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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 politicians respond to public demands to ‘pause’ major renewable projects

17 June 2025
Highland politicians respond to public demands to ‘pause’ major renewable projects

Highland politicians respond to public demands to ‘pause’ major renewable projects

17 June 2025

More than 300 people attended a packed Beauly convention to demand a moratorium on new developments.


Prof. John Curtice tells Inverness Courier event what is behind the rise of Reform UK

13 June 2025
Prof. John Curtice tells Inverness Courier event what is behind the rise of Reform UK

Prof. John Curtice tells Inverness Courier event what is behind the rise of Reform UK

13 June 2025

The respected political scientist also divulged why Nigel Farage is his most admired politician at the exclusive Highland News and Media event.


More than 1 billion litres of ‘sewage’ dumped in Highland waters including Caithness last year

13 June 2025
More than 1 billion litres of ‘sewage’ dumped in Highland waters including Caithness last year

More than 1 billion litres of ‘sewage’ dumped in Highland waters including Caithness last year

13 June 2025

As LibDem far north candidate David Green says 'it utterly stinks’ beautiful places like Dunnet Beach ‘are being blighted’.


Highland MSP Maree Todd made minister responsible for tackling Scotland’s soaring drugs deaths

12 June 2025
Highland MSP Maree Todd made minister responsible for tackling Scotland’s soaring drugs deaths

Highland MSP Maree Todd made minister responsible for tackling Scotland’s soaring drugs deaths

12 June 2025

In the ‘modest’ reshuffle First Minister John Swinney hands her one of the toughest briefs in the Scottish Government.


UPDATE: NHS Highland’s ‘critical incident’ now over with systems operating normally

12 June 2025
UPDATE: NHS Highland’s ‘critical incident’ now over with systems operating normally

UPDATE: NHS Highland’s ‘critical incident’ now over with systems operating normally

12 June 2025

The health board confirms it was ‘not a cyber attack, and that no patient records were compromised’.


NHS Highland declares a ‘critical incident’ related to ‘digital systems’

12 June 2025
NHS Highland declares a ‘critical incident’ related to ‘digital systems’

NHS Highland declares a ‘critical incident’ related to ‘digital systems’

12 June 2025

But the health board say appointments are going ahead and ‘patient care is continuing safely across all our hospitals and services’.


MP Jamie Stone voices concerns in Westminster over multibillion-pound tsunami of Highland renewable projects

10 June 2025
MP Jamie Stone voices concerns in Westminster over multibillion-pound tsunami of Highland renewable projects

MP Jamie Stone voices concerns in Westminster over multibillion-pound tsunami of Highland renewable projects

10 June 2025

He applauds bravery of Councillor Helen Crawford about ‘democratic failure’ amid her call to ‘unite’ ahead of Beauly convention.


REVEALED: Expenses claimed by Highland Councillors last year

08 June 2025
REVEALED: Expenses claimed by Highland Councillors last year

REVEALED: Expenses claimed by Highland Councillors last year

08 June 2025

Find out if your councillor makes the top 10 most expensive or least expensive.


Is Highland Council finally getting serious about attainment by declaring ‘learning and teaching’ as a priority?

06 June 2025
Is Highland Council finally getting serious about attainment by declaring ‘learning and teaching’ as a priority?

Is Highland Council finally getting serious about attainment by declaring ‘learning and teaching’ as a priority?

06 June 2025

It will hire quality improvement managers and officials plan to meet all head teachers and staff.


Highland Council’s Food in Schools project set to survey pupils, parents, teachers and staff

04 June 2025
Highland Council’s Food in Schools project set to survey pupils, parents, teachers and staff

Highland Council’s Food in Schools project set to survey pupils, parents, teachers and staff

04 June 2025

The aim of an annual menu update for the 18,000 lunches that are served everyday and reduce food waste.


Most staff at Highland Council getting £60k+ are in teaching which got pay rises of 25% or more since 2019

01 June 2025
Most staff at Highland Council getting £60k+ are in teaching which got pay rises of 25% or more since 2019

Most staff at Highland Council getting £60k+ are in teaching which got pay rises of 25% or more since 2019

01 June 2025

The total bill for the local authority’s highest earners has risen five fold in the last five years.


20mph limits agreed amid criticism of Highland Council’s ‘ostrich school of consultation’

29 May 2025
20mph limits agreed amid criticism of Highland Council’s ‘ostrich school of consultation’

20mph limits agreed amid criticism of Highland Council’s ‘ostrich school of consultation’

29 May 2025

Opposition councillors sought a more nuanced approach including a review but administration bosses out voted them down.


Highland Council staff overpayments dropped by 77% in April this year compared to April 2024

28 May 2025
Highland Council staff overpayments dropped by 77% in April this year compared to April 2024

Highland Council staff overpayments dropped by 77% in April this year compared to April 2024

28 May 2025

But staff still got £624k more than they should despite tough new measures.


MSP slams Highland Council over 20mph limits after it lost public support for the plan

28 May 2025
MSP slams Highland Council over 20mph limits after it lost public support for the plan

MSP slams Highland Council over 20mph limits after it lost public support for the plan

28 May 2025

Edward Mountain says original Transport Bill targeted high risk areas so people would comply with the new limits.


Highland Council’s 20mph speed limits plan set for decision day as most people oppose it

27 May 2025
Highland Council’s 20mph speed limits plan set for decision day as most people oppose it

Highland Council’s 20mph speed limits plan set for decision day as most people oppose it

27 May 2025

Officials insist ‘few people’ who actually support the scheme engage with consultation.


Highland Council school staff overpaid because sickness absences were not recorded

26 May 2025
Highland Council school staff overpaid because sickness absences were not recorded

Highland Council school staff overpaid because sickness absences were not recorded

26 May 2025

Development comes as audit finds £624,000 was wrongly paid to past and present staff.


Locals should be exempt from paying Highland Council’s visitor levy or ‘tourist tax’

24 May 2025
Locals should be exempt from paying Highland Council’s visitor levy or ‘tourist tax’

Locals should be exempt from paying Highland Council’s visitor levy or ‘tourist tax’

24 May 2025

MSP Douglas Ross who accused the SNP of failing to address concerns.


Highland Council is still overpaying staff by more than £624k a year

23 May 2025
Highland Council is still overpaying staff by more than £624k a year

Highland Council is still overpaying staff by more than £624k a year

23 May 2025

As it threatens to take one ex-employee to court despite cancelling a repayment meeting and not rescheduling.


Drugs and alcohol sees four young people admitted to Highland A&E each week on average

23 May 2025
Drugs and alcohol sees four young people admitted to Highland A&E each week on average

Drugs and alcohol sees four young people admitted to Highland A&E each week on average

23 May 2025

In the last three years more than four under 18’s a week on average have been admitted to Highland A&E due to the effects of drugs or alcohol.


Highland Council’s ‘virtue signalling’ bid for refugee ‘sanctuary’ status is rejected

22 May 2025
Highland Council’s ‘virtue signalling’ bid for refugee ‘sanctuary’ status is rejected

Highland Council’s ‘virtue signalling’ bid for refugee ‘sanctuary’ status is rejected

22 May 2025

Proponents of the plan found it difficult to articulate the case for the proposal at the local level.


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