Politics

The Liberal Democrats want to place an emphasis on attainment in schools amid flagging results for north youngsters.

Scotland reaches target for the first time as wellbeing minister and far north MSP Maree Todd hails ‘encouraging’ figures.

Council leader Raymond Bremner says the move sparked by ‘eye-watering’ £70m in unclaimed benefits.

A further £8m will be invested in renewable energy projects that have been touted for years.

The Nationalists are cock a hoop the polls still have them ahead despite running Scotland so badly

The idea is to create a sixth form college accessible online to all pupils in the Highlands to ramp-up learning and attainment.

Business leaders across the Highlands have united to back calls for changes to planned tourist levies.

But despite being ordered to make a number of improvements - including on infection outbreak reporting - the inspectors also reported many strengths.

Local authorities such as Highland Council are being called upon to review ASL provision processes.

Top councillors recognise ‘people are under severe financial pressure’ but say taxpayers will see their money’s worth

The £818m draft budget will be debated - and likely agreed - at a full meeting of the local authority next week.

Highland and Moray MPs are urging Westminster to scrap plans to grant GI status to English whisky as they fear it will hit Scotch whisky’s reputation.

Scottish Conservative says party political disputes and constitutional arguments ‘holding Scotland back’

Councillor Michael Gregson warns when ‘Highland figures are so poor’ then ‘we need more transparency and openness’.

Campaigners’ efforts to accelerate work to boost digital connectivity in the Highlands have won support from a Holyrood committee.

‘Shambolic’ Raigmore Hospital staff shortages left a man traumatised after waiting two months for urgent surgery to tackle a life-and-death condition.

The local authority admits that it ‘has an impact on service delivery including at school level’.

MSP Edward Mountain is demanding an inquiry into what he says is a ‘fiasco’ after ‘nearly six years of incompetence.

That’s the fear after Police Scotland’s chief warned the force will need to review officer recruitment to meet rising National Insurance costs.

MP Angus MacDonald hails ‘very positive step’ as Labour energy minister Michael Shanks says region is ‘doing a favour for the rest of the country’.