A Preview of the Scottish Budget
Jack Fawcett, Senior Reporter, has the latest on what we can expect to be announced and considered in Thursday’s Scottish Budget. The 2021 Budget could be one of the most consequential in recent years. The SNP, bolstered by recent polls showing majority support for Scottish independence, are hoping to capitalise on the ongoing struggles facing […]
Election 2021 – latest news
Latest lockdown raises questions about delaying Holyrood election James Mitchell, professor of public policy at the University of Edinburgh, has called for an urgent summit with the presiding officer to decide whether or not to postpone the Holyrood election. He argued that even if the election went ahead, important decisions needed to be taken soon […]
Digital Strategy for Wales opens for comments
Wales Director Valerie Livingston upvotes the Welsh Government’s latest digital strategy. “Digital in Wales will improve quality of life, sustainability and economic growth, creating user-centred public services supported by effective leadership, data and a culture of innovation and collaboration.” That is the Welsh Government’s vision and what it is attempting to achieve with its Digital […]
SNP autumn conference
SNP conference, Saturday 28 – Monday 30 November Bolstered by recent polling on next year’s elections and on support for independence, SNP delegates will gather online this weekend. Timed to coincide with St Andrew’s Day on Monday, Nicola Sturgeon will give her traditional closing address on Monday afternoon. Six composite motions will be debated alongside […]
AI and the great government document hoard
An interesting little story caught my eye in last Saturday’s Times, writes Newsdirect Wales’ director Valerie Livingston. AI Trawls 20,000 miles of state papers (I’d attach a link but – rather ironically – I came across the original story in the physical copy of the paper and it doesn’t appear to be online.) Times Policy […]
An open letter to all monitoring clients
Hi, there’s something we want to talk to you about. Paying the staff. That goes without saying, right? Anyone who puts in a shift with or for you, deserves to have their rent paid, their groceries covered and enough left over for a modest data plan. Or do they? We absolutely believe they do and […]
Scottish Liberal Democrat conference
Scottish LibDem conference, Friday 30 – Saturday 31 October Another weekend, another party conference! Scottish LibDems will gather online this Friday and Saturday to debate policy motions, unveil conference candidates and hear from party leaders. Keynote speeches are scheduled from Willie Rennie, Ed Davey and Wendy Chamberlain (Chief Whip and spokesperson for Scotland […]
Scottish Green Party conference
Scottish Green Party conference will run as an online gathering this weekend. Ahead of the formal event, Patrick Harvie will launch the party’s Green New Deal for Scotland’s workers this afternoon. The report will call on the Scottish and UK governments to improve workers’ rights, pay and conditions. The party will also call for […]
Scottish party conference dates – Autumn 2020
Scottish Conferences Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October, Scottish Green Party virtual conference Friday 30 – Saturday 31 October, Scottish Liberal Democrats virtual conference Saturday 28 – Monday 30 November, SNP virtual conference date tbc, Scottish Labour virtual conference
SNP candidate race heats up as challengers declare
Three SNP ministers are facing a selection contest for their seats ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament election. Shirley-Anne Somerville (Dunfermline & East Fife), Fergus Ewing (Inverness & Nairn) and Ash Denham (Edinburgh Eastern) will need to overcome challenges from party activists to get the nomination. A further eight SNP MSPs (Christine Grahame, Colin Beattie, […]
