Angus Cochrane

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Angus Cochrane

Angus CochraneBBC Scotland NewsThe Scottish Green leadership contest is "wide open", according to Lorna Slater. The MSP, who has led the party along with Patrick Harvie since 2019, confirmed she will stand for re-election in this summer's ballot. Harvie announced earlier this month he would stand down as co-leader in the summer after almost 17 years in the role.

4 weeks ago | bbc.com | Angus Cochrane

Sarwar defends UK government welfare cutsAngus CochraneGetty ImagesAnas Sarwar defended the welfare reforms after members of his party criticised the UK government Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has defended the UK government's controversial welfare reforms. The cuts have been condemned by charities, Holyrood ministers and some Scottish Labour politicians. Sarwar insisted the "principle" of reform was right but that any measures had to be "fair".

4 weeks ago | ca.news.yahoo.com | Angus Cochrane

Scottish government minister Christina McKelvie has died aged 57, the SNP has announced. McKelvie, the drugs and alcohol policy minister, stepped back from her duties last summer after announcing she was undergoing treatment for secondary breast cancer. She died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Thursday morning. McKelvie's partner and SNP depute leader Keith Brown said she was a beloved mother to two sons, partner and gran who "lit up every room she was in with her positivity and bright smile".

4 weeks ago | bbc.com | Angus Cochrane

Cuts needed to fund UK tax hike, says RobisonAngus CochraneGetty ImagesShona Robison says the Scottish government is facing a "major shortfall" The Scottish government will have to make cuts to public service budgets to cover an increase in employers' National Insurance, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said. It came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced welfare cuts and an increase in defence spending in her Spring Statement.

4 weeks ago | bbc.com | Angus Cochrane

MacAskill succeeds Salmond as Alba leader Angus CochranePA MediaKenny MacAskill served as acting leader following the death of Alba founder Alex Salmond Kenny MacAskill has been announced as the new leader of the pro-independence Alba Party. The contest was held following the sudden death of party founder and former First Minister Alex Salmond. MacAskill, an ex-Alba MP, narrowly defeated Ash Regan, the party's sole MSP, in a two-way ballot for the role. He won 1331 votes, taking 52.3% of ballots.