Man of the people, eh? Reform UK leader in Holyrood, Malcolm Offord owns: 🏘 £1.5+ million house in Argyll & Bute. 🏘 £1.7+ million flat in Kensington & Chelsea. 🏘 £1million house in South Africa. 🏘 £1.2million flat in Isle of Wight. 🏘 £100-200k flat in Inverclyde www.thenational.scot/news/2625006...

The Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee has published its report on visits to prisons and Police custody in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 They highlight prison overcrowding as a critical issue that needs to be addressed. They praise Scotland ending jailing of under 18s. 🔗 #HumanRights www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/n...

A well-paid civil service data analysis-related job is being advertised with the Scottish Prison Service. Principal Analyst – Population Insights. Fixed-term, £62k-£68k. 🔗 #Prison #research #dataanalysis #CrimSky #Job #Vacancy scottishprisonserviceweb.eploy.net/vacancies/23...

The Times reports on plans for a "multi-university" between Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). EIS trade union mention speculation that some departments at Napier may merge with departments at QMU. #HigherEd www.thetimes.com/article/9dc7...

"The idea that [No 10 North] should lead local government reform and action in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is constitutionally dubious and bureaucratically horrifying." 'The Mayor of England' – great blog by Michael Keating on Burnham www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/blog/2026/ma...

The Scottish Parliament is advertising for Senior Clerks to work in Committees or Chamber Office. These are fairly well-paid, influential roles in Holyrood. #Jobs #Vacancy #ScotPol #Holyrood @parliament.scot 🔗 ce1046li.webitrent.com/ce1046li_web...

As someone who very strongly believes in thorough reform of local (& regional) govt in Scotland, from powers to structures to local taxation, those are questions for Holyrood. Not necessarily the (presumed) incoming PM, whose party were hammered in Scotland a month-and-a-half ago.

Uh oh. The "real devolution" to justify interfering with actual devolution argument.

Dundee is a bit of an odd choice by Burnham for emphasising "distance"? – It's just over an hour by train to Holyrood; – Dundee votes for the SNP in elections: local, national, UK. So, he'll be "taking power down" to an SNP-led Council? His point may be a decent one, but why not pick the North?

A compelling long-read on the important work of Citizens Advice Scotland @citizensadvicescot.bsky.social "Citizens Advice Bureaux in Scotland have been targeted by far-right activists for helping non-white, migrant or foreign residents." Disgraceful racism. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2623410...

Watch Scotland’s national poet, Makar Dr Pàdraig MacAoidh read his poem for @parliament.scot, 'Let This Hall Be Full of Noises', in Gàidhlig with an English translation at the opening ceremony at Holyrood today 👇👏 It's apt. Plus, I like his taste in music! www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/open...

In Scottish Parliament today, here's the motion by Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, for debate on our high #prison population It is anticipated he'll set out the Scottish Government response to key recommendations by the independent Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission.

NEW: Scotland's jails are breaking the UN’s so-called Nelson Mandela rules on prisoner rights, a watchdog has said

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Sara Snell, and Jacqueline Clinton from HMIPS are giving evidence to Scottish Parliament Criminal Justice Committee on prisons. It is welcome and timely they get to do this before recess. 1/🧵 #prison #CrimSky @parliament.scot www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/crim...

Latest on the Holyrood 'press pen' to contain journalists. Presiding Officer Kenny Gibson and Chief Executive David McGill respond to the letter from Scottish Parliamentary Journalists’ Association. They say some MSPs and staffers find walking past media huddles 'difficult' and 'intimidating'.

Ex-Professor of Engineering at Strathclyde University to stand trial accused of 21 sex offences against 5 women, including students. Many of the alleged crimes said to have occurred at the university. ⚠️A live case – contempt of court applies, avoid speculating www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow...

Many Scottish buildings (and a fair few Scots themselves) aren't built for heat. And this week's forecast is approaching as hot as it gets here in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 😎

The attacks in Edinburgh, in which an armed bare-chested white man terrorised Muslims, leaving five people injured, don't feature on a single newspaper front page this morning. Two tier journalism

Top civil servant at Department for Health breached lobbying rules Jones worked for 4 different healthcare companies, incl. a Palantir partner, and had been adviser to 12 other private health providers that benefited from public contracts with DHSC or related orgs giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Five people injured in suspected Islamophobic attacks as a white Scottish man was seen roaming Edinburgh with a large weapon. Thoughts are with victims and witnesses. "There is no place for racism or faith-based hate in a Scotland... at its best when we stand together" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This new research evidence doesn't surprise me in the least. Drug diversion schemes that steer people away from the criminal justice system and into treatment and education services are significantly more effective in reducing reoffending than prosecution. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

NEW: The Home Office is ploughing ahead with using AI to conduct asylum seeker age assessments despite knowing it's wildly inaccurate Its own internal report & our audit of public data find the tech often predicts kids to be adults, & performs worst on the top nationalities arriving on small boats

The Holyrood 'press pen' isn't likely to hold. It has infuriated ScotPol journalists today. The lack of Parliament bosses being willing to confidently come out and defend the press pen decision doesn't augur well for it staying or lobby journos staying in it. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2620781...

Let's be very clear: the Prime Minister can be available very quickly *if he wants to*. Fobbing off First Ministers with excuses is such a bad look, and yet so on brand. He simply does not care. #UnionofEquals

This is a welcoming country and the behaviour of the far right has no place on our streets.

New Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland announced. The First Minister has recommended that Ruth Charteris KC be appointed as Lord Advocate, and Brian (BJ) Gill KC be appointed as Solicitor General. Ms Charteris succeeds the Right Hon Dorothy Bain KC. www.gov.scot/news/law-off...

i assume banning kids from social media will be accompanied by a huge investment in teen-friendly communtiy spaces (like youth clubs) and social activities? No? Huh.

Indeed, a significant number of 17 year-olds at Scottish universities, whose classes may be timetabled up to 6pm and may also involve use of learning resources on YouTube.

A wee group of angry balaclava and mask-wearing anti-immigration guys tried to stop the good people of Glasgow showing solidarity with migrants and standing up to racism and fascism. Well, the far right are far outnumbered... #RefugeesWelcome #MigrantsWelcome #NeighboursNotStrangers #Glasgow

Scotland's First Minister and the SNP were targeted by an Israeli firm spreading online disinformation before the Holyrood election, a French Government agency has claimed. The tech firm is alleged to target online smear campaigns towards those who support Palestinians. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Convenerships and members of Committees at Holyrood are online. The Criminal Justice Committee: 🎗 @alynsmith.bsky.social (Convener) 🎗 David Linden 🎗 @mariemcnairmsp.bsky.social 🌹 Pauline McNeill 🟢 @maggiechapman.bsky.social ⏹️ Amanda Bland 🔵 Stephen Kerr Looking forward to seeing them get underway.

Stories of solidarity and kindness in helping neighbours too scared to leave their homes in Belfast @news.rte.ie #Belfast youtube.com/shorts/bQP-h...

The First Minister has appointed a notably reduced list of Special Advisers, though with no new names (yet) to replace a few departures. In 2023, there were 18 Spads, now 12. Given the likely spread of portfolio responsibilities and considerable workload, I imagine more will be appointed. #ScotPol

An anti-racism rally is set to take place in Glasgow this weekend after the city faced 'race riots' on last night in the wake of a stabbing in Northern Ireland

What is happening now is the inevitable conclusion of political weakness, cosying up to Reform, banging on about small boats, making no effort to confront others' lies - it was always going to lead here, as they were warned repeatedly by so many people.

We at JustRight Scotland stand in solidarity with everyone affected by the deeply disturbing events across central Scotland last night, and fully support the statement issued by the @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social 🧵

The family of the Belfast stabbing victim have released a statement saying - like the family of Henry Nowak last week - that the attack should not be used to "divide people or fuel hostility" They condemned disorder and praised the "valuable contribution" by migrants inews.co.uk/news/politic...

An interesting update on what is happening with Holyrood Committee convenership, following recent reforms. This is the first time the Scottish Parliament has elected committee conveners, yet still, it looks relatively "pre-arranged" in 15 being so far uncontested... www.holyrood.com/news/view,tw...

For those interested in prison, #Probation and rehabilitation in Wales: Published today by the Welsh Affairs Committee, a wide-ranging report ‘Jagged Justice: Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation in Wales’, which follows a year-long inquiry. #Wales #CrimSky committees.parliament.uk/committee/16...

An apt prisoner letter in Inside Time, now covered by the Daily Record 👇 Food matters in prison, not least when spending terribly long hours in cells amid a #prison capacity crisis 'A hungry wing is a dangerous wing' – Prisoner warning over food budget 'crisis' www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...

📍 Hidden Door Arts Festival at The Paper Factory – superb, as ever. Especially enjoyed Valtos as well as 'The machine shuts down' drummers. #HiddenDoorFestival #Arts #Edinburgh @hiddendoorarts.bsky.social

Kirsty Lockwood speaking in Glasgow on her debut novel, 'We know what you did', already nominated for a prestigious award. Her humour, humility, and warmth makes for a great author talk – but don't believe any self-deprecating chat, she's going places, writing book 3. @kirstystrickland.bsky.social

In an ideal world, MSPs' register of interest should be publicly available when Committee convenors and members are chosen and get to work. Hoping that they are published on @parliament.scot website soon, given the legally obliged timeline of registering updates with Parliament within 30 days...

Claudia Vince's powerful Op Ed centring victims, families & friends bereaved by murder or terror 👇 Then and now, I'm in awe of such dignity and humanity amid raw grief. 'My friend's murder was weaponised by politicians. Henry Nowak's family deserve better' www.lbc.co.uk/article/henr...

A total privilege to speak to over 200 Justice Social Workers from across Scotland today @socworkscot.bsky.social First, sharing some emerging themes from our comparative probation & JSW research. Then, with wonderful Lynsey Smith, leading two workshops on the Sentencing & Penal Policy Commission

This is a concerning issue – one worthy of serious, careful attention in Scotland. I don't specialise in the legalities of it, but I have much empathy for affected Mums and children. 'I'm being taken to court for protecting my child from their sex offender dad' news.stv.tv/east-central...

Public Appointment Vacancies (×5), remunerated (£) The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education seeks to appoint up to five experienced people to the Board of the Scottish Funding Council @scotfundcouncil.bsky.social fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Well, yes, indeed. EU looks more attractive in Donald Trump’s ‘crazy world’, says Norway giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... #EU

This is chilling. UK military looks at allowing lethal strikes without human approval for choice of target. 'Al Carns, the armed forces minister, indicated that there might be exceptional circumstances in which machines made targeting decisions for themselves.' giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...