The seagull drama that’s gripped Holyrood

It's The Early Line's weekend edition, including: the luxury home in an old Scottish airfield control tower, the return of one of streaming TV's biggest hits, and details of a spectacular weekend of telly sport. Have a great weekend!

Author

Neil McIntosh
September 20, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Saturday 20 September 2025

 👋 Good morning! You’re reading the weekend edition of The Early Line.

Paying subscribers get the full version, with six talking points and film, TV and sporting recommendations for the week ahead.

They also have my huge thanks for making the whole newsletter possible. If you’d like to join their ranks - thankyou! - you can upgrade here.

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Have a wonderful weekend, all!

🌦️ The weekend’s weather: If you’re planning to go out, the chances of showers in the afternoon for Glasgow and Edinburgh mean it might be best tomorrow. In Aberdeen, today is the dry day. London has the risk of showers this afternoon. It’ll be a little cooler across the board. (Here’s the UK forecast).

And here’s six talking points for the weekend:

SIX THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
The seagull drama that’s gripped Holyrood | A spectacular autumn beckons | Greenock’s sugar trade past | Airport lounge battles | Live in a control tower

🍸 What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever lost a job over? Even in the odd world of Holyrood politics, a stand-up row about the merits of a summit on “aggressive seagulls” takes the biscuit. Like a hungry, swooping bird, it also nabbed the job of a government minister - Jamie Hepburn’s - who was Parliamentary Business Minister until roughly 24 hours after he grabbed and swore at former Tory leader Douglas Ross.

The irritation for his boss, First Minister John Swinney, is that all this has distracted from a week that started on the international stage, including dinner with Donald Trump and discussions on tariff deals. To be reduced to dealing with fallout after a seagull squabble, allowing columnists to question his judgment and track record in dealing with errant ministers, presents political fallout that’s worse than that produced by the flying pests, and far less lucky.

📣 Upgrade to get the full Party Line each Saturday, including - this week - the luxurious airline lounges vying for your custom, why we’re headed for a spectacular autumn, a stunning property in an old airstrip control tower, and Greenock’s sugar trade past.

PLUS: find top entertainment picks for the weekend, including the return of Strictly and one of the streaming world’s biggest hits, and details of a fantastic weekend of sporting action on the box.

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