Labour leader Wendy Alexander faces a Holyrood ban after a parliamentary sleaze watchdog found her guilty of breaking the rules on MSPs' conduct by not declaring donations to her leadership campaign.

Government officials have given up a three-year fight to block the release of secret files which showed how a succession of Labour ministers opposed free personal care when the policy was backed by former First Minister Henry McLeish.

Scottish councils are using surveillance and security powers intended to fight terrorism and organised crime in order to spy on ordinary members of the public suspected of petty offences such as breaching the smoking ban, playing music too loudly and dropping litter.

Scotland's sherriff officers have accused the Crown Office of riding roughshod over government ministers after justice secretary Kenny MacAskill reneged on his pre-election pledge that officers should be allowed to deliver criminal witness citations.