Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant will be lifted next week. Addressing the Scottish Parliament on Jan. 18, Sturgeon said that recent data showing a fall in infections “gives us confidence that we have turned the corner on the Omicron…
Scottish Minister Reported to Watchdog for ‘Erroneous’ Use of COVID-19 Data
Scotland’s deputy first minister has been reported to the UK Statistics Authority after he was accused of misrepresenting data to justify the region’s COVID-19 restrictions, which are significantly stricter than in neighbouring England. John Swinney, who also serves as the Scottish government’s COVID Recovery Secretary, suggested infection rates in Scotland were lower than in England…
UK’s Johnson Rejects Calls for Tougher COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected the Scottish and Welsh governments’ call for a further toughening of travel restrictions following the discovery of cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the UK. Five cases of the new variant have been detected in England, and six cases have been identified in Scotland. The UK government…
Scotland to Move to Lowest Level of COVID Restrictions on Monday
Coronavirus restrictions are to ease in Scotland on Monday as Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the country will move to Level 0 of lockdown measures, with some changes to original plans. The First Minister briefed MSPs in a virtual setting of the Scottish Parliament, which was recalled from its summer recess for the update. She said the…
Supreme Court Challenge to Begin Over Scottish Parliament Bills
The UK Government’s most senior lawyers are due to start a Supreme Court challenge over two Bills unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament. In March, Holyrood unanimously passed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, which would incorporate a UN treaty into Scottish law. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack raised…
Scottish Nationalists Vow New Independence Vote From UK After Election Success
GLASGOW, Scotland—Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed on Saturday to press ahead with plans for a new referendum on leaving the United Kingdom after saying there was no doubt elections to the Scottish parliament would return a pro-independence majority. In a rebuke to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who has said he would block a…
Scottish Party Leaders Make Their Final Pitches to Voters in TV Debate
Scotland’s political leaders clashed again over the constitution in the final TV debate of the Scottish Parliamentary election. The exchanges between SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and her main rivals took place less than 36 hours before voters start to go to the polls. The TV showdown, broadcast on BBC Scotland, saw the leaders of the…
Sturgeon: Independent Scotland Rejoining EU Would Need to Confront Border Issues
An independent Scotland would need to confront border issues with the rest of the UK if returning to the European Union, Nicola Sturgeon has said. Concerns have been raised by critics of Scottish independence who say Scotland rejoining the EU would result in a hard border with England. The First Minister told BBC Radio 4’s…
Scotland’s Salmond Launches Rival Pro-Independence Party
LONDON —Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond launched a new pro-independence party on Friday to run in May’s parliamentary election, a move that could splinter the separatist vote by grabbing support away from Nicola Sturgeon, his protege turned foe. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly rejected calls for a fresh vote on Scottish independence…
Scottish Leader Fights Back in Row With Ex-mentor That Threatens Independence Drive
LONDON—Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon on Wednesday defended her handling of sexual harassment complaints against her predecessor Alex Salmond in high-stakes testimony on an issue that threatens to scupper her dream of leading Scotland to independence. Describing the feud with Salmond as “one of the most invidious political and personal situations” she had ever faced, Sturgeon…
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