Scotland evenly divided over independence referendum as infighting threatens to shatter SNP dream

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

coronavirus deaths and 625 new cases in last 24 hours The First Minister released the figures from St Andrews House in Nicola Sturgeon.

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

Dunblane massacre will be 'forever in our hearts' as Scotland remembers the tragedy 25 years on.The First Minister took to twitter to call the day 'one of the darkest and most heartbreaking in Scotland’s history'.On March 13, 1996, crazed gunman Thomas Hamilton murdered 16 primary school children and their teacher in Dunblane, sending shockwaves of grief around the world.Hamilton then took his own life.The murder spree remains Britain's deadliest mass shootings and lead to large-scale reforms on

Prestwick, South Ayrshire, gave her doting dad Jamie a dressing down over 'not washing his hands' this week.The tot's lecture was caught on camera as management consultant Jamie joked his daughter could apply to be one of the National Clinical Director Jason Leitch's understudies.Jamie, 41, wrote on social media: "Nicola Sturgeon, heard about Jason Leitch recruiting for understudies."Please find enclosed another candidate application."Little Rosie donned her bright pink stethoscope before

Parents are being warned not to gather at school gates after dropping off kids in fears it could lead to a spike in Covid cases.From Monday all primary school children in Scotland will return to full time face-to-face learning and ahead of this, Scottish Government chiefs are urging parents to adhere to social distancing rules.Previously First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the 'risk' of a rise in community transmissions comes from parents gathering at the school gates, as opposed to children

First Minister is taking questions from MSPs on the coronavirus committee at Holyrood.Nicola Sturgeon is being quizzed on her handling of the pandemic and how Scotland will exit lockdown in the next couple of weeks and months.MSPs will ask Nicola Sturgeon, and Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, a number of questions on the pandemic.The meeting will take place virtually and can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said non-essential shops in Scotland will reopen two weeks later on April 26 at the earliest and probably with a tiered system of local restrictions.A statement from Debenhams said: “Because this timeline does not align with those expected in other parts of the UK and therefore with the planned wind-down of the Debenhams business, regrettably our 15 stores in Scotland will now not reopen and are closed permanently.”

S4-S6 who attend school for practical work are offered kits to test themselves.

Lord Dunlop, who also advised Theresa May when she was Prime Minister, added that Unionists should not bank on the “Salmond imbroglio” bailing them out.Recent opinion polls have shown the SNP are on course to win an outright majority at the Holyrood election in May.If she is returned as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon will demand the UK Government agree to a second independence referendum.However, Boris Johnson has ruled out supporting indyref2 and senior Tories are wanting a strategy to counter

Isle of Bute. Cuthbert, 24, saw red on May 27 last year - the day before First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the Covid-19 lockdown, which had been in place since March 23, was coming to an end.

First Minister said there was "good evidence" the national vaccination programme was already reducing the number of deaths from the virus across the country.And the SNP leader revealed the average number of covid cases being reported each day in Scotland had dropped to 657 - the lowest rate since October.It means all primary school pupils will be able to return to class as of March 15 - with high schools reopening full-time after the Easter break.Sturgeon added that a further review of easing

latest plan to ease restrictions yesterday but it was criticised for not looking beyond the end of April.The UK Government's routemap out of lockdown for England claimed all social restrictions could end as early as June 21.But Sturgeon said she would be “making it up” if she gave a specific date for the end of coronavirus restrictions.Speaking at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh on Wednesday, the SNP leader questioned Johnson's June 21 date.“If I was to give you a fixed, hard and fast date