A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, has condemned the SNP for failing to address Scotland's escalating drug death crisis, which saw a 31% increase in fatalities over the last three months. Speaking in Glasgow, he described the SNP's inaction as "an insult to those families" affected by drug misuse. Sarwar proposed increased investment in abstinence, detox, and rehabilitation services. He stated: "We will take on the drugs deaths emergency and ensure proper investment." Meanwhile, SNP candidate Clare Haughey defended the party's record, citing a new strategic plan and significant funding for addiction services.

 

The Scotsman

 

Criminals are struggling to complete Community Payback Orders (CPOs), with nearly 900,000 unpaid work hours still pending. Many of these orders date back to 2018, highlighting a backlog exacerbated by the Covid pandemic. Scottish Conservative community justice spokesman Sharon Dowey stated: "These shocking figures expose the failures of the SNP's soft-touch justice system." While 85% of unpaid work requirements are now completed within a year, this is down from 92% pre-pandemic. The Scottish Government claims to have invested £169m in community justice services to improve the system.

 

Daily Mail (Scot)

 

Barristers who represented the Post Office during the Horizon IT scandal may face disciplinary action, according to the Bar Standards Board (BSB). The BSB is currently investigating ten cases of potential misconduct, which it expects to escalate to its decision-making panel by year-end. A BSB spokesperson acknowledged the scandal's significant impact on sub-postmasters and public confidence in the Bar. Additionally, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is examining 20 firms and solicitors involved, focusing on allegations of a lack of integrity in their management of the case. Jonathan Peddie of the SRA said: "We owe that to everyone impacted by this scandal."

 

City AM

The Court of Appeal is reviewing the High Court's ruling that the ban on Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 was "disproportionate" and infringed on human rights. The Home Office argues that the ban, which criminalises support for the group, is necessary for national security. Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, opposes the appeal, calling the ban an "authoritarian abuse of statutory power." Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Home Office, stated that the group's actions meet the statutory definition of terrorism. The hearing is set to conclude soon.

 

thenational.scot

thenational.scot

The Press and Journal

Most large UK firms lack clarity on how their data is processed by AI systems abroad, raising compliance concerns. A survey by Harbr Data shows that 61% of senior tech leaders at companies worth £100m or more do not fully understand overseas data usage. Nearly 75% reported regular data transfers out of the UK, with a third occurring daily. Anthony Cosgrove, co-founder of Harbr Data, noted the critical nature of AI in business processes. Under UK GDPR, firms must demonstrate data processing transparency, which is increasingly challenging as AI adoption grows.

 

City AM

Lloyds Banking Group saw the highest number of complaints of any financial services business in the second half of 2025, with 187,516 grievances logged with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). While its flagship brand, Lloyds Bank, accounted for 90,837 complaints, Bank of Scotland accounted for 79,508. Overall, the financial services sector saw a slight increase in complaints, reaching 1.9m, with this up nearly 1% from H1. The proportion of upheld complaints decreased from 57.9% to 55.5%. FCA data shows that firms paid £236.2m in compensation, down from £283.7m earlier in the year. The City watchdog noted a significant rise in motor insurance complaints, which surged by over a third.

 

City AM

Second home owners in the Highlands are protesting against a 300% increase in council tax on additional properties. Colin Taylor, representing the group Second Home Owners for Fair Treatment (SHOFT), is calling for a six-month delay to reconsider the policy. He argues that many second home owners are retirees who invest in the region, contributing to local businesses. Taylor stated: "We feel very unwelcomed." Highland Council claims the tax aims to address the housing crisis, with 80% of respondents supporting the increase. The council is open to appeals on a case-by-case basis.

 

The Press and Journal

Nearly 34,000 patients in Scotland were waiting over a year for NHS treatment at the end of March, missing a key SNP pledge to eliminate such delays. Data shows 16,090 outpatient cases and 17,882 inpatient or day-case waits exceeded 52 weeks, including thousands waiting more than two years. First Minister John Swinney had promised to end year-long waits, but the target was not met. The SNP said progress was being made, citing a recent decline in the longest waits. Opposition parties criticised the figures, arguing they reflect ongoing pressures on the NHS and continued delays for patients requiring treatment.

 

Daily Mail (Scot)

Government borrowing costs have surged to the joint highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, with this driven by rising oil prices and inflation concerns. The yield on the 10-year gilt - a benchmark for a government's long-term ability to borrow - has surpassed 5% for only the third time since the conflict in Iran began. The UK has experienced the steepest rise in borrowing costs among developed economies, with the two-year gilt yield increasing over 1% since March. Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt, said: "Over the past decade, the UK economy has suffered a succession of policy mistakes and resulting rates of inflation which have consistently exceeded the prevailing trends across other major economies," adding: "Unsurprisingly, it no longer takes much to spook UK government debt markets." Analysts warn that the UK's reliance on oil imports makes it vulnerable to external shocks.

 

City AM

Scotland’s population is projected to peak at 5.56m in mid-2033 before beginning a gradual decline, according to National Records of Scotland figures. Lower migration levels and a continued imbalance between deaths and births are expected to drive the downturn. By mid-2049, the population is forecast to fall to 5.47m, reversing earlier projections of continued growth. While migration will remain positive, it is not expected to fully offset demographic pressures. This trend contrasts with the wider UK, where population growth is still expected. Overall, Scotland’s population is predicted to decline by around 1.3% by 2049.

 

Daily Mail (Scot)