PICKETS: Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has confirmed there will be changes to ensure that safe picketing is allowed after police in Edinburgh broke up a Covid-compliant protest by Unite.

Mr Yousaf was responding to a question in Holyrood by Labour MSP Neil Findlay, who raised concerns about disruption to action on March 17 at the Saica firm’s packaging site in Edinburgh. 

Unite said the decision meant “that we retain the ability to hold bad bosses to account.”

ELECTIONS: A Kurdish refugee who campaigned against dawn raids on asylum-seekers as one the Glasgow Girls group says she is proud to be running to become an MSP.

Roza Salih, whose family fled from Kurdistan, is the lead candidate on the SNP’s Glasgow regional list in the May 6 elections.

Ms Salih would be the first refugee to be elected to Holyrood. She said that her election would reflect Scotland’s “broad diversity.”

CARE SERVICE: A Scottish think tank has published a new report outlining the need to reform the role of social workers.

Common Weal published its Struggling to Care report yesterday, outlining how social work can become an integral part of a new national care service. 

It argues that social work should be based on “well-being, learning and growth and be underpinned by the idea that each person has inherent potential.”

HOUSING: Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to build 100,000 affordable new homes in the next decade if the SNP is re-elected to power.

Speaking to council leaders, the First Minister said the plans will support 14,000 jobs a year and that at least 70 per cent of the homes would be for social rent.

Ms Sturgeon also pledged to introduce a new single standard for housing quality, in a bid to ensure that homes are more energy efficient.