Chris Muir

After more than a quarter-century with the SNP, Inverness and Nairn’s Fergus Ewing has declared he’ll contest the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections as an independent candidate—citing deep disillusionment with his former party’s direction and processes. Ewing’s move shakes up one of Scotland’s most high‑profile seats, turning a safe SNP stronghold into a potential battleground. His 26 years at Holyrood have been marked by fiery debates and outspoken independence on issues from oil and gas to road dualling. A Storied SNP Career Comes to a Fractious End Fergus Ewing first won the Inverness and Nairn seat in 1999, the year Holyrood…

From neoclassical city blocks in Glasgow to art deco masterpieces on the Sussex coast, penthouse buyers in the UK are finding more than just elevation—they're buying into history, design, and sometimes even a little slice of the sea. The Guardian’s latest roundup of penthouses with private terraces for sale offers a stunning look at how architectural heritage and modern living are colliding in some of Britain’s most iconic locations. Glasgow: Vaulted Ceilings and City Skylines from a B-Listed Gem This Glasgow penthouse isn’t just high up—it’s soaked in history. Perched atop the Old Sheriff Court, a B-listed neoclassical building dating…

A high-level delegation from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has completed a surprise inspection of several Scottish prisons, police stations, and secure youth facilities—raising fresh scrutiny over the treatment of people in custody across Scotland. The nine-day ad hoc visit, which ran from 4 to 13 June, aimed to assess conditions of detention, alleged mistreatment, and whether Scotland has made meaningful progress since earlier CPT inspections in 2018 and 2019. Focus on Vulnerable Populations The CPT team—led by Kristina Pardalos and comprising independent medical, legal, and custodial experts—visited: Adult prisons including HMP Perth Secure…

Scotland has made tremendous strides in LGBTQ+ rights over the past four decades — from the decriminalisation of male same-sex acts in 1981 to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2014, and the introduction of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in schools in 2021. But nestled within this larger narrative is a quieter, deeply personal story — one that began in a gay disco in Edinburgh and helped shape a generation. Welcome to Lavender Menace, Scotland’s first gay and lesbian bookshop — part safe haven, part radical cultural force. From Disco to Bookshop The story begins in 1982, when Sigrid Nielsen and…

When Robert Marshall first tackled the West Highland Way in 1993, he raced through all 96 miles of it in just three days. He was fit, focused, and determined — but there was one thing he missed entirely: the point. “I didn’t take in anything,” Robert recalls with a laugh. “It was just A to B. Get there. That’s it.” Thirty-one years later, that mindset has completely changed. Now 69, the retired police officer from Gourock in Inverclyde has walked the West Highland Way 97 times — and he’s planning to complete his 100th journey by his 70th birthday in…

More than 110 Scots have been named in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours List 2025, recognised for their remarkable efforts in public service, community work, and dedication to others. With a total of 1,215 awards issued across the UK, Scotland's recipients make up nearly 9% of this year’s list. The honours, announced on Friday, spotlight individuals from a broad range of sectors—healthcare, education, youth work, humanitarian aid, and the arts—each contributing in their own way to the fabric of Scottish life. Community Work, Tragedy, and Resilience At the heart of this year’s list is the story of John and…

Glasgow’s planning officials have given the green light to the controversial redevelopment of the fire-damaged O2 ABC music venue, paving the way for a student accommodation and public food hall complex — despite opposition from conservation bodies and the nearby Glasgow School of Art. The new scheme, spearheaded by Vita Group, includes the construction of 356 student beds, a publicly-accessible food hall, and a flexible events space, as well as a central courtyard. Dubbed the "House of Social", the development aims to regenerate the Sauchiehall Street site that has lain vacant since the 2018 fire at the adjacent Mackintosh Building.…

Scotland’s future offshore wind landscape is up for debate—and everyone’s invited to the table. The Scottish Government has kicked off a public consultation on its updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE), with proposals designed to balance energy ambitions with local environments and communities. It’s not just another bureaucratic document—this plan will shape where, how, and how much offshore wind power Scotland builds in the coming years. A new blueprint with old lessons The 2025 draft plan builds on the 2020 version, but this isn’t a quick refresh. It's a much deeper rethink of how offshore wind should…

Two major solar farms are on the table in Fife and Angus, and if approved, they could power tens of thousands of homes—while bringing over £1.3 million to local communities. Perthshire-based BLC Energy, in partnership with TRIO Power, has filed official planning applications for a pair of large-scale solar and battery storage developments. One near Cupar, the other outside Forfar. If the numbers hold, together they could generate 100MW of clean electricity and store just as much. Sun, Storage, and Community Cash These aren’t your average solar fields. Both sites—West Springfield Solar and BESS in Fife and Cossans Solar and…

EDINBURGH — A major Canadian space technology company has announced it is expanding operations in Scotland, opening a new office in Edinburgh as part of its growing European footprint. PCI Geomatics, known globally for its advanced Earth Observation (EO) solutions and operating under its brand Catalyst, has selected the Futures Institute in Edinburgh as the base for its latest venture. The move marks a significant milestone in the firm’s international expansion and reinforces its commitment to the UK’s fast-growing space sector. Strengthening Ties with the UK’s Space Ecosystem With a 40-year legacy of developing image processing technologies for satellite data,…