Political opinion

John Swinney will be sworn in as First Minister on Wednesday

3

Alison Rowat: Is John Swinney Scotland's first mid-life crisis First Minister?
Mr Swinney was declared SNP leader on Monday in a ceremony in Glasgow that had as much fizz as a two-day-old glass of Irn-Bru. Much thought had obviously gone into making the event as low-key as possible. This was the new, slightly more humble SNP showing its face, a party getting back to normal after the upheaval of the past fortnight.

Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have both been the subject of savage attacks recently, including in a recent Times cartoon

Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have both been the subject of savage attacks recently, including in a recent Times cartoon

52

Neil Mackay: Hatred of the SNP and the left has reached absurd new levels

The Scottish Government has opposed Brexit

The Scottish Government has opposed Brexit

2

Ian McConnell: A very hard audience to please for new First Minister

John Swinney has a go at sofa government in an interview with BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show

John Swinney has a go at sofa government in an interview with BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show

6

Alison Rowat: Decisions loom for Swinney and changes on way at BBC Scotland

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar holding an 'In Conversation' event in Glasgow

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar holding an 'In Conversation' event in Glasgow

1

Mark Smith: Yousaf falling. Labour rising. Is this really the dawn of something else?

John Swinney (Jane Barlow/PA)

John Swinney (Jane Barlow/PA)

24

Kevin McKenna: Swinney must get rid of the SNP's ruinous Sturgeon cabal

A CalMac ferry approaching Brodick

A CalMac ferry approaching Brodick

National government

Kirsten Gow: Taking a different look at Scotland's islands

A Post Office van parked outside the venue for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on January 11, 2024 in London

A Post Office van parked outside the venue for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on January 11, 2024 in London

Mr Bates vs The Post Office

4

Damning details of crucial Horizon meeting in Edinburgh are truly shocking

John Swinney is preparing to take the helm from Humza Yousaf uncontested

John Swinney is preparing to take the helm from Humza Yousaf uncontested

National government

13

No Mr Yousaf, Scottish independence is certainly not 'frustratingly close'

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci).

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci).

DAVID PRATT ON THE USA

National government

3

Why Joe Biden’s Gaza dilemma may lose him the US election

John Swinney speaks during the press conference confirming he is running to succeed Humza Yousaf

John Swinney speaks during the press conference confirming he is running to succeed Humza Yousaf

23

Mark Smith: New leader’s top priority should be to end the culture of 'free stuff'

Now the work begins for Swinney

Now the work begins for Swinney

35

Brian Taylor: Congratulations Mr Swinney - your troubles are just starting

There is more to a modern economy than STEM subjects, says Guy

There is more to a modern economy than STEM subjects, says Guy

Arts & Humanities

6

Guy Stenhouse: Actually, STEM subjects aren't all that important for our economy

Politicians rarely give straight answers

Politicians rarely give straight answers

4

Lennie Pennie: Why won't our politicians give us straight answers?

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

23

Neil Mackay: Swinney wanted election with Tory leader change. He should call one.

Humza Yousaf's resignation put the Scottish Government's relationship with business in the spotlight

Humza Yousaf's resignation put the Scottish Government's relationship with business in the spotlight

31

Ian McConnell: What on earth is the SNP’s big problem with business?

Tommy Sheridan with his then girlfriend Gail Heaney at the Scottish Parliament election on May 6, 1999

Tommy Sheridan with his then girlfriend Gail Heaney at the Scottish Parliament election on May 6, 1999

4

Gregor Gall: Can the pro-indy left ever repeat the success of Tommy Sheridan & co?

Kate Forbes and John Swinney

Kate Forbes and John Swinney

22

Kevin Mckenna: How will the John & Kate political romance pan out?

Grangemouth and its refinery are an important part of the Scottish economy

Grangemouth and its refinery are an important part of the Scottish economy

Roz Foyer: Scottish and UK governments must not let Grangemouth refinery die

A farmers' protest in Warsaw last month

A farmers' protest in Warsaw last month

3

Kirsty Hughes: It's not just us: the EU's politics is looking wobbly too

Home Office proposal would have disastrous consequences

Home Office proposal would have disastrous consequences

CITIZENS ADVICE

A proposal with disastrous consequences for advice

Kate Forbes and John Swinney could be a dream ticket for SNP

Kate Forbes and John Swinney could be a dream ticket for SNP

18

Andy Maciver: SNP has just made its smartest move in a decade

4

Labour must embrace EU offer to our young people

Scottish independence

29

Rebecca McQuillan: Sorry, Andrew, but independence is very far from dead

We have 10% less practices than we had 10 years ago

We have 10% less practices than we had 10 years ago

8

Dr Andrew Buist: We'll never fix the NHS until we fix our broken GP surgeries

John Swinney pictured in the Scottish Parliament earlier this week

John Swinney pictured in the Scottish Parliament earlier this week

4

Brian Wilson: John Swinney as First Minister? What a democratic outrage that would be

The dawn of devolution in 1999, whose rules were supposed to force tribal politicians into cooperation

The dawn of devolution in 1999, whose rules were supposed to force tribal politicians into cooperation

Scottish devolution

89

Neil Mackay: The fools inhabiting Holyrood are destroying devolution

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf departs the press conference with his wife

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf departs the press conference with his wife

24

Alison Rowat: Humza Yousaf left as he governed, bewildered to the end

Who is laughing now?

Who is laughing now?

4

Recycled chip fat powered jet packs? Not sure the Greens had thought that idea out...

Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were able to exert such influence because of the Holyrood electoral system

Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were able to exert such influence because of the Holyrood electoral system

3

Carlos Alba: Blame Tony Blair and his voting system for ludicrous power of the Greens

Why do we fetishise big global companies like Amazon?

Why do we fetishise big global companies like Amazon?

1

Robin McAlpine: Enough is enough: We must stop the fire-sale of our economic assets

10

Brian Taylor: Yousaf could have survived but he shot himself in the foot

A Brexit celebration rally

A Brexit celebration rally

8

Ian McConnell: Toxic Tory ideology and all the wrong priorities

Humza Yousaf with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater at a pro-independence rally in Edinburgh

Humza Yousaf with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater at a pro-independence rally in Edinburgh

3

Kevin McKenna: Only the people can sort out the mess created by our politicians

Alba leader AAlex Salmond appears on Sunday with Laura Kuensssberg

Alba leader AAlex Salmond appears on Sunday with Laura Kuensssberg

9

Alison Rowat: welcome to the Alex Salmond Show - anyone seen Ash Regan?

First Minister Humza Yousaf is facing a vote of no-confidence at Holyrood

First Minister Humza Yousaf is facing a vote of no-confidence at Holyrood

Bute House Agreement

5

Here's a wee lesson in history for Humza Yousaf ahead of Holyrood no-confidence vote

First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks during a press conference at Bute House, Edinburgh, after the First Minister terminated the Bute House agreement

First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks during a press conference at Bute House, Edinburgh, after the First Minister terminated the Bute House agreement

16

Mark Smith: The seven key clues to Humza Yousaf’s fate

Women's rights protesters in Washinton DC

Women's rights protesters in Washinton DC

Lawrence Donegan: Trump took away women's rights - now they could cost him election

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie at the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Green Party co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie at the Scottish Parliament

20

Mark Smith: Reactionary and right-wing? Don’t let the Greens’ little tantrum fool you

David Cameron and Nick Clegg

David Cameron and Nick Clegg

National government

2

Alistair Carmichael: Coalitions are challenging – SNP and Greens are not up to that

Rishi Sunak giving his speech on welfare reform, where he called for an end to the

Rishi Sunak giving his speech on welfare reform, where he called for an end to the

CITIZENS ADVICE

Sick note rhetoric does not match reality

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

18

Neil Mackay: Yousaf and the SNP deserve to fall, and Scotland deserves an election

7

Ian McConnell: Bizarre Brexit view of a true believer

First Minister Humza Yousaf at Bute House

First Minister Humza Yousaf at Bute House

17

Alison Rowat: Whatever Yousaf wished for, it cannot have been this

Scottish Greens

13

Ross Greer: What was behind Yousaf's sudden Bute House Agreement U-turn?

Donald Trump in court

Donald Trump in court

1

Lawrence Donegan: Statue of Liberty weeps as the Trump trial rolls on

Scotland needs more engineers

Scotland needs more engineers

2

Ivan McKee: Scotland needs more skilled workers - and here's how we can get them

Ferry fiasco seems to get worse with every passing month

Ferry fiasco seems to get worse with every passing month

Caledonian MacBrayne

6

Rosemary Goring: Ferry fiasco could herald unofficial new wave of clearances

26

Brian Taylor: Humza Yousaf faces a crisis – of his own making

Richard Gadd created Baby Reindeer

Richard Gadd created Baby Reindeer

Like an episode of Baby Reindeer: What is it really like to have a stalker?

Sign up for Lessons to Learn and get a weekly expert insight into Scottish education

Sign up for Lessons to Learn and get a weekly expert insight into Scottish education

Lessons to Learn 🎓

6

Bute House Agreement has been an unmitigated disaster for Scottish education

Humza Yousaf with his erstwhile colleague Lorna Slater

Humza Yousaf with his erstwhile colleague Lorna Slater

Scottish independence

10

Kevin McKenna: The end can't come quickly enough for Humza Yousaf

Should Humza Yousaf take Kate Gorbes back into government?

Should Humza Yousaf take Kate Gorbes back into government?

7

Andy Maciver: Yousaf must now be bold and bring back Forbes

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer, holds a meeting with members of his shadow cabinet during a visit to St. George's Park, Burton-Upon-Trent in the West Midlands.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer, holds a meeting with members of his shadow cabinet during a visit to St. George's Park, Burton-Upon-Trent in the West Midlands.

Rebecca McQuillan: England needs to feel proud of itself - for all our sakes

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