A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law

A report by the Jimmy Reid Foundation claims many Scottish councils have significantly reduced or stopped routine workplace health and safety inspections because of financial pressures and staffing shortages. The study found 11 councils, including Glasgow City Council, Dundee City Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Highland Council and Shetland Islands Council, carried out no planned inspections last year. Councils said they now follow a targeted, risk-based approach guided by the Health and Safety Executive, focusing on complaints, incidents and higher-risk premises. Renfrewshire Council carried out the highest number of planned inspections, followed by North Ayrshire Council and Aberdeenshire Council. The report warned underfunding was weakening enforcement and workplace protections.

 

Herald Scotland

 

Scotland's prison population has surged to a record 8,587 inmates, exceeding the designed capacity of 7,805. Despite the early release of over 1,400 criminals since June 2024, the situation remains dire. The Scottish Government acknowledged the crisis, with Assistant Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association Phil Fairlie stating: "If we do not fundamentally address the root causes of criminal activity... prison spaces will be filled as soon as they are vacated." The Scottish Conservatives have called for more robust measures, including sending inmates abroad, to alleviate overcrowding.

 

Daily Mail

 

A review into the so-called Beastie House child abuse case found authorities repeatedly failed vulnerable children despite years of warnings and evidence of neglect. The report said social work, health and education agencies missed multiple opportunities between 2012 and 2019 to identify abuse carried out by a Glasgow-based paedophile ring. Children reportedly showed clear signs of distress, poor hygiene and severe neglect, but concerns were often dismissed. Seven people were convicted in 2023 for offences including rape and child cruelty. Glasgow City Council said the review was intended to improve systems rather than assign blame. John Swinney said lessons must be learned to better protect children in future.

 

Daily Mail (Scot)

The Herald

A long-running legal dispute over Glasgow restaurant Rogano ended in a last-minute settlement at the Supreme Court, raising hopes the landmark venue could reopen after nearly seven years of closure. The case centred on liability for multimillion-pound water damage repairs between the restaurant’s tenants and landlords. Proceedings at Glasgow City Chambers were thrown into confusion after judges discovered the dispute had been settled only shortly before the hearing began. Despite the agreement, Supreme Court judges are still expected to issue a written judgment. Lawyers David Thomson KC and Roddy Dunlop KC continued presenting arguments during the historic Glasgow sitting of the UK’s highest court.

 

Glasgow Evening Times

The Herald

The Scotsman

Former Moray lawyer Matthew Sylvestre has gone on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh accused of sending menacing messages to public figures including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Dundee depute lord provost Nadia El-Nakla and Scotland’s top prosecutor Dorothy Bain. The 61-year-old also faces allegations of impersonating former chief constable Iain Livingstone and assaulting a senior police officer. Prosecutors said threatening notes and emails were sent from prison, while forensic evidence allegedly linked Sylvestre to correspondence sent to Bain’s home. Sylvestre denies all charges and has lodged a special defence blaming a former cellmate.

 

The Courier

The Press and Journal

An internal investigation into the £836m City of Edinburgh Council tram project found "serious and systemic failings" amounting to "organisational incompetence". The report, released after litigation with law firm DLA Piper concluded, said poor oversight contributed to the project being delivered five years late, £400m over budget and with a reduced scope. Council deputy monitoring officer Kevin McKee said maladministration had occurred through incompetence and inattention. Council leader Jane Meagher said lessons had been learned, pointing to the extension to Newhaven being delivered on time and on budget. The findings come as the council considers routes for a proposed north-south tram line, including controversial plans affecting Roseburn Path and Dean Bridge.

 

Herald Scotland

Labour is exploring the possibility of making it illegal to work during extreme heat as part of its net zero strategy. Emma Reynolds, the Environment Secretary, stated she will "carefully consider" proposals for a maximum working temperature. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommends this measure to encourage businesses to maintain cooler workplaces. The CCC's report highlights the increasing risks of high temperatures and suggests regulations similar to those in Spain. Lib Whitfield from the GMB union supports a maximum limit of 25C, stating: "Sweltering heat... can be downright dangerous." The HSE is also revising workplace temperature guidelines.

 

The Daily Telegraph

Employers can face legal action for disability discrimination if they require employees with agoraphobia to work in the office, a tribunal has ruled. The case involved Marina Dudding, a council worker who was denied the option to work from home two days a week. The London South Employment Tribunal found that her conditions, including generalised anxiety disorder and agoraphobia, significantly impacted her daily activities.

 

Daily Mail

The Daily Telegraph

High street law firms are experiencing their strongest confidence in five years, with 62% expecting growth in 2025, according to the LexisNexis annual "bellwether" survey. Key practice areas include employment, commercial, and corporate services. Despite this growth, firms face challenges such as attracting new business and client pressure to reduce fees. Kate Bennett, founding partner of Arbor Law, noted that clients now seek more than just legal advice. "They are buying judgment, commercial alignment, speed and demonstrable outcomes." Dylan Brown, the report's editor, said firms must deliver quality work consistently and profitably to maintain their growth.

 

The Times

Dianne Ripoll has been appointed head of the Glasgow office at Andersonbain, marking a significant expansion for the firm. With a background as a former Scottish surfing champion and founder of Coldwater Surf School, Ripoll brings a unique perspective to her new role. She expressed excitement about leading the Glasgow office, stating: "The firm has a fantastic reputation for delivering outstanding service."

 

Herald Scotland

Ofcom has raised concerns about TikTok and YouTube, stating their content feeds are "not safe enough" for children. The regulator's report calls for stronger online safety measures, highlighting that Meta, Snap, and Roblox have agreed to enhance anti-grooming protocols. Ofcom Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes expressed deep concern over the platforms' lack of action to protect underage users. A survey revealed that 84% of children aged eight to 12 still use services with a minimum age of 13. Dawes warned that stronger legislation may be necessary if improvements are not made.

 

BBC News

Former SNP adviser Nathan Sparling has avoided a prison sentence after admitting embezzling £5,000 from HIV Scotland while serving as chief executive of the charity. Sparling, a former aide to Angus Robertson, used charity funds for personal taxi journeys and Amazon purchases between 2019 and 2021. He was sentenced to a social work supervision order, 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to repay £5,000 to Waverley Care.

 

Daily Mail (Scot)

John Swinney has announced a streamlined eight-member Scottish Cabinet, saying public sector reform rather than spending cuts will be central to government policy. Jenny Gilruth was appointed Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary, while Màiri McAllan takes on Education, Culture and Gaelic. Former Westminster SNP leader Stephen Flynn becomes Economy, Tourism and Transport Secretary, and Shirley-Anne Somerville adds Housing to her Social Justice brief. Neil Gray moves to Justice, while Angela Constance becomes Health and Care Secretary. Ivan McKee was promoted to lead Public Service Reform, while Stephen Gethins becomes Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy. Swinney said the new structure would create "a leaner, more agile government" focused on delivering "fiscally sustainable" public services. Opposition parties and housing charities questioned whether the reshuffle represented meaningful change.

 

BBC News

The Herald

The Scotsman