Additional News from Scotland

BRITAIN'S bonus culture in both the public and private sectors suffered another hammer blow yesterday after Network Rail executives gave up their lucrative payouts.

THE Scottish Government last night expressed confidence an independent Scotland would continue to enjoy the highest possible credit rating, despite new doubts.

THE MSP who demanded action over race-related use of stop and search powers has praised progress made on the issue following a visit to Glasgow Airport by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

DAVID Miliband yesterday insisted he was intent on not being drawn into a Labour "soap opera" and that his younger brother Ed was the best man to lead the party into the next General Election.

A credit rating is important because it tells investors how reliable an economy is.

SUPPORT for Scottish independence has slipped in recent months and backing for the status quo is on the rise, a new poll shows.

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond faced accusations of an "ugly" smear campaign yesterday amid claims he compared a BBC executive to a Nazi official.

MINISTERS have been warned they run the risk of much-needed cash-saving plans across local government being strangled at birth unless they take the lead and fund the moves.

MORE than 100 Tory MPs have written to Prime Minister David Cameron calling for a dramatic cut in subsidies for onshore wind farms and more influence for local people to stop them being built.

LEAKED UK Government papers have reawakened fears England would insist on border controls with an independent Scotland.

A LABOUR councillor who was suspended over remarks he made to a nine-year-old alleged rape victim has been barred from standing for the party in May's local election.

The SNP has stepped up calls for peers convicted of a criminal offence to be thrown out of Parliament amid reports ministers are considering such a measure.

FINANCE Secretary John Swinney has defended plans to let EU nationals living in Scotland vote in the independence referendum while hundreds of thousands of Scots living elsewhere in the UK would be excluded.

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THE public face of the country's top lobbying group for charities has been criticised for launching an outspoken attack against faith schools.

LABOUR has called for an investigation into tax deals for managers at the Glasgow-based Student Loans Company (SLC) after the Sunday Herald found half the board were recently being paid as consultants.

A cash-strapped local authority is under fire over plans to spend around £15,000 on a lavish painting of the city's lord provost.

CHRIS Huhne faces a jail term if found guilty of perverting the course of justice in connection with a 2003 speeding case but a possible return to government if he is innocent.