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.

Former US President Donald Trump walks out of the courtroom following the first day of jury selection at Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday.

What impact will Donald Trump's court case have on his campaign?
Donald Trump will have to campaign from a courtroom, but it could be an advantage for the Republican candidate

Suella Braverman was able to speak at the event despite it being shut down.

Belgian mayor orders end to NatCon conference attended by Suella Braverman

The Sandyford clinic in Glasgow. (Photo by Clare Grant)

Humza Yousaf has not ruled out restricting puberty blockers

Analysis Smattering of applause as Yousaf sets out union pitch

Police were inundated with hate crime complaints in the first week of the new legislation

Number of hate crime complaints drops by 75 per cent in week two of new law

First Minister Humza Yousaf with Scottish Green co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie at an independence march in Edinburgh. Image: Lisa Ferguson/National World.

Scottish Greens and Alba could split the pro-independence SNP vote

Politics

The medical community needs to make sure that all women are able to achieve their true potential (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Multiple forms of prejudice can create a problem bigger than sum of its parts

Intersectionality was developed as a concept in the US after Black women denied promotion in a firm ...
With two years to go, Yousaf already appears to have run out of steam

As a new Scottish Parliament session begins, it feels like SNP politicians can’t wait for the sum...

West must help Israelis and Palestinians escape the cycle of violence

Prolonged conflicts can entrench a cycle of hatred and violence

The night Oprah described OJ Simpson chase over the phone has stuck with meJoe Goldblatt
Joe Goldblatt
Second wave of super-strong heroin is set to hit Scotland

When the first wave of heroin hit Scotland in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the decision to con...

Salman Rushdie is living proof of the importance of free speech
Edinburgh International Book Festival has done well to secure the involvement of one of the most imp...

Scottish Independence

Government independence papers costing taxpayers up to £10.85 per download

SNP's new independence paper shows Scottish nationalism is running out of ideas Euan McColm

Yousaf’s ‘Tory free’ rhetoric treats voters with 'open contempt'

Analysis ‘There will be infighting, bloodletting, feuding’: What next for the SNP?

Independent Scotland would always be the UK's closest friend and ally Angus Robertson

Vanguard-class submarine HMS Vigilant, one of the UK's four nuclear warhead-carrying submarines, at HM Naval Base Clyde

SNP: Removing Trident after independence 'would not embolden Putin'

Angus Robertson. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

SNP's defence plans in an independent Scotland leave many questions unanswered

More Scotsman politics

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar speaking at the STUC conference in Dundee. Image: Andrew Milligan/Press Association.

Anas Sarwar calls for UK arms sales to Israel to be stopped

Toppling Iran's tyrants would sever head of snake behind many Mid-East conflicts Struan Stevenson

Analysis As Holyrood returns, can Humza Yousaf move on from a bruising recess?

Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland and deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives. Image: Lisa Ferguson/National World.

Tories demand answers on puberty blockers as SNP under pressure over Cass review

Scotland's world-leading universities are at risk because of SNP incompetence Christine Jardine

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak giving a statement to MPs in the House of Commons, London, following the attack by Iran on Israel.

Rishi Sunak warns Iran's nuclear programme 'never been more advanced'

MV Glen Rosa at the Ferguson Marine shipyard. Image: John Devlin/National World.

Economy secretary to meet with unions to discuss Ferguson Marine future

Humza Yousaf

Tories launch bid to repeal Scotland's controversial new hate crime law

Humza Yousaf promised a nationwide council tax freeze to help those struggling to cope amid the cost-of-living crisis. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Council which had threatened to put up council tax says charge will be frozen

Will the transgender conversion Bill be the final straw for Yousaf? Brian Monteith

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

Anas Sarwar to pledge to strengthen workers’ rights at trade union meeting

Analysis After licensing arms worth nearly half a billion to Israel, UK is under pressure

Why Iran’s miscalculated attack offers an opportunity Scotsman comment

Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater need to show they are more serious about climate change (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Are Greens still Green? And if so, are they help or hindrance to climate fight?

Ferries crisis: Here’s why Ferguson Marine and CalMac chiefs were fired

Social media enticing civilians to participate in war as if it were a video game

Scottish taxpayers could face further tax hikes to pay for SNP policies such as free tuition fees. Image: Chris Radburn/Press Association.

Taxpayers could face further hikes to pay for ‘free’ SNP policies

The Steamie is The Scotsman’s political podcast. Picture: JPI Media/Shutterstock

Explainer Sign up for The Scotsman's free politics newsletter The Steamie

Rishi Sunak has confirmed that Royal Air Force jets were used to shoot down a 'number of drones' in the Middle East following an attack on Israel. Picture: Getty Images

Yousaf condemns attack, urges Middle East players to stick to UN resolutions

Sunak calls for ‘calm heads’ amid fears of Israeli retaliation for Iran attack

This video grab from AFPTV taken on April 14, 2024 shows explosions lighting up Jerusalem sky during Iranian attack on Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed early April 14, 2024 that a drone and missile attack was under way against Israel in retaliation for a deadly April 1 drone strike on its Damascus consulate.

RAF jets deployed to shoot down Iranian drones heading to Israel

The SNP-Green coalition is facing a test

Insight: SNP-Greens deal could be set for a fresh challenge

Labour's Douglas Alexander lost to the SNP's Mhairi Black in the 2015 general election (Picture: Lesley Martin/AFP via Getty Images)

Westminster's wannabe 'Comeback Kids' are worthy of everyone's respect

Exclusive SNP MSPs have warned the FM's response to the Cass report could be "pivotal"

Stephen Gethins, Douglas Alexander, and Pamela Nash all hope to return to Westminster

Meet the former MPs hoping to make a comeback to Westminster

The NHS is struggling and its problems are greater than a Covid-related backlog (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Australian example helps puncture SNP 'spin' about NHS crisis

SNP are failing to listen to frontline police, nurses and teachers Brian Wilson

SNP may need to ditch ‘one more heave’ approach to independence Stewart McDonald

Brexit

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

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

Brexiteers and Scottish nationalists are united by an enthusiasm for censorship Euan McColm

Brexit supporters celebrate as the United Kingdom exits the EU on January 31, 2020 (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Brexit myths created 'Schrodinger’s Britain' but the reality is very different

First Minister and SNP Leader Humza Yousaf who will make the case for righting the "historic wrong" of Brexit as he delivers a speech on independence. PIC: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Humza Yousaf: Independence can "right historic wrong" of Brexit

The clock face of Elizabeth Tower, known after the bell Big Ben, shows the hands at 11 o'clock as a Union Flag flies in front of it in London. Picture Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

Committee on cost-of-living would 'waste taxpayers money’, UK Government say

Has the UK Government turned into a 'Just Say No' machine?

Many EU supporters are frustrated with Labour leader Keir Starmer over his dismissal of a return to the EU (Picture: Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Brexit regret is growing and the campaign to rejoin the EU will come