Nicola Sturgeon admits Scottish independence faces 'challenges' as FM calls for indyref2 by end of 2023

Conservative conference in Manchester. Ross will argue the Scottish Conservatives are the only party to represent the working classes against the “cosy Holyrood consensus” on issues like free speech and fair justice.

Universal Credit, announced last year at the start of the pandemic, began winding down towards the end of September and will finally come to an end this week while the Tories gather for their annual conference in Manchester. The move has been widely condemned by charities and opposition parties and Johnson faces pressure from many Conservative MPs deeply concerned about the impact on low-income families.

Queen has met with Nicola Sturgeon for the official opening of the new session of the Scottish Parliament. In a speech, the Queen urged MSPs to “help create a better, healthier future” by tackling climate change ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow.

First Minister took to social media to make her feelings known about North Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott who said Everard should have been "streetwise" and never have "submitted" to her fake arrest. His comments on BBC radio have sparked controversy after the details came out when Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapped, rape and murder of Everard in March this year.

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon asked the SNP leader at First Minister's Questions earlier today about the important issue. Lennon, an MSP for the Central Scotland Region, said abortion rights are under attack around the world but also in Scotland with many women being confronted by protesters at clinics.Sturgeon was asked to speed up the process of implementing buzzer zones around facilities after it has "stalled".

covid-19. There have also been 2,556 new cases of the virus recorded in the latest 24 hour period, bringing the total number of positive cases since the pandemic started to 550,090.

European Union " over Brexit. Scotland and the UK is currently witnessing a shortage of fuel and certain foods due to a number of issues, such as Brexit and coronavirus.

Sarwar will call for the SNP to fill the gap as the cost of gas and electricity is due to rise steeply within days.The energy price cap will increase by £139 to £1277 on October 1 this year leaving 150,0000 Scottish pensioners living in poverty facing a desperate choice.The push from Labour comes after it was revealed that a woman in her 90s starved to death, the first fatality from lack of food recorded in Scotland for at least 20 years.Sarwar will tell conference that the Scottish Parliament

nationalised by SNP ministers in 2019 to prevent it going bust - had failed to make even the shortlist to build two new boats to serve island communities. Four firms based in Turkey, Portugal and Poland have been invited to submit detailed tenders for the works by the Scottish Government-controlled Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).

Police Scotland following several Orange Order marches in Glasgow last weekend for alleged anti-social behaviour, which included sectarian and racist chants. The First Minister was asked by Glasgow Cathcart MSP James Dornan about the creation of a parades commission, similar to the one in place in Northern Ireland.

covid pandemic in Scotland later today. The First Minister will address MSPs in the Scottish Parliament about the latest figures and announce measures, if any, that will be imposed in order to deal with the surge in cases.

First Minister will address the Scottish Parliament about the high level of covid cases across the country as hospitalisation remain at an alarming level. Cases have surged over the last month-and-a-half after the majority of lockdown restrictions were lifted on August 9 on Scotland's 'Freedom Day'.Sturgeon and other government ministers have urged people to practice good personal hygiene in a bid to halt the surge in cases of the deadly virus.

pressure points in the service - an action already taken in parts of England.The SNP leader spoke out following reports that a frail pensioner found collapsed at his home in Glasgow died following a 40-hour wait for an ambulance.Relatives of Gerard Brown, 65, said they had been told the delay cost the former engineer his life.

weekly Showbiz newsletter is packed with the latest news on your favourite stars from Scotland and beyond.Signing up couldn't be easier! Simply enter your email address in the box further up the page or click here to view our wide range of newsletters.The Prime Minister waded into the debate after England's Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, said antivaxxers should be ashamed.Boris Johnson responded: "I'm not as familiar with the works of Nicki Minaj as I probably should be, but I'm familiar

pandemic later today. The First Minister is expected to issue a further warning after covid hospitalisations across the country surpassed 1,000 over the weekend.

sustainable growth commission for Nicola Sturgeon, insisted independence could allow Scotland to copy the path of other small, successful nations like New Zealand or Finland, Remaining as part of the UK poses “a clear and present danger to the wellbeing of the economy” said Wilson, who believed that having a second vote in either the autumn of 2022 or at some point in 2023 would be “ideal”.

Swinney is set to tell SNP members that Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are attempting to “dismantle devolution” and will slam the “muscular unionism” of the UK Conservative government.

Nicola Sturgeon has led the tributes to 9/11 victims on the 20th anniversary of the attacks. The First Minister took to social media to share her grief over the 'horror' New York terrorist attack that shocked the world in 2001.