Kirsten Oswald is new SNP deputy Westminster leader after no rivals come forward for election

Boris Johnson cannot deny an IndyRef2 if the SNP win a majority of seats at Holyrood at next year's election, Ian Blackford has warned.The Nationalist MP hit back at the Prime Minister after he used a flying to visit to the north of Scotland to once again rule out the prospect of another referendum on independence.Blackford claimed Johnson would be a "democracy denier" if he refused to engage with SNP demands.The Prime Minister insists the issue of independence was settled at the 2014 referendum

leading universities could lose millions in tuition fees if escalating tensions between the UK and China leads to Beijing discouraging students from studying overseas. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have been increasingly reliant on cash generated by the thousands of Chinese students who arrive in Scotland each year to study at the country's historic seats of learning.

novelist has seen sales for her upcoming book rocket since she received surprise high praise from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.It’s not every day you get commended for doing your job well by the most powerful woman in the country.But for Kirstin Innes, that’s exactly what happened last night, when the FM hailed her latest offering “a triumph” in a glowing review on Twitter.The book loving politician is well known for her passion for all things literary and has regularly updated followers with

Scots singer who rose to fame with Rollers hits including Shang-a-lang and Bye Bye Baby shocked online followers when he came out with his latest statement.And despite The Rollers having fans worldwide, including in China, Les wrote on Facebook: “Don’t buy anything that is made in China.”He also wrote on his Twitter page: “Don’t buy anything that is “made in China”, you will be supporting a criminal that will kill us as soon as they can.

“power surge” to Scotland as he prepared to publish legislation for a UK internal market to replace the EU Single Market.

Nicola Sturgeon'sadministration in Scotland after it was revealed that Whitehall will assume control of the state aid regime.

SNP works best 'under pressure' as the minority leader in Scotland. Harvie told the PA news agency that the ruling party could 'get lazy' if it formed a majority administration.

SNP and Labour MSPs are consulting the public on how to bring about a revolution in the “broken” social care system.Nationalist Angela Constance and Labour leader Richard Leonard are separately reaching out for views on a national care service, which could dismantle the largely privately-owned status quo.Constance, a former SNP Education Secretary, is calling for the Scottish Government to produce a blueprint before next year’s election.Get all the top Scottish politics news sent straight to

SNP MSP has opened up a major rift in the nationalist movement by saying he will help launch a new independence party.Dave Thompson will quit the party after 55 years to help launch a new pro-independence outfit for the Holyrood election in 2021.The SNP veteran predicted the “Alliance for Independence” (AFI) could win up to 24 seats next year.He revealed the slogan would be “max the Yes” and added: “Just imagine 20 Margo MacDonalds in the parliament?”Get all the top Scottish politics news sent

High praise from Tommy Wright has given David Wotherspoon a pre-season liftThe Perth club is preparing for an August 1 Premiership kick-off and will take on Hibernian in a friendly on Wednesday.Conway will get the chance to impress and, if he ticks all the boxes and earns a deal, his first competitive game could be the league opener against Dundee United.

Tennent's Lager at TRNSMT has gone viral after being mistaken as a 'Woodstock 69' reveller. The concert goer swigging a can of Scotland's most popular lager was mistakenly included in nostalgic pictures of the iconic American music festival which was held on a farm in Bethel, New York, in 1969 at the height of the 'flower power' generation.

antibody figures. Nicola Sturgeon’s administration said that 4,431 such tests had been completed, but the UK Statistics Authority has claimed the figure cannot be verified.

independence option instead. Kenny MacAskill MP has backed the idea of a new pro-independence party claiming that voting SNP in both Holyrood’s constituency and regional list votes “just doesn’t work”.

pub has been blasted for allegedly saying it will refuse to serve SNP supporters when it reopens next week.  The Caledonian Bar in Forfar has come under fire for a supposed social media post, now deleted, saying there would be 'no admittance' to SNP members or voters when the doors opened again next Wednesday. The tweet also says those over 70 and care home workers will also be barred due to coronavirus fears.

school in August after lockdown.The Scottish Government is examining safety options which would keep classes or whole year groups apart.It follows similar proposals unveiled by the UK Government for schools south of the border.Education Secretary John Swinney originally suggested schooling would resume on a part-time basis on August 11th.However, the ‘blended learning’ model, under which kids would be educated at home and in the classroom, was ditched after a parental backlash.Get all the top

The SNP has called on Rishi Sunak to grant Holyrood greater borrowing powers to help boost Scotland's economic recovery following four long months of lockdown. Ian Blackford, the party's leader at Westminster, wants the UK Government to offer a a "cast-iron commitment" to the devolution of key financial powers at today's mini-Budget.

tuition fees for “rich EU students”.

SNP’s deputy leader at Westminster has stood down after struggling with her mental health during lockdown.MP Kirsty Blackman said she had made the “difficult personal decision” as she needed to prioritise her constituency and family.Blackman was first elected as the MP for Aberdeen North in 2015 and has been re-elected twice.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