Nicola Sturgeon

The Scottish government has published a draft Bill for a second vote on independence. Constitution secretary Mike Russell said that while the timing of such a vote should be determined by the next Scottish parliament, ministers believe people living north of the border “have the right to decide how we recover from the pandemic and […]

The independent inquiry into whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the ministerial code is expected to be released imminently, according to reports. An investigation by James Hamilton QC has been examining whether Scotland’s first minister misled parliament. He is also examining if she should have recorded meetings with Alex Salmond and whether she prolonged the government’s defence […]

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Nicola Sturgeon of hypocrisy over her claims the Alex Salmond inquiry has been partisan in response to the leaked findings that she allegedly misled parliament. He also said that there “should be a resignation” is there is found to have been a breach. After the Holyrood inquiry into the government’s unlawful […]

The SNP has requested to get indyref2 on the ballot paper at the Holyrood election in May. According to The Herald, Nicola Sturgeon’s party requested to have “Vote SNP for indyref2” and “Both votes SNP for indyref2” included on the ballot paper. The party also lodged a request to register “Nicola Sturgeon for SNP First Minister” […]

The Scottish Tories have said that a report investigating whether or not Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code should be published before the Holyrood elections. James Hamilton, the former head of public prosecutions in Ireland, was tasked with investigating if the first minister had breached the ministerial code in relation to the botched handling of […]

The SNP are no longer on course to win a majority in this May’s Holyrood elections, new polling has suggested. The survey, conducted by Sevanta ComRes on behalf of The Scotsman, found Scots being put off the SNP over its leader’s botched handling of sexual harassment complaints against Alex Salmond. This is the first major poll […]

Records of meetings between Nicola Sturgeon and lawyers about the investigation into Alex Salmond cannot be found, John Swinney has insisted. The deputy first minister has told the Holyrood inquiry into the government’s unlawful investigation of Salmond that he is unable to provide details that the committee had asked for. Swinney, who is facing a vote […]

Support for Scottish independence has taken a hit after a poll suggested a lead for the ‘no’ side following the Alex Salmond inquiry. The survey by Savanta ComRes is the first to take place after the evidence given to the Scottish parliament inquiry by Nicola Sturgeon and Salmond over the government’s handling of sexual harassment […]

What impact will the SNP’s extraordinary internecine battle have on the prospects for Scottish independence? He wouldn’t… would he? Would Alex Salmond, smarting and furious at what he sees as a top-level plot not only to damage his reputation but to have him thrown in jail, really try to bring down his successor, and risk […]

Nicola Sturgeon will make her long-awaited appearance before the Holyrood inquiry into her government’s unlawful investigation of Alex Salmond on Wednesday, amid calls for her to resign. The first minister has insisted there is not “a shred of evidence” to support her former mentor’s claim there was a “malicious and concerted” attempt to see him […]

Boris Johnson has branded Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for a second Scottish independence referendum as “irrelevant”. Johnson said the Covid crisis was a reason to keep the UK together and pointed to the vaccine rollout as an example of the four nations working together. Sturgeon has hinted at holding a second vote early next year if […]

Nicola Sturgeon insisted she has no regrets about ensuring complaints against her predecessor Alex Salmond were investigated – despite the “difficulties” it has caused. The first minister spoke out as the row surrounding her government’s bungled handling of sexual harassment allegations against Salmond grew – with her political opponents claiming that the Scottish Parliament itself […]

Scottish government buildings will be allowed to continue flying the EU flag alongside the saltire every day of the year, the SNP has said. The EU is only raised on May 9 to celebrate Europe Day. By contrast, the Union Flag will only be flown one day a year – Remembrance Sunday. The move did […]

Nicola Sturgeon has criticised Downing Street after Dominic Cummings admitted he made a recommendation that led to a friend’s firm receiving government work.  Cummings made the admission after campaigners took legal action against the Cabinet Office over the payment of more than £500,000 to research firm Public First without a formal tendering process. The first minister hit out […]

Independence would hit the Scottish economy harder than Brexit, and rejoining the EU would make little difference, a team of academics has said. The economic damage from leaving both unions would be the equivalent of an income loss of between £2,000 and £2,800 per person, according to an analysis of trade by the London School […]

Supporters of sacked SNP frontbencher Joanna Cherry have suggested she could challenge Nicola Sturgeon for party leadership. The MP for Edinburgh South West was ‘sacked’ from her post as home affairs and justice spokesperson by Westminster leader Ian Blackford on Monday. But an SNP parliamentarian has suggested the sacking could work to her advantage. “It’s been […]

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross has accused Nicola Sturgeon of putting her party before the pandemic by planning for a “reckless and irresponsible” second independence referendum. Ross will outline his criticism of the First Minister in a speech on Monday responding to the SNP’s roadmap for a second vote on independence. The roadmap states a […]

Prime minister Boris Johnson has been reported to police, accused of breaking lockdown restrictions, after making a trip to Glasgow against the advice of Nicola Sturgeon. The first minister questioned if his trip to Scotland was essential travel or not and advised he could work from home, however the PM made his one day trip […]

A Tory MP has told Nicola Sturgeon to “grow up” after she questioned the necessity of Boris Johnson’s trip to Scotland. Steve Brine said the first minister was acting “childish” and said she should focus on “better things to do than worry about Boris Johnson” visiting Scotland. Speaking on BBC 2’s Politics Live, Brine said: “To […]

Jacob Rees-Mogg has branded Nicola Sturgeon “Mrs Moan-a-lot” after she suggested Boris Johnson’s trip to Scotland this week would break coronavirus guidelines. Instead, Rees-Mogg said the first minister should be “proud” of the prime minister’s visit to a vaccine facility in Livingstone. Responding to the SNP’s Tommy Sheppard’s question on the matter, the Commons leader said: […]

Michael Gove has insisted it is safe for Boris Johnson to visit Scotland. The senior Cabinet minister told BBC Radio Scotland: “It is the case that the prime minister will be operating in a Covid-secure way. “There will be no danger to anyone’s health as a result, in fact quite the opposite, what the prime […]

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged Boris Johnson to follow his own coronavirus advice ahead of a planned trip to the country – to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel. The SNP politician said her Tory opponent is “welcome” any time as prime minister of the UK, but reminded him of his advice […]

Nicola Sturgeon has given Donald Trump the “perfect” farewell message. Speaking ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration, the Scottish first minister congratulated the president-elect and his running mate Kamala Harris. During First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament the Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie repeated his calls for Trump’s business interests in Scotland to be investigated under an […]

Donald Trump will not be visiting Scotland ahead of inauguration day, it has been reported. There had been speculation that the US president would visit his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire ahead of Joe Biden taking office at the White House next Wednesday. But now PA reports that Trump will not be in Scotland. As […]

Nicola Sturgeon has told Donald Trump that the travel ban on people entering Scotland also applies to him. Scotland’s first minister made the remark amid rumours the US president could skip Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony by flying to Scotland. Addressing the press during a coronavirus update, Sturgeon said she hoped Trump’s immediate travel plan was […]

Boris Johnson has been accused of following Nicola Sturgeon’s lead on coronavirus lockdowns after he put England under one hours after his Scottish counterpart did. England entered its third national lockdown on Monday evening which saw schools shut and the toughest restrictions imposed since March following a recent, steep rise in coronavirus cases. Johnson ordered people […]

A video from a 2013 debate on Scottish independence has resurfaced and it shows Nicola Sturgeon predicting Brexit and the consequences for her country. The 80-second clip shows Sturgeon telling then secretary of state for Scotland and Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael that Brexit risked isolating Scotland. In a televised debate on the Scottish independence, Sturgeon, […]

Nicola Sturgeon has hit back at Boris Johnson after he made a Brexit quip about Scotland and fishing quotas. Sturgeon said Johnson could do with a “hairbursh” for Christmas in a dig at the prime minister’s scruffy style. The remark comes as Johnson said Brexit would be a gift for Scotland thanks to all the […]

Scotland’s first minister has called on Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit transition period. Nicola Sturgeon took to Twitter after talks between the UK and EU failed to secure a breakthrough, and as European countries started to ban travel to the UK due to Covid-19. The SNP politician said that the coronavirus now “our 100% […]

A leading MEP has given his backing for Scotland rejoining the European Union – and believes Nicola Sturgeon could become president of the European Commission if it does so. Philippe Lamberts, a Belgian MEP and co-president of the Green Party in the European Parliament, gave his backing for an independent Scotland returning to the table […]

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to stop “Boris Johnson and his band of Brexiteers” dictating Scotland’s future. The SNP leader told Good Morning Britain (GMB) viewers that Scotland would not put up with having “our future dictated to us” by Johnson and his closest allies. Speaking on the state of Brexit trade talks, Sturgeon said: “I want free […]

Nicola Sturgeon has told Boris Johnson “not to stand in the way of democracy” as she issued a call for a second Scottish independence referendum – claiming he risks being “swept away” by popular opinion if he failed to grant Holyrood a second vote. The SNP has told Downing Street that a landslide victory in next year’s national elections […]