Andrew Learmonth
@andrewlearmonth.bsky.social
Political Editor of the world's longest-running national newspaper @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Email tips/stories/news to andrew.learmonth@heraldandtimes.co.uk.
DMs open.
Email tips/stories/news to andrew.learmonth@heraldandtimes.co.uk.
DMs open.
EXC: Staff and funding shortages have forced Scotland’s freedom of information watchdog to delay its investigation into the Scottish Government’s deleting of WhatsApp messages during the pandemic. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558519...
Watchdog blames lack of funding for delay in Scottish Government WhatsApp inquiry
Scotland’s freedom of information watchdog has delayed its investigation into deleted Covid-era WhatsApp messages due to staff and funding…
www.heraldscotland.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:52 AM
EXC: Staff and funding shortages have forced Scotland’s freedom of information watchdog to delay its investigation into the Scottish Government’s deleting of WhatsApp messages during the pandemic. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558519...
Massive change for next year's Holyrood election: there'll be no overnight count. Votes to be counted on the Friday instead.
October 29, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Massive change for next year's Holyrood election: there'll be no overnight count. Votes to be counted on the Friday instead.
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
Brilliant report by @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social on the polling we commissioned ahead of our 10th anniversary conference next week. The results are grim. Scotland deserves better.
The polling was commissioned by @ipprscotland.bsky.social ahead of its 10th anniversary conference. It also found that Scots are deeply pessimistic about the country’s future — and doubt the next Scottish Government will deliver on its promises. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557155...
Landmark new poll reveals deep pessimism among Scots about country’s future
A major new poll shows deep pessimism among Scots about the country’s future and little confidence the next government will make things better.
www.heraldscotland.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Brilliant report by @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social on the polling we commissioned ahead of our 10th anniversary conference next week. The results are grim. Scotland deserves better.
🚨 NEW: Reform UK is on course to return 22 MSPs at next year’s Holyrood election — making Nigel Farage’s party the second largest in the Scottish Parliament, a new Survation poll suggests. @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557131...
Poll shock as Reform storms into second place in Scotland
Reform UK is projected to win 22 seats in the Scottish Parliament, overtaking Labour to become the second-largest party according to a new Survation…
www.heraldscotland.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:29 AM
🚨 NEW: Reform UK is on course to return 22 MSPs at next year’s Holyrood election — making Nigel Farage’s party the second largest in the Scottish Parliament, a new Survation poll suggests. @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557131...
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
It seems half the world’s musicians are descending on Scotland next month @heraldscotland.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social
10 gigs to see in November from Lorde, and Bob Dylan to ABC
It seems half the world’s musicians are descending on Scotland next month, from Dizzee Rascal to Howard Jones and Perfume Genius to Bow Wow Wow.
www.heraldscotland.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:25 PM
It seems half the world’s musicians are descending on Scotland next month @heraldscotland.bsky.social @teddyjamieson.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
♦️Labour's timidity on #Brexit has been lamentable. Is the UK Government now changing its tune?
My column @heraldscotland.bsky.social @euromovescotland.bsky.social
@europeanmovement.co.uk
@mikegalsworthy.bsky.social
⬇️
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
My column @heraldscotland.bsky.social @euromovescotland.bsky.social
@europeanmovement.co.uk
@mikegalsworthy.bsky.social
⬇️
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Is Labour finally changing its tune on Brexit?
Is Labour at long last starting to shake off its timidity over Brexit?
www.heraldscotland.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:17 AM
♦️Labour's timidity on #Brexit has been lamentable. Is the UK Government now changing its tune?
My column @heraldscotland.bsky.social @euromovescotland.bsky.social
@europeanmovement.co.uk
@mikegalsworthy.bsky.social
⬇️
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
My column @heraldscotland.bsky.social @euromovescotland.bsky.social
@europeanmovement.co.uk
@mikegalsworthy.bsky.social
⬇️
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
Israel and Hamas said they had agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage deal, the first phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to end a war in Gaza that has killed more than 67,000 people and reshaped the Middle East reut.rs/48RrstN
October 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Israel and Hamas said they had agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage deal, the first phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to end a war in Gaza that has killed more than 67,000 people and reshaped the Middle East reut.rs/48RrstN
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
Big credit to @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social and the @heraldscotland.bsky.social for choosing to do their own version of this thread (this time regarding the Autumn Budget Revision) as the splash in today’s paper. Imagine a world where budget papers made it clear how taxpayers’ money is being spent.
October 5, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Big credit to @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social and the @heraldscotland.bsky.social for choosing to do their own version of this thread (this time regarding the Autumn Budget Revision) as the splash in today’s paper. Imagine a world where budget papers made it clear how taxpayers’ money is being spent.
Scotland’s leading mental health organisations are demanding answers over what appears to be a multi-million-pound cut to direct mental health spending, quietly buried in the Scottish Government’s Autumn Budget Revision. @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2551697...
Charities demand answers from Scottish Government over secret £16m mental health cut
Groups including SAMH and the RCGPs say ministers need to explain a gap in mental health funding exposed by the Autumn Budget Revision.
www.heraldscotland.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Scotland’s leading mental health organisations are demanding answers over what appears to be a multi-million-pound cut to direct mental health spending, quietly buried in the Scottish Government’s Autumn Budget Revision. @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2551697...
Pro-Palestinian activists took over Edinburgh Waverley on Thursday night to protest Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Passengers had to be escorted onto their platforms by British Transport Police.
October 2, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Pro-Palestinian activists took over Edinburgh Waverley on Thursday night to protest Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Passengers had to be escorted onto their platforms by British Transport Police.
Scotland’s standards watchdog received a record 2,714 complaints about councillors last year — nearly nine times more than the year before. But just 128 cases were actually investigated. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2546280...
Fears process being weaponised as record 2,700 complaints lodged against councillors
Scotland’s standards watchdog saw a record 2,714 complaints in 2024/25, but just 128 were investigated, sparking concern over misuse of the system.
www.heraldscotland.com
September 13, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Scotland’s standards watchdog received a record 2,714 complaints about councillors last year — nearly nine times more than the year before. But just 128 cases were actually investigated. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2546280...
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
Police Scotland buried a damning internal report that warned of pervasive misogyny, predatory senior officers, and a “toxic boys’ club” culture in which women in the force were bullied into silence and branded “troublemakers” for reporting abuse 👇
August 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Police Scotland buried a damning internal report that warned of pervasive misogyny, predatory senior officers, and a “toxic boys’ club” culture in which women in the force were bullied into silence and branded “troublemakers” for reporting abuse 👇
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
The Deputy First Minister will not stand at next year's Holyrood election
@andrewlearmonth.bsky.social
@andrewlearmonth.bsky.social
Kate Forbes confirms she will not seek re-election at Holyrood in 2026
www.heraldscotland.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:41 AM
The Deputy First Minister will not stand at next year's Holyrood election
@andrewlearmonth.bsky.social
@andrewlearmonth.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
THE WEEK IN SCOTTISH FOOTBALL PATTER 2025/26: Vol. 1
August 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
THE WEEK IN SCOTTISH FOOTBALL PATTER 2025/26: Vol. 1
EXC: Mhairi Black quits the SNP www.heraldscotland.com/news/2533985...
Former SNP MP Mhairi Black has left the party
Speaking to The Herald ahead of her upcoming show at the Edinburgh Fringe, Black admitted that she had ended her membership of the SNP in recent…
www.heraldscotland.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:42 AM
EXC: Mhairi Black quits the SNP www.heraldscotland.com/news/2533985...
"There’s still a part of you that can’t help feeling like a failure.” Former SNP MP @hannahbardell.bsky.social talks to @heraldscotland.bsky.social's Unspun Live about losing her seat at last year's election and what happened next. Full episode on Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/7vbm...
July 18, 2025 at 7:57 AM
"There’s still a part of you that can’t help feeling like a failure.” Former SNP MP @hannahbardell.bsky.social talks to @heraldscotland.bsky.social's Unspun Live about losing her seat at last year's election and what happened next. Full episode on Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/7vbm...
Mark McGeoghegan: Sarwar must take on Labour in Westminster if he is to win Holyrood www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Sarwar must take on Labour in Westminster if he is to win Holyrood
Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour don’t want to be judged by Labour’s record at Westminster, they have to distance themselves from that government
www.heraldscotland.com
July 4, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Mark McGeoghegan: Sarwar must take on Labour in Westminster if he is to win Holyrood www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
Poll Analysis: Ipsos 12th - 18th of June 2025
Holyrood seats projection:
SNP ~ 59
Labour ~ 23
Reform UK ~ 17
Green ~ 16
Conservative ~ 7
Lib Dem ~ 7
Independence:
Yes ~ 52%
No ~ 48%
Holyrood seats projection:
SNP ~ 59
Labour ~ 23
Reform UK ~ 17
Green ~ 16
Conservative ~ 7
Lib Dem ~ 7
Independence:
Yes ~ 52%
No ~ 48%
Poll Analysis: Ipsos 12th – 18th of June 2025
A truly catastrophic poll for the Conservatives, and a perhaps overcooked record set of figures for the Greens, whilst the SNP's constituency advantage continues to give them far more than their fare share.
ballotbox.scot
July 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Poll Analysis: Ipsos 12th - 18th of June 2025
Holyrood seats projection:
SNP ~ 59
Labour ~ 23
Reform UK ~ 17
Green ~ 16
Conservative ~ 7
Lib Dem ~ 7
Independence:
Yes ~ 52%
No ~ 48%
Holyrood seats projection:
SNP ~ 59
Labour ~ 23
Reform UK ~ 17
Green ~ 16
Conservative ~ 7
Lib Dem ~ 7
Independence:
Yes ~ 52%
No ~ 48%
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
The welfare bill vote will "go ahead on Tuesday," Angela Rayner tells PMQs
June 25, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The welfare bill vote will "go ahead on Tuesday," Angela Rayner tells PMQs
Reposted by Andrew Learmonth
Across four nights, audiences will hear from First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and Britain’s leading polling expert, Professor Sir John Curtice.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2522065...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2522065...
The Herald's Unspun Live heads to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Herald’s flagship podcast heads to Edinburgh Fringe with four nights of political insight in Summerhall's dissection room, with guests…
www.heraldscotland.com
June 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Across four nights, audiences will hear from First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and Britain’s leading polling expert, Professor Sir John Curtice.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2522065...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2522065...