MSPs outline “grave concerns” about UK welfare reforms
MSPs today expressed “grave concerns” over the likely impact on Scotland’s most vulnerable people as a result of Westminster’s £2.5 billion cut in benefits.
Scotland
Galloway to square up to Salmond over independence
For those concerned at the lack of any heavyweight politicians prepared to take on Alex Salmond, it emerged George Galloway will take on the SNP.
Scottish Tory leader: Lib Dems have “ceased to function as a viable party in Scotland”
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has savaged her coalition partners, saying the Liberal Democrats have “ceased to function as a viable party in Scotland”.
MPs accuse SNP of “biased” independence question
As the Scottish government’s consultation on an independence referendum enters its final week, MPs have condemned the SNP’s proposed question as being “biased”.
Vote 2012: A Lab-SNP draw in Scotland, and a “frontlash” towards Labour in Wales
Ed Jacobs looks at the press reaction to Thursday’s local elections in Scotland and Wales.
Top civil servant accused of being “SNP lacky”
The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has branded the country’s most senior civil servant an “SNP lacky”, reports Ed Jacobs.
McConnell sues News International as Labour call for inquiry into Salmond’s adviser
Jack McConnell is to sue News International following revelations he and his two children could have had their phones hacked, reports Ed Jacobs.
Regional pay is “Tory code” for slashing pay of the poorest NHS workers
Welsh health minister Lesley Griffiths described regional pay as “Tory code for cutting the pay of NHS workers in Wales”, reports Ed Jacobs.
The Week Outside Westminster – Nukes, NATO, “pretty vile” Welsh Tories and Stormont
Ed Jacobs rounds up the week’s news from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus the week’s local council by-election results.
Vote 2012: A tale of two Labour parties
As local election campaigns begin, the Scottish and Welsh Labour parties take radically different approaches to confronting the threat from nationalism.