David Bol

Twelve floating offshore wind projects awarded leases through Scotland’s INTOG program have largely stalled, with only TotalEnergies’ single-turbine Culzean project under construction and Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn’s Green Volt project holding planning consent. Developers cite changed economics, higher costs, geopolitical instability, grid and regulatory difficulties, and the Energy Profits Levy. The projects were expected to support thousands of jobs, decarbonize offshore oil and gas platforms, and advance Scotland’s energy transition. Crown Estate Scotland may allow more flexible, case-by-case arrangements, while opposition parties blame SNP and Labour policies for undermining investment; the SNP calls for a parallel transition and the removal of the levy.

Joe Fagan attacked frontrunner Michael Marra during an increasingly tense STV debate over the Scottish Labour leadership. Fagan blamed Marra for helping produce the manifesto associated with Labour's poor May election result and challenged his record on SNP budgets, while Marra accepted some responsibility and sought to distance himself from Anas Sarwar. Both candidates offered limited detail on how they would reverse Labour's electoral decline; Fagan mentioned greater Scottish borrowing powers and Marra cited additional powers to tackle child poverty, but neither developed a clear alternative strategy. The debate left the leadership contest lacking substantive policy proposals.

The Scottish Government is facing pressure from the onshore wind industry and opposition parties to clarify whether it will support further expansion after its 2030 target of 20GW. Scotland currently has 10.7GW of onshore wind capacity, but ministers have offered no comparable long-term commitment beyond 2030 while prioritising a major expansion of offshore wind. Research commissioned by the Scottish Onshore Wind Development Forum estimates that an onshore-priority pathway could reduce energy-system costs by about 6%, or roughly £5 billion annually between 2030 and 2050. Industry representatives argue that continued deployment and repowering existing sites could strengthen energy security, create jobs and deliver community benefits. Labour calls for projects to be developed with local communities, while the Conservatives demand greater transparency and support for nuclear power and new North Sea drilling. Energy Minister Stephen Gethins defends the government's progress and says it is improving planning capacity and ensuring communities benefit from increased renewable generation.

The Scottish Government has ordered councils to notify ministers within seven days of data centre applications exceeding 50MW, allowing officials to monitor their infrastructure and environmental impact. Public finance minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said the policy would balance economic and employment benefits with climate, energy and community concerns, while also requiring environmental assessments for projects in Fife and Edinburgh. The Scottish Greens said monitoring falls well short of the full pause needed until the effects on energy supplies, water, climate targets and local communities are assessed. Separately, DataVita secured a £300 million debt facility, backed by a £202 million UK government guarantee, to expand its North Lanarkshire site and build a second AI data centre, potentially creating about 600 construction jobs and 100 permanent positions.

The SNP’s 2025 accounts show that membership fell to about 51,000, down from 125,000 in 2019, while the party recorded a £509,903 surplus after significant cost-cutting. The accounts still list a £60,000 loan owed to former chief executive Peter Murrell, but the SNP says it will not repay him after his conviction for embezzling more than £400,000 from the party and is pursuing recovery of the stolen funds. The accounts also remove Murrell’s motorhome, previously valued at £41,284, after concluding that it did not belong to the party. Opposition parties questioned the accounts and the handling of the vehicle, while SNP leaders emphasized the party’s clean audit opinion and improved financial position.

Reform UK faces strong criticism from the SNP and Labour over an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill that would prohibit election materials in languages other than English or Welsh, effectively banning Gaelic, Scots and possibly BSL. SNP and Labour politicians argue the proposal echoes historical suppression of Gaelic and threatens cultural identity, while Reform insists it targets non‑domestic languages and was intended for England and Wales only. The amendment includes penalties applicable across the UK, prompting further backlash. Reform argues it supports indigenous languages and plans separate legislation in Scotland, while the broader bill also includes voting reforms such as extending the franchise to 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds and tightening donation rules.

Nearly 4,000 small business premises in Scotland are expected to lose full rates relief following the SNP government’s decision not to pause a commercial property revaluation. New estimates show a drop from 100,700 to 96,900 properties eligible for complete relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Business groups and opposition parties criticised the government for increasing financial pressure on traders as valuations rose by over 12 percent. Calls intensified for restoring broader relief protections, reforming the rates system, and aligning support more closely with England. The Scottish Government defended its approach, emphasising phased transitional relief and asserting that its support package remains the most generous in the UK while a review into anomalous rate hikes proceeds.

Rising delays in social care assessments and care-at-home packages have contributed to increased hospital discharge backlogs and record-poor A&E performance across Scotland. More than 9,000 people are waiting for assessments or care, and required weekly care hours have risen by over 26 percent in a year. Scottish Labour argues the escalating crisis in social care is intensifying pressure on the NHS and calls for improved funding and fair pay for care workers. The Scottish Government highlights increased budget allocations and claims progress on NHS waiting times, while acknowledging the need to improve A&E performance and reduce delays.

Claims by former Yes Scotland marketing director Ian Dommett suggest Peter Murrell oversaw high‑value donations to the independence campaign despite SNP assurances that the party and the campaign were separate. The allegations follow Murrell’s conviction for embezzling SNP funds and have prompted Scottish Conservative calls for an independent inquiry. Yes Scotland and the SNP reject any link between Murrell’s criminal conduct and the campaign’s finances, stressing that all income was fully accounted for and controlled independently. Police Scotland is reportedly investigating missing funds from Yes Scotland Ltd’s accounts.

Andy Burnham faces growing pressure from within Labour and opposition parties to abandon Keir Starmer’s restrictive immigration reforms, as nearly 80 Labour MPs signal potential revolt ahead of the Immigration and Asylum Bill’s second reading. Critics warn the proposals, including longer waits for indefinite leave to remain and retrospective application, would harm Scotland’s workforce and public services while mirroring Reform UK’s hardline approach. The SNP urges Burnham to reverse the policies, citing risks to communities and the economy. Meanwhile, unrest linked to immigration misinformation has prompted police action in Glasgow, with Reform UK figures cautioning against targeting individuals during protests.

Nearly 2.5 million A&E patients in Scotland have waited more than four hours since the government last met its target in July 2020. New analysis shows growing delays, including hundreds of thousands waiting more than eight or twelve hours, prompting strong criticism of the SNP government from opposition parties. The figures highlight worsening performance despite recent claims of improvement, with hospital flow problems and social care shortages cited as major drivers. Opposition voices call for urgent action, increased resources, and reforms to reduce bureaucracy and ease pressure on emergency departments.

Donors to the SNP’s £660,000 ring‑fenced independence referendum fund are taking legal action, alleging a fraudulent breach of trust after party leaders acknowledged the money was spent on general activities rather than a future referendum campaign. The draft summons, published by blogger Stuart Campbell and naming First Minister John Swinney, seeks repayment and compensation for contributors. The case follows the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell for embezzling more than £400,000, with a proceeds‑of‑crime hearing scheduled to pursue asset recovery. While donors argue they were misled, the SNP maintains it was the victim of Murrell’s criminal actions and that police found no grounds for action against the party.

The Scottish Police Federation urges changes to the Criminal Justice Act to allow suspicionless stop-and-search powers in response to rising knife possession among youths. Federation leaders argue current rules leave officers unable to intervene effectively, citing increased instances of minors carrying blades and recent high-profile killings. The Scottish Government maintains that intelligence‑led stop and search is effective and stresses investment in prevention, education, and policing. Opposition figures blame weakened deterrence for escalating youth knife crime, while Police Scotland leadership defends existing procedures and compliance with the statutory code of practice.

Warnings highlight stalled progress on reducing NHS Scotland waiting times, with long waits rising again and thousands still waiting more than a year for treatment. Medical leaders urge the Scottish Government to develop a comprehensive long‑term workforce and health‑service strategy, stressing that improvements require sustained staffing and resources. Opposition parties argue that missed targets show the SNP is failing to tackle backlog pressures, while ministers defend increases in hospital activity and plans to shift more care into communities to ease pressure on services.

Business leaders in Aberdeen are pressing Andy Burnham to follow through on Labour’s earlier pledge to end the energy profits levy ahead of schedule after oil prices fell back to pre‑Iran conflict levels. Industry figures argue that replacing the windfall tax with an oil and gas price mechanism would unlock significant investment, support jobs and boost public finances. Scottish Conservatives claim Labour’s policies on oil and gas, welfare and taxation have damaged voter trust, urging Burnham to shift course. Burnham has signalled he is still considering his stance, emphasising renewables and emerging technologies while offering no clear position on North Sea drilling or the levy.

Warnings from industry body OEUK highlight that banning new North Sea drilling could jeopardize the economic viability of infrastructure used to import Norwegian pipeline gas, increasing UK reliance on LNG from the US and the Middle East. Andy Burnham and the Labour government emphasise renewables and do not support new drilling, while SNP and Conservative politicians argue the policy threatens energy security and jobs. OEUK cautions that declining domestic production could undermine stable Norwegian imports and force a shift toward higher‑emission LNG. The UK government maintains that existing fields will continue operating as renewables scale up.

Andy Burnham proposes a radical overhaul of UK devolution, positioning it as a potential alternative to Scottish independence, but his lack of clarity on Scotland’s role raises uncertainty. His plan to decentralise power, including a new prime minister’s office in Manchester and deeper local empowerment, could appeal to Scots frustrated with current structures while also risking further tensions with the SNP if perceived as limiting Holyrood’s authority. Labour’s challenge lies in forging consensus with the Scottish Government to ensure the vision strengthens local governance rather than provoking another constitutional clash.