Politics

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

2026 Holyrood election

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Stephen Flynn ditches plan to seek dual mandate to become MSP
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says he will not seek a dual mandate to stand as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament.

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Sign up for the Unspun politics newsletter and receive exclusive analysis and opinion straight to your inbox

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Stephen Flynn – the only person dying to work two jobs?

John Prescott, who has died aged 86

John Prescott, who has died aged 86

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Former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has died aged 86, family announce

The National Care Service plans must not be scrapped, charities representing disabled Scots have warned. (Image: PA)

The National Care Service plans must not be scrapped, charities representing disabled Scots have warned. (Image: PA)

National Care Service

2

National Care Service 'tug of war' must end amid concerns Bill could be scrapped

Seasoned political commentator Bernard Ponsonby talks about The Herald Politician of the Year Awards

Seasoned political commentator Bernard Ponsonby talks about The Herald Politician of the Year Awards

Scottish Politician of the Year

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Bernard Ponsonby: Politician of the Year is about communities and real people

Concerns as figures show women less likely to continue taking on legal aid

Concerns as figures show women less likely to continue taking on legal aid

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

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Concerns as figures show women less likely to continue taking on legal aid

First Minister John Swinney and Finance Minister Shona Robison

First Minister John Swinney and Finance Minister Shona Robison

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Secretive Scottish Government's 'short-term' budgeting slammed by watchdog

Justice minister Siobhian Brown in her Scottish Parliament office

Justice minister Siobhian Brown in her Scottish Parliament office

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'I can't do it on my own:' Minister urges lawyers to return to legal aid talks

Shoppers in Glasgow's Argyle Street saturday.Pic Gordon Terris/The Herald/Sunday12/12/20

Shoppers in Glasgow's Argyle Street saturday.Pic Gordon Terris/The Herald/Sunday12/12/20

Scott Wright: Government provokes fury from Scottish business

John Swinney and Stephen Flynn

John Swinney and Stephen Flynn

Swinney backs Flynn as ‘immense talent’ amid Holyrood double jobbing row

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney

legal aid crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

5

John Swinney pushed on legal aid ‘crisis’ following Herald series

Scottish Government investment on legal aid trainees will be crucial to the profession's survival, Liam Kerr claimed.

Scottish Government investment on legal aid trainees will be crucial to the profession's survival, Liam Kerr claimed.

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

1

Legal aid sector could 'fall over' without investment in trainees, ministers warned

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah

The incredible life of Mohamed Salah - the world’s best-known Muslim player

John Swinney has spoken out amid speculation he could replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister

John Swinney has spoken out amid speculation he could replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister

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John Swinney refutes Trump claims that Scotland is bad for business

Around 550 prisoners will be released early under the plans (PA)

Around 550 prisoners will be released early under the plans (PA)

3

Scottish Government in talks to deport criminals to home countries

Independence emerges as most popular choice in poll on constitutional future

Independence emerges as most popular choice in poll on constitutional future

Scottish Labour

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Independence emerges as most popular choice in poll on constitutional future

Find all articles in our Beyond Breaking Point: Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis series here

Find all articles in our Beyond Breaking Point: Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis series here

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

Beyond Breaking Point: Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis – find all articles here

Protestors shut down the Leonardo factory in Edinburgh

Protestors shut down the Leonardo factory in Edinburgh

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Activists shut down Edinburgh weapons manufacturer in new Gaza protest

I spent a day shadowing a criminal legal aid lawyer. Here's what I learned.

I spent a day shadowing a criminal legal aid lawyer. Here's what I learned.

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

I spent a day in Europe’s busiest court — Here’s what I learned

The civil legal aid sector faces an

The civil legal aid sector faces an

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

Legal aid crisis leaving domestic abuse survivors without lawyers

30 solicitors have been unable to take on a young mother's legal case

30 solicitors have been unable to take on a young mother's legal case

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

'It's a tragedy' The human cost of Scotland’s legal aid crisis: one mother’s story

People in many parts of Scotland are struggling to get lawyers who provide legal aid

People in many parts of Scotland are struggling to get lawyers who provide legal aid

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

Explainer: Why are so many of Scotland's towns 'legal aid deserts'?

Poll: Most Scots want National Insurance to be devolved to Scottish Government

Poll: Most Scots want National Insurance to be devolved to Scottish Government

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Poll: Most Scots want National Insurance to be devolved to Scottish Government

A woman who faces 'debilitating' pain is calling on the Scottish Government to prioritise women's health as gynaecological waiting times increase.

A woman who faces 'debilitating' pain is calling on the Scottish Government to prioritise women's health as gynaecological waiting times increase.

1

Woman in ‘debilitating’ pain demands Scottish Government tackle gynaecology waits

Kate Forbes has been shortlisted for The Herald's Politician of the Year Award.

Kate Forbes has been shortlisted for The Herald's Politician of the Year Award.

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Kate Forbes: Do not underestimate the threat of a successful woman

Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland's political editor and the subject of the documentary, My Brain Tumour and Me. Picture: BBC

Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland's political editor and the subject of the documentary, My Brain Tumour and Me. Picture: BBC

Unforgettable reporting from the front line of BBC man's cancer battle

Scottish Politician Of The Year shortlist revealed

Scottish Politician Of The Year shortlist revealed

Scottish Politician of the Year

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Swinney, Forbes and Sarwar to battle it out at Scottish Politician Of The Year

Eric Trump has criticised John Swinney

Eric Trump has criticised John Swinney

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Donald Trump's son calls John Swinney 'nasty' and says Scotland is 'bad for business'

Farmers have been protesting in London

Farmers have been protesting in London

3

Farmers told they are 'wrong' about tax changes as 13,000 attend protest in London

Almost 400 prisoners are set to be released early

Almost 400 prisoners are set to be released early

Angela Constance

Almost 400 prisoners to be released as part of plans to ease prison pressure

Liam McArthur (second right) reads people's dying wishes

Liam McArthur (second right) reads people's dying wishes

2

Ministers warned against lobbying on assisted dying bill by MSP

Farmers protest in central London over the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules in the recent budget which introduce new taxes on farms worth more than £1 million. Picture date: Tuesday November 19, 2024. PA Photo. Farmers have reacted over the

Farmers protest in central London over the changes to inheritance tax (IHT) rules in the recent budget which introduce new taxes on farms worth more than £1 million. Picture date: Tuesday November 19, 2024. PA Photo. Farmers have reacted over the

Farming difficulties

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Farmers protest in London over proposed inheritance tax changes - explained in five

Domestic abuse incidents recorded by the police in Scotland rises for the first time in three years.

Domestic abuse incidents recorded by the police in Scotland rises for the first time in three years.

New figures show 'utterly appalling' rise in domestic abuse in Scotland

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar criticised the Scottish Government on housing (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar criticised the Scottish Government on housing (Andrew Milligan/PA)

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Anas Sarwar says Scottish Labour will reinstate winter fuel payment UK party scrapped

NFU Scotland president, Martin Kennedy (Photo: Paul Watt)

NFU Scotland president, Martin Kennedy (Photo: Paul Watt)

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Scots among thousands of farmers descending on Westminster for protest

Anas Sarwar has been shortlisted for The Herald's Politician of the Year Award.

Anas Sarwar has been shortlisted for The Herald's Politician of the Year Award.

1

Is Sarwar FM in waiting or is his allegiance to Starmer a roadblock to Holyrood?

MPs in bid to give wheelchair users right to sue airlines over accessibility failures

MPs in bid to give wheelchair users right to sue airlines over accessibility failures

MPs in bid to give wheelchair users right to sue airlines over accessibility failures

Former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf

Former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf

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Sturgeon and Yousaf under fire in Holyrood over firms set up for outside earnings

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar announced his party would reinstate winter fuel payments if it wins the 2026 Holyrood election.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar announced his party would reinstate winter fuel payments if it wins the 2026 Holyrood election.

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Sarwar: Winter fuel payment pledge not fuelled by by fear of Holyrood defeat

First Minister John Swinney and finance secretary Shona Robison

First Minister John Swinney and finance secretary Shona Robison

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Tories demand £1 billion tax cutting plan from Swinney before budget

Who qualifies for legal aid in Scotland?

Who qualifies for legal aid in Scotland?

Legal aid crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

3

Explainer: What is legal aid and who qualifies to get it?

Find all articles in our Beyond Breaking Point: Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis series here

Find all articles in our Beyond Breaking Point: Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis series here

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

1

Beyond Breaking Point: Why The Herald is looking at Scotland's legal aid crisis

Law Society Pat Thom believes most Scots are not worried about the country’s legal aid crisis, thinking that it will not impact them

Law Society Pat Thom believes most Scots are not worried about the country’s legal aid crisis, thinking that it will not impact them

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

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‘The Scottish Government need to recognise the whole system’s going down the tubes’

Legal aid at tipping point

Legal aid at tipping point

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

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Crisis looms as over a third of legal aid lawyers in Scotland prepare to retire

Lawyers are deserting the profession

Lawyers are deserting the profession

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

Life on the legal aid frontline: Senior lawyers reveal struggles as crisis deepens

We take a deep dive into the key statistics and the data behind access to legal aid

We take a deep dive into the key statistics and the data behind access to legal aid

Legal Aid Crisis

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

What's the provision of legal aid in your area? A deep dive into our data

Scottish Green party's Ross Greer

Scottish Green party's Ross Greer

Scottish Budget

10

Scottish Greens warns SNP against cutting independence spending in budget

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

Scottish Government

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Tory bid to ban double jobbing to be backed by Labour and Greens in wake of Flynn row

University of Edinburgh job cuts announced

University of Edinburgh job cuts announced

8

Principal blames National Insurance hike as Edinburgh University announce job cuts

ScotRail should scrap first-class seats on all of its services in a bid to free up capacity on busy trains, the Scottish Greens have said.

ScotRail should scrap first-class seats on all of its services in a bid to free up capacity on busy trains, the Scottish Greens have said.

Scottish Greens

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Scrap first-class seats on all ScotRail services, Scottish Greens urge

MSPs to discuss assisted dying

MSPs to discuss assisted dying

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Children’s hospices raise 'serious concerns' over Scottish assisted dying at 16 law

A badly damaged school in Khan Younis, Gaza.

A badly damaged school in Khan Younis, Gaza.

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Aid boss: 'You can't overstate the consequences' of the attacks on Gaza's schools

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton by the Christmas tree at The Salutation Hotel during the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton by the Christmas tree at The Salutation Hotel during the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference

Scottish Liberal Democrats

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‘Scottish Lib Dems wouldn’t rule out dual mandates for MSPs and MPs’

Though Teddy Taylor had supported Enoch Powell on immigration, he regarded racist attitudes as “foul” and, during an appearance on Have I Got News For You, revealed he was a fan of reggae star Bob Marley

Though Teddy Taylor had supported Enoch Powell on immigration, he regarded racist attitudes as “foul” and, during an appearance on Have I Got News For You, revealed he was a fan of reggae star Bob Marley

RAB'S SCOTTISH ICONS

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Scots Tory right-winger Sir Teddy loved Thatcher ... even though she once smacked him