Independence supporters to restart marches in final phase of lockdown easing
Pro-independence campaigners are planning to resume marching again when Scotland moves into the final phase of plans to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Politics
Breast cancer screening services in Scotland to restart next month
Breast cancer screening is to start again in Scotland after being halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Suicide prevention ‘needs to be priority public health issue’
Suicide prevention should be a “priority public health issue” for Scotland in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, ministers have been told.
Labour demands Patel bullying inquiry be published immediately
An inquiry into allegations that Home Secretary Priti Patel bullied officials must be published immediately, Labour has demanded.
SNP MP backs idea of separate pro-independence party on Holyrood list vote
An SNP MP has been accused of making a “direct challenge” to Nicola Sturgeon after backing the idea of a separate pro-independence party standing in next year’s Holyrood election.
Chancellor bypassed devolution with mini-Budget, claims Holyrood minister
Rishi Sunak has “bypassed devolution” with the latest part of his plan to rescue the UK economy after the Covid-19 crisis, Holyrood’s Finance Secretary has said.
At a glance: Chancellor’s summer spending plans including vouchers to eat out and a cut in VAT for tourism and hospitality
Tourism and hospitality businesses will have their VAT bill slashed and people given vouchers to go out and eat as part of the UK Government's efforts to mitigate the economic damage caused by coronavirus.
Nicola Sturgeon in apology over delay to ‘transformational’ childcare expansion
Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “deeply sorry” her Government’s flagship free childcare plans are being put on hold for a year because of coronavirus.
Free childcare expansion to 1,140 hours delayed until beyond 2020/21 school year
The Scottish Government’s flagship childcare plans are being put on hold until at least after the next school year.
‘A shameful picture’: First Minister says government still to identify which pupils require ‘unused’ laptops
The Scottish Government does not know which children need access to laptops promised to them during the coronavirus school shutdown.
Justice Secretary misled MSPs over quarantine compliance checks, Tories claim
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has been urged to explain why he “misled” MSPs over compliance checks that ensure travellers arriving in Scotland are self-isolating.
Sturgeon refuses to ‘simply be a rubber stamp’ on air bridges decision
Nicola Sturgeon has told Scots hoping to enjoy a summer break abroad that she will not simply rubber-stamp UK Government plans to allow quarantine-free travel.
Chancellor urged to cut VAT and give young people a jobs guarantee
Rishi Sunak is being urged to cut VAT and bring in a jobs guarantee for young people as part of the next steps in the UK’s economic recovery from Covid-19.
Crisis grant payments total more than £1.5m in month
More than £1.5 million was handed out to needy Scots in emergency crisis grant payments in May – with the total up by more than two-fifths on the same period a year earlier.
Schools should stay open in event of second Covid-19 lockdown, campaigners claim
Schools should be classed as “critical infrastructure” and not shut down if there is a second Covid-19 lockdown, a campaign group has said.
Quarantine checks to begin for travellers arriving in Scotland
Checks to ensure travellers coming into Scotland from overseas are complying with coronavirus quarantine restrictions will start from Tuesday, the First Minister has confirmed.
Border protest ‘not something I condone or endorse in any way’, says Sturgeon
A protest on the border with England should not damage Scotland’s reputation as an open and welcoming nation, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Labour leader pays tribute to NHS as he remembers his mother’s death
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the NHS on its 72nd anniversary, saying the health service has a personal resonance for him as his late mother worked for it.
More national parks can address climate emergency, say campaigners
Creating more national parks across Scotland would be a “brilliant way” to help tackle the climate emergency, campaigners say.
NHS Louisa Jordan will see first patients in July as health service recovers
The emergency hospital set up in Glasgow will receive its first patients in July as the NHS recovers from the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
People in Wales told not to travel more than five miles to pubs in England
People in Wales must continue to follow the five-mile advice and stay local this weekend as pubs open over the border in England, the first minister has said.
Hair cuts and wedding bells on ‘Super Saturday’ as lockdown eased in England
Couples have tied the knot and barbers have opened for the first time in months as coronavirus restrictions were eased across England on what has been dubbed ‘Super Saturday’.
Readers’ Letters: Freeman behind much virus pain
Writing about the Covid-19 crisis, regular correspondent Andrew Lamb states that “while there have been mistakes, that’s the problem of being part of the UK”.
Airlines to withdraw High Court challenge over 14-day quarantine
A High Court challenge by three airlines against the 14-day quarantine rule for passengers arriving in the UK has been abandoned after the Government announced a lifting of restrictions for travellers from some countries.
Banking chief brought in to develop jobs guarantee for young Scots
A leading figure from the banking sector is being drafted in to develop plans for a jobs guarantee scheme for younger Scots, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
Subsidised work placements for young urged in proposals to tackle unemployment
Bosses should be given a cash incentive to recruit long-term unemployed young Scots for work experience placements, a report suggests.
Government’s 14-day quarantine will have ‘no material impact’, High Court hears
The Government’s 14-day quarantine rule for passengers arriving in the UK is “disproportionate” and will have “no material impact whatsoever” on the spread of coronavirus, lawyers for three airlines have told the High Court.
New jobs created as Ambulance Service to take charge of mobile Covid-19 testing
Around 500 new jobs will be created in the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) when it takes charge of mobile Covid-19 testing units north of the border.
Doing fine but a bit tired sometimes: Nicola Sturgeon on lockdown impact
Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “doing fine” but is a “bit tired sometimes” when asked about her mental health during lockdown.
Hospitality industry will not fully recover from Covid-19 – expert
MPs have been told it is “pretty certain” that the hospitality sector will not recover fully from the Covid-19 crisis.