Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the SNP’s election manifesto is designed to ‘unite Scotland’. By Lucy Ashton First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the SNP’s election
INVESTIGATION into care home deaths: By Andrew Picken and Marc Ellison of BBC Scotland News
By Andrew Picken and Marc Ellison of BBC Scotland News A full breakdown of Covid-linked deaths in every Scottish care home has been published for
Event: How can we save Freedom of Information? Tuesday 20 April 5pm
SNP group leader Jonathan McColl and Democrat editor Bill Heaney. By Democrat reporter Freedom of Information law continues to be ignored by the SNP administration
ELECTION: SNP PENSION CLAIMS COULD RISK FAMILIES’ FINANCIAL SECURITY
By Bill Heaney Labour is warning that the Scottish National Party’s pension claims could risk families’ financial security. A new analysis for Labour reveals that
ELECTION REMINDER
SEVEN candidates will take part in the election for the Dumbarton constituency seat in the Scottish Parliament election on May 6. They are: Jackie Baillie
POLICE: Appeal after man suffers serious injuries in Dumbarton incident
Dumbarton from the air. Castlegreen Street area is to the left in this photograph – Picture by Sean Davenport of Myre Media. By Democrat reporter
DOG ALERT: Puppy reunited with owners after armed raid
Cairo, an American Bulldog, was missing for two days. Picture by David Waters By Rory Murphy A nine-week-old puppy stolen from a house in Glasgow
EDUCATION: Lomond given green light to deliver International Baccalaureate programmes
Lomond School S4 pupils launch the new International Baccalaureate By Lucy Ashton Lomond School in Helensburgh has been given authorisation to offer a unique curriculum
POLICE: West Dunbartonshire motorists warned to be careful passing horses
Drivers are urged to be considerate of horses like this one at the Drymen Show. By Lucy Ashton POLICE in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll are
WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE WELCOMES THE RELEASE FROM COVID RESTRICTIONS
By Rory Murphy It was “taps aff” Friday and the sun was “splitting the cossies” as people flocked out of the house to visit the
Two former moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland pay tribute to Prince Philip
The Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood, Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen and former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, writes:
BAILLIE – VALE NEEDS MORE THAN A LICK OF PAINT
By Lucy Ashton Vale of Leven District General Hospital was the first hospital to be opened in Scotland after the Second World War. That was
Nicola Sturgeon at risk as marginal Dumbarton seat could stop SNP majority ‘It’s stuck!’
By Dumbarton Democrat reporter Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled her party’s “transformational” manifesto but said she could go further if Scotland was independent. She outlined a £2.5
ELDERLY CARE: Majority of people with family in care homes suffered distress
Relatives unable to visit retirement homes endured a ‘range of negative emotions’, according to researchers Sisters Dorothy and Mary missed their mother, 92-year-old Mary Rose
LOCH LOMOND: National Park prepares to welcome day trippers as travel restrictions ease
Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. in Balloch at the Maid of the Loch. By Lucy Ashton From Friday
POLITICS: SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS IN DUMBARTON CONSTITUENCY ON MAY 6
NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY SEVEN candidates will take part in the election for the Dumbarton constituency seat in the Scottish Parliament election on May 6.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Unison urges council workers to back strike action over pay
Unison is asking members if they are prepared to take industrial action By Democrat reporters Union leaders are balloting council workers on industrial action following
Simon Midgley and his partner Richard Dyson were unlawfully killed in Cameron House Hotel inferno
Simon Midgley, 32, died after a fire broke out at Cameron House Hotel. By Democrat reporter A man who died with his partner in a
IS BONNIE BANKS JEWEL IN CROWN OF SCOTTISH TOURISM ABOUT TO BE TARNISHED YET AGAIN?
The Tarbet Hotel, where the A82 parts company with the A83 and the road to Arrochar. NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY The world renowned Bonnie Banks
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: FINDING HAPPINESS
By Canon Gerry Conroy Everyone is looking for happiness, the question everyone is asking is how do you find it. We all want a life
BAILLIE PLEDGES TO SUPPORT 6,300 LOCAL OVER 75s TO PAY THEIR LICENCE FEE
Scotland’s pensioners love watching rugby of television. By Bill Heaney Scottish Labour’s manifesto will commit to help every person aged 75 and over in Scotland
TORY LEADER Ross’s Traveller “apartheid” is an affront to Scotland
By Bill Heaney Upgrading the traveller site at Dennystown Forge in Dumbarton was one of the top of the list of urgent projects to be
Coronavirus: Travel ban to be lifted from Friday
Nicola Sturgeon also confirms that six people from up to six households will be able to meet up outdoors By Democrat reporter Travel restrictions within
ELECTION: Labour’s plan would see every adult aged 16 and over given a £75 prepaid card to spend
By Democrat reporter Scottish Labour has unveiled the largest economic stimulus plan in the history of devolution targeted at saving Scotland’s high streets and tourism
WORKPLACE HEALTH: Artificial Intelligence used to automate assessment of the ‘asbestos cancer’, Mesothelioma
Labour politicians Lord John McFall and Des McNulty with members of the Clydebank Asbestos Group pictured high above the shipyards and the town itself. Picture
ELECTION: Have you registered yet?
Helensburgh is part of Argyll and Bute for Scottish parliamentary election purposes. By Aileen MacLennan Do you want to have your say in the Scottish
ENVIRONMENT: FRIENDS ASK COUNCILS TO CLEAN UP THEIR BONNIE BANKS LITTER PROBLEM
By Lucy Ashton The Friends of Loch Lomond have told council bosses that the escalating litter problems along the on the A82 require to be
ELECTION: SNP MINISTER MET BUSINESSMAN AT CENTRE OF £360 MILLION CASH LOAN ROW
Not the kind of publicity one would wish for a few weeks prior to an election. In this week’s Sunday Mail: SNP minister Fergus Ewing
Crown Office has no licence to ‘police a free press in a free country’, say senior lawyers
The Court of Session in Parliament Square and advocates taking part in an event there (below). By Kapil Summan Prosecutors have no licence to “police
THE FERRET: Investigation reveals ‘sleekit’ increase in Trident nuclear warheads on Clyde
By Bill Heaney and Rob Edwards at The Ferret The Ferret investigative journalism bureau has revealed that UK Government has secretly boosted the number
DUMBARTON, HELENSBURGH, CLYDEBANK AND VALE OF LEVEN REMEMBER PRINCE PHILIP WHO HAS DIED AGED 99
The opening of Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Philip looks on as the Queen signs the Visitors’ Book
CORONAVIRUS: More than 10,000 deaths linked to Covid in Scotland
Number of coronavirus deaths has fallen for the tenth consecutive week By Democrat reporter West Dunbartonshire was named as one of the worst affected areas
COURTS: Man charged with murdering Helensburgh teenager with meat cleaver
By Democrat reporter A 33-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murdering a teenager by repeatedly striking him with a meat cleaver. Kevin Murray
PANDEMIC WORKERS REJECT NICOLA’S PAY OFFER – ‘We are fighting for our restorative pay’
NHS pay offer ‘nowhere near good enough’, say campaigners for unsung pandemic heroes First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman. Above some
HOW FOOTBALL RUNS IN MCGINN FAMILY BLOOD
Scotland star John McGinn thought he was offside for brilliant overhead kick which stunned the world of football John McGinn’s 85th-minute overhead kick earned Scotland
LOCH lOMOND: National Park prepared for post-lockdown visitor surge
Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond Park Authority. By Lucy Ashton Significant increases in staff, toilets and parking capacity are among the measures that
INDUSTRY: New Royal Navy anti-submarine warship emerges at Clyde shipyard
The new Type 26 frigates will primarily be used for anti-submarine warfare. By Lucy Ashton The new class of Royal Navy warship has been rolled