Kathleen Nutt
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kathleennutt.bsky.social
Kathleen Nutt
@kathleennutt.bsky.social
Political Correspondent at The Herald, email me with stories and tips to kathleen.nutt@theherald.co.uk
Unspun: My analysis of the public discourse around Ash Regan's prostitution bill (written ahead of last night's vote in Holyrood which saw the bill defeated).

'Why did the debate around the Unbuyable Bill become so toxic?'

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2582172...
Analysis: Angry attacks: Why is the debate around Regan's bill so toxic?
Why exactly is the debate around Ash Regan's "Unbuyable Bill" so toxic?
www.heraldscotland.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:10 AM
EXC: Police Scotland give updated estimated costings for Ash Regan's Unbuyable bill saying its proposals could cost public purse up to £312million a year if they become law.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2581872...
Police Scotland estimate Ash Regan bill may cost taxpayers up to £321m a year
Police Scotland have warned Ash Regan's prostitution bill could cost up to £320 million to taxpayers.
www.heraldscotland.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:52 PM
New: The Scottish Government will not back Ash Regan's 'Unbuyable bill' on Tuesday in a key Holyrood vote.

SNP minister Siobhian Brown set out the position in letter to criminal justice committee earlier today.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2581664...
SNP minister sets out position on Regan prostitution bill ahead of key vote
The Scottish Government will not support Ash Regan's bill in a key vote in Holyrood tomorrow.
www.heraldscotland.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:44 PM
John Swinney has defended his election push for independence in the wake of Donald Trump's Greenland threats and global turmoil.

He set out his views following a major speech on international affairs.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/politics/wes...
John Swinney defends independence push after Trump's threats over Greenland
First Minister John Swinney defended his government's push for independence amid increasing global tensions and uncertainty.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Scotland's top earners would benefit most from Reform UK's income tax cuts - while those on lower salaries much less, calculations by two think tanks have revealed.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

Analysis for Unspun here:

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580100...
Analysis: Why top earners would benefit most from Reform's income tax cuts
Malcolm Offord promised if Reform UK took power in Holyrood its first move on income tax would be to realign Scotland’s rates and bands with those…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:48 PM
The IFS has assessed Reform UK income tax cuts pledge.

"Scotland can have lower taxes if it chooses to – but would require a reduction in the range & scope of public services & social security benefits provided to residents.”

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2579971...
Reform UK income tax cuts 'would slash welfare and public services' for Scots
Reform UK's income tax cuts would mean cuts to welfare benefits and public services and benefit highest earners most, according to an analysis by a…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:23 AM
EXC: Scottish Greens unveil Iris Duane as their candidate for Glasgow Kelvin & Maryhill where Labour's Pam Duncan-Glancy was forced to withdraw.

If elected Ms Duane would be the first openly transwoman to become an MSP.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2577770...
Greens unveil election candidate for Glasgow seat amid Duncan-Glancy controversy
The Scottish Greens have announced local activist Iris Duane as their candidate for the Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill constituency, an area where the…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:55 PM
EXC: Former SNP minister Fergus Ewing has urged John Swinney to apologise for not releasing files on a probe into Nicola Sturgeon amid a FOI battle with a Scot who first made his request for info in April 2021.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2577534...
Ex SNP minister calls for FM to apologise over failure to disclose Sturgeon files
Fergus Ewing has called for John Swinney to apologise to a transparency campaigner for the Scottish Government spending five years blocking his…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:01 AM
What's behind the SG's decision to go to court to block release of files from Nicola Sturgeon probe after watchdog said some files should be released?

SG say making files public would be in contempt of court.

But critics disagree.

My analysis here:

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2575942...
Analysis: So what’s behind Swinney’s move to stop secret Sturgeon files release?
SNP ministers launched a court bid to appeal against a ruling that evidence given to a probe into Nicola Sturgeon's handling of complaints made…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Kathleen Nutt
A total of 120 women, men and non-binary people, all working in the sex industry in Scotland, have signed an open letter urging MSPs to oppose Ash Regan's bill

www.heraldscotland.com/news...

@kathleennutt.bsky.social

𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘸/𝘗𝘈 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦/𝘗𝘈 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴
January 12, 2026 at 6:03 PM
What has Nicola Sturgeon done since standing down from office almost 3 years ago? Has she moved on frontline politics despite being an MSP? And how do her post FM activities compare with those of her predecessors and successor?

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2575475...
'Happier than ever': Has Nicola Sturgeon already checked out of politics?
Nicola Sturgeon resigned dramatically as First Minister three years ago. What has she done since and has she essentially already bowed out of…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 11, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Exc: @elenawhitham.bsky.social assumed she would stand again for Holyrood but after being elected in 2021 she told me why she is to bow out.

She is one of 39 MSPs who are leaving - raising
questions over our political culture.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2570942...
'Hostile place': Holyrood is not a welcoming environment says MSP exiting in May
SNP MSP Elena Whitham has described Holyrood as a 'hostile place' as she revealed she had always assumed she would stand again after she was first…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:23 PM
EXC: The SG's heritage agency was left with no leader for 5 months after a top civil servant blocked bids to hire an interim CEO when new CEO went on sick leave, leaked emails show.

Matter now subject of Audit Scotland probe.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2569490...
Secret files reveal auditor's concern as bids to hire interim HES leader blocked
Angus Robertson's top civil servant blocked moves to recruit an interim leader for Historic Environment Scotland meaning the troubled agency was…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:44 AM
EXC: The Scottish Greens' Patrick Harvie has called
on SG minister Jenny Minto to step up support for trans people. He told her "to be confident this cross party support is something you can rely on in the face of significant hostility from other quarters".

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2569480...
Greens call for end to blanket ban on trans people using single sex spaces
SNP ministers are being called on to bring in policies to help trans people including lifting blanket bans in place on the use of single sex spaces…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
EXC: Leaked emails detail a build up to an 'escalating crisis' over the leadership of heritage agency Historic Environment Scotland.

SG first warned by board of 'governance issues' in February, correspondence reveals.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2569197...
Leaked emails reveal warnings to government of heritage agency leadership crisis
Leaked emails reveal the government was warned for months about an escalating leadership crisis at the Scottish Government's troubled heritage…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Former Scottish Greens leader @patrickharvie.bsky.social has urged Holyrood to reverse its ban on trans people using toilets in their acquired gender in the building. He made the plea following the Sandie Peggie tribunal ruling.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2568535...
Harvie calls for lifting of Holyrood toilet trans ban after Sandie Peggie ruling
Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie has called for Holyrood to lift its ban on trans people using toilets in their acquired gender in the Scottish…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Kathleen Nutt
'Dr Upton should never have been put through such a grotesque media circus for simply doing her job'

www.heraldscotland.com/news...

@kathleennutt.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 5:32 PM
EXC: SNP minister Siobhain Brown has dealt a major blow to Ash Regan's Unbuyable Bill telling MSPs she does "not believe fundamental concerns" "including primarily the safety of women" have been answered by Ms Regan.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2568560...
Minister deals new blow to Ash Regan 'Unbuyable Bill' with scathing assessment
The Scottish Government minister Siobhain Brown has dealt a significant blow to Ash Regan's plans to crackdown on prostitution after delivering a…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
MSPs are asking Angus Robertson what steps he is taking to ensure officials pass him 'critical information'.

Comes after email revealed invites to HES board meetings.

But Cab Sec later said officials didn't pass on the invites.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2564002...
Angus Robertson MSP faces fresh Holyrood questions over bombshell email
MSPs are demanding to know why they were not told of key evidence when Angus Robertson appeared before them to answer questions on Historic…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Exc: Lawyers want clarity on what changes will be made to ensure the accused in sexual offences proceedings has a fair trial.

Ruling said current approach risked breaching Art 6 of the ECHR.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2564109...
'Uncertainty’ in Scottish courts - lawyers warn of fallout from rape shield ruling
Lawyers are calling for "clarity" from Scotland's courts over how they will respond to a landmark ruling over what evidence can be heard…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Exc: Ex chair of HES wrote to top official asking Angus Robertson to attend a board meeting.

Mr Robertson told MSPs he had not been invited to any board meetings.

I asked the SG if invite was passed on - not been told if it was or not.

Full story here: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2560575...
Pressure on Robertson over 'meltdown' in heritage agency as secret email leaked
Angus Robertson is under pressure over the government's handling of a "meltdown" in the country's heritage agency as a secret email…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Unspun: Why Angus Robertson's appearance before today's culture committee failed to dispel the impression he was 'missing in action' as the HES crisis unfolded.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2560241...
Did Angus Robertson dispel 'missing in action' impression over HES chaos?
Angus Robertson was accused of 'being asleep at the wheel' over the troubles which have engulfed the Scottish Government's heritage agency Historic…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Exc: MSPs on a Holyrood cross party group which supports a change in the law on prostitution defend working with organisations opposed to abortion and gay marriage.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2559980...
Christian organisations against abortion and gay marriage members of MSPs' group
Ash Regan and other MSPs on a cross party group in Holyrood have defended working with Christian lobby groups the Evangelical Alliance and CARE for…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Exc: The leader of Unison Scotland has urged Scottish Labour to back a visa system for care workers after its research found many suffering racism at work with most not reporting it amid fears of losing their immigration status.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558177...
Union boss demands Scottish Labour back visas for care workers
Lilian Mercer, the leader of Scotland's biggest trade union Unison has demanded Scottish Labour backs visa calls for overseas staff employed in the…
www.heraldscotland.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Exc: How has an order involved in the Magdalene laundries, where 'fallen women' were taken into forced labour, become an established member of a Holyrood group?

A survivor of abuse in a Scots children's home hits out.

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557513...
'Disgusted': Abuse survivor condemns Holyrood platform for Magdalene order
A survivor of child abuse has condemned a Holyrood cross party group for allowing the Religious Sisters of Charity, an order linked to the Magdalene…
www.heraldscotland.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:26 AM