Craig Paton

The Scottish Greens are urging Education Secretary Mairi McAllan to overhaul Scotland’s exam system after nearly 150,000 pupils received their results. They support Professor Louise Hayward’s 2023 review, which recommended fewer exams, greater use of coursework and continuous assessment, and the abolition of exams for S4 pupils. The recommendations were previously rejected by former education secretary Jenny Gilruth, while Green education spokesperson Laura Moodie argued that continuous assessment would better reflect pupils’ knowledge and abilities.

The Scottish Greens have urged Education Secretary Mairi McAllan to adopt recommendations from Louise Hayward’s 2023 review of Scotland’s qualifications system. The proposals would reduce high-stakes exams, expand coursework and continuous assessment, and abolish exams for S4 pupils. The party criticized the existing system as antiquated and harmful to students facing difficult personal circumstances, offering government support for implementing the reforms. The Scottish Government was asked to comment.

Scottish pupils recorded higher pass rates in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher examinations, reaching 79.2%, 76.7% and 77.6% respectively. National 5 and Higher A-grade rates increased, while the Advanced Higher A-grade rate declined slightly. Education Secretary Mairi McAllan called the results highly positive, highlighting record vocational qualification numbers and a narrowing attainment gap between the most and least deprived areas, while pledging continued investment to reduce educational inequality.

Scottish pupils received their exam results, with National 5 passes reaching a record level of almost 270,000, up from about 262,000 the previous year. Pass rates also increased for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications, reaching 79.2%, 76.7% and 77.6% respectively. A-grade attainment rose at National 5 and Higher but fell at Advanced Higher. Education Secretary Mairi McAllan welcomed the results and highlighted a further narrowing of the attainment gap between pupils from the most and least deprived areas.

John Swinney has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to scrap the Energy Profits Levy after BP announced plans to sell its UK North Sea operations, warning of uncertainty for workers and communities. The UK energy secretary said worker protection would be the priority, while Conservatives and Reform UK Scotland blamed Labour and Swinney's policies and called for more North Sea drilling. Environmental group Uplift argued that BP's decision reflects the basin's declining reserves and said governments should focus on a coherent transition plan and investment in renewables.

BP plans to sell its operations in the UK Continental Shelf, prompting the SNP and Scottish officials to warn of threats to jobs, investment and energy security. Dave Doogan called for urgent government action, while Conservative spokesperson Andrew Bowie blamed Labour’s net-zero policies and urged approval of new North Sea projects. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said protecting workers and local communities was the priority, and Scottish minister Stephen Gethins called for oil and gas production to be managed alongside the expansion of renewables.

A Unite the Clans rally and a larger counter-protest in Glasgow led to violent clashes and 15 arrests. First Minister John Swinney condemned the events as a demonstration of far-right hatred after apparent Nazi salutes were filmed, while Police Scotland cited offences including assault, weapons possession and obstruction. Police said some participants appeared to have planned disorder and launched a significant investigation into the violence.

Firefighters were expected to remain at Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat for several days after a blaze covering about 0.01 square kilometres was reported on Sunday evening. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service increased its response to six appliances and planned to dampen hotspots after the flames were extinguished. The fire’s cause was unknown, with a separate, much larger wildfire continuing in the Cairngorms. Authorities urged the public to avoid open flames, keep away from the area and keep nearby windows and doors closed; no casualties were reported.

A 50-year-old person was arrested and charged after Police Scotland received reports about a social media post concerning the reported death of former MP Ann Widdecombe. Police said a report would be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

A 50-year-old person has been arrested and charged by Police Scotland over a social media post concerning the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe. Police said the incident was reported on July 11 and that a report would be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon.

Adura, the Shell–Equinor joint venture behind the proposed Jackdaw gas field off Aberdeen, says an updated environmental assessment shows the project would account for only 0.02% of global greenhouse-gas emissions and would not materially affect future global emissions. The company argues Jackdaw would strengthen UK energy security, support jobs and remain within carbon budgets, while Conservative MP Andrew Bowie backs approval. Campaign group Uplift disputes those claims, saying the field would supply only about 2% of UK gas demand over nine to 12 years, would not lower energy bills or reduce import dependence, and that investment should instead go to renewables and home insulation. The public consultation closes on August 10.

Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden won the Aberdeen South by-election with 14,308 votes, marking the Conservatives’ first Scottish by-election gain since 1967 and taking the seat from the SNP. The SNP’s vote fell sharply from 15,213 in 2024 to 8,258, while Lumsden framed the result as opposition to the perceived threat to North Sea oil and gas. Former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called the defeat a difficult night, and an SNP source criticized the party’s unclear position on the industry. The SNP nevertheless retained Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, where Lara Bird won 9,802 votes.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney says he has no plans to meet Donald Trump or visit the White House during his upcoming US trip for Scotland’s World Cup campaign. Although Swinney previously met Trump at his Scottish golf courses while lobbying against US tariffs on Scotch whisky, he says there has been no discussion of a new meeting. Trump later announced that the 10% whisky levy would be dropped and credited Swinney’s efforts.

John Swinney has appointed former education secretary Jenny Gilruth as Scotland’s deputy first minister, replacing Kate Forbes. Gilruth called the appointment the greatest honour of her life and identified the cost-of-living crisis and access to NHS services as priorities. Swinney, sworn in as first minister for a second time, said he would serve all of Scotland and highlighted living costs, NHS improvement and Scotland’s constitutional future. He is assembling a cabinet to replace retiring ministers and those who lost their seats, with appointments subject to a confirmatory vote.

The Scottish Greens say they would reopen scrutiny of Donald Trump’s Scottish golf-course finances if they win the next election. Patrick Harvie supports using an unexplained wealth order to require Trump to disclose the source of funds used to acquire facilities in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire, accusing the Scottish and UK governments of shielding him. Zack Polanski has separately suggested that international sanctions could be used to strip Trump of the courses. Trump International Scotland was contacted for comment.

The Scottish Greens say they would investigate the funding of Donald Trump's golf courses in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire if they win the upcoming election. The party supports using an Unexplained Wealth Order to scrutinize how Trump acquired the facilities, while Patrick Harvie accused the Scottish and UK governments of prioritizing relations with Trump over transparency. The pledge follows Green Party of England and Wales leader Zack Polanski's suggestion that international sanctions could be used to strip Trump of the courses.

Donald Trump urged the UK to expand North Sea oil and gas extraction, arguing that Aberdeen should be thriving and criticizing the government’s move toward renewable energy. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney rejected his “drill, baby, drill” position and called for Scotland to retain more of the benefits from its energy resources. Scottish Labour backed opening the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, while Reform UK Scotland supported Trump and the Scottish Greens opposed further exploration on climate grounds. The UK Government defended its shift toward clean domestic power, while data showed 351 active seaward production licences and an average of about five years from licence award to production.

Nigel Farage criticized the NHS for providing expensive HIV treatment to people who newly arrive in Britain, arguing that it should serve taxpayers rather than function as an international health service. The Terrence Higgins Trust and National AIDS Trust rejected his suggestion that migrants come to the UK to obtain HIV care, saying there is no evidence of such health tourism. They warned that withholding medication would increase illness, deaths and HIV transmission, and urged Farage to support the cross-party goal of ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030.

Danish energy company Vestas plans to invest about €230 million in a potential offshore wind factory in Edinburgh's Leith area, which could create around 500 jobs and manufacture turbine nacelles and hubs. The proposal depends on securing further orders through the UK Government's AR7 offshore wind auction, which awarded support to projects including Berwick Bank. UK and Scottish ministers, industry body RenewableUK and the STUC welcomed the plan, while the union movement urged governments to require developers to build up Scotland's manufacturing capacity. The factory is expected to strengthen the regional supply chain, energy security and resilience to global trade and supply disruptions.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney condemned the disorder following an Old Firm match between Rangers and Celtic, where fans reportedly stormed the pitch and attacked stewards and police. He said he would not take his teenage son to such a match but opposed playing future derbies behind closed doors. Swinney called for clubs, football authorities, police and government to cooperate on preventing violence and said he would review football banning orders if re-elected.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said he would not take his teenage son to an Old Firm match after supporters invaded the pitch and violence broke out during the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. He condemned the risks to fans, stewards, police and players, while stopping short of calling for matches to be played behind closed doors. Swinney said the Scottish Government, Rangers, Celtic, the Scottish Football Association and Police Scotland must work together, including reviewing football banning orders and pursuing those responsible.

Police made nine arrests after violent disorder followed Celtic’s penalty-shootout victory over Rangers in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, with significantly more arrests expected as investigators review extensive CCTV and other evidence. Fans invaded the pitch, missiles and a flare were thrown, and officers, supporters and football staff were injured. Separate arrests and charges relate to assaults on police, a coach and a player, while police are also investigating a pre-match stadium break-in and an assault outside Ibrox. Police Scotland has launched a review of its operation, while Chief Superintendent Emma Croft defended the response and called on the clubs to tackle supporter behaviour. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney condemned the violence and called for coordinated action by police, clubs, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Football Association, including efforts to prevent pyrotechnics entering stadiums.

Rachel Reeves is facing calls from SNP economy spokesman Dave Doogan to abandon planned fuel duty increases as the Iran-US conflict raises fears of sharply higher oil prices. Oil reportedly rose to around $80 a barrel after US and Israeli attacks on Iran, with some analysts warning it could exceed $100. The Treasury says it has extended the existing 5p fuel duty cut through August, but critics argue that proceeding with the scheduled increases would compound pressure on motorists, businesses and households already affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney says independence is within reach after a More in Common projection put the SNP one seat short of a majority in May’s Holyrood election. He argues that scandals and economic problems at Westminster are strengthening support for independence, while the UK government continues to reject a new referendum. Swinney’s comments came as he defended Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain over her handling of information about embezzlement charges against former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.

Great British Energy will establish its permanent headquarters at Marischal Square in central Aberdeen by the end of the year. Chief executive Dan McGrail said the city’s energy expertise and workforce make it an ideal base, while Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the move would help unlock clean-energy investment and create jobs in Aberdeen and across the United Kingdom.

ExxonMobil has ended production at its Fife Ethylene Plant in Mossmorran, two weeks earlier than planned, reportedly after an operational problem made continued production impractical. The site will be decommissioned by early 2028. Around 400 jobs were at risk, with 69 staff expected to leave at the end of April, 90 retained for decommissioning and 20 relocating within ExxonMobil’s UK operations; about 250 contractors also worked there. Unite condemned the early closure and broader oil and gas policy, while the Scottish Government pledged £9 million for worker support and efforts to secure the site’s future. Scottish Conservative criticism focused on what it described as inadequate government action and punitive business policies.

A task force led by Fife Council is meeting for the first time to coordinate support for workers affected by the planned closure of ExxonMobil’s Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran, which puts more than 400 jobs at risk. The Scottish Government has pledged £9 million over three years, while its Partnership Action for Continuing Employment initiative is offering skills and employability assistance. The UK Government says it is supporting alternative employment at Grangemouth, engaging major employers in Fife and seeking a buyer or future use for the site.

More than 700,000 people in Scotland now receive disability or carer benefits from Social Security Scotland after the devolved agency transferred most cases from the Department for Work and Pensions. Only 28 complex attendance allowance cases remain with the DWP, and recipients did not need to reapply, helping preserve continuity of payments. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the agency met its target for completing the transfer by year-end.

The Fraser of Allander Institute says Scotland faces a £1 billion shortfall between planned infrastructure projects and available capital funding, even after the Scottish Government uses its borrowing powers. It is urging ministers to identify which projects, including national treatment centres and the A9 and A96 upgrades, will be delayed or cancelled. Although Rachel Reeves’s UK budget improved Scotland’s day-to-day funding by around £750 million, the institute says the Scottish budget remains in underlying deficit and could be severely affected by slower UK health-spending growth. Closing the resulting gap through Scottish income-tax increases alone could require a 9p rise across all bands, which the institute considers politically and economically difficult. Opposition figures described the situation as evidence of government mismanagement, while ministers said their budgets have been balanced and promised an affordable infrastructure pipeline alongside the draft budget.

CB&I has agreed to acquire Petrofac’s Asset Solutions business, a deal expected to complete in the first quarter of 2026 and transfer about 3,000 employees to CB&I. The transaction follows Petrofac’s appointment of administrators after a renewable-energy contract in the Netherlands collapsed. Company executives and the joint administrator presented the sale as securing the business’s future, preserving skilled jobs and creating growth opportunities through complementary operations and geographic coverage.

ExxonMobil says efforts to sell the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant have produced no viable offers, leaving the facility scheduled to close in February. More than 400 jobs, including around 180 ExxonMobil positions and 250 contractor roles, are at risk. The company says continued ethylene production is not economically viable, while Unite disputes that assessment and points to a £120 million government investment in a comparable Grangemouth plant. The union and Scottish Government criticize the UK Government for insufficient intervention and failure to tackle high energy costs, while Scottish officials say they are providing employability support and seeking alternative uses for the site.

The UK Government will provide £120 million to support Ineos’s ethylene plant at Grangemouth, alongside a £30 million contribution from the company, with the deal expected to safeguard about 500 jobs. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said he was convinced the plant could become sustainable and profitable, while Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander described the funding as bridging finance. The agreement includes restrictions on how the money can be spent and allows the government to share in future profits. The Scottish Government and Unite welcomed the intervention but called for a broader, long-term industrial and workers’ transition strategy.

The Scottish Government plans to introduce legislation allowing councils to charge a flat-rate visitor levy rather than a percentage of accommodation costs. Public finance minister Ivan McKee said the change would give local authorities more flexibility and help fund tourism services. Scottish Conservative spokesman Murdo Fraser argued that the levy would still impose excessive costs and red tape on businesses and travelers. Tourism industry representatives welcomed the simpler model but urged councils to pause existing levy plans until the Scottish Parliament considers the reforms.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney condemned protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers as racist, saying demonstrators were spreading racist hate. He made the remarks at an anti-racism rally in Glasgow organized by the Scottish Trade Union Congress, which he attended with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said Scotland should remain welcoming and that working people were united against hatred and division.

The UK Government has retained the energy profits levy on oil and gas firms despite calls from industry and Scottish politicians for it to be scrapped or reformed. The Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce argues that the policy will discourage more than 100 projects, jeopardize about 160,000 jobs and accelerate the decline of North Sea production. Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison and Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden also warn of serious employment and economic consequences. The Treasury says the industry must make a fair contribution to the transition from fossil fuels and plans to replace the levy with a stable oil and gas price mechanism by 2030 at the latest. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition supports maintaining the tax because oil and gas companies are making exceptional profits during a cost-of-living crisis.

The UK Government will permit oil and gas drilling adjacent to existing North Sea fields through new transitional energy certificates, provided the areas are already understood and extraction is needed to keep current fields viable. The policy formally ends new exploration and includes a North Sea Jobs Service to help workers move into defence, manufacturing and renewable-energy roles. Ministers present the plan as a managed transition that protects jobs and energy production, while environmental groups argue the additional reserves would supply only a few weeks of UK consumption. Offshore Energies UK says investment and jobs will remain at risk unless the windfall tax is reformed.

ExxonMobil plans to shut its Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran in February 2026, subject to employee consultation, putting 179 direct jobs and around 250 contractor roles at risk. The company cited weak market conditions, high supply costs, plant efficiency and the UK’s economic and policy environment, after failing to find a buyer. The UK and Scottish governments say they will support affected workers, while Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes urged urgent action on energy costs. Unite and GMB condemned the decision and called for negotiations, stronger industrial policy and a planned transition. The closure follows the loss of more than 400 jobs at the Grangemouth refinery.

ExxonMobil plans to close the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran in February, putting 179 direct jobs and 250 contractor roles at risk. MSPs Annabelle Ewing, Mark Ruskell, Willie Rennie and Murdo Fraser called on ExxonMobil and the Scottish and UK Governments to work together to prevent the closure, support affected workers and develop a future plan for the industrial site. The Scottish Greens and other politicians criticized the Scottish Government for failing to deliver a promised worker-led just transition plan, while Murdo Fraser blamed what he described as high-tax, low-growth policies and a hostile environment for the oil and gas sector.

GMB Scotland secretary Louise Gilmour has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reduce the 38% windfall tax on oil and gas companies, arguing that it is damaging investment and costing workers their jobs. She says the UK’s transition to renewable energy is moving too quickly, with too few comparable jobs created, and that oil and gas workers’ expertise and employers’ financial strength are needed to build future energy infrastructure. Gilmour also condemned the closure of the Grangemouth refinery as a needless blow to UK energy security. The government had not yet commented.

First Minister John Swinney described plans for the Scottish Government to issue up to £1.5 billion in bonds over several years as a proud moment for Scotland. The plans follow Moody’s and S&P Global awarding Scotland credit ratings comparable to the UK’s, which the government says will help attract international investment for infrastructure, housing and net-zero projects. Specific projects and issuance details will be set out in January and will depend on market conditions. The initiative builds on work commissioned by former first minister Humza Yousaf, while financial adviser Angus Macpherson welcomed the progress. Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the ratings would strengthen investor engagement and could help preserve confidence during any future transition to Scottish independence.

NASUWT members in Scotland are set to be balloted on industrial action over the Scottish Government’s failure to deliver a promised reduction of one-and-a-half hours in teachers’ weekly class contact time. The union says teachers’ workloads have worsened and that negotiations with the Scottish Government and COSLA have failed to produce meaningful progress. The Government says it remains committed to reducing contact time, points to £186.5 million in additional funding to restore teacher numbers, and expresses disappointment that the ballot is proceeding while discussions continue.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said negotiations with the United States over Scotch whisky tariffs require sustained diplomatic work rather than one-off photo opportunities. His comments appeared to rebuke Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who has repeatedly raised the issue with Donald Trump and wants to participate directly in the UK-US trade talks. Both governments say they want the same outcome, but responsibility for international trade rests with the UK Government. The Scotch whisky industry claims the tariffs are costing it £4 million a week.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney says he wants to be involved in ongoing UK-US trade talks, arguing that his advocacy helped put Scotch whisky on the negotiating agenda. He is seeking relief from a 10% US tariff on UK exports and proposes removing tariffs on Scotch whisky and the bourbon-barrel trade in both directions. Swinney says the arrangement would benefit Scottish distilleries and Kentucky’s bourbon industry, while the UK Government says its existing deal provides preferential access for Scotch whisky and that negotiations to protect British jobs and exports continue.

The Holyrood Economy and Fair Work Committee has backed the general principles of Scotland’s Community Wealth Building Bill. The legislation would require councils and other public bodies to create plans supporting local wealth generation, circulation and retention, including through increased local procurement, while requiring the Scottish Government to report on reducing wealth inequalities. The committee warned that reforms to compulsory sale orders and procurement practices, along with clearer guidance and ministerial policy commitments, are needed for the legislation to succeed.

The Scottish Conservatives have proposed a Reduction of Red Tape Bill, lower-tax policies and business zones with special tax breaks as part of their “Back On Track” economic plan. The proposals would prioritize economic growth over diversity, inclusion and net-zero objectives in business agencies, merge Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish National Investment Bank and Skills Development Scotland into a new body called Growth Scotland, and introduce rent auctions for long-empty shops. Party leader Russell Findlay said the plan would boost investment and public services, while the Scottish Liberal Democrats attacked his support for Liz Truss. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes defended the Scottish Government’s economic record and argued that the plan unfairly omitted independence as a factor in comparisons with other small, high-performing nations.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimates that 818 excess deaths in Scotland were linked to patients waiting at least 12 hours in emergency departments. More than 76,500 people faced waits of that length last year, an increase of over 20,000 from the previous year. RCEM Scotland’s Fiona Hunter called the figures a national tragedy and urged political parties to support reforms, while opposition parties criticized the Scottish Government. Health Secretary Neil Gray acknowledged the crisis but pointed to recent improvements and increased investment.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said that turmoil within Downing Street would “absolutely not” derail efforts to secure a US tariff deal for Scotch whisky. Scottish First Minister John Swinney has been lobbying Donald Trump after meetings in Scotland and Washington, but warned that UK government upheaval could threaten negotiations. The tariffs are costing the sector about £4 million per week. Kendall said the UK government would deliver an agreement as soon as possible, while Swinney criticized the Labour government for being distracted by internal failures and political chaos.

A £4 million Scottish Government furlough scheme is intended to keep Alexander Dennis’s Falkirk and Larbert sites operating while the bus manufacturer secures new orders. The scheme will cover 80% of workers’ wages for up to six months, with the company paying the remainder, and could end sooner if work begins earlier. First Minister John Swinney said the support would protect hundreds of manufacturing jobs, while managing director Paul Davies said it enabled the company to propose a new plan for the sites. The UK Government, Scottish Conservatives and Unite welcomed the intervention but stressed that securing substantial future bus orders remains essential to the company’s long-term viability.

The Scottish Government has announced a £4 million company-run furlough scheme to help keep Alexander Dennis’s Falkirk operations open and protect up to 400 jobs. The government will cover 80% of workers’ wages while the bus manufacturer secures new orders, with access to the funding dependent on evidence that production can continue in Scotland. Alexander Dennis said the support enables it to propose keeping the site open as part of its consultation, but the company still needs substantial orders to remain viable.

A Scottish Government pilot of a four-day, 32-hour working week at South of Scotland Enterprise and the Accountant in Bankruptcy was popular with staff and showed no productivity decline, according to an Autonomy Institute evaluation. Participants reported improved mental health, lower fatigue and burnout, stronger work-life balance, reduced stress, and higher motivation. Despite the positive findings and extensions granted to both agencies, Finance Minister Ivan McKee said the policy would not be rolled out across the public sector at this time, although identified efficiency and flexible-working practices will be shared more widely.

The Scottish Government has approved the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm off East Lothian, a project planned to include up to 307 turbines and generate 4.1 gigawatts of electricity—enough to power every Scottish home twice over. Developed by SSE Renewables, it will connect to the grid at Dunbar and Blyth and requires ministerial approval of a seabird impact compensation plan. Scottish and UK ministers and the developer welcomed the decision as a boost to clean power, energy security and decarbonisation, while the National Trust for Scotland and RSPB Scotland warned that the project could seriously harm seabird colonies, including those at St Abb’s Head, and potentially threaten vulnerable species.

The closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery contributed to a 4.1% fall in Scottish manufacturing output in May and helped erase the economy’s 0.4% growth recorded in the first quarter. Owner Petroineos is converting the refinery into an import terminal, resulting in the loss of about 100 jobs and leaving Scotland without an oil refinery. The Scottish and UK governments are pursuing new uses for the site and have committed funding for the industrial cluster and affected workers. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes blamed wider UK economic weaknesses and argued that independence would give Scotland greater powers to build a wealthier and fairer economy.

The UK Government has announced a £38 billion investment in Sizewell C, funded through investor equity, debt and a levy expected to add about £1 a month to average energy bills. The SNP argues that Scottish consumers will help finance a costly nuclear project in England despite Scotland’s opposition to new nuclear sites, while Scottish energy jobs decline following the closure of the Grangemouth refinery. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray says Scotland is missing out on jobs, investment and affordable energy because the Scottish Government blocks new nuclear development. The UK Government will hold nearly 45% of Sizewell C, alongside investments from La Caisse, Centrica, Amber Infrastructure and EDF, with funding above the target construction cost providing protection against overruns.

Scottish ministers are working with bus operators, local transport authorities, Scottish Enterprise and the UK Government to secure orders for Alexander Dennis, whose Scottish operations may close and shift to a single Yorkshire site, putting about 400 jobs at risk. The company says it needs 70–100 orders by the end of the year and 300–400 the following year to remain open. Finance Secretary Shona Robison said all viable options were being considered, including potential recovery of Scottish Enterprise funding, but noted that UK subsidy rules prevent ministers from requiring the use of domestically manufactured buses. The UK Government pointed to its zero-emission bus funding and wider investment in greener fleets.

Greenfold Systems, a Dunfermline-based bus-parts manufacturer, has entered administration after losing a major contract with Alexander Dennis, resulting in 81 of its 90 jobs being cut. The collapse follows Alexander Dennis’s consultation on potentially consolidating operations in Yorkshire, which could put about 400 local jobs at risk; the consultation has been extended until August 15. Administrators and the Scottish Government say they are prioritizing affected workers and exploring support for Alexander Dennis, its employees and the wider supply chain.

Strike action by non-teaching council staff in Scotland has been averted after Unite and GMB members voted to accept a two-year pay offer from Cosla, joining Unison. The deal provides a 4% increase from April 2025 and a further 3.5% from April 2026, totaling 7.64% over two years. While Unite and Cosla welcomed the settlement for improving pay stability, GMB warned that percentage-based increases disproportionately benefit higher-paid staff and fall short of the £15-an-hour minimum wage ambition.

Scotland’s Energy Secretary Gillian Martin has called on the UK Government to explain how it will reduce energy bills after Ed Miliband rejected regional zonal pricing in favour of a reformed national pricing system. Martin argued that bills have risen despite Labour’s pledge to cut them by £300 and said Scotland’s renewable-energy sector must be involved in the reforms. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray defended the decision as beneficial for investment, clean-energy development and Scottish jobs, while the Government said national pricing would provide fairer and more affordable energy with greater investment certainty.

Around 100 Glasgow Subway workers have accepted an interim agreement with the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, averting planned strike action during the Trnsmt music festival. The deal, valued at £245,000 to SPT, improves pay, allowances, sick pay and overtime rates and includes a commitment to address future working conditions. Unite and SPT said the agreement provides a route toward a longer-term settlement and ensures services will run during the busy weekend.

A Unite survey of more than 6,000 women found that 37.5% of 1,143 Scottish respondents had experienced unwanted touching at work, while others reported sexual assault, coercion, offensive jokes, unwanted sexual remarks and colleagues showing pornography. Nearly three-quarters of women who experienced harassment did not report it. Unite leaders said employers were failing to meet their legal duties under the Worker Protection Act, while the UK Government defended its zero-tolerance stance and cited proposed measures to strengthen prevention duties and ban non-disclosure agreements used to silence harassment victims.

Unison members in Scotland voted by 83% to accept a two-year local government pay deal offering increases of 4% in 2025–26 and 3.5% in 2026–27. Union representatives welcomed the improved pay but warned against complacency after years of cuts to local government. Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison welcomed the vote and urged Unite and GMB members to accept the offer so that all council workers can receive the increases.

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes warned that destructive social media discourse and personal attacks could reshape politics for a generation by discouraging young women from seeking office. Speaking at the Scotland 2050 conference alongside Cherie Blair, Forbes condemned online abuse and referenced actor Rupert Everett’s description of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as a “witch,” which Sturgeon called deeply misogynistic. Forbes said online hostility often extends into real-world interactions and urged public figures and society to disrupt the cycle.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argues that members defecting to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK are not committed to conservatism and that the party is better off without them. She criticizes Reform’s economic and social policies, attacks former Tory MSP Jamie Greene over Scotland’s gender reforms, and calls Farage a threat to the union. Badenoch also promises to scrap the oil and gas windfall tax if the Conservatives return to government, while arguing Labour’s plan to extend it through 2030 would damage the industry.

Kemi Badenoch is expected to call for the abolition of the energy profits levy, an end to the ban on new oil and gas licences, and the reversal of restrictions on oil and gas technology exports. She argues that the windfall tax is now damaging a strategically important industry and discouraging investment. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition disputes this, saying energy companies made more than £115 billion in profits in 2024 and that levy revenues could fund home improvements and support for vulnerable households. The SNP and Scottish Labour also criticize Badenoch’s stance, emphasizing energy affordability, net zero and a just transition for workers.

Alexander Dennis plans to consolidate its UK operations at its Scarborough site, putting around 400 Falkirk jobs at risk. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the Scottish and UK governments would do everything legally possible to support the manufacturer and indicated that a furlough scheme was being considered. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the Scottish Government of failing to support domestic industry, while citing Greater Manchester's purchase of more than 160 Alexander Dennis buses. Swinney said subsidy-control rules limit direct procurement from a single supplier, though the governments are seeking ways to support Scottish manufacturing within the law.

The Scottish Government has received 84 inquiries about potential projects at Grangemouth following the closure of the refinery and its conversion into an import terminal, which resulted in more than 400 job losses. Scottish Enterprise is triaging the inquiries, including proposals that could become projects within three to four years. Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said the site remains open to further approaches and expressed greater confidence in its future, while a just transition plan is expected to be published pending cabinet approval.

The UK Government will not amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to permit additional drug consumption rooms, even if Glasgow’s Thistle Centre pilot succeeds in reducing Scotland’s high drug-death rate. Home Office minister Diana Johnson said the government does not support such facilities, despite a 2023 Home Affairs Select Committee report that backed a pilot and her role in chairing that committee. Liberal Democrat MP Angus MacDonald argued that successful facilities should be expanded to prevent deaths and support rehabilitation, while SNP leader Stephen Flynn questioned the basis for Johnson’s changed position. Johnson maintained that her ministerial duty is to represent current government policy and said other measures would address drug misuse.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of not caring about Scotland and of bringing racism and hatred to the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election campaign. The SNP and Labour are viewed as frontrunners, but Reform has gained attention. Swinney promoted SNP policies such as free prescriptions and tuition while criticising Labour, while Stephen Flynn warned that Reform’s pro-oil position could damage Scotland’s energy and economic future. Reform defended further oil extraction and attacked the SNP’s net-zero policies.

Two Scottish men were reportedly shot dead outside Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola, Málaga, after a masked gunman exited a car and opened fire. A third person was reportedly injured. Spanish police said the shooting occurred at an entertainment venue on the seafront, confirmed two deaths, and stated that no arrests had been made while the investigation continued. The UK Foreign Office said it had not been contacted but would provide consular help if requested.

Sir Rod Stewart has offered to pay for a private autism assessment for four-year-old Iain Gregori, who has reportedly faced a three-year NHS wait and remains non-verbal. The case was raised by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who condemned the Scottish Government for forcing families to depend on celebrity charity. First Minister John Swinney said children can access support without a formal diagnosis and highlighted government investment in mental-health and community services. The case has intensified scrutiny of autism assessment and treatment delays in Scotland, including a reported six-year wait in NHS Lothian.