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Alistair Grant
Political Editor
Alistair Grant
Political Editor

Alistair Grant is political editor of The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday 

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Latest Articles

A scene from Scotch on the Rocks. Picture: BBC
A scene from Scotch on the Rocks. Picture: BBC

Scotch on the Rocks: 50 years since TV thriller 'banned' after SNP outrage

Lorna Slater
Lorna Slater

SNP-Green deal 'would end if Kate Forbes pushed ahead with key pledge'

Outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
Outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Divisions in Scottish politics on full display as Sturgeon era draws to a close

SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan
SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan

Next First Minister urged to forge 'honest and open partnership' with business

Nicola Sturgeon during First Minister's Questions in Holyrood
Nicola Sturgeon during First Minister's Questions in Holyrood

SNP accused of 'shameful' attempt to shield new First Minister from scrutiny

SNP candidate Ash Regan. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
SNP candidate Ash Regan. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

SNP rejects call to allow members to change their vote in leadership race

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: PA
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: PA

SNP is not in a mess, insists Nicola Sturgeon

SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan
SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan

Analysis: Next SNP leader will need to heal party's gaping wounds

Outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Drop in SNP membership will cost party hundreds of thousands in lost income

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with her close aide Liz Lloyd
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with her close aide Liz Lloyd

Nicola Sturgeon's close adviser Liz Lloyd announces she will quit Government

Bute House
Bute House

First Minister's official residence in Edinburgh to close for repairs

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon talks with the gathered media following First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon talks with the gathered media following First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament

SNP finally releases current membership figures, showing huge drop since 2021

SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf
SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf accused of 'clumsy and insensitive' remark to Ukrainian women

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: PA
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: PA

Nicola Sturgeon says she has full confidence in SNP leadership race process

Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf, and Ash Regan are running to be Scotland's next First Minister
Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf, and Ash Regan are running to be Scotland's next First Minister

SNP leadership candidates call for independent auditor amid concerns over vote

SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan
SNP leadership candidates Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan

SNP leadership candidates demand party reveals its membership numbers

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire

Budget 2023: SNP ministers urged to match Jeremy Hunt's childcare expansion

The whisky industry has criticised Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Budget.
The whisky industry has criticised Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Budget.

Budget 2023: Scotch whisky industry dealt 'historic blow' amid tax hike

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt

Jeremy Hunt announces £320m for Scotland as well as 'potential Canary Wharf'

Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan
Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan

Humza Yousaf apologises for NHS waiting times during last SNP TV debate

SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf
SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf opens the door to snap Holyrood election if he wins SNP race

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes
SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes

Kate Forbes rated highest by voters on key issues, new SNP leadership poll finds

SNP candidate Ash Regan. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
SNP candidate Ash Regan. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Ash Regan refuses to say if she believes Alex Salmond was 'stitched up'

Nicola Sturgeon and SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Nicola Sturgeon and SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon denies SNP 'civil war' amid brutal leadership race

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes
SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes

Kate Forbes most popular SNP leadership candidate with the public, poll finds

SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf
SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf says he will appoint figure to head up strategy for rejoining EU

SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes visits the Scotch Whisky Experience. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes visits the Scotch Whisky Experience. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Alcohol advertising plans face overhaul as controversial consultation closes

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes with Susan Morrison, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Experience. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes with Susan Morrison, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Experience. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Kate Forbes: I do not support a ban on alcohol advertising

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Kate Forbes insists SNP members want a leader with 'guts' after attack on rival

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: PA
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: PA

Nicola Sturgeon says she did not watch brutal SNP leadership TV debate

The three SNP leadership candidates: Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan
The three SNP leadership candidates: Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan

Analysis: Gloves ripped off in first TV debate of SNP leadership contest

The new report makes a number of recommendations.
The new report makes a number of recommendations.

Transport bosses 'should explore increasing staff to help women feel safer'

The three SNP leadership candidates: Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan
The three SNP leadership candidates: Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan

Five topics to look out for in the SNP leadership TV debates

SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf on the campaign trail in Lanark. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf on the campaign trail in Lanark. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Humza Yousaf pledges to empower Scotland's rural communities as First Minister

Angus Robertson. Picture: Lesley Martin
Angus Robertson. Picture: Lesley Martin

Angus Robertson becomes fourth SNP Cabinet minister to back Humza Yousaf

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes
SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes

Kate Forbes suggests she is the SNP leadership candidate unionists fear most

David Whitehouse, CEO of Offshore Energies UK. Picture: Michal Wachucik/Abermedia
David Whitehouse, CEO of Offshore Energies UK. Picture: Michal Wachucik/Abermedia

New boss of oil and gas trade body urges next First Minister to rethink stance

Humza Yousaf speaking at the SNP leadership hustings at Rothes Halls, Glenrothes. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/PA Wire
Humza Yousaf speaking at the SNP leadership hustings at Rothes Halls, Glenrothes. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/PA Wire

Humza Yousaf wants to make Nicola Sturgeon 'global ambassador' for independence

Ash Regan
Ash Regan

Ash Regan suggests building independence 'thermometer' in Glasgow or Edinburgh

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced he is leaving the Scottish Government after Nicola Sturgeon steps down as First minister.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced he is leaving the Scottish Government after Nicola Sturgeon steps down as First minister.

John Swinney to resign from government

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during First Minster's Questions. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during First Minster's Questions. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Analysis: SNP leadership contest hangs over Holyrood as opposition lap it up

Douglas Ross
Douglas Ross

Douglas Ross apologises for saying ‘f*** sake’ during First Minister’s Questions

John Nicolson's tweet
John Nicolson's tweet

SNP MP John Nicolson accused of 'racial slur' over 'tandoori' make-up comment

SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Kate Forbes pledges to raise minimum pay for care workers to £15 an hour

Picture: Andy Buchanan - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Picture: Andy Buchanan - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Kate Forbes indicates she does not support presumption against oil and gas

Ash Regan. Picture: Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM
Ash Regan. Picture: Colin D Fisher/CDFIMAGES.COM

Ash Regan pledges to 'immediately explore' setting up currency infrastructure