Figures show about 25 people a day in Scotland died while on NHS waiting lists this year, over 7,000 in the first nine months. Charities call the toll “heartbreaking” and urge the SNP to act faster to cut delays and expand capacity so patients access specialist care sooner.

Ministers have reversed plans to tighten death duties on farms, raising the inheritance tax threshold from £1m to £2.5m. The shift, driven by pressure from farmers and Labour MPs, is intended to stop family holdings being sold to meet bills and will be added to the Finance Bill.

Ministers will scrap mandatory disclosure of “facility time”, so NHS bodies and schools need not report how much is spent on union reps’ paid time off. Government says this cuts red tape; critics warn it hides taxpayer costs and weakens transparency.

Wes Streeting urges Britain to rejoin a customs union with the EU, contradicting the PM. A YouGov poll shows 80% of Labour voters want closer EU ties. Party leaders call the idea a red line, while some suggest Streeting is positioning for a future leadership contest.