Unemployment claims rise in Airdrie and Coatbridge

Douglas Ross has made a gaffe within hours of becoming Scottish Tory leader after effectively conceding defeat at the next Holyrood election.He said after the election he hoped to lead a “strong” Tory party that would provide “opposition” to the SNP.SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said: “This is a gaffe royale, even by Douglas Ross’ standards. He has conceded defeat before the election has even been called yet.

Douglas Ross has been confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish Tories after being the only person nominated for the job. He will lead the party while ex leader Ruth Davidson takes on Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions.

Douglas Ross.In a leaked message, Michelle Ballantyne said she agreed to support Ross on the understanding he leads a “Boris backing, Brexit positive, anti nat party”.The right winger added she wanted to see “cronyism” in the Scottish Tories rooted out.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

Douglas Ross could win the Scottish Tory leadership unopposed after a potential rival backed him.Right winger Michelle Ballantyne, who was tipped as a possible candidate, has supported Ross instead.She said: “I have confidence that Douglas is in tune with the membership and that he would work with activists to ensure that their voices are heard.”Ross quickly became the favourite for the job in the wake of MSP Jackson Carlaw’s shock resignation as leader.The Moray MP announced his leadership bid

Jake Kanter International TV EditorViacomCBS Networks UK has named Sarah Rose, Channel 4’s chief consumer and strategy officer, as its new chief operating officer.Rose’s appointment comes after Deadline revealed earlier this month that Paul Dunthorne, the long-time Channel 5 executive, was stepping down as ViacomCBS’s COO and EVP UK of Northern and Eastern Europe.She will report into Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS Networks UK and Australia, and will have oversight of all UK business

Join thousands of others who have signed up for the Daily Record newsletter.A HEARTLESS Airdrie man who badly neglected two dogs in his care has been given a five-year ban on owning dogs following a Scottish SPCA investigation.Andrew William McPherson admitted he failed to provide a nutritionally adequate diet or veterinary treatment for Zara, a seven-year-old female German Shepherd, and Bobo, a 16-year-old male crossbreed, resulting in the dogs’ welfare being seriously impacted and causing

Keir Starmer has called on Nicola Sturgeon to publicly condemn Alex Salmond over his role as a broadcaster on the Kremlin-funded Russia Today (RT) station. The Labour leader has used the publication of the parliamentary report into Russian interference in UK democracy to challenge the SNP leader to call out her previous boss.

independence vote and the Brexit referendum, according to a landmark report on Russian interference in Britain. The report was finally released today after months of delay at the hands of Downing Street which has immediately rejected the main call from the Intelligence and Security Committee.

hereIt found that Russians with "very close links" to Vladimir Putin were "well-integrated into the UK, business, political and social scene."The Committee said: “We therefore question whether the government took its eye off the ball because of its focus on counter-terrorism: it was the opinion of the Committee that, until recently, the government had badly underestimated the response required to the Russian threat – and is still playing catch-up.“Russia poses a tough intelligence challenge and

independence referendum but not the Brexit vote, according to reports. An investigation into alleged Russian interference in British democracy is due to be published on Tuesday.