Council tax will be scrapped and replaced with local income tax as early as April 2010 under an SNP government plan that is certain to cause a massive cross-Border conflict with Westminster.

A controversial MSP who built up a property empire worth more than £2m has resigned from the Scottish Parliament less than four months after being elected.

Thugs who commit acts of violence while drunk will face tougher sentences under a controversial plan being considered by Scottish ministers.

A vaccine that would end the scourge of E coli poisoning is being developed by Scottish scientists and could be available for trials within two years.

Convicted rapist and murderer Peter Tobin is to be interviewed about the disappearance of another young girl.

Jack McConnell has blamed the war in Iraq and turmoil in Westminster for his election defeat in May's Scottish elections, claiming that matters "were outwith my control" ahead of the poll.

Wendy Alexander has declared she wants to bring a stop to the "cotton-wool kid phenomenon" in Scotland and give parents the confidence to let their children play outside without fear.

The man behind the Tories' campaign against red tape has endorsed the SNP's demand for lower tax on business to help reverse the exodus of workers and capital out of Scotland.

Breeders of Highland cattle are receiving scores of requests for their distinctive £5,000-a-head beasts from farmers in the world's largest country.

Twitchers are having a field day. New figures reveal that the number of bird species being recorded in Scotland has increased dramatically.