http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-newsScottish Political News | Herald ScotlandenCopyright 2013 Herald & Times Group all rights reservedThu, 23 May 2013 11:35:02 PDTCopyright 2013 Herald & Times Group all rights reservednoScottish Political News | Herald Scotlandhttp://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/spending-watchdog-reveals-true-cost-of-public-pay-offs.21157124http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/spending-watchdog-reveals-true-cost-of-public-pay-offs.21157124JUST 1200 high-earning public-sector staff shared £224 million in pay-offs worth on average £187,000 each, the spending watchdog has found.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/government-rules-out-further-reorganisation-of-local-councils.21162587http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/government-rules-out-further-reorganisation-of-local-councils.21162587THE Government has rejected cutting the number of Scottish local authorities, as the president of umbrella group Cosla condemned a call from senior police for councils to follow their example and forcibly merge.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/pms-claim-he-raised-tax-with-google-boss-in-doubt.21162609http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/pms-claim-he-raised-tax-with-google-boss-in-doubt.21162609David Cameron is embroiled in a row with Google after he claimed he tackled the technology giant over its tax arrangements.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/anger-at-ministers-eu-claim-at-doha-meeting.21143504http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/anger-at-ministers-eu-claim-at-doha-meeting.21143504SCOTLAND'S External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf sparked fresh anger yesterday over claims the UK Government wanted to pull out of the European Union.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/osborne-told-to-expect-losses-in-rbs-sale.21157362http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/osborne-told-to-expect-losses-in-rbs-sale.21157362George Osborne has been warned his austerity drive will hurt the economy and that he must be prepared to lose billions of pounds selling off Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/criticism-over-ferry-fare-subsidy-removal.21161935http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/criticism-over-ferry-fare-subsidy-removal.21161935The Scottish Government has been criticised for a decision to remove a fare subsidy for ferries.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/downing-street-rejects-adoption-of-a-plan-b.21148159http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/downing-street-rejects-adoption-of-a-plan-b.21148159Downing Street yesterday insisted it would not adopt a Plan B on the economy, ahead of a crunch report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/clegg-set-to-attack-tories-for-obsessive-behaviour.21148447http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/clegg-set-to-attack-tories-for-obsessive-behaviour.21148447Nick Clegg will add to David Cameron's woes today, accusing parts of the Tory party of being "obsessed" about Europe and gay marriage.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/warning-vital-postal-service-will-be-lost.21149551http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/warning-vital-postal-service-will-be-lost.21149551A key postal service will "definitely disappear" if the Royal Mail is privatised, union leaders warned yesterday as the prospect of a deal moved a step closer.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/row-over-college-law-reforms.21149647http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/row-over-college-law-reforms.21149647NEW laws reforming the college sector have been described as not fit for purpose as MSPs sought to have the legislation struck down at Holyrood.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/miliband-to-tackle-google-over-tax.21149651http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/miliband-to-tackle-google-over-tax.21149651Labour leader Ed Miliband will today tell technology giant Google "to its face" that it should pay more tax.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/gay-marriage-bill-clears-the-commons-to-the-cheers-of-mps.21152534http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/gay-marriage-bill-clears-the-commons-to-the-cheers-of-mps.21152534APPLAUSE broke out after the Coalition Government's controversial plans to legalise gay marriage cleared the House of Commons despite efforts by Tory backbenchers to derail the legislation.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/police-set-to-tackle-scotlands-alcohol-problem-at-its-roots.21137125http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/police-set-to-tackle-scotlands-alcohol-problem-at-its-roots.21137125SENIOR police will this week challenge drinks companies over the marketing, strength and added caffeine in their products.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/bowel-cancer-charity-claims-some-patients-in-scotland-unable-to-access-drugs.21134486http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/bowel-cancer-charity-claims-some-patients-in-scotland-unable-to-access-drugs.21134486A CANCER charity has hit out at the "enormous inequality" in the system for prescribing new medicines.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/call-for-royal-mail-privatisation-plan-delay.21134824http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/call-for-royal-mail-privatisation-plan-delay.21134824Plans to privatise Royal Mail should be postponed to prevent an even deeper crisis for Britain's post offices, the Government has been warned.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/loongate-party-inquiry-ruled-out.21136980http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/loongate-party-inquiry-ruled-out.21136980The Conservative Party's ruling body has rejected calls for an investigation into allegations one of David Cameron's closest allies called activists "mad, swivelled-eyed loons".http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/labour-supports-pm-in-commons-gay-marriage-vote.21137084http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/labour-supports-pm-in-commons-gay-marriage-vote.21137084Labour stepped in to throw David Cameron's gay marriage legislation a lifeline last night, heading off a "wrecking" amendment by Tory rebelshttp://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/warning-yes-vote-could-put-savings-and-pensions-at-risk.21126829http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/warning-yes-vote-could-put-savings-and-pensions-at-risk.21126829Millions of pounds in pensions and savings would be put at risk in an independent Scotland, a report by the UK Government will today warn.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/senior-cameron-ally-denies-insulting-the-party-faithful.21127149http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/senior-cameron-ally-denies-insulting-the-party-faithful.21127149Tory MPs last night turned on David Cameron over allegations one of his closest political allies called party activists "mad, swivel-eyed loons".http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/base-move-inept-says-sir-menzies.21118785http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/base-move-inept-says-sir-menzies.21118785Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has reignited his feud with Danny Alexander over the decision to save an RAF base next to the Treasury Chief Secretary's constituency.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/politicians-in-line-for-significant-pay-increase.21118745http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/politicians-in-line-for-significant-pay-increase.21118745MPs are in line for a dramatic pay rise of up to £20,000 in a move that could spark public fury.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/mandelson-declares-new-labour-dead-and-backs-milibands-efforts.21118868http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/mandelson-declares-new-labour-dead-and-backs-milibands-efforts.21118868A KEY architect of New Labour has said the politics of the Blair era is over and that it is time for a new generation with new ideas.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/alexander-denies-eu-backtrack.21126724http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/alexander-denies-eu-backtrack.21126724Danny Alexander has denied he is re-writing history over Europe.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/pension-rights-concerns-over-same-sex-marriage-legislation.21126755http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/pension-rights-concerns-over-same-sex-marriage-legislation.21126755Thousands of Scots could miss out on pension rights if their spouse dies unless MPs vote through same-sex marriage proposals this week, campaigners have warned.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/mp-could-force-an-early-by-election.21126997http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/mp-could-force-an-early-by-election.21126997Labour sources say the party would be ready for a snap Westminster by- election in Falkirk despite suspending its troubled candidate selection process last week.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/pm-warns-tax-havens-to-abide-by-rules.21127078http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/pm-warns-tax-havens-to-abide-by-rules.21127078David Cameron has written to the leaders of Britain's offshore tax havens stressing the need to "get our own houses in order" as he pushes for international action to tackle-avoidance schemes.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/ukip-face-fresh-right-wing-row.21068665http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/ukip-face-fresh-right-wing-row.21068665UKIP have suffered another blow after it emerged that their by-election candidate in Aberdeen is linked to a group that has denounced Islam as a "brutal theocracy".http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/joyce-in-by-election-threat.21068667http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/joyce-in-by-election-threat.21068667LABOUR is facing the prospect of a damaging by-election in Falkirk after sitting MP Eric Joyce warned last night he would force a snap poll if his successor was selected by a political "fix".http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/galloway-attacked-for-snp-catholic-slur.21116305http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/galloway-attacked-for-snp-catholic-slur.21116305THE controversial left-wing MP George Galloway has been attacked by pro-independence politicians and anti-sectarian campaigners for dragging religion into the debate over the 2014 referendum and claiming the SNP poses a danger to Catholics.http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/downing-street-backs-2014-glasgow-invitation-to-sri-lanka.21115689http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/political-news/downing-street-backs-2014-glasgow-invitation-to-sri-lanka.21115689Downing Street has refused to rule out inviting Sri Lanka to a First World War commemoration service despite an outcry from human-rights organisations.nonadult