67 m. ago Nicola Sturgeon’s immense political talent is undeniable. The nationalism was the problem | Martin Kettle

Many of her admirers gloss over her desire to break up the UK as Scotland’s first minister. But in her open and touching memoir, it plays a starring roleNicola Sturgeon was – and still is – important, talented, personable and, to many, inspirational. She was also extremely lucky and often wrong, sometimes seriously so. There are examples of all these qualities in her newly published memoir, Frankly. Sturgeosceptics should concede at once that it contains much that is fascinating, especially about her relations with her charismatic mentor turned vengeful enemy Alex Salmond. Starry-eyed Sturgies should equally admit she made several deep and lasting errors that have left behind a divided nationalist party and movement.The book is more open and touching about private issues than most political memoirs, although Sturgeon deploys these qualities selectively. Many of the intimate reflections are about being a woman in politics. Other memoirs by female politicians – including those of Marg...

Politics

3 h. ago Pressure is building on Sir Keir Starmer to sack his trade envoy to Turkey over trip to northern Cyprus

Pressure was last night coming from within Labour for Keir Starmer to sack his trade envoy to Turkey over an unauthorised trip.

Events

6 h. ago Our £48k caravan park hell: Couple face financial ruin after buying first home on 'rundown slum' site plagued with XL Bullies, machete

A young couple have been left in thousands of pounds out of pocket after their dream of buying their first home together turned into a living nightmare.

Economics

6 h. ago Teen died after police rush to her flat, but could not be saved due to 'frustrating' delay

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Alex Duce, 18, was found by police shortly after she lost consciousness inside her flat in Newport, Wales - and tragically died in hospital despite the attempts made to revive her

Events

8 h. ago Barriers prevent severe flooding in Alaska capital after glacier outburst

Officials say temporary barriers helped Juneau avoid hundreds of flooded homes from Mendenhall Glacier meltNewly installed river barriers held back record levels of flooding and prevented widespread damage in Alaska’s capital city on Wednesday, after an ice dam at the nearby Mendenhall Glacier released a huge surge of rainwater and snowmelt, officials said.Water pooled on several streets and in some yards in Juneau after the Mendenhall River crested earlier in the day, and high water was expected to persist for hours. But many residents in the flood zone had evacuated before peak water levels, and there were no damage reports similar to the past two summers, when about 300 homes were flooded. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago Great British Bake Off future of hosts and judges confirmed as Prue Leith is missing from the new trailer

The much-loved baking competition has become an autumn TV tradition, drawing in millions each year for a mix of spectacular showstoppers and kitchen disasters.

Events

10 h. ago Fury over newly installed 'killer kerb' causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars daily 

The new installation was designed to create a 'more welcoming environment for pedestrians' but has instead become so notorious that it has been listed as a tourist attraction on Google Maps.

Events

13 h. ago ‘Death always feels imminent’: a moving Netflix documentary on prison, music and forgiveness

In Songs from the Hole, a man convicted of murder when he was a teenager finds healing in music during his sentenceIn 2014, a sergeant at a California state prison sent James “JJ’88” Jacobs, who was 25 at the time, to “the hole” – solitary confinement in a 6-by-6 cell. One bunk, one strip of a window. Jacobs had already been incarcerated for a decade by then; at 15, he was given a double life sentence for second-degree murder. Alone in the hole, Jacobs thought, as he always did, about the most devastating month of his life, April 2004: on the 16th, he shot and killed a fellow teenager outside a nightclub in his home town of Long Beach, California. Three days later, another young man shot and killed his beloved older brother Victor. For years, Jacobs was caught in a terrible cycle of grief – for what he had done, for what had been done to him.In the hole, Jacobs would lie on the floor, eyes closed, and imagine his life outside prison. He’d make beats by pounding on his bunk or chest....

Events

13 h. ago Sturgeon’s ‘Stalinist’ approach disastrous for SNP, claims Joanna Cherry

Lawyer Joanna Cherry said she has never been friends with former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Events

14 h. ago 'Manchester nightlife' viral videos investigation discussed in podcast

An investigation by the Manchester Evening News uncovered a vile trade in videos of women in the city centre

Events

14 h. ago Scottish Water boss handed £50k pay boost as bills soar for customers

The corporation's annual report showed that chief executive Alex Plant had his salary increased to £295,000 between 2024 and 2025.

Economics

15 h. ago Football Daily | Ref Cams: behold the era of football’s electronic all

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!When Football Daily were a lad and everything about football was much better, top-flight referees were able to go about their business unencumbered by nothing more hi-tech and new-fangled than a wrist-watch, a coin, a whistle, red and yellow cards, and a stubby little pencil they could’ve half-inched from the betting shop. Fast forward several decades and while the standard of officiating remains much the same, advances in the fields of both technology and vanishing foam dictate that Premier League refs are now forced to include spray cans, headsets and now body cameras on the list of items to be ticked off their pre-match checklists before they can lead teams out on to the pitch.As an Atlético member of 13 years standing, can I throw a few more comments into the mix of La Liga’s anti-fan policies (yesterday’s Football Daily)? Want to book flights and accommodation to Spain to catch a game? Oh wait, you won’t know the date or even t...

Politics

15 h. ago Reeves accused of ‘punishing families’ with inheritance tax raid – that still ‘won’t fill Labour’s blackhole’

Former government economist Jonathan Portes told The Independent changes to inheritance tax would not raise enough to plug the UK’s multi-billion-pound fiscal shortfall

Politics

17 h. ago Poundland closing: is it closing down, next wave of UK store closures shutting, full list of locations near me

The budget chain is cutting back its store numbers and winding down online sales 🛒

Politics

18 h. ago American visits Poundland for first time and is left stunned by 'unexpected' find

Cara, who runs the Magic Geekdom channel which boasts more than 77,000 subscribers, updates her followers on her travels around the UK and had never visited a Poundland store before

Politics

19 h. ago Beauty student, 18, died when police couldn't find equipment to force their way into her home, inquest hears

An inquest heard police went to her flat at 11am but left when there was no answer because Alex was only deemed a 'medium risk.'

Events

19 h. ago Five ways to improve your credit score to get better loan offers

A poor credit rating could result in paying thousands of pounds in interest.

Politics

20 h. ago Nicola Sturgeon book 'causing heartache for Alex Salmond's widow', claims former SNP minister

EXCLUSIVE: Alex Neil said the former first minister's "attacks" on her predecessor are hurting Moira, the later former first minister's widow.

Politics

20 h. ago Stacey Solomon shares weight loss secret after huge transformation

The BBC star has flaunted her toned figure in a black bikini as she candidly admitted her pride at losing the pounds

Politics

20 h. ago Poundland to axe two popular services ahead of latest store closures

It makes up part of a restructuring plan to "simplify and refocus" the struggling company.

Politics