Today marks the final full week of campaigning, and the Conservatives have been trying to regain the initiative by highlighting the dangers of backing Labour or Reform. However, even that is not going well as yet another senior Tory faces investigation over allegations of betting on the election date. Michael Gove, in The Sunday Times, has compared the scandal to Partygate.
Meanwhile, the SNP faces uncomfortable questions around its own alleged electoral irregularities. First minister John Swinney was forced to deny that his party had used publicly funded stamps for campaigning purposes. The allegations invoke the spectre of the party’s existing legal difficulties, which cratered its support when they emerged in 2023.
Scottish Labour is also dealing with its own challenges, with The Herald this morning reporting that an internal row has broken out within the party’s campaign for the seat of Bathgate and Linlithgow. Candidate Kirsteen Sullivan was accused of “mounting a coup" within her local branch amid a disagreement over her campaign’s financing.
It’s the kind of turbulence the party will be hoping to avoid at what is seen as a pivotal point in the campaign. Labour’s leadership is at pains to guard against complacency, with leaked internal memos pointing to the proportion of still-undecided voters across the UK.
For his part, Anas Sarwar dismissed talk of a Labour “supermajority” as “nonsense” yesterday. However, with more than 100 polls published since the start of the election, it is clear a large Labour landslide is likely.
The final head-to-head TV debate of the campaign, hosted by the BBC’s Mishal Husain, is in Nottingham on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, across the pond, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are set to hold their first head-to-head on Thursday when they meet in Atlanta for a CNN debate. This is big – a poor Biden performance could be fatal for his re-election. In a change from the norm, there will be no live audience and the candidates’ microphones will be muted except when it’s their turn to speak. Trump has already suggested Biden may be planning to use drugs to boost his performance,
ICYMI: Sophie Taylor spoke for many disengaged young voters in her debut View from the Street, published on Thursday.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
- The Times reports that the government received warnings from a senior European Union (EU) official regarding the “lost opportunity” of unspent EU funds. Figures recently released by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre show that ministers missed out on £116m funding for key economic projects.
- Edinburgh is now a prime destination for property investment from the Middle East, according to new data. Research from investment firm IP Global indicates that the city has overtaken so-called “northern powerhouse” cities of Manchester and Sheffield as the most attractive destination for Middle East investors, with the presence of major corporations such as Amazon and Microsoft boosting its business appeal.
- Angus Council is set to declare a housing emergency. The local authority continues to deal with the aftereffects of Storm Babet, combined with cuts to its housing budget. This move comes after industry stakeholders expressed dissatisfaction with a statement from the housing minister in which he declined to restore cuts to the Affordable Housing Supply programme as many had expected.
- Distillery workers at three Whyte and Mackay facilities are due to walk out today after rejecting the company’s latest pay offer. GMB Scotland members also voted to undertake further industrial action in July and August. Meanwhile, ScotRail drivers have threatened to ballot for fresh strike action.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
- Emma Jacobs covers corporate cringe culture and asks how we canhumanise our LinkedIn presence in The Financial Times,
- Ian Johnston examines the anti-immigration rhetoric of liberal Conservatives and argues that the party has created a rod for its own back in The Scotsman.
- The Guardian covers warnings from economists around the prospects of Labour’s economic plans if it fails to secure closer ties to the European Union.
- In a market replete with political podcasts, new entry “Not Another One”manages to stand out for its top-tier analysis from its cross-party panel. Well worth a listen.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
Monday
- Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson to analyse party manifestos
- Senior party figures, including John Swinney and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, to face questions on ITV1’s Tonight programme, airing 7pm
- Final appeal hearing for former newspaper owner Jimmy Lai to take place in Hong Kong
Tuesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Stage 3 proceedings: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
- In the Holyrood committee rooms
- The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will take evidence on the Housing (Scotland) Bill
- TV debates to take place ahead of the French parliamentary elections
- Data on recorded crime in Scotland, 2023-24, released
- King Charles and Queen Camilla officially welcome Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako as part of the pair’s state visit to the UK
- Ukraine and Moldova begin EU accession talks
- 15 years ago: Michael Jackson died
Wednesday
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In the Holyrood chamber
- Portfolio questions covering constitution, external affairs and culture
- Stage 3 debate: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
- Member’s business – Humza Yousaf: immediate recognition of the state of Palestine
- In the Holyrood committee rooms
- Rural Affairs and Islands Committee will consider the follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland
- Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to go head-to-head in BBC debate, airing 8:15pm
- Glastonbury to kick off in Somerset
Thursday
- In the Holyrood chamber: First Minister’s Questions
- Bank of England to release report on the stability of the British financial system
- First US presidential debate to take place, hosted by CNN, airing 2am UK time
- Keir Starmer interviewed by ITV’s Paul Brand, airing 8:30pm
- The British Chambers of Commerce to host their annual global conference at the QEII centre in London
- The Bear season 3 released
- National Sunglasses Day
Friday
- Presidential election to take place in Iran, following the death of the late premier Ebrahim Raisi in a plane crash
- Parliamentary elections to take place in Mongolia
- Glastonbury Festival begins
- Wimbledon draw
Saturday
- Presidential election to take place in Mauritania
- Stage 1 of the Tour de France to kick off in Florence
Sunday
- First round of voting to take place in France’s snap election