Alex Salmond, veteran Scottish politician and former First Minister, leads Alba Party; pivotal in SNP’s rise and recent Westminster/Scottish politics developments.
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 Scottish government has published a draft independence referendum bill to set out the proposed question and eligible voters. Reform UK and other critics argue about the threshold needed for a fresh vote, with the SNP’s and Greens' support waning in recent elections. Westminster remains firm that another referendum is off limits.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that the state pension will keep its annual rise until April 2030, but from 2030 will no longer automatically rise with yearly average earnings. The government says the change will free savings to help fund a National Care Service; analysts say initial savings will be small and political opposition is already forming.
The government has signalled a shift in how the state pension will rise from 2030, with reforms replacing the highest-of-three rule with a focus on inflation and 2.5%, funded by a National Care Service. Reactions vary as experts warn about long-term effects on savers and taxpayers.