Scottish Conservatives

The latest Scottish Conservative Party news from expert Scotsman journalists and contributors

Health Secretary Neil Gray

Scottish Government once again urged to implement the Cass review

John Swinney is about to face the first big test of his leadership Murdo Fraser

Paediatric consultant Dr Hilary Cass with a copy of her report: Yui Mok/Press Association.

Scottish Government told to put youngsters ahead of placating Greens

SNP leader-in-waiting John Swinney. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Swinney urged to refuse to work with Scottish Greens when he becomes SNP leader

Then First Minister Humza Yousaf and his new cabinet pose for a photograph at St Andrew's House on 8 February 2024 (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Labour bid to oust the SNP Scottish Government fails

Humza Yousaf and his wife Nadia El-Nakla depart Bute House following his resignation as First Minister. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

12 of the best photos as Humza Yousaf announces resignation on day of high drama

First Minister Humza Yousaf. Image: Fraser Bremner/Getty Images.

Humza Yousaf: 'Ludicrous' and 'disgraceful' to repeal Hate Crime Act

With two years to go, Yousaf already appears to have run out of steam John McLellan

New poll gives hope that the tide has finally turned on populism in Scotland Scotsman comment

Scottish Green Party leader and zero carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie

The first phase of £33bn plans to replace boilers has rolled out today

Humza Yousaf after speaking at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, after it was announced that he is the new Scottish National Party leader

Yousaf deemed ‘weak leader’ and ‘disaster’ as rivals give verdict one year on

Independence Minister Jamie Hepburn and Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth with some of the children at the Secret Garden outdoor nursery, where they launched the Scottish Government's independence paper on education and lifelong learning. Image: Scottish Government.

SNP unveils its proposals for education after independence

Mother Amey Dalton with her youngest son

Four in 10 Scots having an abortion say childcare costs are the main reason

Exclusive Lorna Slater insists she will 'not see a repeat' of DRS problems

Humza Yousaf. Picture: Andy Buchanan

SNP set to hold ‘campaign council’ as polls show party neck and neck with Labour

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons. Photo: UK Parliament/Maria Unger/PA Wire

Scottish Tories heap pressure on Sunak in Tory donor row

Amid rising extremism, we need serious policies and civilised, democratic debate Murdo Fraser

Only three Chancellors have cut duty on Scotch in the last 100 years.

Jeremy Hunt urged to cut duty on Scotch Whisky in Spring Budget

Dr Lisa Cameron MP and party leader Douglas Ross at the Scottish Conservative Party conference in Aberdeen. Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

Tory MP Lisa Cameron reveals death threats after defecting from SNP

Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton. Image: Phil Wilkinson.

Worry conversion therapy ban could allow self-ID in through the back door

Kelso Abbey. Picture: Stuart Cobley

Tories propose reforms to help re-open and protect Scotland’s historic sites

Exclusive Tories to launch Bill banning vaping in public and restricting advertising

Calls have been made to Humza Yousaf to return the remaining £46 million of funding to the Scottish agriculture budget when he addresses the NFUS Conference next week (pic: Lisa Ferguson/The Scotsman)

Humza Yousaf urged to return £46m to agriculture budget

The Scottish Government building at Victoria Quay, Leith

Hundreds of Scottish Government staff paying lower income tax in England

First Minister Humza Yousaf

Live blog: First Minister's Questions

General view of a thatched cottage on the coast on the isle of Tiree off the west coast of Scotland (pic: Andrew Milligan)

Scottish rural housing situation faces 'shocking neglect', MSPs say

Primary school pupils during a lesson.

More than 5,500 school support staff stuck on temporary contracts in Scotland

Liam Kerr

SNP criticised for ‘pitiful’ lack of progress on National Digital Academy

Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Scottish education in ‘freefall’ after SNP mismanagement, claim Tories

A group of boys watch a woodwork teacher planing a length of wood at the Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, Perthshire in 1931 (Picture: Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Scotland never had a 'world-leading' education system

The Scottish Government is being told to increase council budgets. Image: Matt Cardy/Getty Images.

Warning Scottish councils could go 'bankrupt'

Building work on the new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C Power Station in Somerset. Image: EDF/SWNS.

Scottish Greens accused of being ‘out-of-step’ in opposing nuclear power

Michael Matheson

Michael Matheson must be investigated by standards committee, say Tories

Health secretary Michael Matheson speaks to the media after the public session of NHS Forth Valley's Annual Review for 2022/23. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Matheson 'confident’ in his record in wake of iPad bill admission

Health Secretary Michael Matheson leaves the chamber following First Minister's Questions at Scottish Parliament (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Matheson’s position ‘untenable’ after iPad data revelation, say Tories

Health Secretary Michael Matheson is under pressure after running up an £11,000 bill for roaming charges while in Morocco Pic: Lisa Ferguson

Matheson set to make personal statement to Holyrood over £11,000 iPad bill row

Michael Matheson

Matheson ‘still faces serious unanswered questions’ over £11,000 iPad bill

Meghan Gallacher, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives. Image: Lisa Ferguson/National World.

Meet Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Conservatives’ deputy leader

Defeated SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan during the SNP leadership debate at the Tivoli Theatre Company in Aberdeen.

Defeated SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan defects to Alex Salmond's Alba Party

First Minister Humza Yousaf with Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison. Image: Andrew Milligan/Press Association.

Shona Robison confirms Scotland council tax freeze was not signed off by Cabinet

SNP's attacks on Tory defector despite death threats are dangerous Murdo Fraser

Kate Forbes and SNP go separate ways - John McLellan

Dualling the A9 is severely delayed. Image: John Devlin/National World.

Douglas Ross hints he could lobby the UK Government for A9 and A96 funding

Scotland set the minimum price for a unit of alcohol at 50p in 2018 – now a consultation has been launched, with proposals to raise the rate to 65p. Picture: PA

Ministers under fire over ‘mishandling’ of Scotland’s alcohol problems

Clampdown on short-term lets won’t solve the housing crisis Murdo Fraser

Alcohol is currently worth around £8.1bn to the Scottish economy, although 60 per cent of this is from whisky exports. Picture: Getty Images

Watchdog orders 'minor' updates over 'cherry picking' alcohol deaths report

Why Douglas Ross's economic policy pulls its punches - Brian Monteith

In Aberdeenshire, 489 teachers are on temporary employment

Concern as more than 800 teachers across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray on te...

Harriet Cross will stand in the Buchan and Gordon area.

Harriet selected by Tories for Gordon and Buchan

A teacher and students in a classroom. Image: PA

Scottish education 'deeply troubled' as 5,000 teachers on temporary contracts

The Scottish Government launched proposals to increase the multipliers for higher council tax bands.

'Irresponsible' to increase council tax during cost-of-living crisis, say Tories

The Scottish Government is to publish policy proposals on who could become a Scottish citizen under independence. Picture: Getty Images

Government to launch proposal on citizenship rules for indy Scotland

Newly elected Selby and Ainsty MP Keir Mather with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner. Image: Danny Lawson/Press Association.

Campaigning ramps up after by-election results

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson arrives at a Six Nations match between Scotland and England at BT Murrayfield in 2018.

Ruth Davidson and BBC's The Apprentice interviewer join Scottish Rugby board

Labour and Tories need to tell us why they would not be continuity Sturgeon Brian Monteith

A total of 77,150 patients had to go outside of their own health board area for treatment in the last five years

Scottish patient had to travel 320 miles for NHS treatment, figures show

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries