SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she had won overwhelming support north of the border in the election last week - and the PM had no right to block a new bid to break up the UK.

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'.

The First Minister said that the Prime Minister's decision to block a new vote was 'a sign of weakness' as she continued to build her case the break up the UK.

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.

Online trolls - some of whom told her to 'go back to India' and who mocked her Ugandan background - claimed to be members of Labour, the SNP and Green Party.

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.

Former deputy leader of the SNP Jim Sillars, 82, has said that the allegations against against Mr Salmond were the 'dirtiest blow' he has ever seen delivered in his 60 years of political life.

Alex Wilson had his account targeted by his devastated wife Pamela, who said he had left her to be with fellow SNP councillor Mandy Morgan. Pictured: Mr and Mrs Wilson.

Hosts on Airbnb have been flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules by advertising their properties as 'Covid-19 retreats' on the popular rental website.

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.

Michael O'Neill warned the real tests begin now as his Northern Ireland squad prepare to face Germany in Monday's crunch Euro 2020 qualifier.

Wayne Rooney reportedly warned Jamie Vardy about his wife Rebekah's behavior during Euro 2016 - as Coleen Rooney accused the WAG of selling stories on her in a extraordinary Twitter rant.

Georginio Wijnaldum admits Holland's recent absence from major tournaments has been 'painful' as they look set to end that exodus at Euro 2020 next summer.

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.

SAMI MOKBEL: It's the size of the challenge that galvanises Raheem Sterling - nothing else. That's why the natural next step in his career is to join one of the Spanish giants - Barcelona or Real Madrid.

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.

TOM COLLOMOSSE IN CARDIFF: Aaron Ramsey is determined to help Wales eclipse their memorable Euro 2016 campaign after scoring twice to send them to next year's Finals.

The sight of Roy Hodgson, rheumy-eyed and emotionally raw in Chantilly, France, the morning after England's Euro 2016 exit to Iceland was really something.

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

Danny Tetley (pictured), from Bradford, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to getting his victims, many as young as 14, to send him explicit images of themselves.

Viewers weren't impressed as the singer decided to turn Robbie's performance of The Pussycat Dolls' hit Don't Cha into a duet, especially when she sent the Irish singer home later in the show.

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.

The final six contestants were officially revealed following the arena auditions in Birmingham. The boys will now go head-to-head with the girls in Sunday's live finale.

The Pussycat Dolls star, 41, ensured she had all eyes on her during the X Factor: The Band's live grand final on Sunday as she put on a very busty display in a plunging black gown.

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.

Gogglesprogs - a spin-off of Gogglebox UK that features pint-sized pundits on the sofa offering their unique observations on everything from Strictly to Donald Trump's hair - is back for Christmas.

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.

Unlucky-in-love Stefan-Pierre Tomlin, 29, from south London, shot to fame in 2017 after the dating app revealed 14,600 woman had swiped right for him in two years - more than any other Brit.

Louisa Johnson took to Instagram on New Year's Day to share not one, but three images, prancing around in a bikini, despite claiming she felt 'bloated'.

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.

Alongside the video, Nicole wrote: 'Definitely didn't learn this choreography over the Christmas break from my 9yr old niece's TikTok.'

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. 

Twitter erupted with hilarious reaction to their row, which saw the girls, 20, fight ahead of their recoupling - however their father Brian Gale defended the duo

Love Island viewers struggling with the issue of Connagh with a G and Conner OG are sure to be less-than-thrilled to learn the latest hunks set to enter the show are both called Luke.

Christopher Maloney has revealed he nearly died from a killer parasite after eating crispy duck and pancakes.

The Take That star (pictured with his wife Dawn) lodged plans to demolish a section of his five-bed Cotswolds home in Alvescot, Oxfordshire, four months ago.

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 presenter, 46, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a snap announcing that 'Koppang O'Leary productions' would be welcoming a 'new arrival' in the coming months.

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.

Marnie Simpson looked smitten with beau Casey Johnson as she joined reality co-stars Holly Hagan and Sophie Kasaei at the Geordie OGs press day in London on Wednesday.