Mark Griffin

John Swinney takes a look at a map of the Isle of Harris during a visit to the Isle of Harris Distillery in Tarbert

SNP: Renters will get first refusal if landlords put homes up for sale

The Scottish government is setting up a new agency to help speed up housebuilding progress

Exclusive SNP pledges to fast-track decisions on major housing developments

Lanternhouse performing arts centre, which is joint managed by Cumbernauld Theatre and North Lanarkshire Council.

Theatre faces closure in after emergency funding bid refused

Unison members could take further strike action over a pay standoff with local government workers

Exclusive Union warns SNP that councils face 'morally compromising decisions'

Budget Shortfall

Scotland faces £647m gap as Dario Schiraldi, Derek Yule, Hoy & Griffin call for ...

Finance Secretary Shona Robison and John Swinney (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

SNP accused of 'raiding' £8bn from councils' core funding

The Grenfell Tower in west London (David Mirzoeff/PA Wire)

SNP ministers urged to pick up pace to replace Grenfell-style cladding

Scottish Labour and the Scottish Lib Dems have hit out at the Scottish Government's Warm Homes Scotland scheme.

Government told it could take 100 years to help heat homes in need

Joe FitzPatrick. Picture: Fraser Bremner/Daily Mail/PA Wire

Government pledges to do ‘all it can’ as councils warn of bankruptcy risk

Average rents are highest in Edinburgh

Average rents in Scotland soar, with Lothian most expensive

Homelessness charity Crisis has moved into a new Edinburgh HQ amid rising demand for homelessness support in and around the city. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Homelessness charity records rise in demand amid temporary housing spike

The number of people declaring themselves homeless due to eviction from a private tenancy has increased from 262 to 455 between 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Number of Scots being made homeless due to housing costs rises

Scottish Labour have warned ministers not to hike council taxes on the highest bands

Poorest households hit by planned Scottish council tax hikes, says Labour

More than 60,000 homes in Scotland could be at risk of repossession due to soaring mortgage costs, analysis by Scottish Labour has shown.

More than 60,000 homes in Scotland at risk of repossession – Labour

Exclusive Economy secretary hints council tax rises may not go ahead despite proposals

Council tax bills could rise for the most expensive properties

Council tax hikes not being considered 'lightly', say local authority leaders

First Minister Humza Yousaf

Second homes could be hit by double the full rate of council tax under new plans

Deputy First Minister John Swinney

Council funding asks would see NHS 'starved of resources', says John Swinney

Homeless on the streets of Glasgow. Picture: National World

Homelessness system in Scotland 'on the brink of failure'

Workers remove cladding for testing from a tower block in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Ministers blasted over removal of Grenfell-style cladding in Scotland

Strike action could be “inevitable” for tens of thousands of council workers in Scotland this summer, as union bosses hit out at the offer of a “paltry” pay increase.

Strike action ‘inevitable’ if Cosla pay dispute not resolved, GMB Scotland warns

Deadly cladding was identified in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy

Labour blast Scottish Government over delays cladding replacement

Spending has dropped on playparks

SNP accused of 'selling next generation short' as spending on playparks drops

Campaigns to reopen closed libraries in Glasgow in August 2021. Picture: John Devlin/JPIMedia

Support our Libraries: Labour hits out at SNP on its funding record

The Scottish Government has been criticised for its spend on Airbnbs

'Height of hypocrisy' as Scottish ministers spend £40,000 on Airbnbs

Linked smoke alarms should be fitted by February 1, according to new legislation

Funding for fire alarm law change is 'throwing a tiddlywink at the problem'

Shona Robison has said rules about fire alarms in homes will not be delayed for another year.

'No delay' to law requiring Scottish homes to fit interlinked fire alarms

Fire alarms: Leading insurer AXA says home insurance won't be invalidated if Scots haven't installed fire alarms in time for legislation

Home insurance won't be invalidated if Scots haven't installed alarms says AXA

Picture: John Devlin/JPIMedia

Number of librarians in Scotland has plummeted by a third, Labour warns

Scottish Labour has raised concerns over the number of families in temporary accommodation

SNP urged to take action over 'scandal' of children in temporary housing

More than a quarter of homeless people in Scotland struggle with mental health problems, figures show.

'Shameful' doubling of mental health issues among homeless since 2013

The Scottish Government has published new statistics on homelessness.

Households in temporary accommodation 'skyrocketed' during pandemic

A fund for helping parents of premature babies will be expanded by the SNP.

Support fund for parents with kids in hospital to be boosted

Richard Leonard is under pressure to step down

Richard Leonard faces no confidence vote as motion goes to party ruling body

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard is facing confidence vote bid

10 Labour SEC members demand confidence vote in Richard Leonard

Richard Leonard is facing calls to stand down

Richard Leonard comes out fighting as fourth MSP calls for him to quit

Many struggling families are desperately in need of help. Picture: PA

Here’s why action is needed now on Universal Credit - Mark Griffin

SNP MP Alison Thewliss has called on new Prime Minister Boris Johnson to scrap the two child limit on child tax credits and the "abhorrent" rape clause.

Hundreds of women forced to claim 'rape clause' exemption to receive child tax c...

Wilma Wheatley presents the motion about the need to save Cumbernauld tax office to the STUC in Dundee

Scottish Trade Union Congress supports campaign to save Cumbernauld tax office

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville. Picture: John Devlin

SNP accused of betrayal over new delay to devolution of welfare benefits

Shirley-Anne Somerville is spearheading the new system.

SNP Government '˜need help from UK officials on new welfare powers'

Chancellor Philip Hammond holds his red ministerial box outside 11 Downing Street with his Treasury colleague Liz Truss (Picture: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire)

Holyrood must act over disastrous Universal Credit '“ Mark Griffin
Though the dust on last week's budget has not exactly settled, the UK Government seems to think it has put to bed the debate about the need to overhaul Universa...

The lift bridge over the canal at Twechar has been shut since February

Motion in Parliament as MSP demands action on bridges

Thousands of Scots are missing out on tax exemptions, Picture: John Devlin

50,000 low income Scots don't claim tax relief measures

Nicola Sturgeon said the measures would ensure young carers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Picture: PA

Nicola Sturgeon announces Â£300-a-year grants for teen carers

Social security minister Jeane Freeman delighted to address concerns over benefit payments

Holyrood ministers to increase flexibility of Universal Credit

Unless organ donation sign-up rates rise, the demand for replacement organs will continue to outstrip supply.

Lizzy Buchan: It's time for a change of heart in Scotland on organ donation

Carers missing out on millions of pounds, Labour claims

Carers missing out on Â£170m of benefits, Labour claims

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman. Picture: John Devlin

Ministers will not be bullied over welfare powers, MSPs told

Mark Griffin, Scottish Labour welfare spokesman PICTURE: SWNS

Scots losing out on Â£400m unclaimed tax credits

An inquiry into the heavily criticised tram project in Edinburgh could take up to two years. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Edinburgh tram inquiry could take up two years

An Edinburgh Tram at the Murrayfield Stadium tram stop.

Pic: Malcolm McCurrach

Tram inquiry verdict could take up to two years

Picture: submitted

Scottish independence: no commitment to HS2

Glasgow's Queen Street is to be redeveloped. Picture: TSPL

Edinburgh-Glasgow rail upgrade cost rises by £90m

Transport Minister Keith Brown has proposed a direct train linking Edinburgh and Kilmarnock. Picture: TSPL

Direct Kilmarnock-Edinburgh train proposed

Johann Lamont has named four backbench MSPs in her new frontline team. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Johann Lamont unveils new frontbench MSPs

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries