Columnists

COMMENT

Hannah Spencer, the new Green MP, ran on a popular socialist agenda

2026 Holyrood election

Tommy Sheppard: Reform UK are down but not out – Scotland must beware

Events conspired against Alex Salmond’s vision of creating an independence super-majority at the 2021 Holyrood election and they are conspiring against the Alba Party now

Events conspired against Alex Salmond’s vision of creating an independence super-majority at the 2021 Holyrood election and they are conspiring against the Alba Party now

Kenny MacAskill: We’ll know Alba’s fate soon but the cause is eternal

A Scottish payments scheme would benefit the whole economy, providing resilience and reducing costs for small businesses

A Scottish payments scheme would benefit the whole economy, providing resilience and reducing costs for small businesses

Scottish Government

How Scotland could benefit from following countries bringing in own payment systems

Every day, we pledge we will not bury another person because of political egos

Every day, we pledge we will not bury another person because of political egos

Politicians must find courage to use fairer taxes to tackle Scotland’s poverty crisis

Donald Trump is showing what can happen if you leave writing a constitution to politicians and elites

Donald Trump is showing what can happen if you leave writing a constitution to politicians and elites

Trump is showing what can happen if you leave writing a constitution to politicians

If we continue to legitimise the wrong assumptions we will deepen the housing crisis and empower those who thrive on division

If we continue to legitimise the wrong assumptions we will deepen the housing crisis and empower those who thrive on division

A dangerous narrative is taking hold over housing emergency

We must make sure people feel comfortable reaching out for help

We must make sure people feel comfortable reaching out for help

Scottish Government

Shirley-Anne Somerville: It’s time for a social security rethink

As long as we have a beloved royal family, we do not live in a democracy

As long as we have a beloved royal family, we do not live in a democracy

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Royal deference should have departed with the late queen – it must now

Liam McArthur’s bill, though missing some parts, can be recovered with the Scotland Act

Liam McArthur’s bill, though missing some parts, can be recovered with the Scotland Act

Scotland Act provides legal succour for opponents of assisted dying

Scottish Labour have lost their role and become unsure what they are now about

Scottish Labour have lost their role and become unsure what they are now about

Is it too late for the Scottish Labour Party to become a Scottish party?

A Westminster trip was worth the hassle to explain a lack of digital resilience

A Westminster trip was worth the hassle to explain a lack of digital resilience

For an hour, Westminster finally listened to the plight of its islanders

Protesting is exhausting work but the joy and camaraderie of the knitters is infectious and sustaining

Protesting is exhausting work but the joy and camaraderie of the knitters is infectious and sustaining

Why I am picking up knitting needles to protest against oil and gas

Green Party leader Zack Polanski celebrates with Hannah Spencer after her victory in Gorton and Denton

Green Party leader Zack Polanski celebrates with Hannah Spencer after her victory in Gorton and Denton

Pat Kane: Green Party’s win turns up the heat in our energy debate in Scotland

Scotland gets behind biggest ever World Gaelic Week

Scotland gets behind biggest ever World Gaelic Week

Kate Forbes: Gaelic is on the rise – just ask an nighean agam

A person watches videos as they scroll through the TikTok

A person watches videos as they scroll through the TikTok

We must stop letting algorithms experiment on children for profit

Owen Jones reacts to the Gorton and Denton by-election result

Owen Jones reacts to the Gorton and Denton by-election result

2026 Holyrood election

Owen Jones: A vicious campaign is about to be unleashed. We must be ready

Anas Sarwar speaking at the Scottish Labour conference, or 'one-day pre-election rally'

Anas Sarwar speaking at the Scottish Labour conference, or 'one-day pre-election rally'

BEHIND THE HEADLINES

Here's what happened behind the scenes at Scottish Labour's 'not-a-conference'

Glasgow climate march

Glasgow climate march

Patrick Harvie: Scotland likes to think of itself as a climate leader. But are we?

Scotland's 'could have' list grows longer by the day

Scotland's 'could have' list grows longer by the day

What would Scotland look like if Scots saw the McCrone Report?

Donald Trump after delivering the State of the Union address

Donald Trump after delivering the State of the Union address

David Pratt: Donald Trump’s State of the Union address could cost him in the midterms

Svartsengi geothermal power station in Iceland

Svartsengi geothermal power station in Iceland

Kelly Given: Iceland is a golden example of reaping renewable rewards

A wind turbine at the Braes of Doune windfarm near Stirling

A wind turbine at the Braes of Doune windfarm near Stirling

Renewable energy

Why are rural Scots blaming Holyrood for Westminster's energy mess?

File photo of a solar energy park, which unlike wind farms are not expected to contribute to community benefit funds

File photo of a solar energy park, which unlike wind farms are not expected to contribute to community benefit funds

Renewable energy

Scotland is already losing out on green energy. Here's how we can start winning

John Swinney with Shona Robison and Kate Forbes

John Swinney with Shona Robison and Kate Forbes

Scottish Government

Why the Scottish Government bonds plan will lose us £175 million

'In a country where many households already struggle to heat poorly insulated homes, calls for “energy sobriety” can sound detached', Assa Samake-Roman writes

'In a country where many households already struggle to heat poorly insulated homes, calls for “energy sobriety” can sound detached', Assa Samake-Roman writes

What is 'energy sobriety' – and does it have a place in Scotland's energy debate?

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney writes for The National as part of this year's McCrone series

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney writes for The National as part of this year's McCrone series

EXCLUSIVE COMMENT

McCrone Report 2026

John Swinney: How Scotland's energy shows the redundancy of this 'Union of equals'

Scotland produced more electricity from renewables than it used across a full year for the first time in 2022

Scotland produced more electricity from renewables than it used across a full year for the first time in 2022

McCrone Report 2026

Will Westminster waste Scotland's second chance at energy wealth as well?

Left to right: Shirley Henderson, John Davidson, Robert Aramayo, Peter Mullan, and Kirk Jones Image: Gordon Terris

Left to right: Shirley Henderson, John Davidson, Robert Aramayo, Peter Mullan, and Kirk Jones Image: Gordon Terris

Shona Craven: The viral Baftas drama confronts us with tough questions

Jon Rahm played a key part in Europe's Ryder Cup win last year

Jon Rahm played a key part in Europe's Ryder Cup win last year

Nick Rodger: Rahm stands firm in stalemate as Ryder Cup risks collateral damage

There has been much resistance to digital ID

There has been much resistance to digital ID

Karen Adam: An honest conversation is needed about digital ID

We're not only facing environmental collapse

We're not only facing environmental collapse

Steph Paton: Excesses of rich will leave us with a broken country and planet

Oil rigs in the Cromarty Firth

Oil rigs in the Cromarty Firth

Kenny MacAskill

Kenny MacAskill: Lessons have still to be learned from McCrone

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (then the Duke of York)

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (then the Duke of York)

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Tommy Sheppard: Door is open for all royals to use their positions for private gain

Andrew and King Charles III

Andrew and King Charles III

Richard Murphy: Three things we need from politicians and royals alike right now

Local D.C. residents who read the Washington Post joined members of the guild to protest during a rally outside the Washington Post office building

Local D.C. residents who read the Washington Post joined members of the guild to protest during a rally outside the Washington Post office building

The mass Washington Post layoffs have chilling ramifications for all of us

Douglas Ross called the reputation of the presiding judge into question

Douglas Ross called the reputation of the presiding judge into question

Andrew Tickell: Contempt of court is coming from politicians, not TikTokers

George Orwell nailed it in his criticisms of euphemisms

George Orwell nailed it in his criticisms of euphemisms

Corporate speak is infuriating but journalistic euphemism is deadly

A rule shakeup and Scotland being a former member will smooth the EU process

A rule shakeup and Scotland being a former member will smooth the EU process

Accession to the EU looks like it just got a whole lot easier for Scotland

Though US president Donald Trump and his secretary of state Marco Rubio look to oust Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with no official opposition in Iran, the dangers are endless

Though US president Donald Trump and his secretary of state Marco Rubio look to oust Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with no official opposition in Iran, the dangers are endless

David Pratt: Is Donald Trump set to embroil the US in a major war?

Babcock has led the Submarine Dismantling Project at Rosyth

Babcock has led the Submarine Dismantling Project at Rosyth

MoD’s nuclear clean-up project brings new risks

Sigmund Freud. Image: Britannica

Sigmund Freud. Image: Britannica

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Pat Kane: Why we’re seeing a resurgence in Sigmund Freud's relevance

We were tired of watching the rich grow richer, while bills spiral out of control and the planet burns, but we didn’t opt to simply watch and wait for things to get better of their own accord, writes Gillian Mackay

We were tired of watching the rich grow richer, while bills spiral out of control and the planet burns, but we didn’t opt to simply watch and wait for things to get better of their own accord, writes Gillian Mackay

2026 Holyrood election

Like it or not, the Greens bring hope to our politics

I never thought I would live to see the day when Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would be arrested and taken into police custody, writes Richard Walker

I never thought I would live to see the day when Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would be arrested and taken into police custody, writes Richard Walker

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

There’s no longer any place for the monarchy to hide after this historic arrest

Israeli citizens currently enjoy visa-free access to the United Kingdom

Israeli citizens currently enjoy visa-free access to the United Kingdom

UK should halt visa-free travel for Israelis until settlement expansion ends

Healing is deeply uncomfortable, messy and at times incredibly ugly. It is far less a cinematic breakthrough than Hollywood would have us believe, and more an administrative process of upheaval and inner reflection

Healing is deeply uncomfortable, messy and at times incredibly ugly. It is far less a cinematic breakthrough than Hollywood would have us believe, and more an administrative process of upheaval and inner reflection

National government

Revisiting childhood passions is proving a path to healing

The Community Wealth Building Act could transform our economy and democracy by compelling every public body to ensure local communities, not distant investors, own, control, and benefit from the wealth they generate, writes Lesley Riddoch

The Community Wealth Building Act could transform our economy and democracy by compelling every public body to ensure local communities, not distant investors, own, control, and benefit from the wealth they generate, writes Lesley Riddoch

National government

This Holyrood act could prove revolutionary in empowering our communities

I am obsessed with 'Little' Marco Rubio, because I think he’s a 'plausible' and dangerous emissary of policies that not only give me the creeps, but are not remotely in Europe or Scotland’s best interests, writes David Pratt

I am obsessed with 'Little' Marco Rubio, because I think he’s a 'plausible' and dangerous emissary of policies that not only give me the creeps, but are not remotely in Europe or Scotland’s best interests, writes David Pratt

United States of America

This ‘forked tongue’ speech only serves to underscore the transatlantic rift

The Labour Party is gruesome indeed – no wonder trust in it is plummeting, writes Paul Kavanagh

The Labour Party is gruesome indeed – no wonder trust in it is plummeting, writes Paul Kavanagh

Keir Starmer promised ‘change’ but his government is as sleazy as the Tories

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: People chant and wave placards as supporters of the group gather outside the Royal Courts of Justice on July 04, 2025 in London, England. The High Court is holding an urgent hearing over Palestine Action's application for

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: People chant and wave placards as supporters of the group gather outside the Royal Courts of Justice on July 04, 2025 in London, England. The High Court is holding an urgent hearing over Palestine Action's application for

Palestine Action ruling shows Labour can’t just rewrite the rules

This conversation cannot remain focused solely on personal choice. If diet-related illness reflects the conditions in which people live, then food pricing, marketing, regulation and availability are already public health questions, writes Assa

This conversation cannot remain focused solely on personal choice. If diet-related illness reflects the conditions in which people live, then food pricing, marketing, regulation and availability are already public health questions, writes Assa

Why our dangerous ultra-processed diets are a political matter

Jeremy Corbyn at the Your Party Founding Conference in Bonar Hall

Jeremy Corbyn at the Your Party Founding Conference in Bonar Hall

I quit Alba to join Your Party. Then their conference made me resign

Anthony Kim spent 12 years in golfing exile

Anthony Kim spent 12 years in golfing exile

Nick Rodger: LIV Golf revels in cult of Kim as American lives golfing dream again

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during a press conference in Edinburgh to support Scottish businesses. Picture date: Friday February 13, 2026.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during a press conference in Edinburgh to support Scottish businesses. Picture date: Friday February 13, 2026.

Labour will never put Scotland at its heart – but Your Party can

Jeremy Corbyn speaks during Your Party conference in Dundee

Jeremy Corbyn speaks during Your Party conference in Dundee

Only the SSP aim to rise with the working class, not out of it