Welcome to The Courier’s morning politics briefing, it’s everything you need to know about politics in your region, and across the country, before you start your day.
New this morning:
- Boris Johnson’s free trade deal with Australia could cause devastation on a scale with the Highland Clearances, a former Scottish Government minister has claimed.
- A north-east MSP claims passengers are being pushed away from Aberdeen Airport due to a major discrepancy that leaves those returning to Scotland paying more than twice as much for Covid tests than England.
- Nicola Sturgeon has been told to expect thousands of job cuts and angry protests from rural workers over plans to work closely with the Greens in government.
- A newly-elected north-east MSP has used her first speech to claim that thousands of coronavirus victims were “sacrificed to neoliberalism”.
- The Scottish Greens say they are looking to New Zealand’s example for their potential “cooperation agreement” with the SNP.
Coming up today:
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to host the controversial Hungarian leader Viktor Orban at Number 10 – supporters of Stand Up To Racism are planning to protest outside Downing Street.
- Nicola Sturgeon is due to give a coronavirus update on Glasgow.
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak will convene a virtual meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors.
In case you missed it:
- Holyrood and Westminster could be on a collision course over proposed legislation that includes controversial plans to ask voters for photographic ID.
- Health secretary Humza Yousaf admitted he has “ethical, clinical and human rights concerns” about the domestic use of vaccine passports.
- Scotland’s new transport minister admitted ferry breakdowns and disruptions have been “intolerable” for islanders.
