Political opinion

Legal Aid Crisis

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

Scotland's Legal Aid Crisis

Colin Lancaster: ‘Legal aid helping more people – but system needs to change’
Colin Lancaster, chief executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board writes for The Herald's legal aid series. Legal is is helping more people, but the system needs to change, he argues.

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

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

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

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

6

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

President Macron is finding himself marginalised

President Macron is finding himself marginalised

STRUAN STEVENSON

14

After Labour's farm inheritance tax raid, new trade deal could hammer Scots farmers

Police officers on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Police officers on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

14

Roz Foyer: Trump is back, closer to home the far right is too

Every year, over 350,000 women die from cervical cancer

Every year, over 350,000 women die from cervical cancer

For the first time, the elimination of a cancer is within our reach

Elon Musk isn't held accountable for what he publishes

Elon Musk isn't held accountable for what he publishes

21

Neil Mackay: I know what fighting for free speech means. This isn't it

2

Mark Smith: The Govan revolution that could be good for all of us

Happy teens are healthy teens

Happy teens are healthy teens

Zahra Hedges: Scotland can follow Iceland's example to help the next generation

Kevin says some of those leaving X are 'among the most ghastly and insufferably sanctimonious people I’ve ever encountered in journalism and politics'

Kevin says some of those leaving X are 'among the most ghastly and insufferably sanctimonious people I’ve ever encountered in journalism and politics'

KEVIN MCKENNA'S DIARY

13

To all Scotland's 'liberals', no-one gives a Friar Tuck if you flounce away from X

Health inequalities faced by women and girls in Scotland are deeply entrenched within the systems that are meant to care for us, writes Engender CEO Catherine Murphy.

Health inequalities faced by women and girls in Scotland are deeply entrenched within the systems that are meant to care for us, writes Engender CEO Catherine Murphy.

Scottish Government needs to do more on women’s health, says Engender

Birthdays can be a mixed blessing

Birthdays can be a mixed blessing

My Midlife Diary: I turn 47 this weekend - when will I feel like an adult?

Working-class Scots report an obsession with their accents and intense questioning over which school they attended

Working-class Scots report an obsession with their accents and intense questioning over which school they attended

49

Edinburgh Uni must stop appalling snobbery from Saltburn-esque toff students

First Minster John Swinney with his deputy Kate Forbes

First Minster John Swinney with his deputy Kate Forbes

National government

12

Scottish Parliament has failed to deliver. Here are three ways to reform it

Fuel poverty is linked to child poverty and living in cold, damp homes negatively impacts educational attainment

Fuel poverty is linked to child poverty and living in cold, damp homes negatively impacts educational attainment

Elizabeth Leighton

A cold, damp home is a deadly home - here's how Scotland can change that

Elon Musk and Donald Trump

Elon Musk and Donald Trump

15

Mark Smith: Which one are you: the hater or the hated? It’s time for a rethink

The system needs to aim for fairness for all

The system needs to aim for fairness for all

Scotland’s social security system reaches a significant milestone

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

16

Neil Mackay: Stephen Flynn – the SNP’s Macbeth, a man of ambition unfit to lead

Blaming Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP's problems when she stood down two years ago isn't helpful

Blaming Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP's problems when she stood down two years ago isn't helpful

National government

26

Mark McGeoghegan: Three lessons the SNP need to learn after US election

Kemi Badenoch has finely honed right-wing instincts

Kemi Badenoch has finely honed right-wing instincts

National government

7

Andy Maciver: Are you ready for the nine-word culture war?

Nicola Sturgeon will take to the stage at the forthcoming comedy festival. Brian Wilson believes that a few star turns could join her

Nicola Sturgeon will take to the stage at the forthcoming comedy festival. Brian Wilson believes that a few star turns could join her

35

Brian Wilson: SNP selection process will show exactly how the party views Holyrood

Tesco is opening on Sundays on Lewis

Tesco is opening on Sundays on Lewis

22

Neil Mackay: I’m with the Free Presbyterians: just say no to Sunday opening

A Ryanair 737 landing on the main runway at Prestwick Airport.

A Ryanair 737 landing on the main runway at Prestwick Airport.

35

Ian McConnell: Hopefully Prestwick Airport’s corrosive detractors are happy now?

The Emigrants memorial in Sutherland

The Emigrants memorial in Sutherland

Highlands & Islands

14

It's time the Highlands and Islands got reparations for the sins of the clearances

President elect Donald Trump casts a long shadow over the West

President elect Donald Trump casts a long shadow over the West

18

Carlos Alba: Even Trump can't destroy the West in the next four years - here's why

Israeli soldiers search the site of the weekend attack by Palestinian militants on the Supernova Desert Music Festival, near kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 12, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinian, have

Israeli soldiers search the site of the weekend attack by Palestinian militants on the Supernova Desert Music Festival, near kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 12, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinian, have

1

Roz Foyer: We cannot sit back and allow Palestine to die

'The gas-lighting of millions of working-class Americans has begun in earnest and shows no sign of abating', writes Kevin McKenna

'The gas-lighting of millions of working-class Americans has begun in earnest and shows no sign of abating', writes Kevin McKenna

43

The counterfeit left failed on Trump - and will lose Holyrood

'In Ontario, most patients choosing MAiD who are not dying come from marginalised, poor backgrounds,' says Dr Ramona Coelho

'In Ontario, most patients choosing MAiD who are not dying come from marginalised, poor backgrounds,' says Dr Ramona Coelho

Dr Ramona Coelho

Weak safeguards 'push the poor, the elderly and disabled towards assisted death'

15

Neil Mackay: Just how many concentration camps will you need, Mr President?

What does Trump mean for COP29?

What does Trump mean for COP29?

Winds of change ♻️

3

How big a disaster is Trump's win for COP29 and the climate?

Sir Keir Starmer with Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar before the election

Sir Keir Starmer with Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar before the election

National government

3

SNP might be saved by unpopularity of Starmer's Labour so can the left make headway?

23

Mark Smith: Another idea of the Scottish Greens goes up in smoke. Happy days

Ruth Maguire: Why Scotland must go for automatic voting registration

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay during First Minister's Questions

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay during First Minister's Questions

Russell Findlay

7

Findlay's 'winter heating before free travel for asylum seekers' is a false dilemma

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been spoken of by some as a possible special envoy to the Trump administration on trade. PA

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been spoken of by some as a possible special envoy to the Trump administration on trade. PA

9

Alison Rowat: How Scottish aide scuppered Farage's chances of top Trump job

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney 'has risked the goodwill of the voluntary sector, which has invested years of time and energy in developing the Bill'

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney 'has risked the goodwill of the voluntary sector, which has invested years of time and energy in developing the Bill'

2

'The Scottish Government has turned its back on the most marginalised'

Cars are strewn on the side on a main road after floods in Valencia, Spain, earlier this month

Cars are strewn on the side on a main road after floods in Valencia, Spain, earlier this month

4

Gillian Martin: Floods have focussed attention on climate change ahead of COP29

Donald Trump on stage with his wife Melania Trump and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump

Donald Trump on stage with his wife Melania Trump and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump

55

Brian Taylor: How to respond to Trump? Swinney gets it right – eventually

The Necropolis in Glasgow

The Necropolis in Glasgow

10

Mark Smith: A simple way to fix the problem of the disrespectful grave stickers

The ban on wood-burning stoves has gone up in smoke

The ban on wood-burning stoves has gone up in smoke

Scottish Government

6

SNP's wood-burner ban plan couldn't survive the heat

A Bosnian Muslim woman mourns next to the grave of her relative, victim of the Srebrenica genocide, at the Memorial Centre in Potocari, Bosnia,

A Bosnian Muslim woman mourns next to the grave of her relative, victim of the Srebrenica genocide, at the Memorial Centre in Potocari, Bosnia,

31

Andy Maciver: Moderates must rise to the challenges of populist nationalism

Image: Newsquest

Image: Newsquest

MARISSA MACWHIRTER

Affordable housing

Can we find a balance between much needed development and affordable housing?

Could Trump's policies hobble Labour and move independence back up the agenda?

Could Trump's policies hobble Labour and move independence back up the agenda?

Conservative Party

22

Mark McGeoghegan: How Trump presidency could move indy back up the political agenda

Donald Trump with wife Melania and son Barron

Donald Trump with wife Melania and son Barron

49

Democrats can blame their own hubris and arrogance for Donald Trump success

Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes part in a round of pre-Budget interviews. Her reform of inheritance tax has angered farmers

Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes part in a round of pre-Budget interviews. Her reform of inheritance tax has angered farmers

7

Alison Rowat: The kids will be all right without an inheritance, won't they?

Keir Starmer at a recent meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France

Keir Starmer at a recent meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France

3

Rebecca McQuillan: The world is a more dangerous place now. Britain needs Europe

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes

4

Brian Wilson: Forbes needs to stop grandstanding on energy and answer hard questions

Voters mark their ballots in Mitchell, Wisconsin

Voters mark their ballots in Mitchell, Wisconsin

Ipsos: It was the economy that won Trump the White House