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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

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’.


UPDATE: A9 reopens after two-vehicle crash

27 September 2025
UPDATE: A9 reopens after two-vehicle crash

UPDATE: A9 reopens after two-vehicle crash

27 September 2025

Traffic Scotland advised avoiding the area while a diversion was put in place following the crash.


Should shinty get the same support as Gaelic as a vital part of Highland culture?

27 September 2025
Should shinty get the same support as Gaelic as a vital part of Highland culture?

Should shinty get the same support as Gaelic as a vital part of Highland culture?

27 September 2025

We asked those involved with ‘most professional amateur sport in Scotland’ what they think


Highland Council Visitor Levy stance is ‘digging its heels in – on shifting sands’

27 September 2025
Highland Council Visitor Levy stance is ‘digging its heels in – on shifting sands’

Highland Council Visitor Levy stance is ‘digging its heels in – on shifting sands’

27 September 2025

Labour and LibDem calls for a pause were rejected by the SNP-Highland Independent bosses.


Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander highlights local potential at Highland Business Awards

26 September 2025
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander highlights local potential at Highland Business Awards

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander highlights local potential at Highland Business Awards

26 September 2025

Earlier he attended an event inaugurating Inverness and Cromarty First Green Freeport.


UK government risking Highland care sector over its national insurance and overseas staff policies

23 September 2025
UK government risking Highland care sector over its national insurance and overseas staff policies

UK government risking Highland care sector over its national insurance and overseas staff policies

23 September 2025

Leading care provider voices fear the sector faces a ‘catastrophic’ loss of ‘swathes’ of provision.


Eilidh Munro in bid to succeed Kate Forbes on the SNP ticket in 2026

22 September 2025
Eilidh Munro in bid to succeed Kate Forbes on the SNP ticket in 2026

Eilidh Munro in bid to succeed Kate Forbes on the SNP ticket in 2026

22 September 2025

The musician is one of the final two candidates with party members set to start voting this weekend.


Highland councillors call for visitor levy ‘pause’ and introduction of charges for motorhomes

13 September 2025
Highland councillors call for visitor levy ‘pause’ and introduction of charges for motorhomes

Highland councillors call for visitor levy ‘pause’ and introduction of charges for motorhomes

13 September 2025

Amid ‘significant concerns remain over the form and method of implementation as currently proposed.’


Highland social care report exposes service crisis affecting vulnerable adults and children

12 September 2025
Highland social care report exposes service crisis affecting vulnerable adults and children

Highland social care report exposes service crisis affecting vulnerable adults and children

12 September 2025

Child social work teams have 44% vacancy rate and care at home has almost 3000 hours of unmet need triggering delayed discharge.


Hundreds of Highland private hire car drivers may be forced to take knowledge test before getting licensed

11 September 2025
Hundreds of Highland private hire car drivers may be forced to take knowledge test before getting licensed

Hundreds of Highland private hire car drivers may be forced to take knowledge test before getting licensed

11 September 2025

A public consultation saw 70 per cent of respondents support the plan.


Highlands sees 20 per cent decrease in alcohol specific deaths

10 September 2025
Highlands sees 20 per cent decrease in alcohol specific deaths

Highlands sees 20 per cent decrease in alcohol specific deaths

10 September 2025

Despite that the rate per 100,000 people remains above the national average with 52 fatalities.


Conservative Helen Crawford vows to take pylon fight to Holyrood with 2026 election bid

09 September 2025
Conservative Helen Crawford vows to take pylon fight to Holyrood with 2026 election bid

Conservative Helen Crawford vows to take pylon fight to Holyrood with 2026 election bid

09 September 2025

The Aird and Loch Ness councillor confirms she will run for the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seat in the 2026.


Spittal-Beauly pylon plan sparks Highland community council fury as they have just four weeks to respond

08 September 2025
Spittal-Beauly pylon plan sparks Highland community council fury as they have just four weeks to respond

Spittal-Beauly pylon plan sparks Highland community council fury as they have just four weeks to respond

08 September 2025

Amid calls for Highland Council to take action as they say this makes a ‘mockery of local democracy’.


Highland GP Andrew McFarlane arrested over online posts about his son’s rape victim Ellie Wilson

29 August 2025
Highland GP Andrew McFarlane arrested over online posts about his son’s rape victim Ellie Wilson

Highland GP Andrew McFarlane arrested over online posts about his son’s rape victim Ellie Wilson

29 August 2025

It is understood he has been released and is due to appear in court at a later date.


NHS Highland patient’s seven and half year wait to start mental health treatment

28 August 2025
NHS Highland patient’s seven and half year wait to start mental health treatment

NHS Highland patient’s seven and half year wait to start mental health treatment

28 August 2025

The north health board returns some of the worst numbers in Scotland.


The LibDem vying to succeed Kate Forbes in Holyrood says it is ‘Time to say Goodbye to Highland Council’

27 August 2025
The LibDem vying to succeed Kate Forbes in Holyrood says it is ‘Time to say Goodbye to Highland Council’

The LibDem vying to succeed Kate Forbes in Holyrood says it is ‘Time to say Goodbye to Highland Council’

27 August 2025

Andrew Baxter picks-up where the outgoing MSP left off saying the council is ‘too large, too centralised, and too remote’.


Highland Council in top 10 most indebted UK local authorities in borrowing per person as total debt stands at £1.3bn

26 August 2025
Highland Council in top 10 most indebted UK local authorities in borrowing per person as total debt stands at £1.3bn

Highland Council in top 10 most indebted UK local authorities in borrowing per person as total debt stands at £1.3bn

26 August 2025

That is a a 14% rise in loans since last year totalling £161m, according to new figures.


Highland Council plan to drug test staff ‘with cause’ of ‘reasonable suspicion of impairment’

22 August 2025
Highland Council plan to drug test staff ‘with cause’ of ‘reasonable suspicion of impairment’

Highland Council plan to drug test staff ‘with cause’ of ‘reasonable suspicion of impairment’

22 August 2025

Examples were offered of ‘slurred speech, impaired movement, erratic or unusual behaviour’.


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