Welcome to The Courier’s morning politics briefing — everything you need to know about politics in your region and across the country, before you start your day.
Top Stories:
- Scottish oil workers are ‘effectively banned from Norway’ due to ongoing delays in producing a digital vaccine passport. As Adele Merson reports, the Scottish Government have been unable to keep up with the tech advances that England, Wales or other European countries have managed to achieve.
- New Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton says his party can still offer something fresh to voters, despite losing another seat at May’s Holyrood election. Read more in our new interview with him here.
- The SNP released their latest accounts, but what have we learned about how Scotland’s biggest political is funded, and how they use their money? The Courier’s Political Editor Paul Malik takes a look.
Afghanistan attacks
- At least 90 people were killed and many others wounded in attacks in Kabul on Thursday. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added her condolences.
The dreadful attacks at Kabul airport today compound the horror unfolding in Afghanistan. My thoughts are with those bereaved and injured. We owe such a debt to our armed forces and others working against the clock to evacuate as many people as possible from this grim situation.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 26, 2021
- Meanwhile Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledges to continue trying to evacuate British and Afghan nationals right up to the 31st August withdrawal deadline.
- Security fears are being highlighted after details of locally employed staff at the British Embassy in Kabul have been found laying on the ground, as the compound was taken by Taliban fighters.
- Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat says “this is what defeat looks like” in the aftermath of Thursday’s Kabul explosions.
In case you missed it:
- Clara Ponsati: Extradition case dismissed after former St Andrews academic refuses to return to Scotland for hearing.
- Nicola Sturgeon confirms Green party co-leaders will join Scottish Government
- Tayside hit hardest as hundreds of officers leave Scotland’s local police teams
- Dundee West and Glenrothes among worst hit by Universal Credit cut