Katie Hunter

Anas Sarwar continues to support abolishing the House of Lords and replacing it with a democratically elected senate of nations and regions, despite accepting a peerage to become Minister of State for Trade in Andy Burnham's government. He says his original ambition was to become Scotland's first minister but that he now wants the Labour government to succeed. After Scottish Labour lost seats in the May election, Sarwar warned the three candidates to replace him against infighting and urged them to focus on working together after the leadership contest. The candidates are Monica Lennon, Michael Marra and Joe Fagan, with a new leader due to be chosen before the party conference in September.

Residents evacuated from Nethy Bridge during a 10-day Cairngorms wildfire said authorities were too slow to declare a major incident, organise evacuations and scale up firefighting resources. Community council leader Sandy McCook and resident John McGlinchey criticised poor communication, delayed precautions and inadequate accommodation for evacuees. Justice Secretary Neil Gray defended the Scottish Government's evidence-based response, saying all available Scottish Fire and Rescue Service resources had been committed and additional helicopters sought. Police Scotland later stood down the major incident after rain and newly constructed firebreaks helped reduce the immediate threat, although hot spots and smoke remained.

Three brothers from Scotland spent 17 years challenging the initial ruling that their mother Jean Hanlon’s death in Crete was an accident. Persistent campaigning led to multiple reopened investigations and a private investigator identifying a suspect described as a rejected stalker. After a detailed trial, a Greek court unanimously convicted the man of her murder, acknowledging diminished responsibility due to mental illness. The brothers expressed relief at the verdict but concern that the convicted man remains free pending appeal, marking a bittersweet step toward justice.

Jean Hanlon’s three sons spent 17 years pressuring Greek authorities to reinvestigate her 2009 death in Crete, which was initially ruled an accident despite suspicious injuries. A private investigator later identified a former partner as a suspect, leading to a reopened case and a trial. A mixed jury unanimously convicted the man of murder, acknowledging diminished responsibility due to mental illness. The brothers expressed relief at the verdict but concern that the convicted man remains free pending appeal. Their long‑running campaign, supported by legal and investigative teams, has finally produced a measure of justice.