A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
29th May 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Opposition parties continue calls for SNP inquiry
Opposition parties have continued to press for a parliamentary inquiry after former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. While First Minister John Swinney has attacked such calls as "victim blaming", Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said "secrecy and cover-up go far beyond one individual or one case", and that the SNP had maintained a "culture where secrecy became normal, dissent dangerous and people learned that speaking out carried a heavy price", while those "at the top of the SNP machine operated without scrutiny". Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay similarly accused Mr Swinney of "trying to shut down scrutiny", noting "new reports that taxpayers' money was also stolen".

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INDUSTRY
Serious court cases drive Scottish backlog pressures
The number of outstanding criminal trials in Scotland fell to 13,268 in 2025/26, around a third of the peak reached in 2022, according to Audit Scotland. However, the backlog of High Court cases, which deal with the most serious offences including sexual and organised crime cases, rose to 1,002 trials - almost three times pre-pandemic levels. Auditor General Stephen Boyle said the increase in complex, resource-intensive cases is placing growing pressure on the justice system despite progress in reducing the overall backlog. Audit Scotland called for stronger delivery arrangements, clearer resourcing and greater collaboration to support court modernisation and improve efficiency.

 
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FIRMS
Gilson Gray strengthens Tayside presence
Gilson Gray has acquired Wyllie & Henderson, marking a significant expansion in Tayside. The acquisition retains all ten staff members, including consultants Ian Lindsay and Angela Scott. Gilson Gray aims to enhance its full-service offerings, aligning with Wyllie & Henderson's client-focused approach.
Blackadders retains top STEP accreditation
Blackadders LLP has been reaccredited as a Platinum Employer Partner by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), retaining the organisation's highest level of recognition. Laura McDowall, partner and head of private client, said the reaccreditation reflects the firm's commitment to professional development, technical expertise and high standards in trusts, estates and private client work.
PLANNING
Legal challenge over wind farm decision
The Scottish Government's decision to refuse consent for a 60-turbine wind farm at Scoop Hill near Moffat is facing a legal challenge, with Dumfries and Galloway Council notified as an interested party. The council had opposed the development, as had MP David Mundell, who had argued that the project's "sheer scale" would render it visible from nearby towns and villages including Moffat, Beattock, Lockerbie and Lochmaben.
HOUSING
Housebuilding slump could see homelessness rise
Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, assistant director at Shelter Scotland, has said the charity fears that homelessness will continue to rise over the new parliamentary term amid a slump in affordable housebuilding, and with First Minister John Swinney's new Cabinet seeing housing relegated from a standalone position to a combined brief with social justice. Mr Llewellyn-MacRae said he would be "delighted to be proved wrong", but that "the fundamentals show we are not seeing the levels of affordable housebuilding pick up at the pace we need".
FRAUD
Fraud threat looms over MoD contracts
MPs have raised alarms about significant fraud risks in defence contracts, estimating losses at £1.5bn annually. The Commons public accounts committee reported that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) recovers only 48p for every £1 spent on combating fraud and economic crime, falling short of the Government's target of £3. The committee questioned the reliability of the MoD's fraud risk estimates, stating it lacks a credible understanding of potential losses.
EMPLOYMENT
One vacancy for every four job-seekers in Scotland
Research carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and the Fraser of Allander Institute has found that across Scotland, there are around four people out of working and seeking employment for every available job - with that figure rising to as many as 35 people out of work to every job in Dundee. There were 10 vacancies for every person seeking work in East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and the Scottish Borders, researchers found, while there were below-average numbers of vacancies in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
BREXIT
Export deal could cut Brexit red tape
The Government has announced that from mid-2027, exporters of meat, plants, and packaging will no longer need costly veterinary certificates to meet EU standards. This change aims to alleviate the bureaucratic burden that has hindered UK food exports since Brexit. Biosecurity Minister Helene Hayman said deal could add £5.1bn a year to the economy.

 

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