Looming Glasgow by-election poses problem for Brown

Labour strategists are planning a positive approach to next month’s expected by-election in Labour East. Current MP David Marshall is expected to step down for health reasons, leaving July 24th as the date pencilled in for the vote. The Daily Record newspaper suggests local councillor George Ryan is the favourite to succeed Mr Marshall as […]

SNP savage Labour over referendum at first ministers questions

Alex Salmond, the Scottish National party (SNP) first minister of Scotland, has savaged his Labour counterpart Wendy Alexander at first minister’s questions. The attack follows Ms Alexander’s calls on the SNP on Sunday to “bring on” a referendum. To jubilant cheers from his supporters, Mr Salmond joked: “Let me acknowledge the progress Wendy Alexander has […]

Just ‘one in five’ Scots in favour of independence

A new poll has shown that only one in five Scots are in favour of political independence from the UK. Labour’s plans for devolved government saw Scotland given its own parliament in 1998 though the UK parliament retains the power to increase or reduce the legislative might of Holyrood. But since the Scottish National Party, […]

Scottish govt pushes Smith on firearms

Home secretary Jacqui Smith is among those invited to a summit on gun control proposed by Scottish justice minister Kenny MacAskill today. Mr MacAskill is raising the issue at Holyrood and is calling for reform of existing legislation on firearms, including air weapons. He suggests gun control campaigners, law enforcers, rural and shooting groups and […]

Salmond rejects calls to quit as MP

Alex Salmond has come under renewed pressure to stand down as a Westminster MP. The Conservatives claim the SNP leader’s voting record at Westminster shows he treats his constituents “with contempt”. Figures published by the Scottish Conservatives show Mr Salmond has attended Westminster to vote twice since being elected to the Scottish parliament in May. […]

Cameron speaks out for English-Scottish union

David Cameron today spoke out in defence of the union under the slogan “stronger together”. Speaking as the leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, Mr Cameron said an imperfect union was preferable to a broken one. Although he said there were legitimate constitutional questions posed by the relationship between Scotland and England – most […]

Salmond sets ten-year target for independence

Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has set a ten-year target for winning independence from Westminster. The SNP leader had previously promised to hold a referendum on independence by the end of the nationalist party’s first term in government. Yesterday, however, he predicted Scotland would gain independence within a decade, leaving it free to raise its […]

Salmond pushes Scottish referendum vote

Alex Salmond has said a referendum bill offering independence to the Scottish people will be enacted during the current Scottish parliament. The Scottish National party (SNP) leader, delivering the leader’s speech at the SNP conference in Aviemore, said the bill would be placed before Holyrood in time for it to be passed by the current […]

SNP begin first conference in government

The SNP’s first conference in power has begun in Aviemore. Opening the conference, SNP leader Alex Salmond promised the three-day meeting of delegates would produce a slew of government policy. Mr Salmond said: “This is an historic first in the history of the Scottish National Party and of Scotland – the SNP meeting in conference […]

SNP publish independence white paper

The Scottish government has set out its plans for a referendum on independence. Despite opposition to full independence from MSPs and the public, first minister Alex Salmond said doing nothing was no longer an option. The SNP is committed to full independence but has presented a range of three options in its white paper. As […]