Should voters be able to recall MSPs? And if so, what criteria should be used?
Just two of the questions the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is asking about Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill.
The work is part of the Committee’s consideration of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill. The Bill, which was introduced by Graham Simpson MSP, proposes that systems should be introduced for the recall and removal of MSPs.
Now the Committee is asking whether these measures are generally supported and how the detail of the Bill would work in practice.
The recall process would be triggered if an MSP was excluded from Parliament for 10 sitting days or received a prison sentence of less than six months.
This would then mean that constituents in the constituency or region the MSP represents would be able to sign a petition calling for the MSP to lose their seat.
The Bill also proposes new grounds for the removal of MSPs, including when a Member has not attended the Parliament in person for 180 days without a good reason for their non-attendance.
Speaking as the Committee launched its call for views, the Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “According to the support documents accompanying this Bill, it has at its heart the integrity of the democratic process and the aim of improving accountability.
“Our Committee want to know what effect these proposals would have in practice.
“The recall process suggested within the Bill broadly mirrors the now well established process at Westminster. But the two electoral systems are not alike and a simple copy and paste approach will not work.
“So, we want to hear from people in constituencies and regions across Scotland about whether they feel that these measures, and the suggested approaches would work.”
The Scottish Government and councils must fundamentally rethink how they plan, fund and staff additional support for learning as part of core school education in Scotland.
Since legislation in 2004 to make additional support for learning (ASL) more inclusive, there has been an eight-fold increase in pupils recorded as receiving ASL; currently 40 per cent of Scottish pupils – or 285,000 children – receive ASL. Almost all support is now delivered in mainstream classrooms, and it has become an increasingly central part of what teachers do.
The Scottish Government failed to plan for the impacts of this inclusive approach, and poor data means it is not possible to determine the scale, complexity and nature of needs across Scotland. The Scottish Government and councils urgently need better information to understand pupils’ needs and appropriate level of resource to support them.
Existing measures show a wide gap in outcomes for pupils receiving additional support compared with other pupils, including being more likely to be absent or excluded from school. More appropriate ways of measuring the achievements of pupils who receive ASL are still to be developed.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government has failed to plan effectively for its inclusive approach to additional support for learning. Current gaps in data mean it is unclear whether all children’s right to have an education that fully develops their personality, talents and abilities is being met.
“The Scottish Government and councils urgently need better quality data to understand pupils’ additional support needs and the resources required to provide support to enable all pupils to reach their full potential.”
Ruth MacLeod, Member of the Accounts Commission, said: “Councils and the Scottish Government must fundamentally rethink how additional support for learning is planned and provided as a core part of Scotland’s school education.
“This includes reviewing how mainstream and special education is provided to meet current and future additional support needs and demands.
“It is critical they work with pupils, parents and carers and staff throughout this process.”
COSLA’s Children and Young People Spokesperson, Councillor Tony Buchanan @antbuc1), has commented following report published today about Additional Support For Learning from the Auditor General and Accounts Commission.
The Auditor General and Accounts Commission published a briefing paper on additional support for learning (ASL) on 27th February 2025. It makes a series of recommendations to Scottish Government and Councils, touching on data, measuring the outcomes of children and young people with additional support needs, funding, workforce planning and school buildings.
The COSLA Children and Young People Board will discuss the briefing at their meeting on 7th March.
Councillor Tony Buchanan, said: “Local Government is fully committed to supporting all children and young people to learn and to providing opportunities so that they can realise their full potential. The briefing paper published by the Auditor General and Accounts Commission on additional support for learning is welcomed.
The COSLA Children and Young People Board will be updated next week, with an initial consideration of the recommendations. COSLA, alongside the Scottish Government, co-chair the Additional Support for Learning Project Board.
“There will be an opportunity for the project board to consider the recommendations fully when they meet next month and consider how these can inform their priorities.”
The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is proud to announce the launch of in-person Cat First Aid Training courses, designed to equip cat owners with the vital skills needed to handle emergencies and common health issues with confidence.
With cats being prone to a variety of injuries and illnesses, this innovative course aims to empower owners and ensure their feline companions receive immediate and effective care when needed most.
The full day course, priced at £110, will be held at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and covers a wide range of crucial topics to help cat owners deliver first aid.
Participants will be taught; how to respond quickly in cases of choking or suffocation, how to handle wounds with proper care and bandaging and how to identify and manage common medical conditions like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism.
The course also covers environmental hazards, including poisoning and electric shock, and provides guidance on maintaining a proper diet and nutrition to support a cat’s overall health.
Participants will learn how to perform a weekly health check to identify early warning signs of illness and injury in their feline friends, as well as how to assess vital signs and effectively evaluate their cat’s condition. The course also includes essential life-saving skills such as recognising and responding to shock and performing CPR.
Carla Harris-Tait, Education Officer at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, explains: “Cats are incredibly good at hiding pain, so it’s vital that owners know how to spot subtle signs of distress and illness.
“This course provides them with the knowledge and confidence to take action, which could mean the difference between life and death for their cat.”
This course marks a significant development in cat welfare education, as it is one of the first in-person Cat First Aid courses to be offered in the UK. While similar courses are available online, this hands-on approach ensures that pet owners gain practical, lifesaving skills in a real-world environment.
In the UK, there are over 10 million cats*, yet a significant number of cat owners are unaware of the common health issues that can affect their pets. Only 45% of cats are insured*, making costly vet bills a concern for many owners.
This training course will help mitigate these concerns by teaching preventative care and early detection, which can reduce the likelihood of serious health issues and lower vet bills.
Lindsay Fyffe Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, added: “Our mission at the Home has always been to support pets and their owners, and this new training course is a vital step in achieving that.
“By equipping owners with these essential skills, we’re empowering them to be their cat’s strongest support system, ensuring their pet gets the care they truly deserve.”
The total cost of the Cat First Aid Training delivered by Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home goes directly to the home, supporting their mission. As they receive no government funding, every contribution helps them continue their vital work.
SATURDAY 5th APRIL 11am – 1.30pm at GASHOLDER 1 PARK
Join us for the official launch of Granton’s newest public park at Granton Gasholder 1!
Enjoy a day for all the family and celebrate with the community. Activities will include:
A one-off community singalong with Pianodrome at 11am A ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11.15am Family arts and craft activities Penalty shoot-outs with Craigroyston Community Youth Football Club Free ice cream from Lucas Free facepainting Exhibition stalls
Bring your family, friends and a picnic blanket for a fun day out. All are welcome! We can’t wait to see you there!
A new initiative to unite Scotland together against extremism
First Minister John Swinney will convene a pivotal gathering of Scottish society to work together and unite Scotland against the “increasingly extreme far right”.
Representatives from key organisations across Scotland including churches, trades unions and charities will be invited to attend a gathering in April, alongside the leaders of Scotland’s parliamentary parties.
Speaking at a press conference at Bute House, following the passage of the 2025-26 Budget, the First Minister said the new gathering will be an opportunity renew public trust in politics and unite Scotland in a common cause – “for democracy and respect.”
The First Minister said: “At the start of the year, I warned that failure to pass the budget would send a signal that Parliament and politics could not deliver. That failure would only serve the interests of an increasingly extreme far right and leave devolution dangerously exposed.
“But the budget has passed, and a different story can be told. Yesterday’s vote demonstrated that partnership and collaboration are possible. And that is something precious, something vitally important itself.
“But we must do more. It is time to come together to draw a line in the sand. To set out who we are and what we believe in.
“The threat from the far right is real. But that leaves me all the more convinced that working together is not only the right choice, but the only choice.
“That is why I want to share a new initiative to bring Scotland together in common cause. I want us to work together to agree a common approach to asserting the values of our country, to bringing people together and creating a cohesive society where everyone feels at home.
“It was a mobilisation of mainstream Scotland that delivered our parliament a quarter of a century ago. And I have no doubt, it is only by mobilising mainstream Scotland that we can protect those things we care most about, those things that are most important to us today.”
The First Minister will write to all party leaders and the leaders of civic organisations with the details of the upcoming gathering in due course.
The Prime Minister will be focused on delivering prosperity and security for the British people, when he meets President Trump today in Washington D.C – but what Mr Trump will be focused on is anyone’s guess
Prosperity and security for working people focus of Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump.
Special relationship between UK and US critical to deliver growth and security, with further collaboration on AI and tech.
Prime Minister to reiterate shared US-UK commitment to reaching a durable and lasting peace in Ukraine, and the need for Europe to step up to the challenge.
The Prime Minister will be focused on delivering prosperity and security for the British people, when he meets President Trump today (Thursday 27 February) in Washington D.C.
The UK and the US share a unique and historic relationship, based on shared values and a mutual commitment to economic and defence cooperation.
The UK and the US have one of the biggest trading relationships of any two countries in the world, worth around 400 billion dollars and supporting over 2.5 million jobs across both countries.
This visit comes just days after the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Prime Minister and President Trump share a commitment to delivering lasting peace in Ukraine, and the Prime Minister will reiterate the UK’s commitment to securing a just and enduring peace, bringing an end to Russia’s illegal war.
The Prime Minister will be clear that there can be no negotiations about Ukraine, without Ukraine and will recognise the need for Europe to play its part on global defence and step up for the good of collective European security.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced that defence spending will increase to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament. This will drive economic growth and create jobs across the UK, while bolstering national security and protecting borders.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The world is becoming ever more dangerous, and it is more important than ever that we are united with our allies.
“A stable economy, secure borders and national security are the foundations of my Plan for Change, and the US-UK relationship is integral to delivering them. These principles will be at the heart of discussions with President Trump today.
“There are huge opportunities for us to deepen our special relationship, deliver growth and security, and improve the lives of working people in both our great nations.”
Both countries are world leaders in AI and advanced technologies, and the Prime Minister will be looking to build on these strong foundations to create jobs and economic growth.
The discussion will have a particular focus on the opportunities that further technology and AI partnerships could deliver. These include a proposal of high-ambition shared moonshot missions across top technologies including quantum and AI, and a deeper partnership on space.
The US and UK are the only two allied countries with trillion-dollar technology eco-systems, and the Prime Minister will make the case for further integration between the two countries’ tech sectors to make them the most efficient, ambitious technology sectors in the world.
In October, US tech firms announced a £6.3 billion package of investment to support UK data centres – a central pillar of the government’s plan to ramp up the country’s AI capacity. In January a further £12 billion investment from Vantage Data Centers created over 11,500 jobs as the government published its AI Opportunities Action Plan.
These investments represent just one facet of the deepening science, innovation, and technology collaboration between both countries. In AI, researchers from both sides of the Atlantic have dedicated research exchange programmes to share knowledge and expertise in delivering the next wave of cutting-edge innovations that improve people’s lives in areas such as personalised care, autonomous surgeries, and cancer diagnosis – on top of a broader AI partnership which has also been signed by the AI Institutes of both countries.
On a visit to the West Coast at the end of last year Technology Secretary Peter Kyle met a range of companies to bang the drum for further investment in the UK’s technology sector. Just two weeks ago, he also put pen to paper on a new partnership with leading AI firm Anthropic which will explore how the technology can be put to work to transform the public services that UK citizens rely on, and deliver on the government’s Plan for Change.
The Prime Minister will join President Trump at the White House today, where he will be greeted by the President before signing the White House Guest Book and a tete a tete at the Oval Office. This will be followed by a bilateral lunch, and a joint press conference. He will also carry out a defence-focused visit.
On arrival on Wednesday night, he met a select group of CEOs from large US businesses to discuss their existing and growing presence in the UK, and the importance of UK-US trade and investment (above).
He will outline the strength of the UK offer to investors: policy stability; an active partnership with government; an open, trading economy; and a reform agenda focused on making it easier to do business.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who will join the Prime Minister’s programme at the White House (pictured above with ‘Lord’ Peter Mandelson, who welcomed the UK delegation to Washington).
A one-off community singalong with Pianodrome at 11am
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11.15am
Family arts and craft activities
Penalty shoot-outs with Craigroyston Community Youth Football Club
Free ice cream from Lucas
Free facepainting
Exhibition stalls
Bring your family, friends and a picnic blanket for a fun day out. All are welcome! We can’t wait to see you there! 
