A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

The organisations tasked with leading a review into the operations of grooming gangs in Scotland have said that the review will take place over three phases - assessment, assurance and improvement - with the first two phases expected to take up to 18 months to complete. The Care Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and His Majesty's Inspectorates of Constabulary and Education in Scotland are leading the review, and met yesterday with the Chief Officers Group, representing councils, health boards, social work and policing, to set out the scope of the review. However, Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: "If the SNP are serious about tackling child sexual exploitation, they must stop hiding behind reviews and commit to a full, independent inquiry now." One victim who was abused while living in a children's unit in Edinburgh said it felt like the Government was hoping public attention would fade, making it easier to avoid a proper inquiry.

 

STV	Daily Mail

 

Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrat MSP, has pointed to a recent poll indicating that 81% of Scots support the introduction of assisted dying for terminally ill patients. The National Centre for Social Research conducted the survey, which involved 1,494 participants. Only 14% opposed the measure. McArthur said: "This overwhelming demand is not going away," urging MSPs to pass the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. However, the Association of Palliative Medicine (APM) has expressed serious concerns about the Bill, calling it "clinically unsafe, inequitable and unworkable." Dr Matt Dore, APM's honorary secretary, stated: "We urge extreme caution: dying people need investment in care and support, not legislation that could compound existing inequities."

 

Daily Mail

Daily Mail (Scot)

The Press and Journal

The Scotsman

 

Martyn Evans, head of the SNP's Sentencing Commission, has cautioned against the mass early release of prisoners, labelling it "risky". He stated that such emergency schemes return inmates to the community without adequate support, increasing the likelihood of reoffending. Justice Secretary Angela Constance has implemented these releases due to prison overcrowding. Evans proposed replacing short jail terms with community service and fines, arguing that current releases lack proper supervision.

 

Daily Mail (Scot)

King Charles has said he is ready to support a police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after two probes were launched by Thames Valley Police. The first is connected with the alleged trafficking of a woman to the UK by Jeffery Epstein for sex with the then-prince in 2010. The second is connected to Andrew's dissemination of information to Epstein whilst he was a trade envoy. Mountbatten-Windsor was reported to police by the anti-monarchy group Republic over suspected breaches of official secrets legislation and potential misconduct in public office. Meanwhile, leading US Democrat Ro Khanna, who helped to force the release of the Epstein files, urged the King and Queen to "answer questions" about Epstein warning that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s relationship with the disgraced financier could "bring down the British monarchy".

 

Sky News

Financial Times

The Daily Telegraph

A man has been jailed for seven years and four months for setting fire to a Leith beauty salon and a garage as part of a gangland feud in Edinburgh. Logan Carlin admitted throwing a petrol bomb at the Belle Cheveux salon, linked to the partner of a convicted drug dealer, and later setting fire to DB Auto Services. The judge noted the attacks were motivated by organised crime rivalries and could have endangered nearby residents, though no one was harmed.

 

BBC News

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said Britain does not require ICE-style raids to increase deportations. She highlighted a record number of removals, nearly 60,000, achieved without armed units. Her comments came after she was asked by the Liberal Democrats to condemn President Trump's immigration policies, which she refused to do stating that she was focussed on the UK. 

 

Daily Express

Labour has accused the Scottish Government of failing to address the rising issue of shoplifting, with incidents more than doubling since 2021. Police Scotland reported 48,564 shoplifting crimes in the year ending September 2025, a 129% increase from 21,175 in 2021. Despite this surge, only 2,854 individuals were convicted in 2023/24. Labour leader Anas Sarwar stated that if elected as first minister, he would enhance community policing and restore crime prevention roles.

 

STV

Scottish law firm Brodies is expanding into Leeds with the acquisition of Barton Legal, marking its second English office and first outside London. The move strengthens Brodies' construction practice, bringing in an eight-strong team led by founder Bill Barton, a specialist in construction law.

 

Bdaily

Insider Media

Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against Hims and Hers Health for patent infringement after Hims attempted to launch a $49 version of Novo's weight-loss drug, Wegovy. The lawsuit addresses both pill and injectable forms of Novo's drugs, reflecting tensions between drug manufacturers and compounding pharmacies. Analysts suggest this legal action may signal a broader crackdown on compounded GLP-1 drugs.

 

The Times

The Independent UK

President Trump’s clampdown on immigration has extended to the US embassy in London preventing top-level business executives from travelling to America over minor historic criminal offences.

 

Financial Times

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, over his role in the appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador and the peer's links to Jeffrey Epstein, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called for Sir Keir's resignation. Speaking at a press conference in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar criticised "failures in Downing Street" and said the "distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change". First Minister John Swinney and the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn have also joined calls for Sir Keir's resignation, while a number of Cabinet ministers have publicly backed the PM - with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy saying: "We should let nothing distract us from our mission to change Britain and we support the Prime Minister in doing that."

 

thenational.scot

BBC News

The Scotsman

Herald Scotland