Scottish politician, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government since 2026
Denmark introduces monitored written assignments and oral defences for upper secondary students to curb AI-assisted cheating, with firewalls and monitoring tools during exams. Sweden reports a 688% rise in unauthorised AI use and launches a review. In the UK, a teacher was banned for altering coursework and submitting fraudulent grades after investigations spanning 2023–2026. Scotland considers a shift to continuous assessment.
The SNP faces renewed scrutiny over its Monklands Hospital project amid revelations that the project was deemed unaffordable before the election. New documents show ministers knew the cost problems, prompting calls for accountability and answers for Scottish voters.
The Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) has shown a reduced deficit of 25.3 billion for 2025/26, with the deficit at -10.9% of GDP. Revenues rose by 6.9% to 98.3 billion, while spending reached 123.6 billion. Projections note North Sea revenue fell, and questions about independence’s long-term fiscal path persist.
Education chiefs in Northern Ireland and Scotland are proposing tighter rules on mobile phone use in schools. A BBC pilot and Kings College London study show behavioural gains from restricting phones, while Scottish ministers push for a campus-wide ban to curb disruption and violence against women and girls. Consultations are under way across the UK with a government- or minister-led push to legislate soon.
A derelict Glasgow tenement has been renovated into affordable housing. A blaze on Stonyhurst Street sparked online rumours that the flats would host asylum seekers; authorities say the claims are false. Investigations continue, with no injuries reported.
The Scottish government has announced a pilot to GPS-track individuals on bail, including domestic-abuse suspects, with a rollout aimed for 2027 in Tayside, Fife and Central regions. Survivors call for broader reforms and safeguards, while lawmakers debate the balance between protection and justice.
Glasgow City Council has paused its plan to dismiss and rehire 23,000 non-teaching staff amid continuing talks with unions over a new pay and grading system designed to address previous gender pay disparities. About 11% face wage cuts, while most staff will see pay stay the same or rise. Talks with Unison, Unite and GMB are ongoing.
Glasgow City Council has moved to implement a phased pay-and-grading overhaul to address a long-running equal-pay dispute. Some staff still await job evaluations, with no timetable given. A council spokesman says the plan remains on track for next April, but workers face uncertainty as phased evaluations continue.
The SNP has pledged to bring Scotland’s bus network under public control by 2031 through franchising and regulation, extending the £2 bus fare cap to Aberdeen and the north-east. McGill’s Buses says it will fight the policy; critics warn the plan could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions annually. The government asserts the changes will protect routes and invest in services.