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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

Highland Council plans biggest rent hike in a decade with a rise of 8% in April

22 January 2025
Highland Council plans biggest rent hike in a decade with a rise of 8% in April

Highland Council plans biggest rent hike in a decade with a rise of 8% in April

22 January 2025

That works out at an average of £372.84 more a year while the council claims the impact on tenants will be ‘minimal’


Health Secretary Neil Gray questioned about £154m cost of delayed discharge in Highlands

22 January 2025
Health Secretary Neil Gray questioned about £154m cost of delayed discharge in Highlands

Health Secretary Neil Gray questioned about £154m cost of delayed discharge in Highlands

22 January 2025

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant was told £200m to be spent on the issue and there are weekly meetings looking at the crisis.


No end in sight for Culloden GP ‘crisis’ as politicians sound the alarm over ‘delays’

21 January 2025
No end in sight for Culloden GP ‘crisis’ as politicians sound the alarm over ‘delays’

No end in sight for Culloden GP ‘crisis’ as politicians sound the alarm over ‘delays’

21 January 2025

NHS Highland says it cannot invest in a new site because of the Scottish Government funding freeze after two practices closed to new patients.


Wave of Highland pupils missing class as 54 per cent lost out on 10-20 per cent school year

20 January 2025
Wave of Highland pupils missing class as 54 per cent lost out on 10-20 per cent school year

Wave of Highland pupils missing class as 54 per cent lost out on 10-20 per cent school year

20 January 2025

The ‘deeply alarming’ new figures show more than 54 per cent of pupils missed 10-20 per cent of the school year.


Labour MSP Rhoda Grant secures SNP pledge for full Highland human rights debate

17 January 2025
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant secures SNP pledge for full Highland human rights debate

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant secures SNP pledge for full Highland human rights debate

17 January 2025

The Scottish Human Rights Commission found ‘not a single human right’ is met in the region ‘under international law’.


Holyrood debate hears SNP credibility on the line amid fresh A9 dualling delay concerns

16 January 2025
Holyrood debate hears SNP credibility on the line amid fresh A9 dualling delay concerns

Holyrood debate hears SNP credibility on the line amid fresh A9 dualling delay concerns

16 January 2025

Fergus Ewing warns ‘never make the same mistake twice when you can make it five or six times and be sure’.


WATCH: Inverness demonstration demands ‘Highland Council Think Again’ over visitor levy

15 January 2025
WATCH: Inverness demonstration demands ‘Highland Council Think Again’ over visitor levy

WATCH: Inverness demonstration demands ‘Highland Council Think Again’ over visitor levy

15 January 2025

The march through the city was launched after a meeting between hospitality businesses and the council at Eden Court.


Highland visitor levy is ‘fundamentally flawed’ and should be scrapped, hospitality sector says

15 January 2025
Highland visitor levy is ‘fundamentally flawed’ and should be scrapped, hospitality sector says

Highland visitor levy is ‘fundamentally flawed’ and should be scrapped, hospitality sector says

15 January 2025

Business leader Colin Marr says ‘I can't think of another tax which has taxes on top of it’.


Notorious Inverness car park snares Highland councillor with fine despite ticket machines ‘not working’

15 January 2025
Notorious Inverness car park snares Highland councillor with fine despite ticket machines ‘not working’

Notorious Inverness car park snares Highland councillor with fine despite ticket machines ‘not working’

15 January 2025

Cllr Sean Kennedy says ‘you end up feeling you have been conned’.


Fergus Ewing says Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘heart was never in the A9 project’

15 January 2025
Fergus Ewing says Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘heart was never in the A9 project’

Fergus Ewing says Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘heart was never in the A9 project’

15 January 2025

He will also call for the Nairn bypass with the A9 dualling to expedite both projects.


Scottish Government ‘desktop exercise’ rejects A9 dualling call to tackle the deadliest sections first

14 January 2025
Scottish Government ‘desktop exercise’ rejects A9 dualling call to tackle the deadliest sections first

Scottish Government ‘desktop exercise’ rejects A9 dualling call to tackle the deadliest sections first

14 January 2025

SNP MSP Fergus Ewing hits out, claiming the Transport Scotland report is ‘no more than a sham’.


Highland Council head teacher role at Inverness Royal Academy offers £111,000 salary and relocation package for 35 hours a week job

14 January 2025
Highland Council head teacher role at Inverness Royal Academy offers £111,000 salary and relocation package for 35 hours a week job

Highland Council head teacher role at Inverness Royal Academy offers £111,000 salary and relocation package for 35 hours a week job

14 January 2025

The position has been empty since Highland Council sent the previous incumbent in to lead Fortrose Academy.


Fergus Ewing slams Government handling of transport projects since 2021

14 January 2025
Fergus Ewing slams Government handling of transport projects since 2021

Fergus Ewing slams Government handling of transport projects since 2021

14 January 2025

In a Holyrood speech the veteran MSP calls for an ‘entirely new approach’


Inverness Royal Academy to open mountain bike skills course on its grounds

14 January 2025
Inverness Royal Academy to open mountain bike skills course on its grounds

Inverness Royal Academy to open mountain bike skills course on its grounds

14 January 2025

The grand opening is on Saturday marking the culmination of efforts that go back to 2021.


A9 dualling campaigner ‘absolutely appalled’ by Transport Scotland’s response to Scottish Parliament inquiry

13 January 2025
A9 dualling campaigner ‘absolutely appalled’ by Transport Scotland’s response to Scottish Parliament inquiry

A9 dualling campaigner ‘absolutely appalled’ by Transport Scotland’s response to Scottish Parliament inquiry

13 January 2025

Laura Hansler says ‘it’s just beyond disgusting’ before adding ‘this has given the public no assurances, no reassurances’.


Moy rail bridge repair on A9 expected to cause delays of between 8-12 minutes

11 January 2025
Moy rail bridge repair on A9 expected to cause delays of between 8-12 minutes

Moy rail bridge repair on A9 expected to cause delays of between 8-12 minutes

11 January 2025

The work is due to start on January 20 and last for up to three weeks.


Inverness Samaritans hosts ‘Brew Monday’ to highlight the ‘the power of human connection’

11 January 2025
Inverness Samaritans hosts ‘Brew Monday’ to highlight the ‘the power of human connection’

Inverness Samaritans hosts ‘Brew Monday’ to highlight the ‘the power of human connection’

11 January 2025

The charity is encouraging the public to reach out and connect with those they care about at the event.


Merseyside County Lines ‘controller’ is jailed for three years for drugs supply in Inverness

11 January 2025
Merseyside County Lines ‘controller’ is jailed for three years for drugs supply in Inverness

Merseyside County Lines ‘controller’ is jailed for three years for drugs supply in Inverness

11 January 2025

Ryan Finlay from Huyton near Liverpool pleaded guilty to being ‘concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis possession’.


Claudia Winkleman pictured being carried by Tom Stoltman in hit BBC show The Traitors

11 January 2025
Claudia Winkleman pictured being carried by Tom Stoltman in hit BBC show The Traitors

Claudia Winkleman pictured being carried by Tom Stoltman in hit BBC show The Traitors

11 January 2025

The professional strongman from Invergordon revealed that he was one of the men wearing a mask in episode 6.


1700 people sign Highland Hotel Association petition against Highland Council’s planned visitor levy

11 January 2025
1700 people sign Highland Hotel Association petition against Highland Council’s planned visitor levy

1700 people sign Highland Hotel Association petition against Highland Council’s planned visitor levy

11 January 2025

The association fears it will be ‘an extra tax on visitors and locals’ while evidence from abroad argues it will not put tourists off visiting.


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