Ruth Davidson now backing Michael Gove in Tory leadership race
Ruth Davidson has announced her support for Michael Gove to be the next prime minister after her preferred candidate, Sajid Javid, fell out of the Tory leadership race.
Scotland
Keepers stand no chance under new penalty rules, fumes Scotland’s Crichton
Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton believes goalkeepers have next to no chance of saving penalties under the new FIFA rules which contributed to their dramatic World Cup exit.
Scotch whisky distilleries welcome record number of visitors
A record number of people visited Scotch whisky distilleries in the last year, according to new figures.
Scotland winger Graham holds long-term Lions aspiration
Scotland's Darcy Graham has become accustomed to resetting targets during a rise which has left him on the verge of a Rugby World Cup debut.
Carson aiming for surge in youth participation following Scots visit
Highland head coach Davie Carson hopes the Scotland national team's training visit to Canal Park can spark further participation within the club's youth setup.
Rachel Corsie frustrated by ‘ridiculous’ refereeing decisions as Scotland exit World Cup after late drama
Scotland captain Rachel Corsie criticised North Korean referee Hyang-Ok Ri after her side’s heartbreaking World Cup exit last night.
Agony for Scotland as late Argentina penalty drama ends World Cup dream
Scotland’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup ended in controversial style after they drew 3-3 draw with Argentina at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Developing countries must be helped to tackle climate change, says Sturgeon
It is impossible to tackle the climate crisis without recognising the need for climate justice, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Big Climate Conversation to help make Scotland zero-emissions nation
Action to tackle climate change must be a “truly national endeavour”, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Townsend impressed by Highland facilities in Scots’ World Cup preparations
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend reckons the national team's Highland training camp has been the ideal way to kick start their preparations for this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Townsend confident hooker Brown will win World Cup fitness race
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is confident hooker Fraser Brown will overcome a toe injury in time for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Alcohol sales fall to lowest level on record in Scotland
Alcohol sales in Scotland fell to the lowest level for almost quarter of a century last year, new research has found.
Workplace parking levy expected to clear hurdle at Holyrood
Car park tax plans are expected to take a step forward later when MSPs debate new transport legislation.
Ruth Davidson urges Tory members over preserving the union
Ruth Davidson has reportedly urged some party members to “take a long, hard look at themselves” after a poll suggested a majority of Tory members would put Brexit ahead of preserving the union.
Deeply concerning that Boris Johnson could be PM, Nicola Sturgeon says
Nicola Sturgeon has described the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming prime minister as “deeply concerning”, saying the Tory leadership favourite “seems to relish” the prospect of a “catastrophic” no-deal Brexit.
Drugs laws must be changed to allow safe consumption rooms, says minister
Scotland’s public health minister has urged the UK Government to change drugs laws, after visiting a medically supervised safer drug consumption facility in Paris.
Almost all of Scotland’s councils dip into cash reserves over year
All but three of Scotland’s councils had to rely on cash reserves to cover day-to-day running costs last year.
Tory members’ poll ‘an utter disaster for Ruth Davidson’
A poll in which a majority of Tory members said they would prefer Scotland to leave the UK rather than Brexit not happening is an “utter disaster” for Ruth Davidson, an MSP has said.
Scotland making slow progress towards cycling target, MSPs told
The Scottish Transport Secretary has said the Government is expected to miss a target for 10% of everyday journeys to be made by bike by 2020.
Sturgeon fears new Tory PM ‘will cause 18 years of damage in 18 weeks’
The new Conservative leader could cause as much damage to Scotland in 18 weeks as Margaret Thatcher and John Major did in 18 years of Government, Nicola Sturgeon will warn.
Justice Secretary urged to tear up sectarianism secrecy agreement
The Scottish Government has been urged to “rip up” a secrecy agreement it reached with the SPFL over data on sectarianism in Scottish football.
Long-term empty homes in Scotland up 5.5% in a year
The number of long-term empty homes has risen 5.5% in a year, new figures suggest.
Record number of school leavers moving into work, study or training
The rate of young people working, studying or training nine months after leaving school has hit its highest recorded level.
Home ownership schemes help thousands on to property ladder
More than 30,000 households have received help from the Scottish Government to assist them with buying a home since 2007, according to official figures.
Problem drug use could be down to childhood adversity, MPs told
Childhood adversity can have a major impact on a person’s ability to make healthy life choices as they grow older, MPs have been told.
Ringlink Scotland welcomes latest batch of apprenticeships
Machinery ring Ringlink Scotland has welcomed the latest batch of participants on its land-based pre-apprenticeship programme. The group of 24 youngsters, aged 16-19 from across Aberdeenshire, Angus, Fife, Perthshire, Inverness, the Highlands and Moray, gathered at Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen, yesterday beside an Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail sculpture – Oor Countryside – sponsored by Ringlink.
Fears for NHS as doctors cut back hours and consider quitting over tax bills
More than half of doctors are cutting back their hours to avoid being forced to pay “punitive” pension tax bills – with almost a quarter considering taking early retirement.
Journey is not done for us, says upbeat Howard
Sophie Howard says Scotland are ready to embrace the pressure of Wednesday’s Women’s World Cup clash with Argentina in Paris.
Philip Rodney: It’s time to abandon bus tours and tartan tat and focus on the next generation
A couple of weeks ago, I participated in the team relay event at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. To demonstrate how seriously I take my running, I did the 8.3-mile leg listening to the Archers Omnibus on noise-cancelling headphones which probably tipped the scales at roughly 25% of my body weight.
Sturgeon will ‘fully co-operate’ with Salmond misconduct allegations probe
Nicola Sturgeon has restated her pledge to “fully co-operate” with a Holyrood committee set up to probe how misconduct allegations against former first minister Alex Salmond were handled.
HIV patients contacted by health board over confidentiality breach
A formal review is being carried out at a health board after the email addresses of almost 40 people living with HIV were accidentally made public.
Drugs deaths linked to people facing considerable adversity, study finds
The majority of drugs deaths occur among people who have experienced considerable adversity in their lives, often from a young age, research has found.