Laura Pollock

It’s the last hours of our winter sale!

We’ve got such exciting stuff planned for this year, all the while keeping up our live reporting and in-depth investigations our readers know + love

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The mural as it stand is expected to be seen in Glasgow this summer 👀

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Top artist calls for Scottish council to reconsider approved AI-generated mural A TOP artist has called for Glasgow City Council to reconsider the approval of an AI-generated mural, saying the design is "insulting to all…

Smug, who is known for his murals of St Mungo and Rab C Nesbitt, said the design is “insulting to all artists”

The proposer also spoke to us. You can read both their comments here

www.thenational.scot/news/2578270...

An unbelievable amount of discourse surrounding an AI-generated mural which has been approved in Scotland👇

I exclusively confirmed that yes, it is AI and Smug, the world-famous mural artist based in Glasgow, has called on the council to reconsider the approval

The rest of this week will be spent taking a closer look into all that was announced and just how that will affects Scots for years to come 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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What the Scottish Budget tells us about SNP priorities for the 2026 election THE Scottish Government’s budget has been branded “electioneering on steroids”, so what did it tell us about the SNP’s priorities going into…

And we have our own analysis of what this pre-election Budget really says about the Government priorities

From Abbi Garton-Crosbie 🤓

www.thenational.scot/news/2576323...

Scottish Budget choices 'a stark contrast to Westminster', financial experts say THE “biggest policy” in the Scottish Budget is a stealth tax rise on the highest earners in the country – while tax cuts for lower earners…

But, what do the experts say?

We’ve rounded up their comments and analysis after crunching the numbers

www.thenational.scot/news/2576334...

New Scottish council tax bands to target homes worth over £1m, SNP announce TWO new council tax bands for the most valuable properties in Scotland will be introduced, the Finance Secretary has said ...

New council tax bands 👀

After years of the SNP promising to reform the system, does this even come close? We’ll be looking more this week into that, with the latest here 👇

www.thenational.scot/news/2576217...

What are the Scottish Budget income tax changes and how do they affect you? SCOTLAND’S income tax bands are set to change. Here's what that means in practice

Income tax is changing 🚨

A handy explainer on how it will affect you, with salary examples from @xanderelliards.bsky.social 👇

www.thenational.scot/news/2576302...

Income tax cuts and council tax rises: The nine key points from the Scottish Budget SHONA Robison has delivered her final Scottish Budget as Finance Secretary before the Holyrood election with the spending and tax plans featuring…

Some fantastic Budget coverage today from the team @scotnational.bsky.social - answering any and all questions you have 🧵

First up, the nine key points from @stephbrawn.bsky.social

Big thank you to @lauraewebster.bsky.social, Stewart Ward, @callumbaird.bsky.social and @xanderelliards.bsky.social plus the whole team

Can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Subscribe now, one year for £20 to get the best coverage of national and global events: thenational.scot/subscribe

Starting 2026 with a good news announcement 🎉

I am now Digital Audience and Content Editor for @scotnational.bsky.social

📲 Digitally, we’ve grown MASSIVELY over the last few years + we won’t be stopping now

As always: stories, interviews, questions 👉 laura.pollock@newsquest.co.uk

Irish ministers deactivate Twitter/X accounts as sexual AI images flood platform IRELAND'S media minister has deactivated his Twitter/X account, saying he did not feel comfortable being on a platform where sexual deepfakes were…

At least two Irish ministers have deactivated their Twitter/X accounts as sexual deepfake images continue to flood the platform

Scottish Government 'faces questions' over airports used in US tanker operation The Scottish Government has 'serious questions' to answer after US Air Force planes used a number of Scottish airports during an operation to seize…

At least three Scottish airports involved 👇

With @lucyajackson.bsky.social @stephbrawn.bsky.social @alasdairferguson.bsky.social for @scotnational.bsky.social

RECAP: US military seize 'Russian' oil tanker north of Scotland US forces are reportedly attempting to seize the Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella-1

Biggest story today? Oh just the US military flying over our heads to seize a Russian-flagged tanker off the Scottish coast after breaking the Venezuela oil blockade

Full recap of our live reporting 👇

Storm Floris already making history 👇

🌬️ I’ll be on the newsdesk early tomorrow morning - please send any updates from across the country my way

Stay safe folks!

Scots Language Centre plunged into crisis as board resigns over payments row THE Scots Language Centre is facing closure amid criminal allegations, board resignations, halted operations, and concerns over the future of public…

EXCLUSIVE: The Scots Language Centre is in danger 🚨

The leading organisation tasked with promoting + supporting Scots is facing closure amid criminal allegations, board resignations, staff not being paid, and concerns over the future of public funding

I am proud to work with a team that does not shy away when threatened

And I am grateful to work with people who have strong principles, respectful debate, and courage in the face of power ❤️

Campaigners standing up for “women” bombarded my inbox with messages

Again: You do not know me, my story, what my experience as a woman has been, or why I take seriously what rights a woman has

To say we are “anti-women” is as the piece states: an intellectually lazy attack

JK Rowling called our newspaper 'anti-woman'. Here's my response THIS week JK Rowling launched an attack on The National, describing us as an "anti-woman newspaper" ...

Last night JK Rowling branded our paper “anti-women” over a story I published

Frankly, Ms Rowling, you have no idea who I am or what our paper stands for

Here, @lauraewebster.bsky.social explains why "anti-trans" is indeed suitable language for these activists
www.thenational.scot/news/2525321...

And one comment on this article describes the global situation as ‘utter madness’

Yes, yes it is

EXCL: Have the G7 enabled Israel’s new genocide tactics to be used in Iran?

Today’s G7 statement ‘threatens humanity,’ one international relations expert told me 👇

www.thenational.scot/news/2524693...

EXCL: Have the G7 just enabled Israel’s new genocide tactics to be used in Iran?

Today’s G7 statement ‘threatens humanity,’ one international relations expert told me 👇

www.thenational.scot/news/2524693...

Hello! I'm looking to interview a person aged 82/83 for a piece on the welfare state 📢

The person would help inform a piece for
@scotnational.bsky.social on the UK's welfare state throughout their life, from 1942 to 2025 - happy to travel!

laura.pollock@newsquest.co.uk or DM!

Calling SNP activists 📣

After a long night, I’m keen to hear from you on where the party needs to go now

As one source told us, ‘time to hit the independence button’?

DMs open, for an article on
@scotnational.bsky.social

This weekend, Skerryvore will perform at Floors Castle to an international audience of 7000 people 😱

I spoke to fiddler Craig Espie ahead of the gig celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary, seven albums + their unique fusion of folk, trad, pop and rock

www.thenational.scot/news/2519508...

Do you remember the backlash against the Redcoat Cafe at Edinburgh Castle last year? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Well, Historic Environment Scotland said they would review in the financial year

The self-imposed deadline has passed, and activists have not forgot 👇

www.thenational.scot/news/2517908...

Not seen this in a long time: Representatives from Alba, SNP AND the Greens attending the launch of a new Yes hub, with the founder of Believe in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

A very rare display of unity here, is something in the wind changing? Is it something we'll see more of ..?

Full story here: www.thenational.scot/news/2517103...