HIE chief warns Covid has almost trebled unemployment rate in some areas
The unemployment rate in some parts of the Highlands has almost trebled as Covid wiped billions from the tourism industry, MSPs have been told.
Fergus Ewing says more cash needed for seafood industry to cope with Brexit delays
Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing has said the seafood industry will need more compensation to cope with disruption to trade following EU withdrawal.
ANALYSIS: Richard Leonard’s resignation is a start but it won’t spell the end of Labour’s woes
That Richard Leonard’s ill-starred spell as Scottish Labour leader should come to an end was unsurprising in itself. But what did come as shock to most of his colleagues was the timing of his departure, just four months before the Scottish election.
‘Absolutely slaughtered’: Marc Crothall on ‘desperate’ state of tourism industry
Scotland’s tight lockdown restrictions will result in a slower recovery for the nation’s tourism industry than elsewhere in the UK, says an industry leader.
P&J Live to become a mass vaccination centre
Aberdeen’s P&J Live is to be transformed into a mass Covid vaccination centre delivering 20,000 jabs per week, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says.
Permanent Secretary explains why harassment complaints against Alex Salmond were passed on to the Crown Office
Scotland’s most senior civil servant has defended her decision to report harassment claims against Alex Salmond to Scotland’s prosecutors against the will of the women involved.
Sports centre chief warns Holyrood Covid restrictions not sustainable
The operator of a north-east sports centre has called on the Scottish Government to outline how coronavirus measures are to be eased, warning that current restrictions are unsustainable.
Alex Salmond raises question mark over his Holyrood inquiry appearance
Alex Salmond has signalled he may defy MSPs’ calls to appear next week before the Holyrood inquiry examining the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment complaints against him.
‘Life-changing opportunities lost’ as Scottish Government misses apprenticeships target
Nicola Sturgeon’s flagship ambition to deliver 30,000 new apprenticeships in 2020 has been missed, the Scottish Government admits.
Great expectations: Would big SNP election victory spring indyref2 trap for Nicola Sturgeon?
There’s an image of a donkey being led by a carrot dangling from the end of a stick doing the rounds on social media.
Call for widening of investigation into Nicola Sturgeon’s treatment of harassment claims against Alex Salmond
The investigation into whether Nicola Sturgeon broke Scottish Government rules in her handling of harassment claims against Alex Salmond will cover “any aspect” of potential breaches, it has been claimed.
John Swinney sparks row by declaring indyref2 is an ‘essential priority’ for Covid recovery
John Swinney has claimed a second independence referendum is an “essential priority” to enable Scotland to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Salmond’s ‘bombshell’ accusation against Sturgeon could ‘end her political career’
Alex Salmond has accused Nicola Sturgeon of breaking Scottish Government rules by giving “untrue” accounts of the circumstances surrounding a meeting to discuss harassment allegations against him.
Sledging, Zoom quizzes and watching cricket: How MSPs are spending Christmas
The coronavirus restrictions have wrecked traditional Christmas celebrations for everyone across the country and Scotland’s politicians are no exception.
‘It felt like arriving late for an exam’: MSPs view Salmond inquiry document
A civil service document that had been controversially withheld from the Salmond inquiry has been described as “illuminating” after MSPs were finally shown a copy.
Could independent Scotland renting Faslane to UK lead to end of nuclear deterrent?
Charging the UK Government to keep Trident on the Clyde in an independent Scotland is more likely to lead to nuclear disarmament than demanding immediate removal, a defence expert says.
Q&A: What does the emergence of another Lockerbie suspect tell us about a three-decade quest for justice?
The FBI agent who led the original Lockerbie investigation has revealed the atrocity’s latest suspect was on his “radar” 30 years ago but there was a struggle to prove the case against him.
ANALYSIS: The Christmas coronavirus guidance that comes with a dose of bah humbug
Ebenezer Scrooge might have approved of the latest official pronouncements on how to “celebrate” – if that’s the right word – this year’s Covid Christmas.
Christmas hangs in the balance as more talks needed to reach a decision on Covid restrictions
Nicola Sturgeon has warned that plans to ease Christmas Covid measures may have to be scaled back, as four-nations talks failed to reach a conclusion on how to handle the festivities.
Office parties: Sturgeon sorry for being Christmas ‘kill-joy’
Nicola Sturgeon has warned people against meeting up for office parties and urged them to cut down contact with others before the easing of Covid measures for Christmas.
Nicola Sturgeon: North-east Covid cases ‘matter of real concern’
Nicola Sturgeon has warned rising Covid cases in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are “a matter of real concern”, ahead of her weekly review of restrictions.
Aberdeen City Council’s bid for UK Government cash takes step forward
Aberdeen City Council co-leader Douglas Lumsden has tabled a motion urging councillors to strike a deal with the UK Government for cash to boost the local authority’s low funding levels.
Gordon Dewar says Scottish Government’s coronavirus vaccine plan will cost lives and jobs
The coronavirus vaccine may not be widely rolled out until the end of next year as a result of the Scottish Government’s “woefully inadequate” plans, Gordon Dewar warned MSPs.
Edward Mountain clashes with ‘disgraceful’ Nicola Sturgeon over NHS Highland
NHS Highland bullying victims are having their compensation payments reduced because they are being administered through the health board’s pay-roll, says an MSP.
MI5’s advice on Covid vaccine storage and plan to get it into care homes
Care home residents will start getting vaccinated against Covid-19 before Christmas but the vast majority of those under 50 will have to wait until the summer for their jabs.
Thank-you payment: SNP told to stop politicising Covid pandemic
Douglas Ross has said the SNP must top up its £500 “thank-you” payment for NHS and social care staff immediately and stop playing politics with the coronavirus pandemic.
Neale Hanvey joins SNP’s conduct committee despite past anti-Semitism suspension
Fife MP Neale Hanvey, who was suspended from the SNP for using anti-Semitic language on social media, has been elected to the party’s body that investigates misbehaviour allegations.
Business rates: MSPs pass controversial revaluation plans despite
A plea to fix “crippling” north-east business rates has been rejected by Holyrood, after SNP MSPs voted to delay revaluation by a year.
‘The beginning of the end’: Scotland’s first Covid vaccine jabs days away
Nicola Sturgeon hailed the Covid vaccine as the “beginning of the end” of the pandemic as she announced the first jabs are to be administered on Tuesday.
Covid vaccine: Sturgeon would ‘happily’ get jab on TV
Nicola Sturgeon has said she would be prepared to get the Covid vaccine on live television if she thought it would persuade others to get the jab.