Latest News | The Scotsman

Thu, 5th November 2026

Breaking Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assaults
Brand, 51, preyed on women he encountered while becoming one of Britain’s best-known stand-up comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood movie star.

Information Commissioner David Hamilton

Information chief's verdict on SNP public sector reforms: 'Don't'

Sophia Aitken, from Kilwinning, was pronounced dead at the scene after she was hit by the vehicle on Lauchlan Way in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, at around 1.10pm on Tuesday.

Family pay tribute to Sophia Aitken, 12, after fatal Kilwinning crash

Don't Miss

CalMac ferry funnel painted on Oban trig point sparks controversy

£100m Hyatt Centric hotel to open in heart of Edinburgh creating 110 jobs

Tax on Scotch whisky is set to increase in February

Exclusive Whisky duty increase will reduce deaths, say health campaigners

Comedian and podcast Al Murray

Comedian Al Murray on his WW2 inspired whisky - and his love of Scotch

Nigel Farage, arguably the chief architect of Brexit, campaigned for Donald Trump ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. Picture: Jonathan Bachman

A decade on, why it could be game over for Trump, Brexit and populism Scotsman comment

Donald Trump points to a stack of his trademark red baseball caps bearing the slogan, 'Trump was right about everything!' at a pre-election rally in Texas. Many voters appear to disagree. Picture: Kent Nishimura

The encouraging reasons why America finally turned on Donald Trump Henry McLeish

Rona Lindsay, left, could hardly walk because of drug and alcohol addiction but has since rebuilt her life with help from Edinburgh Recovery Activities and its Monday morning boot camp

Addiction is lonely and the support of good people is vital to beat it Rona Lindsay

Investing can seem like something that 'other people do'. Picture: Michael M Santiago

Edinburgh has £540bn financial sector, so why do so few Scots invest? John Owen

Jackie Kay's 35 years of writing are celebrated in her new anthology, Selected Poems 1991-26.

'There’s poetry everywhere you look'

Jackie Kay celebrates 35 years of writing with her new anthology

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Sport

Sione Tuipulotu will captain Scotland against New Zealand.

Scotland put Huwipulotu in for All Blacks as star men miss out

Townsend names team he hopes can stun New Zealand

Gallacher eyes Spanish success in bid to be Legends Tour No 1

Scot tops points list with just four tournaments to go on over-50s’ circuit after consistent campaig...

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill and Benjamin Nygren during a training session at Lennoxtown on Wednesday. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Celtic unwanted 'world record' quip and best starting XI admission

Celtic look for Europa League spark on bonfire night

Why a Scottish footballing world-first should inspire us all Scotsman comment

Scotsman comment

Hearts accounts reveal £2.4m loss amid bad news on Miller injury

Hearts release annual accounts and give details on latest injury setback

Cummings relishing reunion with ex boss as Scotland face All Blacks

Former Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie, now in charge of the All Blacks, is a familiar face ...

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BMX Bandits

The Scotsman Sessions #451: BMX Bandits

Start of the Tour de France through Edinburgh city centre revealed

All Scotland Championships

Behind the scenes at the All Scotland Irish Dance Championships

Meet Scotland's youngest lighthouse keeper in her 'whole new world'

Food and drink

Comedian and podcast Al Murray

Comedian Al Murray on his WW2 inspired whisky - and his love of Scotch

Head just of the World Shortbread Championships, Jeni Lannetta

Countdown is on for the World Shortbread Championships

Shona Macleod of the Isle of Harris distillery

Meet the Distiller: Shona Macleod, Isle of Harris Distillery

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The welcoming Scottish Highland cafes that serve snowsport fans

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The Scottish family cheesemakers celebrating their 20th birthday

Business

Demand for natural dairy products fuels £172m record sales at Scots family firm

Fresh investment as Scottish maker of 15 million ready meals completes MBO

David J Alexander has huge experience of Scotland's property market

Lesson for government on ‘a classic populist policy’

Sandy Begbie to step down after six years leading Scottish Financial Enterprise

Housebuilder to add 169 more homes at new village in East Lothian

Abdul Qureshi, Head of Business Banking at Barclays opening speech

Scotland’s ideas need the right backing to become global businesses Jamie Grant

Arts news

The latest series of Celebrity Traitors finished last week (BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry/PA)

Fans of series can rent out Scottish hostels for 'Traitors package'

Groups can hire an entire hostel to play their own version of The Traitors

Scotland's oldest surviving cinema shortlisted for best in UK award

The cinema is home to silent film festival Hippfest

The Na Trads are in Paisley in December.

Arts diary: The Oscars of Folk and Perth Theatre's resident ghost

Perth Theatre announced its Produced in Perth programme

'Theatrical exchange' between Pitlochry and Manhattan as musical tours Jane Bradley

Jane Bradley

Scots theatre named Great British Theatre of the Year after renovation

The Citz was closed for seven years from 2018

National Galleries of Scotland to loan artworks to China

The board of NGS is understood to have signed off an agreement with China

Puzzles

Quick CrosswordTo test and hone your word skills

SudokuThe ultimate logic-based numbers game

WordwheelPit yourself against the clock with our simple anagram game

Scotsman Sessions

The Scotsman Sessions: links to numbers 1-450

BMX Bandits

The Scotsman Sessions #451: BMX Bandits

Katie Gregson-MacLeod

The Scotsman Sessions #450: Katie Gregson-MacLeod

James Emmanuel

The Scotsman Sessions #449: James Emmanuel

Readers Gallery

October 2026: A selection of beautiful pictures of Scotland taken by our readers...

A lovely view of the Wallace Monument

September 2026: A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our rea...

August 2026: A selection of beautiful pictures from Scotland taken by our reader...

Politics

The three favourites to win the Democratic Presidential Nomination.

Democratic Presidential Nominee Odds: The 10 leading candidates
It’s now looking more likely than ever that a Democrat will be the next American President.

Firefighters tackle wildfires in the Cairngorms.

SNP says it has no plans for a dedicated wildfire helicopter

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord, left, and deputy Thomas Kerr

MSPs reject 'racist' Reform UK motion on 'banning burqas'

Health Secretary Angela Constance.

Constance: Scotland will be better served with two mainland NHS boards

GMB Scotland Secretary Rhea Wolfson

UK gas network could end up at risk due to jobs 'uncertainty'

The three favourites to become the next President of the United States of America.

Next American President Latest Odds:The 10 leading candidates

Justice Secretary Neil Gray

'Gross discourtesy': Gray refuses to apologise over Polmont riot row

Offshore energy assets should be classified as critical national infrastructure by the UK government, the Tories have argued

UK urged to give Scotland's offshore assets 'critical status'

Heritage and Retro

Every iconic cover from John Lewis' Christmas adverts, ranked

Looking down onto the sales floor from the top balcony at Jenners in August 1962.

Jenners in its Heyday: 32 pics of the store in the 50s and 60s

A silver and gilt watch made by David Ramsay for King James VI of Scotland, circa 1613, is to be auctioned with an estimate of £250,000-350,000

17thC Dom Joly's reaction to James VI's new watch not hard to imagine Scotsman comment

Gordonstoun teacher Dan McLean at an excavation site where the remains of what is thought to be a medieval Viking church about 1,000 years old was discovered

30 Scottish surnames with Viking roots

Michael Haughian, Hoseason Gardens, Clermiston Edinburgh, dressed up in cardboard boxes as a Dalek to go guising.

Halloween Heritage Scotland: 21 photos of Scots celebrating Halloween

This traditional pub is apparently so haunted that its website has a section dedicated to its numerous ghosts including the accounts of those who have encountered them. A family of 18th century crofters is said to haunt the building - they froze to death after being thrown off the site. A little girl in a pink dress has been spotted as well as a man whose family was slaughtered by a Highland chieftain.

The 10 most haunted pubs in Scotland - including ‘fantastic’ bar

John Ross remains revered for his role as a Cherokee leader. Picture: Tain & District Museum and Clan Ross Centre

Exclusive Home of revered Highlander Cherokee chief at centre of legal battle

Arts and Culture

Molly Geddes as Cinderella

Scottish theatre promising 'visual surprises' in new-look Cinderella

Mairi Kidd

The Second-Best Whore in Town by Mairi Kidd review

BMX Bandits

The Scotsman Sessions #451: BMX Bandits

From L to R: Steve Buscemi, Sam Rockwell, and John Malkovich in Wild Horse Nine

Wild Horse Nine review: 'Malkovich and Rockwell are a joy to watch'

Erased Slogans by Kiri Dalena

Art reviews: The Rupture: No Condition is Permanent | Tai Shani

Tom McCarthy

The Rhyl Poster by Tom McCarthy review: 'the work of a radical genius'

La Bola Negra

La Bola Negra review: 'flashy technique and bloated plotting'

Education

Alyn Smith has said colleges play a ‘vital role in the economy’

Colleges 'will need £2.5bn to maintain campuses suitable for teaching'

Colleges will need £2.5 billion of investment to deal with its creaking estate

Catriona Stewart

Catriona Stewart

Ever younger pupils are being support for mental health

Primary one pupils offered counselling to cope with anxiety

Truancy has been rising in Scotland schools since the pandemic

Police called to schools 'every single day' to deal with phone threats

Cut to school days 'risks damaging already low attendance rates'Catriona Stewart

Catriona Stewart

Hay's Way

An Crubh was built on the scenic Sleat peninsula in south Skye

"We need help" says group behind hub at the centre of Skye community

Lochranza on the Isle of Arran

20,000 households asked about what life is like living on an island

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) stag/male backlit against hillside, Alladale Wilderness Reserve ,Scotland

Venison added to Scottish west coast peninsula primary school menu

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Universal Studios' theme park in Orlando, Florida, USA

Unsung tactic takes stress out of planning Florida holiday

The OPI x M&M'S Holiday Advent Calendar features 12 mini nail polishes in a range of fun chocolate-inspired limited edition shades and it's currently £7.50 cheaper.

OPI collabs with popular chocolate brand to launch advent calendar

John Frieda launched his Frizz Ease range back in 1988, and it made him a household name. He is pictured in 2008.

John Frieda's Frizz Ease range: The products that made history

The DXRacer might be the ultimate office chair - but it does come with an ultimate price tag

DXRacer Martian review: Luxury-car comfort at your desk

Fit for a treasure chest: Hourglass's dazzling limited-edition palettes are every bit as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

Hourglass's limited-edition makeup palettes are flying off the shelves

Pour Moi's Atelier Lace set in Blackberry/Pink combines floral lace with a flattering plunge bra and matching Brazilian briefs.

Pour Moi lingerie review: Style meets comfort

Why I've switched to Outside In after years of Clinique

Sport Opinion

Emerging talent can't suffer on DPWT due to LIV players returning
Charles Howell III should tune in to HotelPlanner Tour Grand Final to see players battling for seats at top table
Martin Dempster

90-year-old runner Ian Winship recorded a world’s best time for the 10K distance in Cumbernauld last month. Picture: Lorna Breakenridge

90-year-old's reason for running should inspire everyone in Scotland Scotsman comment

Richemont Johann Rupert, second right, pictured with Tommy Fleetwood, Ogden Phipps II and Aldrich Potgieter on the Swilcan Bridge during the final round of last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Why Scotland hosting Dunhill Links should never be taken for granted

Golf, a game so popular that they once decided to ban it (Picture: Mark Runnacles)

Why Royal Dornoch's new course shouldn't break 1457 law banning golf Scotsman comment