Welcome to The Press and Journal’s morning politics briefing, it’s everything you need to know about politics in your region, and across the country, before you start your day.
New this morning:
- First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will vow to hold a second independence referendum in the next parliament when she sets out her priorities for government, saying the people of Scotland not Boris Johnson will decide.
- Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has written to Michael Matheson to discuss extending the rail network between Dyce and Ellon.
- Opposition leaders are calling for health secretary Humza Yousaf to take urgent action on spiralling waiting time lists.
- The Children’s Commissioners of the devolved nations have come together to demand a change to the two-child limit on Universal Credit and child tax credit.
- Alasdair Allan, Western Isles MSP, says discussions with Graeme Dey about disruptions to CalMac ferries were “useful and productive”.
Coming up today:
- Nicola Sturgeon is to set out her priorities for government at Holyrood, and is expected to highlight coronavirus recovery and Scottish independence.
- Leader of the Scottish Lib Dems Willie Rennie is to ask the first minister for an update on vaccine passports.
- Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan is to ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the ongoing disruption to CalMac ferries.
- West Scotland MSP Pam Gosal is to speak at Holyrood and ask why the gap between college funding and expenditure in Scotland has grown to £54 million.
- Dominic Cummings is to give evidence on the UK Government’s coronavirus response to MPs, and is expected to attack Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the pandemic.
- Boris Johnson will take part in prime minister’s questions at the House of Commons.
In case you missed it:
An SNP blueprint to improve social justice, co-written by Shona Robison, suggests decriminalising drugs, creating new land taxes and eradicating child poverty.
The Scottish Government is “actively exploring” the future of a north-east education fund after its historic links to the slave trade were exposed.