Hard on the heels of its worst local government election results in 40 years and the election of a Tory mayor in London for the first time, an opinion poll published yesterday shows that in Scotland the SNP have stretched their lead over Labour to 14 points — their biggest ever.

Golf is coming home to Scotland in a big way over the next 18 months with 13 new courses set to add to the 550-plus already in existence.

Soaring numbers of Scottish children are being withdrawn from state education to be schooled at home — with experts saying the rise is being driven by schools failing to beat bullying.

Margo MacDonald: Cameron’s gamble paid off in Boris election