SNP MP blasts role of Crown Office in Alex Salmond legal disputes

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

lockdown tomorrow, including when restaurants and pubs can reopen in England. The Prime Minister had a crunch meeting with the Government’s top scientific advisors on Monday night on changing the 2 metre social distancing rule - increasing the pressure on Nicola Sturgeon to do the same in Scotland.

Sturgeon and Alex Salmond are potential witnesses in an inquiry into the Government’s bungled sexual misconduct probe into the former First Minister.Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell is also on a provisional list for what insiders believe could be a damaging investigation for the SNP and the Scottish Government.The Holyrood committee meets on Monday and a source said: “They should get to the bottom of what happened.”Two years ago, Sturgeon’s government investigated claims of misconduct against

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.

Ayrshire lottery winners Christine and Colin Weir have been unveiled as the biggest donors to the SNP during the last decade.The couple, who hit the Euromillions jackpot in 2011 with a £161 million win, topped the pile of financial backers to the Nationalist cause.Between them, the pair donated more than £6.4 million to party coffers, according to analysis by the Times.It came during a period where the SNP fought referendums on Scottish independence and leaving the European Union.The Weirs

SNP has questioned why the Scottish Government is sticking with the two metre social distancing rule when many other countries use a reduced version. Andrew Wilson, who wrote a landmark report on the economics of Scottish independence, cited the examples of China, Denmark, France, Hong Kong and Singapore which have all implemented a one metre rule.

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

Alex Salmond has clashed with the country's top civil servant.Committee convener Linda Fabiani warned Leslie Evans she has "serious concerns" about delays in producing vital documents.She also wrote that the "lack of progress" is "impinging" on the committee's ability to do its job.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

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw to back a cross-party campaign to extend the Brexit timetable and ensure a chaotic no deal is avoided. The Scottish Government this week published analysis highlighting the danger of ending the transition period in the midst of the pandemic.

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

A Renfrew councillor has welcomed a commitment by police to crack down on boy racers speeding through the town.

Women and children at risk of domestic or sexual abuse need help “more than ever”, a senior Scottish Government minister warned.

A Scots MSP has told how her world fell apart after the sudden death of her 20-year-old son who tragically passed away on holiday.

The death of George Floyd which has triggered protests across the US was “inexcusable”, Boris Johnson has said.

The next SNP manifesto should offer Scottish independence without the need for a referendum, two prominent party figures claimed.

The SNP Government is embroiled in a secrecy row after refusing to publish files relating to high-level talks between chief medical officers on the pandemic.

A Perthshire councillor has praised the efforts of local policing in light of a spike in the number of recorded drug crimes.