Nicola Sturgeon appoints new Public Health Minister in bid to tackle pandemic

Nicola Sturgeon "acted in an honourable way" after former colleague Alex Salmond reportedly claimed she breached the ministerial code by misleading the Scottish Parliament. Former first minister Mr Salmond's submissions to an inquiry into sexual assault claims against him have been obtained by national newspapers, in which he claims Ms Sturgeon's evidence over when she knew about the allegations was "simply untrue".

First Minister is considering tightening the rules and asked whether "fewer places" needed to be open.

tough new lockdown which sees people barred from leaving their homes for an essential purpose. Unlike the first lockdown imposed in March last year, manufacturing and construction businesses have so far been allowed to continue to operate.

lockdown travel restrictions apply to Trump as much as anyone else, adding a golf trip is not an "essential purpose".The outgoing US president is refusing to accept defeat to Joe Biden, fuelling global speculation about what he will do on inauguration day on January 20.Sturgeon, at her first coronavirus briefing of the year, was asked if she knew whether Trump was planning to visit one of his golf resorts."I hope and expect the travel plan he immediately has is it exit the White house - beyond

In a series of tweets today, Ms Sturgeon said: "The rapid increase in Covid cases, driven by the new variant, is of very serious concern. The steep increases & severe NHS pressure being experienced in other parts of the UK is a sign of what may lie ahead.

Nicola Sturgeon has made another personal plea to Scots to stay away from loved ones to help stem the spread of coronavirus. The First Minister urged families to forsake the first-foot tradition as cases are "worryingly high".There were 2,539 new cases of the deadly virus reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours.Sturgeon tweeted: ":Today’s case numbers are worryingly high again."The new variant is accelerating spread.

First Minister tweeted just after the Brexit transition period formally ended at 11pm on December 31. Scotland's trading and travel relationships with EU countries will now be governed by the agreement announced by the UK Government on Christmas Eve.

link.“Our approach throughout the pandemic has been to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance, and encourage compliance, but we will not hesitate to continue to use our enforcement powers as a last resort."Please follow the Scottish Government's advice, which is to celebrate Hogmanay and the New Year with your own household only, in your own home."

The SNP leader issued twitter rebuttal in response Tories labelling her “no-deal Nicola” online because of the SNP decision not to back the Tory Brexit deal.

immediately attacked the settlement, saying “there is no deal that will ever make up for what Brexit takes away from us.”On a historic Christmas Eve that will set Scotland and the UK on a different political course from the rest of Europe, Johnson boasted that his “jumbo-sized Canada-style deal” was what the country needs.Johnson said the agreement resolves the European question which has “bedevilled” British politics for generations.But as Sturgeon made plain the end of the Britain’s four

Boris Johnson said the deal would "benefit every party of the UK".The Prime Minister declared it would boost the fishing industry as well as the financial sector - two key employers north of the Border.European diplomats will meet on Christmas morning to review the deal on behalf of the EU's 27 member states, while MPs are likely to vote on the agreement on December 30.But the First Minister took a less than enthusiastic view.Sturgeon tweeted: “Before the spin starts, it’s worth remembering that

First Minister said there were "no excuses" for the breach and admitted she had been in the wrong.

direct to your inboxNicola Sturgeon has apologised after she breached coronavirus lockdown rules.Scotland's First Minister took off her face mask at a funeral wake to chat to three women in a bar, a photograph published in the Scottish Sun showed.While Ms Sturgeon kept her distance, under Scottish Government Covid rules, customers in hospitality venues must wear a face covering except when seated and must wear one when moving around.Ms Sturgeon was attending a funeral wake for a Scottish

held up at Dover since France closed its borders fearing the spread of a new strain of coronavirus from the south-east. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today called for action and said: "There is no time to lose." Sturgeon raised her concerns at the Scottish Parliament where she stressed there are no "immediate concerns" for food or medicine supplies across the country.

new covid strain.France has also banned hauliers crossing the Channel, sparking fears about the impact of goods being able to come in and out of the country.The possibility of a no-deal Brexit has led to questions being raised on the supply of food and medicines.Speaking at her daily briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said:“The stockpile of medicines that were being built up ahead of Bexit are in place, and so while we monitor medicine supply very carefully, we have no immediate concerns about medicine

tonnes of fish.Johnson said Brexit would be a gift because of all the opportunities for fishing outside the EU.But with ports shut and the industry now in turmoil, Sturgeon had a more personal idea in response.Asked for suggestions at her daily briefing today, Sturgeon replied: "I'm probably not one to talk, but a hairbrush maybe."Sturgeon added: "That's meant as a light hearted comment, not as a serious comment and I'm definitely not one to talk, as you can see."I actually signed him a

Nicola Sturgeon has revealed the books that she says have gotten her through 2020.

Ladywell, Livingston, has backed our campaign after figures released this week showed Scotland has worst death rate in the world, a figure up six per cent on the previous year. Statistics showed the total deaths rose from 1,187 in 2018 to 1,264 in 2019.