Also: Delays in SNP fraud investigation risk impression of cover-up, senior lawyers warn.
Also: Another woeful week for the SNP as its health minister refuses to resign over £11k roaming fee and Yousaf defies calls for an ethics inquiry into allegations he misled the Scottish Parliament.
Also: Further outrage over Ferguson Marine as embattled shipyard at the heart of the ferry fiasco is found to have paid generous bonuses to bosses – without the Scottish Government’s approval.
Also: Both Drakeford and Yousaf accused of misleading their legislatures over their WhatsApps as the Covid Inquiry seeks records from the devolved governments.
Also: new polls suggest Labour has reached parity with the SNP in Scotland, and the projections indicate that the next election could be absolutely brutal for the Nationalists.
Also: Scottish Government urged to accelerate public sector reforms and overhaul council tax.
Also: Green MSP provokes outrage with pro-Hamas statement, putting even more pressure on Humza Yousaf ahead of the SNP conference this week.
Such was the state of the polls going into this race that even a narrow win would have seemed like a setback for Sir Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader. No fear of that now, and no comfort for Humza Yousaf.
Also: the Scottish Conservatives were one of the few genuinely chipper groups at conference; they seem widely to expect to pick up several seats from the SNP next year.
By itself, the policy will likely save lives and take anti-social behaviour off the streets. But that is no basis for effectively legalising demand for drugs whilst leaving supply in criminal hands.
In the meantime, it’s been another deluge of bad news for the Scottish Government on the domestic front. But when will that start telling decisively with Scottish voters?
Also: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland grapple with RAAC in schools and health buildings; ex-SNP MP receives trivial fine for embezzlement as short-term lets sector revolts against Scottish Government’s new licencing regime.
Also: Scottish Government’s legal regulation reforms denounced by judges and lawyers; Ross offers to work with Nationalist rebels to break Greens’ grip on government; new scandal for PSNI as High Court finds it illegally disciplined officers.
As the Nationalist/Green centre of gravity shifts leftwards to try and hold on to voters to switched to Yes in 2014, what future is there for the party’s increasingly vocal right wing?
The reason the Nationalists are suffering now is that despite a long run of uncommonly able leadership, and opponents perhaps less willing to defend the existence of their state than in any other country on earth, Scottish independence is just not a good idea.