Archive
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Open Minds on Independence #3: How can Scotland be in debt if it can't borrow?
IT'S clear from the evidence presented in our last Open Minds article that Scotland has everything it takes to be an extremely prosperous and successful independent nation. Which prompts the question; how did an oil-rich nation with a strong, resilient
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Tories must take some blame over care homes deaths during pandemic
THE Holyrood opposition parties blaming the SNP exclusively for the deaths in care homes is absolutely pathetic. I’m not saying the Government didn’t make mistakes, but to me having worked in social work the penny-pinching, privately owned homes are
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Here are the two key deficiencies with the SNP’s indy route map
MR Pete Wishart MP may believe the SNP’s new route map to independence is the only way forward (Holyrood election is not a de facto vote on indyref2, February 17) but sadly the more predictable outcome is that no-one in Westminster will be quaking
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Boris Johnson's Union Unit chief quits after just two weeks in the job
THE chief of Downing Street’s beleaguered Union Unit has quit after just two weeks in the job. Oliver “Sonic” Lewis unexpectedly left the post on Friday, with reports saying he felt his position was being made “untenable” by others in No 10.
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New Zealand follows in Scotland's footsteps in battle against period poverty
NEW Zealand has announced that it will be making sanitary products free to all school pupils, following in the wake of Scotland’s law change late last year. The nation’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said the measure would help address poverty
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CONFIRMED: Alex Salmond to appear before Holyrood harassment inquiry next week
ALEX Salmond is set to appear before MSPs at the Holyrood harassment inquiry on Wednesday. According to reports, the former first minister has accepted the committee’s invitation after the Scottish Parliamentary corporate body (SPCB) said that
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UK's punitive benefits culture proves the need for an independent Scotland
NEWS that the UK operates a punitive benefits system in which you're 23 times more likely to be prosecuted for benefit fraud than tax fraud will surprise nobody at all. The UK - before and after its austerity era - was well known as a country
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Judge grants motion to speed up Section 30 court action appeal
A JUDGE at the Inner House of the Court of Session has granted a motion to speed up the appeal process in Martin Keatings’ court action on whether the Scottish Government can hold indyref2 without Westminster’s consent. The case was initially dismissed
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Davidson and Baillie were really scraping the barrel at this week's FMQs
RUTH Davidson and Jackie Baillie reached new depths while scraping the bottom of their barrels on Wednesday while attacking the Scottish Government over the findings in the Auditor General’s report in respect of the pandemic. How many governments
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Outlander stars make case for independence to US audience in LA Times interview
SCOTTISH actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish told an American audience why they believe in independence during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper, which is the US’s biggest metropolitan daily newspaper boasting a readership
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FACT CHECK: Claim Nicola Sturgeon has ordered Union flag be 'replaced' with EU's
CLAIM “Sturgeon replaces Union Jack … it is to be replaced – of course – by the EU flag” – Guido Fawkes blog, 18 February 2021 DOORSTEP ANSWER Guido is primarily an entertainment site. The Scottish Government has not changed existing flag
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No new students admitted to dentistry courses in Scotland this year
NEW students will not be admitted to Scottish dental schools in 2021. Universities Scotland said the decision had been made after final year students were unable to graduate due to a lack of practical clinical experience during the Covid-19 pandemic
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Catalan students protest at detention of rapper
HUNDREDS of students have gathered in Barcelona and other Catalan cities after a third night of protests against the jailing of rapper Pablo Hasel for insulting the monarchy and allegedly glorifying terrorism. The students, affiliated to a left-wing
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UK Government broke law by failing to disclose PPE contracts, High Court rules
THE UK Government unlawfully failed to publish details of billions of pounds’ worth of coronavirus-related contracts, the High Court has ruled. The Good Law Project took legal action against the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) for its
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Scotland's Covid infection rate estimated to be lowest in UK
SCOTLAND'S rate of coronavirus infection is estimated to be the lowest in the UK, according to the latest figures. New estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate around one in 180 people in private households in Scotland had
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Police Scotland reject 'miscarriage of justice' claims over Jodi Jones murder
POLICE Scotland say they are "satisfied" they caught the right man in connection with the 2003 muder of Jodi Jones. The force’s defence comes ahead of a new documentary on the killing of the Dalkeith teen, which suggests Luke Mitchell might be
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Man charged over alleged threats to MPs including Ian Blackford and Jo Swinson
A MAN has been charged with allegedly sending threatening emails to MPs, including calling former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn a “terrorist” and warning others they faced being assassinated. Court documents show Paul Ritchie, 34, has been charged
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Shock as presenter reveals this common word is only used in Scotland
ONLY last year Twitter users were shocked "outwith" was a word only used in Scotland and now the same has happened again. TV presenter Martel Maxwell has expressed her shock at her English colleague not recognising the word "squint". She
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Covid in Scotland: 885 cases amid new signs lockdown is having 'desired effect'
A FURTHER 31 coronavirus deaths were registered in Scotland over the last 24 hours, the deputy first minister has confirmed. Speaking at today’s Scottish Government Covid-19 briefing John Swinney said the total number of deaths recorded under the
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To achieve independence we should all be prepared to engage in open debate
IT was interesting to read the literary gymnastics performed by Kevin McKenna in his column on Wednesday by way of justification for previous slanted comments regarding the SNP and the performance of the First Minister and the Scottish Government (
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One size does not fit all when it comes to quarantine policy
I HAVE been a member of the SNP for more than a decade and I am naturally disposed to favour the Scottish Government’s handling of the Covid pandemic. I’ve been keenly aware, like most people, of the powers that Scotland hasn’t had to deal with the
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Asymptomatic Covid-19 testing to be rolled out in Glasgow – here's where
ASYMPTOMATIC testing will be rolled out at pop-up sites in Scotland’s biggest city to identify more cases of Covid-19. The programme, funded by the Scottish Government, will offer testing to people in Glasgow without Covid-19 symptoms in a bid
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Holyrood election result could take days as overnight counting is ruled out
FULL results from the upcoming Scottish Parliament election may take days to be announced after a decision was made not to count votes overnight. The counting of ballots usually begins when polls close at 10pm, with this year’s vote set to take
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Supreme Court says Uber drivers should be classed as workers in 'historic' ruling
THE Supreme Court has ruled against Uber and said that drivers should be classed as workers. Seven justices ruled on the latest round of a long-running fight between Uber operating companies and drivers today, following a hearing in July. Uber
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Huge difference between tax and benefit fraud prosecution in the UK revealed
TAX crimes cost the UK economy nine times more than benefit fraud – but residents are 23 times more likely to be prosecuted for the latter. Stunning new figures from the TaxWatch think tank revealed that between 2009 and 2019, 23 benefit claimants
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Police discover barber still operating his business despite Covid-19 regulations
A BARBER has been fined after he was discovered still operating his business in breach of Covid regulations. Officers on patrol at around 4.50pm on Tuesday noticed a man exiting Johnstone Turkish Barbers in the town's High Street, which had its
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Government borrowing rises by £8.8bn as UK's debt soars to record high
GOVERNMENT borrowing jumped to £8.8 billion last month as the country’s debt soared to another record high, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was the first January deficit in a decade and highest borrowing
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Celebrity backing and success of Outlander could help save village pub
A FIFE village is banking on the global pulling power of Outlander and celebrity endorsements in a "last stand" to save the village pub. The ancient royal burgh of Culross was used as a set for the hit TV series and it's hoped that fans – and the
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Andrew Neil's GB News announces signings to political reporting team
THE 24-hour TV news channel launched by political broadcaster Andrew Neil has announced signings to its political reporting team. Journalist Darren McCaffrey has been appointed political editor and presenter at GB News. READ MORE: GB News'
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Billy Connolly's wife reveals he has received second dose of Covid vaccine
SIR Billy Connolly has received his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The Scottish comedian’s wife Pamela Stephenson said he joked “Wee jab – nae bother” after being given the jag at their local supermarket. She posted an image on social
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Warning for UK's news industry following tech giant ban in Australia
NEWS accessed by Facebook’s UK users could be hit by similar bans seen in Australia if current relations between big tech and publishers turn sour in the future, a social media expert has warned. The tech giant has pulled news content from its
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MSPs vote to note findings of Citizens' Assembly report on future of Scotland
MSPS have voted to note the findings of a report by the Citizens Assembly of Scotland. The group, which was broadly representative of the country at large, was set up to devise a vision for the country, eventually producing 60 recommendations.
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Women more likely than men to follow Covid rules, research shows
MOST Scots are following the Scottish Government’s FACTS guidance on precautions to limit the spread of Covid-19, according to scientists, although women are better than men and young people at observing them. The findings came from a team at Aberdeen
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People’s Action on Section 30 returns to court in bid to speed up legal process
THE People’s Action on Section 30 is back in court today as Martin Keatings and his legal team bid to speed up the legal process to ensure a decision is reached before the Holyrood election. Lord Malcolm will hear the “motion for urgent disposal
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Nicola Sturgeon insists it is 'too soon' to begin easing Covid lockdown
IT’S too soon to start easing out of the lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon has warned. The First Minister was speaking after one of her scientific advisers said the success of Scotland’s vaccination programme should prompt an “earlier unlocking”. By
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Scotland set to forge closer ties with Nordic nations before indyref2
SCOTLAND is “committed to exploring closer links” with Nordic countries post-Brexit through a body set up to advance the region’s common interests, The National has been told. The development comes days after a former Danish government minister
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MP Kenny MacAskill wants the SNP ‘separated’ from Yes movement
ONE of the SNP’s MPs has called for the Yes cause to be “separated” from his party. Kenny MacAskill said there needed to be a “wider grouping” to lead the campaign for independence. Writing in The Scotsman, the East Lothian politician said there
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How a Unionist parliamentary petition scored massive own goal by hitting target
THEY must have thought they were very clever when they started an anti-independence petition – but now the Yoons have gone and shot themselves through both feet with every barrel of a Gatling gun on amphetamines. For yesterday around noon,
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Crown and police face further £7m payout in Rangers wrongful prosecution case
THE Crown Office and Police Scotland are facing another £7 million payout in the case of the Rangers FC administrators who were wrongfully prosecuted. Two days after judge Lord Tyre ruled that there was “no probable cause” for the fraud prosecution
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Six-day hearing to be held as Glasgow Council sues over bin lorry crash
A SIX-DAY hearing has been set for a civil case in relation to the Glasgow bin lorry crash. Glasgow City Council is suing First Bus, the former employers of the bin lorry driver Harry Clarke, over the job reference the firm provided. Clarke collapsed
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Student pair to reach for stars after winning placement with Scots space firm
TWO students will be reaching for the stars after beating more than 100 other applicants from all over Europe to land places on one of Scotland’s most prized university placement programmes. Bethany Taylor and David King beat off the competition
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Catalan MEPs furious after leaked report suggests they may lose immunity
THREE Catalan MEPs could lose their parliamentary immunity from prosecution according to a report leaked to a right-wing Spanish newspaper. Former president Carles Puigdemont and two of his ex-ministers, Clara Ponsati and Toni Comin, who are also
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SNP MSP calls for Government to take ‘real action’ on dog attacks
AN SNP backbencher has challenged the Scottish Government to take “real action” to tackle the number of dog attacks. Colin Beattie pressed Community Safety Minister Ash Denham on the issue after the number of cases where people attend A&E after
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Mountain biker announced as sixth winner of award for excellence
A 23-YEAR-OLD elite downhill mountain bike racer has been named as the sixth recipient of the Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture. Mikayla Parton, from Fort William, was announced as the winner of the award by organisers of the
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Ross Greer: More must be done to help the kids suffering through lockdown
THERE’S no doubt that the pandemic and home learning have been a huge challenge for young people, teachers and parents. Trying to balance the social and educational needs of pupils with the overriding need to keep them, school staff and the wider community
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Shona Craven: Yes, Scotland matters, so put a billboard in London not Greenock
OH dear. Someone should have had a wee word with Scotland Matters and advised them that timing matters, too. The big unveiling of this shadowy group’s big billboard urging “vaccination not separation” couldn’t have come at a worse moment, given Scotland
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Nicola Sturgeon stresses May's Holyrood vote won’t be ‘as normal’
NICOLA Sturgeon has said she hopes May’s Holyrood vote will be able to go ahead – but stressed it will not be “an election as normal”. She said that in a time of “crisis”, it is right Scots should be able to have their say over who is in charge
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Scottish Government to publish figures around Covid vaccine supply
THE Scottish Government is to publish data on vaccine supplies following talks with UK ministers and jag providers. The UK Government has previously asked Holyrood ministers not to publish such data due to security concerns. But speaking at
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Tories sailing ‘close to the wind’ of electoral law with postal vote policy
THE Tories are sailing “perilously” close to the wind and ignoring Electoral Commission advice as they try to galvanise support ahead of the election, according to an SNP MSP. Rona Mackay’s remarks came after one of her constituents, John Hamilton
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Alex Salmond inquiry has evidence retrospective policy was ‘unlawful’
THE inquiry into the botched Scottish Government harassment complaints process has evidence that the retrospective policy was unlawful. The National revealed earlier this week that previous first ministers Jack McConnell and Henry McLeish, and
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More than 90 Scottish projects to share in multi-million pound youth arts fund
MORE than 90 projects across the country are being awarded a share of £2.1 million of Scottish Government emergency youth arts funding. The payments to 92 projects, part of a £4m youth arts funding package delivered by Creative Scotland, are being
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Fund helps Scottish authors be translated for a global readership
PUBLISHING Scotland has announced that its Translation Fund, designed to support international publishers with the translation of Scottish authors, has once again supported a brilliant array of authors and publishers. With the help of Creative Scotland
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Joanna Cherry: How it’s possible to support rights of trans people AND women
I HESITATE to mention the Hate Crime Bill. Last month, when I praised the Scottish Government’s free speech amendment to the bill, I unleashed a backlash which led to my removal from the SNP Westminster front bench and a tsunami of abuse including
