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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

Four years since NHS Highland hit A&E waiting time target leaving almost 60,000 suffering delays

27 July 2025
Four years since NHS Highland hit A&E waiting time target leaving almost 60,000 suffering delays

Four years since NHS Highland hit A&E waiting time target leaving almost 60,000 suffering delays

27 July 2025

Lib Dem far north candidate David Green says hardworking doctors and nurses ‘are not being given the resources they need.’


Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes says she understands local concerns about renewable projects

26 July 2025
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes says she understands local concerns about renewable projects

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes says she understands local concerns about renewable projects

26 July 2025

But she insists she is unable to attend a meeting of MPs and MSPs in August.


UHI records first and second places in Scotland for satisfaction with its nursing and mental health nursing courses

26 July 2025
UHI records first and second places in Scotland for satisfaction with its nursing and mental health nursing courses

UHI records first and second places in Scotland for satisfaction with its nursing and mental health nursing courses

26 July 2025

The university secured an overall 92% satisfaction rate in the 2025 National Student Survey.


Wick feedback on Highland renewables projects prompts strong response from MSP

26 July 2025
Wick feedback on Highland renewables projects prompts strong response from MSP

Wick feedback on Highland renewables projects prompts strong response from MSP

26 July 2025

A Highland MSP has reported back key findings from a public meeting in Wick on the expansion of renewables projects.


Energy ministers Gillian Martin and Michael Shanks won’t attend meeting on Highland renewable projects

25 July 2025
Energy ministers Gillian Martin and Michael Shanks won’t attend meeting on Highland renewable projects

Energy ministers Gillian Martin and Michael Shanks won’t attend meeting on Highland renewable projects

25 July 2025

But around 10 other local MPs and MSPs are expected in Inverness with some yet to confirm.


Exclusive: Top New Craigs mental health professionals speak for the first time about losing a patient

25 July 2025
Exclusive: Top New Craigs mental health professionals speak for the first time about losing a patient

Exclusive: Top New Craigs mental health professionals speak for the first time about losing a patient

25 July 2025

Dr Neil McNamara says ‘there will be a sadness there, a sorrow’ and a ‘terrible sense of guilt’.


Wick to host forum for local concerns over ‘deluge’ of renewable projects

19 July 2025
Wick to host forum for local concerns over ‘deluge’ of renewable projects

Wick to host forum for local concerns over ‘deluge’ of renewable projects

19 July 2025

The meeting on July 23 is prompted by ‘the sheer volume of correspondence’ MSP Edward Mountain says he gets daily.


Highland Council leader expresses concern not enough people know about imminent major Thurso developments

17 July 2025
Highland Council leader expresses concern not enough people know about imminent major Thurso developments

Highland Council leader expresses concern not enough people know about imminent major Thurso developments

17 July 2025

Councillor Raymond Bremner says ‘new pupils to Thurso High School this year, may not see their high school education finish in the present building’.


In the Highlands and Moray one in five children are living in poverty

14 July 2025
In the Highlands and Moray one in five children are living in poverty

In the Highlands and Moray one in five children are living in poverty

14 July 2025

There has been little change to the numbers since 2014.


WATCH: Ed Miliband says cutting Scotland’s energy costs ‘unfair’ to Midlands and South of England

10 July 2025
WATCH: Ed Miliband says cutting Scotland’s energy costs ‘unfair’ to Midlands and South of England

WATCH: Ed Miliband says cutting Scotland’s energy costs ‘unfair’ to Midlands and South of England

10 July 2025

The Labour government’s energy secretary fears businesses there could ‘face damage to their competitiveness’.


Scottish Government accused of ‘conscious’ decision to ‘strip out specialist care in the Highlands’

10 July 2025
Scottish Government accused of ‘conscious’ decision to ‘strip out specialist care in the Highlands’

Scottish Government accused of ‘conscious’ decision to ‘strip out specialist care in the Highlands’

10 July 2025

Meaning vascular surgery patients will take long journeys like women needing maternity and gynaecological care.


REVEALED: Highland Council failed to fund road maintenance since 2018 by £90 million

04 July 2025
REVEALED: Highland Council failed to fund road maintenance since 2018 by £90 million

REVEALED: Highland Council failed to fund road maintenance since 2018 by £90 million

04 July 2025

New figures reveal that the current annual shortfall is around £13 million.


Highland MPs and MSPs set to attend second community council renewables convention

02 July 2025
Highland MPs and MSPs set to attend second community council renewables convention

Highland MPs and MSPs set to attend second community council renewables convention

02 July 2025

The gathering on August 12 is focussed on ‘respecting local democracy’.


A9, A96 and A82 casualty toll exceeds 1500 between 2020 and 2024, including 81 deaths

01 July 2025
A9, A96 and A82 casualty toll exceeds 1500 between 2020 and 2024, including 81 deaths

A9, A96 and A82 casualty toll exceeds 1500 between 2020 and 2024, including 81 deaths

01 July 2025

A further 556 were seriously injured as political pressure mounts on the Scottish Government to deal with this ‘life and death’ issue.


£100 million Thurso masterplan could launch biggest changes in more than a generation

24 June 2025
£100 million Thurso masterplan could launch biggest changes in more than a generation

£100 million Thurso masterplan could launch biggest changes in more than a generation

24 June 2025

The ambitious plans involve schools, businesses and the most important local agencies like NHS, police, coast guard and Dounreay.


Scottish Parliament called to recognise Highland community council convention on renewables project

23 June 2025
Scottish Parliament called to recognise Highland community council convention on renewables project

Scottish Parliament called to recognise Highland community council convention on renewables project

23 June 2025

It reiterates the demands for a pause on develops and applauds how it ‘amplified’ concerns with the ‘industrialisation of natural landscapes’.


Crime surge sparks demand for Highland Council to call on John Swinney to deliver more police and better funding

22 June 2025
Crime surge sparks demand for Highland Council to call on John Swinney to deliver more police and better funding

Crime surge sparks demand for Highland Council to call on John Swinney to deliver more police and better funding

22 June 2025

Two councillors say the ‘Scottish Government must show greater support for the police service’.


Highland Council to debate twin moves for region-wide controls on short term lets

22 June 2025
Highland Council to debate twin moves for region-wide controls on short term lets

Highland Council to debate twin moves for region-wide controls on short term lets

22 June 2025

Serious concerns about lack of control spark twin moves for action by Labour, Highland Alliance, and Greens.


Highland Council appoints Debbie Sutton to the £109,285 role as operations and maintenance boss

22 June 2025
Highland Council appoints Debbie Sutton to the £109,285 role as operations and maintenance boss

Highland Council appoints Debbie Sutton to the £109,285 role as operations and maintenance boss

22 June 2025

She is the latest chief officer appointment in a major management restructure of the local authority.


Fresh call for the Scottish Government to drop its block on new nuclear power

20 June 2025
Fresh call for the Scottish Government to drop its block on new nuclear power

Fresh call for the Scottish Government to drop its block on new nuclear power

20 June 2025

Liberal Democrats want the far north in contention after the UK government pledged to invest £2.5 billion in small reactors.


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