The former leader admits stepping down after 2014’s referendum may have been premature

Former first minister Alex Salmond has revealed he would have remained in his role following the 2014 independence referendum had he anticipated that Scotland would still be without independence a decade later. Salmond resigned the day after the referendum defeat, where the Yes campaign was defeated by 55% to 45%. However, he now views his departure as a “mistake.”

Reflecting on his decision, Salmond, in a new ITV Border documentary marking the referendum’s 10th anniversary titled A Decade of Debate, explained: “If you’d told me then that ten years later, we’d still be waiting despite the manifest opportunities there have been, then I would have said, ‘well, I’ll just hang about then and see the matter through.’” He elaborated that at the time, he believed a timely departure would benefit the national movement.

Current political leader Nicola Sturgeon, who succeeded Salmond, questioned whether his continued presence would have changed the course of events. In the documentary, she suggested, “So clearly he’s going to think that he could have done things so much better.” She also reflected on her own hesitation about stepping into Salmond’s role, expressing doubts about her capabilities before eventually taking up the position.

The documentary airs on ITV Border Scotland on Thursday at 8.30pm, revisiting the referendum and the years since in a reflective examination of Scotland’s political landscape.

Conservative Party contenders will face off at Birmingham rally ahead of final MP and member votes.

Former Cabinet minister Mel Stride has been eliminated from the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party, leaving four candidates vying for the top position. The decision followed a second round of voting among Tory MPs, in which Stride finished last with 16 votes. Those advancing include former immigration minister Robert Jenrick (33 votes), ex-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch (28 votes), and both ex-Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and MP Tom Tugendhat, each with 21 votes.

The remaining contenders will present their policies and vision for Britain at the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Birmingham, where they will participate in debates, answer questions, and deliver key speeches. Further rounds of MP voting on October 9 and 10 will reduce the candidates to a final two, who will then face a vote by party members.

Party members eligible to vote must have at least 90 days of active membership by the ballot’s closing on October 31, with the final result to be revealed on November 2. The leadership contest is under the oversight of Bob Blackman, chair of the 1922 Committee.

James Cleverly gained momentum earlier with endorsements from MPs Greg Smith and Sir Alec Shelbrooke, both of whom had previously supported Dame Priti Patel prior to her first-round elimination. As the race intensifies, dozens of Tory MPs are yet to publicly reveal their chosen candidates. Stride, who advocated for keeping the party anchored in the political centre ground, fell short in both rounds of voting, signaling a narrowing path for moderate positions within the leadership race.

Justice system measures aim to tackle severe overcrowding but raise concerns over public safety and potential reoffending risks.

With prisons across England and Wales facing unprecedented levels of overcrowding, some prisoners released early under a temporary Government scheme may be housed in budget hotels due to insufficient space in standard community accommodation for offenders. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood informed MPs that, while bail hostels and other facilities would be prioritised, hotels may become a necessary alternative to prevent newly released inmates from becoming homeless.

The plan, which began this week, involves the early release of around 1,700 prisoners, adding to the 1,000 normally freed weekly. This measure was implemented to alleviate the growing crisis as the prison population hit a record 88,521 last Friday. Concerns have been raised over potential increases in reoffending, as Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor warned that releasing inmates without adequate support could lead to breaches of bail conditions or further crimes, with some inevitably returning to jail.

Responding to questions in the Commons, Mahmood described the scheme as part of a broader “rescue effort” to stabilise the justice system, which is currently at breaking point. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s previous warnings from senior police officers about delaying the SDS40 scheme, which aims to reduce overcrowding, have resurfaced, highlighting the urgency of the issue. Taylor likened the situation to an overflowing bathtub, suggesting the Government had no choice but to “let some water out.”

Victims’ advocates have also expressed concern, particularly about the early release of violent offenders. Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner, criticised failures to notify some victims ahead of offenders’ releases. Domestic abuse organisations have called for stricter exemptions, noting that while perpetrators of sex offences, terrorism, and serious violence are excluded, gaps remain for some domestic abuse-related crimes.

The Ministry of Justice has argued that ensuring released offenders have shelter reduces reoffending risks, stating that placing offenders in hotels would be a “last resort.” However, critics, including charities and penal reform groups, have urged the Government to focus on longer-term solutions such as sentencing reforms and improved rehabilitation to reduce the need for emergency measures. The Howard League for Penal Reform described the conditions within prisons as contributing to reoffending, citing overcrowding, violence, and inadequate mental health support as systemic issues.

Keir Starmer assures safeguards are in place as concerns rise over loopholes in new early release scheme.

Ministers are making every effort to ensure domestic abusers are not released early under a new temporary early release scheme, according to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The scheme, set to come into effect on Tuesday, aims to alleviate overcrowding in prisons by allowing some prisoners to be released after serving just 40% of their sentence.

However, there are growing concerns over a potential loophole that could see domestic abusers released early. Reports suggest that some domestic violence-related crimes are not always categorised as such, which could allow offenders of such crimes to benefit from the scheme. While there are exemptions for domestic abusers, the issue has sparked a debate on the fairness and safety of the release plan.

The UK’s prison population has hit a record high of 88,521, with a sharp increase in recent weeks, driven partly by recent unrest across the country. Starmer expressed frustration over the situation, saying the last government’s failure to build enough prisons had left the system “full to bursting.” He stressed the need for action, stating that without the scheme, the criminal justice system would collapse.

In response to concerns, Starmer assured that safeguards are in place for high-risk prisoners, including those convicted of domestic violence. “We are doing everything we can to make sure that high-risk offenders and domestic abusers are not released,” he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the “broken” prison system, blaming the previous government for its failure and committing to reform. Meanwhile, former Conservative justice secretary Alex Chalk suggested that the government’s approach to sentencing needed to change, pointing out that custodial sentences have increased dramatically in the past 50 years, which has added to the strain on the prison system.

Chalk argued that while some individuals, such as those convicted of high-profile crimes like Sarah Everard’s murderer Wayne Couzens, may deserve long sentences, the overall length of sentences in England and Wales is far longer than in other European countries. He also noted the significant financial cost of imprisonment, with each prisoner costing £50,000 a year to incarcerate.

Chalk admitted that he supported a review of sentencing but stressed that it was important to balance public safety with cost-effectiveness. He warned against locking up “everyone we’re cross with,” advocating for a more targeted approach to sentencing.

Labour leader insists economic stability justifies restricting payments to only the most vulnerable pensioners.

Sir Keir Starmer has defended the Labour government’s proposal to limit the winter fuel allowance to the most in-need pensioners, describing the move as a “tough decision” that is necessary to stabilise the economy. This comes as Labour MP Rosie Duffield became the latest backbencher to publicly state she would not support the measure when it is put to a vote in the Commons.

The Prime Minister argued that this plan will help to balance the public finances and ensure the future security of the state pension triple lock, which guarantees a rise in pension payments each year. However, the controversial proposal, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July, aims to restrict winter fuel payments to only those pensioners claiming pension credit and other means-tested benefits, cutting the number of eligible recipients by over 10 million, from 11.4 million to just 1.5 million. This reduction is expected to save £1.4 billion this year.

Despite facing increasing opposition within the Labour ranks, including several MPs voicing concerns, Sir Keir Starmer stood firm in his commitment, stating, “We have got to take tough decisions,” and highlighting the safeguards put in place for vulnerable pensioners through pension credit and housing benefits. He also reassured that stabilising the economy would create the conditions needed to uphold the triple lock on pensions.

The announcement led to a surge in pension credit applications, with a 115% increase in claims following the Government’s plan. Starmer added that while the decision was difficult, it was necessary for the long-term stability of the economy, which, in turn, would help improve public services and raise living standards.

Rosie Duffield, who represents Canterbury, joined other Labour MPs in opposing the move, though she said she would abstain from voting rather than opposing the Government outright, citing concerns about potential disciplinary action from the leadership. Meanwhile, 11 Labour MPs have signed a motion condemning the policy, calling it a “bureaucratic and unpopular means test.”