The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are meeting to discuss their constitutional futures and what they believe should be the right of their people to decide whether they remain part of the United Kingdom. For Scotland, that immediately raises a much bigger question.
It would obviously be different. Brexit involved the UK leaving a much larger political and economic union while remaining one country.
The meeting in Cardiff on Monday is more significant than simply a discussion between the three nationalist parties. John Swinney (SNP), Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) and Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin), with Mary Lou McDonald also attending, are using the meeting to argue that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have a right to determine their own constitutional futures.
There is a growing concern that children and adults are reading fewer books than previous generations. It is an issue worth taking seriously, particularly as Scotland is now reviewing its Curriculum for Excellence and looking at what children need to know and be able to do in the years ahead.
Maternity services have been a continuing source of concern in parts of Scotland, particularly in rural and island communities where women can already face long journeys to reach specialist care. The latest exchange in the Scottish Parliament suggests that the arguments are still far from being settled.
The rising oil price is beginning to show up where motorists notice it most: at the petrol pump. Average petrol prices across Scotland are now around 175p a litre in Highland, compared with a Scottish average of about 170p.
The important question is whether the Houthi attacks are creating a temporary market scare or the beginnings of a new inflation problem that could force the Bank of England to raise interest rates. There are three things in play right now.
Heating Oil or Electric? The Difficult Choice Facing Rural Scottish Households This Winter For many rural Scottish households, the question this winter will not simply be how much heating will cost. It will be which form of heating gives them the best chance of keeping warm without breaking the household budget.
For generations, people in Scotland have tended to think of water as something that simply comes out of the tap. It is certainly not free.
Some BBC radio listeners using Amazon Alexa may have noticed a change. Asking Alexa to "play Radio Scotland" may now result in a message saying that the station is no longer available.
Britain could be heading into another difficult period for household finances. Oil prices have risen sharply as the Middle East conflict disrupts energy supplies and shipping.
For years, British politics has often appeared to be written with cities in mind. Transport policy, housing policy, economic development and even access to public services can look very different when the nearest town is several miles away, buses are infrequent and there may be no alternative to the car.
The Government's latest attempt to get Britain's economy moving faces a difficult test. The Prime Minister is bringing together business leaders through the Growth Panel to discuss how investment, productivity and economic growth can be increased.
The latest escalation in the Middle East is beginning to look less like a temporary oil-price spike and more like a threat to the wider global economy. The Houthis in Yemen have expanded their attacks while gaining control of territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast and reaching the strategically important island of Perim near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
A Caithness mum whose work brings music, movement and families together has been recognised as one of the area's young business success stories. Jade Sinclair, founder of Zumbini with Jade, has won the George Bruce Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 North Highland Chamber of Commerce awards.
China has stepped up its gold buying again, with the People's Bank of China adding 20.2 tonnes to its reserves in August. At current prices, that single month's purchase is worth roughly £2 billion.
Any candidatein the East Cithness bi-elections is invited to send in up to 1000 words in a statement giving their background and why they wish to represent people in he ward at Highland council. An outline of what they hope to do and which things they would support.
Being a landlord in Scotland used to be relatively straightforward. Buy a property, find a tenant, collect the rent and, if house prices rose, benefit from the increase in the value of the property.
Scotland's falling birth rate is becoming difficult to ignore. The number of babies being born has reached record lows and the fertility rate is now well below the level needed to replace the population over the long term.
Scotland is becoming an electricity powerhouse. In 2025, Scotland generated a record 38.5 terawatt-hours of renewable electricity, with wind accounting for most of it.