Good morning – here are the top 10 stories in Scotland this morning:
North Sea crash helicopter’s gearbox ‘failed’ (Independent)
Scotland-based couple shot dead in suspected honour killing in Pakistan (Daily Record)
Supreme Court rejects final appeal by Mitchell and rules: Case closed (Scotsman)
Ancient universities urged to fast-track students (BBC Scotland)
SNP comes third on rich-list of UK parties (Scotsman)
Slow broadband in north-east ‘hitting trade’ (Press & Journal)
Council to revisit ring road plans for Inverness (Herald)
MSPs debate coastguard closure plan (STV News)
NBNK and Co-op in race for Lloyds branches (Scotsman)
Student leader to apologise for Obama effigy-burning (Herald)
Scottish Parliament highlights:
- 9.15: MSPs will debate UK Government plans to reform the coastguard, which will involve the closure of coastguard stations at Forth and Clyde. Previous plans would have seen further closures in the Highlands, however these were abandoned after vigorous campaigning from local representatives and communities. All four main parties have tabled motions or amendments
- 12.00: FMQs today will likely focus on the economony and the proposed independence referendum, with a heated exchange in the past few days between Finance Secretary John Swinney and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander
- 17.00: Christina McKelvie (SNP) will lead a members’ debate on nuclear test veterans, calling on the UK Government to recognise the contribution of the 1,000 surviving test veterans
For a full breakdown of Scottish Parliament business, check out today’s official Business Bulletin
Paris Gourtsoyannis
Paris joined Holyrood in September 2011, and became education correspondent in May 2012. Born in Canada into a Greek family, and raised in Belgium, he came to Scotland in 2005 to study at the University of Edinburgh, where he was involved with award-winning student publication The Journal. Before working at Holyrood, Paris contributed to the Edinburgh Evening News, the Guardian and Guardian Local, and interned at think-tank Demos. His beat takes in all areas of Scotland's education and skills sector, including early years, adult learning, and employability...