Conor Matchett
The Scotsman
United Kingdom
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Past articles by Conor:
Northern Irish buffer zones bill backed by Supreme Court, paving way for Scottish equivalent
Buffer zones can be established around abortion clinics in Northern Ireland, the Supreme Court has ruled, paving the way for Scotland to bring in equivalent legislation. → Read More
Ministers reduce provision on Lochaber smelter, but still worth more than £100m
The Scottish Government’s provision relating to the Lochaber smelter guarantee has been valued down by around £47 million – a sign the risks around the deal are beginning to lessen. → Read More
Where does Ian Blackford's resignation leave the SNP in Westminster?
The departure of Ian Blackford provides the SNP with the opportunity for a fresh start in Westminster, but also heralds the beginning of the end of the Nicola Sturgeon era. → Read More
Scottish independence: 'De facto' referendum to get independence is 'Plan C', says Scottish Government
The decision to pursue a ‘de-facto’ referendum at the next general election is the Scottish Government’s ‘Plan C’, internal correspondence shows. → Read More
Woeful record keeping by Scottish Government on WhatsApp demands reform
The revelation six Scottish ministers have used WhatsApp in the past year for government business is a concerning but unsurprising development. → Read More
Six ministers used WhatsApp for Scottish Government business last year, but no sign of messages
Six Scottish ministers, including health secretary Humza Yousaf, have used WhatsApp to conduct government business in the past year, raising fresh fears over transparency. → Read More
SNP improvements to Freedom of Information laws must 'have teeth'
Ministers must ensure any expansion of Freedom of Information (FOI) laws “have teeth” and represent “real progress”, a Labour MSP has said → Read More
Scottish independence: Why a 'de-facto' referendum could see the SNP fail to achieve indyref2, even if they win
The problem with losing control of the path towards your political goal is that you can end up down a different, less desirable route with no way of turning around. → Read More
Scottish independence referendum: Why a Supreme Court defeat on indyref2 would hand Nicola Sturgeon a powerful 'weapon'
Today’s judgement by the Supreme Court is the first result of Nicola Sturgeon’s major strategic gamble around independence. → Read More
Scottish budget: Ministers could face last gasp scramble to save £150m if request is refused
Scottish ministers could face a last gasp scramble to find a further £150 million of savings in day-to-day spending due to decisions made as part of the emergency budget review. → Read More
Scotland ferries scandal: Decisions made under Jim McColl's ownership of Ferguson Marine 'destroyed our shipyard', say workers
Ferguson Marine shipyard was “destroyed” by Jim McColl’s leadership with the decision to bid for two ferries directly leading to its demise, workers at the yard have said. → Read More
SNP MP rules out internal coup against Ian Blackford for SNP Westminster leadership
Ian Blackford has been spared a challenge to his position as Westminster leader after a SNP politician confirmed he would not stand for the position. → Read More
Jeremy Hunt autumn statement: Scotland told to brace for tax rises and spending cuts as inflation bites
Scots should be braced for increased taxes and further cuts to public services due to the impact of inflation, with the Deputy First Minister warning Scotland is likely to face a real-terms cut to its budget next year. → Read More
Date set for Supreme Court judgement on Holyrood's power to hold an independence referendum
The Supreme Court will hand down its judgement on whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to hold an independence referendum on November 23, it has announced. → Read More
Support of two thirds of MPs should be required for indyref2, suggests former civil servant who worked on 2014 referendum
Major changes to the core constitutional aspects of the United Kingdom, such as a Scottish independence referendum, should need the support of two-thirds of Westminster MPs, a constitutional expert has said. → Read More
Ministers welcome Sanjeev Gupta's step forward in keeping embattled Liberty Steel empire afloat
Ministers have said the owners of the Lochaber smelter’s announcement of a first step towards refinancing its operations is a “welcome milestone” for the business. → Read More
Scottish independence: Scots split on Scottish economy success post independence, but majority of UK believes the union is doomed
Scots are evenly split over whether an independent Scotland’s economy would be better off after independence, with a majority of the public in all UK nations believing the union will end within two decades, a new poll shows. → Read More
Scottish Government condemned for 'ploughing ahead' with P1 testing amid 'impossible' claims
Forcing young children to sit standardised assessments will make “developmentally-appropriate” teaching impossible, an education expert has warned, as the Scottish Government was condemned for pushing ahead with Primary 1 testing. → Read More
Scottish independence: Why Green Yes paper is a waste of paper, time and words
Of several questions arising from the Scottish Green’s paper setting out the case for independence, ‘why did they bother’ is top of the list. → Read More
Scotland's ferries fiasco: What are the key questions Nicola Sturgeon must answer?
The ferries fiasco has dogged Nicola Sturgeon’s Government for years, with islanders fed up with an unreliable lifeline service while the taxpayer faces escalating costs for vessels that still do not sail. → Read More