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☆ Scotland’s Governing S.N.P. Looks to a Stalwart After Its Leader Quits
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Stephen Castle | More About Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just days after Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, announced his resignation, one of his party’s most experienced politicians, John Swinney, emerged on Thursday as his likely successor after the most prominent potential challenger pulled out of the race. That crisis reached a new level of urgency this week when Mr. Yousaf terminated a coalition agreement with another party that campaigns for Scottish independence, the Scottish Greens, only to find himself facing two confidence votes he risked losing. On Monday, he said he would step down as soon as a replacement was chosen. For much of the past year, the S.N.P. has been enduring the fallout of a police investigation into the handling of funds it raised for a future referendum campaign.

Persons: Scotland’s, Humza Yousaf, John Swinney, Swinney, Mr, Nicola Sturgeon, Yousaf Organizations: Scottish National Party, Scottish, Scottish Greens

☆ Humza Yousaf Resigns as Scotland’s First Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, resigned on Monday in the latest setback for his Scottish National Party, which has been engulfed in a slow-burn crisis over a funding scandal that erupted after its popular leader Nicola Sturgeon stepped down last year. Mr. Yousaf’s departure had looked increasingly inevitable after he gambled last week by ending a power sharing deal with the Scottish Green Party, angering its leaders and leaving him at the head of a minority government without obvious allies. His opponents then pressed for two motions of no confidence, which were expected to take place later this week. Having explored his options over several fraught days, Mr. Yousaf, who was Scotland’s first Muslim leader, said that he would quit in a speech on Monday at Bute House in Edinburgh, the official residence of the Scottish first minister. “After spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for my party, for the government and for the country I lead, I have concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm,” Mr. Yousaf said in a short and at times emotional statement.

Persons: Scotland’s, Humza Yousaf, Nicola Sturgeon, Yousaf’s, Yousaf, ” Mr Organizations: Scottish National Party, Scottish Green Party, Bute House, Scottish Locations: Edinburgh

☆ Scotland Made Big Climate Pledges. Now They’re ‘Out of Reach.’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Climate promises are hard to keep. Scotland is the latest, perhaps most surprising example. Scotland, an early industrial power and coal-burning behemoth, was also an early adopter of an ambitious and legally binding government target to slow down climate change. It had promised to pare back its emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases by 75 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. That is a sharp contrast to the bullishness of the Scottish government in 2021, when diplomats from around the world gathered in Glasgow for international United Nations climate talks.

Persons: pare, Màiri McAllan, Nicola Sturgeon Organizations: Scottish, United Nations Locations: Scotland, Britain, Glasgow

☆ Nicola Sturgeon’s Husband Is Charged in Party Finance Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Stephen Castle | More About Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Peter Murrell, the husband of Scotland’s former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, was charged on Thursday in connection with embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party, which she once led and where he once held a senior position. The announcement, which follows a lengthy inquiry by the Scottish police, is another blow to the party, which controls the Scottish government and campaigns for independence. The party was thrown into turmoil after Ms. Sturgeon’s surprise resignation last year. After her departure as first minister, Ms. Sturgeon was also arrested as part of the investigation into her party’s finances, but she was released and has not been charged. Mr. Murrell, 59, who has been married to Ms. Sturgeon since 2010, became the S.N.P.’s chief executive in 1999 and resigned from the role in February 2023.

Persons: Peter Murrell, Scotland’s, Nicola Sturgeon, Sturgeon’s, Sturgeon, Murrell, ’ Organizations: Scottish National Party, Scottish

Nicola Sturgeon told the United Kingdom's public inquiry into the pandemic that she didn't use informal messaging such as WhatsApp to make decisions. Although Scotland is part of the U.K., its government has powers over matters relating to public health. Sturgeon's standing has been further dented by the recent revelation that her WhatsApp messages had been deleted, which has led to questions about her trustworthiness or whether she has anything to hide. Last week, Sturgeon's successor as first minister, Humza Yousaf, offered an “unreserved” apology for the Scottish government’s “frankly poor” handling of requests for WhatsApp messages. Johnson agreed in late 2021 to hold a public inquiry after heavy pressure from bereaved families, who have hit out at the evidence emerging about his actions.

Persons: —, policymaking, Nicola Sturgeon, ”, Sturgeon, Boris Johnson, hadn't, hasn't, WhatsApp, “, Humza Yousaf, Heather Hallett, Johnson Organizations: United, Scotland, Scottish National Party, Scottish Locations: Scotland, Edinburgh, England, Wales, Northern Ireland

☆ Scotland's leader says dream of independence alive despite his party's troubles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Scotland's First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Humza Yousaf speaks during an interview with Reuters ahead of his party's annual conference in Aberdeen, Britain, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Gerhard May Acquire Licensing RightsABERDEEN, Scotland, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf is confident his dream of independence will come true in the next decade despite his governing party haemorrhaging support over the worst crisis in its modern history. The dominant political party in Scotland for almost two decades, the pro-independence Scottish National Party has been damaged by infighting, voter fatigue and scandals, including the arrest of its charismatic former leader Nicola Sturgeon. Even with support for the SNP in decline, opinion polls show Scotland is still roughly split over independence. "Support for independence is rock solid but support for the SNP has dipped," he said.

Persons: Humza Yousaf, Gerhard, Nicola Sturgeon, Yousaf, YouGov, Scots, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak's, isn't, Andrew MacAskill, Kate Holton, Ed Osmond Organizations: Scotland's, Scottish National Party, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Labour Party won, Labour, Scotland, England, European Union, Scottish, Westminster, British, Thomson Locations: Aberdeen, Britain, Rights ABERDEEN, Scotland, Europe, European, London

☆ Britain's Labour Party hails 'seismic' win in Scottish vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West have sent a clear message – it is time for change. And it is clear they believe that this changed Labour Party can deliver it," Labour leader Keir Starmer said in a statement. John Curtice, Britain's most prominent pollster, said it was a "remarkable result" for the Labour party, which comes on the eve of its annual conference next week. "This is the kind of result that suggests that the Labour Party is potentially capable of winning seats again in Scotland," he told BBC News. "However, we will reflect on what we have to do to regain the trust of the people of Rutherglen & Hamilton West."

Persons: Rishi, Hamilton West, Keir Starmer, Margaret Ferrier, Michael Shanks, Katy Loudon, John Curtice, Ferrier, Humza Yousaf, Yousaf, Nicola Sturgeon, Alistair Smout, Jamie Freed, Michael Perry 私 Organizations: Labour, LONDON, Labour Party, Scottish Nationalist Party, Conservative Party, Hamilton, Hamilton West, BBC News, Scottish, COVID, Rutherglen & Hamilton, Rutherglen Locations: Scotland, Rutherglen, Glasgow, London's, Britain's, United Kingdom

☆ For Scotland, Independence Will Always Be an Option - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Alex Massie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The bloom is truly off the Scottish National Party, which has continued to dominate political life here in the almost decade since it lost the independence referendum. The party has held majorities in the devolved Parliament and in the Scottish seats at Westminster, and a volley of opinion polls, routinely reporting that Scots under the age of 49 favor independence, bolstered the sense that Scottish independence was a historical inevitability. Ms. Sturgeon insists that she is innocent of any wrongdoing. But even before the allegations, Ms. Sturgeon’s plans for independence had run out of steam. (Ms. Sturgeon’s lackluster successor, Humza Yousaf, has not revitalized the movement.)

Persons: Nicola Sturgeon, Sturgeon, Sturgeon’s, Humza Yousaf Organizations: Scottish National Party, Westminster, Scottish, Labour Party Locations: Scotland, United Kingdom

☆ Ex-Scottish leader insists she has done 'nothing wrong'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsEx-Scottish leader insists she has done 'nothing wrong'PostedScotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon reiterated on Sunday (June18) that she had done nothing wrong following her arrest by police a week earlier.

Persons: Nicola Sturgeon Organizations: Ex Locations: Scottish

☆ Fact Check-Photo of Nicola Sturgeon in a police vehicle is edited
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An edited photograph showing Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon in the back seat of a police vehicle was widely circulated online after she was arrested as part of a police investigation in June 2023. Examples of the altered image, shared as showing Sturgeon’s arrest, are visible on Facebook (here), (here) and Twitter (here). The image was edited to include the car with the yellow-and-blue checkered pattern, typical of police vehicles in Scotland (here). A photo showing Nicola Sturgeon in the back of a police car is edited and unrelated to her June 2023 arrest. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

Persons: Nicola Sturgeon, Sturgeon, John Linton, Read Organizations: Police Scotland, Scottish National Party, Reuters, Facebook, Twitter, Bute House, Getty Locations: Bute, Edinburgh, Scotland

☆ Morning Bid: Markets drift ahead of central bank extravaganza
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Ankur BanerjeeAfter surprise interest rate hikes from the Reserve Bank of Australia and Bank of Canada, investors are a bit nervy heading into a week that brings us three major central banks meetings. Last week's moves have inflamed uncertainty in investor minds about whether the U.S. Federal Reserve will skip or surprise on Wednesday. CME Fedwatch tool showed the probability of the Fed standing still is over 70%, but with inflation data due on Tuesday there may just be a late sting in the tail. No such surprises are expected from the European Central Bank or Bank of Japan, with markets widely expecting the ECB to hike and stay hawkish, and the BOJ to stick to its ultra-loose monetary policy. Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsWith not a lot on the data calendar, stocks in Asia are muted, while the U.S. dollar is steady.

Persons: Ankur Banerjee, BioNTech, Crispin Odey, Nicola Sturgeon, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Ankur, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of Canada, Fed, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, CME, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S ., Nikkei, Odey, Management, Scottish First, Scottish National Party ., Thomson Locations: Asia, Germany, Britain, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey, Singapore

☆ Scotland's leader won't suspend Nicola Sturgeon from party after arrest
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon attends her last First Minster's Questions at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Russell CheyneLONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf said on Monday he would not suspend his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon after her arrest as part of a police inquiry into the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP). "I see no reason to suspend their membership," Yousaf told the BBC. After she was released on Sunday, Sturgeon said she had committed no offence and was innocent of wrongdoing. Angus MacNeil, one of the SNP’s longest-serving members of the British parliament, said on Sunday Sturgeon should be suspended.

Persons: Nicola Sturgeon, Russell Cheyne, Humza Yousaf, Yousaf, Sturgeon, Peter Murrell, Scotland's, Ash Regan, Angus MacNeil, Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Scottish, REUTERS, Scottish National Party, BBC, Labour Party, Labour, Thomson Locations: Holyrood, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, Scottish, United Kingdom, Westminster

☆ Scotland’s Ex-Leader Nicola Sturgeon Arrested in Party-Finances Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Max Colchester | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/scotlands-ex-leader-nicola-sturgeon-arrested-in-party-finances-probe-186a108b

Persons: Dow Jones, nicola

☆ Scotland’s Ex-Leader Nicola Sturgeon Arrested in Party Finances Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Max Colchester | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Dow Jones, nicola

☆ Former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested over SNP funding probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Kylie Maclellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The arrest is deeply embarrassing for the SNP, which has dominated Scottish politics for most of the last two decades. Sturgeon stood down earlier this year and support for the party and its aim of independence has since dropped. "Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11th June, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned," a spokesperson for Sturgeon said. Opposition parties have accused the SNP of being mired in scandal and too focused on independence to govern Scotland properly. The Labour Party's Scotland spokesperson Ian Murray said there was a culture of "secrecy and cover-up" in the SNP.

Persons: Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Summers, Sturgeon, Nicola, Sturgeon's, Peter Murrell, Colin Beattie, Murrell, Beattie, Scots, Ian Murray, Humza Yousaf, Westminster, YouGov, party's, Yousaf, Kylie MacLellan, Andrew MacAskill, Alistair Smout, Alex Richardson, Frances Kerry, Sharon Singleton Organizations: NHS, Treatment, Labour LONDON, Scottish First, Scottish National Party, Scottish, Police Scotland, Twitter, Police, Scotland's, England, Conservative, Labour Party's, Scotland, Labour, Thomson Locations: KIRKCALDY, SCOTLAND, NHS Fife, Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Scottish, Glasgow, Westminster

☆ Former Scotland leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsFormer Scotland leader Nicola Sturgeon arrestedPostedScotland's longest-serving leader of its semi-autonomous government was arrested on Sunday as a part of an investigation into the Scottish National Party's finances. Rachel Graham has the story.

Persons: Nicola Sturgeon, Rachel Graham Organizations: Scottish

☆ Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s Former Leader, Is Arrested in Financial Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

However, Mr. Yousaf’s efforts to establish himself as Scotland’s new first minister have been overshadowed by the extraordinary drama after the recent escalation of the police investigation into the S.N.P.’s finances. The BBC and other British news outlets identified the arrested woman as Ms. Sturgeon. Police Scotland’s inquiry, code-named Operation Branchform, began in 2021 and was reported to have followed complaints about the handling of around 600,000 pounds, or nearly $750,000, in donations raised to campaign for a second vote on Scottish independence. (A first referendum on the question was held in 2014, with Scots voting by 55 percent to 45 percent against independence.) Mr. Beattie resigned after his arrest.

Persons: Sturgeon, ”, “, Murrell, Beattie Organizations: Police Scotland, Scottish National Party, BBC, Sturgeon . Police, Scottish Locations: Sturgeon

CNN —Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested as part of the police investigation into the finances of the Scottish National Party (SNP), the most high-profile SNP official yet to be questioned in the probe. But since standing down, the party she led for almost a decade has descended into chaos amid a widely publicized police investigation. Officers have been probing the SNP’s handling of money that was slated for Scottish independence campaigning, according to PA Media. Sturgeon was replaced as leader this year when Humza Yousaf narrowly won a bitter leadership election that exposed divisions within the party. The chaos and legal questions surrounding the party could put its stranglehold on Scottish politics at risk, with the pro-union Labour Party eying a resurgence in the nation.

Persons: CNN —, Nicola Sturgeon, “, ”, Sturgeon, Nicola, Peter Murrell, Colin Beattie, Humza Yousaf Organizations: CNN, CNN — Scotland’s, Scottish National Party, Scotland Police, Police Scotland, Police, PA Media, Scottish, Westminster, Labour Party Locations: Edinburgh, Independence, Sturgeon, United Kingdom, Scotland

☆ Ex-Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested by police investigating governing party’s finances
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Nicola Sturgeon speaking during a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh where she announced she will stand down as First Minister of Scotland on February 15, 2023 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested Sunday by police investigating the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party. Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was detained "as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party." The BBC and other media outlets identified the arrested woman as Sturgeon. Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned in February after eight years as party leader and first minister of Scotland's semi-autonomous government.

Persons: Nicola Sturgeon, Sturgeon, Colin Beattie, Peter Murrell, Murrell Organizations: Bute House, Former Scottish First, Scottish National Party . Police Scotland, Scottish National Party, Police Scotland, BBC, Scottish Locations: Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Scottish, Glasgow

☆ The trans soccer team that’s making history
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Hannah Ryan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

On the rainy evening of March 31, 2023, he captained what he says is the first ever all trans masculine soccer team in Europe in a match. “I was quite nervous before the match,” Webber told CNN. They now also aim to make soccer a more inclusive sport and connect the trans community. “After the all trans feminine team played their game and once I’d played with the all-gender team, she took me aside and said she’d been thinking about what we could do next and asked if I’d be interested in captaining an all trans masc team,” Webber said. “One day, there’ll be hundreds of trans people playing football all over the country at all levels.”

☆ Police Scotland say man arrested as part of investigation into SNP funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - Police Scotland said on Wednesday a 58-year-old man had been arrested as part of investigation into Scottish National Party's funding and the BBC reported the man was the husband of the former Scotland leader Nicola Sturgeon. The BBC said Peter Murrell, 58, was taken into police custody on Wednesday morning. The police investigation is looking at what happened to more than 600,000 pounds ($748,920) raised by Scottish independence campaigners in 2017, which was supposed to have been ring-fenced for spending on that issue but was missing from party's filed accounts. The SNP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ($1 = 0.8012 pounds)Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, editing by Michael HoldenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Husband of ex-Scottish leader arrested, British media reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Scotland's former first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon, with her husband Peter Murrell in 2019. The husband of former Scottish first minister and Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in a party finance probe, British media reported Wednesday. Police in Scotland did not identify Peter Murrell as the 58-year old man arrested Wednesday "in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party." Sturgeon, 52, announced her resignation in February after eight years as party leader and first minster of Scotland's semi-autonomous government. The Scottish government wants to hold a referendum next October with the question "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

☆ Humza Yousaf sworn in as Scotland's leader as bid for unity falters
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Newly elected leader of the Scottish National Party, Humza Yousaf (centre), signs the nomination form to become First Minister for Scotland, with his proposer Shona Robison and seconder Neil Gray, at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. MSPs will vote on Mr Yousaf's nomination to be Scotland's sixth First Minister later today. Yousaf had been expected to offer his leadership rival, whom he only defeated by only about 2,000 votes, a more senior role. During his leadership campaign, Yousaf had said he would depart from Sturgeon's "inner circle" style of leadership in favour of a "big tent" approach. Yousaf said on Tuesday that Shona Robison - a close friend of Sturgeon - will serve as his deputy first minister.

☆ Humza Yousaf wins leadership election of Scotland’s ruling party, set to lead the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Newly appointed leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Humza Yousaf, speaks following the SNP Leadership election result announcement at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on March 27, 2023. Humza Yousaf on Monday was elected the new head of the Scottish National Party, promising in a speech to bring the party together, support citizens with the cost-of-living crisis and deliver independence from the United Kingdom. He is slated to assume political leadership in Scotland following his nomination in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday. He told BBC Scotland that his leadership style compared to his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon would be "less inner circle and more big tent." If approved on Tuesday, he will be the country's sixth leader since the establishment of the Scottish parliament in 1999.

☆ Scotland's next leader to be announced with independence movement in crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Scotland's Health Minister Humza Yousaf and Scotland's Finance Minister Kate Forbes, contenders to become the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Scotland's First Minister, attend the SNP leadership hustings, in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain, March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Craig Brough/PoolLONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - The next leader of Scotland will be announced on Monday with the victor facing the challenge of uniting a country divided over its future and revitalising an independence movement that dreams of ending its three-centuries-long union with England. The Scottish National Party (SNP), which runs Scotland's semi-autonomous government, has been plunged into crisis since Nicola Sturgeon, the country's longest-serving leader, announced last month she was standing down after eight years, saying she had become too divisive to lead the nation to independence. Britain's vote to leave the European Union two years later when a majority of Scots wanted to stay, and Scotland's handling of the coronavirus pandemic brought new support for independence. However, an opinion poll showed the backing for independence dropped to 39% this month after touching a record 58% in 2020.

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