SNP and Labour politicians consult public on introducing a national care service

large-scale marches despite the country still being in a state of lockdown. Kenny MacAskill, a former justice secretary, said more mass rallies were required as the coronavirus pandemic meant traditional forms of political campaigning such as door knocking were no longer possible.

Richard Leonard, according to a new poll. The snapshot also gave him a net favourability rating of minus 28, compared to SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon having a rating of plus 36.

internal market between the four UK nations after Brexit. Mike Russell, the Scottish Government's spokesman on the constitution, told MSPs today the plan was not about smoothing trade but removing power from Holyrood and handing it back to Westminster.

Richard Leonard would be putting his party first if he stood down as Scottish leader.Lord Foulkes said Scottish Labour needed “credible leadership” to take on the SNP but claimed Leonard was not breaking through with voters.He added that deputy Jackie Baillie could take over on an acting basis for the Holyrood election.Keir Starmer has seen his personal poll ratings soar since becoming UK Labour leader earlier this year.However Leonard, a left winger who has been in post for nearly three years,

Boris Johnson cannot deny an IndyRef2 if the SNP win a majority of seats at Holyrood at next year's election, Ian Blackford has warned.The Nationalist MP hit back at the Prime Minister after he used a flying to visit to the north of Scotland to once again rule out the prospect of another referendum on independence.Blackford claimed Johnson would be a "democracy denier" if he refused to engage with SNP demands.The Prime Minister insists the issue of independence was settled at the 2014 referendum

Scottish Labour veteran Frank McAveety is to stand down as the party's leader on Glasgow City Council to allow a new generation to take charge. The former Holyrood minister will not stand for the role when the local party stages its forthcoming AGM, it was announced today.

Richard Leonard has said the Scottish Government has a "moral obligation" to help low-income families left struggling during lockdown. The Scottish Labour leader said an equivalent to the delayed Scottish Child Payment should be offered to those who are unable to make ends meet as soon as possible.

Covid-19 outbreak after workers feared they were being put at risk.A Labour MSP referred the call centre to Police Scotland in April after being inundated with complaints about Sitel at the height of the pandemic.Monica Lennon told police that one employee had reported to work at the call centre despite it being common knowledge that their partner was off sick with suspected coronavirus.At least six workers at Sitel’s call centre at Maxim Park in Eurocentral, near Bellshill, Lanarkshire, have

“power surge” to Scotland as he prepared to publish legislation for a UK internal market to replace the EU Single Market.

Nicola Sturgeon'sadministration in Scotland after it was revealed that Whitehall will assume control of the state aid regime.

SNP works best 'under pressure' as the minority leader in Scotland. Harvie told the PA news agency that the ruling party could 'get lazy' if it formed a majority administration.

SNP MSP has opened up a major rift in the nationalist movement by saying he will help launch a new independence party.Dave Thompson will quit the party after 55 years to help launch a new pro-independence outfit for the Holyrood election in 2021.The SNP veteran predicted the “Alliance for Independence” (AFI) could win up to 24 seats next year.He revealed the slogan would be “max the Yes” and added: “Just imagine 20 Margo MacDonalds in the parliament?”Get all the top Scottish politics news sent

antibody figures. Nicola Sturgeon’s administration said that 4,431 such tests had been completed, but the UK Statistics Authority has claimed the figure cannot be verified.

Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to Scots comedy legend Johnny Beattie after his death at the age of 93.

independence option instead. Kenny MacAskill MP has backed the idea of a new pro-independence party claiming that voting SNP in both Holyrood’s constituency and regional list votes “just doesn’t work”.

pub has been blasted for allegedly saying it will refuse to serve SNP supporters when it reopens next week.  The Caledonian Bar in Forfar has come under fire for a supposed social media post, now deleted, saying there would be 'no admittance' to SNP members or voters when the doors opened again next Wednesday. The tweet also says those over 70 and care home workers will also be barred due to coronavirus fears.

school in August after lockdown.The Scottish Government is examining safety options which would keep classes or whole year groups apart.It follows similar proposals unveiled by the UK Government for schools south of the border.Education Secretary John Swinney originally suggested schooling would resume on a part-time basis on August 11th.However, the ‘blended learning’ model, under which kids would be educated at home and in the classroom, was ditched after a parental backlash.Get all the top

The SNP has called on Rishi Sunak to grant Holyrood greater borrowing powers to help boost Scotland's economic recovery following four long months of lockdown. Ian Blackford, the party's leader at Westminster, wants the UK Government to offer a a "cast-iron commitment" to the devolution of key financial powers at today's mini-Budget.

SNP Westminster Deputy Leader, following the decision of Kirsty Blackman to stand down. The member for East Renfrewshire will join Ian Blackford in leading the SNP team of 48 MPs at Westminster.

attractions and estates have reopened from today as the lockdown continues to ease. The National Trust for Scotland announced that around 30 of its sites will be back open for tourists as staff begin to return from a period of furlough.