakers Ferrier and Johnson should both face recall elections

Standing charges are set to go up from April with the £400 energy bills support scheme also set to come to an end

Here's why you should take a meter reading today

Boris Johnson's lack of humility during the Partygate affair has been obvious (Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

As Partygate affair rumbles on, Tories' 'nasty party' reputation looks secure

The date of Easter changes yearly. In 2023, the celebration will fall on Sunday, April 9.

When is Easter 2023 Scotland? When are the bank holidays?

Works and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride leaves at 10 Downing Street, London, after a Cabinet meeting ahead of the Budget..

When do I get my State Pension? What is the pension age? Does the UK Gov decide?

Police at the scene in Meridian Close, Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, where police found the body of a 32-year-old man with a gunshot wound on Wednesday evening. They were later called to a second property in Ely, Cambridgeshire, where they found the body of a 57-year-old man who had also died from gunshot wounds. The deaths of both men are being treated as murder and three men have been arrested by Cambridgeshire Police. Picture date: Thursday March 30, 2023.

Police make three arrests after two men shot dead in two nearby villages

A boy walks on a damaged railway track in Sunamganj, Bangladesh, where climate change has increased the frequency of floods (Picture: Mamun Hossain/AFP via Getty Images)

World must cut carbon emissions, not rely on expensive, unproven technology

Rock star Derek Dick, also known as Fish, the former frontman of Marillion, is planning a new life on Berneray in the Outer Hebrides (pictured) PIC: geograph.org.

Scottish rock star prepares for the quiet life and buys croft in Outer Hebrides

The UK Government is looking for ways to spend money in Scotland, but isn't interested in waving a Union Jack about it (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Will Yousaf meet UK Government halfway on ways to improve life in Scotland?

Residents of Great Bernera have been been trying to buy the island from its absentee German landlord for more than a decade. PIC: Walter Baxter/geograph.org

More 'legal muscle' needed to help islanders buy out absentee German landlord

The Stone of Destiny safely ensconced in the Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle on St Andrew's Day, 1996 (Picture: PA)

Moving the Stone of Destiny will be no simple task – Tom Wood

Here are the 10 most inspiring Scottish women of all time, as per Scotsman readers.

Here are the 10 most inspiring Scottish Women of all time

Petrel in Imperial Dock in Leith on Thursday. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

Blocks holding ship in place ‘could be key factor’ in Leith dry dock incident

The Scottish local authority has been embroiled in legal action against the sportswear giant, Under Armour, and its founder, Kevin Plank, since 2017. Picture: Molly Riley/UPI/Shutterstock

Scots council goes to court to obtain US journalist's emails

A pothole near the Fairy Pools in Skye. Picture: Liam Cousins

‘Crater-like’ Skye potholes threaten fatal crashes – tourism body SkyeConnect

Ryanair is to increase its Edinburgh routes to 69 this summer. Picture: Neil Hanna

Future Flight: Ryanair to fly a record 90 summer routes from Scotland

Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon are political opponents with much in common (Picture: Duncan McGlynn/AFP via Getty Images)

Fading of Sturgeon and Johnson's political careers may signal end of populism

The Sunday Times guide has been published

The 7 best places to live in Scotland according to the Best Places to Live guide

The Sunday Times has named the UK’s best place to live for 2023. Scotland had 7 locations out of 71 across the UK

The Scottish locations listed on the Sunday Times best places to live 2023

Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist (Health) for the Scottish Government and Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Glasgow providing the keynote address.

Scotland’s Life Sciences Awards winners revealed

Wildfires are becoming an increasing threat in many parts of the world as the atmosphere heats up (Picture: David McNew/Getty Images)

Comedy was deployed as a weapon against Hitler. Can it now help save the planet?

Petrel in Imperial Dock in Leith on Thursday. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

HSE investigation launched after US Navy ship tips over in Leith

Boris Johnson takes the oath ahead of his evidence to the Commons' Privileges Committee (Picture: House of Commons/UK Parliament)

Johnson’s mental gymnastics over Partygate are not credible – Scotsman comment

Home secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of the Scottish Government of making "factually inaccurate" statements in the Commons. Picture: Andy Bailey/UK Parliament/AFP

Home secretary accused by Scottish Government of 'factually inaccurate' comments

A study has found a third of UK workers would quit their job

Third of workers would quit job if right to work from home removed, study finds

Petrel at Imperial Dock in Leith on Wednesday. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Toppled research ship was once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen

A statue of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is toppled at al-Fardous Square in Baghdad, Iraq, in April 2003 (Picture: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty Images)

For many countries, the Iraq War is a lasting reminder of western hypocrisy

The Commons Privileges Committee is set to hear from Boris Johnson this week amid claims he lied to Parliament over the partygate scandal.

When is Boris Johnson giving evidence? How to watch Privileges Committee

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is braced for a possible Tory backbench rebellion as MPs vote on a key plank of his new deal with Brussels on post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to vote against Sunak’s Brexit deal

King Charles III attends a presentation of loyal addresses by the privileged bodies, at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, March 9 (Picture: Yui Mok/PA)

King Charles's concept of 'servant leadership' was inspirational – Joe Goldblatt

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's boost to childcare funding should be replicated by the Scottish Government (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Scotland stands to benefit from Chancellor’s new Budget for growth

Bono has finally admitted his love for Abba. He didn't have the 'courage' to do this before (Picture: Olle Lindeborg/AFP via Getty Images)

Bono must get Boris to state Abba can't be blamed for Partygate – Aidan Smith

Floods in low-lying Bangladesh are getting worse as sea levels rise because of global warming (Picture: Mamun Hossain/AFP via Getty Images)

Climate change is a disease of the here and now – Scotsman comment

Ice hockey fans celebrate in Helsinki, after Finland's team won the Winter Olympic Games gold medal last year (Picture: Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)

World Happiness Report contains a lesson about the benefits of social democracy

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivers his Budget to the Commons (Picture: UK Parliament/Andy Bailey/PA)

Another Tory Budget, another missed chance to reverse the UK's economic decline

Train operator Avanti West Coast has been handed a short-term contract extension by the Department for Transport (DfT), the FirstGroup-owned company said.

Avanti West Coast handed contract extension

Standard class passengers would have have first class-style 2+1 seating. Picture: Grand Union

Grand Union optimistic of approval for spacious new Stirling-London trains

Glen Sannox at the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow in October. Picture: John Devlin

Delayed ferry Glen Sannox will need weeks of trials after completion – CalMac

The son of the man who famously smuggled the Stone of Destiny back to Scotland from Westminster Abbey says his father would not want it to be returned to London for the King's coronation. Ian Hamilton, who died last year, broke into the abbey in 1950 and removed the stone, alongside a group of students. Mr Hamilton's son Jamie told the BBC: "I think his view would be, it's ridiculous."

Stone of Destiny shouldn’t go to Westminster for coronation – Ian Hamilton’s son

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited managing director Inglis Lyon at Inverness Airport. Picture: The Scotsman

Future Flight: Airport chief upbeat that US tourists will fuel summer recovery

BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker refused to retract his tweet criticising the UK Government's immigration policies (Picture: Ian Walton/PA)

BBC licence fee lies at heart of Lineker impartiality row – Alastair GJ Stewart

US President Joe Biden signs the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes the biggest package of climate change measures in US history, in August last year (Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

The UK is falling behind in the green industrial revolution – Stewart McDonald

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivering his Budget to the House of Commons in London. Picture date: Wednesday March 15, 2023.

Jeremy Hunt defends Budget amid criticism over pensions giveaway for richest 1%

Jeremy Hunt announced plans for new investment zones that he said could be as successful as Canary Wharf in London (Picture: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Hunt's Budget optimism can't hide the harsh economic reality faced by many

The Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is being built in Bridgwater, Somerset (Picture: Finnbarr Webster/PA)

Why Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is dead wrong about nuclear power – Dr Richard Dixon

The increase in the number of food banks is emblematic of growing poverty, but the problems run even deeper (Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

Politicians must ensure a decent standard of living for all – Kenny MacAskill

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, with his ministerial box before delivering the UK Budget (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Why UK Budget is a continuation of the Tories’ 13 years of failure – Ian Murray

Jeremy Hunt confirmed nuclear power would be classed as “environmentally sustainable” to drive investment in the energy sector, and said he would launch “Great British Nuclear” to bring down costs

RECAP: Jeremy Hunt announces Budget with pension, fuel duty, and energy changes

The energy price guarantee will be extended for a further three months from April to June at its current level

Energy Price Guarantee to be extended to end of June

Tim Davie, the under-fire director general of the BBC (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Lineker migration bill row exposes BBC's farcical attempts to be 'impartial'

Glen Sannox is currently due to be completed by May. Picture: John Devlin

Ferguson Marine £87,000 bonus payments ‘unacceptable’ – Audit Scotland

The new 10-stamp showcases some of the most popular types of flowers grown in gardens across the UK.

King Charles III's silhouette revealed on new special Royal Mail floral stamps

BBC chairman Richard Sharp (left) and director-general Tim Davie (Picture: House of Commons/PA)

BBC chair and director-general are now hopelessly compromised – Scotsman comment

The Earth is so large that it distorts spacetime (Picture: Nasa/Newsmakers via Getty Images)

How 19th-century science could help measure Earth's effect on spacetime

Fiona Bruce has stepped back as an ambassador of domestic abuse charity Refuge following claims she had trivialised domestic violence during a discussion about Stanley Johnson on Question Time.

Fiona Bruce to stand down from her ambassador role for Refuge

Sarah Keohane Williamson

Ad Feature The need for a long-term approach to innovation

No one is responsible for offering confidential support or counselling to young people who have lost a parent (Picture, posed by model: John Devlin)

Bereaved children need help and, right now, many are not getting it

Gary Lineker is set to return to Match of the Day this weekend following disruption across the BBC Sport schedules.

Gary Lineker to return to Match of the Day this weekend after BBC deal reached

In many cases, felling trees will require a licence from Scottish Forestry (Picture: David Cheskin/PA)

Trees help humans in so many different ways. Yet they still need defending

The Scotsman Top Stories

Humza Yousaf speaking at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, after it was announced that he is the new Scottish National Party leader, and would become the next First Minister of Scotland. Picture date: Monday March 27, 2023.

Breaking SNP set to lose 18 seats to Labour at next election in worrying poll for Yousaf

Squeaky bum time already for Humza Yousaf as poll demonstrates challenge ahead

A man accused of murdering his pregnant wife by pushing her off Arthur’s Seat was eager to visit the Edinburgh landmark during his time in the Scottish capital, a court has heard.

Murder accused was ‘really keen’ to visit Arthur’s Seat, trial told