Scottish independence referendum next year would 'add to Covid crisis'

Rangers, Aberdeen and the rest of the Premiership join the competition at this stage as the tournament really gets down to business. And it's a Scottish Cup with a difference as all ties will be decided on the day with traditional replays scrapped amid a jam-packed fixture schedule due to the pandemic.

Netflix star Anya Taylor-Joy sent fans into a frenzy after speaking with a subtle Scottish accent on the Graham Norton Show. The 24-year-old Queen’s Gambit actress appeared on Friday night’s episode to speak about the show’s worldwide success after scoring 62 million views since being released.

Amy Macdonald has been named as the final ambassador this year’s Independent Venue Week, representing Scotland.Last month saw Arlo Parks announced as the England ambassador for the eighth edition of the annual seven-day celebration of independent music venues around the UK (taking place from January 25 to 31), before Super Furry Animals’ legend Gruff Rhys was confirmed yesterday to be representing Wales and rising alternative hip-hop artist and songwriter Jordan Adetunji was named as the

boycotted by Tories and lack legitimacy. It follows a petition by a fringe movement called the Independence for Scotland Party.

schools will be closed for the entire of January as part of the new lockdown imposed across the country. Most pupils were scheduled to return to schools on the already-delayed date of January 18 after the winter break.

Edinburgh Zoo could be on the verge of returning its famous giant pandas to China next year. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs the zoo alongside the Highland Wildlife Park, says that it lost around £2m last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Labour revival was needed to hold the SNP to account as a government which “pretend they’re in opposition”. Speaking on Sky News Blair said: “We had a referendum that rejected Scottish independence, but Brexit put it back on the agenda again.”“And it’s going to require very careful management.

referendums should only be held “once in a generation”. The Tory leader told the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme: “Referendums in my experience, direct experience, in this country are not particularly jolly events.

Ayrshire region has the highest coronavirus case rate per 100,000 population in Scotland. The latest data from the festive period shows that East Ayrshire has the worst infection rate in the country over the past seven days.

Covid-19 crisis.Leonard argued arrears on household bills and council tax among low-income Scots should be suspended until the Holyrood election in May.He wants the UK government to regulate pay day loan companies and waive interest payments.Leonard said: "Christmas and the new year are always periods that lead to a surge in debt for poorer and hard-pressed families."Nine months of Covid hardship will inevitably make this burden so much worse for households."A huge personal debt crisis is being

Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King jr and Mahatma Ghandi. He wrote: "People who did not ask for a referendum from their oppressors before they demanded freedom." His comment was taken by SNP figures as a clear link to the UK Government’s repeated refusal to allow a second referendum on Scottish independence.

coronavirus coma. Wayne Oldham fought for his life as the killer virus attacked his lungs during an 11 week stay in hospital after being admitted on October 5.  The 46-year-old gym fanatic was placed on an ECMO machine in a last ditch attempt by doctors at the Aintree Hospital, the Liverpool Echo reports.

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

NHS Lanarkshire’s director of public health has written to all care homes in Monklands to advise them on changes to visiting.The correspondence follows the news that the area will join the rest of mainland Scotland into level four coronavirus restrictions for at least a three-week period on Boxing Day.In terms of the current position pertaining to level four, the highest protection level, guidance from the Scottish Government states that: “For areas in level four, only essential visits are

Billy Connolly has said he feels Scotland is "getting closer" to independence after being cheated by Brexit.Previously a vocal opponent of Scottish independence, Sir Billy announced his support for the movement following the 2016 Brexit referendum.The 78-year-old comedian said he thought Scotland was moving towards leaving the union. He said: "I think they're getting close to it.

Labour leader said: "Given the damage and division this would cause, no responsible First Minister should contemplate it and no responsible Prime Minister would grant it." There are inevitable demands for a re-run vote if the SNP win an independence majority in May's Scottish elections.

Labour leader will say that he is offering “a positive alternative to the Scottish people” while at the same time seeking “to preserve and renew the United Kingdom”. The speech – Starmer's first on the subject of the Union – will set the tone for the party’s campaigning for next year’s elections to the Scottish Parliament.