The Scotsman
From the flames: Crannog Centre relaunch
Singer Barbara Dickson with Albie Dunlop, 4, at the Scottish Crannog Centre at Loch Tay, where they unveiled a brand new crannog to replace one lost to a fire five years ago
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Regal style: Dress fit for a Queen
A member of staff from the Royal Trust Collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh prepares a silk evening dress worn by the late Queen Elizabeth II at the Commonwealth Heads of Government reception in 1997. It will be on show during...
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New Cabinet role to drive £1bn public sector cuts
Swinney has created an entirely new Cabinet role to oversee public sector cuts of £1 billion as he unveiled what he described as a “leaner, more agile” top team. The First Minister said his appointments should be seen as a “very clear signal” his...
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Something fishy: Skye’s walker
Skye Scott, from Trinity Primary in Hawick, with an artisan salmon-handled walking stick, made by Scottish Stickmakers. She was taking part in yesterday’s Border Union Schools Countryside Day
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Bus firms ‘left in dark’ over key SNP fare cap pledge
SNP’S bold pledge to cap bus fares at £2 for nearly half thescottishpopulationwithin 100 days of being re-elected has triggered alarm bells among operators who remain in the dark about how it will work. The price limit is due to be introduced by...
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Scottish rugby in mourning after legend Hastings dies
Scottish rugby legend Scott Hastingshasdiedattheageof61, sparking an outpouring of tributes to one of the game’s most beloved players. Hastings, a member of Scotland’s famous Grand Slamwinning team of 1990 alongside older brother Gavin, had been...
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Take a bow: Archers assemble for Kirk
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said he remains “surprised” to have been appointed to the role. The Rt Rev Gordon Kennedy was elected to the position as the Assembly opened in Edinburgh yesterday, replacing the Very...
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Double act: Sarwar and Swinney
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, left, and SNP First Minister John Swinney share a joke on the first day of the new Scottish Parliament at Holyrood yesterday
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Streeting set to move on PM as SNP targets Labour rebels
Wes Streeting‘s allies have claimed he is set to resign from the UK government today and launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer as Scottish Labour MPS were urged by the SNP to support its attempt to oust the embattled Prime...
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Labour war as Starmer clings on in Downing St
Sir Keir Starmer was clinging on to power last night as outright civil war broke out within the Labour Party with the resignation of four junior ministers and more than 80 MPS calling for the Prime Minister to resign. Meanwhile, 110 MPS came to the...
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Starmer in peril as scores of Labour MPS tell him to quit
Scores of Labour MPS have called for Sir Keir Starmer to standdownastheprimeminister’sfuturehangsinthebalance. The MPS called for the Prime Minister to resign following disastrous Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and English council election results...
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TV winner: Stars celebrate Baftas
Actress Celia Imrie attends the 2026 Bafta TV Awards at The Royal Festival Hall last night where Celebrity Traitors – on which she made a big impression – won best reality.
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SNP falls short as Reform and Greens votes surge
John Swinney fell short of an overall majority at the Holyrood election but the SNP still emerged as by far the largest party, securing a historic fifth term, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made an extraordinary breakthrough. The First Minister said...
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SNP showdown with Reform looms as Scotland awaits fate
John Swinney has vowed he will shun Reform MSPS outwith any official parliamentary “duties” if he is re-elected and Nigel Farage’s party wins MSP seats at Holyrood. The SNP leader is poised to shut out Reform MSPS from any cross-party workings or...
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SNP’S election lead tightens as Scotland heads to polls
John Swinney’s hopes of winning a majority at the Holyrood election are fading as Scots cast their votes today, with a series of polls suggesting the SNP’S lead is tightening. A final multilevel regression with post-stratification (MRP) poll by...
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Parents using AI in rising online abuse of teachers
are using AI and covert recordings of teachers as part of a rising tide of harassment in Scottish schools. Staff have reported "stress and significant harm" as they increasingly face threats, verbal attacks and online abuse. Minor issues are then...
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Ambulance waits for high risk patients
More than 1,000 higher-risk patients have waited longer than an hour for an ambulance in Scotland over the past five years, figures suggest. A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request analysed ambulance waiting times since 2020 across...
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Flying out: Scots troops in combat drills for Nato exercise
Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland have been taking part in urban combat drills as they prepare to deploy to Eastern Europe as part of a major Nato exercise. Troops from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots), are set to...
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Carrying a torch: Students honour uni hero
St Andrews University students took part in the annual Gaudie procession to honour John Honey, a student who, in 1800, rescued five crew members of a grounded ship
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By George: Clooney’s Scotland kit
Claire Phale, the winner of a Social Bite charity prize draw to have lunch with Hollywood superstar George Clooney at Gleneagles, presented him a Scotland football shirt at the event
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Golden girl: Medals revealed
Militsa Milenkova, who designed the medals for this summer’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games, holds up the gold version as they were unveiled at the city’s school of art yesterday
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Thousands of Scottish firms said to be in ‘critical distress’
A “deeply concerning” spike in businesses in critical states of distress across Scotland signals a “red flashing light” for the economy, according to a new report. There was a spike of more than 51.2 per cent in firms encountering the most serious...
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SNP plans to cap price of food branded undeliverable
John Swinney’s flagship plan to cap the price of essential foods has been branded “undeliverable” by the UK Labour government – placing the policy in doubt just hours after it was tabled by the SNP leader. Mr Swinney vowed to cap the price of...
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Hundreds aged 95 and over face ‘catastrophic’ A&E wait
More than 700 patients aged 95 and older waited longer than 12 hours at A&E departments last year, new figures show. The Scottish Liberal Democrats said the “catastrophic” waits were “putting some of the country’s most vulnerable people at serious...
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‘Aberdeen should be booming’ says Trump
Donald Trump said “Aberdeen should be booming” as he branded ministers “absolutely crazy” for not boosting oil and gas extraction in the North Sea amid conflict in the Middle East. Mr Trump took to his Truth Social page yesterday to criticise UK...
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Polo sprint: Players take to beach for horse power battle
Teams from Dundee and St Andrews took part in a game of polo on the beach at Elie in Fife. Players from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, St Andrews University and Dundee & Perth Polo Club competed. They played over six chukkas which also offered...
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Stars shine for Olivier Awards
Sir Ian Mckellen and Dame Helen Mirren were among the stars attending the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Paddington the Musical was the big winner
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Sprout and about: Nifty headgear at Aintree
Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse yesterday saw racing fans dressed up and, like this woman, sporting their most stylish hats
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Time for tee: The Masters begins
So much for him being here on a Green Jacket jolly. As the owner of one at long last, Rory Mcilroy may have been more relaxed than he’s ever been before teeing off in the Masters, but we should have known that he’d be in business mode when the gun went...
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Mcavoy’s premiere
Glasgow actor James Mcavoy and his wife Lisa Liberati attend the London Gala for his directorial debut ‘California Schemin’ at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square last night
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Moon shot: Stunning ‘Earthset’ captured by Artemis crew
This incredible image of the Earth ‘setting’ below the lunar horizon was captured from the Orion spacecraft at the far side of the moon. Aboard, crew members Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen have travelled further from...
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MOD urged to award Faslane contract to Scottish shipyard
The UK government has been urged to directly award a new defence contract to a Scottish shipyard to “rejuvenate” it after decades of “difficulty and uncertainty” and resist sending the job overseas. GMB Scotland has called for the Navantia yard in...
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Heir force: Royals turn out at traditional Windsor service
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the Easter Service at St George’s Chapel, in Windsor Castle, with the rest of the royal family. Kate was attending the traditional...
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Ear we go: Easter flower girls
Hope Richardson, right, and Maeve Graham Bowers sporting their bunny ears among the flowering daffodils in the grounds of Bowhill House near Selkirk, which is once again running its much-loved Easter-themed events for the next fortnight, with brand-new...
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Scandal-hit council strips SNP members of extra cash
SNP councillors have been stripped of extra payments in the wake of the scandal over disgraced former council leader Jordan Linden. North Lanarkshire Council passed a motion yesterday which said it was “inappropriate for any Member of the North...
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Up on the catwalk: New V&A show
Model Lucia Fairfull wears one of Vivienne Westwood’s personal dresses at a preview of ‘Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show’ at the V&A Dundee, which opens tomorrow
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Offord rejects ‘toxic’ label as rival parties round on Reform
Reform’s leader in Scotland has insisted his party is “running a positive campaign” after facing a “barrage” from his political rivals over accusations his party is spreading divisionaheadoftheholyrood election next month. Malcolm Offord came under...
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Fight for power: North Sea future is focus in Holyrood race
Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch visits the Well-safe Protector Oil Rig at Aberdeen’s South Harbour yesterday. The Tory chief is campaigning to ‘Get Britain Drilling in the North Sea,’ saying that increasing the UK’S oil and gas production could...
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Glasgow gong: Dwyer’s comedy win
Comedian Amanda Dwyer said she was “over the moon” after being named winner of the 2026 Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award yesterday.
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Hannibal lecture: Cox on election and Farage
Dundonian film and TV star Brian Cox – the first actor to play the role of Hannibal Lecktor in the movie Manhunter – is in Scotland to address today’s Believe in Scotland pro-independence rally in Edinburgh and took time out to speak to The Scotsman
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‘Unprecedented’ ferry crisis with eight vessels out of use
Calmac has warned of widespread disruption across the west coast and islands caused by an “unprecedented” situation with eight of its major ferries either out of action or undergoing repairs. The latest nightmare for the operator is affecting routes...
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School’s out: Now for the election
First Minister John Swinney after the final First Minister’s Questions of the current parliamentary session with fellow SNP MSPs in the Scottish Parliament's Garden Lobby
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Warning food inflation is set to double by the summer
Households could face spiralling food inflation within months – adding £150 to the average annual grocery bill – if disruption caused by the Iran war persists, experts have warned. The conflict in the Middle East could result in food inflation more...
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Waiting times crisis in NHS ‘may take 200 years to fix’
The lack of meaningful improvement in tackling the crisis across Scotland’s hospitals means it could take centuries before waiting times are reduced to the levels seen a decade ago, according to the leading body of emergency medicine...
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Horse power: St Andrews hosts annual beach polo battle
The University of St Andrews Polo Club, wearing navy, play against the University of Manchester Polo Club, wearing purple, in their annual beach match on the West Sands, St Andrews, Fife. After playing six chukkas Manchester won the match 7-5.
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Demands for PM to act now as bills soar
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to convene an emergency four nations summit after it was forecast household energy bills could jump by £332 a year in July following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. It came as motorists were warned...
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Exit: Sturgeon makes last speech
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon delivers her last speech in the Scottish Parliament during the final debate for the Children’s Bill yesterday
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Demands to put the right to end-of-life care into law
A leading end-of-life and hospice charity has warned SNP ministers that people diagnosed with a terminal illness are being “written off ” by Scotland’s health and care systems. The alarm raised by Marie Curie Scotland comes after MSPS rejected Liam...
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Assisted dying law is voted down by MSPS
◆ Holyrood’s ‘most profound’ decision ends in defeat for Lib Dem MSP Mcarthur’s bill by 69 to 57, with Gray abstaining ◆ Disappointed Mcarthur claims many of those who voted against the legislation would later ‘come to regret it’ ◆ Emotional...
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It’s good to talk: Clarke drops contract hint on school visit
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke with pupils at Kirklandneuk Primary School in Renfrew, where he announced his squad yesterday for the forthcoming pre-world Cup friendlies against Japan and Côte d’ivoire. He also revealed he would be open to discussing...
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To be or not to be: Author O’farrell joins Oscars hopefuls
Irish author Maggie O’farrell – who lives in Edinburgh – attends last night’s 98th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood rocking a striking veil. Hamnet, based on her novel, was up for eight awards, including Best Actress for star Jessie Buckley and Best...
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Top medical bodies oppose bill to legalise assisted dying
campaign to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill Scots has been dealt a blow with psychiatrists and pharmacists voicing their opposition to the plans. While the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland said it “remains neutral” in principle,...
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Dunblane families 30 years on: We must never forget
The sister of a five-year-old girl killed in the Dunblane atrocity has said “we cannot let people forget” what happened and warned that UK gun laws are “at risk” 30 years on. Ellie Crozier’s sister Emma was one of the 16 children murdered along with...
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Festivalline-up:ourcritics’choices
The internationally acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is to take up a residency at the Edinburgh International Festival for the first time to mark the departure of director Nicola Benedetti’s husband Wynton Marsalis from his role as artistic...
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Good sport: Hazel’s honour
Long-serving TV sports presenter Hazel Irvine, from St Andrews was yesterday made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by the Princess Royal during an investiture ceremony at Windsor
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Iran war: More evacuation flights as strikes continue
Shepherd boys inspect an unexploded Iranian projectile that landed in a field near Qamishli, eastern Syria, yesterday as the conflict sparked by the US and Israeli attacks on Iran continued. Britons trapped abroad began to arrive home while Sir Keir...
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Iran war: Trump says Starmer is ‘no Churchill’ in new blast
An EA-18G Growler prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East. Donald Trump has said he is not happy with the UK after it did not initially allow the...
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Tower block lockdown: Arrest after two injured
Edinburgh neighbourhood was plunged into lockdown yesterday after a stabbing incident which saw tower block sealed off. Police issued a warning to residents in the Calder area of Edinburgh at around 9am to stay indoors following 999 calls...
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Thousands of UK nationals stranded as Iran hits back
An unprecedented operation is under way to support thousands of British nationals in the Gulf as Iranian missile strikes rock the Middle East. The Foreign Office is understood to be working on plans for potential evacuation routes in case airspace in...
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Scots Labour woes deepen with slide to fourth in poll
Anas Sarwar has told Scots to “hold your nose” and vote Labour to remove the SNP from power – despite a dire byelection result and a damning poll overshadowing his crucial party conference. In a “direct plea” to voters ahead of May’s Holyrood...
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Well plaid
Designers Ruth Duff and Carmen Masson at the Lovat Mill in Hawick as it celebrates 200 years since a lucky misreading gave Tweed its name. The tale goes that a London cloth merchant examining some of the durable woollen cloth already popular in the...
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Police apology for failings as shotgun killer found guilty
Police Scotland has apologised to the family of a murdered man for initally treating his death as “non-suspicious”, despite the fact he had sustained dozens of injuries from shotgun pellets. David Campbell, a former head gamekeeper, was sentenced to a...
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