How Reform is exposing the reality of Scotland’s views on immigration and identity Once a progressive outlier, Scotland is facing a political reckoning as Reform benefits from growing social division

Holyrood elections: how Reform is exposing the reality of Scotland’s views on immigration and identity

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

This is a very intelligent analysis of where Scotland finds itself. Very well written Libby.

Agree gov is partly responsible. I'm generally a cheerleader for LAs for this very reason tho I know here I have been pointing out where LAs can be at fault too. Huge pressures on council leaders of same pol party as gov to deliver policies too. Would definitely be up for a coffee and a proper chat.

Agreed about difference between short term/ongoing but what does a gov (not Scotland specific) do if money given but LA doesn't then supply items? Not saying I have the answers but a definite divide between LAs run by same political party as gov & those not wanting a gov to succeed.

Thanks Gemma for your continued work on women's access to health care.

Lunch Hour Abortions? Don’t Threaten Us with a Good Time I’m being (a little) flippant. I’ve broken down yesterday’s anti-abortion propaganda from the Telegraph…

The Telegraph did a wild puff piece for an anti-abortion org full of disinformation. I stayed up late bringing together info on the extremists they platformed and breaking down the disinformation 😴 please read and share to cut through some of the damaging propaganda substack.com/@gemmaclark1...

health boards. When I was researching maternity pads pre baby box, some health boards supplied, some not. Staff buying them for mums who 'forget' them. Supplying in a baby box means dignity for mums. No guarantee if money for them had been given to health boards, it would have been used in that way.

That's a fair point. It's perhaps the age old gov problem of LAs (in this case)not fulfilling gov policies. We know the current gov like to centralise. Not being critical of LAs as sometimes the money is not there to back up announced policies however some don't enact for political reasons. Look at

It would be better if it was ongoing. The first year of school is a particularly expensive one though as everything needs to be purchased. I wonder if it's also to equalise over LAs? My grandson's in P1 in GCC & they do seem to be supplied with what you would expect. Far more than I got at school!

As always Dani, you make interesting points. I like the school bag idea. There are increasing numbers of families relying on charities for school bags & contents. For me this is like the school clothing grant, an anti poverty measure. Appreciate the election gimmick point though.

#Caturday hero

Refreshing hustings for women's equality. Good to hear policies instead of shouty voices. Thanks to all who organised, to Tasnim Nazeer for chairing & to @mairimcallan.bsky.social @gillianmackaygreen.bsky.social @cajardinemp.bsky.social & Carol Mochan. Positive politics in a world of toxicity.

A tabby cat with black, blonde and dark brown fur. It's asleep on its side and lying on a blue and white blanket.

I am actually starting to wonder if Sarwar is deliberately self-sabotaging so he can step down as leader. Surely someone cannot be this bad?

I wonder if a spokesperson will meet with them.

Unsurprisingly feelings have been running high around the assisted dying vote. People saying MSPs should have voted the way their constituents want (however the MSP voted). Do people not realise elected reps will get more than one view from constituents, no matter what topic is raised?

A black cat sitting in the hammock of a cat tree. The cat tree is grey and furry with rope scratching posts. The cat is looking out a window and is in profile.

Weekend visitor. #Caturday #BlackCats

A tabby cat curled up and sleeping in a white cardboard box. The box is too small for the cat so the sides are bulging out.

Nearly missed #CatBoxSunday

Rubbish from Reform that you can't report voting concerns at the time. You can bring it to the attention of the staff in the polling place or report it to the police if serious interference has happened. I've been an election agent and have reported problems to staff and on one occasion, the police.

1/

While @welfarescotland works primarily in Scotland, we are immensely concerned by increasing reports from England of letting agents and landlords requiring prospective tenants to set up limited companies and use them as a vehicle to rent or lease a residential property.

Exactly.

Hope you have a good week!

I have a young relative with tics. He shouts things classified as rude. He doesn't mean it. He shouts at strangers that he loves them. He doesn't mean that either. His life is exhausting, shouting is only a part of tics. It affects every area of his life. I hope Jamie Foxx learns about disability.

Scottish Parliament election. 7th May 2026. Registration closes 20th April 2026. Gov.uk/register-to-vote.

The Scottish Parliament election 🗳️ is only 74 days away on 7th May 2026.

Make sure you are registered to vote to ensure you can have your say.

👉 Register online at gov.uk/register-to-...

Registration closes 20th April 2026.

‘A great wee place’: the small Scottish factory crafting Olympic curling stones All stones in Cortina are made from granite found on tiny island in Firth of Clyde and crafted in East Ayrshire

Gripped by today's GB curling dramatics in Cortina? Read about the wee factory in Ayrshire where it all begins....

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

Normalize laughing derisively in men's faces when they deserve it.

Map of projected seats. Constituencies are 64 SNP, 1 Conservative, 2 Labour, 5 Lib Dem, 1 Green, 0 Alba, 0 Reform. Regional list seats are 0 SNP, 9 Conservative, 16 Labour, 0 Lib Dem, 10 Green, 0 Alba, 21 Reform. Lead party per region is Central and Lothians West SNP, Edinburgh and Lothians East SNP, Glasgow SNP, Highlands and Islands SNP, Mid and Fife SNP, North East SNP, South SNP, West SNP. Gallagher Index is 14.8 - a lower index means a more proportional result.

Map of projected runners up and margins. Constituency runner ups are SNP 6, Conservative 11, Labour 31, Lib Dem 4, Green 3, Reform UK 18. In percentage terms, constituency margins of victory are 6 below 5, 12 between 5 and 10, 37 between 10 and 20, 18 above 20. Closest runner up for last list seat in each region is Central and Lothians West Reform UK, Edinburgh and Lothians East Lib Dem, Glasgow Labour, Highlands and Islands Green, Mid and Fife Conservative, North East Reform UK, South Conservative, West Labour.

Norstat 10-13 Feb seat projection (vs last poll / vs 2021 on new boundaries); AMS Ideal seats:

SNP ~ 64 (+2 / +1); 45
RUK ~ 21 (+4 / +21); 26
Lab ~ 18 (nc / -3); 23
Grn ~ 11 (nc / +1); 14
Con ~10 (-2 / -21); 14
LD ~ 5 (-4 / +1); 7

(Projection caveats: ballotbox.scot/projections)

Jeane Freeman obituary SNP politician who served as Scottish health secretary and led the government’s response to the covid pandemic

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Starmer says he acted on Doyle once he knew facts. Why didn't he suspend or put pressure on Scot Lab/Anas Sarwar to suspend MSP Pam Duncan-Glancey when she admitted her ongoing friendship with the same paedophile back in 2025? Her suspension only happened after Doyle suspended yesterday. #PMQ #PMQs

Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue