Tier four lockdown for west of Scotland not "inevitable" says John Swinney

coronavirus deaths have been recorded in Scotland over the last 24 hours. The Scottish Government also announced that 966 new cases of COVID-19 were reported overnight, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 98,686.

Mo Farah may know his way around the track but not, it seems, the UK. The long-distance runner risked the ire of Scots as he mistook Scotland for Wales on I'm A Celebrity.

Castle Coin Challenge with Giovanna, the pair were split and had to follow signs with their names on in different directions. Communicating by walkie talkie, Mo had a map with shields positioned on different countries.

John Swinney has said SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford made a “mistake” when he publicly accused a photographer of breaking lockdown rules on Twitter. Blackford appeared to suggest English snapper Ollie Taylor had breached lockdown rules by posting a striking photograph of the north of Scotland.

John Swinney on the first day of the party's virtual conference. It signals the start of what promises to be a long and hard fought election campaign before voters go to the polls in May 2021.

referendum. Before the first speeches, Sturgeon said she has "never been so certain" Scotland will achieve independence.

festive break between December 23 and 27. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon agreed the basic UK-wide plan but urged caution and wants to keep gatherings to a minimum.

coronavirus by posting online videos for the over-60s.Dot Bremner hosts a daily Dancercise with Dot session from the garden of her home in Elgin, Moray.She set herself the challenge of dancing every day this month to raise money for charity North East Sensory Services (Ness), which  supports 6,500 people in North-east Scotland who have vision or hearing loss.Dot, who is partially sighted and almost completely deaf without a hearing aid, toured the region before the virus outbreak to run dance

lotto millionaire Jane Park has jetted off on a luxury Dubai holiday. The EuroMillions winner, from Edinburgh, flaunted her latest getaway on social media on Saturday as she soaked up the sun at a five-star hotel.

coronavirus restrictions, is still in a job. Kelly Livingstone, co-owner of Vanilla beauty salon in Rutherglen, spoke of her dismay at Ferrier’s refusal to stand down, fifty days after the scandal of her flouting of coronavirus protocol emerged.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.The leader of South Lanarkshire Council says it’s disappointing but necessary that the area is moving into Tier 4 of Covid restrictions.John Ross reacted to the news of the local authority area going into the strictest lockdown rules from today.Mr Ross said: “I know that everyone will share my disappointment that it has been necessary to place Lanarkshire and other parts of Scotland in Level 4 of the Covid

“It is crucial that support is readily available for businesses in West Lothian who have only just started getting back on their feet after the first lockdown.“Local businesses must be given plenty of notice if level-four restrictions are going to be kept in place past December 11.“It is important that the UK Government and the Scottish Government continue to work together to protect local jobs.”Labour Lothian MSP Neil Findlay said: “A few weeks ago, the First Minister said the science only take

schools are "not significant areas of transmission" based on expert research. But teachers union the EIS said the move to the highest level four restriction in Glasgow and much of central Scotland is making them anxious.

Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed 11 councils including Glasgow will go from level three to level four at the end of the week.It means only essential shops can open, while new restrictions will be imposed on hospitality and leisure.The level four rules will be imposed in Glasgow city, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.Sturgeon, at the Scottish Parliament, said she

East Kilbride has been plunged into a second lockdown.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Level four lockdown will be coming to Lanarkshire from Friday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.Businesses including hospitality, salons, gyms, hairdressers and non-essential retail will have to close when the new restrictions come into effect at 6am on Friday, November 20.For three weeks, Lanarkshire will be put into the highest level of restrictions used by the Scottish Government before being

travel ban is being considered as Glasgow and the west of Scotland look set to move into level four lockdown.The First Minister signalled a "statutory regulation based approach" could replace voluntary restrictions on travelling.Under the current five-tier system, restrictions on travelling from one council area to another amount to advice only.The First Minister confirmed that parts of Scotland could be moved this week into level 4, which is the toughest set of restrictions.Speaking at her

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Anger towards shamed Hamilton West MP Margaret Ferrier is evident after correspondence received by the Scottish Government about her actions was revealed.In September, Ferrier travelled from London to Scotland despite having Covid-19 and documents released through Freedom of Information laws last week showed that a string of furious messages were submitted about her behaviour.Among the letters and emails

coronavirus in Scotland in the past 24 hours, the Scottish Government has confirmed.The latest figures show there were 1,357 new Covid-19 cases recorded overnight, bringing the total number of positive cases to 79,017 since the pandemic began.Leading today's briefing, deputy First Minister John Swinney said Scotland's death toll now sits at 3,244.According to the data, 1,228 people are currently being treated in hospital with 96 in intensive care.It comes as three parts of Scotland officially