A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
1st July 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Scottish hate crime charges reach record high
Reported hate crime in Scotland rose by 17% to a record 7,115 charges in 2025-26, according to figures from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Racially aggravated offences remained the most common category, followed by crimes linked to sexual orientation and disability, all of which increased year-on-year. Charges involving religion and transgender identity also rose. Ruth Charteris KC said the increase in offences motivated by racial, sexual orientation and disability-related hatred "should concern us all" and stressed that prosecutors remained committed to holding offenders to account and protecting vulnerable communities.

 
INDUSTRY
MSPs urged to examine impact of rape trial ruling
MSPs are being urged to investigate the impact of a Supreme Court ruling on evidence rules in Scottish sexual offence trials, amid concerns it could lead to appeals against convictions and delays to cases. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has received 20 applications linked to the judgment. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton called for parliamentary scrutiny to ensure victims' interests remain protected. Rape Crisis Scotland external affairs manager Nicola Love warned against a return to intrusive questioning of complainers, while Stuart Munro, the Convener of the Law Society of Scotland 's Criminal Law Committee, said the issues raised by the ruling were complex and significant.

 
HOLYROOD
Swinney seeks Holyrood powers talks
John Swinney said he hopes to work "constructively" with Andy Burnham on strengthening Holyrood's powers, while maintaining the SNP's aim of independence and EU membership. He said any devolution agenda must go beyond English regions and deliver "more job-creating powers and the ability to lower energy bills" for Scotland. Swinney argued Brexit had been "a disaster" and said a new UK fiscal approach should increase investment in public services and infrastructure after "years and years of austerity". He also said the Energy Profits Levy is "a complete block on investment" in the North Sea and "needs to be removed". 
CASES
Ruling allows for mass litigation against lenders
A Court of Appeal ruling has opened the door for mass lawsuits against lenders involved in the motor finance mis-selling scandal. The court dismissed an appeal from eight lenders, including Lloyds' Black Horse and BMW, which sought to overturn a High Court decision allowing "omnibus" claims for thousands of consumers. The ruling allows thousands of motorists to pursue compensation outside the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) redress scheme, which estimates payouts of £7.5bn for over 12m loans from 2007 to 2024.
POLICING
Police Scotland faces scrutiny over SNP probe
Police Scotland's decision to focus its investigation on Peter Murrell has led to dissatisfaction among complainers regarding the handling of the SNP's £650,000 donations. Stuart Campbell, a pro-independence blogger, expressed concerns about the lack of explanation for this focus. Operation Branchform began in 2021 after public complaints about the SNP's spending. Murrell, the former chief executive, was recently jailed for embezzling over £400,000. Campbell stated: "There are several avenues for pursuing it, one of which is to apply for judicial review against the police."
PLANNING
Campaigners rally against massive data centres
Campaigners are urging public responses against two proposed hyperscale data centres in Larbert and Auchtertool before tomorrow's deadline. Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) claims these centres would consume 900 megawatts (MW) of power, which is nearly 25% of Scotland's peak electricity demand. APRS director Dr Kat Jones claimed: "Each of these two hyperscale data centres are absolutely humungous." Almost 5,000 people have signed a petition against the Auchtertool site, while over 3,100 objections have been submitted for Larbert. Community leaders are calling for a moratorium on such developments until further research is conducted.
TAX
East Lothian Council wipes £1m debt
East Lothian Council has written off over £1m in unpaid council tax bills in the past year. The report on bad debt revealed that £400,000 was cancelled across 369 accounts, with additional amounts due to bankruptcies and liquidations. Other write-offs included £90,000 from deceased individuals with no estates and £104,000 from homeless individuals. The council's policy allows for these debts to be recognised as irrecoverable.
TECHNOLOGY
Google pushes for AI copyright reform
Google has urged UK ministers to relax copyright laws to support AI development. Katie O'Donovan, Google's UK head of public policy, stated that current regulations hinder the growth of the British AI economy. She noted that companies must seek data from other jurisdictions to train large language models (LLMs), which limits investment in the UK. 
EDUCATION
Teachers fear backlash over Pride Month
John Summers-Campbell, a Scottish headteacher, has expressed concerns that teachers are hesitant to celebrate Pride Month due to fear of backlash and the "personal and professional cost" of advocacy. He noted that teachers are feeling exhausted and cautious, especially after instances of serious online abuse related to Pride events. Summers-Campbell highlighted that the loudest voices often oppose inclusion and rights, sometimes labelling advocates as "difficult" or "political".
FIRMS
LHV Bank teams up with Harper MacLeod
LHV Bank has appointed Harper Macleod as its primary legal adviser in Scotland, effective immediately. The partnership aims to support LHV Bank's growth in the commercial lending market, particularly in real estate, hotels, and leisure sectors. The bank plans to double its Scottish loan book in the coming years.
INTERNATIONAL
US Supreme Court issues flurry of contentious rulings
The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional right to citizenship for babies born in the US, rejecting President Donald Trump's attempt to end this long-standing policy. In his dissent, Justice Thomas argued that the 14th amendment was being "repurposed for political projects" and that the freed slaves it was originally intended for "were Americans" with no allegiance to other countries.

 

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