Andrew Learmonth

1 week ago | heraldscotland.com | Rebecca McCurdy |Andrew Learmonth

The legal judgement on the definition of a woman is expected at the UK Supreme Court. (Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire) The UK’s most senior judges are about to deliver a judgement on a landmark case setting out the definition of a woman. The very definition has caused friction across the political sphere, with the country’s most esteemed and expensive lawyers debating the topic.

2 weeks ago | heraldscotland.com | Andrew Learmonth

Russell Findlay, Thomas Kerr and Bute House (Image: Derek McArthur) This article appears as part of the Unspun: Scottish Politics newsletter. Yes and no are powerful words in Scottish politics. While John Swinney didn’t say yes when I asked him last week on The Herald’s new Unspun Live podcast whether he would be open to a Bute House Agreement Mk2 with the Scottish Greens, he didn’t say no either. “We’ll see what the election throws up,” he said.

2 weeks ago | heraldscotland.com | Andrew Learmonth

An elderly woman counting coins Scotland is facing a looming fiscal crisis as an ageing population and persistently low birth rates drive up public spending over the next five decades, according to the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC). In its latest Fiscal Sustainability Report, the independent body forecasts that devolved public spending will outpace funding by an average of 1.2% of total devolved spending annually between 2029-30 and 2074-75.

2 weeks ago | heraldscotland.com | Andrew Learmonth

John Swinney said he does not want to regret not doing enough to counter the rise of Reform. (Jeff Mitchell/PA) (Image: PA) John Swinney has said he does not want to look back on his time in office and regret failing to do enough to counter the rise of Reform UK.

2 weeks ago | heraldscotland.com | Andrew Learmonth

John Swinney in his office in the Scottish Parliament (Image: Gordon Terris) John Swinney has described the past fortnight as “deeply, deeply draining” as the First Minister spoke candidly to The Herald’s new Unspun Live podcast about grief, resilience, and the changing nature of public life. On Wednesday, Mr Swinney led tributes at Holyrood in a motion of codolence for Christina McKelvie, the SNP minister for drugs and alcohol policy, who died last week aged 57.