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Scott Maclennan


Political Reporter

Scott MacLennan is the political reporter for all the Highland titles at Highland News and Media. The Scottish Press Awards named him Weekly Journalist of the Year in 2024 for his coverage of the A9 dualling, 999 failings and pupil safety at a north school. He joined the company in 2019. Scott went to university in Glasgow and Moscow and reports on the Highland Council, NHS Highland and the Scottish Parliament

Scott Maclennan

MSP Emma Roddick aims to contest the Inverness and Nairn seat in 2026

30 March 2025
MSP Emma Roddick aims to contest the Inverness and Nairn seat in 2026

MSP Emma Roddick aims to contest the Inverness and Nairn seat in 2026

30 March 2025

The move comes after Fergus Ewing said he would not stand for the SNP – but may run as an independent.


Highland Investment Plan must include Inverness Leisure or risk losing out on hosting competitions

30 March 2025
Highland Investment Plan must include Inverness Leisure or risk losing out on hosting competitions

Highland Investment Plan must include Inverness Leisure or risk losing out on hosting competitions

30 March 2025

Councillor Michael Gregson warns the Queen’s Park track is at the ‘minimum levels’ acceptable to UK Athletics.


Five councillors slam Highland Council’s closure of Avonlea children’s home

28 March 2025
Five councillors slam Highland Council’s closure of Avonlea children’s home

Five councillors slam Highland Council’s closure of Avonlea children’s home

28 March 2025

They say the local authority officials ‘decided to protect their positions and status’ and ‘quash discontent’.


Doubt cast on council’s version of events over children’s home closure and spark call for leader’s resignation

28 March 2025
Doubt cast on council’s version of events over children’s home closure and spark call for leader’s resignation

Doubt cast on council’s version of events over children’s home closure and spark call for leader’s resignation

28 March 2025

The latest information on Avonlea undermines the council’s narrative leading to calls for Raymond Bremner to step down.


Are Culloden Academy’s ‘demountable classrooms’ here to stay?

26 March 2025
Are Culloden Academy’s ‘demountable classrooms’ here to stay?

Are Culloden Academy’s ‘demountable classrooms’ here to stay?

26 March 2025

The school falls far below the occupancy rate for any serious work to be done on the building.


Highland councillor objects to proposed 21.7 per cent pay hike saying ‘they are not reading the room’

25 March 2025
Highland councillor objects to proposed 21.7 per cent pay hike saying ‘they are not reading the room’

Highland councillor objects to proposed 21.7 per cent pay hike saying ‘they are not reading the room’

25 March 2025

Michael Gregson says ‘the people are just not feeling the love, and this excessive pay rise to ourselves certainly won’t change that perception’.


Highland councillors set to get inflation busting 21% pay hike adding around £500k to the wage bill

25 March 2025
Highland councillors set to get inflation busting 21% pay hike adding around £500k to the wage bill

Highland councillors set to get inflation busting 21% pay hike adding around £500k to the wage bill

25 March 2025

The move follows recommendations by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee.


Highland Council to decide £148m plan for Charleston, Fortrose, Beauly, and Inverness High rebuilds

24 March 2025
Highland Council to decide £148m plan for Charleston, Fortrose, Beauly, and Inverness High rebuilds

Highland Council to decide £148m plan for Charleston, Fortrose, Beauly, and Inverness High rebuilds

24 March 2025

Completion dates are all before 2030 as the local authority issues ‘earliest operational dates’.


Kate Forbes on Fergus Ewing: ‘I hope he understands how grateful Highlanders are for his many years of service’

21 March 2025
Kate Forbes on Fergus Ewing: ‘I hope he understands how grateful Highlanders are for his many years of service’

Kate Forbes on Fergus Ewing: ‘I hope he understands how grateful Highlanders are for his many years of service’

21 March 2025

She says Mr Ewing has been a ‘consistent and effective’ MSP while First Minister John Swinney praised him as ‘faithful servant of his constituents’.


Fergus Ewing’s decision not stand for the SNP reflects party’s ‘broken relationship with rural Scotland’

21 March 2025
Fergus Ewing’s decision not stand for the SNP reflects party’s ‘broken relationship with rural Scotland’

Fergus Ewing’s decision not stand for the SNP reflects party’s ‘broken relationship with rural Scotland’

21 March 2025

Lib Dem Angus Macdonald says ‘for so many people across the Highlands, it feels like nothing works anymore’


UK pandemic planning determined not to repeat ‘mistakes’ of Covid amid nationwide ‘worst case scenario’ exercise

21 March 2025
UK pandemic planning determined not to repeat ‘mistakes’ of Covid amid nationwide ‘worst case scenario’ exercise

UK pandemic planning determined not to repeat ‘mistakes’ of Covid amid nationwide ‘worst case scenario’ exercise

21 March 2025

The exercise even includes Highland Council and looks at how to deal with a new outbreak that claims 840,000 lives.


Highland Council denies being ‘deceptive’ over the closure of Avonlea children’s home

21 March 2025
Highland Council denies being ‘deceptive’ over the closure of Avonlea children’s home

Highland Council denies being ‘deceptive’ over the closure of Avonlea children’s home

21 March 2025

The Groat challenged it over its internal communications compared to what emerged publicly.


AVONLEA CLOSURE: The exclusive inside story of Highland Council’s handling of the troubled children’s care home

21 March 2025
AVONLEA CLOSURE: The exclusive inside story of Highland Council’s handling of the troubled children’s care home

AVONLEA CLOSURE: The exclusive inside story of Highland Council’s handling of the troubled children’s care home

21 March 2025

Hundreds of pages of confidential emails help lift the lid on what went on behind closed doors at the local authority.


MSP Fergus Ewing: ‘The SNP just is no longer the party for all of Scotland, as it has been for most of my 50 years as a member’

21 March 2025
MSP Fergus Ewing: ‘The SNP just is no longer the party for all of Scotland, as it has been for most of my 50 years as a member’

MSP Fergus Ewing: ‘The SNP just is no longer the party for all of Scotland, as it has been for most of my 50 years as a member’

21 March 2025

He confirms that ‘with great sadness’ he is to stand down as SNP MSP at the 2026 Holyrood election but may yet stand as an independent.


Fergus Ewing to stand down as SNP MSP at the next election ‘with great sadness’

21 March 2025
Fergus Ewing to stand down as SNP MSP at the next election ‘with great sadness’

Fergus Ewing to stand down as SNP MSP at the next election ‘with great sadness’

21 March 2025

The Inverness and Nairn MSP leaves door open to run as an independent but says he ‘simply cannot defend the record of the SNP Government’.


INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT ROUND-UP: Child sexual assault, a siege, and teenager with child porn

16 March 2025
INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT ROUND-UP: Child sexual assault, a siege, and teenager with child porn

INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT ROUND-UP: Child sexual assault, a siege, and teenager with child porn

16 March 2025

Read the latest reports from hearings at the court including that of a church organist with photos of girls.


Police confirm woman in Nairn traced safely after local concerns about a helicopter over Nairn on Friday

15 March 2025
Police confirm woman in Nairn traced safely after local concerns about a helicopter over Nairn on Friday

Police confirm woman in Nairn traced safely after local concerns about a helicopter over Nairn on Friday

15 March 2025

Residents heard rumours of a missing child but that was confirmed not to be accurate.


Police stop and check 71 vehicles on A9 at Drumochter with four drivers reported to Procurator Fiscal

15 March 2025
Police stop and check 71 vehicles on A9 at Drumochter with four drivers reported to Procurator Fiscal

Police stop and check 71 vehicles on A9 at Drumochter with four drivers reported to Procurator Fiscal

15 March 2025

Officers say ‘a number of vehicles were prohibited from further use on the road until road worthiness is achieved’.


LISTEN: Strictly for a Cause podcast with Beauly Pharmacy Technician and Inverness Costa Coffee at Barista

15 March 2025
LISTEN: Strictly for a Cause podcast with Beauly Pharmacy Technician and Inverness Costa Coffee at Barista

LISTEN: Strictly for a Cause podcast with Beauly Pharmacy Technician and Inverness Costa Coffee at Barista

15 March 2025

Hear why Tanya White and Elle Campbell are taking part in this year’s Strictly Inverness to raise funds for Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre.


Fairways arson attack sees Aurora Hair Salon offer helping hand to Hair Chic staff after cruel blaze gutted premises

15 March 2025
Fairways arson attack sees Aurora Hair Salon offer helping hand to Hair Chic staff after cruel blaze gutted premises

Fairways arson attack sees Aurora Hair Salon offer helping hand to Hair Chic staff after cruel blaze gutted premises

15 March 2025

Carly and Amanda from Chic are renting chairs in Aurora as they spoke about being ‘absolutely devastated to lose our livelihoods’.


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