First Minister meets President of the United States
First Minister John Swinney has met with the President of the United States Donald Trump at the White House.
The 50-minute meeting took place ahead of the US President’s State Visit to the United Kingdom next week, with the First Minister confirming to the President he would attend the State Banquet at Windsor Palace.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, where the President was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the First Minister used this latest opportunity to make the case for a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky.
The First Minister also raised the international situation including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Qatar.
First Minister John Swinney said: “With the US state visit to the UK just days away, we are now entering the critical days on which hopes of a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky rest.
“Scotch whisky holds a unique position, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland. During my discussions with President Trump, I made the case to reduce the tariffs on the Scotch whisky industry – something the US industry supports.
“The United States is the largest market for Scotch whisky but Scottish distillers also spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year buying Bourbon casks from Kentucky.
“The negotiations themselves are, of course, for the UK negotiating team but given whisky exports to the US were worth almost £1 billion in 2024, its importance to the Scottish economy cannot be underestimated and I am determined to do all that I can to protect and safeguard this iconic Scottish product.”
The First Minister and the Scotch Whisky Association later met key Democratic and Republican members of Congress on Capitol Hill to promote a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky.
The House of Hope Scotland celebrated a remarkable fundraising achievement at its inaugural Gala Ball, raising £70,000 through silent auction, live auction and donations on the night at the prestigious Prestonfield House in Edinburgh.
The sell-out event, held on 5 September, brought together supporters and the Scottish business community for an incredible evening of education and celebration. The event was hosted by popular broadcaster Grant Stott and STV News Entertainment Reporter Laura Boyd, with Grant’s rendition of “That’s Fife!” proving a particular highlight of the evening.
“I’m honestly blown away by what happened on Friday night,” said Lisa Fleming, founder of The House of Hope. “To raise £70,000 is just incredible, especially in today’s economic climate. It shows how much people believe in what we’re doing and want to help others going through this journey.”
The funds raised will directly support The House of Hope’s comprehensive range of services, including wellbeing therapies, tailored workshops, classes and emotional support services, all of which are provided free of charge to people affected by breast cancer and their families.
The House of Hope is Scotland’s first dedicated wellbeing and support centre for people affected by breast cancer and their families. Founded by Lisa Fleming, who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, alongside husband Euan, the charity provides a welcoming, non-clinical sanctuary offering vital holistic support services.
The success of the Gala Ball was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including headline sponsor BTO Solicitors LLP, Hunters Gardens, and CF Services, alongside the continued partnership of partners Scotto and Estee Lauder Companies.
“The whole evening was just magical,” Lisa added. “From our amazing sponsors to Grant and Laura keeping everyone entertained, to every single person who bid in the auctions or made a donation, everyone played a part in making this happen.
A huge thank you as well to Prestonfield House and Signature Pub Group for donating the VIP and drinks receptions on the evening. This money will help us reach so many more people affected by breast cancer who need our support.”
I, Dhruva Kumar, Former MP Candidate for Glasgow South, write with great concern about the publication of the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report.
At present, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture, with a fiscal deficit of £26 billion in 2024-25, equivalent to nearly 12% of Scotland’s GDP. The UK figure is larger in cash terms, unsurprisingly, but significantly smaller in relative terms at around 5% of GDP.
Once again, we are treated to the annual ritual of the GERS figures, paraded as though they were a true reflection of Scotland’s finances. The reality is very different.
Every year, the GERS report is wheeled out to suggest Scotland is running a deficit too large for independence. But GERS doesn’t measure the finances of an independent Scotland—it measures Scotland under Westminster rule.
GERS is not an account of what an independent Scotland would look like. It is a snapshot of Scotland under Westminster control. The figures are compiled largely by the UK Treasury, riddled with estimates and assumptions, and loaded with spending on projects that bring no benefit to Scots – from HS2 in England to Trident nuclear weapons on the Clyde.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s vast revenues from oil, gas, whisky, renewables, and exports are understated, or simply swallowed up into UK-wide accounts. The result is a manufactured “deficit” that is then used to tell us we are “too poor” to be independent.
If Ireland had listened to London’s version of its accounts in 1922, it would never have left the Union. Today, Ireland is more prosperous than the UK. The lesson is clear: the only deficit Scotland truly suffers is the deficit of self-government.
We will not accept Westminster’s rigged figures as gospel. Scotland is one of the most resource-rich nations in Europe. With independence, we can build an economy designed for our people, instead of living with a balance sheet designed to keep us in our place.
Big shout out and thanks to The Edinburgh Tool Library for bringing staff and volunteers here on Saturday to build stuff for the Neighbourhood Centre.
Also thanks to Andy and Matthew who are DNC volunteers for giving up their Saturday to help.
As you can see from the photos we built a massive planter 4.8m x 1.6m and put up some funky shutters on our summerhouse.
Last year the summerhouse came under regular attack by apples being thrown at it. Hopefully our new shutters mean little damage can be done should apples again find themselves on a flight path towards the summerhouse!
Self-Harm Network Scotland’s (SHNS) latest Impact Report has been published, which contains key information about how the self-harm support service has helped people during April 2024 – March 2025.
Anyone in need of self-harm support in Scotland (aged 12 and over) can refer themselves to the service’s one-to-one support sessions via the Contact Us page on their website. Support is provided remotely by Peer Practitioners, who all have their own lived experience of self-harm.
212 people received one-to-one support during April 24 – March 25, with a total of 1,805 one-to-one support sessions taking place, averaging seven to eight sessions per supported person. Almost two thirds (62%) of referrals that were received were for people aged 30 or under. Feedback from those who exited one-to-one support shows that all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the service was trustworthy and reliable.
Dee, from Helensburgh, is one of the people who has benefited from Self-Harm Network Scotland’s one-to-one support. She said: “I have been battling with poor mental health and self-harm for over 30 years, but I know that I am not alone.
“I was offered one-to-one support within five days. Me and my Peer Practitioner Isabella had an instant connection, and I immediately felt at ease.”
“I wasn’t talking to someone who had read textbooks. I was talking to someone with personal, lived experience, and a deeper understanding. It was very different to the type of support that I had experienced in the past. I was encouraged every step of the way and was able to turn ideas into my own thing.”
SHNS also helps people in need of more immediate support for their self-harm and distress via an out-of-hours live webchat service, which is available on Self-Harm Network Scotland’s website every evening (6pm – 10pm), seven days a week.
599 support conversations took place on the Live Chat between April 2024 – March 2025.
The most discussed topics on the Live Chat were: Self-Harm (83% of chats), Mental Health (52% of chats), Emotional distress (38% of chats), Suicidal thoughts (26% of chats).
An end of chat survey asks supported people to rate the helpfulness of the chat, with 86% of 198 respondents to the survey rating it as ‘Very helpful’ or ‘Somewhat Helpful.’ Additionally, 55% of respondents reported that they had used the Live Chat before, which suggests that they trust the service and find value in the support they have received.
Self-Harm Strategy
SHNS is part of Penumbra Mental Health, a pioneering charity providing dedicated services for people with mild to serious and enduring mental ill health. SHNS works together with the Scottish Government and COSLA in delivering their Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. The action plan prioritises addressing discrimination, reducing stigma around self-harm, and improving support.
Self-Harm Awareness Training
SHNS develop and deliver informative and accessible Self-Harm Awareness training and resources to help improve understanding of self-harm, raise awareness, and reduce stigma.
During 2024/2025, 180 Self-Harm Awareness training sessions were delivered to 2,137 people. This included specific sessions for 67 organisations ranging from local authorities, health boards, education establishments, and a range of third sector organisations.
Self-Harm Awareness training continues to see strong and increasing demand from organisations, delivering to almost 500 more professionals than in the previous year. Participants’ experience of the training remains overwhelmingly positive, with evidence suggesting that the training is helping to increase knowledge and understanding of self-harm.
Our Impact Report shows that ninety-eight percent of people who gave feedback after taking part in Self-Harm Awareness training agreed or strongly agreed that they had a better understanding of where help and support exists for people who self-harm.
Darren Boyd, SHNS Programme Manager,said: “Self-Harm Network Scotland’s latest Impact Report reflects a year of significant change, development, and learning across the service, as we’ve continued to centre lived experience in all that we do.
“The past year has been about creating safer spaces, holding complexity without judgment, and responding to people’s pain with care and consistency.”
“We know that compassionate, person-centred support doesn’t just make a difference — it saves lives. At the core of everything we do is the belief that recovery is possible — and that it should be defined by the individual. It is voices like Dee’s that remind us why we do what we do – and who we do it for.”
POLICE are appealing for information after an electric off-road bike was stolen in Edinburgh.
The incident occurred around 1.30pm on Saturday, 6 September, 2025, on the roadway to the Harlaw Reservoir, near the walled garden at the Visitor Centre.
Two males pushed a 13-year-old boy off the e-bike and stole it.
The boy was badly shaken but not injured in the incident and police were contacted.
The first male is described as white, around 5ft 6 inches in height with an average build. He is around 20 years old, with short brown hair and wearing an orange t-shirt and black jogging trousers, black and grey On Cloud trainers and a black Montirex baseball cap with white writing.
The second suspect is black, around 6ft tall with an average build. He has dark hair and was wearing a black, shiny jacket with black trousers and black trainers.
The bike is black with royal blue detailing on the frame and the forks. It also has the word STING written in white on the frame.
Detective Constable Beverley Burnside said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time to think back and consider if they saw these two males. Did you see them on a bike, did you see them walking in the area?
“Any small piece of information could prove vital for us, so please do pass it on.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting 1685 of 6 September, 2025. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count reveals worrying results of decades of decline
The results of Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count are in, and while the numbers are a vast improvement on 2024’s record lows, the charity has warned that urgent measures are still needed to reverse long-term decline.
The sunniest spring and hottest summer ever recorded in the UK provided good weather conditions for butterflies after 2024’s record-breaking lows. However, the results from the Big Butterfly Count show that it was definitely not a bumper summer for our beleaguered butterflies.
Between July 18 and August 10, over 125,000 citizen scientists got involved in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count – more than ever before – and recorded 1.7 million butterflies and moths, with the top five species being Large White, Small White, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral and Meadow Brown.
On average, participants recorded 10.3 butterflies during each 15-minute count. While a marked improvement on last summer’s record low of just 7, it is only broadly average by modern standards, and has done little to reverse longer-term declines.
In Scotland, 6,286 people joined the count compared to 3,587 last year, and counted 71,988 butterflies and moths in the three-week period. On average the number of butterflies recorded per count was 9. The most-seen species in Scotland were the Small White (17,140), Large White (14,065), Red Admiral (11,459), Peacock (10,337) and Green-veined White (5,032).
Butterflies need two things to thrive: good weather and a healthy environment.
Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, said:“We may feel like we’ve seen lots of butterflies this summer, but that’s only because last year was so awful.
“Last summer’s results were the lowest we’ve seen and a stark warning that many of our common butterfly species are facing significant pressure from challenges linked to habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use.
“Whilst we’ve seen noticeably more butterflies during 2025’s Big Butterfly Count, the figures suggest it’s actually been a pretty average year for them by modern standards.
“The 15-year Big Butterfly Count trends show that more than twice as many widespread species have declined significantly than have increased. And, while most species had a better than average summer, one-third of species fared poorly even in the generally beneficial weather.
“There remains a need for us to take urgent action to support our butterfly populations, including by improving the environment in which they live, restoring habitats and reducing pesticide use. Until we do these things we are unlikely to see a great recovery in butterfly numbers, regardless of how much the sun shines.”
Winners and losers
Some species did show marked increases this summer. The Large White and Small White both recorded their best ever Big Butterfly Count result.
Meanwhile the Small Tortoiseshell, which had its worst Big Butterfly Count result on record in 2024, showed some improvement but still recorded a below average year and has declined by 60% since 2011.
The Jersey Tiger moth had a record year. The species was recorded more widely and in higher numbers than ever before.
By contrast, Holly Blue had its second worst Big Butterfly Count result on record, Common Blue had its third worst and Meadow Brown had its fourth worst Count result.
What can be done to help
Butterflies are key indicators of the UK’s biodiversity and environmental health. Tracking their numbers helps Butterfly Conservation understand the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and conservation action.
This year’s results are a reminder of how much we still need to do if we want to restore butterfly numbers in the UK.
Dr Richard Fox added: “We’ve reached a critical moment. The time to take action for UK butterflies is now. We know the weather impacts their numbers and with the summer we’ve just had we should be seeing them in far greater numbers. Even when the weather is good, the environment is only able to support far fewer butterflies than it used to.
“We must now do more to improve the habitat that our butterflies live in. This is why Butterfly Conservation is calling for an end to the unlicensed use of butterfly-killing synthetic pesticides, and asking retailers to take them off the shelves.
“We are in a nature crisis. We should be providing people with the tools to help and not the means of destruction.”
A rescue mission
Butterfly Conservation has launched a rescue mission for the UK’s butterflies and is asking people to sign its open letter to retailers calling for the removal of toxic synthetic pesticides from sale for domestic use. You can add your name by visiting www.butterfly-conservation.org
Big Butterfly Count will return in 2026. Next year’s event will take place between July 17 and August 9 so be sure to make a note in your diary – let the countdown begin!
New payment for people caring for more than one person
Proposals to further expand and improve the benefits available to unpaid carers in Scotland have been laid before the Scottish Parliament.
Among the changes are plans to introduce a new payment worth up to £520 annually for people who care for more than one person – benefiting an estimated 18,000 carers – and to extend eligibility for the Young Carer Grant to 19-year-olds.
This builds on previous changes following the transfer of responsibility for carer benefits from the UK Government to the Scottish Government, including the introduction of new benefits such as Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
Around 130,000 people are entitled to Scottish Government carer benefits in Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government recognises the immense contribution carers make to our society through caring for family, friends and neighbours.
“That is why we have made it a priority to deliver a series of improvements to better support them following the transfer of carer benefit awards from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland.
“We have a very different approach to social security in Scotland, with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart, and these changes build on previous work to help improve the lives of carers. We have already introduced Carer’s Allowance Supplement and the Young Carer Grant – which are only available in Scotland – and widened eligibility for Carer Support Payment to enable more carers in education to access it.
“This is another major milestone in the process of delivering devolved social security and in building a system that better meets the needs of carers and disabled people in Scotland.”
