Alex Salmond inquiry appeals to courts for help in accessing documents withheld by Scottish Government

Scotland’s animal welfare charity has been caring for Capri the corn snake for 430 days at their Ayrshire and South West Scotland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, making her their longest reptile resident. Lynda Hourston, centre assistant manager, said: "Capri would make a great addition to a home, but sadly she keeps getting overlooked, as do many reptiles who come into our care.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Evidence of abuse at a Dumbarton boarding school is now set to be heard next year as part of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.Keil School is one of seven boarding schools which the phase of the inquiry will begin hearing evidence from in late January 2021.We revealed two years ago how the fee-paying establishment at Kirktonhill, closed 20 years ago, would be scrutinised as part of the investigation.The

Nicola Sturgeon must resign if she is found to have misled the Scottish Parliament, a senior MSP has said.The First Minister has faced questions after she initially told Holyrood she first heard of complaints of sexual misconduct against Alex Salmond at a meeting with him in her home on April 2, 2018.It was later revealed the SNP leader had been made aware of the allegations in an informal meeting with his former chief of staff Geoff Aberdein on March 29 of that year – four days earlier.Lib Dem

Scottish ministers'  handling of coronavirus as markedly better than their  UK counterparts. The Survation survey of more than 2,000 Scots - carried out for pro-independence group Progress Scotland - shows 67% believe the Scottish Government is competent, while 70% viewed  Boris Johnson's  Cabinet as not competent.

Scottish ministers' handling of coronavirus as markedly better than their UK counterparts.The Survation survey of more than 2,000 Scots - carried out for pro-independence group Progress Scotland - shows 67% believe the Scottish Government is competent, while 70% viewed Boris Johnson's Cabinet as not competent.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also received higher ratings for her handling of the pandemic than the Prime Minister for his.Progress Scotland managing director Angus Robertson said: "This

harassment complaints against Alex Salmond.The First Minister is already being investigated over accusations she broke the rules relating to meetings with her predecessor and an adviser.But in another round of accusations, Sturgeon is said to have misled the Scottish Parliament about what she knew and when.Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton made the allegation and called for the remit of independent adviser James Hamilton’s inquiry into her conduct to widen.He said: "This would allow an independent

nurse abused her position to access the confidential records of 28 patients including friends, neighbours and complete strangers.Judith Naughton admitted looking at the information without a clinical justification between June and December 2018 while working at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.The former deputy charge nurse also accessed her own records despite previously being warned it was against NHS Lothian’s rules in 2012.A Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing was told how Naughton only

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link.The news comes after the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addressed Parliament today revealing latest figures showing 1054 new cases of COVID in the last 24 hours across Scotland and one new death and implemented new restrictions.She said: “We are particularly concerned about Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley.“Without action – and this is perhaps the starkest warning in today’s evidence paper – we are likely to return to the peak level of

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.AIRDRIE MSP Alex Neil MSP has backed a new £500 grant to help people on low incomes if they are asked to self-isolate due to the coronavirus.The new Self-Isolation Support Grant will help those who would lose income if they needed to self-isolate, such as people unable to carry out their work from home.This grant is for anyone who will face financial hardship due to being asked to self-isolate and will be

Property price: £194,000Deposit paid: £5,300 Scottish Government contribution: £77,600Monthly mortgage payments: £386Previous monthly rent payments: £895In this example, the Scottish Government contributed 40 per cent of the price and will get the same percentage back when the property is sold. In most areas, buyers can increase their equity share to 100 per cent over time if they choose to do so.  In addition to first-time buyers, LIFT is open to: Properties purchased through the scheme must be

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Soft play centres in Dumfries and Galloway are urging the Scottish Government to allow them to open the doors and return to business.Owners have expressed genuine fears for the future if they are still banned from opening the inside areas to the public and also pointed to the centres being allowed to reopen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.Debbie Shuttleworth, manager of the Farmer’s Den, said: “It has

Storm Alex caused a trail of devastation across the country. More than a month's worth of rain hit the east of the country over the weekend.Landslides and power outages have been sparked by the deluge.

send students to university halls in the pandemic should be probed at a public inquiry, the Scottish Human Rights Commission claimed. The organisation is concerned about restrictions placed on students, the standard of the available accommodation and a lack of support for young people.

Douglas Ross overruled his MSPs by calling for the controversial Hate Crime Bill to be axed.Leaked emails reveal senior MSPs simply wanted to amend the plans, but Ross intervened to ensure the party supported scrapping the Bill altogether.The Government Bill, which is going through Holyrood, aims to bring together the existing hate crime laws into one piece of legislation.However, critics believe the Bill poses a threat to free speech and Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf recently responded by