Scottish Government has its 'head in the clouds' over back to school plan for staff

signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover Holyrood, Westminster and local councils, with a current focus on how our governments are handling the coronavirus pandemic.To sign up, simply enter your email address into the pink box near the top of this article.Alternatively, you can visit our newsletter sign up-centre.

SCOTLAND’S car dealers – large and small – are looking forward to opening the showroom doors to customers on Monday (June 29, 2020).With all the necessary anti-coronavirus hygiene and safety measures in place, they will be able to welcome back would-be buyers.

Scottish Government has demanded new financial powers from the UK Treasury to help drive the country's economic recovery from Covid-19. Finance secretary Kate Forbes has written to Stephen Barclay, chief secretary of the Treasury, to ask that "critical" temporary changes are made to present funding arrangements.

rising support for a Yes vote.Kenny MacAskill, a former Holyrood finance secretary, said questions could be asked of party bosses on their current plans for delivering IndyRef2.Recent polling put support for independence as high as 54% despite the Scottish Government focusing its energies in recent months on the response to the global coronavirus pandemic.But MacAskill, the SNP MP for East Lothian, told the Record that while traditional political campaigning was halted there was nothing stopping

Amazon should be targeted with a windfall tax to help the economy recover from coronavirus, Scotland’s finance secretary claimed. Kate Forbes said she’s open to the idea as MSPs probed the financial crisis caused by the global pandemic.

coronavirus pandemic is breaking down, according to the Scottish Health Secretary. Condemning Downing Street’s approach to the nationwide crisis, Jeane Freeman said there is a "vacuum" where shared discussion and decision making should be at the highest level.

ethnic minorities.Labour MSP Anas Sarwar accused Leslie Evans of leading one of the most “chronically under-representative” bodies in the country.He blasted: “What action are you taking to address that?”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 focus on how our governments are handling the coronavirus pandemic.To sign up, simply enter your email address into the

Covid-19 and ethnic minorities.A full picture of the impact on people from black, asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME) is still not available.A review by Public Health England found the risk of dying among those diagnosed with Covid-19 was higher in BAME groups.The Office of National Statistics also revealed in May that black people are four times more likely to die from coronavirus than white people south of the border.However, comparisons with Scotland are difficult as the data is more

shielded Scots were given the wrong date for when it would be safe to go outside.The Scottish Tories accused Freeman of a "dismal performance" in office and claimed "enough is enough".As part of lockdown, people who were deemed to be clinically at high risk of coronavirus were placed in a special shielded category.Over 100,000 people were advised to self-isolate and minimise all interactions with others, which included not leaving home, for three months.Get all the top Scottish politics news

Scottish Government has been called on to apologise after a letter was sent to almost 18,000 Scots shielding at home telling them the wrong date for when it would be safe to go outside.The blunder saw those most at risk from Covid-19 being told they could leave their homes as of today - when the actual date agreed by health experts is June 18.The letter was sent by the NHS in April but clarification was only posted last week after concerned Scots flagged the mistake.One posted on Twitter: "My

Nicola Sturgeon names a reopening date and warned that up to 280,000 jobs could be wiped out.The industry also warned a two-metre social distancing rule would sound the death knell for thousands of venues and leave whole areas of cities abandoned.Hospitality chiefs in England have been told they can partially reopen on July 4 if Covid-19 cases are under control. A reduced one-metre rule is also under consideration.

Ministers have been criticised after it emerged a sick pay fund for social care staff had not been established yet.

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has said Nicola Sturgeon should have appointed a minister to lead the care sector's response to Covid-19.

There is a "consistent disconnect" between promises from the Scottish Government and what ministers actually deliver, Richard Leonard has claimed.

The Scottish Government has been accused of letting down care homes "all over again" after figures showed that staff were still not being tested for Covid-19 on a regular basis.

The Scottish economy could take a £3bn hit if the Brexit transition period is not extended, according to a new Government study.

A Labour MP has claimed the coronavirus pandemic provoked a tirade of online abuse at a level not seen since the 2014 independence referendum campaign.

The man at the helm of Crieff Hydro has called on the Scottish Government to do more to help businesses like his survive.

Tory plans to make MPs vote through narrow Westminster lobbies during the coronavirus crisis have been slammed as "madness".