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Scottish countryside brutalised: this is too high a price to pay

Scottish countryside brutalised: this is too high a price to pay

It is the drowsy hum of bees and the sun on the back of my neck that I remember most vividly. That, and the head-high rows of ripe raspberries which...

yesterday 5

Herald Scotland

Rosemary Goring

We can surely learn lessons from the tale of Barrhead Travel The story of Barrhead Travel, one of the best-known names in the overseas travel sector in Scotland, surely offers broader lessons

We can surely learn lessons from the tale of Barrhead Travel The story of Barrhead Travel, one of the best-known names in the overseas travel sector in Scotland, surely offers broader lessons

One of the best-known names in the overseas travel sector in Scotland celebrated its 50th birthday at a dinner at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket last...

yesterday 10

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

There’s no easy money left in football. Clubs must start to think differently

There’s no easy money left in football. Clubs must start to think differently

There’s a quiet truth emerging in Scottish football: no one’s coming to bail us out. For clubs like St Mirren – embedded in the community,...

yesterday 8

Herald Scotland

Keith Lasley

SNP treats indy like Monster of Glamis: a shameful secret to be locked in the attic It’s clear that the surest route to another independence referendum is through creating a sustained Yes majority in opinion polls – something like 55% for at least six months. And the only way to achieve that is by showing that the SNP is fit for government.

SNP treats indy like Monster of Glamis: a shameful secret to be locked in the attic It’s clear that the surest route to another independence referendum is through creating a sustained Yes majority in opinion polls – something like 55% for at least six months. And the only way to achieve that is by showing that the SNP is fit for government.

I must have blinked and missed it.   This was the week John Swinney was supposed to set out his ‘vision’ for independence. The irony is: there’s no...

yesterday 10

Herald Scotland

Neil Mackay

The Tories are becoming two parties in one. Which one will prevail?

The Tories are becoming two parties in one. Which one will prevail?

Scottish politics is different now than it was a fortnight ago. Labour’s surprise win in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election has...

yesterday 10

Herald Scotland

Andy Maciver

The poverty premium: why do we tolerate harm?

The poverty premium: why do we tolerate harm?

Being poor is more expensive than being rich. That concept baffles a lot of people, but it’s true.    It’s what many call the poverty premium. The...

yesterday 8

Herald Scotland

Sarah-Jayne Dunn

Scotland’s future is uncertain. But then so is the here and now

Scotland’s future is uncertain. But then so is the here and now

In my long experience, politics is a short-term business. That is driven partly by participants, partly by the people and partly by the press, the...

yesterday 4

Herald Scotland

Brian Taylor

Are you ‘upset’? The dangers of flags in Scottish schools

Are you ‘upset’? The dangers of flags in Scottish schools

It was revealed this week that a headteacher in Scotland wrote to parents suggesting the Union flag could be considered a sectarian emblem, but...

yesterday 3

Herald Scotland

Mark Smith

Good luck, Thomas Frank: Postecoglou's Spurs successor enters an unusual situation Good luck, Thomas Frank.

Good luck, Thomas Frank: Postecoglou's Spurs successor enters an unusual situation Good luck, Thomas Frank.

Good luck, Thomas Frank. It can't be easy for a manager to fill a vacancy when there was uproar surrounding his predecessor's dismissal. And it...

yesterday 3

Herald Scotland

Liam Bryce

The verdict on Cammy Day: little in this sordid affair surprised me

The verdict on Cammy Day: little in this sordid affair surprised me

Every speaker was heard in respectful silence, but then councillors debating a report into the handling of allegations of sexual harassment against...

yesterday 2

Herald Scotland

John Mclellan

Will the 2026 elections see people voting against parties - rather than for?

Will the 2026 elections see people voting against parties - rather than for?

The First Minister gave two major speeches at the start of this week. In the first, delivered to an audience at the Imaging Centre of Excellence at...

yesterday 20

Herald Scotland

Mark Mcgeoghegan

If Scots classrooms are in chaos, teachers need the option of expelling worst pupils Teachers describe “lawless” schools where pupils refuse point blank to do what they are told and square up to staff. Forty four per cent of Scottish teachers in a recent survey by the NASUWT teaching union reported experiencing physical abuse or violence in the previous year.

If Scots classrooms are in chaos, teachers need the option of expelling worst pupils Teachers describe “lawless” schools where pupils refuse point blank to do what they are told and square up to staff. Forty four per cent of Scottish teachers in a recent survey by the NASUWT teaching union reported experiencing physical abuse or violence in the previous year.

Millions of people were transfixed by the TV drama Adolescence recently and not just because of the dark theme of misogynist radicalisation. It was...

previous day 10

Herald Scotland

Rebecca Mcquillan

Getting rid of the two child cap is a small part of the bigger picture

Getting rid of the two child cap is a small part of the bigger picture

The argument is straightforward. The two child cap is irrational, discriminatory and should go. The £2.5 billion required to get rid of it should...

previous day 10

Herald Scotland

Brian Wilson

What does an abuser playing Scotland's national stadium say about us?

What does an abuser playing Scotland's national stadium say about us?

It had not quite registered that Scotland’s national stadium would play host to one of the most notorious woman beaters of my generation because...

previous day 2

Herald Scotland

Marissa Macwhirter

This extreme metal album blew up over a weekend – now it's accused of being AI

This extreme metal album blew up over a weekend – now it's accused of being AI

The cautionary tales surrounding AI art get ever more ridiculous and concerning. Superstar music producer Timbaland has announced an AI record...

previous day 8

Herald Scotland

Derek Mcarthur

The alleged fairness of the SQA? An extra 15 minutes for a Higher English exam This week the SQA has released material reviewing its handling of the 2024 exam period, and specifically the way in which National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications were awarded after the removal of all additional support from the Covid era.

The alleged fairness of the SQA? An extra 15 minutes for a Higher English exam This week the SQA has released material reviewing its handling of the 2024 exam period, and specifically the way in which National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications were awarded after the removal of all additional support from the Covid era.

This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter. This week the SQA has released material reviewing its handling of the 2024 exam...

previous day 5

Herald Scotland

James Mcenaney

Why our politicians must declare a mental health emergency

Why our politicians must declare a mental health emergency

If you’re living with a severe mental illness in today’s Scotland, your average life expectancy is 15 to 20 years shorter than other people's. ...

previous day 10

Herald Scotland

Dr Jane Morris

Please, save us from lottery elections

Please, save us from lottery elections

The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election provided lots to talk about. An alarming, and overlooked, implication is for our voting system....

thursday 20

Herald Scotland

George Fergusson

There should be an income level below which nobody is allowed to fall

There should be an income level below which nobody is allowed to fall

Big change is difficult, but if we are genuine about tackling destitution, poverty and financial insecurity, then it is necessary. Today, a group...

thursday 20

Herald Scotland

Russell Gunson

Overseas positivity towards Scotland contrasts with domestic whingers

Overseas positivity towards Scotland contrasts with domestic whingers

There was much to grab the attention in the latest foreign direct investment figures for Scotland published this week. The top lines were mostly...

thursday 3

Herald Scotland

Ian Mcconnell

Time to be honest about the true cost of housing asylum seekers

Time to be honest about the true cost of housing asylum seekers

There’s little guaranteed to get veins pumping on the necks of the great, full-breakfast-eating, Clarkson-chuckling, rights-demanding British...

thursday 20

Herald Scotland

Carlos Alba

Dear trendy sandwich shops, please step away from the focaccia After six months of our Lunch Review series, I have a plea for the trendy sandwich shops which favour focaccia on their menus.

Dear trendy sandwich shops, please step away from the focaccia After six months of our Lunch Review series, I have a plea for the trendy sandwich shops which favour focaccia on their menus.

A slab of freshly baked focaccia is a joyous, life-affirming thing. Oily, doughy, bubbly, salty. There are few foodie pleasures greater than...

thursday 10

Herald Scotland

Sarah Campbell

Sorry, but if we really want better public services, the NHS will have to take a hit

Sorry, but if we really want better public services, the NHS will have to take a hit

A healthy dose of scepticism should always be applied to any government spending announcements – especially when the accompanying spin machine hits...

thursday 20

Herald Scotland

Calum Steele

Darren Jones: ‘Scotland is at the heart of Labour's Plan for Change’ The Chief Secretary to the Treasury reflects on the UK Spending Review and why Scotland was his first stop to explain record public investment.

Darren Jones: ‘Scotland is at the heart of Labour's Plan for Change’ The Chief Secretary to the Treasury reflects on the UK Spending Review and why Scotland was his first stop to explain record public investment.

It feels longer than a week since the Chancellor of the Exchequer got to her feet and unveiled the UK’s most significant spending review in years....

thursday 10

Herald Scotland

Darren Jones

Why do so many men hate Nicola Sturgeon? And what would Maggie have made of it?

Why do so many men hate Nicola Sturgeon? And what would Maggie have made of it?

I was in town last week, which gave me a chance to see how dear old Sauchiehall Street was coming along. Once a premier Glasgow thoroughfare, now (...

thursday 20

Herald Scotland

Alison Rowat

Strange: our government can’t even remember which torture sessions it took part in

Strange: our government can’t even remember which torture sessions it took part in

Memory is rather unfashionable these days. Nobody seems able to remember a simple fact anymore, unless prompted by the phone in their pocket. ...

18.06.2025 20

Herald Scotland

Neil Mackay

Why Skye campaign is fighting off wind farm and what is says about energy roll out With consent given to a new powerline and a public inquiry into a new wind farm, Skye's locals are at center of energy debate

Why Skye campaign is fighting off wind farm and what is says about energy roll out With consent given to a new powerline and a public inquiry into a new wind farm, Skye's locals are at center of energy debate

This article appears as part of the Winds of Change newsletter. Tensions are growing in Scotland over clean energy infrastructure. Last week saw...

18.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Vicky Allan

Welcome to our book festival. It's diverse, inclusive but don't forget your pronouns

Welcome to our book festival. It's diverse, inclusive but don't forget your pronouns

I feel the organisers of this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival have been unfairly maligned for seeking to bring kindness into the cruel...

18.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Sorry Rupe, the ‘witch’ Sturgeon and the SNP did not ruin Scottish arts Rupert Everett has some harsh words for the SNP government’s approach to arts funding, though his beef is more about the what than the how much – and he reserves his scorn for the woman he calls “the witch”, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Sorry Rupe, the ‘witch’ Sturgeon and the SNP did not ruin Scottish arts Rupert Everett has some harsh words for the SNP government’s approach to arts funding, though his beef is more about the what than the how much – and he reserves his scorn for the woman he calls “the witch”, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Rupert Everett has some harsh words for the SNP government’s approach to arts funding, though his beef is more about the what than the how much –...

18.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Barry Didcock

SNP Government renewables fixation absurd as windfarm switch off bill soars The SNP Government wants increased subsidies for windfarm developments although there are more than the country's power networks can handle.

SNP Government renewables fixation absurd as windfarm switch off bill soars The SNP Government wants increased subsidies for windfarm developments although there are more than the country's power networks can handle.

The Labour Government has caused outrage in SNP circles by announcing plans to spend billions of pounds earmarked for clean energy projects on...

18.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Mark Williamson

From gay icon to victim of cancel culture, where it all went wrong for Kim Woodburn

From gay icon to victim of cancel culture, where it all went wrong for Kim Woodburn

TV presenter Kim Woodburn has died. She was 86. Woodburn first appeared on our screens in 2003 alongside Scot, Aggie Mackenzie, in the Channel 4...

18.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Gregor Kyle

Swimming can change your life. It’s never too late to learn

Swimming can change your life. It’s never too late to learn

Across the UK, an estimated 14 million adults cannot swim. That’s roughly one in three of us. It’s a startling figure, especially when you...

18.06.2025 10

Herald Scotland

Sophie Mccall

Is this a better way of doing politics? I think so

Is this a better way of doing politics? I think so

It was Barack Obama who summed up the extent of tribal division in US politics when, in 2015, he observed that not even becoming a literal...

18.06.2025 2

Herald Scotland

Marie Macklin