Finlay Whiteford, associate, looks at the top stories for the week ahead.
As a new week dawns, so too does the cold nip of winter as de-icer cans and snow ploughs have been brought out across the country for another year.
We’re expecting an icy attitude from the home secretary this morning, who will set out plans to introduce a stricter Danish-style refugee policy. These will likely include new requirements for asylum seekers to stay in the UK for 20 years before they can apply to settle here permanently, and the overhauling of some human rights law pertaining to the right to a family life.
Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg yesterday, Shabana Mahmood saidher plans will restore “order and control” to the asylum system and win back the confidence of communities. Whether she can win over the followers of anunimpressed Nigel Farage is another matter.
Meanwhile, pressure has grown on Glasgow-based firm Seapeak Maritime, accused of transporting millions of tonnes of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to third-party countries to fund Vladimir Putin’s regime. New UK government restrictions will force Seapeak to change tack in 2026, a move described as “long overdue” by Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer.
Fellow left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn spent the weekend north of the border, telling The Herald that his beleaguered new party may stand on the Holyrood list next yearand may even support independence if its Scottish members agree.
Elsewhere, the COP30 summit in Brazil will enter its second week, with the notable absence of a US delegation. Tuvalu has so far been the only country to directly call out the Trump administration for ignoring the conference, with others desperate not to criticise US policy for fear of tariff increases.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
A variety of offshore wind developers have told The Scotsman that a rejection of the controversial Ming Yang turbine plant could risk the success of the flagship ScotWind programme. According to the sources, a lack of domestic manufacturing capability adds risk to the Scottish energy sector, potentially jeopardising £9bn in investment.
Scotland’s onshore wind sector brings in billions to our economy each year. But in places like Carsphairn in Dumfries and Galloway, the sector relies on single-track roads over two centuries old – whose closures result in stranded locals and businesses. The Herald reports on the detriments of net zero industries for rural Scotland’s residents.
Scots airline Loganair yesterday began rescuing passengers stranded by the collapse of Jersey-based competitor Blue Islands, on flights subsidised by the island’s government. The firm hopes to establish itself as a fixture in the Channel Islands over the coming months, reaching a full schedule of contingency services by March.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
“You can’t soak the rich if there aren’t rich people to soak.” In The Times Scotland, Iain Macwhirter slams the SNP’s tax policies (£) for misunderstanding behavioural change and squeezing middle-class wallets. As the Scottish funding gap rises, a “quixotic fixation with punitive taxation” is not Macwhirter’s preferred solution.
Writing in The Courier, Katy Gordon argues that the financial storm clouds around Dundee University and UHI Perth will have generational impacts for their cities’ economies and the local students “forced to go away” for opportunities, never to return.
Reflecting on a woeful week of political briefings for and against the prime minister, Euan McColm writes in Scotland on Sunday that Starmer’s failure to articulate a compelling national vision has made him a “sitting duck”, with health secretary Wes Streeting more likely than ever to replace him.
Countering recent claims that the Scottish start-up ecosystem outpaces that of the UK as a whole, Terry Murden warns in Daily Business Magazine against overstating our entrepreneurial prowess amid tough competition from English cities, despite Scottish progress in the tech sector.
Shifting the dial - recent research
From budget woes to industry shake-ups, recent weeks have shown that businesses are closely watching the actions of politicians at Holyrood and Westminster alike. But to what extent is the opposite true?
To find out, the Diffley Partnership surveyed over 600 senior decision makers in Scottish businesses, asking them the extent to which the Scottish and UK governments take action to address their concerns.
Just under half of leaders (46%) thought the Scottish Government does so, while just over a third (36%) of respondents said the same of the government at Westminster.
The question that remains is whether a changed Holyrood parliament next year will weaken or strengthen business confidence. Only time will tell.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
Monday
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At Westminster
- Oral questions to the Home Office
- Rightmove House Price Index released
Tuesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Government-led debate on the fishing industry
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In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Finance and Public Administration Committee will continue taking evidence on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill
- The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee will consider the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at stage two
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At Westminster
- Oral questions on Energy Security and Net Zero
Wednesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Portfolio questions: Economy and Gaelic; Finance and Local Government
- Scottish Labour debate on education
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In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Economy and Fair Work Committee will take evidence on the economic potential of AI
- The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee will consider the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill at stage two
- The Education, Children and Young People Committee will consider the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill at stage two
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Scottish Government data
- Scottish House Price index: September 2025 update
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At Westminster
- Prime Minister’s Questions
- The Scottish Affairs Committee will take evidence on GB Energy and the net zero transition
- October CPI and producer price index (PPI) inflation rate data released (UK-wide)
Thursday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- General Questions
- First Minister’s Questions
- Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill stage one debate
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At Westminster
- House of Lords questions on the role of water and sewerage companies in national infrastructure projects
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill at second reading in the House of Lords
- The British Retail Consortium releases its November Consumer Sentiment Monitor
- Deadline for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to respond to US Democrats requesting his co-operation with their Epstein investigation
- Results: Nationwide (HY), Investec (HY), Mitie (HY)
Friday
- The FSB’s Scottish Growth Seminar takes place at Hampden Park
- COP30 due to conclude in Belém, Brazil
- S&P Global flash purchasing managers’ index (PMI) data released
- October public sector finance data for Great Britain released
- Results: ASOS (FY), Babcock (HY)
Saturday
- G20 leaders’ summit begins in Johannesburg, South Africa