Swinney defends near £20,000 pay rise for SNP ministers as 'fair'

John Swinney pays tribute to Pope Francis

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has paid tribute to Pope Francis, calling his death "deeply saddening" and a moment of heartbreak for the Catholic community. Swinney praised the Pope’s commitment to peace, justice and leadership on global issues including Gaza and Ukraine. Report by Etemadil. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

First Minister sets out resilience plans ahead of US tariffs

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney said he will publish his Government’s legislative programme earlier than usual to help tackle tariff challenges. Speaking at a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh on Monday, Mr Swinney said the programme for government would be published on the 6th of May to "enable a full year of delivery between now and the Scottish election”. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Former MP urges action after historic Supreme Court ruling

Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry has welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legal definition of a woman, describing it as a key moment in the debate over sex-based rights. She said the judgment vindicates long-standing concerns but warned that it must now be properly implemented. Cherry urged political leaders to ensure the ruling is respected and reflected in everyday policy. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn