#scottish-independence

#scottish-independence

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails John Swinney has said it would be preposterous to let former SNP members back into the party to vote in the election to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader.The Deputy First Minister, who ruled himself out of the race on Thursday, poured scorn on the suggestion that members who left over the last year should be readmitted.

The departure of Nicola Sturgeon opens up an opportunity for Labour in Scotland potentially paving the way for the election of Labour government at Westminster, senior party figures believe.Following the First Minister's dramatic announcement that she is stepping down, party leader Sir Keir Starmer said Labour stood ready to be the change that Scotland needs.

Humza Yousaf's election as leader of the Scottish National party is a turning point for his nation but it remains to be seen whether his nation will turn for him.Mr Yousaf has devoted his working life to the goal of Scottish independence, but he takes power just as the cause's standing has dipped in the opinion polls.

The UK Government is scared of allowing a referendum on Scottish independence because it knows it will lose, the depute leader of the SNP has said.Keith Brown made the claim in the same week the Supreme Court ruled the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for another independence vote without express consent from Westminster.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Nicola Sturgeon leaves no clear strategy for independence as she stands down as Scotland's First Minister, her predecessor Alex Salmond said.Her one-time mentor turned political enemy said he feels for the SNP leader as she announced her resignation from the post on Wednesday.

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Nicola Sturgeon has announced that she will be stepping down as Scotland's first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) as soon as a successor is chosen.Ms Sturgeon, the first woman to lead her nation, announced her resignation after eight years in power at a press conference on Wednesday, in which she revealed that attending the funeral of a friend had caused her to make up her mind on the matter.

Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation with support for Scottish independence at 46%, a poll has suggested.The poll, conducted just before Ms Sturgeon gave her resignation speech at Bute House, also found 48% said things are going in the wrong direction for Scotland.This represented an increase from 39% who said things are going in the wrong direction when the same poll was conducted in November.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails A third of Scots think Kate Forbes is the best candidate to be Scotland's next first minister with a new poll indicating the Scottish Finance Secretary may be extending her lead over her rivals.

Nicola Sturgeon says she has enormous confidence' the SNP will choose someone of ability to replace her as SNP leader.She spoke just minutes after Kate Forbes entered the SNP leadership contest, joining Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan.The First Minister spoke highly of the three declared candidates and said she wanted a thoroughly positive debate.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Humza Yousaf says the SNP should decide the way forward for Scottish independence through regional assemblies of party members.At a campaign event on Saturday, he is expected to say these assemblies would inform the party's decision at its annual conference which is usually held in the autumn.

A second independence referendum would be too close to call if it was held tomorrow as the No camp edged slightly ahead in a poll.Of the 1,048 Scots interviewed by Savanta on behalf of the Scotsman newspaper, 46% would vote against independence, while 44% would vote in favour and 9% were undecided.With undecided voters removed, the poll suggests the No vote would take a narrow lead with 51%, compared with 49% for Yes.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has delivered the Scottish Government's annual budget statement at Holyrood, with changes to tax and public spending.Details were leaked to the BBC ahead of the scheduled statement, leading to Parliament being suspended for just over half-an-hour before the speech.

Support for Scottish independence has increased to 56%, a poll has suggested.A poll from Ipsos Scotland for STV of 1,065 Scots shows support soaring in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for a referendum on independence.With undecided voters ruled out, 56% who were likely to vote said they would back independence in a referendum, while 44% said they would vote against.

Half of Scots would vote SNP at the next general election if a victory for the party could lead to Scottish independence, according to a new poll.The snap poll of 1,006 Scottish voters was carried out by Find Out Now for Channel 4 News on Wednesday after the UK Supreme Court ruled another independence referendum cannot be held without the backing of Westminster.

The UK's highest court has ruled that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for a second independence referendum without Westminster's consent.The case was brought to the court after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon set out plans to hold a second vote on independence on October 19, 2023.But Supreme Court president Lord Reed said on Wednesday: The Scottish parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence.

The time may have come for reform of the House of Lords into a partially-elected senate, former Conservative minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind has said.Sir Malcolm Rifkind said the UK's parliament may need to evolve further (Danny Lawson/PA) He said: I think one change that is worth considering is a reform not in Edinburgh or Cardiff, but in Westminster itself.The Tory party grandee said the upper chamber of parliament may need to change into something which reflects more the age we live in.Sir Malcolm Rifkind questioned whether hereditary peers should continue (Ben Stansall/PA) This chamber could also have a constitutional role, symbolising the four nations of the UK as much as possible, he said.