Alex Salmond has recorded an unprecedented 75 per cent lead in approval ratings over Labour rival Wendy Alexander, according to a poll seen by the Sunday Herald.

The Scottish government has been criticised over talks with a controversial party donor on drugs policy. Bus tycoon Brian Souter's charity was granted a private meeting with an SNP minister on the new administration's "pro-abstinence" strategy.

The Scottish Government is to launch a bid to separate future Holyrood elections from council ballots, parliament minister Bruce Crawford has said.

The UK'S Information Commissioner is set to decide whether emails provided by Wendy Alexander to the investigation into her leadership campaign should be published.

Scotland's deputy presiding officer has pocketed up to £30,000 of public money to cover her "hotel" costs despite the fact she did not stay in any.

Jack McConnell is understood to be angry with Prime Minister Gordon Brown after the peerage he was promised has so far failed to materialise.

The Scottish Government's public discussion on food policy has been attacked as "bland motherhood and apple pie" and "ridiculous" by an international food expert.

A member of Wendy Alexander's shadow cabinet has criticised the Labour government for increasing the duty on whisky.