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Nicola Sturgeon has accelerated the relaxation of restrictions on travel and outdoor meetings as she said Covid was “in retreat” in Scotland.Announcing the changes, which will allow Scots to meet up with family and friends across the country outside in larger groups, the first minister said that from this Friday: Pe...

Boris Johnson will not oppose a second independence referendum if the Scottish National party wins a majority in the election next month, Nicola Sturgeon has said, with some UK government ministers reportedly conceding it is an inevitability.In an interview with the Guardian, Scotland’s first minister said: “If peop...

Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of misleading the Scottish parliament over her dealings with Alex Salmond, but not knowingly, in a highly critical report by MSPs.A specially convened Holyrood committee voted by a 5-4 margin to find the first minister had misled parliament over her accounts of a meeting with Salmond...

First minister says up to four adults from two households can meet outdoors from FridayCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNicola Sturgeon has announced some limited relaxations to outdoor mixing in Scotland, in particular for teenagers, as she told the public that “we cannot afford to take our foot off the brake too soon” if the country is to enjoy a “much more...

Respondents say their trust in both Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond dented by Holyrood inquiryMost Scots would vote to remain in the UK if an independence referendum were held tomorrow, a new poll has found.The survey of 1,015 Scots suggests that 46% would vote against Scottish independence, compared with 43% in favour. Continue reading...

Former first minister launches a stinging attack on the SNP during evidence to a Holyrood inquiryAlex Salmond has suggested that weak and incompetent leadership of Scotland’s institutions could undermine the case for independence, in a bitter attack on his former allies and party.The former first minister said huge deficiencies had been exposed in the running of the Scottish government and the Crown Office, as...

Economists say impact of leaving UK’s common market would hit two to three times as hard as leaving EUScotland’s economy would shrink by at least £11bn a year if it became independent, more than doubling the damaging impacts of Brexit, a team of economists has forecast.The report from the London School of Economics and City University of Hong Kong found that quitting the UK’s...

First minister says she will hold advisory referendum, whether Westminster consents or notNicola Sturgeon has said she will hold an advisory referendum on independence if her Scottish National party wins a majority in May’s Holyrood elections, regardless of whether Westminster consents to the move.Her party is setting out an 11-point roadmap for taking forward another vote, which was to be presented to members of...

Holyrood makes unprecedented move to see private messages from SNP party officials The Scottish parliament has ordered the country’s prosecution service to release key evidence in the Alex Salmond affair, in a dramatic escalation of a battle over the non-disclosure of legal papers.In an unprecedented move, Holyrood issued an enforcement notice on the Crown Office instructing it to release private messages from senior Scottish...

Export firms point to post-Brexit delays around health certificates, IT systems and missing customs papersDeliveries of fresh Scottish seafood to the EU have been halted until 18 January, after post-Brexit problems with health checks, IT systems and customs documents caused a huge backlog.Scottish fishing has been plunged into crisis, as lorry-loads of live seafood and fresh fish – from salmon to monkfish and langoustines...

First minister to tell conference main focus is on Covid but independence ‘is in clear sight’Nicola Sturgeon will open the Scottish National party annual conference by telling members she has “never been so certain” the country will achieve independence.The first minister will declare Scotland is “now a nation on the cusp of making history” as she insists the SNP’s goal of independence is “in...

Plan hatched by new ‘Union unit’ to counter rise in Scottish nationalismCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDowning Street tried to get doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine labelled with an image of the union jack, it has emerged, as scientists and statisticians raised more questions over the press release that proclaimed the trial’s success.The request for injection kits to bear the...

Eleven council areas in west and central Scotland, including Glasgow, will enter level 4 lockdown – the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions – from 6pm on Friday. The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon,  said she understood people's frustrations, but the prospect of a vaccine would mean returning to normal from spring. Non-essential shops are to close, along with pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and visitor attractions,...

Eleven local authorities to enter level 4 – highest of Scotland’s five-tier system of virus controlsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMore than 2.7 million Scots will face near-lockdown restrictions for three weeks after Nicola Sturgeon imposed the country’s highest level of Covid restrictions across the west of Scotland.Following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Scotland’s first minister told MSPs that 11 local...

President claimed Bond actor helped him get planning permission for Scottish resortSean Connery, James Bond actor, dies aged 90 It was less licence to kill and more dramatic licence. Donald Trump’s claim that the late Sean Connery assisted him in getting planning applications passed in Scotland fell apart quickly on Sunday when the chair of the planning committee said the James Bond star was...

Those subject to level 3 controls from Monday will be advised stay within council areaCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMillions of residents across central Scotland face a continued ban on indoor socialising and drinking in pubs and restaurants alongside significantly tighter travel restrictions from Monday, as the Scottish government’s five-level system of Covid controls comes into force.Councils in four health board areas...

Scotland’s first minister sets out five levels of possible intervention her government proposes for suppressing coronavirus. She tells a press briefing that local authorities and businesses will be consulted before decisions are made on the restrictionsUK coronavirus news - live updates Continue reading...

Bar and restaurant owners say they are ‘getting picked on’ and measures will hit young staffCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe Scottish government is facing a fierce backlash after Nicola Sturgeon announced a crackdown on indoor drinking in licensed premises, as one leading adviser said more needed to be done to ensure people were sticking to the rules in their own homes.Scottish...