Alliance for Independence told to change name to stand in Holyrood election

Scottish independence needs to be more respectful as it has become "stuck in a rut", a top political academic has said. Professor James Mitchell - who has written a number of books examining devolution and the SNP - said the “binary choice between union and independence” should be replaced by a wider look at the kind of society that Scots wanted.

Conservative motion calling on the Scottish Government to drop its plans for an independence referendum bill has failed at Holyrood. Tory MSP Jamie Greene put forward a motion saying the Government "should drop its plans for a further Referendum Bill and focus on closing the attainment gap".

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second independence referendum would have to be “looked at” if the SNP win a majority at the next election. The Labour leader also said indyref2 is a “question for Scotland” after being pushed on the issue during an interview.

anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown protesters to leave Trafalgar Square or face arrest.

Police Scotland needs at least £178m to fund a programme of maintenance to fix its crumbling estate over the next five years, MSPs have been told. The cash-strapped national constabulary has been forced to cut costs - while protecting the number of officers on the beat - but still faces a budget deficit of £44m this financial year.

independence among young Scots has soared since the 2014 referendum, analysis of new polling suggests.Almost three in four Scots aged between 16 and 34 would vote Yes at a potential IndyRef2, a recent survey by pollsters Survation found.But a stark generational divide over independence remains - with just over one-third of voters aged 65 and over saying they would back the breakup of the UK.The SNP said today that support for a new Scottish state was rising across all age groups, while pro-Union

Keir Starmer has said.The Labour leader used an interview today to insist the Union was safe in his party's hands and promised he would campaign ahead of next year's Holyrood elections against calls for an IndyRef2.The constitutional debate has been reignited in Scotland following a series of opinion polls this year suggesting rising support for independence.Nicola Sturgeon wants the UK Government to grant Holyrood the powers to hold another legally-binding referendum on the issue but Boris

Star Wars actor cited the 2016 Brexit deal as the main reason for his change of heart.Talking on the Real Time with Bill Maher show (40 mins in), McGregor said: “I was always for keeping the Union because I think it worked – but after the Brexit vote I’ve changed my tune about it I think.“I think Scotland has been voting for a government that they haven’t been given for years. We’re a very left voting country in Scotland and we’ve been under Conservative rule.

Ewan McGregor has thrown his support behind Scottish independence - despite previously wanting Scotland to stay in the United Kingdom. The Scots actor was one of the big names to back a no vote in the 2014 referendum on Scotland’s future in the Union.But in an interview on American television last night, the 49-year-old said that “it’s time” for Scotland to break away from the UK.

Edinburgh Airport. Sean Clerkin, 59, was arrested by cops at 7.30am at his home this morning, after an incident at Scotland's largest airport on August 20.

independent "by accident" and Wales could follow, a veteran former Welsh first minister claimed. Carwyn Jones, who served in the post for a decade, said the UK Government has to move to a more equal partnership across all the nations of the UK or watch as the state breaks up.

Perth and Kinross pupils outlining the difference between COVID-19 symptoms, and symptoms of the common cold.

Barlinnie to demand the release of AUOB activist Mandeep Singh who was jailed for organising Scotland's biggest ever independence demo. Singh, 41, was sentenced to 72 days for organising the 100,000-strong 'All Under One Banner' march on May 4 last year, which started two hours later than police and council chiefs had insisted on.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Shotts MP Neil Gray has announced he will be seeking his party’s nomination to succeed Alex Neil as the town’s MSP.Mr Gray, senior member of Ian Blackford’s frontbench team at Westminster as Work and Pensions spokesperson, would need to stand down as an MP by March in order for the UK Parliament by-election to be held on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections.Neil Gray became the first SNP MP for

terminal cancer.And when finally diagnosed she only discovered how serious her condition was by reading notes left discarded on her bed by a nurse.Jackie Johnson, 50, has stage four cancer of the oesophagus and has been told by medics there is no hope for her.

house parties this weekend to help protect older relatives from lethal Covid-19. Nicola Sturgeon and Scotland's top police officer made a joint plea as new laws come into force to ban large gatherings indoors.

jobs crisis.The former PM said Boris Johnson is "blissfully unaware" of the need to reach out to devolved administrations.