John Boothman

4 days ago | thetimes.com | Daniel Sanderson |John Boothman

The SNP has privately dropped demands for a new independence referendum, Sir Keir Starmer has claimed. The prime minister said that John Swinney, the first minister, had not raised the issue with him prominently in their talks, with discussions instead focusing on issues such as jobs, energy, security and the cost of living. Starmer also appeared to rule out any new vote on Scottish statehood while he remains in No 10, regardless of the results of the Holyrood elections next year.

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie |Daniel Sanderson |John Boothman

“When the campaign started, we thought we’d beat the Tories into third and put a bit of pressure on them,” says Ross Lambie, the architect who now dares imagine he might become Reform UK’s first member of the Scottish parliament when voters in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency cast their ballots in the most keenly watched Holyrood by-election in years. “But after we started canvassing, we realised how super-angry the Labour voters were. They feel betrayed.

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Daniel Sanderson |John Boothman

The rise of Reform UK and disillusionment with Sir Keir Starmer’s government has pushed support for Scottish independence to a record high, a poll suggests. A Norstat survey for The Sunday Times put support for independence at 54 per cent, the joint-highest level recorded by the polling firm in the series. The Yes side has opened up an eight-point lead when undecided voters are excluded.

1 week ago | thetimes.com | John Boothman

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Daniel Sanderson |John Boothman |Alex Massie