#scottish-government

#scottish-government

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has said that support for the SNP is going from strength to strength, despite the turmoil the party has faced in recent weeks.But he said I will never, ever be complacent, with a general election likely next year, as he led a national campaigning day to mark one month of his leadership of the SNP.

Scotland will have to contend with high inflation throughout 2023, an economics expert warned with significant price rises particularly for food continuing to put pressure on household budgets.Professor Mairi Spowage, director of the Fraser of Allander Institute think tank, said the economic outlook is exceedingly uncertain.

Junior doctors are being urged to back strike action in their battle with Holyrood for higher pay.BMA members who are junior doctors in Scotland will receive a ballot on Wednesday asking them if they support walkouts as part of their campaign for a pay rise.Dr Chris Smith, chairman of the BMA's Scottish Junior Doctors Committee, said junior doctors had seen their pay drop 23.5% in real terms since 2008 and added: This historical injustice must be corrected and our pay restored.

First Minister Humza Yousaf should have ordered police to have a standoff at Edinburgh Castle to stop the Stone of Destiny being taken to Westminster, Alex Salmond has said.The stone was taken to London last week to be used in the coronation of the King this weekend, as it has been used for centuries, but the former first minister said it could have been used to barter for another referendum on Scottish independence.

Humza Yousaf, who has become the first minority ethnic leader of the Scottish government, has had the advantage and the curse of being seen as the continuity candidate and Nicola Sturgeon's unacknowledged favourite.Of all three candidates, Yousaf, 37, was the only enthusiast for Sturgeon's approach and earned by far the most endorsements from SNP parliamentarians and ministers, notably including Sturgeon's deputy and closest political friend, John Swinney, himself a former leader of the party.

Scottish health secretary Humza Yousaf will finally find out his fate in the SNP leadership contest today.Mr Yousaf has been standing in the tense five-week contest against Ash Regan and Kate Forbes after Nicola Sturgeon announced she would resign, and will find out if he wins at around 2pm on Monday.

As co-leader of the Scottish Green Party, Lorna Slater attended three official ceremonies honoring the death of Queen Elizabeth II, including her state funeral.But she won't be going to the coronation of King Charles III.Paying last respects to a widely revered queen was one thing, she said, even if the funeral seemed at times like a film set from Game of Thrones.'

Rishi Sunak has condemned the SNP for its record of failure, as he insisted the Conservatives will deliver for Scotland.The Prime Minister said he is confident he will meet five key aims he set out earlier this year, adding that Scotland is at the heart of my plans for delivery.Mr Sunak addressed the Scottish Tory conference in Glasgow on Friday morning.

Scottish ministers must be hard-headed and realistic in tackling poverty, focusing on targeted interventions funded by bold tax decisions instead of universal provision, Humza Yousaf has told a landmark cross-party, cross-sector summit.But the first minister's suggestion that budget constraints could mean a shift away from policies like free school meals for all was met by an immediate backlash from campaigners.

Kate Forbes insisted her position on highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) has not changed since she pledged to scrap it in the SNP leadership election but said there could be a way forward if Scottish government works with coastal communities.Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Scotland on Tuesday, Ms Forbes said it is her job to engage with the Scottish government, which she said has turned a corner in its approach to HPMAs.

From 24m ago Cullen is urging the health secretary Steve Barclay not to be disrespectful to striking nurses and to get round the table immediately to resolve their pay dispute.Asked on Sky News about Barclay's description of the ongoing RCN strike as premature and disrespectful to the other unions, Cullen has said: There's certainly no disrespect being shown from our nursing staff, I can say that categorically.

Scotland's transport minister has called for an investigation into the running aground of a ferry on Orkney to be completed sooner rather than later.Smoke was detected in the engine room of the MV Pentalina on Saturday night before it became grounded near the village of St Margaret's Hope on the island, leading to the evacuation of 60 passengers, including three children and an infant.

A ferry which ran aground leading to the evacuation of 60 passengers, has been refloated and towed to its berth.The MV Pentalina will now be surveyed to establish the extent of any damage and monitored for pollution, the coastguard said.RNLI vessels went to the scene after the vessel issued a mayday message off Orkney on Saturday night.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is standing guard over the Stone of Destiny in London to make sure nationalists don't steal it again, Tories have been told.The UK Government minister addressed the Scottish Conservatives' conference via video, with junior Scotland Office minister John Lamont appearing on stage to explain why his boss could not be there.

The Foreign Secretary has said he is Scotland's excellent advocate overseas after he was accused of sabotaging the Scottish economy with his draconian rules on foreign trips.James Cleverly was challenged in the Commons by SNP foreign affairs spokesman Drew Hendry, who suggested his new guidance to heads of mission abroad is sabotaging vital economic activity north of the border.

First minister Humza Yousaf has appointed the Scottish government's first minister for independence.Jamie Hepburn was announced on Wednesday in the government reshuffle, bagging a 98,000-a-year salary from public funds.Several peers raised their objection to the role, arguing that constitutional change was a reserved matter, not a matter for the devolved government.

Half of Scots think the country is heading in the wrong direction, a poll has found, as Nicola Sturgeon's more than eight-year rule as First Minister comes to an end.MSPs are expected to back Humza Yousaf to be Scotland's sixth first minister after he was named the new leader of the SNP at the end of an almost six-week campaign to succeed Ms Sturgeon.

Nearly seven in 10 children in England whose families are entitled to universal credit are not eligible for free school meals, according to a new report.Households in England receiving universal credit must earn below 7,400 a year before benefits and after tax to qualify for free school meals.This cap for means-tested free school meals means that around 1.7 million pupils in England whose families are entitled to universal credit 69 per cent of this group are not eligible for free lunches, researchers said.

Nearly seven in 10 children in England whose families are entitled to universal credit are not eligible for free school meals, according to a report.Families on universal credit (UC) are much more likely to be food insecure than other households, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said.Currently, households in England receiving UC must earn below 7,400 a year before benefits and after tax to qualify for free school meals.