A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

Reform UK has been urged to clarify its position on the men's rights group Justice for Innocent Men Scotland (Jims) after one of its directors attended the party's post-election celebrations in Glasgow. Marzena Paszkowska, also known as Marsha Sturgeon, appeared at the event alongside Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord, prompting criticism from political opponents and campaigners who accuse Jims of promoting "rape apologist" views, allegations the group rejects. Paszkowska said she attended the event in a personal capacity as a Reform supporter and insisted Jims was not affiliated with any political party. The organisation says it campaigns against miscarriages of justice involving men accused of sexual offences, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling on evidence procedures in Scottish courts as validation of its concerns. Opposition politicians, including the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Greens, questioned Reform UK over its association with the group, arguing that platforming its representatives risked undermining support for survivors of sexual violence.

 

The Times

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A safety expert has called for a comprehensive risk assessment of Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) campus, stating it's difficult to determine its overall safety. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde acknowledged past failings, notably linking some patient infections to contaminated water. Families affected by patient deaths demand more transparency, criticising the health board's assurances. Though some units undergo regular assessments, general wards do not, raising concerns over vulnerable patients. The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, initiated after several deaths and infections, criticised the board for non-compliance with ventilation standards. They demand rigorous assessments and have noted a systematic failure to heed whistleblower concerns. NHSGGC maintains that the hospital is safe and has invested millions in improvements while admitting prior construction issues.

 

BBC News

 

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has opened an inquiry into the Scottish Youth Parliament following the conviction of its former chairman, Jordan Linden, for sexual offences against young men and boys. Linden, who later became SNP leader of North Lanarkshire Council, committed some of the offences during his time leading the youth organisation between 2015 and 2016. The Scottish Youth Parliament said it would fully cooperate with the investigation and stressed that its safeguarding and child protection procedures had been regularly reviewed and strengthened in recent years.

 

BBC News

Dunblane firm Bartys is expanding into Callander with a new weekly conveyancing clinic aimed at supporting buyers and sellers amid a buoyant local property market. The practice, part of Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, said rising demand in the Trossachs - particularly from buyers relocating from England - had created a need for more accessible legal advice in the area. The drop-in service will provide guidance on property sales, purchases and wider conveyancing matters.

 

The Courier

Jamie Muir sexually assaulted two women on a crowded train from Inverkeithing in November, having exploited the busy conditions to carry out the attacks. One victim confronted him, prompting Muir to apologise and claim confusion, which led to other passengers urging him to leave the train. British Transport Police arrested Mr Muir after the women reported the incident. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months in prison at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and placed on the sex offender register for ten years.

 

The Independent

Ross Cutmore, a Scot, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in Ukraine for spying for Russia. Arrested last year, he faced accusations of being recruited by the FSB to assist in sabotage and assassinations. He pleaded guilty to charges including passing information to Russian agents and unlawfully possessing a pistol. Motivated by financial gain, Cutmore reportedly received a payment of £4,400. Convicted on April 30, he cooperated with Ukrainian authorities following his arrest in October. Despite initial claims of involvement in murder plots, later investigations found no links to such crimes, and he will serve his sentence in Ukraine without extradition requests from the UK.

 

The Times

The European Commission has proposed new legislation to protect minors online, potentially introducing a "social media delay" for children. President Ursula von der Leyen said: "The discussion about a minimum age for social media can no longer be ignored." The EU aims to enforce stricter child safety rules, having previously investigated platforms like Meta for failing to restrict under-13s. Several EU countries, including Denmark and France, are considering minimum age limits for social media access. 

 

BBC News

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to hold face-to-face talks with First Minister John Swinney following the SNP's victory in the Scottish Parliament election, though Downing Street insisted the meeting would focus on “shared issues” rather than independence. Swinney argued the election result - which delivered a record number of pro-independence MSPs - strengthened the case for discussions on a second referendum, while Starmer reiterated Labour’s opposition to both independence and another vote. The SNP leader said Scotland’s “right to decide” could no longer be ignored, but critics, including Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, accused the prime minister of conceding ground to nationalists.

 

BBC News

Dumbartonreporter

The Government is intensifying efforts to enhance cyber security amid rising AI-driven threats, with ministers urging firms to adopt a government-backed cyber pledge, treating cyber security as a board-level priority. Data from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology suggests that the cyber sector grew by 11% in the last year, with 2,300 new jobs created. Cyber Security Minister Baroness Lloyd said: "Cyber security is now fundamental to economic growth, job creation and the resilience of the services people rely on every day," adding that as threats evolve, "businesses of all sizes need to step up and take practical action now." With 43% of UK businesses facing cyber breaches last year, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is progressing to strengthen protections across critical sectors.

 

City AM