Category: Scottish

Scottish Government Calls for Decriminalisation of Drug Possession for Personal Use

The Scottish government has called on the UK government to decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal use. Drugs policy minister Elena Whitham said on Friday that her government’s new proposals are “ambitious and radical” and “will help save lives” in Scotland, which has by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country…


Scottish Conservatives Call for Inquiry Into SNP Finance Investigation

The Scottish Conservatives have called for an inquiry into the ongoing investigation of possible fundraising fraud by the Scottish National Party (SNP). The Scottish Conservatives’ chief Whip Alexander Burnet wrote to the Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, proposing a new committee to investigate Operation Branchform, the codename for the investigation into SNP finances. Johnstone also serves…


Scottish Government Pushes Ahead With Plans for No-Jury Trials for Rape Defendants

The Scottish government has published new legislation which, if passed, would scrap Scotland’s not proven verdict—which dates back to the 17th century—and would also allow for no-jury trials in some rape cases. The Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill would also reduce the number of jurors in Scottish trials from 15 to 12, bringing it…


New Union Takes on ‘Indoctrination’ of Scottish Education System

A new union has been founded to counter the Scottish government’s education policy, which the union claims is indoctrinating school children with ideas around “white privilege” and “transgender ideology.” The Scottish Union for Education (SUE) was founded after concerned parents, grandparents, teachers, and ex-teachers raised growing concerns about schools incorporating critical race theory and gender…


Epoch Cinema Documentary Review: ‘Arras: Scotland’s Forgotten Battle’

Commentary Some wars have faded from people’s memories over time, while others are more popular than ever. In terms of cinema, World War II and the Vietnam War films have been popularized to the extent that some suggest that they’ve been “done to death.” And I’m not just talking about feature films such as “Saving…


Scottish Authorities Launch Investigation Into Unexplained Newborn Baby Deaths

The Scottish Government has ordered a review into two mystery surges in deaths of newborn babies that happened over a six-month period. On Friday, the Scottish Government announced that it had commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland to lead a wider inquiry into increased neonatal death rates, which are at their highest in a decade (pdf). According…


Scottish Court Holds Mock Trial to Highlight Hate Crime Laws

A mock trial staged to highlight racially aggravated hate crimes has caused some to question if Scottish authorities are readying a newly-enacted yet still-dormant hate crime law, which has been described as the most “illiberal and censorious bill in any liberal democracy in the world.” While not explicit, a mock trial could be seen as…


‘Many Crops Will Fail’ Under Water Ban, Scottish Farmers Say

Scottish farmers say they are fearful that restrictions on taking water from rivers imposed in parts of the country “will now be the end for some,” and that the decision will affect the vegetable sector for “weeks and months to come.” On Saturday, Scotland’s water environmental agency SEPA banned farmers from abstracting water from the…


Scottish Nationalist MPs Thrown out of Parliament Over Protest Against Johnson

Two Alba Party MPs were kicked out of Parliament on Wednesday after they refused to stop shouting at Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a protest over Scottish independence. The first Prime Minister’s Questions session after Johnson resigned as the prime minister was delayed for several minutes because of the rowdy incident. At the start of the…


Meet the 81-Year-Old Climbing Scottish Mountains for His Sick Wife

BALLACHULISH, Scotland—At the windswept summit of Buachaille Etive Mòr, a Scottish peak more than 3,350 ft)above sea level, 81-year-old Nick Gardner stops to gaze down at the rugged peaks, lochs, and valleys visible through the drifting clouds. “It’s so exciting every time I still feel like a little boy,” he said. “I need my hat…