Fewer psychologists working in Scottish schools
The number of educational psychologists working in Scotland has fallen by 10% in the past three years. Education Secretary John Swinney revealed the drop after a question from Scottish Labour...
View ArticleNamed person 'will still be introduced'
The Scottish government still intends to introduce its named person scheme despite a Supreme Court ruling. The controversial proposals would appoint a single person - usually a teacher or health...
View ArticleScottish independence: John Swinney says 'No currency, no debt'
Finance Secretary John Swinney has confirmed Scotland will not pay its share of the UK debt if it does not get a currency union after independence. The Scottish government minister told a BBC...
View ArticleScottish Labour leader says it will take 'years' for party to recover from...
It will take “years” for Scottish Labour to recover from its electoral wipeout at the hands of the SNP, the party’s new leader has said, insisting that she has a mandate to remain in her post until...
View ArticleShould Scottish Labour have a free vote on independence?
The debate about how to campaign in any future referendum gathers pace as new leader Kezia Dugdale promises to democratise the party...
View ArticleScottish Independence: How will Labour deal No vote fallout?
The slogan of the anti-independence campaign was "No thanks doesn't mean no change". But Labour may face rather more change than it imagined. To convince voters in Scotland to back a No vote, more...
View ArticleKids Company psychologist suspended over drugs
A psychologist at troubled Kids Company has been suspended after she was found to have given illegal drugs to a vulnerable youngster she met through the charity. Helen Winter admitted taking MDMA, the...
View ArticleChild mental health wait increases 'are horrifying'
The number of young people waiting more than a year to be treated by mental health services has increased 10-fold in a year, according to figures released by Scottish Labour. The party said the...
View ArticleSCOTTISH GREENS PUBLISH INDEPENDENCE STATEMENT (Scottish Green Party)
(Source: Scottish Green Party) Friday, September 18th, 2015 Marking the first anniversary of the independence referendum, the Scottish Greens have today (18 September) released a statement confirming...
View ArticleScottish budget: Swinney resists calls to raise income tax
MSPs will take part in a showdown vote later on income tax as opposition leaders challenge the Scottish government to raise extra money to protect public services. Finance Secretary John Swinney has...
View ArticleBillions of pounds wiped from value of Scottish firms after yes vote leads poll
Lloyds is worst hit with shares falling £1.7bn as stock and currency markets get jitters over shock YouGov result...
View ArticleBid to halt named person law falls short at Holyrood
MSPs last night rejected an attempt to halt the Scottish Government’s named person scheme despite John Swinney conceding more work had to be done on the controversial legislation. A Conservative bid to...
View ArticleBrown calls on Scots to sign devolution 'promises' petition
Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for 100,000 Scots to sign a petition urging Westminster to keep promises on devolution. Mr Brown said there should be "no strings attached" to...
View ArticleBillions of pounds wiped from value of Scottish firms after yes vote leads...
The value of major Scottish companies has fallen by billions of pounds after the stock market was spooked by polling giving the yes vote a lead ahead of the referendum....
View ArticleMore powers for Scottish Parliament (UK Scotland Office)
(Source: UK Scotland Office) Lord Smith of Kelvin was today appointed to oversee the process of taking forward the cross party commitment on more powers for the Scottish Parliament. Commenting on his...
View ArticleJim Murphy should resign as Scottish Labour leader, Labour MSP says
Scottish Leader Jim Murphy should resign after losing all but one of the party’s Westminster seats, one of his party’s Scottish shadow ministers has said. Alex Rowley, MSP for Cowdenbeath, said Mr...
View ArticleStandard-bearer of Scottish nationalism leaves party at high-water mark
Alex Salmond's emotionally controlled resignation speech effectively conceded Scottish politics has now shifted...
View ArticleScottish referendum: Alex Salmond says 'No' voters were 'tricked'
The Scottish first minister has said "No" voters in last week's independence referendum were "tricked" by a late vow of more devolved powers. A motion to be laid before the Houses of Parliament this...
View ArticleScottish independence: John Swinney says 'Yes' will boost Scots business
Scottish companies will be able to boost their presence on the world stage under independence, Scotland's finance secretary believes. John Swinney said Scotland's ability to craft its own economic...
View ArticleDugdale: UK must allow Scottish independence vote if people want it
Scottish Labour leader says government would be ‘categorically wrong’ to prevent second referendum on Scotland’s future...
View ArticleScottish leaders’ debate: Sturgeon accused of financial ‘black hole’
Nicola Sturgeon and Jim Murphy have clashed over the economy in the second Scottish leaders’ debate this week....
View ArticleScotland's finance secretary John Swinney threatens to block new powers
John Swinney has warned that the Scottish government would block new powers for Holyrood unless there was an acceptable deal on money. The finance secretary said it would be wrong to strike a bargain...
View ArticleScottish independence: Ed Miliband calls on SNP to 'come clean' on currency
The Scottish government should "come clean" about alternatives to post-independence currency union with the rest of the UK, Ed Miliband has said. The UK Labour leader told the BBC there were "big...
View ArticleScottish referendum: SNP seeks 'home rule' within the UK, says Swinney
A form of "home rule" within the UK will be the SNP's aim in negotiations over more powers for Scotland, Finance Secretary John Swinney has said. Mr Swinney told MSPs that Gordon Brown's prediction...
View ArticleScottish government accused of trying to bury report on falling oil revenues
Oil and gas bulletin, which reveals that revenues from North Sea oil are set to plummet, is released on last day before Holyrood’s summer recess...
View ArticleScottish leaders' debate: Murphy accuses Sturgeon of planning 'black hole' in...
Scottish Labour leader warns over ‘rerun of referendum’ after SNP leader confirms she would introduce full fiscal autonomy for Scotland within a year if given the opportunity...
View ArticleScottish independence: Alex Salmond accused of 'campaign of lies' on future...
The debate over Scottish independence has descended into acrimony as nationalists are accused of waging a “campaign of lies” on the NHS, with the future of the health service set to be the crucial...
View ArticleScottish budget: No change in Scottish income tax rate
The finance secretary John Swinney has ruled out an increase in Scottish income tax when Holyrood gets new financial powers next year. Mr Swinney made the announcement as he unveiled his draft budget...
View ArticleGordon Brown calls for Scottish politics 'reset'
Former prime minister Gordon Brown says politicians in Scotland must stop obsessing about constitutional change and focus on improving people's lives. The Labour MP is to give a speech in Glasgow...
View ArticleKids Company psychologist suspended for giving MDMA to client
Helen Winter handed 18-month suspension for offering class A drug to vulnerable youngster she met through the charity...
View ArticleScottish Budget: Boost for first-time buyers
Homebuyers in Scotland will pay no tax on properties costing less than £135,000, Finance Secretary John Swinney has announced. And a 12% marginal rate for houses costing more than £1m will come into...
View ArticleMore health cash in Scottish Budget 2015-16 plans
Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney said his budget plans would create a "more prosperous and fairer Scotland". Mr Swinney, who is also deputy first minister, was speaking as Holyrood debated his...
View ArticleScottish vote should herald policies for working people, says Len McCluskey...
(Source: UNITE) Scottish vote should herald policies for working people, says Len McCluskey A clarion call was made for policies to reflect the interests of working people in the aftermath of the...
View ArticleMSPs argue over the 'vow' on more Scottish powers
Politicians at Holyrood have been arguing about whether the pre-referendum vote "vow" pledging more powers for Scotland had been met. Deputy First Minister John Swinney said promises by the three UK...
View ArticleScottish Government ‘committed’ to Named Person plans
JOHN Swinney has said the Scottish Government remains "absolutely committed” to introducing a named person for every child as MSPs prepare to debate the policy. The Deputy First Minister and Education...
View ArticleSNP surge in Scotland could hold key to next UK government
Add comment Reprints + - In this April 3, 2015 photo, Britain's Labour party leader Ed Miliband arrives in Blackpool, England, to meet Labour supporters while on the election campaign. Miliband’s...
View ArticleHolyrood has got promised powers in full, says Scottish secretary
David Mundell says Tories are sticking to amendments in Scotland bill that will stop Westminster interfering in tax and welfare powers...
View ArticleSmith Commission on Scottish devolution meets for the first time
The commission tasked with agreeing the shape of enhanced powers for Scotland’s parliament has met for the first time. In the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, Lord Smith, who is chairing the all-party...
View ArticleTalks on Scottish devolution to begin
All-party talks aimed at reaching agreement on what new powers should be devolved to Scotland in the wake of the independence referendum get under way today. For the first time, all five political...
View ArticleBusiness leaders call for SNP to drop independence drive
A revived Scottish independence campaign unveiled today will bring "fresh uncertainty” to the country’s future and be a "major breach of trust” with voters from the 2014 referendum, a group of leading...
View ArticleA prosperous Scotland with equal opportunities for everyone, no matter their...
(Source: SNP - Scottish National Party) Today we return to the Scottish Parliament for the beginning of a new term. It has not exactly been the quiet recess many will have hoped for after a busy...
View ArticleScottish schools may receive funds direct from government
The Scottish government may seek to give funding directly to schools rather than via local authorities, Education Secretary John Swinney has said. The government has launched a review of school...
View ArticleScottish Labour leader says party's UK leadership contest is an 'ugly mess'
Kezia Dugdale says conflict overshadows Labour’s attempts in Scotland to focus on policy...
View ArticleScottish Election 2016: Nicola Sturgeon promises to work with opposition...
Scottish Nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon has promised to lead an "open and inclusive" Government and work with other parties after the SNP failed to win a second majority. The First Minister spoke...
View ArticleScottish Conservative manifesto vows 'strong opposition' to SNP
Leader Ruth Davidson admits party cannot win but says it can succeed where Labour has failed in holding SNP to account...
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