Scotland ‘needs to give voice to the voiceless’
Scotland’s public services watchdog has accused the Scottish Government of a “lack of progress” over enabling her to hold public value investigations.
Politics
UK Government ‘cancels Brexit talks with Scotland and Wales’
The UK Government has cancelled talks with senior politicians from Scotland and Wales over Brexit, MSPs have been told.
Pigeon dropping infection ‘contributed’ to child’s death, MSPs told
A review will be carried out at Scotland’s flagship hospital after it emerged one of the two patients who died there after contracting an infection linked to pigeon droppings was a child.
Jobless total in Scotland drops below 100,000 for first time
Unemployment in Scotland has fallen below 100,000 for the first time, new figures have revealed.
Council house rents set to rise by 3% in the Highlands
Plans to raise council house rents by 3% are set to be approved by councillors this week.
AWPR finished at last – but a contract row is holding up the opening
The Scottish Transport secretary has cautioned Aberdeen Bypass contractors against “using the north-east’s enthusiasm for the road” to “apply pressure” for extra money or “cut corners” as final work is carried out on the last remaining piece of the multi-million pound project.
MSP committee calls for councils to re-examine school music tuition fees
Funding for music tuition in schools should be re-examined following the controversial introduction of fees by most councils across Scotland, MSPs have said.
No-deal Brexit could cost Scotland £14bn a year by 2034, study claims
A no-deal Brexit could cost Scotland £14 billion a year, new analysis by business organisation the CBI has indicated.
UK oil and gas sector growing in confidence after ‘challenging’ years
Confidence in the outlook for the UK oil and gas sector has increased almost fourfold in two years, an industry survey found.
May’s U-turn over £65 fee for EU citizens to stay in Britain after Brexit
Theresa May has scrapped a £65 fee for EU citizens wanting to stay in Britain after Brexit on the same day as its registration policy was rolled out.
Lib Dems call for improved mental health absence recording
All public bodies should record staff mental health absences, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have said.
SNP MP urges party to change strategy and for Indyref2 to ‘come to fore’
A leading SNP MP has called on the party’s leadership to drop calls for a second European referendum and instead put the case for a fresh vote on Scottish independence to the “fore”.
Calls for outright ban on shock collars for pets in Scotland
The Scottish Government is facing calls to bring in an outright ban on electric shock collars for pets.
Home Office warned of new Windrush scandal over EU citizen scheme
The Home Office is being warned it risks creating a new “Windrush scandal” as the roll-out of its post-Brexit scheme to register an estimated 3.5 million EU citizens living in the UK begins.
Brexit Plan B? All you need to know as Theresa May lays out fresh plans to MPs
Theresa May is due to lay out her fresh plans to get a Brexit deal through Parliament on Monday.
Dutch woman forced to apply to settlement scheme despite living in UK since 1967
Even people who have been in the UK since before it joined the EU are not exempt from the settlement scheme.
Spelling gaffe on Aberdeen MP’s leaflet prompts outrage
Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson has come under fire after spelling two crucial words wrong in a political leaflet.
Brexit: What might happen next
Prime Minister Theresa May is due before the House of Commons on Monday where she will set out her Plan B after her Brexit blueprint was roundly defeated last week.
Blackford urges PM to ‘fundamentally’ change position on Brexit
The SNP’s Westminster leader has said that the Prime Minister needs to “fundamentally change her position” to end the Brexit deadlock.
North-east businessman Martin Gilbert believes a second Brexit referendum would be ‘dangerous’ for the UK
One of the north-east’s most powerful businessmen has warned another Brexit referendum would “really dangerous” for the UK.
‘Generation-defining failure’ on Brexit strengthens case for independence: SNP
An “historic and generation-defining failure” by the Conservatives on Brexit strengthens the case for Scottish independence, the SNP has claimed.
Activists raise £30,000 for more billboards highlighting Brexit ‘hypocrisy’
Activists aiming to highlight the “hypocrisy” of British politicians on Brexit have raised more than £30,000 in one day to erect billboards featuring their quotes across the country.
More Scots to get financial help to cover funeral costs
The Scottish Government forecasts a 40% rise in the number of people able to get help with funeral costs when a new benefit payment is introduced this summer.
Groups split on impact of no-deal Brexit on UK
The failure of Westminster politicians to agree on an EU withdrawal plan prompted most rural leaders to reiterate their fears of a no-deal scenario and repeat demands for frictionless trade with Europe, equivalence in the standard of imports and access to seasonal and permanent workers.
Some common medicines ‘in short supply’
There has been a big rise in the number of drugs on a “shortage of supply” list for England, analysis shows.
Fresh blow to Scottish Government’s named person scheme
The group tasked with drawing up a code of practice for a key part of the Scottish Government’s named person scheme is finding it “challenging” to ensure this is “simple, concise and accessible”.
Scottish Labour defends ‘Vision for Scotland’ video partially filmed in Wales
The Scottish Labour party has defended itself after viewers noticed a promotional video was partially filmed in Wales.
Sturgeon ‘concerned’ Arran 90-year-old told home care not possible
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to look into reports that a lack of care staff on a Scottish island has left a frail 90-year-old woman unable to get the help she needs.
Nicola Sturgeon confirms that a taskforce to help workers at the at-risk Stoneywood Mill is being considered
Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed steps have been made to consider whether a taskforce should be set up to help the troubled Stoneywood paper mill.
Into the Brexit unknown: What happens next?
She’s won a confidence vote but seen her Brexit deal eviscerated by MPs in the greatest parliamentary humiliation of a serving prime minister in the modern era.
‘Ordeerrrrr’: John Bercow finds international fame with all eyes on Brexit
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has been winning fans online and around the world this week for his no-nonsense approach to keeping MPs in line.
Ex-NHS Tayside boss given inflated payout to avoid any tribunal, MSPs told
Bosses at a struggling health board knew their former chief executive should only have been paid three months’ notice – but they gave her six months amid concerns she could bring age and sex discrimination claims against them, a Holyrood committee has heard.