A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
13th August 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
McLeish urges Britain to rethink its reliance on prison
Writing in The Scotsman, former Scottish first minister Henry McLeish argues that Britain relies too heavily on imprisonment and needs a broader approach to criminal justice. He notes that incarceration rates in England, Wales and Scotland are more than twice the Western European median, while short sentences often do little to prevent reoffending. McLeish calls for fewer people to be jailed, with longer sentences reserved for serious offenders, alongside greater investment in rehabilitation, probation and reliable electronic monitoring. He also questions the imprisonment of many women and remand prisoners, noting that incarceration can cost up to £55,000 per inmate annually. While acknowledging victims' concerns over early release, he argues that policy should be guided by evidence rather than public anger, political caution or media pressure.

 
THE LAW
Scotland urged to strengthen privacy law over smart glasses
Scottish privacy lawyer Paul Motion has called on Holyrood to consider creating a standalone legal right to privacy as covert recording through smart glasses becomes more common. He expects increasing numbers of people to seek legal advice after being filmed without their knowledge and posted online, but warns that existing Scottish remedies are limited. Unlike England, Scotland does not clearly recognise a general right to privacy, meaning victims may need to rely on breach of confidence or other legal claims. Courts can order footage to be removed or prevent further publication, but identifying and serving the person responsible can be difficult once videos spread online.
Labour's zero-hours contracts ban to cost £3bn a year
Labour's proposed crackdown on zero-hours contracts under the Employment Rights Act could cost businesses between £350m and £2.9bn a year, depending on the agreed hours threshold. The Government's own analysis suggests approximately £1.2bn of these costs stem from new requirements to compensate workers for cancelled shifts. The British Chambers of Commerce said the new figures significantly exceed the previous £1bn estimate for the entire employment reform package. The BCC and CBI have called for a "proper tripartite negotiation" between government, unions and business on how to implement any proposals.

 
INDUSTRY
Lawscot Foundation launches student conference for aspiring lawyers
The Lawscot Foundation has held its first student conference to support aspiring lawyers facing socioeconomic barriers, marking its 10th anniversary. Twelve Scottish law students attended the Edinburgh event, meeting solicitors, legal organisations and sponsor firms. Keynote speaker Ryan McCuaig, who grew up in care before earning a first-class law degree, urged students to remember why they entered the profession. The Foundation said the conference aimed to build confidence and professional networks.
FIRMS
Scullion LAW expands family law team
Scullion LAW has expanded its family law department with four appointments and three senior promotions. Grant Ashford, Fiona Anderson, trainee solicitor Calum Sanderson and paralegal Samantha Robertson have joined the team, while Judith Higson has become director and head of family law. Nicola Buchanan has been promoted to legal director and Claire Thomas to senior associate. The firm, which has offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Hamilton, said the investment would strengthen its ability to support individuals and families across Scotland.
TAX
UK could spend a fifth of tax on debt
New modelling by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggests that children and young people may see nearly 50% of their taxes spent on servicing government debt by 2075. The report indicates that debt interest payments could account for about 21.3% of total government revenue in a likely scenario, with a worst-case scenario reaching 47%. William Ellis, a senior economist at IPPR, said: "Fiscal plans should be held to account on the debt servicing ratio." Current debt interest payments are projected at £110bn, nearly double the defence budget.
EMPLOYMENT
Senior doctors warn of action over Scottish NHS pay deal
Senior doctors have warned that "all options are on the table" after the Scottish Government imposed a 3.5% pay rise for consultants, GPs, SAS doctors and dentists. The BMA said the increase was insufficient and accused ministers of ignoring previous agreements on addressing pay erosion and working conditions. It said half of consultants surveyed would be likely to leave NHS Scotland if the rise was imposed.
ECONOMY
Scotland public spending exceeds UK average
Scotland recorded public spending of £22,281 per person in 2025/26, £2,720 above the UK average, according to the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) report. The figures showed a notional deficit of £25.3bn, equivalent to 10.9% of GDP, compared with 4.2% across the UK. Revenues raised in Scotland reached a record £98.3bn, up 6.9%, partly reflecting higher employer National Insurance contributions and Scottish income tax receipts. However, North Sea revenues fell to about £3.9bn as oil and gas prices declined.
OTHER
Stolen horse reunited with owner after eight years
A rare cremello horse stolen from a Morayshire farm in 2018 has been reunited with his owner after being found in Shipley, Yorkshire. Polo, now 13, was located by West Yorkshire Police following community intelligence. Owner Zoe Urquart said she had given up hope of finding him. "He's going to get the best of care and we'll get him back to the way he should be," she added.

 

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