Hello from Glasgow, where I’ll be standing in for Archie today while he suns himself on a beach. I imagine Humza Yousaf wishes he could join him.
It’s the first week back at Holyrood after Easter recess and the plan for Scotland’s new first minster seemed straightforward enough: after a bruising SNP leadership election – and amid increasingly damaging revelations about party governance that have followed Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation in February (including the shock arrest of her husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell) – this was the moment to reset and focus on the way ahead.
But yesterday’s headlines told a different story: hours before Yousaf stood up in the Holyrood chamber to outline his “fresh vision” for the next three years of government, Police Scotland announced the arrest of SNP MSP and party treasurer Colin Beattie as part of their long-running investigation into the party’s handling of more than £600,000 in donations. (Beattie then “stepped back” as treasurer yesterday afternoon.)
The timing, Yousaf conceded gracefully when doorstepped by reporters, was “far from ideal”. His relaunch was, in the words of Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, “utterly torpedoed”.
At first minister’s questions at midday today – the climax of the Holyrood week and only Yousaf’s second as leader – the aides preparing his briefing notes will be anticipating a volley of verbal assaults from opposition leaders relishing the chance to drive home his party’s very public unravelling. I’ll look at the challenges facing the first minister at noon – and over the coming weeks and months. That’s after the headlines.
Five big stories
Yemen | At least 85 people have been killed and dozens more have been injured in a crowd crush at an event to distribute financial aid in Yemen’s capital. A spokesperson from the interior ministry blamed the disaster on the “random distribution” of funds without coordination with local authorities.
Politics | The findings of an inquiry into allegations of bullying by Dominic Raab, which he denies, could be published later today. Given the breadth of the evidence, officials at the Ministry of Justice believe that it is likely that Rishi Sunak will have to sanction Raab. Senior ministry officials could quit if Raab is cleared of bullying.
BBC | Richard Sharp’s future as chair of the BBC is in doubt as he awaits the publication of a “very uncomfortable” report on how he was recommended for the job by former prime minister Boris Johnson. Sharp had failed to reveal while applying for the job that he had helped an acquaintance arrange a secret £800,000 personal loan facility for Johnson.
Russia | A joint investigation by several Nordic broadcasters alleges that Russia has established a state-run programme using spy ships disguised as fishing vessels aimed at giving it the capability to attack windfarms and communications cables in the North Sea.
Brexit | The boss of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has launched a fresh attack on Brexit, saying it would be “net negative on the UK economy, no question about it”, and describing it as “unbelievably messy”. O’Leary predicts the UK will end up signing a Norway-style deal with the EU in the next 10 to 15 years under which it would pay into the bloc’s budget.
In depth: A fresh vision for Scotland?
The need to signal a break from the Sturgeon era was pressing enough for the new first minister two weeks ago when that just meant differentiating himself from a hugely popular predecessor and establishing his identity in the minds of voters as more than “the continuity candidate”. Following Murrell and Beattie’s arrests, the importance of distancing himself from an administration now mired in accusations of secrecy and financial irregularity has become critical for Yousaf.
On Tuesday, it was notable how he delayed, redrew or reversed a number of his predecessor’s key policies: postponing for nearly a year the controversial deposit return scheme for bottles and cans (which involved charging anyone who buys a drink a small deposit for the bottle or can that it comes in which is repaid when they are recycled), taking proposals to restrict alcohol advertising “back to the drawing board”, and allowing more time to build consensus around widely criticised plans for a national care service. Most significantly, he acknowledged how the relationship between government and business had broken down, and pledged a reset.
That said, it was his commitment to Sturgeon’s progressive, left-of-centre agenda that defined his leadership campaign, and there was plenty in the statement that continued this – pledging further redistributive tax reform to tackle child poverty, for example.
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A byelection test
As my colleague and Scotland editor Severin Carrell reported when he went on walkabout with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar in Rutherglen last week, the party are nothing short of delighted at the prospect of an imminent byelection in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, the constituency of Margaret Ferrier, the former SNP, now independent, MP who is appealing against a suspension from the Commons for breaking Covid rules when she travelled from London to Glasgow by train in September 2020 after testing positive.
Labour believes it is on the brink of winning back a run of Scottish seats from the nationalists. The UK party leader, Keir Starmer, consistently underlines the importance of Scotland to the outcome of the next general election, and his party plans to use this byelection as a test run, already pouring in resources for local activists. Meanwhile, a slump in membership fees and donations has put SNP finances are under considerable strain.
In a BBC Radio 4 documentary broadcast on Wednesday evening, Yousaf’s close leadership rival Kate Forbes warned that voters were looking on at the party’s turmoil “with astonishment”, while a series of polls put Labour within five to 10 points of the nationalists.
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A court showdown
SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes taking part in a SNP leadership debate. Photograph: Reuters
During recess, Yousaf made the call to follow through with Sturgeon’s promise to take on the UK government after it blocked Holyrood’s gender recognition reforms, which were passed with cross-party support last December. Yousaf has been robust in his defence of transgender rights and argued he had no choice but to launch court action “in defence of Scottish democracy”.
The Scottish Greens also made it clear they would have walked away from their governing partnership with the SNP had Yousaf not challenged the veto – losing his pro-independence majority at Holyrood and the ability to pass budgets and other key legislation.
But a potentially lengthy and expensive judicial review risks prolonging an already divisive dispute, while polling consistently suggests the Scottish public want their government to prioritise the cost of living crisis and public service reform. Indeed, more than half of SNP members voted for leadership candidates who were opposed to a court challenge.
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Uniting the party and convincing the country
There has been no honeymoon period for Yousaf, as he endures unprecedented scrutiny of both his party and his government. He now faces the challenge of how to balance their competing demands. The clamour for internal party reform was loud even before the latest arrests, but his appointment of a working group of familiar faces to review governance has left those in favour of more decisive action underwhelmed. He must also appoint a new chief executive and find new auditors before a firm July deadline from the Electoral Commission.
Meanwhile, the country is facing record cancer and surgery waiting lists, and record A&E delays, the islands’ lifeline ferries are in crisis, progress on the educational attainment gap has stalled, and targets on emissions and child poverty are likely to be missed.
And then there’s the small matter of independence. During his leadership campaign, Yousaf signalled a move away from Sturgeon’s focus on the process of a referendum to the policies and delivery that would build long-term support for independence.
It’s not all doom and gloom. MSPs milling about the garden lobby before his statement on Tuesday – many still muttering expletives about the latest arrest – remarked on a change of tone. They praised his “visibility” over Easter recess, and even with the gruelling physical demands of Ramadan fasting (Yousaf is a practising Muslim), emailing party members to reassure them soon after Murrell’s arrest, inviting the media to Bute House for a “fireside” briefing, and weekend campaigning with activists.
But with internal critics unleashed and speculation that Sturgeon herself could be next to be questioned by the police, the new leader has his work cut out.
What else we’ve been reading
Invite a mate! Join a club! Leave the house! I enjoyed 30 tips to do more exercise, ideal for those of us who find it something of a chore. Hannah J Davies, deputy editor, newsletters
I was gobsmacked reading our latest Cost of the crown investigations, revealing King Charles is raking in millions as a landlord of properties in Edinburgh and Sandringham. Libby
Broccoli, boring?! Alice Zaslavsky’s recipes featuring veg from the brassica family will surely change your mind – and who could resist a cauliflower and burnt-butter macaroni cheese? Hannah
Frank Martin’s journey in the sleeper coach on the final Orient Express run to Istanbul more than 45 years ago makes for great archival reading, not least because his experience has resonance with the rail experience in the UK today: “The train is prone to breakdowns, doors fail to close, toilets stink and it is frequently hours late.” Craille Maguire Gillies, production editor, newsletters
You may have already heard the spookily accurate “collaboration” between the Weeknd and Drake that’s doing the rounds. Novelty aside, the Guardian’s music editor Ben Beaumont-Thomas asks whether AI pop can ever be more than a hollow imitation of the real thing. Hannah
Sport
Football | Manchester City beat Bayern Munich 4-1 on aggregate, setting them up for a Champions League semi-final against the holders Real Madrid, who knocked City out at the same stage last year. Inter defeated Benfica 5-3 on aggregate after an exciting 3-3 draw in the second leg at San Siro, securing a semi-final against rivals AC Milan.
Athletics | Scottish ultra-marathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski has blamed an injury and jetlag for her decision to break the rules and then accept a trophy for third place in the 2023 GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 50-mile race on 7 April. It was revealed afterwards that she had travelled by car for about 2.5 miles of the course. “I made a massive error accepting the trophy and should have handed it back,” she said. “I was tired and jetlagged and felt sick. I hold my hands up, I should have handed them back and not had pictures done but I was feeling unwell and spaced out and not thinking clearly.”
Football | West Ham have identified Lille’s Paulo Fonseca as a potential replacement for David Moyes, who is likely to part with the club at the end of the season, even if the side survive their relegation battle. Moyes’ squad is currently four points above the relegation zone with eight games left.
The front pages
The Guardian this morning has as its top story “Senior MOJ officials ‘ready to quit’ if Raab survives bullying inquiry”. “Putin cyber blitz on UK” – the Metro leads with the Oliver Dowden story from yesterday. “Russian ‘spy ships’ threaten to sabotage UK energy supply” – the Daily Telegraph says they are mapping offshore wind farms and undersea cables. “Inflation stuck in double digits offers little hope for end to living costs crisis” – even the Financial Times runs out of headline room sometimes, presumably the reason for “living costs” rather than “cost of living”. “UK faces 5% interest rates after failing to tame inflation” – that’s the i while the Daily Mirror says it’s “A living nightmare” with the weekly shop costing 19% more than a year ago. “Judges lose power to block migrant flights” – the Times covers the Rwanda deportations saga. “Rapist who proves Starmer really is ‘Sir Softy’ on crime” reports the Daily Mail. The Daily Express has “Rival MPs call for the ‘dignity’ of women and girls to be safeguarded”. It’s about stopping what the paper calls “extreme trans activists” seeking access to women’s spaces.
Today in Focus
Sudan’s warring generals
Fighting in Sudan is continuing despite an internationally brokered truce. At the heart of the conflict is a power struggle between two powerful generals in a country permanently in the grip of its military. Nesrine Malik reports
Cartoon of the day | Sarah Akinterinwa
The Upside
A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad
Like most sports, American football has a history of exclusion of women – there remains no formal version of the sport for women to play and, though the NFL is over 100 years old, there have been but a handful of female coaches or executives.
Slowly but surely that is changing. Melissa Jacobs reports from the NFL Women’s Forum on the new generation of women changing the game from the bottom up, including New York Giants assistant Angela Baker and Autumn Lockwood (pictured above), a strength and conditioning coach on the staff of the Philadelphia Eagles, who competed in this year’s Super Bowl.
“Ten of the 41 participants at this year’s forum have already landed jobs in the NFL, eight of whom are women of colour,” Jacobs writes. “They earned the opportunity. Now it’s their turn to make the most of it.”
Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday
Bored at work?
And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
