Government

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan

Providing P1 children with free school bags will cost £2.7m

Workhorse: the Ryichi wind-up radio is compact but could be a lifesaver

I tested this £29.99 emergency radio for power cuts

Some supplies that will come in handy in the event of an emergency.

Be Ready: Here are 15 items you should stockpile in case of emergency

The Government recommends households gradually build an emergency kit with practical essentials such as a torch, first aid kit, emergency radio and portable power bank.

Explainer What you need in a Government 3-day emergency kit

A notice on the National Cyber Security Centre website warning of a critical security issue affecting PHP

Expert warns of more cyber attacks as 'be ready' campaign launched

Catherine McWilliam, Nations Director at IoD Scotland (Picture: Mike Wilkinson)

Rural Scotland’s ceiling is higher than resilience

Child poverty continues to blight communities in Scotland

SNP to miss reducing child poverty target 'by miles'

The Scottish Government “reluctantly” used up to £460 million of money raised via the ScotWind scheme – where parts of the Scottish seabed are leased out for offshore wind farms

SNP under fire over frittering away £100m ScotWind revenues

Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

Home Secretary on why Glasgow has highest number of asylum seekers

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Scottish First Minister John Swinney delivers his statement on the 2026 Programme for Government on September 01, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Fix the plumbing then start rewiring the state

Scotland is not producing enough newbuilds to keep up with the demand for homes (Picture:stock.adobe.com)

No sense of urgency to tackle housing emergency

John Swinney

John Swinney urged to give full details on public sector reforms

Why parents' excruciating sex chats with their sons are more important than ever Euan McColm

The underlying production licences for Rosebank and Jackdaw were granted years ago (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

North Sea 'faces exodus' if Rosebank and Jackdaw not approved quickly

John Swinney outside the City Chambers in Edinburgh, during a ceremony to mark the Independence Day of Ukraine in 2024

Use new defence programme to boost support for Ukraine, Swinney urged

The oil refinery at Grangemouth closed last year (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Ministers admit none of promised £200m has been spent on Grangemouth

First Minister John Swinney unveiled the 2026 Programme for Government on Tuesday. (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Readers' letters: For Programme for Government read More of the Same

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville (Peter Summers/PA)

Ministers no further forward with collecting £36m benefits debt

A new report argues housing associations should be treated as critical economic infrastructure.

Exclusive Housing associations 'should be treated as economic infrastructure'

Andy Burnham ahead of his statement

Analysis Boring Burnham fails to rouse troops but at least he answers questions

The Scottish Human Rights Commission said the rising costs of living meant the effects of poverty on people’s lives were being seen 'ever more starkly'. Picture: PA

Ministers 'failing' to uphold human rights over poverty, watchdog says

A prison guard at HMP Barlinnie. The Scottish Government is seeking to reduce the prison population, which has reached a record high in recent months, by the use of more community-based sentences.

Exclusive Do not limit Scottish courts ability to jail, top lawyers warn

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham calls summit of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FMs

Finance Secretary Jenny Gilruth is likely to have difficult decision to make (PA)

ScotGov will 'likely have to cut frontline services', think tank warns

More than 2,000 victims of rape could be waiting for support services by 2028 if current funding does not increase, a charity has warned.

Scotland's 'badge of shame' as rape victims wait 170 days for support

First Minister John Swinney, Ivan McKee, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, and former finance secretary Shona Robison at Holyrood last year

Ministers warned they ‘lack detailed plan’ to tackle £5bn shortfall

Cabinet secretary for Education, culture and Gaelic Mairi McAllan visits Broughton High School

McAllan: 'School welcome bag uncosted but will be value for money'

Ben Macpherson (Lesley Martin/PA)

SNP minister resigns from Scottish Government

An oil rig moored in the Cromarty Firth

New drilling in the North Sea makes economic and environmental sense Scotsman comment

First Minister John Swinney

John Swinney 'determined' to tackle violence against women and girls

Buchanan Street in Glasgow's city centre. PIC: John Linton/PA Wire

Exclusive Half of Scots cut back on spending and leisure activities

Exclusive Victims of sexual offences face 'increased risk' amid prison plan

Campaigners say the countryside is being 'industrialised'

Community councils gather to oppose 'senseless' wind farm schemes

John Swinney flew business class to America for the World Cup

'We tried to minimise costs': Swinney defends £100,000 World Cup trip

Mad cow disease has been detected in Scotland for what is believed to be the first time this year

'Mad cow disease' case confirmed on Scottish farm

Aerial view of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan

Passengers on West Highland Line to benefit from satellite internet

Joe Fagan speaking at his campaign launch in Glasgow city centre (pic: John Devlin)

Fagan will lift Scots Labour council coalitions ban if elected leader

Stephen Gethins, SNP minister for Europe, external affairs and energy

SNP accused of 'shockingly dismissive' attitude over Ming Yang

Construction of Dogger Bank offshore windfarm - which will have 277 turbines once complete - will be supported by jobs at Nigg.

180 offshore windfarm jobs created at Highland port

Jenny Gilruth (Jane Barlow/PA)

Public spending in Scotland £2,720 higher per person than UK average

Rosebank and Jackdaw are contentious topics in the SNP

Swinney accused of 'weakly watching on' in SNP oil and gas 'civil war'

One of the UK's greatest collections of art is completely free to visit. Edinburgh's National Galleries are actually three separate art museums which together have the potential to fill days with masterpieces by the likes of Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Botticelli. Start at the main National Gallery of Scotland at the base of the Mound, then venture further afield to the National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art on Belford Road.

National Galleries announces temporary closures amid staff strikes

Axed Loganair flights to Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland restored

Muirburn, controlled burning in cooler months, can help reduce the risk of wildfires

Farmers: Muirburn licensing 'should be delayed' in wake of wildfires

Council leader Jane Meagher (left) with Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth in Princes Street

Council chief condemns FM's 'shameful' lack of response on Princes St

Part of Princes Street still remains closed to the pubic and traffic after a fire broke out in the former Debenhams building

£5m funding for Edinburgh following Princes Street blaze

Young people across Scotland received their exam results on Tuesday

'Postcode lottery' on exam results as gap holds between rich and poor

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries