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Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Calls for Scots cops to have tougher stop & search powers amid surge in child knife crime
Cops reported a 600 per cent rise in serious assaults committed by teenagers over the past five years BLADE SPREE Calls for Scots cops to have tougher stop & search powers amid surge in child knife crime SNP ministers were urged to give cops tougher powers to stop and search youths for deadly blades. The demand was made a week after a 16-year-old boy died after an alleged knife attack on a beach. 2 SNP ministers were urged to give cops tougher powers to stop and search youths for blades (STOCK IMAGE) Credit: Alamy And cops reported a 600 per cent rise in serious assaults committed by teenagers over the past five years. Scots Tories leader Russell Findlay said: 'Decisive action must be taken to stop this epidemic of youth violence, especially involving knives. 'Stop-and-search powers must be extended while a rethink is needed of the SNP's weak approach, which fails victims and fuels violence.' 'Tougher powers to stop and frisk would help police to prevent violence, protect young people and keep the public safe. The SNP need to act now to avoid more attacks and killings on our streets.' Tim Frew, from the charity YouthLink Scotland, told BBC's The Sunday Show that 'too many' youth work services have been cut in recent years. But Justice Secretary Angela Constance insisted the rise in violent crime among young Scots was a 'complex' issue. And she described calls for a tougher justice system to tackle it as 'misplaced'. She said: 'There's not one reason, there will be many. 'That means there will be more than one solution.' Ms Constance said youth work's contribution would be 'imperative'. Horror moment Love Island star Amber Gill's ex 'stabs tourist in Thai nightclub before fleeing' as manhunt launched But rivals accused her of failing to accept blame for her party slashing funding. Labour's Pauline McNeill hit out: 'Cuts to youth work, drop in police numbers, pressure on our justice system, chaos in our schools and long waits for child and adolescent mental health services have all contributed to this problem.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Police do use stop and search. It is one tool to tackle violence alongside a range of other measures such as prevention and education.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Youth workers 'key' to tackling rise in violent crime
Youth workers are key to tackling a rise in violent crime among young people, Scotland's justice secretary has said. Angela Constance was asked on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, whether there was a "direct link" between cuts to youth services and a rise in violence But she said there were "many reasons" for the complex problem - with "more than one solution" for dealing with it. The justice secretary's comments came after a number of instances of youth violence - including the death of 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine beach. Constance said the Scottish government had increased health, policing and local government budgets and was focussed on preventing youth violence. "The contribution that youth work currently makes in this country and could make will be imperative going forward. It's a key part of the solution," she said. Last week, First Minister John Swinney was quizzed in Holyrood on measures to tackle knife crime after a spate of incidents, including the death of Kayden Moy. Two 17-year-old boys have been charged with his murder. Kayden is the third teenager to be killed in 12 months, following the deaths of Amen Teklay in Glasgow in March and Kory McCrimmon who was in May 2024. Asked whether the authorities were being "too soft" on young people, Constance said it was important not to focus on the "approaches of the past". "When we look at what has changed in the lives of young people, it's really important that we don't focus on the arguments of the past or the approaches of the past that have not worked," she said. "Some of the rhetoric around discipline, around being tough, that we need a tougher justice system, I would suggest is misplaced. "What families want is interventions that work, and the earlier the intervention the better." Charity Youthlink Scotland reports a 50% reduction in the number of council youth workers in the last eight years. Chief Executive Tim Frew told the Sunday Show that the rise in serious assaults was a result of a lack of youth services. He said: "Despite the best efforts of the youth work sector and many others, some of those support services - those youth clubs and activities - are not at the volume they were years ago." Someone who benefited from such services as a teenager was 21-year-old Scott McLaughlin, from Glasgow. He told BBC Scotland News that a youth centre helped him avoid being caught up in gang violence and move into further education. He said: "They helped with even just the simplest things, like I wanted to read a book so they gave me books. "As daft as that sounds, it helps you because it shows you a broader horizon from what is in front of you." Scott attended St Paul's youth forum in the city's Provanmill, but worries that cuts to services are having an impact of the next generation. He said: "I believe it's to do with a sense of alienation, there's a sense of lack of community. A youth forum can provide that, community centres can provide that. "These things are ultimately what can tackle risk-taking behaviour in young people because young people who feel alienated from society have no reason to contribute to society." Opposition parties have accused the government of failing to take responsibility for the rise in youth crime. Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson Pauline McNeil said the SNP must "acknowledge their mistakes" and "support key services". Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said the justice secretary had "shamefully" refused to take responsibility for cuts to youth workers. Teenager arrested after beach disturbance death Police chief appeals to young people not to carry knives
Scotsman
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Why independence will once again be 'central' to SNP's 2026 election campaign
The First Minister says his party will argue that 'Westminster doesn't work for Scotland' in the Holyrood election campaign. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... John Swinney says independence will be 'central' to the SNP's 2026 election campaign. Since Mr Swinney became First Minister a year ago, independence has dropped down the list of the Scottish Government's priorities in favour of improving the NHS and tackling child poverty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 2026, the Bationalists are hoping to cling on to power and remain the largest party in Holyrood. Now Mr Swinney says the argument for Scotland leaving the UK will be a heavy feature of this election campaign. John Swinney and others mark the tenth anniversary of the 2014 referendum in September. Scottish independence remains the over-riding consideration for SNP politicians (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | JeffHe told the BBC's The Sunday Show: 'We were told we didn't need independence, just a Labour government and it will all get better. 'Their first act was to take away winter fuel payments from pensioners in Scotland. My Government intervened to restore those payments, but that is an illustration that it doesn't matter if it is a Tory government or a Labour government, Westminster doesn't work for Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'That's why we need independence, because our economic challenges will be solved by being independent and a member of the EU.' Earlier this week Mr Swinney set out his Programme for Government, which included a promise to publish one more independence paper on the economic benefits. Numerous papers, which set out the SNP's vision for Scotland post-independence, were published by Mr Swinney's predecessors Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, no papers have been developed since Mr Swinney took office. Despite this apparent move away from independence campaigning, Mr Swinney has managed to stabilise his party's fortunes in the polls and recover from the SNP's defeat in the 2024 general election. During last year's general election campaign, Mr Yousaf said independence was 'page one, line one' of the SNP's manifesto. When Mr Swinney was asked if he would adopt a similar approach, he said: 'Rather than going down a route like that, I would simply say the argument for independence will be central to the SNP's election campaign for 2026. 'Over the course of the next 12 months I will illustrate why Scotland is better with independence. We are seeing first hand the actions of the Labour government in Westminster, following on from a Conservative government, and that is undermining living standards in Scotland.
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Swinney: Independence will be 'central' to SNP 2026 election campaign
The SNP leader had been notably quiet on the constitutional question in recent months, leading to concern from within his own ranks. However, he has said a 'democratic majority' of pro-independence MSPs must result in a second referendum as he looks ahead to the Scottish Parliament elections. Mr Swinney echoed those calls in an interview today as he said the movement would play a "central" role in his party's campaigning. The First Minister and SNP leader told BBC's The Sunday Show: 'The arguments for independence will be central to the SNP's election campaign for 2026 and that will run through many of the arguments I make in the course of the next 12 months. 'We're now able to illustrate why Scotland would be better off with independence because we are seeing first hand the actions of a Labour government in Westminster following on from a Tory governments and neither of these governments will give us a pathway back into the European Union which is undermining the living standards of people in Scotland.' There is already a pro-independence majority in Holyrood, with previous requests for a second vote repeatedly denied by Westminster. Yet, the movement suffered a blow in 2022 when the Supreme Court ruled the Scottish Parliament did not have the legislative power to hold a unilateral referendum. Asked how he will deliver independence on the show today, Mr Swinney said he would bring people together to show there is a "clear and demonstrable" consensus in Scotland to become independent from the rest the UK. He said: 'What I want to do is bring Scotland together because Scotland is currently stuck, essentially because there's an aspiration in Scotland for us to have independence…but we have not got the means to achieve that because of the stances being taken by the United Kingdom government and I want to make sure is I bring people together sufficiently so there's a compelling voice for independence in Scotland.' Mr Swinney said the run up to the 1997 election in Scotland showed a 'demonstrable and clear' consensus of opinion that the country should have its own parliament. 'What I want to make sure is I lead the debate in Scotland in a way that brings people together to reach that conclusion that independence represents the best way forward for Scotland and that we should have the right to choose that," he added. Mr Swinney said it 'completely unacceptable' that the democratic aspirations of a very large number of people in Scotland to be thwarted by a Westminster government. 'It was unacceptable in 1997 and it's unacceptable now,' he said. READ MORE: Swinney reignites Scottish independence referendum campaign Independence for Scotland is back at the top of the Holyrood agenda FM faces SNP criticism if he doesn't progress independence Following poor general election results for the SNP in July, Mr Swinney said he has given leadership to his party which has led to an 'improvement in our fortunes' as recent polling shows the SNP are likely to remain the top party in Holyrood. The First Minister said: 'People in the SNP looked into the abyss of our difficulties a year ago and resolved to come together, to work together, to strengthen the party and that's what everyone has done." Mr Swinney also said he was 'pleased' to hear former first minister Nicola Sturgeon 'setting out her perspective' on the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman under the Equality Act. Moments before Mr Swinney announced his programme for government, Ms Sturgeon told journalists in Holyrood that the lives of transgender people are at risk of being made almost unliveable following the judgment. Questioned on his reaction to this today, Mr Swinney said: 'I agree with her perspective that it is important that the rights of everybody in Scotland, and that includes trans people, are properly and fully respected and that's indeed what the Supreme Court judgment said to us." His comments come as trans women are now no longer be able to use the women's toilets in the Scottish Parliament building. Facilities designated as male or female-only would now be interpreted as meaning biological sex, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) has said. Holyrood is installing new gender neutral toilets which will be open to anyone. The First Minister said 'some' of the steps around acting upon the Supreme Court ruling will have to wait until final guidance from the EHRC is published. 'We're engaging with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and we're also undertaking in internal review work which is required to make sure we always live within the law which is an absolutely solemn commitment that my government makes to the people of Scotland.' However, the Scottish Tories have hit out at the First Minister's, accusing him of only caring about "fringe issues" and independence. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton MSP said: 'John Swinney has some brass neck claiming his party is focused on the priorities of the people of Scotland. 'His remarks today show that he only cares about fringe gender issues and independence – which he said would be central to his party's 2026 election campaign. 'He had a chance to ditch his party's obsession with gender self-ID and say sorry to women across Scotland. Instead, he backed Nicola Sturgeon to the hilt. She's still calling the shots — and he's still following orders. 'From record high NHS waiting lists to plummeting educational standards, John Swinney's fingerprints are all over the nationalists' record of failure, but he's trying to pretend that he's not the same person who has been sat round the SNP cabinet table for nearly two decades. 'While the SNP obsess over the same fringe issues, the Scottish Conservatives, under Russell Findlay's leadership, will focus on bringing down bills, faster GP appointments, improving schools, fixing roads, and delivering better value for money.'
Scotsman
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Anas Sarwar admits Labour government must go 'further and faster' to counter Reform surge
Anas Sarwar has warned his Labour colleagues at Westminster need to better deliver on election promises to counter the surge of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has laid into Sir Keir Starmer's government - admitting UK ministers must go 'further and faster improving people's lives' to counter the threat posed by Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Mr Sarwar has insisted that next year's Holyrood election 'is not about Nigel Farage', claiming 'it is about the NHS'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar needs Keir Starmer's help if he is to beat the SNP (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images The Scottish Labour leader's criticism of his party colleagues at Westminster comes after Reform made sweeping gains at local elections in England on Thursday, with the party poised to gain a foothold on Scottish politics in next year's election. A poll from Survation for the Diffley Partnership last week forecast Reform is on course to win 12 seats at next year's election, with the Tories cut to 17 and Labour on just 25. The SNP is forecast to see 57 MSPs elected, with the poll suggesting it could form a pro-independence majority with the Scottish Greens. Speaking on the BBC's The Sunday Show, Mr Sarwar stressed the Scottish public can choose to 'set a new direction with Scottish Labour in government and me as first minister'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pointing to the polling, the Scottish Labour leader added: 'The next year is going to be a challenge, but we've come through challenges before and won and we'll do that again in the coming year. But we've got to persuade the public.' Labour has been too slow to deliver change The surge in support for Reform has coincided with apathy from voters to the UK Labour government since it swept to power in July last year. Mr Sarwar has now criticised the Labour government for not bringing forward the promised change fast enough. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'Are there things that a UK Labour government has to go further and faster on? Absolutely. 'Fundamentally, if we are going to challenge the politics of division, if we are going to challenge the politics of polarisation, governments have to deliver for people and people have to feel as if their lives are improving. 'Some progress has been made on that - for example the new deal for working people, the increase in the living wage. But people don't think it's gone fast enough yet. That's the challenge I would pose to a UK Labour government that's only been in power for less than a year that's trying to clean up the mess of 14 years of the Tories. 'In Scotland, the SNP's had its chance - if it had an idea, the SNP would have done it by now.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Labour leader insisted 'we have done many good things' since forming the UK government. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar | Jane Barlow/PA Wire But he added: 'The point I would make to colleagues across the UK if you have to go further and faster improving people's lives. 'Yes, they have to stop any kind of missteps but they also have to deliver on the promises made in the election further and faster so people can feel that chance.' Mr Sarwar reiterated his opposition of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' controversial move to cut winter fuel payments, insisting it was 'the wrong decision'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Communication failures Mr Sarwar also suggested there has been a breakdown in communication in the UK Labour government shouting about its achievements and what it wants to accomplish. He said: 'What I don't want to say is it's purely a communications issue. 'I think partly you have to tell a more positive story about what the destination is for the country with a UK Labour government. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think they've got examples of that - but if you are going to paint a picture of where the country's going to get to, I think we do have to demonstrate that much, much more clearly. 'In the here and now, just promising what the future looks like in five years or 10 years time is not going to be enough. People need to feel that benefit in the here and now. 'We have to go further and faster on the change that people want to feel in their communities.' Pressed over the Chancellor's unpopular decision to hike employer National Insurance contributions, Mr Sarwar said: 'On National Insurance, that is a really difficult decision the Chancellor has to make. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You can't have it both ways and that's the part of the debate that has been missing in Scotland. 'You can't on one hand say you want to put an extra £2bn to £3bn into our National Health Service but then oppose the means of raising the money to put into the National Health Service.' The Scottish Labour leader indicated that SNP leader John Swinney will want to make next year's crunch election 'about Nigel Farage'. Leader of the Reform Party Nigel Farage on a walkabout on April 25, 2025 in Beverley, England. Luke Campbell is the Reform Party Candidate for Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, being contested on May 1st, 2025. (Photo by) Mr Sarwar added: 'I'm not interested in Nigel Farage and Nigel Farage is not interested in Scotland and he has no interest in the people of Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I'm interested in the National Health Service, on which John Swinney is failing, I'm interested in our education system on which John Swinney is failing. I'm interested in spending the Scottish people's money well and ending the waste of the SNP. That's the issues that are going to decide the election next year.' Farage 'not the answer' He stressed that 'Nigel Farage can't fix those issues'. The Scottish Labour leader added: 'He can act as a spoiler and a cover for John Swinney. I can get rid of John Swinney and change the direction for Scotland. 'The election next year is not about Nigel Farage - it is about the NHS. We are electing a Scottish Government next year - that's what people are going to choose.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad No Reform pact with Scottish Tories Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay told the BBC that Mr Farage 'would be quite comfortable putting an SNP first minister into Bute House', adding that "many of their candidates are nationalists'. He added: 'We are the party that understands the needs of mainstream Scotland. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay delivering his speech at the Novotel in Jane Barlow/PA Wire 'I don't know what Reform stands for.' Asked if he understands the appeal of Mr Farage, Mr Findlay, bluntly, said: 'No, I don't.' He added: 'What I understand is why voters in Scotland and across the United Kingdom feel disillusioned, they feel disconnected and left behind by politics. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I completely understand why people feel that way but Reform are not the answer.'
