As highlighted by @goodlawproject.org this could well be For Women Scotland's legacy. As things stand, many inclusive women's services could end up becoming universal. A real victory for women's rights.
David Bol
@davidbol.bsky.social
✍️Journalist - Deputy Political Editor 📰The Scotsman @scotsman.com 🌍Climate & energy nerd 🔵Falkirk FC fan 📍Scotland 🏴
Excl: SNP ministers are being urged to follow Andy Burnham and exclude rapists from its prisoner early release policy. Victim groups have warned "we cannot get to a point where a survivor spends longer pursuing justice than a perpetrator of rape spends in prison". www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP urged to follow Burnham and exempt rapists from early release
The Scottish government is proposing long-term prisoners including sexual offenders can be automatically released after serving just two thirds of their sentence.
scotsman.com
“The society is in the best position to galvanise support and bring together those who want the Mackintosh Building restored to its rightful place. “Over the coming weeks the society will form an international pressure group to lobby for exactly that.” www.scotsman.com/education/re...
Rennie Mackintosh Society makes bid to take over refurbishment of fire-hit Mack
The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society believes it can spearhead the restoration of the Glasgow School of Art’s The Mack
scotsman.com
Very last chance to join my wee but mighty external affairs team at Rape Crisis Scotland. Applications for part-time Policy Worker role close tomorrow. Details here: goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP...
Still a couple of weeks to apply for this.
Nicola Love@nicolalove.bsky.social · last mo.Come and join my small but mighty external affairs team. I'm looking for a part-time Policy Worker to help improve justice, health and community outcomes for survivors of rape and sexual violence. Early careers and unconventional work backgrounds encouraged. Info 👉🏻: goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP...
They've now said they'll rewrite the amendment, after blaming the Commons table office bylinetimes.com/2026/07/14/r...
Reform Wrongly Claims Party’s Elections Language Ban ‘Would Not Apply To Gaelic’ - Before Saying They'll Rewrite Plans
Nigel Farage's party hit by outrage after Byline Times revealed its plans would mean candidates being jailed for up to six months for using Gaelic, Irish or Cornish on election leaflets
bylinetimes.com
Wild proposal by Reform (first reported by @josiahmortimer.bsky.social) to ban Gaelic and any other language other than English or Welsh from election material, with those flouting the ban facing prison. The SNP has branded it a "despicable anti-Scottish" proposal. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Reform in attempt to criminalise Gaelic in 'despicable anti-Scottish' proposals
The SNP has accused Reform of a move “all too reminiscent of the brutal anti-Gaelic laws of the Highland Clearances”.
scotsman.com
Excl: Around 4,000 small businesses in Scotland will miss out on a flagship business rates relief scheme this year after the SNP government refused to pause a controversial revaluation. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
4000 small business premises missing out on rates relief after SNP refused to pause revaluation
SNP ministers have been accused of ‘turning their backs on Scotland’s small businesses’ after thousands of traders have missed out on a flagship rates relief scheme after a controversial revaluation
scotsman.com
The SNP has called on Andy Burnham to step away from the UK Labour government's "reckless migration plans". Given there was no manifesto commitment to be more hostile to people seeking asylum than the Tories ever were, could we see a shift in tone on immigration? www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Burnham under pressure to axe Starmer's 'reckless migration plans' as rebellion grows
Andy Burnham is facing a rebellion over Labour’s hostile immigration strategy
scotsman.com
The fossil fuel giants behind the proposed Jackdaw and Rosebank developments have claimed they are "ready to make a major contribution to Britain’s energy needs by this winter” as they called on Ed Miliband to provide "timely approval" of their North Sea plans. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Jackdaw bosses call for 'timely approval' from Miliband before winter
Preparatory works has already begun at both Rosebank and Jackdaw ahead of potential approval of envinmental consent by the Labour UK government.
scotsman.com
The SNP is being sued by "dozens" of people who donated to the ring-fenced indyref2 fighting fund that raised more than £660,000, court documents show. The draft summons brands the money being used for general SNP costs and spending as a "fraudulent breach of trust". www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP being sued by indyref2 donors over 'fraudulent breach of trust'
A draft summons on behalf of the donors has accused the SNP of a “fraudulent breach of trust”.
scotsman.com
Incredible how in Glasgow, in 2026, some folk think it's acceptable to get on the subway and sing sectarian songs to intimidate people. Scotland is mostly a modern, progressive nation but some people are stuck in the stone age.
Excl: SNP ministers have warned that Labour is putting Scottish energy jobs and wider national security at risk by refusing to set out planned £2bn cuts to energy projects until the autumn. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP warns Labour risking energy jobs and 'national security' over £2bn cuts
The UK government plans to cut around £2bn to find defence infrastructure will not be announced until the autumn.
scotsman.com
Another terrible chapter in the governance of Historic Environment Scotland. The new chair is expected to have “experience of promoting and embedding a positive and inclusive culture”. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
HES chair quits quango after nine months with with £400-a-day replacement sought
Bosses at the troubled heritage quango are recruiting a new chair with “experience of promoting and embedding a positive and inclusive culture” and “relationship management”.
scotsman.com
Excl: The UK government has been warned over taking Norwegian gas (which supplies as much as our own production) "for granted" amid fears Andy Burnham continuing Labour's ban on North Sea drilling could leave us reliant on LNG from volatile sources. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Warning over UK taking Norwegian gas 'for granted' in North Sea drilling ban
Industry chiefs have warned the UK’s energy security is being put at risk by relying on maintaining gas imports while banning North Sea oil and gas drilling.
scotsman.com
Andy Burnham, writing for The Scotsman, said he would give “local leaders the power and resources to connect communities, back young people and revive high streets.” But it is unclear how this would be implemented as local government is under the power of Holyrood. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Andy Burnham promises to devolve more power in 'pitch to Scotland'
In his first speech since Sir Keir Starmer announced he was resigning, prospective prime minister Mr Burnham vowed to give more devolution to local areas in Scotland
scotsman.com
Unravelling the enigma of Peter Murrell, the SNP's lonely, gadget-loving thief www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Unravelling the enigma of Peter Murrell, the SNP's lonely, gadget-loving thief
Former colleagues are struggling to come to terms with Murrell’s crimes
scotsman.com
Excl: Energy bosses are calling on the next prime minister to "rethink" Labour's North Sea strategy, warning the UK government's fiscal and licensing policies are holding back investment, including for renewables. Something for Andy Burnham to mull over. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Pressure on Burnham to 'rethink' Labour's oil and gas opposition at 'critical moment'
The North Sea industry is pleading with Andy Burnham to end the Labour UK government’s opposition to oil and gas.
scotsman.com
These are not "new safe routes" for people to seek asylum as Labour is claiming. They are reworkings of existing routes in a manner designed to exclude as many people as possible and put the onus of protection on individuals and community groups instead of the state which is required to provide it
Long-term prisoners, including sexual offenders, could be released after serving just two thirds of their sentence under SNP proposals. "We cannot get to a point where a survivor spends longer pursuing justice than a perpetrator of rape spends in prison." www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Violent and sex criminals set for release after two third of sentence under SNP plans
SNP ministers are also proposing changing the definition of a short-term prisoner from four to five years, allowing more inmates to be released early.
scotsman.com
Two weeks ago, Reform took the huff with @gillianmartin.bsky.social for accusing the party of being climate deniers - complaining the SNP were being mean to them. Today, Reform has tabled a Holyrood amendment denying the existence of the climate crisis and made inaccurate claims about renewables.
David Bol@davidbol.bsky.social · 2mo agoReform UK MSPs taking the huff in the Scottish Parliament after being called out for climate denial by SNP Climate Action Secretary @gillianamartin.bsky.social
Anas Sarwar making clear that Andy Burnham and Labour are poised to go to war with Nigel Farage's Reform UK. "Ultimately I think that is the big fight that this country faces - for the heart and soul of our nation.” (with @alistairkgrant.bsky.social) www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Next prime minister 'faces battle for heart and soul of the country'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party must prepare for ‘fight of our lives’
scotsman.com
My statement on the abhorrent anti-Muslim violence in Edinburgh.
While many in Scottish Labour would welcome Andy Burnham replacing Keir Starmer in Downing Street, particularly after Anas Sarwar's botched attempt to oust the PM in February, the party's troubles run far deeper than the leadership of the UK party. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Why Andy Burnham as PM would not be a silver bullet for Scottish Labour's troubles
Scottish Labour would welcome a UK Labour government led by Andy Burnham, but it will not end the party’s struggles at Holyrood
scotsman.com
Excl: The North Sea offshore industry has called on the UK government to designate oil, gas and renewables assets as critical national infrastructure in response to the growing threat from Russian aggression. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
OEUK call for North Sea energy assets to be deemed 'critical infrastructure'
Concerns have been raised over energy security amid fears Russia could target oil, gas and wind assets in the North Sea.
scotsman.com
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called on Keir Starmer to "urgently" address defence spending after the scathing resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Sarwar calls on Starmer to 'urgently address defence spending' after Healey quits
The Scottish Labour leader has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to rethink defence spending commitments.
scotsman.com
Pretty shocking to hear Lord Malcolm Offord describe people as "men of fighting age" when talking about refugees and asylum seekers at FMQs. Pretty clear @johnswinney.bsky.social wasn't impressed.
Another huge blow for Keir Starmer as Defence Secretary John Healey quits, warning the PM's proposed defence investment plan “could make the country less safe”. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
John Healey quits as Defence Secretary over spending on Armed Forces
Prime Minister is told defence investment plan falls ‘well short of what is required’
scotsman.com