Sophie Taylor, senior associate, looks at the top stories for the week ahead.
Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will address MSPs today on the Scottish Government’s response to the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman under equalities law. Last week, the Scottish Government lost a high-profile case at the UK Supreme Court when judges ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”. The first minister said he accepts the ruling but the government is now under pressure to drop gender reforms completely. Don’t expect this story to go away quietly.
As tributes continued to be paid to Pope Francis after his death was revealed by the Vatican yesterday morning, attention is now turning to who will succeed him in the role. Liberal, Conservative or left field (£) is how The Times described the options.
While Donald Trump touted September for his UK visit, Scottish Labour peer Lord George Foulkes was busy over the long-weekend launching a campaign to block the president from addressing Westminster (£) on the basis Trump has not acted in “good faith” towards Britain.
The Scottish political scene’s headline event this week lands tomorrow withSwinney’s summit designed to “lock out” the far-right from Scottish politics. Parties represented at Holyrood, unions and civic leaders have been invited, but the Scottish Conservatives won’t be attending, having labelled the event a “talking shop”. Reform UK - which believes it is not a far-right party - has described the summit as “anti-democratic”.
Still, Reform leader Nigel Farage would rather the SNP remain in government than back Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar (£) for first minister, which contradicts deputy leader Richard Tice’s belief that “anything is preferable to the SNP”.
The annual IMF and World Bank spring meetings commenced yesterday in Washington and will continue until Saturday, with chancellor Rachel Reeves set tourge the Trump administration to cut UK tariffs and step up negotiations for a trade deal. I don’t think they’ll be light on discussion material, to say the least.
Meanwhile, Big Tech will be a theme this week with results from Tesla and Google owner Alphabet. Tesla has already reported its worst quarter for sales since 2022 so investors — especially those upset at Elon Musk’s $56bn bonus — will be demanding answers when the car maker reports first-quarter figures today.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
As part of St Andrews Links Trust’s new Drive initiative to widen access to its courses, golfers who live in Scotland are being given the chance to play the famous Old Course at St Andrews for £42.50, rather than the usual £340. The Castle, Jubilee and Eden courses will also be offered at discounted rates between May and October.
Scottish Water staff are staging a two-day strike, taking place today and tomorrow, after rejecting a pay offer. Unison, which represents more than 1,000 staff, warned that emergency repairs and water quality checks will not be carried out during that time.
Union bosses are urging SNP ministers to use green bonds from the Scottish Government to pay for new ScotRail trains (£) after commissioning research from Glasgow University to investigate the SNP government’s use of private finance schemes. The research found that using green bonds for this purpose could be as much as 70 per cent cheaper than through private finance.
The Climate Change Committee warned that the Scottish Government is failing to make urgent progress to meet its 2045 net zero target. Emma Pinchbeck, head of the watchdog, said the government must deliver on the “short-term stuff”.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
The SNP is overlooking the benefits Reform UK could bring the nationalists (£), Richard Rose argues in The Times. Taking far more votes from unionist parties, Rose contends that Reform could unintentionally give the SNP the support it needs.
“Hope is a habit of focusing action and attention on a future that is good and that is difficult but yet possible to attain.” Jemima Kelly explores the importance of hope (£) in the Financial Times and highlights that it should be considered a virtue rather than naïve – especially in the political sphere.
With US banks raising their recession forecasts this month, the New York Times’chief economics correspondent, Ben Casselman, explains in a short clip the impact of Trump’s shifting trade policy on how people behave, with consequences for spending, sales, and employment.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
Tuesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Scottish Government debate: The International Situation
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In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill (in private)
- The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee will take evidence on Scotland’s train and bus services and consider its approach to a Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
- The Finance and Public Administration Committee will take evidence on the Scottish budget process in practice
- The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will take evidence on building safety and maintenance; consider a revised draft report on the housing inquiry; consider a draft letter to the minister for housing on the cladding remediation programme; and consider its approach to its annual review of the fourth National Planning Framework.
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Scottish Government data
- Scottish Climate Survey, 2024
- Looked After Children Statistics, 2023-24
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Westminster
- Westminster Hall debate: Rate of Statutory Sick Pay
- Westminster Hall debate: Potential merits of automation for the economy
- Built Environment Committee, oral evidence: New towns, practical delivery
- Business and Trade Committee, oral evidence: Industrial strategy
- Communications and Digital Committee: Media literacy
- Economic Affairs Committee, oral evidence: Preparing for an ageing society
- US: G24 ministers and central bank governors meet at the IMF headquarters in Washington, followed by a press conference
- Hamilton: Kate Forbes to announce the Scottish Government’s new chief entrepreneur and launch a new round of the Ecosystem Fund
- St Andrews: Reopening of medieval St Andrews pier after £3 million storm damage
- Reports: IMF World Economic Outlook report
Wednesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Scottish Government debate: UK Government Welfare Reforms
- Portfolio questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business: Justice and Home Affairs
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In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Education, Children and Young People Committee will consider the Education (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 (Day 1)
- The Economy and Fair Work Committee will take evidence on skills delivery
- The Public Audit Committee will take evidence on sustainable transport, reducing car use
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Westminster
- Commons, oral questions: Scotland
- Prime Minister’s Question Time
- Westminster Hall debate: Transitional support for North Sea oil and gas workers
- Lords, oral questions: The use of resources allocated to the devolved authorities
- Lords, oral questions: Measuring the emissions associated with artificial intelligence in relation to the UK’s net zero target
- Scottish Affairs Committee, oral evidence: Scotland’s space sector follow-up – launch
- UK: March public sector finances data; S&P Global manufacturing and services PMI data; St George’s Day
- US: IIF Global Outlook Forum, held alongside the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington
- Edinburgh: NatWest holds its annual general meeting
- Edinburgh: Ruskell MSP’s proposed Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill will be published which if passed, would make Scotland the first nation in the UK to outlaw greyhound racing
- Aberdeen: Continued preliminary hearing for Fatal Accident Inquiry into Stonehaven train derailment
Thursday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- First Minister’s Questions
- Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills
- Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee Debate: Inquiry into Framework Legislation and Henry VIII Powers
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In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Social Justice and Social Security Committee will consider the Housing (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 (Day 3)
- The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee will consider a draft submission to the UK government's consultation on the UK Internal Market Act Review
- The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee will take evidence on committee effectiveness
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Scottish Government data
- People Registered to Vote in Scotland, December 2024
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Westminster
- Westminster Hall debate: Trading relationship with the EU
- Lords, oral questions: Meeting the target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029
- Lords, oral questions: Plan to revise the transport decarbonisation plan
- General Committee, oral evidence: Planning and Infrastructure Bill
- UK: The International Energy Agency and the government host a major international energy security summit at Lancaster House in London
Friday
- UK: March retail sales figures
- Edinburgh: Pupils to deliver climate message to Scottish Parliament. As part of the ‘Protect Our Future’ project, more than 6,000 children from over 30 schools have written personal messages about the urgent need for climate action, linking them into long paper chains to symbolise unity and commitment.
Saturday
- UK: Just Stop Oil holds its final demonstration in Westminster
- US: IMF and World Bank spring meetings conclude in Washington
Sunday
- UK: TCS London Marathon