Politics

Health Secretary Angela Constance.placeholder image

Constance: Scotland will be better served with two mainland NHS boards

The Scottish Government is planning to cut the number of NHS boards on the mainland to just two.

GMB Scotland Secretary Rhea Wolfsonplaceholder image

UK gas network could end up at risk due to jobs 'uncertainty'

The Scottish governmentplaceholder image

Trust in SNP 'plummeting' as fewer than half of Scots have faith

The three favourites to become the next President of the United States of America.placeholder image

Next American President Latest Odds:The 10 leading candidates

Justice Secretary Neil Grayplaceholder image

'Gross discourtesy': Gray refuses to apologise over Polmont riot row

Donald Trump points to a stack of his trademark red baseball caps bearing the slogan, 'Trump was right about everything!' at a pre-election rally in Texas. Many voters appear to disagree. Picture: Kent Nishimuraplaceholder image

The encouraging reasons why America finally turned on Donald Trump Henry McLeish

Offshore energy assets should be classified as critical national infrastructure by the UK government, the Tories have arguedplaceholder image

UK urged to give Scotland's offshore assets 'critical status'

It's the way he tells them? Donald Trump's style of humour is being turned against him. Picture: Kent Nishimuraplaceholder image

Five new reasons to laugh at Trump (and why that matters in Scotland) Ian Johnston

US President Donald Trump has been dealt a major blowplaceholder image

Democrats win US Congress control over Trump's Republicans

Politics

Latest politics news and opinion from expert Scotsman journalists and contributors. The latest from Holyrood, Westminster and a global outlook from a Scottish perspective.

A painting by William John Huggins depicting the capture of the Spanish slave vessel Dolores by HM brig Ferret in 1816. Picture: Print Collectorplaceholder image

Slavery reparations? Why UK has paid its dues in blood and treasure

The reparations debate risks diverting attention from modern slavery and ignores the Royal Navy’s historic efforts to free enslaved people

Murdo Fraser

Scotland's high courts are expecting an increased demand of casesplaceholder image

Exclusive SNP under pressure to boost funding for courts service amid case waits

Chancellor John Healey holds out the famous red Budget Box in Downing Street, ahead of revealing its contents to the Commons. Picture: Henry Nichollsplaceholder image

SNP's reaction to Budget just exposed how foolish they really are Jackie Baillie

Hospital emergency departments should be nowhere near the point of 'collapse'. Picture: Jeff J Mitchellplaceholder image

Why SNP should be terrified by NHS's latest 'normalised horror story' Scotsman comment

The Scottish Government’s public sector reform plans ‘will not alleviate delayed discharge’, social workers have saidplaceholder image

Social work: 'Public service reform will not ease delayed discharge'

Whitelees windfarm near Eaglesham, East Renfrewshireplaceholder image

SNP putting 'thousands of jobs at risk' with onshore wind uncertainty

Politics

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord, left, and deputy Thomas Kerr.

Reform UK to force MSPs to vote on burqa ban in Scotland

Reform UK says a previous debate they led on the issue was ended “prematurely”.

Emergency departments at risk of collapse, SNP ministers warned

Critics said huge waits have become ‘a normalised horror story in our NHS’

It is being reported that a new food deal with the EU has been signed.

New EU deal to remove Brexit red tape on food exports

The draft deal would be the most significant part of the UK’s Brexit reset so far.

Readers' Letters: Scottish and UK governments should grow up and work together

Scotsman Letters

SNP’s climate targets thrown into doubt over 'fairy tale’ technology

The SNP government’s strategy is heavily-reliant on carbon capture technology - with Scotland’s flag...

Scottish jobs and investment 'in jeopardy' over UK renewables pivot

A pivot from the UK government could spell trouble for Scotland’s floating wind industry

Scottish Independence

Prime Minister Andy Burnham (left) has spoke with John Swinney over the phone.placeholder image

‘Agree to disagree’, Andy Burnham tells John Swinney on independence

John Swinney has claimed the SNP could cut energy bills by one third with Scottish independenceplaceholder image

John Swinney to launch SNP's election campaign with independence push

Scottish independence supporters march through Glasgow.placeholder image

Reeves accused of 'astonishing arrogance' over indyref2 call

Jeremy Corbyn MPplaceholder image

Your Party could back Scottish independence, says Jeremy Corbyn

Scottish independence supporters on the marchplaceholder image

Exclusive Angus Robertson: Everyone asks about independence when I'm overseas

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Swinney's independence plan branded 'not sensible' by expert

Pro-independence protesters hold up Scottish National Party (SNP) emblems as they join a march organised by the grassroots organistaion All Under One Bannerplaceholder image

John Swinney hints at independence referendum 'precedent' legal bid

More Scotsman politics

Illegal e-bikes seized in Edinburgh last monthplaceholder image

Police call for more powers to tackle e-bikes after 1,000 seized

Examples of the of robot warships:The MAST-13 (now known as Madfox) Autonomous Surface Vehicle, leaving the loading dock of HMS Albion. placeholder image

Ferguson Marine looking into building 'autonomous' robot warships

Tax on Scotch whisky is set to increaseplaceholder image

Exclusive Scottish Labour MPs under pressure to block UK Budget whisky tax hike

Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey aren't saying, but the signals about an early election were clear to see in last week's Budget. Picture: Ian Vogler/poolplaceholder image

Another general election! Labour looks set to go to the polls early Brian Monteith

Oil industry expertise at the St Fergus gas plant and elsewhere in the North East makes it a good place to refine carbon capture and storage technology. Picture: Andy Buchananplaceholder image

Scientists and oil industry agree: carbon capture is no 'fairytale' Scotsman comment

Sandie Peggieplaceholder image

Sandie Peggie loses legal fight against nursing union

Andy Burnham, left, and Shabana Mahmoodplaceholder image

Analysis Immigration retreat shows Burnham less keen on MP fight than Starmer

First Minister John Swinney met filmmaker Karan Johar to discuss Scotland’s potential as a creative partner and filming locations for future Indian film and television productionsplaceholder image

Exclusive John Swinney: Foreign trip critics 'don't understand selling Scotland'

Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishmanplaceholder image

Exclusive Scots Labour MP warns Andy Burnham against rejoining 'imperialist' EU

Chancellor John Healey poses for photographs as he leaves 11 Downing Street, London, before delivering his first Budget. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/Press Associationplaceholder image

The economic tanker is going to take time to turn around Christine Jardine

Blair McDougall, left, at Rolls Royce on Fridayplaceholder image

Exclusive Removal of chemicals from site holding back Grangemouth investment

First Minister John Swinneyplaceholder image

Exclusive Swinney's 'spineless refusal' to back Rosebank despite Adura meetings

The planned Acorn carbon capture site.placeholder image

Exclusive Use £5bn oil and gas revenue to fund Acorn carbon capture, says SNP

Nicola Sturgeon (PA)placeholder image

Nicola Sturgeon 'wants Andy Burnham to do well as Prime Minister'

The former first minister also said she thinks the Prime Minister cannot avoid a snap general election - even though he ruled one out just days ago

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth will give the Scottish Budget in December (Robert Perry/PA)placeholder image

Scottish Government urged to copy UK Budget business rate relief

Workers watch in the Dock in Rosyth as HMS Venturer rolls out the buildyard. HMS Venturer ventures forth as the First Type 31 frigate makes its debutplaceholder image

Babcock trying to 'contain' delays to warships being built in Rosyth

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, right, is accompanied by Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander during a visit to New College Lanarkshire's Motherwell Campus ahead of a speech focusing on the forming of closer ties with the Scottish governmentplaceholder image

Douglas Alexander: The next step for devolution is into our regions Douglas Alexander

Chancellor John Healey and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting at BAE's operations on the Clyde at Scotstoun, Glasgowplaceholder image

Swinney under fire by UK Defence Secretary for 'irresponsible' remarks

Chancellor John Healey leaves no11 Downing Street, London before delivering his first Budget. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/Press Associationplaceholder image

Kicking cans down the road is an improvement on scoring own goals Brian Wilson

The Acorn project will be based at Shell's St Fergus gas terminal near Peterheadplaceholder image

Only £12m of promised £200m funding will be given to Acorn project

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and First Minister John Swinney shake hands ahead of a bilateral meeting at the National Economic Council in Glasgowplaceholder image

Burnham: I don't want to see Scotland left out of my devolution plans

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and wife Marie France Van Heel celebrate in the stands at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadiumplaceholder image

Andy Burnham says his son is trying to get him to support Hibs

SNP ministers have designed a more generous benefits system than the rest of the UKplaceholder image

Explainer Scotland's benefits bill: why is it soaring and who is claiming money

Andy Burnham on his last visit to Scotland (Jeff J Mitchell/PA)placeholder image

Exclusive There's no limit to what John Swinney and I can achieve together Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham and John Swinneyplaceholder image

Burnham tells Swinney 'put politics aside' to give regions more powers

Russell Findlayplaceholder image

John Swinney repeatedly challenged on whether he supports Rosebank

The Acorn project will be based at Shell's St Fergus gas terminal near Peterheadplaceholder image

'Spectacular shambles' as carbon capture funding descends into chaos

Sir Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburghplaceholder image

Edinburgh Uni boss defends 'difficult' decisions amid staff strike

Union and European Union flags. PIC: PAplaceholder image

UK 'more at risk' after rejecting EU demand to join defence fund

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Even ardent Remainers know the SNP's Brexit stance makes no sense Murdo Fraser

First Minister Humza Yousaf will rally against Brexit during an address in London.placeholder image

Humza Yousaf accuses Labour and Tories of being in denial over Brexit

Dare to be Honest
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