Political opinion

Ian McConnell: Does the SNP face an impossible task?
This might feel at times like an impossible task for the SNP

Ian Duncan Smith in Easterhouse in 2002, taken by Martin Shields

Ian Duncan Smith in Easterhouse in 2002, taken by Martin Shields

Fraser Nelson: Why aren't we solving the 'Glasgow effect' of ingrained poverty?

Mark Smith: Read this book, and weep for what we’ve lost

Supporters of the 'Not Dead Yet' campaign, which opposes the Assisted Dying Bill, react outside the Houses of Parliament

Supporters of the 'Not Dead Yet' campaign, which opposes the Assisted Dying Bill, react outside the Houses of Parliament

How should Scottish religious groups present their opposition to assisted dying?

Supporters of For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of the vote on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in December 2022 demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

Supporters of For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of the vote on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in December 2022 demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

KEVIN MCKENNA'S DIARY

National government

1

SNP advancing the idea that a man can become pregnant embarrasses us all

The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill, passed last week, lowers the minimum term served by short-term prisoners.

The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill, passed last week, lowers the minimum term served by short-term prisoners.

3

SNP progress on Scotland’s buckling prison system is head-bangingly slow

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes speaks to the media during a visit to Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes speaks to the media during a visit to Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow

15

Guy Stenhouse: Kate Forbes says Labour lacks competence. What a cheek

Shoplifting is up 25% in a year

Shoplifting is up 25% in a year

4

Mark Smith: Shoplifting in Scotland is up by 25%. Who’s really to blame?

11

Brian Taylor: On this St Andrew’s Day, just how Scottish do you feel?

The Stone of Destiny at Perth Museum

The Stone of Destiny at Perth Museum

Lucy Casot: Despite blazing a trail, Scotland's museums face an uncertain future

Fairer, multi-year funding agreements are sorely needed

Fairer, multi-year funding agreements are sorely needed

CITIZENS ADVICE

Here's what’s needed from the Budget to support essential services like ours

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4

Neil Mackay: Farage is using Trump to stab Britain in the back as he sniffs power

31

Ian McConnell: Will this SNP government ever be able to please business?

Assisted dying is one of the biggest debates in UK politics but it's safeguards are complicated.

Assisted dying is one of the biggest debates in UK politics but it's safeguards are complicated.

1

I cared for a mentally ill relative: assisted dying is complicated

Why are senior officials in Scotland's largest council still getting golden goodbyes?

Why are senior officials in Scotland's largest council still getting golden goodbyes?

MARISSA MACWHIRTER

Glasgow City Council

6

Why are senior officials in Scotland's largest council still getting golden goodbyes?

Nigel Farage's Reform UK will be a significant player north of the Border

Nigel Farage's Reform UK will be a significant player north of the Border

13

Mark McGeoghegan: Reform UK is no flash in the pan, and here's why

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray currently has only one minister supporting him

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray currently has only one minister supporting him

Scotland Office

1

Andy Maciver: Think smart, Ian Murray: time for a bigger, bolder Scotland Office

Dr Pavan Srireddy

Dr Pavan Srireddy

Scottish Government must invest properly in mental health

There are plans to revamp the JobCentre network to establish a personalised approach

There are plans to revamp the JobCentre network to establish a personalised approach

Social Security

7

Brian Wilson: Get Scotland working, for the sake of the people as well as the economy

Anas Sarwar will have to come up with a fully thought-through response to the National Insurance controversy

Anas Sarwar will have to come up with a fully thought-through response to the National Insurance controversy

Scottish Labour

8

Rebecca McQuillan: Are you going to let SNP portray you as panto villains, Labour?

Nicola Sturgeon at the 2022 SNP conference

Nicola Sturgeon at the 2022 SNP conference

Nicola Sturgeon

41

Neil Mackay: Things are so bad the SNP should ask Sturgeon back as leader

Rosie Millard resigned from the board of Children in Need

Rosie Millard resigned from the board of Children in Need

Children in Need

2

Carlos Alba: Who'd be a whistleblower? Thank goodness some take it on

William Hague paid a classy tribute to former foe John Prescott

William Hague paid a classy tribute to former foe John Prescott

6

Calum Steele: Sad to say, but Holyrood is so small-minded compared to Westminster

Increasing numbers of female teachers feel demoralised

Increasing numbers of female teachers feel demoralised

9

Gemma Clark: It's no wonder girls and women feel unsafe in our schools

The decision was announced on Thursday (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The decision was announced on Thursday (Andrew Milligan/PA)

9

Roz Foyer: Save Grangemouth project is vital to turn tide on 50 years of failure

A Brexit celebration rally

A Brexit celebration rally

27

Ian McConnell: Time to face up to the Brexit consequences

Vladimir Putin's dog approaches Angela Merkel at a meeting in Sochi, January 2007. It was well known that the German Chancellor was frightened of dogs.

Vladimir Putin's dog approaches Angela Merkel at a meeting in Sochi, January 2007. It was well known that the German Chancellor was frightened of dogs.

7

What memoir writer Nicola Sturgeon can learn from Angela Merkel's doorstopper

'As a society we risk making death a medical treatment decided upon by a subjective and gaseous set of considerations'

'As a society we risk making death a medical treatment decided upon by a subjective and gaseous set of considerations'

17

Kevin McKenna: The elites will use assisted suicide to target the poor

Sir Bob Geldof (second left), along with other artists recording the first ever Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas

Sir Bob Geldof (second left), along with other artists recording the first ever Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas

23

Neil Mackay: Calling kids who bought the Band Aid record ‘racist’ is a disgrace

Nigel Farage and Reform will setting their sights on Scotland

Nigel Farage and Reform will setting their sights on Scotland

2026 Holyrood election

4

Martin Roche: Think Scottish politics is divisive now? Wait till Farage gets going

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay in Glasgow city centre. Picture Gordon Terris

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay in Glasgow city centre. Picture Gordon Terris

10

Mark Smith: The deep-down problem with the plan for Scotland’s Tories

Dr Ben Wilson at COP29

Dr Ben Wilson at COP29

3

Make no mistake about it, COP 29 is a failure and this must be a turning point

Scottish Labour pledge to restore winter fuel payment spells new dawn for devolution

Scottish Labour pledge to restore winter fuel payment spells new dawn for devolution

2026 Holyrood election

27

Scottish Labour pledge to restore winter fuel payment spells new dawn for devolution

Tressa Burke is chief executive of the Glasgow Disability Alliance.

Tressa Burke is chief executive of the Glasgow Disability Alliance.

2

'We can't do this on our own. The Scottish Government needs to protect our funding'

Farmers protest in London

Farmers protest in London

ROSEMARY GORING

9

Labour's 'city-folk' tax changes show they don't care about rural people

33

Mark Smith: It’s here: the ferry no one wanted

John Swinney's SNP is treading rather carefully in preparing its budget

John Swinney's SNP is treading rather carefully in preparing its budget

National government

58

Brian Taylor: Politicians? They are all at it. But here's why they have my sympathy

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21

Neil Mackay: How much for the Coronation?! Royals aren’t parasites – they’re vampires

The University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow

20

Ian McConnell: The right answer to Scotland’s free university tuition question

The Grangemouth refinery is set to close

The Grangemouth refinery is set to close

Satwat Rehman: Three lessons for Scotland’s just transition

Colin Lancaster, chief executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Colin Lancaster, chief executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

1

Colin Lancaster: ‘Legal aid helping more people – but system needs to change’

Assisted dying bills are on the agenda north and south of the Border

Assisted dying bills are on the agenda north and south of the Border

Mark McGeoghegan: MPs should vote in line with their conscience on assisted dying

Neil Gray is embroiled in a row over attending football matches

Neil Gray is embroiled in a row over attending football matches

34

Andy Maciver: Lay off Neil Gray: these witch hunting games drag us all down

20/06/15.HAMPDEN - GLASGOW.Kenny MacAskill MSP speaks at this year's Supporters Direct Scotland conference at Hampden.. (52277291)

20/06/15.HAMPDEN - GLASGOW.Kenny MacAskill MSP speaks at this year's Supporters Direct Scotland conference at Hampden.. (52277291)

Legal Aid Crisis

1

As Justice Secretary, I cut legal aid, but we need to fund it before it’s too late

It’s time to put our money where our mouth is

Ross Greer insisted this week that independence preparations must continue

Ross Greer insisted this week that independence preparations must continue

National government

4

Rebecca McQuillan: Independence splits over Holyrood budget are an embarrassment

Lee Anderson said: 'Once again the failed establishment are trying to go over the same arguments that they have already lost.'

Lee Anderson said: 'Once again the failed establishment are trying to go over the same arguments that they have already lost.'

25

Ian McConnell: Home truths infuriate in-denial Brexiters

The bogus launch of the Glen Sannox on November 21, 2017

The bogus launch of the Glen Sannox on November 21, 2017

33

Brian Wilson: Holyrood parties must unite against the SNP's disastrous ferries regime

John Swinney has been involved in a political tangle over Donald Trump

John Swinney has been involved in a political tangle over Donald Trump

36

Neil Mackay: John Swinney has made a total ass of himself over Donald Trump

Stuart Callison

Stuart Callison

Defibrillators and AEDs

Labour missed a chance to save lives – but it's not too late

Jeremy Clarkson speaks with the media in central London ahead of the farmers protest over the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules in the recent budget. PA Photo

Jeremy Clarkson speaks with the media in central London ahead of the farmers protest over the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules in the recent budget. PA Photo

8

Alison Rowat: It's not just Jeremy Clarkson being driven to despair by Labour

Elon Musk with Donald Trump

Elon Musk with Donald Trump

9

Carlos Alba: X marks the turning point: we must regulate social media

Stephen Flynn has created a storm within the SNP by announcing he intends to stand for Westminster

Stephen Flynn has created a storm within the SNP by announcing he intends to stand for Westminster

32

Kevin McKenna: Flynn is the SNP's last chance. Let the bloodletting begin

Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer

8

Kirsty Hughes: As the world changes, impotent Starmer is stranded on the sidelines