Holyrood

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John Swinney defends government record on cancer waits

2 days ago | holyrood.com | Louise Wilson

First Minister John Swinney had defended his government over cancer waiting times after the latest figures showed they were the worst on record. He said the NHS was treating a higher number of patients with cancer on time than six years ago, before the coronavirus pandemic, but accepted the failure to meet the 62-day target was “not acceptable”.
Devolved parliaments hit out at ‘inadequate consultation’ on welfare reforms amid growing Labour rebellion

3 days ago | holyrood.com | Louise Wilson

The three devolved parliaments have jointly criticised the “inadequate consultation and engagement” from the UK Government over its planned changes to disability benefits. The conveners of Holyrood’s social security committee, the Welsh Senedd’s equality committee and the Northern Ireland Assembly’s communities committee have written a letter to Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, over the reforms.
Drones drops could help rewilding in Scotland, trial suggests

5 days ago | holyrood.com | Kirsteen Paterson

Drone drops hold the key to cheaper, faster rewilding across Scotland, it is claimed. A pilot project in the Highlands saw drones used to disperse native tree seeds across degraded moorland where sheep and deer grazing has eaten away at natural woodland. Three hectares of hillside on the Moidart peninsula were chosen for the project in April 2024. Supported by the University of Edinburgh and drone specialists Auto Spray Systems, the trial took place on land near Roshven, Lochaber.
Scottish Conservatives announce frontbench reshuffle in election readiness bid

1 week ago | holyrood.com | Kirsteen Paterson

Russell Findlay has announced a frontbench reshuffle ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. Polls suggest the party will slip from second place next year. At the recent Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, it was pushed into fourth place, narrowly avoiding the loss of its deposit. Leader Findlay has now announced frontbench changes to ensure his team is “ready to fight” for votes.
Getting to Know You: Graeme Downie

1 week ago | holyrood.com | Ruaraidh Gilmour

What’s your earliest memory? The earliest that I can recall in any detail was in Berlin, where I grew up, and to be honest all those three years there were memorable. I was eight when the Berlin Wall came down. We had the day off school and my dad got me up at three in the morning to watch it on German television. It was before the days of CNN and he told me, ‘you need to watch this, it’s history’.
'Is this for real?' Russell Findlay asks John Swinney over school violence guidance

1 week ago | holyrood.com | Louise Wilson

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has hit out at Scottish Government guidance on tackling violence in schools. Dubbing the document published this week "tedious, hand-wringing nonsense", Findlay called on ministers to "empower teachers" to take a stricter line on violent and disruptive behaviour. First Minister John Swinney said Findlay's description of the guidance was incorrect and defended its contents.
Scottish Government sets new carbon budgets

1 week ago | holyrood.com | Ruaraidh Gilmour

The Scottish Government has announced its new five-year carbon budgets. The new climate targets follow the announcement by former net zero minister Mairi McAllan in April last year that the government was scrapping its 2030 target to reduce emissions by 75 per cent. The new carbon budgets will limit the amount of greenhouse gases Scotland will emit in the years leading up to 2045, when it has a legal requirement to negate greenhouse emissions entirely.
No more new Commissioners for Scotland, MSPs urge

1 week ago | holyrood.com | Kirsteen Paterson

MSPs have urged the Scottish Government not to create more commissioners to oversee public services. There are currently seven commissioners directly responsible to the Scottish Parliament, covering everything from biometrics to public services. And there are calls to create five more within the next year. But creating new bodies is neither "effective nor sustainable" and no more should be set up unless it is a "last resort", it is claimed.
Jim Fairlie: Within six months of a Labour government we’ve seen tractor rallies all over the UK

1 week ago | holyrood.com | Ruaraidh Gilmour

When former farmer Jim Fairlie was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity by Humza Yousaf in February last year, it was amid accusations of a central belt bias from the SNP government and that rural Scotland had become an afterthought. There were also clear divisions in the party. Some MSPs were publicly calling on Yousaf to end the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens, and more were urging it in private.
Trans criminals cannot escape records by changing names, justice secretary says

1 week ago | holyrood.com | Kirsteen Paterson

Trans criminals cannot escape their offences by changing their names, justice secretary Angela Constance has said. Police Scotland and the Crown Office have faced calls for an immediate review of their record-keeping after it emerged that convictions were missing from a list compiled on a convicted murderer. Trans prisoner Alex Stewart, previously known as Alan Baker, is serving a life sentence for the knife murder of a father-of-two.