John Swinney said his government will work very closely with citizens to "maximise eligibility for the winter fuel payment" in the wake of its scrapping by the UK Government. Sir Keir Starmer defended the decision, saying it was needed to repair a Ā£22bn "hole" in the public finances. The Scottish Government said they had no choice but to follow suit. "We didn't want to take this decision - this decision was taken for us by the UK Government who abrutply, with very little notice, decided to end the provision for winter fuel payments," Mr Swinney said.
Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted she is "absolutely certain" Scotland will become independent within her lifetime. But her predecessor, Alex Salmond, has told Channel Four News she has "wasted" political opportunities. Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
More people attend top-flight football matches in Scotland than any other country in Europe as a proportion of population, according to a Uefa report. BBC Sport
Reform UK has begun its party conference in Birmingham with leader Nigel Farage saying that he is optimistic that the party can win the next general election. Mr Farage said: "We are at a moment in time in politics where levels of disenchantment with the two main parties have never been higher." Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Barristers representing the alleged victims of Mohamed Al Fayed have said the case ācombines some of the most horrific elements of the cases involving Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinsteinā. The late Harrodsā owner was described as a āmonsterā by barrister Dean Armstrong KC during a press conference held by the legal team featured in the BBC documentary Al-Fayed: Predator At Harrods. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Researchers have found that picky eating is heavily influenced by genetics and tends to peak around age seven. Their analysis indicates that food fussiness begins in early childhood and persists through early adolescence. According to the study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, the findings suggest that being selective about food is not merely a "phase" that children outgrow. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The first wave of police forces will start embedding domestic abuse specialists in their 999 control rooms early next year to stop emergency services missing opportunities to save womenās lives. The move is part of āRaneemās Lawā, named after Raneem Oudeh, to transform the way the police handle cases of violence against women and girls. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pledges that the government "has a mission to halve domestic abuse." Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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