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Matt Kerr
 Handout file photo dated 19/06/26 by Edward Hughes of a man being arrested in Edinburg
Islamophobia / 21 June 2026
21 June 2026

Scotland's trade unions challenge politicians to tackle growth of the far right at its roots

Pro-EU campaigners during a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, ahead of the UK leaving the European Union at 11pm on Friday
Scotland / 22 June 2026
22 June 2026
Palestinians clear the rubble of a building that was destroyed by an Israeli air strike, at al-Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, June 12, 2026
Palestine Solidarity / 19 June 2026
19 June 2026
Teachers from the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union take part in a rally outside the constituency office of Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville in Dunfermline, Fife, during their strike action in dispute over pay, February 22, 2023
Workers' Rights / 19 June 2026
19 June 2026
GXO strike
Workers' Rights / 19 June 2026
19 June 2026
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (left) with party candidate Heather Doran (right) whilst campaigning for the upcoming Arbroath and Broughty Ferry UK Parliamentary by-election in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, June 10, 2026
Aw That / 19 June 2026
19 June 2026

MATT KERR takes stock of a night of by-elections, where the long repeated warnings for Labour and the political class remain stubbornly unheeded

Workers' Rights / 16 June 2026
16 June 2026
Ian Byrne addresses a Labour rally at the o2 Academy in Manchester, November 7, 2019
Scotland / 12 June 2026
12 June 2026
Goods at a food bank
Scotland / 12 June 2026
12 June 2026
Campaigners rally against Palantir. Photo: Neil Terry Photography
Healthcare / 11 June 2026
11 June 2026
 Coins and Scottish bank notes
Scotland / 11 June 2026
11 June 2026
First Minister John Swinney speaks to the media after First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh, June 4, 2026
Scotland / 9 June 2026
9 June 2026
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks to supporters at Chelmsford City Racecourse, Essex, following the 2026 local election results, May 8, 2026
Britain / 9 June 2026
9 June 2026
The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh
Scotland / 9 June 2026
9 June 2026
glasgow
Industrial / 8 June 2026
8 June 2026
League Against Cruel Sports
Animal cruelty / 7 June 2026
7 June 2026
Climate activists from Greenpeace and Uplift during a demonstration outside the Scottish Court of Session, Edinburgh, on the first day of the Rosebank and Jackdaw judicial review hearing, November 12, 2024
Scotland / 5 June 2026
5 June 2026
First Minister John Swinney speaks to the media after First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh, June 4, 2026
Scotland / 5 June 2026
5 June 2026
Scotland / 5 June 2026
5 June 2026
JUST DESERTS: : Peter Murrell arrives in a prison van at the High Court in Edinburgh, last Tuesday, after admitting he embezzled more than £400,000 from the SNP
Aw That / 6 June 2026
6 June 2026

Peter Murrell’s weakness for the allure of prestige goods is symptomatic of modern consumer culture, says MATT KERR

Scottish Green party supporters hold placards
Scotland / 3 June 2026
3 June 2026
Peter Mandelson taking his dog for a walk near his home in London, April 21, 2026
Scotland / 3 June 2026
3 June 2026
Alex norris
Technology / 1 June 2026
1 June 2026
Peter Murrell
Embezzlement / 1 June 2026
1 June 2026
STV
Industrial / 1 June 2026
1 June 2026
A person wearing a University and College Union (UCU) armban
Scotland / 29 May 2026
29 May 2026
Scotland / 28 May 2026
28 May 2026
Peter Murrell
Britain / 27 May 2026
27 May 2026
Clydebank panel
Britain / 27 May 2026
27 May 2026
Sharon Graham
Britain / 27 May 2026
27 May 2026
John Swinney
Britain / 26 May 2026
26 May 2026
SNP rosettes
Britain / 25 May 2026
25 May 2026
500 miles for solidarity
Aw That / 23 May 2026
23 May 2026

After battling hills, rain and injury in a three-day cycle ride ending at the CWU conference, MATT KERR reflects on why class unity remains the answer to injustice

 Coins and Scottish bank notes
Scotland / 20 May 2026
20 May 2026
Classroom assistants strike in West Dunbartonshire
Scotland / 20 May 2026
20 May 2026
A view of George Square in Glasgow
Scotland / 18 May 2026
18 May 2026
JOHN SWINNEY
Economy / 17 May 2026
17 May 2026

It’s time the SNP prioritised child welfare, says the Joseph Rowntree Foundation

the kirk
Slavery / 17 May 2026
17 May 2026
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, speaking during an eve of poll rally at Adelaide Place Baptist Church in Glasgow, May 6, 2026
Scotland / 14 May 2026
14 May 2026
Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) on the picket line outside Whitechapel delivery office, December 14, 2022
Interview / 14 May 2026
14 May 2026
A Royal Mail logo on a van in Bayswater, west London
Britain / 12 May 2026
12 May 2026
Health Secretary Alex Neil in front of Scotland's first charity-funded air ambulance helicopter, May 22, 2013
Scotland / 12 May 2026
12 May 2026
Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking to the media after meeting Labour Party members during a visit to AFC Wimbledon in south London, May 9, 2026
Scotland / 12 May 2026
12 May 2026
Angela Rayner at the CWU Conference
Politics / 11 May 2026
11 May 2026
A bridge struck by U.S. airstrikes on Thursday is seen in the town of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran, April 3, 2026
CWU Conference 2026 / 10 May 2026
10 May 2026
Reform UK Scottish leader Lord Malcolm Offord speaks to the media outside Trinity Church in Larkhall, Lanarkshire, on the campaign trail for the May 7 Holyrood election, May 5, 2026
Holyrood Election / 6 May 2026
6 May 2026
Campaigners take part in a Stop Rosebank protest outside the UK Government building in Edinburgh, after the controversial Equinor Rosebank North Sea oil field was given the go-ahead, September 30, 2023
Holyrood Elections / 6 May 2026
6 May 2026
THE GREAT ILLUSIONIST: Scotland First Minister John Swinney (centre) with assorted worthies at Wheatley Housing Development in Wallyford, East Lothian, apparently keen on accelerating housebuilding throughout Scotland, January 2026
Holyrood / 6 May 2026
6 May 2026

As Scotland heads to the polls, the main parties offer variations on the same script, says MATT KERR

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, during a visit to Bathgate, while campaigning for the upcoming Holyrood election, May 4, 2026
Scotland / 5 May 2026
5 May 2026
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn at the launch of the Scottish National Party 2026 Scottish Parliament election campaign, at Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, March 26, 2026
Scotland / 5 May 2026
5 May 2026
Tenement flats along Comely Bank in Edinburgh
Scotland / 5 May 2026
5 May 2026
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar unveils his plan for the first 100 days of a Scottish Labour government, whilst campaigning for the upcoming Holyrood election in Edinburgh, April 30, 2026
Scotland / 4 May 2026
4 May 2026
Scottish Green party supporters hold placards
Scotland / 4 May 2026
4 May 2026
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar unveils his plan for the first 100 days of a Scottish Labour government, while campaigning for the upcoming Holyrood election in Edinburgh, April 30, 2026
Holyrood Election / 4 May 2026
4 May 2026
First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader John Swinney with SNP candidate for Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith Ben Macpherson (left), launches a campaign billboard for the upcoming Holyrood elections on Leith Walk in Edinburgh, April 29, 2026
Scotland / 30 April 2026
30 April 2026
Scotland / 1 May 2026
1 May 2026
The Lady Justice statue atop the Central Criminal Court
Britain / 30 April 2026
30 April 2026
The logo for Glasgow airport
Scotland / 30 April 2026
30 April 2026
Reform UK Scottish leader Malcolm Offord speaking at the Reform UK Holyrood election campaign rally in Aberdeen, April 13, 2026
Reform UK Scotland / 29 April 2026
29 April 2026
A BP petrol station in Lymm in Cheshire, April 15, 2026
Climate Crisis / 28 April 2026
28 April 2026
Scottish National Party (SNP) leader John Swinney delivers a speech on the early actions a re-elected SNP Government would take to support people, at Pearce Institute, Glasgow, April 27, 2026
Scotland / 27 April 2026
27 April 2026
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, along with party supporters, at Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on the campaign trail for the upcoming Holyrood election, April 23, 2026
Britain / 24 April 2026
24 April 2026
Delegates during the first day of the STUC conference in the Caird Hall, Dundee, April 20, 2026
Aw That / 25 April 2026
25 April 2026

But that’s OK, says MATT KERR, as talking is what will help us get things done

Prime Minister Keir Starmer departs 10 Downing Street, London, to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament, April 22, 2026
STUC 2026 / 22 April 2026
22 April 2026
Scottish Green party co-leader Gillian Mackay during a visit to the Palestine Museum Scotland in Edinburgh, October 17, 2025
STUC 2026 / 22 April 2026
22 April 2026
First Minister John Swinney addresses delegates during the STUC conference in the Caird Hall, Dundee, April 21, 2026
STUC 2026 / 21 April 2026
21 April 2026
The Morning Star fringe at STUC 2026
STUC 2026 / 21 April 2026
21 April 2026
STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer during the STUC conference in the Caird Hall, Dundee, April 20, 2026
STUC 2026 / 21 April 2026
21 April 2026