Holyrood 423 / 22 April 2019
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SNP Conference Special: Original comment from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on trust in politics; Interview with SNP MSP Alyn Smith on Scotland’s future in Europe; and new polling on independence. Plus: The Smacking Debate - should Scotland follow Ireland’s lead and give children equal protection against assault?
3 Editor’s note
In this current clime, expressing any kind of idiosyncratic view of sex is close to heresy to the trans activists who proclaim, emphatically, that ‘a trans woman, is a woman’ and ‘a trans man is a man’
6 Roundup
Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks
7 Talking Point
Power needs to shift from landlords to tenants
9 Digital Highlights
The best of Twitter and Holyrood’s online content
10 Political Spotlight
There is more interest in the European election than ever before
12 Special Feature: The historic environment
Historic Environment Scotland’s new corporate plan goes beyond castles and stone circles
15 First Minister’s Comment: Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon looks at what has changed since the SNP last held its party conference in Edinburgh 11 years ago
18 Overview: SNP conference
The SNP has a huge membership, but can it turn the numbers into political momentum?
23 Polling: Voters on independence
Angus Robertson on what polling says about the approach to a second independence referendum
26 Cover Story: Alyn Smith MEP
The SNP MEP sits down to discuss Scotland’s future in Europe with Holyrood’s Tom Freeman
31 Feature: Smacking ban
Ireland introduced a so-called smacking ban in 2015
34 Event Preview
Get your nominations in for Holyrood’s political awards
36 Getting to Know You
Oliver Mundell on an awkward student accident
38 Comment
Kirsty Strickland on freedom of speech
40 Diary
Parliament in cartoons and Green contraceptives
41 Pets
Labour councillor Robert Foster with his Jack Russell Glen
42 Last Word
Sketch: Amber Rudd may or may not want to become the next leader of the Conservative party...