Latest News

Estate agents said there are signs that some buyers are encountering problems securing mortgages. Picture: PA

Housing experts have warned of a growing affordability crisis

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth will give the Scottish Budget in December (Robert Perry/PA)

Scottish Government urged to copy UK Budget business rate relief

The number of housing completions has fallen to its lowest level since 2015. Picture: PA

Insight: Why Scotland's housing market is in a precarious position

Francesca Hegyi is chief executive of the Edinburgh International Festival. Picture: Ryan Buchanan

Investing in soft power is 'a lot cheaper than the alternative'

Politics

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and First Minister John Swinney shake hands ahead of a bilateral meeting at the National Economic Council in Glasgow

Burnham: I don't want to see Scotland left out of my devolution plans

The Prime Minister said ‘we need to get more power down into more parts of Scotland’

Andy Burnham says his son is trying to get him to support Hibs

The Prime Minister said his son, Jimmy, is ‘marrying into a Hibs family’

SNP ministers have designed a more generous benefits system than the rest of the UK

Explainer Scotland's benefits bill: why is it soaring and who is claiming money

The Scottish government has designed a more generous social security system than the rest of the UK, but it has created a funding gap

Only £12m of promised £200m funding will be given to Acorn project David Bol

David Bol

There's no limit to what John Swinney and I can achieve together

Writing exclusively for The Scotsman, Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he and John Swinney ‘won’t ag...

Burnham tells Swinney 'put politics aside' to give regions more powers

The Prime Minister promised to bring about “the next stage of devolution” as he meets the First Mini...

UK News

Here's what happened during episode six of The Great British Bake Off on Tuesday, October 27.

Who left Bake Off last night? Here's what happened during Pastry Week

Moyin is one of the bakers attempting to create perfect pastry during episode six of Bake Off.

What time does Bake Off start? When it's on tonight and week 6 theme

Scotland's October 2026 photo gallery

Imports of liquefied natural gas from distant countries come at a much higher carbon cost. Picture: Yuichi Yamazaki

Jackdaw consent is right call but UK must work to cut demand for gas Alistair Carmichael

A notice on the National Cyber Security Centre website warning of a critical security issue affecting PHP

Expert warns of more cyber attacks as 'be ready' campaign launched

A car ablaze during demonstrations in Paris at the weekend

We should learn from the French rather than follow in their footsteps Paul Wilson

World

America is changing: Here's why Scotland should care Donald Maynard

Whakaari, also known as White Island, lies off the coast of New Zealand.

New Zealand Volcanic Eruption: Alert level raised on Whakaari island

Protesters climb onto the Monument à la Republique

I was tear gassed on a boat trip in Paris in the aftermath of riots Jane K Bradley

In pictures: 10 images of the protests in France

All smiles as Donald Trump greets Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, ahead of a meeting last year. Picture: Andrew Harnik

Europe must try to make Trump's favours for Putin a US election issue Scotsman comment

Buildings deluged in sludge in Devighat in Nepal's Nuwakot district after flash floods hit the area in August. More than 1,400 bodies have been found and thousands more are still missing. Picture: Prabin Ranabhat

How we can beat climate change despite rogue states blocking progress Professor Frank Biermann

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The Scotsman app brings you exclusive, quality news and analysis from The Scotsman, Scotland’s National Newspaper.

Obituaries

Away from his professional interests, John Mackenzie was a magistrate and school governor

Scotsman Obituaries: Prof John MacKenzie, influential historian of empire

Lena Martell, pictured here in 1968, was described as ‘Scotland’s Shirley Bassey’ (Picture: Powell/Daily Express/Getty Images)

Obituary: Lena Martell, chart-topping singer and entertainer

James Desmond Buxton was Scotland correspondent for the FT during a historic period

Obituary; James Desmond Buxton, business journalist and foreign correspondent

Gordon Brown decribed John Wilson as the Treasury’s ‘resident philosopher’

Obituary: John Wilson, political thinker and social policy advisor

Transport

The Loch Indaal ferry – which has been undergoing sea trials – and two others are now owned by CMAL (CMAL/PA)

Second delay to a brand new CalMac ferry announced in 24 hours

Ferguson Marine has no work after the Glen Rosa ferry is handed over to CalMac. (Jane Barlow/PA)

Hugely late Glen Rosa ferry delayed another 2 months to February

Exclusive Delayed sea trials cast doubt on Glen Rosa being finished by Christmas

(Photo: ChargePlace Scotland)

Exclusive SNP-backed electric vehicle scheme sees decline in charging points

Education

Welcome To School Bag

Free school bag 'gimmick' to cost £2.7m

Edinburgh College, Sighthill campus

Edinburgh and Forth Valley colleges to look at collaborating

Education Secretary Mairi McAllan

Providing P1 children with free school bags will cost £2.7m

Stuart Naismith who has been awarded the 2026 Royal Society Hauksbee Award

How a cycling accident led me to become an award-winning teacher

Environment

The Acorn project will be based at Shell's St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead

'Spectacular shambles' as carbon capture funding descends into chaos

The Acorn project will be based at Shell's St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead

'Hammer blow' for North Sea amid carbon capture funding row

Ad Feature Podcast: the circular economy and competitive business advantage

Health

Ad Feature How AI is helping this Scottish hospital care for you

Scottish doctors back NHS report warning over school iPad use

What is Nurosym? The wellness device featured in Netflix’s Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever

What is Nurosym and how does the wearable wellness device work?

Ad Feature Scottish hearing specialists celebrate city opening of fifth clinic

Crime

Alexis Graham is a Partner, Private Wealth and Tax, Shepherd and Wedderburn.

‘Testamentary freedom’ is not as ‘free’ as you might think in Scotland

The concept of a 'reasonable excuse' is intended to be considered in real-world circumstances of individual taxpayers, says Kerri McHale

Sometimes ‘but I didn’t know’ are the magic words

Scotland needs community police back , and SNP must come up with cash Tom Wood

A delivery rider on a pavement in Glasgow city centre on Friday (Photo by John Devlin/The Scotsman)

My biggest irritation when cycling is not what you think Alastair Dalton

A bombshell report published on May 20, 2024 revealed more than 30,000 people were infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis after being given contaminated blood in Britain between the 1970s and 1990s (Picture: Benjamin Cremel / AFP / Getty)

Is blood scandal redress coming?

Careless use of AI wastes time, says Andrew Stevenson

'Lawyers will have to get used to having their advice scrutinised by AI'

Weather

In North Ayrshire, the search for a person thought to have been swept into the sea at Largs by large waves was suspended after nobody was found. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell

Scotland weather: Appeal to trace missing man seen in water at Largs

Authorities have warned that further disruption is to be expected as a fresh weather warning comes into place across Scotland after Storm Boelo. (Jane Barlow/PA)

Scotland braces for further disruption amid new wind warning

Four fintech firms share £200,000 to help develop ‘responsible’ AI

Heriot-Watt hails ‘milestone’ chip that promises sharper views of universe

New partnership aims to break down EU barriers for Scottish start-ups

This data centre in Texas shows how enormous they can be. Picture: Brandon Bell

Why Scotland shouldn't let data centres become a national pariah Scotsman comment

UK Trending

Joy Cullen gave up her job as her hip pain pre-surgery was too severe

NHS patients choose to travel further for surgeries under scheme

More than half of adults have avoided buying clothes over concerns about caring for them

Eight in 10 Brits suffer from 'laundry anxiety', according to research

Three quarters of Brits believe a week of guaranteed sunshine would boost their mood.

Six in 10 Brits face 'sun withdrawal'

Shoppers are preparing for Black Friday by tracking prices and researching products before buying.

Brits fear autumn budget will put pressure on finances

Research found more than four in 10 Brits are envious of Spain’s laid-back approach to mealtimes

Eating out in Britain has become an increasingly rushed affair

Original fireplaces, exposed beams and cornicing have been named the ultimate signs of good taste in the home, according to new research

Period features still deemed 'most stylish' property features