HENRY DEEDES: Word around Westminster is that Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom is for the chop.

Heather Anderson took up her seat on Tuesday to replace Alyn Smith, who had served as an MEP for 15 years but had to step down after being elected MP for Stirling in the recent general election.

The vote was driven by the SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who insisted a second vote on independence is necessary to protect the country from the consequences of Brexit.

The Wombles, who found fame on TV in the Seventies, have come out of retirement to back the Spring Clean. They joined nearly 200 MPs including Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers.

The Labour leadership challenger made the comment at a hustings event last week and provoked fury from the party as she labelled its members 'Tories wrapped up in nationalist clothing'.

YouGov research found 51 per cent north of the border would support independence - the first time the firm has recorded a majority in favour since 2015.

Kate Forbes only found out that she would announce the Scottish Government's spending pledges for the coming year at around 8am today - just after Derek Mackay resigned in disgrace.

Alex Salmond is tipped to make a dramatic SNP leadership comeback bid after he was cleared of sex assault charges this week. He could be deputy to MP Joanna Cherry, who led a bid to block Brexit last year.

Nicola Sturgeon today made clear she is willing to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Scotland at a different rate to the rest of the UK.

MSP for Renfrewshire North and West Derek Mackay is entitled to a =n automatic severance payment of £11,945 for losing ministerial office.

Wales manager Ryan Giggs faces a dressing-room rebellion as his side struggles to qualify for Euro 2020. Defeats by Croatia and Hungary have left Wales fourth of five teams in Group E.

Cristiano Ronaldo took his goal-scoring career tally to an incredible 700 after netting in Portugal's 2-1 defeat against Ukraine. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner confidently slotted away a penalty.

Gareth Bale believes Wales reaching the European Championship next summer could trump the achievement of playing at Euro 2016. Wales ended a 58-year wait in 2016.

TOM COLLOMOSSE IN CARDIFF: If Giggs guides his team to victory over Hungary in the winner-takes-all clash and secures a place at Euro 2020, it will be a significant achievement.

Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to glory in 2016 despite injury and is one of a number of greats to write his name into the glittering history of the Euros since they were introduced in 1960.

Viewers took to Twitter to praise the singer, 34, for her 'fearless' judging style as they demanded she should join the panel permanently.

The former X Factor judge, 67, celebrated her theatre stint for Nativity! The Musical with her daughter Kelly, 35, during a gala night, held at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, on Thursday.

The X Factor: Celebrity champion, 27, looked sensational as she shared a sizzling Instagram video of her dancing in a lacy black cut-out body and stockings on Friday.

The singer, 34, looked sensational in a plunging black velvet dress which flaunted her incredible toned figure as she joined John Legend at the event.

Viewers tuning in on Sunday night were left baffled as X Factor: The Band singer wore a hoodie emblazoned with a swear word before 9pm watershed.

She's one of X Factor's success stories.  So it came as no surprise to see Leona Lewis had been invited back to judge the grand finale of the series' spin-off, The Band, on Sunday.

The former TOWIE star, still basking in her triumph on the inaugural series of X Factor: Celebrity, was on hand to gift the winner with a gift card, Boux Avenue bra fitting and obligatory Mimosa.

JAN MOIR: Oh my friends, it's been a long, hard year. Brexit, a General Election, Cats the movie, Prince Andrew, Greggs vegan sausage rolls, and the celebrity version of The X Factor.

The former TOWIE star, 27, shared a chic snap alongside a thoughtful post about the past year and what she has to come, as she wished her followers a happy new year.

X Factor : Celebrity winner Megan McKenna took a 'watermelon break' on Wednesday, seen lounging around on her Instagram page as she kicked back for New Year's Day.

After apologising to little Rex, the former X Factor star, 30, shared her New Year's resolutions with the group, as she vowed not to have any more babies and to go on a date night

The Love Island personality, 23, reflected on a tumultuous 2019 in an impassioned Instagram post on New Year's Day.

Ray Quinn, who shot to fame on reality shows The X Factor and Dancing On Ice, proposed to his girlfriend Emily Fletcher over New Year's.

The former TOWIE star, 27, flashed a glimpse of her washboard abs as she posed in a bikini and animal print sarong during Caribbean getaway

The legendary rocker, 71, walked with the help of a cane while his X Factor star wife, 67, lent a helping hand, as they made their way home following dinner Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills on Friday.

The musician, 22, is believed to have dated the fellow singer - who is also friends with her famous ex Lewis Capaldi - on-and-off for a few years, before the pair began drifting apart in April 2019.

Lewis Capaldi's ex Paige Turley has denied being involved in a relationship shortly before signing up for the hit show's first winter series. 

The Masked Singer raked in 6.5 million viewers despite people calling it the 'trashiest' TV filled with B-listers under a monster's mask. It stars a bizarre line-up including the former Home Secretary.

The X Factor star, 67, was every inch the doting wife as she helped her husband, 71, after they had dinner at San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood on Friday.

He displayed his slimmed down features in a selfie shared with his 16,100 Twitter followers and revealed he had regained his confidence with the weight loss

No single genre dominates the list of the UK's favourite TV shows. The likes of Still Open All Hours, Blue Planet II and The Great British Bake Off all feature in the top 25.

The X Factor singer, 22, looked blissfully happy as she showcased her figure in a plunging swimsuit during a weekend at the Glass House Retreat in Upminster, East London on Friday.

Megan McKenna, 27, made an appearance at The British Takeaway Awards at The Savoy Hotel in London on Monday, looking glamorous as ever in a metallic gown.

Dannii Minogue took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a throwback photo from her childhood. 

The-31-year-old exuded glamour when she stepped out on Sunday night to attend a BAFTA's afterparty.

The singer, 23, was a sight to behold in one snap where she donned a dark green dress with a layered detail and a black embroidered design.

Stacey Solomon, 30, took to Instagram to reveal the Jurassic Park-themed packed lunch she created for her seven-year-old son Leighton. The Sun reported the amount of food was criticised online.

Megan McKenna found time tease fans all the way from Hollywood with an eye-popping snap of herself in grey lingerie captioned 'Happy v day to my b****s' on Friday.

Una Healy has shared a sweet family picture of herself and her two children on Instagram following the news her ex-husband Ben Foden is expecting a baby.

Caroline Flack's Xtra Factor co-star has spoken out on their friendship after her tragic death, describing the late star as a 'complicated person'.

The dancer, 38,has hit back at the hundreds of Ofcom complaints the Pussycat Dolls have sparked over their raunchy performances during ITV family shows.

The X Factor winner, 27, looked radiant as she left the Sintallite party at 100 Wardour Street in London with a friend on Saturday.

The former rugby star made the rare public declaration for his X Factor judge other half on Instagram Stories and said that she inspires him everyday.

The Rak Su star, 28, who suffered two broken ribs, internal bleeding and a ruptured spleen from the incident, took to Instagram to share a photo of himself.

The Love Island star, 23, showed off her sartorial style in a black denim jacket and shiny cargo trousers as she headed to Mahiki in London on Friday.