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Scott Maclennan


Political Reporter

Scott MacLennan is the political reporter for all the Highland titles at Highland News and Media. The Scottish Press Awards named him Weekly Journalist of the Year in 2024 for his coverage of the A9 dualling, 999 failings and pupil safety at a north school. He joined the company in 2019. Scott went to university in Glasgow and Moscow and reports on the Highland Council, NHS Highland and the Scottish Parliament

Scott Maclennan

Highland Council special meeting condemns Home Office’s Inverness asylum plan

07 November 2025
Highland Council special meeting condemns Home Office’s Inverness asylum plan

Highland Council special meeting condemns Home Office’s Inverness asylum plan

07 November 2025

An information vacuum on everything from location to safety and security is leading to misinformation.


Brewdog may yet have to repay public cash it took for tree-planting project near Aviemore

04 November 2025
Brewdog may yet have to repay public cash it took for tree-planting project near Aviemore

Brewdog may yet have to repay public cash it took for tree-planting project near Aviemore

04 November 2025

That was confirmed by the Scottish Government following the sale of the Kinrara Estate to Oxygen Conservation.


SNP rejects referendum…. but only on the break-up of Highland Council

31 October 2025
SNP rejects referendum…. but only on the break-up of Highland Council

SNP rejects referendum…. but only on the break-up of Highland Council

31 October 2025

An attempt was made to give the public the chance to say definitively if they want smaller councils or not.


Highland Council £36.7 million black hole branded an ‘embarrassment’

31 October 2025
Highland Council £36.7 million black hole branded an ‘embarrassment’

Highland Council £36.7 million black hole branded an ‘embarrassment’

31 October 2025

The overspend rises over three years with adult social care and class contact time for teachers two difficult areas.


NHS Highland lost 40,000 nurse and midwife staff days due to ‘mental health crisis’

28 October 2025
NHS Highland lost 40,000 nurse and midwife staff days due to ‘mental health crisis’

NHS Highland lost 40,000 nurse and midwife staff days due to ‘mental health crisis’

28 October 2025

Highland Liberal Democrats warn nurses and midwives are ‘being pushed beyond reasonable limits’.


Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes launches bid to maximise Highland renewables employment

27 October 2025
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes launches bid to maximise Highland renewables employment

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes launches bid to maximise Highland renewables employment

27 October 2025

Up to £100 billion will pour into the north over the next 15 years for the generation and transmission of renewable energy.


Highland school abuse and violence rockets 500% in five years sparking bid for protections for teachers

27 October 2025
Highland school abuse and violence rockets 500% in five years sparking bid for protections for teachers

Highland school abuse and violence rockets 500% in five years sparking bid for protections for teachers

27 October 2025

But officials worry about pupils ‘marginalised as a result of their behaviour’ amid demand for council to recognise ‘serious problem’.


December D-Day looming for Highland Council’s controversial visitor levy

24 October 2025
December D-Day looming for Highland Council’s controversial visitor levy

December D-Day looming for Highland Council’s controversial visitor levy

24 October 2025

The ‘update’ comes amid mounting pressure from critics who say now is the right time to pause the scheme.


Highland Council Break-Up: Call for a referendum so public can decide

24 October 2025
Highland Council Break-Up: Call for a referendum so public can decide

Highland Council Break-Up: Call for a referendum so public can decide

24 October 2025

Amid questions over ‘the effectiveness, accountability and local responsiveness’ of the local authority.


Angus MacDonald and Kate Forbes are to host a cross-party conference on the Highland care crisis

20 October 2025
Angus MacDonald and Kate Forbes are to host a cross-party conference on the Highland care crisis

Angus MacDonald and Kate Forbes are to host a cross-party conference on the Highland care crisis

20 October 2025

The LibDem and Deputy First Minister join forces to find solutions to the sector’s major problems.


Highland Liberal Democrats want new law to strengthen rural areas and defend against centralisation

17 October 2025
Highland Liberal Democrats want new law to strengthen rural areas and defend against centralisation

Highland Liberal Democrats want new law to strengthen rural areas and defend against centralisation

17 October 2025

The move would see a mainland equivalent of the Islands Act which delivered more protections and better representation.


Flagship Highland Council anti-poverty measures “left in tatters” with no real funding before 2027

17 October 2025
Flagship Highland Council anti-poverty measures “left in tatters” with no real funding before 2027

Flagship Highland Council anti-poverty measures “left in tatters” with no real funding before 2027

17 October 2025

An estimated £70m in benefits are likely to go unclaimed leaving thousands of hard-pressed Highlanders out of pocket.


Leading Highland GP fears ‘fragmented’ care under First Minister’s walk-in GP clinics plan

17 October 2025
Leading Highland GP fears ‘fragmented’ care under First Minister’s walk-in GP clinics plan

Leading Highland GP fears ‘fragmented’ care under First Minister’s walk-in GP clinics plan

17 October 2025

Dr Chris Williams is concerned the 15 sites may ‘not necessarily reduce pressure on core GP services’.


SEPA investigate almost 200 salmon deaths during work to realign Dalmagarry Burn for A9 Tomatin-Moy dualling

15 October 2025
SEPA investigate almost 200 salmon deaths during work to realign Dalmagarry Burn for A9 Tomatin-Moy dualling

SEPA investigate almost 200 salmon deaths during work to realign Dalmagarry Burn for A9 Tomatin-Moy dualling

15 October 2025

They were removed by electrofishing but it is not thought that this killed as SEPA investigates.


Aviemore woman in the race to succeed Kate Forbes as Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP

11 October 2025
Aviemore woman in the race to succeed Kate Forbes as Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP

Aviemore woman in the race to succeed Kate Forbes as Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP

11 October 2025

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch race heats up with Isla McCay running for Labour and Eilidh Munro for the SNP.


All Scotrail, LNER trains cancelled between Inverness and Perth with buses running instead

11 October 2025
All Scotrail, LNER trains cancelled between Inverness and Perth with buses running instead

All Scotrail, LNER trains cancelled between Inverness and Perth with buses running instead

11 October 2025

Network Rail says engineering works mean no services can run this weekend.


Highland nursery whistleblower awarded £400k after losing job over concerns about autistic boy’s treatment

10 October 2025
Highland nursery whistleblower awarded £400k after losing job over concerns about autistic boy’s treatment

Highland nursery whistleblower awarded £400k after losing job over concerns about autistic boy’s treatment

10 October 2025

Judge slams Inverness-based Care and Learning Alliance for the ‘warning to anyone who raises genuine concerns’.


Green bid to ban woodburning stoves comes back to haunt SNP amid accusation of ‘rank hypocrisy’

07 October 2025
Green bid to ban woodburning stoves comes back to haunt SNP amid accusation of ‘rank hypocrisy’

Green bid to ban woodburning stoves comes back to haunt SNP amid accusation of ‘rank hypocrisy’

07 October 2025

Highland Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston slams agriculture minister Jim Fairlie for relying on his fire during Storm Amy


Highland Greens MSP calls for ‘urgent action’ to dual and electrify the Highland Main Line

02 October 2025
Highland Greens MSP calls for ‘urgent action’ to dual and electrify the Highland Main Line

Highland Greens MSP calls for ‘urgent action’ to dual and electrify the Highland Main Line

02 October 2025

Ariane Burgess argues the railways is ‘a climate imperative, an economic opportunity, and a matter of fairness’.


Conservative candidate Helen Crawford seeks renewables convention in Holyrood

27 September 2025
Conservative candidate Helen Crawford seeks renewables convention in Holyrood

Conservative candidate Helen Crawford seeks renewables convention in Holyrood

27 September 2025

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch hopeful is aiming to fulfil her pledge to ‘take the pylon fight to Holyrood’.


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