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1 day ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
Kezia Dugdale criticised the tougher stance on immigrationSir Keir Starmer’s speech on immigration represented the “lowest point” of the party’s tenure in government, a former Scottish leader has claimed. Kezia Dugdale, who led Scottish Labour from 2015-2017, claimed the changes were at odds with Sir Keir’s leadership pitch in 2020, and who she believed him to be as a person.
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1 day ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
Graeme Day condemned the announcement around visa changes by Sir Keir Starmer. New immigration changes will be “deeply damaging” to Scotland’s universities, the education minister has warned.
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2 days ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
It follows announcements from the UK Government on MondayLabour’s new immigration controls are a “guillotine” on the care sector that will see homes close, the industry has warned. Sir Keir Starmer used a Downing Street speech on Monday to lay out plans to “significantly” reduce net migration as the ruling party seeks to head off the electoral threat from Reform UK.
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3 days ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
The UK and US have agreed a trade deal, in what is a historic achievement for both Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. We know this because they both said so, repeatedly, in a press conference so well organised it was an hour late, the footage was all over the place and the agreement’s announcement came as a surprise to both MPs and ministers. I am not for a second arguing the deal isn’t good news.
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5 days ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has claimed plans by an oil and gas firm to axe 250 jobs in Scotland was a direct result of the UK government having an “idealistic” approach to net zero. The Aberdeen South MP insisted he was a “firm believer” in the green transition, but accused policy makers in Westminster of leaving workers behind and risking great damage to the economy.
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6 days ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
The US-UK trade agreement has finally been confirmed in what was described as a “fantastic, historic day” by Sir Keir Starmer. Announced through a phone call between the Prime Minister and US President, it sees reductions to a series of tariffs, as well as major changes in various industries. Donald Trump said the “final details” of the agreement were still being “written up”, but that “just about everything has been approved”. Here’s what it means for the UK and Scotland.
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6 days ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
The first details of the trade deal between the US and the UK was announced on Thursday. Donald Trump has announced a “full and comprehensive” trade deal in what is seen as a major coup for Sir Keir Starmer. The timing and manner of the announcement came as a surprise to both UK ministers and many in the states, with the president not afforded unilateral authority to enter into trade agreements, and needing Congress approval to confirm them.
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6 days ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
The UK has secured a new trade deal with India, but the response has not been completely positive. As details began to emerge, both Reform and Tory MPs began taking issue with aspects of the deal. Criticism was specifically the agreement would allow some Indian workers transferred to Britain to temporarily avoid paying social security in this country and vice versa. Opponents claim the deal creates a “two-tier” tax system, a phrase increasingly used by the right.
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1 week ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
Harbour Energy announced job losses on Wednesday morningThe Prime Minister has been confronted over Scottish job losses by both Stephen Flynn and Kemi Badenoch, at a heated PMQs.Sir Keir Starmer was challenged on supporting North Sea jobs after it was announced 250 onshore roles in Aberdeen were being cut by Harbour Energy. The firm explained it was taking the decision because of “the Government’s ongoing punitive fiscal position and a challenging regulatory environment”.
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1 week ago | 
scotsman.com | Alexander Brown
The trade deal was announced on TuesdayThe UK and India have sealed a free trade agreement in a major boost to Scotch whisky. In an agreement that will boost sectors hardest hit by Donald Trump’s tariffs, with dramatic tariff reductions on scotch whisky and car exports to India, while levies on aerospace, electricals and other food products will also fall. UK consumers are also expected to benefit from tariffs being reduced on some Indian goods such as clothing imported to the country.
