Nicola sturgeon

Ruth Davidson shuts down Nicola Sturgeon during fiery FMQs Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said her government will propose the timescale and question for a second referendum on Scottish independence by next spring. Ms Sturgeon claimed challenges of the coronavirus pandemic will act as an accelerant rather than as a brake on the Scottish National Party ( SNP )’s ambitions. She promised that by next spring she will publish a draft bill for an independence referendum, which will set out “clearly and unambiguously to the people of Scotland” both the question to be asked and the timing of the vote. Trending … [Read more...] about Nicola Sturgeon blunder: SNP to get ‘taste of their own medicine’ with Shetland Islands

Edinburgh: Crowds gather for anti-lockdown protest Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Campaigners from the grouop 'Scotland Against Lockdown' have urged people to gather outside Bute House, where the First Minister resides when she is working in the Scottish capital. Pictures and video footage shows a heavy police present as the protesters marched from Holyrood through the city to protest in Charlotte Square. The group posted a message online to say the large gathering is there to say: "NO to Lockdown and NO to Compulsory Vaccines." Trending The march is believed to be a Scotland-wide event, with people from all over the country … [Read more...] about Nicola Sturgeon FURY: Angry Scot protestors swarm Sturgeon’s official residence

Brexit: Jack Straw warns of impact on Scottish nationalism Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The SNP are plotting to exploit any chaos that erupts from a no deal Brexit by charging forward with an illegal referendum vote. Nicola Sturgeon is under pressure to hold an informal referendum on independence if Boris Johnson continues to refuse to grant a legal vote to Scotland. Former foreign secretary Jack Straw told LBC this morning that these plans will be sped up if the UK fail to reach a Brexit deal by the end of December. Trending He warned that a no deal Brexit may break up the UK, as time runs out before the end of the transition period. Mr … [Read more...] about Nicola Sturgeon ‘to exploit no deal’ as SNP plots to defy No10 with breakaway referendum

Prince Charles must ‘avoid scandal’ when King says royal expert Sign up for FREE royal alerts SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The future king typically visits his Birkhall home, on the Balmoral estate, each year to celebrate Hogmanay along with the Duchess of Cornwall. It is believed the couple have made this trip each year since they were married in 2015. Related articles Queen Elizabeth II praised as 'charismatic' in latest royal first Pregnant Princess Eugenie ‘QUITS’ Harry and Meghan’s Frogmore Cottage However according to a source close to the couple they won’t be visiting this year as they “do not want to cause trouble”. Currently the SNP controlled Scottish government … [Read more...] about Royal family: Prince Charles won’t visit Scotland after Sturgeon makes him ‘unwelcome’

ITV debate: Audience laugh at Corbyn's four-day week proposal Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Last month at the SNP 's annual conference, party members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a four-day working week by a margin of 1,136 votes to 70, calling on the Scottish Government to launch a review of working practices in Scotland, including the “possibility of a four-day week”. But currently, employment law is still controlled by Westminster, meaning any policy aimed at reducing working hours could only be introduced if the SNP, currently led by Nicola Sturgeon , is successful in gaining independence for Scotland. Trending A resolution at the … [Read more...] about SNP driving Scotland towards ‘£2.5BN economic calamity’ with ‘ludicrous’ 4 day work week

The Queen's role has been formally rewritten by Buckingham Palace following recent mobility issues that have forced her to pull out of several key events. In its annual report, the palace scaled back the monarch's "official duties" for the first time in more than a decade. They no longer include the State Opening of Parliament, which was previously considered necessary by "constitutional convention". This year's Queen's speech was read by the Prince of Wales , as the 96-year-old missed the event for the first time in almost 60 years. It was one of six occasions the monarch was previously required to attend. Four of the other five, including Trooping the Colour and Royal Ascot, were also led by Prince Charles this year. Advertisement The Sovereign Grant report, which is signed off by Keeper of the Privy Purse Sir Michael Stevens, splits the Queen's duties into two sections: Head of State and Head of Nation. Her duties as Head of State … [Read more...] about Queen’s role formally rewritten by Buckingham Palace as official duties scaled back

Published 1 hour ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The Scottish Greens said there would be no alterative to a single issue general election on independence if formal consent for indyref2 is not granted. Co-leader Patrick Harvie said it would be the only option if both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Supreme Court block the request. Opposition parties have criticised the strategy and its timing. It comes after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week proposed holding a referendum on 19 October 2023. The UK government said it would examine the first minister's proposals, but stressed that its position that "now is not the time" for another referendum had not changed. It has also said that it is "clear" that the constitution is reserved to Westminster. Scottish independence: 19 October 2023 proposed as date for referendum Is there a mandate for an … [Read more...] about Scottish independence: Greens back general election route to indyref2

The head of the Army today says the UK must be ready for war with Russia. Four months on from Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, General Sir Patrick Sanders is set to compare the assault to the rise of Nazi Germany . He will say that Britain is facing its "1937 moment" and must be ready to "fight and win" to ward off the threat from Russia. In his first public speech as Chief of the General Staff , Sir Patrick will say the UK must be prepared to "act rapidly" to contain Russian expansionism. Nato last night pledged to massively increase its forces available on high alert to more than 300,000 troops, a more-than seven-fold increase. Sir Patrick's intervention is likely to put pressure on Mr Johnson to maintain the size of the Armed Forces after plans were announced to reduce troop numbers in a move to a more modern military. Defence editor Danielle Sheridan reports that, in a separate speech today, Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, is to call for increased … [Read more...] about Tuesday morning news briefing: General says UK must be ready for war

SIR – Your Leading Article ( June 28 ) is a salutary reminder of the need to revisit the call in last year’s defence review for “a modern army that is more agile, more integrated and more expeditionary”, achieved through digitisation rather than numbers. While digital transformation remains relevant, the need to refocus on our European backyard puts the spotlight firmly on numbers – particularly the plan to limit the Army to 73,000 regulars and 30,000 reserves, with a commensurate reduction in heavy armour. Four months on from Russia’s invasion of a sovereign nation – and given Boris Johnson’s cheerleading for Ukraine at the G7 meeting, as well as Nato’s decision to increase high-readiness forces to 300,000 – the credibility of Britain’s contribution to thwarting Vladimir Putin’s ambitions is at stake. However dire the economic outlook, the Government must reorder its defence priorities. This will include: reversing Army personnel cuts so that at least one full-sized armoured … [Read more...] about Letters: Russian aggression highlights the need to restore Army manpower

Published 3 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A police investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Glasgow MP Patrick Grady has been dropped. Mr Grady stood away from his SNP membership after newspapers reported officers would be examining claims against him. But after carrying out inquiries and speaking to the alleged victim it is understood police will be taking no further action at this time. BBC Scotland has approached the SNP for comment. Patrick Grady to step away from SNP membership over allegations FM says SNP MP's victim was not supported by party Blackford apology dismissed as 'cop out' by victim SNP 'hypocritical' over sexual misconduct handling Last week the Metropolitan Police confirmed the sexual assault allegation was made on 22 June and submitted online by a third party. It concerned an incident said … [Read more...] about Police drop probe into Patrick Grady harassment allegations