SNP and Reform accused of 'co-ordinated plan' to smear Sarwar Anas Sarwar has argued that John Swinney is trying to tie him to “the very people who are race-baiting me”.

Excl: Anas Sarwar has accused Reform and the SNP of a “deliberate, co-ordinated plan” to tie Scottish Labour to Nigel Farage’s party to sabotage his plans for change.
He also accused John Swinney of “attempting to tie me to the very people who are race-baiting me”.
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Graham Simpson accused of calling senior Reform leaders 'useless' and 'weasels' Graham Simpson denies the conversation with Anas Sarwar ever happened

This Scottish Labour v Reform UK bust up is so petty.
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Bold SNP manifesto tries to hand Swinney his own identity but delivery fears loom John Swinney’s election manifesto is attempting to give him his own identity as a leader - rather than an extension of Nicola Sturgeon’s time in office.

My analysis on the SNP's bold manifesto bringing forward bold ideas after 19 years in government - something lacking in Labour's plans. However, delivering some of the ambitious proposals, with no spare money and a vow to freeze income tax, will be the hard part.
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@johnswinney.bsky.social has unveiled the SNP's manifesto. A big pledge to cap essential food and drink items at supermarkets in the interests of public health during the cost of living crisis. But it will need permission from Westminster. Also a vow to cap bus fares at £2 and freeze income tax.

This was my original story on this, revealing Labour insiders would rely on Reform to vote in Anas Sarwar as first Minister if the numbers stack up.

Offord claims backroom chat with Sarwar to 'work together to get rid of the SNP' Reform UK’s leader in Scotland has claimed Anas Sarwar approached him about working together to remove the SNP from power

Malolm Offord has claimed Anas Sarwar approached him to thrash out a deal to remove the SNP from power, during a heated Channel 4 election debate.
The Scottish Labour leader has denied it and accused the Refom UK Scotland leader of wanting to deport his children.
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Will Sarwar's Labour manifesto of ambition and wishful thinking sway voters Scottish Labour’s blueprint for government is far from perfect - but Anas Sarwar’s biggest issue is convincing the public to open their ears to his vision for Scotland.

🔴A government blueprint dependent on wishful economic growth
🔴A lack of headline policies to impress voters
🔴Taking the huff with journalists asking about the elephant in the room
✍️My analysis on Anas Sarwar's Scottish Labour election manifesto
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John Swinney to demand Labour devolves energy policy to Holyrood if SNP re-elected The SNP leader will demand energy powers are transferred to Holyrood on the first day of him being re-elected as First Minister.

John Swinney will demand Westminster devolves energy policy to Holyrood if the SNP is re-elected to power.
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Holyrood election: Anas Sarwar's slim hopes for a tactical route to Bute House Labour is trailing far behind the SNP in the polls but hopes to flip seats in key Central Belt battlegrounds

EXCL: Scottish Labour has plotted a route to put Anas Sarwar in Bute House. It involves Reform playing a part and Labour having the "moral mandate" to govern. It will also still need a big shift in the polls which hasn't looked like happening.
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SNP accused of 'covering up sex crimes' as Swinney orders complaints review A review of the SNP’s complaints procedures will be carried out after the Jordan Linden scandal.

John Swinney has ordered an independent review of the SNP's complaints procedures after the Jordan Linden scandal
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John Swinney tying Labour to Reform shows the Holyrood gloves are already off John Swinney set the tone on day one of the Holyrood election campaign by lumping Labour with Reform.

My analysis on the opening moves of the Holyrood election campaign and how a void from Scottish Labour has allowed the SNP to tie Anas Sarwar's party to Reform
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First photo shoot of the campaign for the SNP

"If we win big we can achieve a historic majority that will deliver so much more", John Swinney adds.

John Swinney has called on voters to "lock Nigel Farage out of any influence in Scotland's parliament" by helping the SNP secure a majority. He wans the alternative could be a "grubby backroom deal between Labour and Reform".

John Swinney speaking in Glasgow

@snp.org leader @johnswinney.bsky.social is launching his party's Holyrood election campaign in Glasgow with a simple "hope" slogan. The FM says the SNP has a "fundamentally positive vision for the future of our country". He adds an SNP majority will "keep Nigel Farage away from power".

SNP Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has accused the Labour government of having "pulled the rug out from under Scotland’s renewables industry” by blocking the £1.5bn investment plans.

Malcolm Offord claims he 'instantly regretted' homophobic joke as Reform's only MSP backs him John Swinney has suggested ‘lots of people would laugh and applaud’ if they heard the offensive joke at a Reform event or conference

Malcolm Offord has claimed he "instantly regretted" his homophobic joke after having had "a bit to drink". His only Reform MSP, Graham Simpson, has backed him to remain party leader in Scotland. John Swinney disagrees.
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Labour blocks Chinese wind factory plans for Scottish Highlands over security fears The UK government has blocked Ming Yang’s wind turbine plans for the Scottish Highlands.

EXCLUSIVE: The UK Labour government has blocked Chinese firm Ming Yang's attempt to build a wind turbine factory in the Scottish Highlands that would have created hundreds of jobs. It is understood that national and cyber security fears could not be addressed.
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Reform UK's only MSP Graham Simpson has run away from journalists at the Scottish Parliament to dodge questions about Malcolm Offord's horrendous homophonic remarks. He snuck out of FMQs early but journalists saw him trying to escape. He said Mr Offord is still fit to lead his party.

SNP accuses Labour of lacking policy ideas and identity as Anas Sarwar poised to set out divergences A row has erupted as the SNP and Scottish Labour are poised to kickstart their bids for Bute House ahead of May’s election.

Excl: The SNP has accused Anas Sarwar of lacking ideas and "running on empty" before the Holyrood campaign has begun. Labour has been accused of simply proposing watered-down SNP ideas.
Mairi McAllan added that she was “not sure anyone knows what Labour stands for”.
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Findlay's blueprint for Tories to silence Reform and turn 'common sense' into votes Russell Findlay is poised to lay his party’s attack on Reform thick during the Holyrood campaign, but the noise around Reform is likely to be deafening

My look at how the Scottish Tories hope to turn their fortunes around at May's Holyrood election. Reform's chaotic campaign launch last week has given Russell Findlay a boost but will would-be Reform voters care that Nigel Farage's operation in Scotland is a circus?
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Cross-party campaign and religious lobby : The fall of Scotland's assisted dying vote A co-ordinated campaign spearheaded by MSPs in Holyrood’s three biggest parties and lobbying by religious groups defeated Scotland’s assisted dying legislation.

I spoke to MSPs on both sides of Scotland's assisted dying debate following the crunch vote to reject legislation. Some insight into what went right and wrong in convincing would-be "switchers" and the role religious lobbing played in trying to influence the outcome
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There was a real chance that Reform could have convened Holyrood committees after the election. Interesting to see if that still happens. Can't see it somehow.

End-of- life patients 'being written off' amid call for legal right to palliative care The Scottish government is being urged to embed a right to palliative care into law following the assisted dying debate.

EXCL: Marie Curie Scotland has warned terminally ill patients are being "written off" by the NHS and social care systems in Scotland. The charity is calling for a right to palliative care to be embedded into law at Holyrood.
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Assisted dying Scotland: High emotions as MSPs face most-profound Holyrood decision The emotional assisted dying debate was a display of Holyrood at its best.

My take on what was an emotional, highly-charged, and at one point, quite surreal, assisted dying debate in the Scottish Parliament. It has been the most important issue MSPs have debated this parliament, and one of the most crucial in the history of devolution
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John Swinney said he was "relieved".
He said he would "understand tonight, there will be members of parliament who have taken a different view, who supported the bill, who will be deeply sorry that outcome has not been achieved tonight.
"I respect and sympathise with them on their position."

Assisted dying legislation rejected by MSPs following emotional debate Liam McArthur, the MSP behind the bill, said many of those who voted against it would come to regret it deeply

A lot of emotion on show at Holyrood tonight.
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BREAKING: The Scottish Parilament has voted 57-69 to reject Liam McArthir's assisted dying legislation.

SNP pledges to fast-track planning decisions on major housing developments The Scottish government hopes a new national agency can help speed up slow planning decisions, seen as a key barrier to housebuilding.

Excl: SNP ministers have vowed to speed up planning to get Scotland building and ease the housing crisis by providing affordable homes at a faster pace. Màiri McAllan said the new More Homes Scotland agency will provide planning "surge capacity" for local authorities
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Excellent news for next season this. Has been one of United's more consistent players this season. Excited to have him back.