Latest news with #THENational
The National
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
The National newspaper front page as Donald Trump visits Scotland
THE National's front page on Friday is a nod towards the US president's upcoming visit to Scotland. Donald Trump is set to land in Scotland on Friday evening, and will spend the next five days in the country. During this time, he is set to meet both UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney. READ MORE: LIVE: Latest updates as Donald Trump set to arrive in Scotland He is also set to be welcomed off the plane by Scotland Secretary Ian Murray. Friday's front page pays tribute to the US president - without actually naming him. Scotland National newspaper Donald Trump front page The headline of the front page reads: "Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland". It then goes on to say: "Republican leader, who was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, will visit golf courses." In 2023, Trump was convicted of 34 felonies for falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in order to buy her silence, as well as facing sexual assault allegations dating back to the 1970s. Why is Trump going to Scotland? The US president is primarily visiting Scotland to open a new golf course. Trump will open an 18-hole course in Menie, Aberdeenshire. He will also visit his Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire. Although it's been branded a "private visit", Trump is set to meet both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney.
The National
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
If the SNP don't up their game, indy supporters may well stay at home
When will Swinney and the SNP actually commit to independence and not the dead-end of repeatedly asking London for a referendum? His previous stint as party leader was seen as a failure and he seems determined to go down this path yet again. READ MORE: A new poll puts Reform second at Holyrood – what it means for Scotland The SNP lost far too many MPs at the last election and I wouldn't be surprised to see further losses at the next Scottish election. No-one trusts the SNP to deliver independence any more, we can see that in the polls that show more support for indy than for the SNP. Swinney and his fellow devolutionists should be looking at those polls wondering why independence is more popular than the party that is meant to deliver it! The root source of all Scotland's problems is the lack of control we have over our own resources. Instead of using these to boost employment, boost our health services and other public services and eradicate poverty, the scraps we get from Westminster are wasted trying to offset the vicious Westminster regime. We need independence – not another promise of a potential referendum. There is a real danger the SNP will lose power in Holyrood simply because to the majority of indy supporters, the party has given up on independence. If the SNP don't seriously up their game then they will fall by the wayside as indy supporters stay at home. Alex Beckett Paisley THE National's front-page headline on Tuesday was 'Indyref could happen if the SNP win big'. I quickly turned to the full story on page seven, excited by the prospect that John Swinney had finally found a way to guide us forward to a second referendum. Reading the article, I was very disappointed. John, it seems, only 'suggested' that there 'could' be a route to a second independence referendum. This mythical, yet-to-be-confirmed, still-to-be-mapped-out route is apparently dependent on the SNP doing 'really well' at the 2026 Holyrood elections. READ MORE: John Swinney pours cold water on SNP holding 'independence convention' I read the full article twice in the hope that I had missed the details, or even a hint of the details as to how this second referendum could come about. There were no details, not even a rough idea on the back of the proverbial fag packet. The old cynic in me then noted that the SNP had finalised its candidate selection for the May 2026 election. It announced that very same day a mixture of familiar old faces from Holyrood, some of the old faces rejected by the voters and ejected from their Westminster seats in July 2024, and a fair-sized batch of fresh young folk, some currently employed by SNP MSPs. READ MORE: Independence 'on table' if Scotland elects Yes majority, Tories admit I managed to read all of this while hanging on the telephone for a GP appointment. I also read of John Swinney's promise of 100,000 more GP appointments. I understand there are about 3500 full-time-equivalent GPs in Scotland. If each did one extra appointment per week, this would be 3500 x 52 = 182,000 extra appointments per year. So an extra 100,000 appointments is roughly one extra per fortnight per GP – not exactly a big deal! There are now just over 360 days, and counting, until the Holyrood elections. 360 days for John Swinney and the SNP to tell us exactly 'indyref could happen if the SNP win big'. Please forgive me if I don't hold my breath. John Baird Largs IT would appear that once again the 'I' word will not be mentioned by the SNP in the run-up to the Scottish election. One can only assume it's for fear of frightening the undecideds! I'm all for Mr Swinney promoting good governance as well as restating past successes, however surely the benefits of being independent should be loudly stated to convince undecideds to vote SNP. READ MORE: How would a 2026 election win for the SNP translate into independence? It's not as if it's a difficult sell – cheapest energy in Europe, rejoining the EU, a place at the table with 190-odd other normal countries! We are caught in the devolution trap with no-one willing to open the exit door. Colin T Largs OUTLINED in the Scottish Government's recent Programme for Government is the Children and Young People (Care) Bill. This legislation aims to further support The Promise, produced by the Independent Care Review in 2020, and which is Scotland's pledge to care-experienced children and young people that they will grow up loved, safe, and respected. As a coalition, along with others, we have been advocating for care-experienced individuals, who often face complex situations alone, to have the right to lifelong, independent advocacy. This will ensure that care-experienced individuals are aware of their rights and can make informed decisions about their lives. READ MORE: Why are politicians making Holyrood elections all about Nigel Farage? With the Promise Bill now part of the legislative landscape, it is time for this fundamental right, as committed to in The Promise itself five years ago, to be enshrined in law. Too many individuals are currently missing out on the advice and support they desperately need, often when they need it most. Scotland has an opportunity to lead the way, and the Bill provides the opportunity to deliver action on advocacy. The Scottish Children's Services Coalition: Falkland House School; LOVE Learning; Spark of Genius; Young Foundations
