The Scotsman
80 years of Waverley
The world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, Waverley, yesterday sailed under London’s Tower Bridge as part of celebratio nsto mark 80 years since she wa sl aunche din Glasgow
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Palm houses reopen
For David Knott, director of horticulture at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the reopening of the Palm Houses after a five-year refurbishment has a special significance. Mr Knott, who has over 45 years experience in Scottish horticulture and has...
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MSP Lennon accused of bullying by former staff
A high-profile Labour MSP who is set for a key role in Holyrood has been accused of bullying by multiple former members of staff, The Scotsman can reveal. Concerns have been raised about Monica Lennon’s return to the Scottish Parliament and expected...
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Burnham’s retort to Swinney
First Minister John Swinney said Andy Burnham is “repeating the mistakes of Keir Starmer” as the Prime Minister confirmed reform to the pensions triple lock. It comes after the PM said he is “determined to prove John Swinney wrong” in a blistering...
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Irreplaceable: Peter May tributes
Tributes have been paid to Scottish author Peter May, famous for his Hebrides-set Lewis Trilogy, after his death at the age of 74. He has been described as ‘irreplaceable’
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Unfilled midwifery shifts put maternity care under strain
40,000 midwifery shifts were left unfilled across Scottish maternity and neonatal services over the past three years, with the staffing shortfalls more than doubling at some health boards. An investigation by The Scotsman as part of a weeknearly long...
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All eyes on new boss: Pocognoli era begins
Belgian Sebastien Pocognoli will take charge of Scotland for the first time today when his side face Slovenia in Ljubljana. He has urged his new-look squad to be a band of ‘brothers’
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Line dancing: Scottish Ballet prepares for Emergence
Scottish Ballet dancers in rehearsal for the company’s production of Emergence by Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite, which plays at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, tonight and tomorrow and at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre on October 1-3. The work,...
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Taking the stand: Peggie returns
Sandie Peggie outside her employment tribunal against the Royal College of Nursing in Dundee yesterday. She claims the union discriminated against her after she made a complaint about trans doctor Beth Upton, who was using the female changing facilities
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Warm welcome: President’s ‘good connection’ with PM
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, left, sits down for a meeting with US President Donald Trump yesterday during his visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Mr Trump later praised Mr Burnham as a ‘natural business person’ and said...
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Role play: Deputy PM Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon plays deputy prime minister to Michael Gove’s PM in Sky series The Wargame which started last night. It imagines a possible Russian attack on the UK
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Top dogs: Father and son triumph at ‘sheepdog Olympics’
A father and son from Wales have both been crowned world champions at the Sheep Dog World Trial 2026, yesterday at Huntington Farm, near Lauder in the Borders. David Howells, from West Glamorgan, won the world title with Wyverne Pip, while his son Jack...
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Universities at ‘crunch point’ as strikes loom
Scottish universities are at a “crunch point” with thousands of staff set to take part in “unprecedented” strikes at the start of the new academic year. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian and...
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Kate tries shinty
The Duchess of Rothesay participates in a game of shinty, while visiting Bute Shinty Club, in Rothesay, on the royal couple’s first official visit to the island
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Park life: Charles in Cairngorms
King Charles visited the Cairngorms National Park yesterday to meet firefighters, community leaders and volunteers who helped to contain this summer’s wildfire in the area
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Lady Elinor: Daisy’s dashing role
Daisy Edgar-jones at last night’s world premiere of Georgia Oakley’s film of the Jane Austen novel Sense & Sensibility at London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square. Edgar-jones plays Elinor Dashwood
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By hook or by crook: World Sheepdog Trial set to start
Ewan Runciman poses with his sheepdogs Fran and Meg ahead of his family farm – Huntington at Lauder – hosting the World Sheepdog Trials. The contest will see 34 countries compete across three trial fields starting tomorrow, with the champions crowned...
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Fresh bullying and cronyism allegations at troubled HES
Fresh allegations of cronyism, bullying and racism at Historic Environment Scotland (HES) have emerged as a former senior member of staff takes the troubled quango to an employment tribunal. The complaint from a senior HR manager levels a raft of...
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Grateful Kate: Princess visits cancer hospital
The Princess of Wales praised the ‘incredible’ cancer care she received at the Royal Marsden when she returned to the London hospital yesterday to thank staff and meet patients
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9/11 anniversary: Shining tribute
legal case involving the family of a Scottish businessman who was killed in 9/11 is set to come back before the US courts later this month. Derek Sword, from Dundee, was among nearly 3,000 victims of the worst terrorist attack in US history when a...
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The final cut: Ram is made sheepshape for Kelso sales
Farmer Richard Campbell gives one of his Maidenhair Farm flock of Suffolk rams a final trim as he prepares for this year’s Border Union Kelso Ram Sales, which take place tomorrow. Around 4,500 rams, or tups as they are also known, will go under the...
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Student prince: George at Eton
Prince George began his first day at Eton College yesterday with the reassuring presence of his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, by his side. Kate placed a hand on his back during the greetings with senior staff and when the royals first...
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Palm return day: People will be in glass houses again soon
Glasshouse supervisor Louise Galloway with Valdivia gayana saplings ready for planting in the A-listed Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, which will open to the public on October 2 after a fiveyear closure for restoration. The houses...
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Pier we go: A new term beckons
Hundreds of students at the University of St Andrews have taken part in the traditional walk to the end of the pier ahead of the start of the new academic year. Wearing their distinctive red gowns, the students strolled to the end of the pier, climbed...
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Fashion statement: V&A’S Scottish showcase
A model at V&A Dundee last night in the inaugural Scotland Fashion Now: Graduate Showcase, featuring collections from Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Gray’s School of Art and The Design School at Heriot-watt. It launched a weekend of...
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Fears as fewer than two in five pupils pass key subjects
Fewer than two in five Scottish pupils are passing maths, English and STEM subjects at National 5 level, new figures have revealed. Exam pass rates have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels with maths and STEM particularly hard hit. While there has...
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Embrace ‘Manchesterism’ for Scotland, Swinney is told
Two public policy experts have teamed up to call on John Swinney to create a “Manchester model” for Scotland – insisting that regional devolution can take place without a radical overhaul of local government. The appeal from Professor Sir Anton...
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Swinney faces backlash over plan to slash health boards
John Swinney is facing a fierce backlash from trade union leaders after announcing plans to drastically reduce the number of NHS boards in Scotland from 14 to two. Unite accused the first minister of setting out a “slash and burn” programme which will...
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Sharp message: The Knife Angel
The Knife Angel sculpture has been installed at the Kirkgate in Leith to raise awareness of violence and knife crime as part of a UK tour. It will remain in place until September 27
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Mane attraction: Scone hosts international horse trials
Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze show their form in the cross country phase during the Scone Palace International Horse Trials. The event in the parkland of Scone Palace near Perth ended yesterday. There were a glut of gold medallists fighting it out...
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First things first: Our final awards of 2026
Motherland star Paul Ready celebrates winning a Scotsman Fringe First for his one-man show Little Animals.
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Send in the clowns
A member of the cast of Clown Show in rehearsals at the King’s Theatre, as they prepared to make their European debut at the Edinburgh International Festival
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Rapid rollout of GP walk-in clinics ‘risks worse crisis’
John Swinney has been warned a rapid expansion of 24 new GP walk-in clinics risks “unintended consequences” – including worsening health inequalities and adding to NHS workforce pressures. The first minister pledged to open five new centres and...
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Country loses its queen
Millions of fans around the globe and the world of country music were in mourning last night after the announcement by her family that legendary songwriter, performer and humanitarian Dolly Parton had died at he r home in Nashville, Tennessee ,at the...
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‘Dangerous’ Dott guilty of abuse
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott arrives at the High Court in Glasgow where he was found guilty of sexually abusing a primary school age girl and boy
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Double Scott: Jamieson triumphs
Scott Jamieson celebrates his victory in the Nexo Championship at Trump International at Balmedie in Aberdeenshire yesterday. The Glasgow golfer emulated fellow Scot Grant Forrest, who lifted the same title last year. It was Jamieson’s first win on...
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Paranormal service: Fringe First award win
Briony Martha and the team who put on the show Parasocial Activity at The Penny at Gilded Balloon Patter House with their Scotsman Fringe First after yesterday’s ceremony
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Police want power to demand face coverings are removed
officers have demanded powers to remove facial coverings and masks worn by those believed to be committing crimes, violence or serious disorder. The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, warned there would be “little...
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Birdie watching: Andy’s on course
Tennis legend Andy Murray – also a fine amateur golfer – plays his second shot on the first hole during the Pro-am of the Nexo Championship 2026 at Trump International Golf Links at Balmedie
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Ministers warned of ‘ticking timebomb’ of cancer cases
Ministers have been warned Scotland is facing a “ticking timebomb” as new statistics show an increase in people being diagnosed with cancer in the past 10 years. New statistics from Public Health Scotland show there were 37,657 new cancers registered...
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City is killing ‘golden goose’ by failing to fund festivals
City leaders are killing the “golden goose” of Edinburgh’s festivals due to a lack of funding support, the head of the Fringe Society has warned. Chief executive Tony Lankester said Edinburgh City Council’s financial contribution to the entirety of...
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A new Scotland boss
Sebastien Pocognoli has been unveiled as the new Scotland national team boss. The Belgian said he wants to build on the success of his predecessor,
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Red all about it: Film fest begins
Gayle Rankin arrives at the Caledonian hotel for ‘The Incomer’ Opening Gala at the Edinburgh Film Festival last night. The actress plays Isla in the film which is set on a Scottish island
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Eyes to the sky: An almost eclipse
People watch the solar eclipse on Calton Hill in Edinburgh last night. Cheers broke out as the eclipse started to peak at around 7pm, with fears of cloudy skies proving unfounded. Meanwhile, inset, Greenland witnessed a total eclipse
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Gold rush: Sunflowers spectacle
Catherine Mundell and her daughter Rose, four, enjoy the sunflowers at Balgone Estate, East Lothian, where there are three million of the plants for people to pick across ten acres
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SNP accused of U-turn on £10m ferry support fund
The SNP has been accused of making a U-turn on its preelection promise of a £10 million support fund for island businesses impacted by chaos on the ferry network. It comes after the first minister announced the launch of the fund during a trip to the...
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End the North Sea ‘madness’ and back oil, Burnham told
The UK Government has been urged to “end the madness” as a North Sea oil and gas consultation ends today. Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said that the end of the consultation around the Jackdaw gas field “should also mark the end of the...
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the festival
Dressed in patterned leggings and a turquoise and pink striped t-shirt, Amanda Knox looks every inch the wholesome, middle American soccer mom. In a sold-out room at Gilded Balloon’s Teviot venue, Knox surveys the set - designed to look like a messy...
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On parade: The Tattoo kicks off
More than 800 performers from across the globe will play at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s 2026 show, A Call To Gather
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Swinney’s fire response was ‘shameful’ says council leader
Edinburgh’s council leader has criticised John Swinney’s lack of response to Edinburgh’s plea over the Princes Street fire as “shameful”. Jane Meagher said the Scottish government had pledged £10 million support for Glasgow in dealing with the Union...
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Attainment gap persists as passes reach record levels
Too many school students in Scotland still face a “postcode lottery’ on educational achievement as the attainment gap between pupils from the richest and poorest areas refuses to close amid a near £2 billion investment in tackling the issue over the...
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Police landed with soaring overtime bill for protests
Police have been left with an overtime bill of £1.1 million due to the increasing number of protests across Scotland, with 3,000 days off cancelled for officers. The force described the demand as “intensive and consistent” and warned of a “significant...
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Lennon: Labour leadership contest ‘reeks of misogyny’
A Scottish Labour leadership contender said the contest “reeks of misogyny and male entitlement” as the race to replace Anas Sarwar turns increasingly bitter. Monica Lennon, who is at risk of not making the ballot, said Labour is operating like a...
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Super six: Fachie tops medal chart
Neil Fachie celebrates after he and pilot Aaron Pope won the Tandem B 1000m time trial, making Fachie Scotland’s most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete with six golds
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Trump says Burnham will open up North Sea drilling
Donald Trump has said new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told him he is going to “open up North Sea oil”. Speaking in the White House, the US president said if Mr Burnham followed through on his commitment the UK was “going to be a wealthy...
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Cold gold: Eseme splashes record
The Scotstoun Stadium downpour didn’t put Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme off his stride as he sprinted to gold in the men’s 100m final in a Commonwealth Games record of 9.83 secs
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A titan: Tributes to Sir Ian Wood
First Minister John Swinney led tributes to North East Scotland’s oil and gas sector visionary and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood following his death at the age of 84
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Gold rush: Ward makes history as Scots’ medal tally grows
Reuben Ward poses for a photo after winning Team Scotland third gold in the Men’s all-around final on day three of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games,. Ruben – Scotland’s first ever men’s allaround gymnastics champion – was soon joined by Angharad...
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Tom’s title: Kim wins Scottish Open
South Korea’s Tom Kim with The Scottish Open Quaich after a last-round 64 gave him a two-shot victory over Min Woo Lee of Australia at the Renaissance Club in East Lothian, with Scotland’s Bob Macintyre and Matt Fitzpatrick of England in a share of...
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