A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
10th March 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Assisted dying bill enters final Holyrood debates
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is entering its final stage of debate at the Scottish Parliament, with MSPs expected to consider more than 300 amendments during extended sessions this week. The proposal, introduced by Liam McArthur, would allow terminally ill adults to seek assistance to end their lives if two independent doctors confirm eligibility and mental capacity. McArthur urged MSPs not to delay the legislation, arguing it has undergone years of scrutiny and consultation. The bill remains controversial, with concerns raised about safeguards and possible coercion. Voting will be a free vote for MSPs, meaning party whips will not apply and the outcome remains uncertain ahead of the final vote expected next week.

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INDUSTRY
Glasgow fire sparks insurance review warning
The recent fire at Glasgow's Union Corner building has raised significant concerns regarding insurance for property owners. Craig Donnelly, director at Holmes Mackillop Solicitors, emphasised the need for owners to review their insurance policies and responsibilities for repairs. He stated: "The fire should serve as a warning to owners and tenants in similar properties." The incident has complicated recovery efforts, requiring coordination among various stakeholders, including insurers and public authorities. Donnelly noted that the historic nature of the building adds further complexity to the restoration process.


 
POLICING
Review finds fingerprinting gaps in Police Scotland
A report by the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner found Police Scotland may be failing to take fingerprints from thousands of arrested individuals each year. The review said the force only takes prints after a person is formally charged, unlike practices elsewhere in the UK, creating investigative risks. During a three-month period, 3,202 people classified as "officially accused" were arrested but not fingerprinted. The commissioner warned this could mean more than 12,000 cases annually where fingerprints are not collected, potentially affecting investigations. The report calls on Police Scotland to improve operational practices and consider a "take all" policy for fingerprinting arrested adults.
CASES
Gerry Adams' IRA ties under scrutiny
Gerry Adams is facing legal action from three bombing victims who allege he was complicit in Provisional IRA bombings in England during the 1970s and 1990s. John Clark, Jonathan Ganesh, and Barry Laycock claim Adams was a key member of the IRA and its Army Council. They are seeking £1 in damages. Anne Studd KC, representing the claimants, stated: "The defendant contributed to the peace in Northern Ireland, but... also contributed to the war." Adams denies the allegations and argues the claims are time-barred and lack merit. The trial is expected to conclude next week.
Special forces face legal witch hunt
Two hundred and forty-two Special Forces personnel, including over 120 active members, are facing legal scrutiny due to human rights investigations costing £1m monthly. A memo shared with the Special Air Service and Special Reconnaissance Regiment associations highlights the stress these legal actions cause, with some veterans reporting suicide attempts. A former SAS officer stated: "The mood is vociferous, everyone has had enough." The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed its commitment to supporting the independent inquiry related to Afghanistan, which is driving these legal actions.
CRIME
Police investigation after Old Firm violence
First Minister John Swinney has said Scotland must confront sectarianism in football following violence during an Old Firm match between Rangers FC and Celtic FC. Several arrests were made after fans invaded the pitch and clashes occurred with players, staff and stewards. Police Scotland has launched an investigation, while the Scottish Football Association is also examining the incident under its disciplinary procedures. Swinney said the criminal justice process would proceed and that government, police and football authorities would consider further measures to address sectarian behaviour and violence linked to matches.
TECHNOLOGY
Parents challenge social media ban consultation
Parents Harry Amies and Pete Montgomery have initiated a legal challenge against the UK Government's consultation, Growing Up in an Online World, which aims to shape a social media ban for under-16s. They argue that the consultation is unlawful due to its data-sharing policy with tech giants like Meta and Google. Amies stated: "The discovery that not only parents' but children's personal responses may be shared... represents an extraordinary corruption of UK democratic process." They demand the Secretary of State ensure that Savanta does not share personal data with third parties, threatening judicial review if their requests are ignored within 14 days.
Kendall: Tech advances are outpacing regulations
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has urged tech companies to enhance efforts against online misogyny. Speaking to the Guardian, she highlighted the rapid evolution of technology and warned that it is outpacing regulations. Ms Kendall, who has proposed annual reviews of regulations to address these challenges, noted that it took eight years for the Online Safety Act to come in, "and the technology has developed so rapidly it hasn't kept pace." She added: "As a government and as a parliament, we can't have a situation where you only legislate once every eight years to deal with some of these issues."
PLANNING
SSEN appeals rejection of Aberdeenshire substation
Energy transmission firm SSEN has lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government in a bid to overturn Aberdeenshire Council's decision to refuse planning permission for a 400kV electricity substation at Fetteresso Forest near Stonehaven. SSEN has argued that councillors voted to refuse permission "without reasonable planning grounds", failed to give "complete, precise and relevant" reasons to back their decision, and "ignored" expert advice from SEPA, NatureScot, council flooding officers, and planning officers.
INTERNATIONAL
Anthropic sues over 'supply chain risk' label
AI firm Anthropic has initiated legal action against the Trump administration to contest the Pentagon's designation of it as a "supply chain risk." This came after the company refused to allow unrestricted military applications of its technology. Anthropic has filed two lawsuits, with the legal challenges aiming to revoke the designation and prevent its enforcement.
ECONOMY
Chancellor warns that oil prices could drive up inflation
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that rising oil prices will likely increase inflation in the UK. In a statement to MPs in which she called for immediate de-escalation of the Middle East conflict, Ms Reeves noted that UK businesses and consumers would feel the impact of disruptions in global oil trade. She said: "The economic impact of the situation in the Middle East will depend on its severity and duration," adding that it is "likely to put upward pressure on inflation in the coming months." This followed a meeting with executives from the International Energy Agency and G7 ministers, who agreed to hold off using oil reserves. Ms Reeves said the UK "stands ready" to allow reserves to be used. She also revealed that the Ministry of Defence is using Treasury funds for defensive operations in the region.

 

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