The Future Economy Scotland think tank said stunted wage growth since the financial crisis has left workers worse off.

The Scottish Government’s community fund has been met with £4m by the UK Government’s Great British Energy firm.

The Scottish Labour leader backed the Prime Minister’s plans but refused to endorse his language, which has been criticised by some Labour figures.

Some 71 MSPs and 10 MPs from across the political spectrum warned Rachel Reeves that delaying Acorn will ‘jeopardise’ Scotland’s industrial sector.

Asked whether he had put independence on the back burner, the First Minister said he had to ‘directly’ deal with Scots’ priorities this year.

The Deputy First Minister said she does not think ‘any amount of legal drafting can prevent people feeling pressured to die’.

The Scottish Labour leader accused the First Minister of wanting to ‘defraud’ the people of Scotland during a speech in Glasgow.

The Survation survey suggests Nigel Farage’s party will beat the Tories and Labour to become the main opposition at the Scottish Parliament.

The agreement will put ‘more money in people’s pockets’, Rachel Reeves said during a visit to a distillery in East Lothian.

John Swinney’s plans were also criticised by Scottish Labour leader who asked the First Minister: ‘Is that it?’

The former first minister of Scotland also rejected calls for her to apologise to critics of gender self-ID.

The First Minister said he could not ‘fathom’ how Labour lived with itself after making billions in cuts to the benefits budget.

Scotland’s First Minister attacked Labour and the Tories for ‘cosying up’ to Reform, which performed strongly in local elections south of the border.

More than 80,000 workers could take part in the vote that may see walkouts over a pay dispute.

Industry leaders expressed concerns they are being ‘heard’ but ‘not being listened to’ by the Scottish Government.

The First Minister said only that the issue had been ‘settled’ by the Supreme Court and he accepts its judgment.

The Social Justice Secretary vowed to change the guidance after the Scottish Government’s Supreme Court defeat – but could not say when that would be.

Workers will walk out on Tuesday and Wednesday amid an ongoing dispute over pay.

The Scottish First Minister said Nigel Farage’s party was contributing to the undermining of ‘some of the central values of our society’.

The First Minister told the PA news agency that he accepted the judges’ ruling that the definition of a woman is based on biology.