May 20, 2026 – THE DEMOCRAT

DUMBARTON NOTEBOOK: NEW PARLIAMENT HEARS ONLY CAULD KALE HET UP

May 20, 2026 heaneymedia

DUMBARTON NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY Same old … same old … same old. That is what the people of Scotland will have to put up

SOCIETY OF EDITORS: An issue that goes to the heart of local democracy and the role of a free press.

May 20, 2026 heaneymedia

From the Society of Editors to Bill Heaney, owner/editor of The Dumbarton Democrat Chief Executive Peter Hessett; Chief Comms Officer Amanda Graham; Council leader, Martin

MISTAKEN IDENTITY: CHILD ABUSE VIGILANTE LEADER HARRASSED INNOCENT MAN

by BILL HEANEY The organiser of an online child abuse vigilante group has received a two-year community payback order after it was found that he

First Minister Swinney in denial over scale of benefit fraud, claims Tory leader

First Minister John Swinney and Tory leader Russell Findlay clashed over benefit fraud. by BILL HEANEY John Swinney has been accused of being “in denial”

ROYAL NAVY: SILENT SERVICE CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY AT WINDSOR CASTLE EVENT

by DEMOCRAT REPORTER ROYAL NAVY submariners celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Submarine Service were at Windsor Castle for a gala dinner to mark the

Ysortit West Dunbartonshire: Come and join us!

Ysortit WestDunbartonshire Y-WOMEN CONNECT – COME ALONG & CONNECT! Are you a young woman aged 16–25 living in West Dunbartonshire? Join Y-Women Connect, a FREE

ROAD CLOSURES FOR RESURFACING ON THE ERSKINE BRIDGE

Amey South West Trunk Roads Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is undertaking essential resurfacing on the A898 and A82 from Thursday 1st October until

WHITEBOARD JUNGLE: LibDem leader Cole-Hamilton says John Swinney must act on 44,000 school violence incidents

by BILL HEANEY Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, right, has today asked the First Minister whether he will accept that the SNP’s approach

Putting books in hands and smiles on faces – it’s what we do

West Dunbartonshire Libraries #MobileLibrary brought books, laughter and fun to children from Gavinburn Primary and Nursery, St Eunan’s Nursery, Whitecrook Nursery and Knoxland Primary last week.

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORMS RISK A ‘DECADE OF DISTRACTION,’ MARRA TELLS PARLIAMENT

by BILL HEANEY The Scottish Government’s proposals for public sector reform risk a “decade of distraction”, Michael Marra said today. At First Minister’s Questions, the

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