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First Minister John Swinney after delivering his keynote speech at the SNP conference

2026 Holyrood election

John Swinney says the campaign for Scottish independence has already begun

John Swinney used his SNP conference speech in Aberdeen to declare that the campaign for a second independence referendum has already begun.

Swinney vows to bring Scotland’s bus network back into public control by 2031

Scottish Greens co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer

Scottish Greens co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer

Scottish Greens co-leader says 'realisation' of Zionism is racist

Rangers manager Derek McInnes at Dens Park tonight

Rangers manager Derek McInnes at Dens Park tonight

Dundee 2, Rangers 2: Derek McInnes's men blow chance to go top of the Premiership

Scottish independence

John Swinney says stars are aligning but support for independence remains stuck

Angela Constance

NHS staff anger over bombshell plan to reshape orthopaedic surgery across Scotland

Professor Anna Glasier, Scotland’s Women’s Health Champion, has questioned the need for an SNP-backed gynaecology workforce incentive scheme.

Professor Anna Glasier, Scotland’s Women’s Health Champion, has questioned the need for an SNP-backed gynaecology workforce incentive scheme.

Women’s health champion rubbishes SNP plan to tackle gynaecology crisis

Teachers are facing rising levels of violence.

Teachers are facing rising levels of violence.

Secondary school

Attacks on Edinburgh secondary school teachers more than double in four years

Police officers on Old Drymen Road, near to the scene where a 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man have been killed during a light aircraft crash

Police officers on Old Drymen Road, near to the scene where a 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man have been killed during a light aircraft crash

Teenager and pensioner killed after aircraft crashes near Drymen

General view of Rothesay and Isle of Bute

General view of Rothesay and Isle of Bute

Body found on Scottish island with police treating man's death as unexplained

St Andrews University

St Andrews University

St Andrews University

Q Manivannan and US Office star beaten to University of St Andrews rectorship

The Mandela statue in Glasgow

The Mandela statue in Glasgow

The Mandela statue: isn’t there a better way of doing this?

Ambassador Kate Wyler and her boss, US President Grace Penn (Keri Russell and Allison Janney)

Ambassador Kate Wyler and her boss, US President Grace Penn (Keri Russell and Allison Janney)

Ambassador, with this high farce you're really spoiling us

Kristijonas Demcenko was last seen at around 2.30pm on Monday, October 12, in the Milngavie area.

Kristijonas Demcenko was last seen at around 2.30pm on Monday, October 12, in the Milngavie area.

Police Scotland

Body found in hunt for teenager who went missing from Milngavie

Call for action as Scottish housing developer in administration

Call for action as Scottish housing developer in administration

Call for action as Scottish housing developer placed into administration

A footbridge over the River Tilt, looking along Glen Tilt in Perthshire

A footbridge over the River Tilt, looking along Glen Tilt in Perthshire

Five magical autumn walks around Scotland easily reached by train

Music pioneer who became Scotland’s first northern soul DJ dies

Bill McLaren was the voice of rugby for decades

Bill McLaren was the voice of rugby for decades

Scotland Rugby National Team

Bill McLaren was the voice of rugby. Behind the microphone was a very different man

Celentano's has a new home. Has any of its magic been lost in transit?

Celentano's has a new home. Has any of its magic been lost in transit?

Sarah Campbell Review

I review restaurants for a living - this the first time I've ever given one 10/10

News

Police Scotland

Police Scotland told to produce vetting timeline after latest convictions

Uig’s Kiro Brendon, aged 10, was awarded 1st place in the Novis 2/4 March competition at the Junior Piping, winning the Roderick Ross, Ferintosh, Memorial Trophy

Uig’s Kiro Brendon, aged 10, was awarded 1st place in the Novis 2/4 March competition at the Junior Piping, winning the Roderick Ross, Ferintosh, Memorial Trophy

Royal National Mòd in pictures as it closes with hundreds of choristers in Glasgow

The Indian Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has ambitious growth targets for the country

The Indian Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has ambitious growth targets for the country

PERSONAL FINANCE

Why India is the growth story investors cannot afford to ignore

Robin Winstanley of OnPath Energy, which is backing calls for councils to retain the business rates generated by new onshore wind farms

Robin Winstanley of OnPath Energy, which is backing calls for councils to retain the business rates generated by new onshore wind farms

The £78m windfall that could stay in Scotland’s wind farm communities

John Swinney at the British Heart Foundation Scotland stand at SNP conference

John Swinney at the British Heart Foundation Scotland stand at SNP conference

Swinney says the 'stars are aligning' for independence but polls show Scots split

Police and fire crews attend incident at industrial estate amid 'avoid area' warning

Portmore Estate, Peebles, EH45 8QU

Portmore Estate, Peebles, EH45 8QU

Scottish estate with 3,460 acres and A-listed mansion goes on sale for £15m

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia fired after just five days in the job

Humza Yousaf and his wife councillor Nadia El-Nakla

Humza Yousaf and his wife councillor Nadia El-Nakla

Humza Yousaf challenges questions over Israel and Palestine's right to exist

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Columnists

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Bill McLaren was the voice of rugby. Behind the microphone was a very different man

Ambassador, with this high farce you're really spoiling us

I saw Drumcree burn in 1999. What’s happening in Portadown now worries me as much

Stephen McGowan

Trevor Steven: A spy grandfather, Rangers glory and life after football

Marissa MacWhirter

I love Glasgow but I’m sick of waiting for it to get better and I'm sick of that cone

Burnham offers Swinney consensus – but this could be a power struggle

The last bond between people and politics has just been broken at Holyrood

Sport

Steven Pressley

Steven Pressley ‘couldn’t be prouder’ as Dundee halt Rangers' winning run

Pressley declared he “couldn’t be prouder” of his Dundee players after they battled to a 2-2 draw with Rangers at Dens Park.

Derek McInnes rues Rangers ‘gift’ after Dundee draw

Rangers youngster Kyle Glasgow, main picture, and Scotland Under-16 coach Rhys McCabe, inset

Rangers youngster Kyle Glasgow, main picture, and Scotland Under-16 coach Rhys McCabe, inset

Rhys McCabe hoping Rangers kid's promotion is the first of many as SFA look to future

Bold Kyle Glasgow acceleration plan earns acclaim from ex Rangers academy chief

Celtic's Callum Osmand.

Celtic's Callum Osmand.

The returning Celtic player who offered fresh hope in new position vs Benfica

Read more articles

Opinion

Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken

Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken

MATTHEW LINDSAY

Heart of Midlothian FC

Wouter Vrancken has shown he is no 'fraud' - but can he make Hearts title contenders?

The Mandela statue in Glasgow

The Mandela statue in Glasgow

The Mandela statue: isn’t there a better way of doing this?

Could Leith secede from Edinburgh?

Could Leith secede from Edinburgh?

City of Edinburgh Council

The SNP could have a referendum problem it never saw coming

Read more articles

Business

Call for action as Scottish housing developer in administration

Call for action as Scottish housing developer in administration

Call for action as Scottish housing developer placed into administration

Robin Winstanley of OnPath Energy, which is backing calls for councils to retain the business rates generated by new onshore wind farms

Robin Winstanley of OnPath Energy, which is backing calls for councils to retain the business rates generated by new onshore wind farms

The £78m windfall that could stay in Scotland’s wind farm communities

Ithaca operates the Captain field in the North Sea

Ithaca operates the Captain field in the North Sea

Ithaca chief steps down as Rosebank decision looms

Scottish car sales company increases turnover to £13.4m after ‘purple patch’

Scottish car sales company increases turnover to £13.4m after ‘purple patch’

Business Briefing 📈

Scottish car sales company increases turnover to £13.4m amid ‘purple patch’

Swoop says Scotland is central to its UK expansion plans as the golf technology company develops systems designed to connect golfers with clubs through on-course ordering, messaging and hospitality services

Swoop says Scotland is central to its UK expansion plans as the golf technology company develops systems designed to connect golfers with clubs through on-course ordering, messaging and hospitality services

Around the Greens

Bacon rolls by drone? The US golf start-up targeting Scotland's fairways

The Herald Business Live Blog.

The Herald Business Live Blog.

Live Business News

Herald Business LIVE: Today's top stories - October 16

The mounting pressures that are closing Scottish car sales forecourts – from inside the industry

The mounting pressures that are closing Scottish car sales forecourts – from inside the industry

The mounting pressures pushing Scotland's car sales forecourts to collapse

Events