Scotland News Editor for Press Association. All my own views etc.https://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lqwnsss5js2r"I called it like I saw it" - John Swinney defends his comments about the Hamilton by-election being a 'two-horse race' between the SNP and Reform.06 Jun 2025 10:46 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqwnsss5js2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lqpnyoxipk22Tense exchange in Holyrood as Douglas Ross continues to accuse Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone of failing to act with impartiality. She ejected him from the chamber last Thursday.03 Jun 2025 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqpnyoxipk22https://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lq6f7wajfk2rCould be a significant case here on how the public sector uses AI. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/actress-claims-scotrails-new-iona-3529588627 May 2025 19:08 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq6f7wajfk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lp4rldrduc2tThe Conservatives said Glen Rosa had been 'cannibalised to prevent further delays to the Glen Sannox' https://news.sky.com/story/ferguson-marine-shipyard-confirms-new-delay-and-cost-rise-for-mv-glen-rosa-ferry-1336726714 May 2025 10:19 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp4rldrduc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lp2ixduej22eThe vote this evening on Liam McArthur's assisted dying Bill is expected to be close https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bill-john-swinney-scottish-holyrood-lib-dem-b2749891.html13 May 2025 12:39 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp2ixduej22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3loltdkevhc2sOne year to go until the next Scottish Parliament elections. Discussing how the landscape looks on Politics Scotland today.07 May 2025 16:35 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3loltdkevhc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lol7dankzs2qThe SNP have unveiled their new slogan ahead of the election in a year’s time - ‘On Scotland’s side’. Most of their candidates have gathered here in Edinburgh, with John Swinney giving a speech.07 May 2025 10:37 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lol7dankzs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3loiulymjec2t'Snus is sus even though it doesn't combust' - seems to be the main message MSPs on the Health Committee were told today https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-waverley-scottish-government-conservative-holyrood-b1226103.html06 May 2025 12:20 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3loiulymjec2thttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3loidrdlkmc2pJohn Swinney condemned an ‘unacceptable’ tifo display from Rangers fans showing Graeme Souness holding a shotgun https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/uk-sport/25139166.john-swinney-condemns-rangers-fans-unacceptable-graeme-souness-banner/06 May 2025 07:19 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3loidrdlkmc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lnwyugyot222Green MSP Maggie Chapman has survived a vote on Holyrood's Equalities Committee to remover her as deputy convener. It follows her remarks about the Supreme Court's gender ruling earlier this month. The committee voted down a motion from Tess White by four to three.29 Apr 2025 09:48 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnwyugyot222https://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3llyne6q7q22zNEW - MSP Jamie Greene has defected to the Scottish Liberal Democrats, just a day after dramatically quitting the Tories. The West Scotland MSP has been unveiled as a Lib Dem at the party’s spring conference in Inverness.04 Apr 2025 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3llyne6q7q22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lgxg2dfle22mFascinating polling from @yougov on how Scotland sees itself re the British Empire.30 Jan 2025 11:48 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgxg2dfle22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lfrmwtbtx22wSpeaking at a poverty summit in Stirling, John Swinney says the Scottish Government will mitigate the two-child benefit cap policy this year, if talks with UK Gov progress well.15 Jan 2025 11:10 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfrmwtbtx22whttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lfccnkhz2c23John Swinney said he'll 'keep considering' whether the Scottish Government will continue to use the Other Place https://news.stv.tv/politics/swinney-voices-concern-at-meta-changes-and-will-keep-considering-use-of-x09 Jan 2025 08:56 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfccnkhz2c23https://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3ldyaazbutk2dIt was a pleasure to speak to Callum from the HALO Trust, who shared an amazing story from a Kandahar roadside in 2021. https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/afghans-afghanistan-kandahar-dumfriesshire-b2668506.html23 Dec 2024 15:21 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldyaazbutk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lczm7vlydc24Monica Lennon's proposed law on ecocide is a step closer after it cleared the hurdle of MSP signatures. Scotland could be the first part of the UK to have such a law. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0enl0dn8jo11 Dec 2024 11:03 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lczm7vlydc24https://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lbuaegd26k2bGlen Sannox has been handed over to CMAL, but it seems it still needs a long-term fix for anchor problems. https://news.stv.tv/scotland/glen-sannox-ferry-still-needs-permanent-fix-for-anchor-system-problem-msps-told26 Nov 2024 14:22 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbuaegd26k2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lbhcpklpm22bBig milestone in the long-running saga of the Glen Sannox, as it is finally handed over to ferry owning agency CMAL more than six years late. Ferguson Marine's interim CEO admits it's been a 'long haul'.21 Nov 2024 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbhcpklpm22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lbcjcoy6g22pMarco Biagi has become the latest new addition to John Swinney’s SpAd team. Other recent hires include former Yes Scotland strategist Stephen Noon. They’ll give advice on ‘political messaging’. [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Nov 2024 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbcjcoy6g22phttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3lavjj3qtqs2pThose supporting the Housing Bill recognise ‘it is not in itself the answer to the housing emergency’ https://news.stv.tv/scotland/more-clarity-needed-on-government-plans-for-rent-controls-msp-committee-says14 Nov 2024 09:13 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3lavjj3qtqs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3latqoigzmc2gHumza Yousaf is ‘certain’ the boss of the Other Place is able to read his DMs https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,humza-yousaf-certain-elon-musk-has-access-his-private-messages-on-x13 Nov 2024 16:16 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3latqoigzmc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3l2m5j5fdm724The Scottish Government has also confirmed it is reviewing plans to open an international office in Warsaw. https://news.stv.tv/politics/scottish-governments-nature-fund-money-redirected-to-council-pay-awards26 Aug 2024 07:13 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3l2m5j5fdm724https://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3l2eqsk7kn72mA consultation on the ‘latte levy’ is running until November 14. The charge would be pretty comprehensive across almost all single-use cups sold in Scotland. https://www.insider.co.uk/news/views-wanted-25p-latte-levy-3351701123 Aug 2024 08:37 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3l2eqsk7kn72mhttps://bsky.app/profile/neilpooran.bsky.social/post/3l26asqbysi2fThreads was a bit bare and Mastodon is all but extinct… so I’m giving BlueSky a try.20 Aug 2024 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:ooasgtvea3wprhwagltbrapv/app.bsky.feed.post/3l26asqbysi2f