Politics

Douglas Alexanderplaceholder image

Alexander criticises SNP's 'incoherent' stance after Jackdaw decision

The Scottish Secretary said he was ‘saddened but unsurprised’

The Jackdaw gas project has been approved by the UK governmentplaceholder image

Explainer Jackdaw: what does it mean for business, you and energy prices

Andy Burnham and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbullehplaceholder image

Analysis Jackdaw approval cannot be distraction from crisis facing North Sea

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Jackdaw field approved to 'begin gas supply this winter'

The Port of Aberdeen was transformed by the oil and gas industry. Now the potential to service floating offshore windfarms represents a substantial opportunity but only if the UK government makes the right choicesplaceholder image

How UK energy plan could put thousands of North Sea jobs at risk Bob Sanguinetti

Nearly half of the deaths from Covid in Scotland happened in care homes. Picture: Hugh Hastingsplaceholder image

Covid Inquiry's 'painful' finding about care homes should shock us all Scotsman comment

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is arguably the individual most responsible for Brexit, but that's not the worst thing he has done, says Ian Johnston. Picture: Carl Courtplaceholder image

How Farage is doubling-down on one of the worst things he's ever done Ian Johnston

Andy Burnham speaks to a student during a visit to New College Lanarkshire's Motherwell Campus ahead of a speech focusing on the forming of closer ties with the Scottish government. Picture: Jeff J Mitchellplaceholder image

Why SNP needs to stop hoarding power and give it to the people Jackie Baillie

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told ministers the UK needed to 'live within our means' during a pre-Budget speech at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London. Picture: Alishia Abodundeplaceholder image

Kemi Badenoch reminds Gen Z what politics is supposed to be about Scotsman comment

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.

The Jackdaw gas field has been given the go aheadplaceholder image

Jackdaw gas field set to be approved by UK Labour government

The North Sea project, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, could be connected to the UK network within months.

David Bol

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BBC Scotland channel closure will 'leave viewers behind'

Nicola Sturgeon was first minister when untested patients were moved from hospitals to care homes at the outset of the Covid pandemicplaceholder image

'Deadly' care homes decision by SNP under fire in Covid inquiry report

Kemi Badenoch gave a speech in central London on Tuesdayplaceholder image

Analysis Badenoch presents Tories as tax-cutting alternative ahead of UK Budget

First Minister John Swinney has welcomed Amanda Bland quitting Reform UK to stand as an independent MSPplaceholder image

John Swinney welcomes Amanda Bland resignation 'diminishing' Reform

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Governments urged to 'come together' and back GSA restoration

Politics

Inventor Sir James Dyson, founder of Dyson, takes to the stage in Paris last month to unveil the new Dyson CameraJet toothbrush. Picture: Doug Peters Media Assignments

Scotland must not get left behind as new education revolution looms

Inventor James Dyson warns the UK is not producing enough engineers and needs more ‘New Model Instit...

Minister under pressure after failing to commit to new drilling

The Scottish government will likely not formalise a new position on oil and gas for at least another...

John Swinney in the driver's seat of a First Bus at a trade stand at the SNP party conference in Aberdeen. Picture: Paul Reid

SNP's vision of Scotland is based on bad history as new book reveals

Scotland: A Unionist History by Professor Alan Sked demonstrates how Scotland has done well out of its British adventure

Why closure of BBC Scotland channel was sad but inevitableStephen Jardine
Analysis Reform was always expected to lose an MSP - but not so quickly

Reform UK will now be looking over their shoulders at the Greens, who are just one seat behind them.

Reform loses first MSP and drops into third place at Holyrood

Amanda Bland has quit Nigel Farage’s party and is now listed as an independent on the Scottish Parli...

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

Suffragette leader Sylvia Pankhurst, seen in 1921 shortly after she had been released from prison, is toasted at a celebration breakfast in East London. Picture: Topical Press Agencyplaceholder image

A century on, why Pankhurst's fight for women's rights is not over Christine Jardine

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Exclusive Andy Burnham urged to open 'bigger pipeline' of oil and gas projects

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruthplaceholder image

SNP: English pupils did better in Pisa 'due to shallow rote learning'

Westfield Court was built as Edinburgh's first municipal housing block in 1952 placeholder image

Owners of troubled flats fear they will be left in limbo for years

Russian President Vladimir Putinplaceholder image

Threat posed by Russia 'a double-edged sword for Scotland'

John Swinney during the final day of the Scottish National Party (SNP) annual conference in Aberdeenplaceholder image

McGill's defends comparing John Swinney to dictator over bus plan

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and First Minister John Swinney.placeholder image

Can governments really work together? Rachel Amery

All smiles as Donald Trump greets Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, ahead of a meeting last year. Picture: Andrew Harnikplaceholder image

Europe must try to make Trump's favours for Putin a US election issue Scotsman comment

Maree Todd MSP applauds First Minister and party leader John Swinney after he delivered his keynote speech at the Scottish National Party (SNP) annual conference in Aberdeenplaceholder image

Analysis Swinney's Choose Scotland campaign shows indy push is treading water

John Swinney delivers his keynote speech at the Scottish National Party (SNP) annual conferenceplaceholder image

Swinney vow to bring buses under public control condemned as 'theft'

John Swinneyplaceholder image

SNP conference diary: Booze, buses and mind-blowing revelations

Green Party MSP, Q Manivannan is sworn in during the first meeting of the new Scottish Parliament on May 14, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)placeholder image

Q Manivannan loses bid to become rector of St Andrews University

Buildings deluged in sludge in Devighat in Nepal's Nuwakot district after flash floods hit the area in August. More than 1,400 bodies have been found and thousands more are still missing. Picture: Prabin Ranabhatplaceholder image

How we can beat climate change despite rogue states blocking progress Professor Frank Biermann

Andy Burnham delivers a speech focusing on forming closer ties with the Scottish government at New College Lanarkshire's Motherwell Campus. Picture: Jeff J Mitchellplaceholder image

SNP must start taking Burnham's offers to work together more seriously

Scotland needs politicians to act like grown-ups, not squabbling children, and put the country’s interests first

Scotsman comment

From left is Mark Ruskell MSP, co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer, Lorna Slater MSP, Ariane Burgess MSP and Laura Moodie MSP.placeholder image

Exclusive Greens confident of winning control of Edinburgh and Glasgow councils

The mission statement of state-owned ScotRail sounds like it was written by someone who has never been on a train. Picture: Jeff J Mitchellplaceholder image

43mph? How slow train to Waverley revealed ScotRail’s lack of ambition Stephen Jardine

From left, students Veronica Jafali, Comfort Galimoto and Elida Chithumba outside the Great Hall of the University of Malawi, known as Unima.placeholder image

The Catch-22 that keeps the world's poorest countries mired in poverty Susan Dalgety

The European Court of Human Rights is not perfect but the principles enshrined in the Convention's articles are as strong and relevant now as they were when drafted after the Second World War. Picture: Frederick Florinplaceholder image

How European Court of Human Rights defends free speech in Scotland John McLellan

As the SNP campaign for a second independence referendum, Brian Wilson suggests a vote on greater devolution of powers from Edinburgh to the regions would be a foregone conclusion. Picture: Matt Cardyplaceholder image

A referendum 95% of Scots would vote 'yes' in, and the SNP would hate Brian Wilson

Party bosses probably regretted asking members about their hopes for an independent Scotlandplaceholder image

SNP conference diary: Facists [sic], whiskey [sic] and art attacks

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‘Stars are aligning’ for Scottish independence, Swinney to claim

Scotland’s hospitals are poised for more pressure over the winter monthsplaceholder image

Angela Constance calls for NHS medics to 'step up' this winter

Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell placeholder image

Exclusive Police Scotland told to produce timeline for re-vetting 8,000 officers

Andy Burnham giving a speech in Motherwell on Fridayplaceholder image

Analysis Andy Burnham robs SNP of ammunition by being constructive

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SNP 'put to bed' presumption against oil after energy tax split

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander during a visit to to a college in Motherwellplaceholder image

Burnham offers Scotland more powers in bid for deeper devolution

First Minister and party leader John Swinney speaks to the media at the SNP annual conferenceplaceholder image

SNP councillors revolt over local government reform plans

The author of an article launching the SNP's Choose Scotland campaign should take the title of the worst poet in the English language from William McGonagall, who was played by the late, great Spike Milligan in a 1975 comedy. Picture: Ronald Dumont/Express/Hulton Archiveplaceholder image

SNP's unintentionally funny new campaign actually debunks nationalism William Deans

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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