All secondary school pupils in Scotland could be tested before heading back to classroom

Alex Salmond's return to politics The former SNP leader confirmed he will be standing for the Alba Party on the North East regional list section in May's Scottish Parliament election.Launching the new party in an online event on Friday, the former SNP leader said: "Today Alba are hoisting a flag in the wind, planting our Saltire on a hill.

Get the latest Scottish crime and courts news sent straight to your inbox with our Criminal Record newsletter.Alex Salmond has suggested there are routes to independence other than the legally-backed second referendum favoured by Nicola Sturgeon.Salmond, who quit the SNP when he faced sexual assault charges of which he was later cleared, said the aim of his new party was to work towards a “successful, socially just, environmentally responsible, independent country”.The former First Minister said

Covid-19 pandemic. The Holyrood Government has announced plans to offer more than 154,000 NHS staff in Scotland a pay rise of at least four per cent.

Scottish Parliament election campaign. Scots will head to the poll on May 6 in what is expected to be a crucial election for the future of Sturgeon's independence dream.

NHS workers have been offered a 'substantial' pay rise after an 'exceptionally challenging year'.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced 'our NHS staff deserve more than applause and 1% is not enough' after putting a 4% raise on the table.If accepted by staff, would be the most generous National Health Service pay uplift anywhere in the UK.The pay rise will benefit 154,000 NHS employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals, as well as domestic, healthcare support staff,

NHS workers have been offered a 'substantial' pay rise after an 'exceptionally challenging year'. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced 'our NHS staff deserve more than applause and 1% is not enough' after putting a 4% raise on the table.If accepted by staff, would be the most generous National Health Service pay uplift anywhere in the UK.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Business leaders welcomed indicative dates over lockdown easing as hairdressers, non-essential retailers, pubs, restaurants and cafes all prepare to reopen next month.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week outlined a route back to recovery which will include the stay at home message being replaced with stay local guidance from early April.Scotland-wide travel will again be permitted from April 26 with most

Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from fellow MSPs at First Minister's Questions this afternoon.It is expected to begin around 12.30 in the Scottish Parliament, and beforehand the First Minister will give the latest update on the current coronavirus statistics.It comes as the Western Isles will today move to level three of lockdown restrictions from 6pm.Announcing the change yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said the Outer Hebrides would return to the level that currently applies to Orkney and

Scottish Parliament later today. The Scottish Tories said they will press ahead with a vote in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after a Holyrood committee found she misled parliament.

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First Minister 's resignation amid accusations she misled parliament about her involvement in the Alex Salmond investigation. It followed a leak that the inquiry into the Government's unlawful investigation into harassment complaints against the former first minister has reportedly concluded that Ms Sturgeon gave an "inaccurate" account of meetings with Mr Salmond.

SNP's autumn conference by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, the one-off, pro-rata payment is intended as a bonus for the work done by health and care staff to combat Covid-19. Eligible social care staff, expected to number more than 400,000, will have to have worked in the sector for at least a continuous four-week period between March 17 and November 30 last year.

coronavirus in Scotland in the last 24 hours. Figures announced by the Scottish Government this afternoon reveal 655 new cases of the virus have been identified overnight, bringing the total cases to 212,509.

Linda Fabiani (Convener)Long-serving SNP MSP who has been deputy presiding officer of the Scottish parliament since 2016. No friend of Salmond, who replaced her as Europe Minister halfway through the SNP’s first term in office.

coronavirus lockdown on a limited basis from May 17.Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday (March 16) announced a wide-ranging easing of restrictions that includes the reopening of concert halls, cinemas, theatres and comedy clubs in the middle of May.Sturgeon told the Scottish parliament that capacity limits on venues and events would be discussed with industry leaders over the next few weeks, adding that she was “optimistic” about people being able to return to nightclubs “over

Dr Gregor Smith hailed the success of the on-going covid vaccination programme after the number of Scots who have received their first dose passed the two million mark yesterday.He admitted reaching this stage in the pandemic "has not been easy" and said many of his colleagues in the medical and social care professions were now "exhausted".Smith, who worked as a GP in South Lanarkshire before being appointed CMO by Nicola Sturgeon, said the range of vaccines available offered real hope that a

First Minister provided detailed dates of when the country can expect to begin opening back up.Nicola Sturgeon said a phased re-opening will begin next month with the Stay at Home message being dropped on April 2.On April 5, hairdressers, garden centres, click and collect services and some non-essential retail can open.On April 12, all children will return to classrooms full time.By April 26, all non-essential retail will open, tourist accommodation, gyms, and outdoor hospitality with a

indyref2” next to the party’s name on voting slips.First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has backed another referendum in the early part of the next term.The call was ramped up last week after SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said it could take place this year.With the Tories making opposition to indyref2 a key part of their electoral strategy, a referendum looks likely to be a dominant issue in next month’s election campaign.An application to the electoral watchdog shows the SNP has

feather-duster to their finances and get ready for the change in seasons.Spring begins on Saturday, March 20, and even though the clocks don’t change until 1am on Sunday, March 28, the seasonal change brings an end to the long, dark winter months which have been spent by most Scots in lockdown, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.The arrival of spring will be particularly relevant this year as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is set to give further details on Scotland’s route map out of

Nicola Sturgeon on March 2, the day before she appeared before the inquiry investigating the handling of harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond.On BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Andrea Bradley, the assistant secretary of the EIS teaching union, said the Scottish Government was looking for a "good news story that week".However, Ms Sturgeon had previously announced the earliest date for some pupils to return to school would be March 15.On Monday, Education Secretary John