EXCL: Scottish Tory leadership contender Russell Findlay MSP urges police to probe gangster who threw acid in his face over 4 unsolved murders. Findlay has flagged info re 1990s cold cases, but it’s unclear if Police Scotland will act thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13417111/…

The Scottish Tory leadership race has seen leading lights role-playing House of Cards, but looking more like The Thick of It. After years of leadership plotting at Westminster, maybe the Tories here simply wanted some drama of their own.. My column today thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13418134/…

Schools in Glasgow could be forced to close due to strikes for the third consecutive academic year after unions call fresh ballot over teacher cuts thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13419401/…

Life imitating arts-holes? Scottish Tory leading lights revelling in their own leadership saga after years of Conservative drama at Westminster. But they need to get some perspective - fast - or may send their party into a death spiral. Today's column thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13418134/…

Can’t be that short of cash then

Looking at old A&E stats. Worth remembering the 95% seen in 4hrs target we now hear about is a downgraded target. It was 98%. Scot Gov press release from 2015, below: "Among the toughest A&E standard anywhere in the world"). Goalposts moved when it proved too tough. Latest: 69.0%

Alex Salmond says SNP cannot simply “blame Labour” for the Scottish Government’s financial woes ahead of John Swinney conference speech thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13459089/…

We may not be at the stage of funeral comparisons just yet, but it’s clear something has died. My column on this weekend’s SNP conference .. thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13462305/…

EXCLUSIVE: Nats ministers are targeting £1billion cuts from Scotland’s “bloated” public sector — on top of a massive slash-and-grab to be announced on Tuesday. A source said: “We haven’t looked under the bonnet properly in years so it is time to act.” thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13468601/…

Unsure how this squares with his admission today that he was trying to buy tickets in the meeting

CMQs: Our new politics show sees Conor Matchett and me chew over the SNP conference, cuts, Scot Gov's programme for government, and what on earth John Swinney is doing. Disclaimer: Contains ranting and scruffiness. youtube.com/watch?v=p-P4Gv…

Oops! Sunday... Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth tells SNP conf fringe that MSPs using tablets etc in parliament jars with moves to stop pupils using them in schools Thursday... Who's that on her tablet at FMQs?

SNP ministers have milked the grievance cow dry with their refusal to take any responsibility for eye-watering Scottish Government overspending. But the blame tactics are no longer washing. Column today.. thescottishsun.co.uk/news/13500847/…