A third of Perth and Kinross workers on furlough while unemployment continues to rise

Douglas Ross has made a gaffe within hours of becoming Scottish Tory leader after effectively conceding defeat at the next Holyrood election.He said after the election he hoped to lead a “strong” Tory party that would provide “opposition” to the SNP.SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said: “This is a gaffe royale, even by Douglas Ross’ standards. He has conceded defeat before the election has even been called yet.

Douglas Ross has been confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish Tories after being the only person nominated for the job. He will lead the party while ex leader Ruth Davidson takes on Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions.

Douglas Ross.In a leaked message, Michelle Ballantyne said she agreed to support Ross on the understanding he leads a “Boris backing, Brexit positive, anti nat party”.The right winger added she wanted to see “cronyism” in the Scottish Tories rooted out.Get all the top Scottish politics news sent straight to your Inbox by signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover Holyrood, Westminster and local councils, with a current focus on how our governments are handling the coronavirus pandemic.To

Douglas Ross could win the Scottish Tory leadership unopposed after a potential rival backed him.Right winger Michelle Ballantyne, who was tipped as a possible candidate, has supported Ross instead.She said: “I have confidence that Douglas is in tune with the membership and that he would work with activists to ensure that their voices are heard.”Ross quickly became the favourite for the job in the wake of MSP Jackson Carlaw’s shock resignation as leader.The Moray MP announced his leadership bid

Perth and Kinross are ignoring social distancing rules since face coverings became mandatory. Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser asked cabinet secretary for government business and constitutional relations Michael Russell what his view was on people not sticking to the default two-metre social distancing now that wearing face masks is compulsory in shops.

Click here for more news from the Airdrie and Coatbridge AdvertiserScottish secretary Alister Jack said: “The UK government is doing whatever it takes to get Scotland, and the whole of the UK, through the coronavirus pandemic and ensure our economy can get back on track.“This unprecedented package of support is protecting Scottish jobs and businesses, and will ensure that Scotland’s economy can recover for the future; people and businesses in Scotland have also benefited from UK-wide schemes

Perth residents can sit in at the two McDonald’s stores in the city. The fast food giant announced on Wednesday that, after a successful pilot, its’s restaurants were now able to have customers in them.This will impact the McDonald’s at Broxden and on Dunkeld Road. Call for urgent action on road named one of the most dangerous in Scotland Residents previously rushed to the stores when the drive thru service opened in June.

Keir Starmer has called on Nicola Sturgeon to publicly condemn Alex Salmond over his role as a broadcaster on the Kremlin-funded Russia Today (RT) station. The Labour leader has used the publication of the parliamentary report into Russian interference in UK democracy to challenge the SNP leader to call out her previous boss.

independence vote and the Brexit referendum, according to a landmark report on Russian interference in Britain. The report was finally released today after months of delay at the hands of Downing Street which has immediately rejected the main call from the Intelligence and Security Committee.

hereIt found that Russians with "very close links" to Vladimir Putin were "well-integrated into the UK, business, political and social scene."The Committee said: “We therefore question whether the government took its eye off the ball because of its focus on counter-terrorism: it was the opinion of the Committee that, until recently, the government had badly underestimated the response required to the Russian threat – and is still playing catch-up.“Russia poses a tough intelligence challenge and

the region’s beauty spots. The group is formed of Perth and Kinross Council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, with help from local communities, and could see motorists fined or have their cars removed by police officers if they feel they are causing a dangerous obstruction to emergency services.

independence referendum but not the Brexit vote, according to reports. An investigation into alleged Russian interference in British democracy is due to be published on Tuesday.