Holyrood 512 / 4 September 2023

The race is on
But will the Rutherglen by-election fire the starting gun on the country’s political future?

3 Editor’s note: Poverty underscores every miserable statistical life outcome we care to imagine
5 Roundup: Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks
7 Talking Point: Edinburgh’s festivals are under threat from a new era of intolerance
8 In Context: Regulation of Legal Services Bill
9 Political Spotlight: Rutherglen race - The upcoming by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West is about more than replacing just one MP
14 Overview: Climate change - The Scottish Government’s progress towards its emissions targets has been sluggish
20 Political Interview: Gillian Martin - The energy minister is calling for a more nuanced approach to oil and gas licensing
28 Political Interview: Barney Crockett - The Aberdeen councillor on falling out with Labour and making the case for the energy transition
32 Higher education: University funding - International students are vital to the university sector, but are they and home students getting value for money?
36 Political Interview: Graeme Dey - After the Withers review, the Minister for Higher and Further Education sets out what’s next
40 Further Education: Safety On Campus - What is being done to mitigate the risk of sexual violence on Scottish university campuses?
44 Getting to know... Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe and his Love Island passion
46 Comment: Reduced support for the SNP removes a referendum from the political agenda
47 Politicians’ pets: Christina McKelvie introduces Paddy
48 Diary: Coney no dae that, Humza!
49 Political Spin: Maurice Golden on dancing with Alex Cole-Hamilton in Dundee in the late 90s
50 Last Word: Sketch: Douglas Ross, Green hero

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