A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
12th June 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Scotland faces rising tide of hate
John Swinney, Scotland's Deputy First Minister, warned of a "rising tide of the spread of hateful rhetoric" following violent incidents in Glasgow and Greenock. Tensions escalated after a stabbing in Belfast, leading to public attacks based on skin colour. Swinney condemned the actions of Reform UK, stating they incite racial hatred. He emphasised Scotland's commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive nation. Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, also condemned the violence, asserting that it should never justify racism. Swinney urged Reform to distance themselves from hateful rhetoric, stating: "They will forever be known as the people that incited racial tension."

Denovo in Scotland: Why So Many Law Firms Use This Legal Case Management Software  

As regulatory demands increase and client expectations continue to evolve, Scottish law firms are under growing pressure to balance efficiency, compliance, and service quality. Technology is playing an increasingly important role in helping firms streamline operations, reduce administrative burden, and create more connected ways of working. In this article, we explore the key capabilities modern practice management platforms provide and why integrated legal technology is becoming a strategic priority for firms across Scotland.  

Read more

 
HEALTH
Scottish maternity services review launched amid safety and governance concerns
Scotland's Health Secretary Angela Constance has appointed Professor Christine McCourt to lead an independent review of maternity services, due to begin after summer and report within nine months. The review will examine whether maternity provision is meeting changing needs, focusing on safety, workforce pressures, governance, service sustainability, access to care and rural provision. It follows concerns highlighted by Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspections and wider scrutiny of maternity services, including issues at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The review will gather evidence from women, families, clinicians and patient groups, and consider inequalities in outcomes and community engagement. Constance said the process would be transparent and pledged to address concerns wherever they emerge.
Calls grow for action on corridor care in Scotland
The Royal College of Nursing has urged the Scottish Government to publish data on corridor care after NHS England released figures showing thousands of patients are treated in unsuitable hospital spaces each day. The union argues that greater transparency is needed to assess the scale of the issue and develop a funded plan to eliminate the practice.

 
HOLYROOD
Inquiry needed into SNP finances - Canavan
Former Labour MP Dennis Canavan has called for an independent inquiry into the embezzlement scandal involving Peter Murrell. Canavan stated it "beggars belief" that Murrell could steal over £400,000 from the SNP without detection for more than a decade.
INDUSTRY
US firms drive up salaries
US law firms are intensifying salary competition in the UK legal market. Starting next month, Quinn Emanuel will increase salaries by 5%, with newly qualified lawyers earning £189,000, a record for London. Major US firms like Milbank, Kirkland & Ellis, and Latham & Watkins have consistently set high salary benchmarks, putting pressure on UK firms, particularly the magic circle, where Freshfields, Linklaters, Clifford Chance, and Slaughter & May are aligned at £150,000 in London. Ria Karnik from Major, Lindsey & Africa notes that senior staff might feel resentment towards new hires due to rising pay, while Nick Woolf from Woolf&Co expressed concerns about the sustainability of such significant increases across the market.
Law firms are struggling to convert AI use into profits
Legal consultant Mark Bull suggests that AI-driven productivity gains in law firms may not translate to higher profits due to traditional cost-reimbursable billing models.
CASES
Tech CEO loses discrimination claim over flight upgrades
A former Edinburgh technology company chief executive has lost claims of age and disability discrimination after arguing his employer failed to accommodate his fear of flying. An employment tribunal found that Skylark Lasers had not prevented Ben Szutor from travelling in business or first class but had reasonably sought medical evidence to justify departures from its economy-class travel policy. The tribunal dismissed all claims, including unfair dismissal, ruling that the company's requests for supporting evidence were legitimate and that reasonable adjustments had been considered.
Ryanair faces CMA scrutiny over seating fees
Ryanair is under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority for charging parents to sit with their children on flights. The CMA is assessing whether this practice aligns with consumer law and if it unfairly charges parents to comply with child safety regulations.
TAX
Almost 250,000 issued summary warrants over council tax debts
Freedom of Information requests made by the GMB trade union have revealed that almost 250,000 people in Scotland were issued summary warrants over unpaid council tax in 2025, with councils owed just under £1bn in unpaid tax. City of Edinburgh Council alone issued 47,644 summary warrants over unpaid council tax, down from almost 54,000 the previous year. GMB national secretary Rachel Harrison said the "horrifying figures show our council tax system is completely broken", and that to "fix all this, we need more guaranteed central government funding, progress on council tax reform so the richest pay their share and changes to business rates so that authorities get more to regenerate our high streets".
FINANCE
Council tribunal costs near £1m
South Lanarkshire Council incurred £195,154 in legal fees while unsuccessfully contesting an employment tribunal, bringing total costs to nearly £1m. Councillor David Watson, who revealed the figures after a four-year struggle, labelled the situation "one of the biggest scandals to hit Scottish local government." The tribunal found that Gerry Campbell, dismissed from his role at South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC), faced "manifestly biased" treatment.
PLANNING
Edinburgh data centre moratorium deemed unreasonable
Edinburgh councillors have been advised against implementing a moratorium on data centres, as it may be deemed "unreasonable" by the Scottish Government's planning officials. A report by Gareth Barwell, City of Edinburgh Council's corporate director of place, states that banning applications is not feasible and could lead to costly appeals.
AND FINALLY...
Older drivers face licence rule change
The UK Government is considering mandatory eyesight tests for drivers aged over 70 due to a 40% rise in collisions linked to uncorrected vision. Ministers are looking to enhance road safety for older drivers and are exploring various proposals, including cognitive assessments.

 

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