As Scotland’s political leader’s return to battle positions at Holyrood, the fallout from the General Election is still being felt around the country.
The First Minister, wounded from her party’s heavy losses at last week’s vote, has attempted to switch the focus away from a new independence referendum and onto Brexit.
Analysts believe the SNP sticking with indyref2 despite the General Election being called may have hurt them at the polls. Brexit, meanwhile, may have had a significant affect on the Conservative vote.
With so much uncertainty still surrounding the government, Brexit far from resolved and Scottish independence holding the gaze of policymakers at Holyrood, the tumultuous political landscape shows no signs of abating.
Here is everything you need to know…
60% of Scots want Sturgeon to scrap IndyRef2 plans
Three-fifths of Scots believe Nicola Sturgeon should drop her demand for a second independence referendum, according to a new survey.
The Survation poll for the Daily Record found 60% support for that stance, which comes after the SNP lost 21 Commons seats in last week’s General Election, including those of former first minister Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson.
Re-think called for after it emerges no plans for rainbow flag over Holyrood for Edinburgh Pride
Party leaders have urged a rethink after it emerged the rainbow flag gay rights symbol will not be flown over Holyrood this weekend for Edinburgh Pride.
The Scottish Parliament raised the flag during the march last year, which coincided with the Queen formally opening Holyrood.
But the Press and Journal has learned there are no plans to fly the emblem of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights this year, despite Holyrood previously being hailed as the gayest parliament in the world.
Michael Russell: We believe a hard Brexit should be dead and buried with a stake through its heart
The general election result drove a “stake through the heart” of the prospect of a “hard” Brexit, the Scottish minister dedicated to the issue has said.
Michael Russell said the landscape had “changed utterly” after Theresa May lost her Westminster majority and was forced to seek support from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to govern.
Nicola Sturgeon hits out at Tory rival in bid to shift indyref2 focus to Brexit
Nicola Sturgeon has branded Ruth Davidson a “one-trick pony” after facing fresh calls from the Scottish Tory leader to drop a second referendum on independence .
The First Minister came under pressure to set out whether she would ditch another vote on the issue following the SNP’s loss of 21 seats in last week’s snap General Election.
Indyref2 is an insurance policy, says Ian Blackford
The SNP’s new leader at Westminster has described the prospect of a new vote on Scottish independence as an “insurance policy”.
Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford said he will be speak to Nicola Sturgeon as she decides how to move forward on earlier plans to hold a second referendum.
He added that with the party seeking to “protect Scotland’s position”, a new vote could be used as a parachute against a “hard Tory Brexit”.
And finally…
Tony Blair to appear on The Last Leg
Tony Blair is to make an appearance in a special episode of Channel 4’s The Last Leg marking a year since the death of Labour MP Jo Cox.
The former prime minister will star in a sketch alongside the show’s Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe as part of The Last Leg: Re-United Kingdom.
The two-hour live show will also feature Ed Balls, Michael Gove and a host of other figures from across politics and comedy.
The three hosts will bump into Mr Blair in a lift where he interrupts their bickering and demands they set aside their differences to celebrate the life of Ms Cox, who was was shot and stabbed on June 16 last year by right-wing extremist Thomas Mair.
