Tag: Politics

Committees say Parliament should continue close scrutiny of approach to tackling drug deaths and drug harm following election

Members of three Scottish Parliament committees have urged that a joint approach to the scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s work to reduce drug deaths and tackle drug harm must continue following May’s election.

A legacy report from MSPs on the Criminal Justice, Health, Social Care and Sport and Social Justice and Social Security Committees outlines that meeting together allowed the Members to consider the impact of policy changes more broadly and more effectively.

In the report, one MSP explains that the approach emphasised the importance of the shift from seeing drug problems in Scotland as a crime and justice issue to seeing them as a health and social issue.

The committees worked together during this parliamentary session to look at the impact of the measures recommended by the Scottish Drugs Deaths Taskforce.

As part of their work, the committees commissioned, and worked with, a people’s panel, which called for “brave and bold action” to reduce the harms created by drug use in Scotland.

The Members’ report praises the benefits that this approach had on communication between committees, collaboration on tackling this important issue, and the breadth of scrutiny.

Audrey Nicoll MSP, Convener of the Criminal Justice Committee said: “Taking a cross-committee approach to the issue of how to tackle drug deaths and drug related harms has brought everyone’s expertise to the table.

“It has been encouraging to see so many members working together to tackle this issue of urgent national importance.

“However, this issue is not resolved. As our legacy report makes clear, our committees’ work must continue next session.”

Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Sport and Social Care Committee, said: “Thank you to everyone who helped inform our scrutiny of these vital issues, including the members of the people’s panel, who collaborated so well to help recommend what further steps can be taken to prevent drug deaths and harms.

“Cross-party and cross-remit working in the next session will be essential if we are to effectively tackle these issues, and ultimately end the pain caused by drug harms and drug deaths in Scotland.

Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “I am pleased with the impact that our committees’ work has had this session, and it was good to see the recommendations of the people’s panel that we commissioned be agreed to and acted upon by the Scottish Government.

“Drug deaths are not abstract statistics. My heart goes out to every single family that is affected. MSPs must continue to work together next session and do everything possible to tackle this issue.”

Read the Committees’ report

House of Lords Conduct Committee publishes report on the conduct of Lord Chadlington

ANOTHER DODGY ‘HONOURABLE MEMBER’ SHAMES WESTMINSTER

The House of Lords Conduct Committee has published a report on the conduct of Lord Chadlington (John Selwyn Gummer), recommending he be suspended from the House for 12 months.

The recommendation is the result of an investigation by the independent House of Lords Commissioner for Standards, which followed a complaint made on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.

The Commissioner, Martin Jelley QPM DL, investigated Lord Chadlington’s role in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic and, specifically, his role in assisting a subsidiary of a company he chaired to secure PPE contracts.

The Commissioner found that Lord Chadlington, a former Chairman of the Conservative Party during the Thatcher era, breached the House’s prohibition on members providing “parliamentary services” in return for payment or reward.

He also found that Lord Chadlington had failed to cooperate with two previous investigations into his conduct and had failed to act on his personal honour.

Chadlington appealed against the Commissioner for Standards’ findings and his recommended sanction that he be suspended from the House for 12 months. The Conduct Committee rejected that appeal and upheld the Commissioner’s findings and recommended sanction.  
 
The Conduct Committee’s report will now need to be agreed by the House before the sanction takes effect. The House is expected to consider the report in the week of 16th March.

Chadlington, who is 84, has said he will ‘retire’ from the House of Lords and quit the Tory Party. That’s likely to be of little consolation to Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice:

Grief: A Poem

by Susie Crozier-Flintham

Grief fills the room
Which room or space
Is not a matter
Of speculation
Or some theory
Now debunked
By its own author,
I might add,
But one of
Who
We
Are
As
People
My grief fills my life
Not room or space
But every quarter
Of my being, not
Some speculation
Or some theory,
Conspiracy theory
That serves to
Diminish
Deceive or
Decry
My Dad died.
A declarative
Not speculation
He was among
over 252, 032 others
To pretend

Those things
Untrue
Is to pretend
Some lives
Are worth
Losing
Moreover,
Do we dismiss
Collective grief
As something
Uncomfortable
Because, we don’t decide
We can’t pick and choose
Those dead
Are commemorated
These dead are not
Weren’t they all human?
People with lives?
Weren’t they all children
Once?
Grief fills this room
Because it’s not just
About remembrance
It’s about
Potential lost
Opportunities missed
Connections denied
Grief fills this room
Because it has to
Without it
We are nothing
Mere chattels

On this Earth
Which birthed us
Which birthed us
But masters,
And indeed mistresses
Of our own destiny
Are we
So hear me
You are my family
I lost mine
Not through carelessness
But through design
And in my Dad’s name
You are
Therefore
Mine.

Sarah Boyack hosts Holyrood roundtable for Tourette’s families

Sarah Boyack hosted families of children with Tourette’s in Holyrood on Thursday to meet with a Minister and Scottish Government officials.

The roundtable, which was co-organised with Tourette’s Scotland allowed families to raise the lack of support facing their children in Scotland’s education system.

Natalie Don-Innes attended the meeting in her capacity as Minister for Children and Young People, alongside the Unit Head for Additional Support for Learning and the Promise.

Every parent agreed that many issues stemmed from the lack of training for teachers and school staff.

Many attendants highlighted that their children had been punished due to their involuntary tics because of a lack of understanding of Tourette’s.

Tourette’s Scotland offers training for schools and creates bespoke profiles for each child with Tourette’s for their new school to utilise but both the training and reading of the reports are optional.

One participant revealed that their child was told they weren’t allowed to do one of their tics in the classroom and would have to go to the bathroom to do it, despite tics being involuntary.

Another highlighted that despite having a horrible time in school, their daughter was now thriving in university and getting far better support for her Tourette’s.

The Minister, along with the Scottish Government official, agreed to liaise further with Tourette’s Scotland to examine these issues.

The roundtable came after awareness of Tourette’s has skyrocketed due to the success of “I Swear”.

Ms Boyack also hosted a Holyrood debate about Tourette’s at the start of the year where she highlighted the challenges facing kids in the education system with the condition.

Speaking after the roundtable, Sarah Boyack said: “I was honoured to host this roundtable and give parents the opportunities to tell their stories to the Minister.

“I was deeply moved by the stories I heard of children suffering due to a lack of understanding from those in the education system and the stress it has caused their parents.

“It is obvious that with a greater understanding and robust training, the education system can be a place for those with Tourette’s to thrive in rather than a challenge they have to manage.

“I hope that the next parliament picks up the baton on this issue and ensures increased support for Tourette’s is a priority.”

Tourette’s Scotland commented: “We were delighted to have the opportunity for our families to share their stories directly with the minister for children and young people.

“Our families felt heard and that it was a productive meeting with lots of ideas on how to progress with awareness and understanding.”

You can find more out about Tourette’s Scotland and their work here:

https://www.tourettescotland.org/

ALBA Party to fight on?

Alba Continuation Group welcomes leader MacAskill’s ‘positive engagement’

Hopes for Scottish independence in the next Parliament through the election of Alba MSPS on the list heightens after constructive engagement with Kenny MacAskill following recent correspondence, marking meaningful progress toward a clear and democratic way forward.

In his latest communication, Mr MacAskill acknowledges that a full indemnity has now been offered, to remove all risk from the current Alba leadership.

He sets out a number of constitutional and financial questions requiring clarification. These questions are legitimate and reflect the seriousness of the responsibilities involved.

They provide not an obstacle, but a structured and democratic route to resolving outstanding matters in a transparent and credible way.

Earlier this week The ALBA Continuation Group set out a ‘confident and forward-looking’ proposal aimed at securing the Party’s future and maximising it’s impact in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election.

The group – made up of Angus Brendan MacNeil, Tommy Sheridan, Christina Hendry and Suzanne Blackley, all elected with substantial support from party members – has confirmed it’s willingness to offer an unconditonal indemnity to facilitate an orderly and dignified transition in the Party’s leadership.

Commenting today, Angus Brendan MacNeil said, “Central to this pathway is democratic legitimacy. Any transfer of responsible officer roles, as defined by the Electoral Commission, must command the confidence of members.

“That legitimacy can be secured straightforwardly through an online ballot of members, organised efficiently and transparently. Such a ballot would provide a clear democratic mandate from the elected membership, ensuring that any organisational changes rest on firm constitutional foundations.

“Addressing financial clarity is equally important. Establishing certainty around liabilities, ongoing costs and indemnity arrangements is essential to protecting members and ensuring long-term stability. These are practical issues that can and should be resolved through open engagement and good faith.

“This moment represents a crossroads. Small decisions taken now may have significant consequences over the next two years. By choosing a democratic, member-led route, there is an opportunity to strengthen credibility, rebuild confidence and position Alba to stand at the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election, which is vital in Scotland’s independence journey.

“Independence is within our grasp. With unity, transparency and democratic endorsement from members, Alba can enter the next Parliament as a clear, forceful and principled advocate for Scotland’s constitutional future.

“We look forward to continued constructive dialogue and to progressing matters swiftly, so that energy and focus can return to the central objective: delivering independence for Scotland through democratic means.”

Scotland needs to stop centralising care and start trusting councils

WHEN we talk health and social care in Scotland, the debate tends to orbit big numbers and long-term policy frameworks (writes Councillor PAUL KELLY, COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care) .

But from where I sit, speaking to councils and communities every day, the reality is far more immediate. It’s about people waiting longer for help, care workers stretched too thin, and a system close to burnout.

The £750 million COSLA is calling for isn’t a throwaway figure. It’s what’s needed just to stabilise social care and start rebuilding confidence, and right now, integration authorities are staring down a half-billion-pound deficit. That’s not theoretical. It means fewer care packages, longer waits, and more families left in limbo.

We can’t keep papering over the cracks. Care isn’t a luxury – it’s the infrastructure that allows people to live with dignity in their homes and communities and if we fail to fund it properly, we’re choosing crisis over prevention every time.

I’ve seen what good looks like, councils across Scotland are proving that when local partners are trusted, empowered and resourced, they deliver. Hospital admissions go down, delayed discharges drop and people get to stay in their homes, with the right support around them.

But the truth is, those successes are happening despite the system, not because of it.

Short sighted one-year budgets force local authorities into short-term firefighting, providers can’t plan, good staff leave for more stable work elsewhere.

The same goes for prevention, everyone talks about it but few fund it. Yet we’ve known since the Christie Commission in 2011 that unless we shift spending upstream, public services will buckle under the weight of demand. Fourteen years later, the shift still hasn’t happened.

The result? Hospitals are under strain, community are services stretched, and the most vulnerable people keep falling through the cracks. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Across Scotland, local authorities are already delivering services that tackle inequality at the source. From mental health and suicide prevention work to alcohol and drug partnerships, councils are embedded in the places where support makes the most difference, but they’re doing it with one hand tied behind their backs.

The evidence is clear, outcomes improve when decisions are made locally and in partnership with communities, we need government to match that ambition, not with more centralisation, but with trust, flexibility and proper funding at local democracy level.

If we want to get serious about health inequalities, that starts with recognising that most of the determinants of health – housing, transport, education, employment – sit within the remit of local government and you can’t improve population health without improving people’s lives.

So, here’s the ask: fund social care properly. Commit to multi-year budgets, back prevention, and most importantly, hand decision-making power back to local communities.

If we keep waiting for someone in the centre to fix this, we’ll still be having this conversation in ten year’s time, and the system will be in a worse place.

Local government is ready to lead, it just needs the tools to do the job.

Tracy Gilbert MP welcomes £921 million additional funding for Scotland in Spring  Statement 

Tracy Gilbert, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, has welcomed the Chancellor’s confirmation  that the Scottish Government will receive an additional £921 million in funding through  Barnett consequential in the Spring Statement. 

Since the General Election in July 2024, the Scottish Government has received nearly £12  billion in extra funding. 

Commenting, Tracy Gilbert MP said: “The Scottish Government has received £12 billion in additional funding since 2024. People in  Edinburgh North and Leith will rightly ask what that money has delivered for them. 

“With pressures on our NHS, housing and local services, this funding must be used to improve  people’s day-to-day lives. It’s time to focus on getting the basics right and delivering for  communities across Scotland.”

Delivery must be at the heart of the Scotland’s Climate Change Plan, says Holyrood Committee

Concrete policies backed by clear targets and timelines must be at the heart of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan, says Holyrood’s Net Zero Committee.

In its report published this week, the Committee says that key policies must also state clearly who will lead on delivery and, wherever possible, be costed.

A clear and accessible system to monitor progress will also be vital to catch policies and interventions at risk of going off track.

The report highlights the Plan’s reliance on electrification for delivery across many sectors. The Committee calls on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government and other UK administrations on a joint plan of action for more affordable electricity.

The report also identifies areas of potential risk in plotting a pathway to net zero emissions, either because the Scottish Government is dependent upon others for key actions or because they have set ambitions that look stretching. These include, for example, a quite fast-paced switchover to electric vehicles; decarbonising Scotland’s homes; and using negative emissions technology at scale over the next decade to abate hard to decarbonise areas.

The Plan sets out how the Scottish Government intends to meet emission reduction targets across all portfolio areas and sectors of the economy. It covers the period 2026-2040 as Scotland looks to be ‘net zero’ in carbon emissions by 2045.

10 committees took part in the Scottish Parliament’s scrutiny of the draft Plan. Leading the cross-parliamentary effort, the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee considered the draft as a whole; including governance, monitoring, and fiscal arrangements; as well as three sectors relevant to its remit; energy supply, transport and waste.

Convener of the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee, Edward Mountain MSP, said: “Scotland has lost momentum in reaching net zero and a new Climate Change Plan is the key opportunity for a reset. The Plan must be focused on delivery, with credible proposals and clear lines of accountability for each major policy.

“There are some good aspects to the draft Plan but it often falls short, with insufficient detail on key policies and the mechanisms to achieve specific outcomes, or on costs and who they will fall on.

“Public engagement is central to net zero delivery as it requires actions at a household level. People rightly want assurances that changes they are being asked to make are affordable and sensible. We reached out to the public and to grassroots community groups as widely as we could, within the time we had.

“Getting the Plan right also means the Scottish Government must listen to industry, NGOs and scientific experts, as well as the Parliament.“The Scottish Government has given itself a maximum of just three weeks to reflect on our recommendations and its own public consultation. This is not good practice. It lowers confidence that consultation is meaningful and will help shape the new Plan. It must not happen again.”

The Scottish Government has committed to publishing its final Climate Change Plan in advance of the dissolution of Parliament for the 2026 election.

Key committee recommendations:

In their reports, Committees highlighted a range of issues including, for example:

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

In relation to energy supply, transport & waste:

  • Proposals to decarbonise the transport sector are heavily reliant on EV switchover, with challenges around affordability and convenience of charging etc. The Scottish Government holds only some of the levers in this area. This poses a risk that should be monitored carefully. The Plan should encourage EV uptake but have more measures to enable less car usage.
  • Placing a high level of reliance on negative emissions technologies, a developing technology that is untested at scale, is a significant delivery risk that will require careful monitoring and reappraisal in the light of new evidence and data.
  • Ambitions on electrifying and decarbonising the freight sector look unrealistic, with insufficient detail on delivery.
  • Revised projections for emissions from energy from waste are required in light of the recent delay in banning biodegradable waste going to municipal landfill.

Read the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee’s report

Rural Affairs & Islands Committee
  • The agriculture emissions pathway in the draft Plan was unclear due to a lack of clarity around the sector’s reform plans and the absence of a Rural Support Plan (RSP).
  • The final Plan must show how RSP policies will deliver sectoral emissions targets and the next Parliament must scrutinise the links between the RSP, wider reform programme and the Plan, to ensure sufficient leadership and ambition for the sector.
  • While the draft CCP signals strong long-term ambition for forestry and peatland, it should also set out how sites will be prioritised – using spatial analysis or mapping – and provide clearer detail on long-term financing, including the Scottish Government’s position on multiannual funding.

Read the Rural Affairs & Islands Committee’s report

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
  • The Committee is concerned that the projected rates of heat pump installations will not sufficiently scale up by 2030 in order to put Scotland on course to reaching the 2045 target. There needs to be national leadership from the Scottish Government in partnership with the UK Government to deliver this through a coherent delivery plan.
  • Having sufficient numbers of trained tradespeople to deliver retrofitting is clearly critical, and the Scottish Government should set out a plan as to how a recognised skills gap will be addressed, particularly in rural areas where the skills shortage is greater, and with a focus on supporting SMEs to grow their retrofit workforce.

Read the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s report

Economy and Fair Work Committee
  • The Plan needs to include more information, be clearer on the priority of actions and involve workers and professional bodies. If not, there’s a real risk we repeat past mistakes, with industries closing and skilled workers leaving Scotland to find jobs elsewhere.
  • The Committee calls for a change in the way electricity prices and charges are set. Until this is addressed, it warns against adding new requirements for industries to cut emissions, as this too could risk more closures and job losses.

Read the Economy and Fair Work Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (246KB, pdf)posted 02 February 2026

Other Committee correspondence 

Read the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee with further findings due to be published shortly (136KB, pdf)posted 30 January 2026

Read the Criminal Justice Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (97KB, pdf)posted 08 December 2025

The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee sent two letters to the letters the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee:

Read the letter sent on 9 December 2025 (121KB, pdf)posted 15 December 2025

Read the letter sent on 23 January 2026 (158KB, pdf)posted 26 January 2026

Read the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs & Culture Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (217KB, pdf)posted 26 January 2026

Read the Social Justice & Social Security Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (117KB, pdf)posted 01 December 2025

Read the Public Audit Committee’s letter sent to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (192KB, pdf)posted 07 November 2023.

US and Israel attack Iran

UN CHIEF CONDEMNS AGGRESSION

“The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace & security.” – @antonioguterres condemns military escalation in the Middle East.

I condemn today’s military escalation in the Middle East. The use of force by the United States & Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace & security.   All Member States must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the @UN.

The Charter clearly prohibits “the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”  

“I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.  

“I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. The Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER STATEMENT

Earlier this morning, the United States and Israel struck targets in Iran.

Iran has since launched indiscriminate strikes across the region.

I know the British people and communities across our country will be deeply concerned about what this means for security and stability and for the fate of innocent people across the region – which for so many of us includes friends and family members.

So while the situation is evolving very quickly, I want to set out our response.

The United Kingdom played no role in these strikes.

But we have long been clear – the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent.

They have murdered thousands of their own people, brutally crushed dissent, and sought to destabilise the region.

Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and the Jewish community.

Over the last year alone, they have backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil.

So it’s clear – they must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

That remains the primary aim of the United Kingdom and our allies – including the US.

I condemn Iran’s attacks today on partners across the region, many of which are not parties to this conflict.

We extend our support and solidarity to them.

As part of our commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region – which we’ve recently taken steps to strengthen.

Our forces are active and British planes are in the sky today as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests, and our allies – as Britain has done before, in line with international law. 

We’ve stepped up protections for British bases and personnel to their highest level.

We are also reaching out to UK nationals in the region and doing everything we can to support them.

I have been speaking with leaders today – from the E3, and across the region.

It is vital now that we prevent further escalation and return to a diplomatic process. 

We want to see peace and security, and the protection of civilian life. 

Iran can end this now. (EH? – Ed.)

They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programmes, and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people – who deserve the right to determine their own future, in line with our longstanding position. 

That is the route to de-escalation and back to the negotiating table.

FIRST MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY

First Minister @JohnSwinney has called for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution, following the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran:

JEREMY CORBYN MP:

The attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States are illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable. Peace and diplomacy was possible. Instead, Israel and the United States chose war.

This is the behaviour of rogue states — and they have jeopardised the safety of humankind around the world with this catastrophic act of aggression. Our government must condemn this flagrant breach of international law, and urgently pursue a foreign policy based on justice, sovereignty and peace.

STOP THE WAR COALITION:

ALBA turmoil: Formal Demand for Members’ Ballot

ALBA Continuation Group has written to the party leadership calling for an emergency all‑members ballot on whether ALBA contests the May Holyrood regional lists or de‑registers altogether.

“Clear pathway” should be negotiated urgently to allow for any future indy ref, says Holyrood Committee

COMMITTEE SPLIT ON FINDINGS

The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee has published the findings of its inquiry on options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum.

The Scottish and UK Governments should negotiate a “clear pathway” allowing Scotland to exercise its democratic right to determine its constitutional future as a matter of urgency, according to a majority of the Constitution Committee.

In a new report, a majority of the Committee’s MSPs (*) found that it is problematic that no established mechanism exists to ensure that, in appropriate circumstances, the wishes of the people of Scotland can be expressed.

This represents a democratic “disjuncture” where the “democratic mechanism may not work”, and as the Committee heard during evidence from Professor Alan Renwick of University College London, “it is the UK electorate that chooses those with the power to trigger a referendum, whereas the electorate whose wishes are to be respected is that of Scotland.”

The majority of the Committee’s view was that this creates a “democratic anomaly”.

The report follows the Committee’s inquiry into options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum.

Over several weeks, it gathered evidence from academics, lawyers and political science experts as it explored how any future vote could be legally brought.

The report’s conclusions, agreed by a majority of the Committee, set out a number of statutory and non-statutory options that should be considered as part of negotiations between the Scottish and UK Governments.

Clare Adamson, Committee Convener, said: “The majority of the Committee recommends, that steps should be taken to address this democratic anomaly.

“This should include the agreement, regardless of the UK’s political priorities, of a trigger mechanism which would allow the people of Scotland to exercise their democratic right to determine Scotland’s constitutional future if they so wish.”

(*) The report’s conclusions were agreed by Keith Brown MSP, Patrick Harvie MSP, George Adam MSP and Clare Adamson MSP.

Neil Bibby MSP, Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP and Stephen Kerr MSP did not agree to the report’s conclusions.

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