James Mitchell

A general view of MSPs in the Holyrood chamber

Is social class Holyrood's hidden inequality?

Anas Sarwar, John Swinney and Malcolm Offord have all been throwing accusations

Mudslinging and lack of policy puts voters off amid 'bitter' campaign

St Andrew's House, headquarters of the Scottish government in Edinburgh

Exclusive Government 'bias' row after independence podcaster offered FOI meeting

John Swinney speaking to special advisers Ewan Crawford and Colin McAllister (right) at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

Spads in the Scottish Government 'must be brought out of the shadows'

Fergus Ewing, pictured in the Scottish Parliament

Analysis Can Fergus Ewing beat the SNP and win as an independent?

A general view of the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh

MSPs to probe public inquiries amid concerns over 'significant' costs

Winnie Ewing is welcomed by supporters, including two bagpipers, as she arrives in London to take her seat in the House of Commons in 1967

After six decades, is this the end of the SNP’s Ewing family dynasty?

The Scottish Parliament in Holyrood. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Scottish Government accused of being 'power hoarder' amid 25-year anniversary

Analysis As Humza Yousaf marks his first year, he should heed the words of Kate Forbes

Analysis ‘There will be infighting, bloodletting, feuding’: What next for the SNP?

Nicola Sturgeon

Analysis: One year on, Yousaf has yet to escape Sturgeon's shadow

Clever use of social media was credited by some with helping Barack Obama win the 2008 US presidential election (Picture: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images)

The human touch, not social media algorithms, wins elections

Is Yousaf now more interested in fixing NHS than being a social justice warrior? Susan Dalgety

Michael Gove dismisses Humza Yousaf’s new independence strategy

Humza Yousaf reads through his speech before heading to the stage at the SNP independence convention. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Humza Yousaf's new independence strategy branded 'deeply confused' by expert

Humza Yousaf's administration has endured a rocky start amid speculation the crisis engulfing the SNP could lead to a breakaway party. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Analysis: Could the crisis engulfing the SNP lead to a new breakaway party?

First Minister Donald Dewar, pictured addressing the Scottish Parliament in 2000, saw devolution as the start of a process of enhancing democracy (Picture: Ben Curtis/PA)

Why Scottish democracy needs a major audit – Professor James Mitchell

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has said Liz Truss should call an election if she wants a mandate for her new policies (Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA)

UK's slippery constitution allows Truss to change policies without new mandate

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon released a new paper on democracy last week.

Academic labels independence democracy paper 'utterly fanciful' and 'dismal'

Nicola Sturgeon, in her younger days, attends an anti-nuclear protest at Faslane nuclear submarine base on the Clyde (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA)

Sturgeon's independence masterplan is overgrown student politics – Brian Wilson

Deputy First Minister John Swinney. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

John Swinney says he misheard question after contradicting SNP independence plan

A new poll has found support for independence in Scotland has dropped.

Poll shows drop in Scottish independence support

One of the main arguments against independence is what currency Scotland would use (Graphic: Mark Hall/JPI Media)

Scotland's future: what are the arguments against Scottish independence?

The debate surrounding Scottish independence has only intensified in the last few years (Graphic: Mark Hall/JPI Medial)

Scotland's future: what are the arguments for Scottish independence?

More than 51,000 people in Scotland are classed as being destitute (Picture: John Devlin)

Will Sturgeon respond to the plight of 51,000 destitute Scots? – Susan Dalgety

A Saltire and a European Union flag fly outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

Holyrood must overhaul way of working in post-Brexit landscape

Nicola Sturgeon during the First Minister's Questions session at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood

The SNP is tired, but not as weary as the opposition - Gina Davidson

Entrance tunnel at Barnton Nuclear Bunker, three miles from Edinburgh city centre

Edinburgh nuclear bunker could become visitor attraction for more than 100,000 p...

Saifullah Paracha's accuser was being tortured himself

Guantanamo prisoner Saifullah Paracha: Demand to know the truth about Scottish r...

SNP MP Winnie Ewing campaigns against the UK's membership of the Common Market ahead of the 1975 referendum on Europe. Picture: Dick Ewart/TSPL

I love EU: How Scotland learned to love the European Union

Professor Sheila Riddell, director of Edinburgh Universitys Centre for Research in Education Inclusion and Diversity, says that despite no tuition fees for Scottish students becoming a real flagship of devolution, it cannot be demonstrated that its the right policy. Pic: Jane Barlow

‘Free university tuition fees in Scotland less progressive than UK’

Alan Little at the Scottish Parliament. Picture: BBC

Scots outside the Central Belt ‘failed by devolution’

SNP treasury spokeswoman Alison Thewliss MP. Picture: TSPL

Scottish councils: ‘UK isn’t playing by rules’ with Stronger Towns Fund

The UK government has been accused of trying to roll back devolution.' Picture: MauriceDB/Flickr/Creative Commons

UK Government accused of undermining The Vow and ‘rolling back devolution’

Photo by Jayne Wright. Scottish Parliament building, Holyrood park, Edinburgh. Stock

Bute youngsters asked to submit their Scottish Parliament hopes and aspirations

Aerial view of Scotland's Secret Bunker near Anstruther. Picture: JP

Secret Bunker who said ghost touched girl cleared of sex assault

Professor James Mitchell says the chance of a Yes vote is higher than in 2014. Picture: Lisa Ferguson.

Chance of a Yes vote for Scottish independence '˜greater than ever'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Indyref2: What's next for Scotland?

Detail from Pennyroyal Caxton Press Bible. Picture: PA

National Library of Scotland displays ‘world’s most beautiful books’

The text of Alex Salmond's independence victory speech has been revealed. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Alex Salmond’s independence victory speech revealed

Professor James Mitchell argues real power lies with 'officials, quangos and central government'. Picture: TSPL

MSPs warned of ‘democratic deficit’

The entrance tunnel to Scotland's Secret Bunker

Scotland’s secret bunker reopens after refurbishment
A Cold War nuclear command centre has re-opened its three tonne blast-proof doors to the public after extensive restoration over winter.

No two referendums are the same - and we can learn from the history of the Yes/No vote. Picture: Getty

Patterns emerge from unpredictable picture

Richard Keen's appointment came as a surprise to some. Picture: Jane Barlow

Scottish independence: Keen gets Tory chair job

Andrew Wilson believes an independent Scotland could follow the Nordic model, which achieves high economic performance without sacrificing social cohesion. Picture: Jane Barlow

Andrew Wilson: Transforming SNP for new Scotland

Old King Cole, once the world's smallest book, is to go on display at the National Library of Scotland. Picture: Sean Bell

Mini-books on show at National Library of Scotland

Queen’s Edinburgh nuclear bunker to open as museum

Queen’s Edinburgh nuclear bunker to open as museum

Letters: No grotto at Christmas time? Sleigh it ain’t so, Jenners

Beekeeper who got buzz out of book collecting

Beekeeper who got buzz out of book collecting

placeholder image

Leaders: SNP may struggle for credibility with change of stance on Nato

Battle lines being drawn by SNP members over key Alex Salmond policies

Kenny Farquharson: SNP heading for Nato U-turn in referendum battle plans

Study reveals average SNP member is over 60 and male

Study reveals average SNP member is over 60 and male

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries