Tag: The Scottish Parliament
NHS spending at the heart of the programme for government
The Scottish Government has put the NHS and spending on it at the heart of the Programme for Government which will be announced at Holyrood on Tuesday.
The proposals will include increased spending of £2.5...
Foysol Choudhury MSP – the highlights of the first three months at Holyrood
Foysol Choudhury MBE MSP offers some insight into the key highlights of his first while in office since being elected in May.
Mr Choudhury is the first Bangladeshi MSP at Holyrood. He is Chair of Edinburgh...
Reminder that the EU Settlement deadline is at the end of June
Gordon MacDonald MSP would like to remind everyone in Edinburgh that Wednesday 30 June 2021 is the deadline for the UK Government’s EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
The Scottish Government continues to work on persuading the...
Scottish Conservative Leader self-isolating
Douglas Ross is self-isolating after coming into contact on Monday with someone who has now tested positive for Covid.
He was informed that a close contact had tested positive on Wednesday morning by text message...
SNP Government talking to the Greens about possible agreement
Scottish Ministers have confirmed that they will enter structured talks with the Scottish Green Party, supported by the civil service, with a view to reaching a formal Co-operation Agreement.
The initiative is part of a...
Scottish Greens announce parliamentary spokespeople
The Scottish Greens have revealed their spokespeople that will cover the various government portfolios.
Co-leader Patrick Harvie will continue to speak on finance and constitutional issues, while fellow co-leader Lorna Slater will lead on the...
Stephen Kerr becomes Scottish Conservative Chief Whip
New MSP and Scottish Conservative Leader, Douglas Ross, has wasted no time in setting up one of the most important administrative roles in the party at Holyrood.
Stephen Kerr MSP has been appointed the...
At The Scottish Parliament this week
Now that all 129 MSPs have been elected there is an amount of procedure to get through to ensure they can all get started on fulfilling the promises made during the election campaign.
On...
First day for new MSPs at Holyrood
Several new MSPs were elected to seats in Edinburgh and Lothian as well as others from all over the country.
All of the newbies were photographed at Holyrood by the parliamentary photographer learning how...
#SPE21RESULT Edinburgh Northern and Leith – Ben Macpherson retains his seat
The election results for Edinburgh Central were announced at the very end of all the counts in Scotland except the regional results.
The MSP is Ben Macpherson who returns to Holyrood where he was...
#SPE21RESULT Edinburgh Pentlands – Gordon Macdonald returned for third term
The election results for Edinburgh Pentlands have been announced.
The MSP is Gordon Macdonald who has represented the constituency for the last two terms. There was definitely some tactical voting and at one stage...
#SP2021 – Independent candidate for Lothian Ashley Graczyk
Ashley Graczyk is an Independent Candidate for Lothian in the Scottish Parliament Election on 6 May 2021.
We asked her to provide the answers to some questions we have asked several of the...
#SP2021 – SNP promise more support to students
Nicola Sturgeon will on Tuesday underline the SNP’s commitment to supporting students through the pandemic and into the recovery by driving forward the Widening Access agenda and expanding student support.
The First Minister will be...
#SP2021 – how does the election system work in Scotland?
How do we elect Members of the Scottish Parliament?
The Scottish Parliamentary Election 2021 is almost upon us. Most people understand that the election is determined by two votes – a vote for a constituency...
Letter from Scotland
Scotland’s leading businessman and philanthropist, Sir Tom Hunter, has entered the election campaign with a call for all the political parties to spell out how they will revive the economy after the Covid-19 pandemic. ...
#SP2021 – SNP pledge money for play parks
£60m PLAY PARK RENEWAL FUND TO HELP GIVE EVERY CHILD A PLACE TO PLAYSNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon pledged on Saturday that an SNP Government will be “more determined than ever to make Scotland the...
#SP6 – Alba Party announces four Lothian candidates
The newest party in Scotland, the Alba Party, has announced its 32 candidates standing in every region of Scotland.
The way the voting system works is a form of proportional representation, with first past...
Vote of no confidence in the First Minister defeated in The Scottish Parliament
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives at Holyrood, Ruth Davidson MSP made one of her last speeches in the parliament calling for the resignation of First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
Following an emotive afternoon - on...
National Day of Reflection marked at Holyrood
On the anniversary of the UK going into the first national lockdown the grim milestone was marked by people around the country.
Charity Marie Curie led the National Day of Reflection to recognise and remember...
Hamilton report published today – finding no breach by the First Minister
The Irish barrister James Hamilton was charged with investigating whether First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had breached the Ministerial Code.
Specifically he was asked to examine if Ms Sturgeon had misled the parliament "in respect of meetings...
Jackie Kay ends her term as Makar
Jackie Kay's tenure as Scotland's national poet has come to an end after five years as planned.
Scotland's third Makar – she succeeded Edwin Morgan and Liz Lochhead – described her time in the role...
Ross launches Retrain to Rebuild manifesto promise
Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross MP, will unveil a new policy proposal for £500 ‘Retrain to Rebuild’ accounts to help people get back into work and progress their career when he speaks...
Greens call for deselection of Lothian list Conservative candidate
The Scottish Greens have called for the deselection of Cllr Sue Webber who is they say a "Covid sceptic Tory candidate".
The party says that Cllr Webber - who is second on the Lothian Conservative...
John Swinney survives vote of no confidence
The Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood last night by 65 votes to 57.
The Scottish Greens voted with the government to ensure that the fallout from...
Scottish Parliamentary Election 2021 – Ashley Graczyk for Lothian
Ashley Graczyk is standing as an independent MSP candidate for Lothian
Here she sets out her Five Key Priorities for us:
I’m now heading for the biggest job interview of my life as an...
Conservatives lodge motion of no confidence
The Scottish Conservatives have lodged a motion of no confidence in Deputy First Minister John Swinney after the government missed a deadline to publish their legal advice for Alex Salmond’s judicial review.
A one-line motion...
Retail Workers Bill to be passed this week
The Scottish Parliament will debate and vote on the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday. The bill is widely expected to pass and will then become law....
Timetable set today for announcement of new Scottish Labour leader
Scottish Labour's ruling body has approved a timetable to elect a new leader who will be in place by the end of February.
The process begins on Saturday with expressions of interest for the leadership...
Protesters clash with police at Holyrood
Despite warnings about gathering at Holyrood to stage a protest against lockdown measures, a small number of people did gather there on Monday.
Police Scotland are reporting this evening that four people have been arrested...
Reform UK launches in Scotland with Michelle Ballantyne appointed leader
The political party Reform UK has launched in Scotland on Monday.
Michelle Ballantyne, the independent MSP for Southern Scotland, has been announced as its leader sitting in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood as a Reform...