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Stirling Old Town Jail

Top ways to experience Stirling Old Town Jail and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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STIRLING OLD TOWN JAIL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Stirling Old Town Daily Walking Tour (11am & 2pm) (From £14.25)
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• (0.11 mi) Scholars at the Stirling Highland

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Stirling Old Town Jail

A little after dawn on 11th November 1847 a pitiful parade of petty thievery was marched from the dank and dismal depths of Stirling’s Tolbooth Gaol – condemned as ‘The Worst Jail in Britain’ only a few years before – across St John Street, and into the New County Jail – better known to modern visitors as the Old Town Jail.

Each prisoner was fed – a rare luxury for those incarcerated in the Tolbooth. Each convict was assigned their own cell, according to William Brebner’s ‘Separate System’, to encourage reflection and repentance, and every effort was made to reform and rehabilitate Stirling’s rogues. A palace compared to the Tolbooth, conditions were grim by modern standards – a strict regime of solitude, labour, coarse food and discomfort. Stirling’s prison until 1888, it served as Scotland’s only Military Detention Barracks until 1935.

Join us on a journey through the grim and gruesome history of Crime and Punishment in the Royal Burgh.

Visitors can hear the histories of our places of punishment – and the bloody, bizarre and sometimes baffling tales of the Burgh’s heroes and villains. Learn about the Tolbooth’s notorious ‘Happy Hangman’, Jock Rankin, the ‘Union Martyrs’ Baird and Hardie – hanged and beheaded in 1820 for asking for the right to vote – the murderer Allan Mair, crusading prison reformer Frederick Hill….and many more!

These characters, and others, truly come to life through our highly praised performance tours, telling the story of the Old Town Jail itself. From our Observation Tower visitors can enjoy some of the best views of the historic Old Town and surrounding countryside – taking in the Tolbooth, Holy Rude Church, National Wallace Monument, Trossachs National Park and, of course, Stirling Castle…making the Old Town Jail a great place to start exploring the sights and stories of Scotland’s ancient Royal Burgh.

Tours of the attraction last 45mins to an hour The Old Town Jail is open all year round £14 per adult / £10.50 Concession / £8.00 for kids for the full tour (under 5’s are free) Performance tours run every 30mins from 10.15am Included in the Stirling City Pass

• 01786 595024
• Old Town Jail, Stirling, FK8 1EA

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There is free parking at the Old Town Jail – just drive through the arches past the Information Centre and head round to the left side of the Jail building.

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Old Town Jail

Top choice in Stirling

This impressive Victorian prison building lay derelict from the 1960s until 2015, when it was reopened as a visitor attraction. Costumed guides lead tours around the former prison cells and up to the top of the observation tower, recounting gruesome tales of prisoners, punishments and executions along with fascinating facts about Stirling's history. Tours depart every 30 minutes.

Get In Touch

http://oldtownjail.co.uk

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Stirling Old Town Jail

Top ways to experience Stirling Old Town Jail and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Stirling Old Town Jail - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Stirling Old Town Jail

Top ways to experience Stirling Old Town Jail and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Stirling Old Town Jail - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Inveraray Jail

Step back almost two centuries and discover the stories of the real men, women and children who were tried and served their sentences in this prison.Listen to dramatic true tales from the Jail's characters brought to life with our FREE AUDIO GUIDES.

Come and experience one of the finest and best preserved Jail and Courtroom complexes in the world.  You are free to explore this unique collection of historic buildings brought to life by real characters from the Jail’s past and FREE AUDIO GUIDES AVAILABLE IN SIX LANGUAGES . Step back in time and experience the true stories of what life was like for the men, women and children – some as young as seven – who were tried and locked up here all those years ago.  Do view our videos and our reviews on TripAdvisor .

Torture, Death and Damnation

Your journey starts in the Torture, Death and Damnation exhibition highlighting the many forms of punishment and deterrents used before the days of civilised courts and imprisonment was adopted. Discover how criminals were branded with hot irons or even their ears nailed to a post! Try out the thumbscrews used to twist down and inflict pain.

County Courtroom

Move through time and enter the spectacular courtroom. Take your seat alongside the witnesses and listen to extracts from actual trials held in this room over 150 years ago.  Imagine that you were in the dock, facing time in Jail.  Feel the tension as the sentence is passed.  Now it is time to make your way down to the prisons…….

Walk the narrow corridors, see the cramped, overcrowded cells and be shocked at the young children in a cell next to the lunatic. Meet and talk to the warder, matron and prisoners and hear their stories.

Compare the old prison with the new, built in 1848, a model prison in its day. Try out the hammocks and the wooden beds, get strapped onto the Whipping Table or take a turn on the Crank Wheel.  Discover the gripping stories of many of the prisoners held here – from being transported to Australia for trivial crimes to being sentenced to serve time for stealing a turnip! Visit our modern day cell is present day prison life too easy? Uncover amazing facts in every cell.

Airing Yards and Prison Grounds

Explore the prison grounds, meet the highland cow used to provide the milk, get locked up in the Airing Yards used for the prisoners exercise, visit the Jail kitchen and search over 4,000 prisoner records.

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Unveiling the Dark Secrets of Stirling Old Town Jail: A Haunting Journey into the Past

Table of Contents

‍Introduction

As a history enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by tales of the past, especially those that involve ghostly encounters. One of the most intriguing places I have visited in my travels is the Stirling Old Town Jail in Scotland . This historic prison, built in 1847, housed some of the most notorious criminals in Scotland until its closure in 1935. In this article, I will take you on a journey into the past, unveiling the dark secrets of Stirling Old Town Jail and the haunted stories that surround it.

Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail, also known as the Old Jail, was built in response to the growing need for a larger prison in Stirling. The old Tolbooth prison, located in the city’s center, had become overcrowded and inadequate for the growing number of inmates. The new prison was designed by architect Thomas Brown and constructed between 1844 and 1847. The prison was built in a castellated style, with high walls and turrets, giving it a medieval appearance.

History of Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail was originally built to hold up to 250 prisoners. However, due to the increasing number of inmates, the prison soon became overcrowded, with over 400 prisoners at its peak. The inmates were a mix of men, women, and children, with crimes ranging from theft to murder. The conditions in the prison were notoriously harsh, with overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food and clothing.

Inmates and their Crimes

The inmates at Stirling Old Town Jail were a mix of hardened criminals and petty offenders. Some of the most notorious inmates included William Burke and William Hare, who were convicted of murder and body-snatching. Another infamous inmate was Peter Manuel, who was convicted of multiple murders in the 1950s. There were also many women and children held at the prison, often for minor crimes such as theft.

Haunted Stories from Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail is said to be one of the most haunted places in Scotland, with numerous ghostly encounters reported by visitors and staff. One of the most popular stories is that of the ghost of William Wallace, who is said to haunt the prison’s exercise yard. Other reported sightings include the ghost of a woman in a white dress, believed to be the spirit of a former inmate, and the ghost of a child, who is said to play in the corridors.

Dark Secrets of Stirling Old Town Jail

Despite its imposing appearance, the Stirling Old Town Jail had a dark and secretive side. The prison was known for its brutal punishment methods, including flogging and the use of the “dark cell,” a small, pitch-black cell used for solitary confinement. There were also rumors of corruption and abuse by the prison staff, with reports of inmates being mistreated and even killed.

The Prison’s Architecture and Design

The Stirling Old Town Jail was designed to be an imposing and intimidating structure, with high walls and turrets reminiscent of a medieval castle. The prison’s design was intended to deter would-be criminals from breaking the law. The prison also had a unique design feature, with each cell opening onto a central corridor, allowing the prison staff to monitor the inmates at all times.

The Jail’s Closure and Preservation Efforts

The Stirling Old Town Jail was closed in 1935, due to its outdated facilities and inhumane living conditions. The prison was left abandoned for many years, falling into disrepair and becoming a haven for vandals and squatters. However, in the 1990s, efforts were made to preserve the prison as a historic site. Today, the Stirling Old Town Jail is open to the public as a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and the dark history of the prison.

Visiting Stirling Old Town Jail Today

If you are interested in history and the paranormal, a visit to the Stirling Old Town Jail is a must. The prison is open to the public for tours, allowing visitors to explore the cells, exercise yard, and punishment areas. The museum also offers a range of exhibits and displays, showcasing the prison’s history and the lives of the inmates who were held there.

Other Haunted Places in Stirling

Stirling is a city with a rich history and many haunted places. Other popular haunted sites in the city include Stirling Castle, the Tolbooth, and the Smith Art Gallery and Museum. If you are interested in the paranormal, Stirling is a great destination for ghost hunters and history buffs alike.

Conclusion: The Legacy of Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail is a haunting reminder of Scotland’s dark past and the harsh conditions endured by its prisoners. Despite its brutal history, the prison has been preserved as a historic site, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and the lives of those who were held there. The Stirling Old Town Jail is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a reminder of the importance of preserving our history for future generations.

So, if you are visiting Scotland and want to experience a unique and haunting journey into the past, make sure to include a visit to the Stirling Old Town Jail on your itinerary. You won’t be disappointed.

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Stirling Old Town Jail

Top ways to experience Stirling Old Town Jail and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Stirling Old Town Jail - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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Find Your Tour

Inveraray jail.

Inveraray Jail is an award-winning “living” museum. In the 18th century, Inveraray was the main town in Argyll so it was home to the region’s courthouse and jail. The jail closed in 1889, not because everyone became law-abiding, but because the convicts were now being imprisoned in Glasgow.

Inveraray Jail uses actors and life-size models to recreate the scenes of a 19th-century courthouse and prison. You can witness a trial taking place and then see the living conditions and punishments that prisoners had to endure. You can even experience some of the punishments firsthand and realize just how easy we have it these days.

The exhibition starts with some examples of the punishments that were given to "criminals" prior to the practice of locking them up in prison. Some of these punishments were really quite barbaric and seem rather extreme relative to the crime. Hot pokers through tongues, ears nailed to posts, hands chopped off, legs crushed between planks... it makes you wince!

After the exhibition on Crime and Punishment, you enter the courtroom and it is momentarily hard to figure out who are the visitors and who are the life-size models.

From the courtroom, you descend the same steps that convicted prisoners would have followed on their way to imprisonment in the Jail. Along the way, you might be escorted by the very convincing Prison Wardens who may also take the opportunity to lock you into an exercise cell.

The prison cells are housed in 2 buildings: an older and more basic jail from 1820, and a more civilized prison block that was built in 1849. The wardens will tell you about the grim conditions in the 1820 building, and in each cell, you can read stories about the prisoners who were locked up here and the crimes that they committed. You even get to see some of them!

In the 1849 building, the cells display lots of information boards that deal with different themes of prison life. It is interesting to learn that 19th-century society seems to have been every bit as unruly as it is in the 21st century. On the top floor, there is a gallery of the last 7 prisoners to occupy the prison, a nice little "human" touch.

This is an excellent museum, well worthy of all its awards. It kept us busily occupied for 90 minutes as we became engrossed in reading through the information boards. There are lots of nice touches to the museum that make it entertaining for children, and the actors are very good at playing their parts.

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OUR HISTORY Stirling Old Town Jail Since 1847

Inspired by his friend, Elizabeth Fry, and the work of other ground-breaking Prison Reformers, Frederick Hill was appointed as Scotland’s first Inspector of Prisons in 1840. On his first visit to the Burgh the following year, he was shocked by the dire, dehumanising conditions in the Stirling Tolbooth.

He condemned the Tolbooth as “The worst prison in Britain.” This spurred Hill and other Reformers to force Stirling’s County Prison Board to build the New County Jail – better known today as The Old Town Jail.

Stirling County Jail

On a brisk morning in November 1847, prisoners were transferred to the New County Jail, designed by architect Thomas Brown, and built according to the Separate System devised by William Brebner.

Separate System

Under Brebner’s system inmates were kept apart from each other. Each in their own cell, they would be taught basic literacy, trained in a trade by prison staff, and could earn a wage – a Penny-a-Day – for their labour. These new skills were seen as vital to reforming their characters, and breaking the cycle of poverty which had forced many into a life of crime. Harsh by modern standards, but effective. The Separate System’s focus on rehabilitation reduced re-offence among Stirling’s convicts by almost 47% in its first ten years.

The fall of the separate system

Despite its early success many in government resented the expense of the Separate System. Budgets were cut, and with less focus on reform, it wasn’t long before two, three or even four convicts could be found in many cells. With little time to teach or counsel prisoners, much of the guards’ time was taken up imposing harsh discipline over an overcrowded prison population.

Children in Chains

Despite the decline of the Reform System there was some good news for Britain’s youngest convicts. In 1886 the Children In Prisons Act was passed by Parliament – ending the centuries-old practice of imprisoning children as young as six years of age in the nation’s Jails alongside adults. 

Military Prison

The New County Jail was requisitioned by the War Office and became the Military Detention Barracks for Scottish regiments , run by the Military Provost Staff Corps. This was not a jail for Prisoners of War but for soldiers guilty of theft from stores, Absence Without Leave, Desertion, or other disciplinary offences. Their time was taken up with Drill, Square-Bashing or repairing their kit. After a dispute over rent due to Stirling Council, the MPSC closed its Detention Barracks on 30 th September 1935.

The Detention Barracks was decommissioned and the prison closed in 1936. During the Second World War it was used for gas-mask storage and distribution, and training for Stirling’s Civil Detention Volunteers – the Home Guard, or ‘Dad’s Army’, as it was known.

The remains of an escape tunnel dug by Home Guardsmen, during an exercise in 1943, can be found in one of our cells – no one told them the outer wall went 15 feet below ground level!

1950’s

Sweetie Storage

The building was used to stock ingredients for the manufacture of sweets by the Caledonian Confectionary Company, now based in Falkirk. Locals tell of the sweet scents that would waft across the Old Town.

Abandonment

From the 1940s the Jail quickly became derelict. In the ’60s and ‘70s it was mainly used by the Burgh’s Truant Officers as a drop-off point for pupils skipping classes from local schools – or by reckless local tykes who used the ruin as a playground.

Restoration

In 1991 restoration of the Jail began. The middle floors were renovated for use as office-space, mostly for companies working in local arts and tourism. The ground floor was restored to its former glory, with a new viewing platform and exhibition space added to the Tower. The Stirling Old Town Jail, as the new attraction was known, was open from 1996 until 2012 – and became the Burgh’s first 5-Star visitor attraction.

2015 onwards

After a brief closure, the Old Town Jail re-opened in 2015 as an independent visitor attraction – running our popular live-performances, self-guided audio tours, hosting events, and adding each year to our dynamic displays and exhibitions.

Our team have made a passionate, ongoing commitment to the Jail’s heritage, laying solid foundations for the next stage of the building’s history. And the key to that , dear visitor, is you!

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Finding Unexpected Joy on an Organized Day Tour Across Scotland

By Vicki Denig

I’ll never forget staring into the deep, black waters of Loch Ness. The darkness of the lake beautifully highlighted the fat, white snowflakes falling from puffy, gray skies above. This, I remember thinking, was the untouched natural beauty of Scotland that so many of my travel writer friends had raved about. It was one of the most breathtaking winter scenes I’d experienced in my life—and I would never have found myself there if it weren’t for an organized day tour.

This past winter, in lieu of exchanging Christmas gifts, my partner and I decided to venture over to Scotland for a four-day weekend. The whisky-soaked mecca of Islay has long been a bucket-list destination for me, a writer focusing on wine and spirits—but venturing all the way to the remote island would have taken up too much of our long January weekend. To get our fill of belly-warming whisky in a string of cozy pubs and hotel bars, stopping in Edinburgh was a no-brainer. While I was also charmed by the idea of Glasgow’s edginess and its abundance of accessible distilleries, I still yearned for a way to see the more rural parts of Scotland in our short time there.

The Scottish capital artfully balances the very old with the new and exciting.

Beyond the main monuments and city-based distilleries suggested, my internet searches left us with dozens of day tour recommendations through the Scottish Highlands . In my mind, organized day tours were bound to be filled with the kind of tourist traps I’d avoided most of my adult life, not to mention plenty of the selfie-stick wielding travelers I dreaded. I almost turned the other way, but the idea of dramatic, mountainous terrain only surpassed by rolling green hills studded with medieval castles and plenty of long-haired cows made me willing to take the chance.

“What do you think of an 11-hour tour through the Scottish Highlands?” I asked my partner in the living room of my Manhattan apartment. “Sounds incredible,” he responded. I began to mentally weigh the cons: potentially corny stops, a voluble guide—or worse still, strange travel companions. But there were also solid pros: Fitting in the natural beauty we would otherwise miss, without having to organize, plan, or think about anything along the way.

As a Type A traveler, I was already overplanning Edinburgh, exhausting myself over how many of the 19 industry-approved cocktail bars we’d be able to fit into 48 hours. The idea of enjoying a stress-free day of sightseeing without having to plan a thing? Very appealing. The cherry on the top was the £57 per person pirice tag. With a click of a button and for the price of a few drinks, we were booked to hit Glencoe, Loch Ness, and the Highlands—all in a single day.

Canoeing through the beautiful Caledonian Canal near Fort William

Less than 24 hours after arriving in Glasgow, we awoke at an ungodly hour to head over to the central bus station and start the day. We trudged through dark, dead-empty streets to eventually be greeted by a cheery—but not overly peppy, I noted—guide, and five other travelers. The white sprinter van had the company’s name, Rabbie’s, sprawled across the side in blue lettering. We climbed in along with a couple in their 40s, their two teenage daughters, and an Australian woman traveling solo .

“Looks like there’s just seven of us today!” the guide exclaimed. My partner and I seized the opportunity to take over two full rows in the back, leaving the family to occupy the center of the van and the solo traveler to hold down the fort in front with the guide, who doubled as our driver. Our fearless leader started the van and gave us all some time to settle in, turning on some music instead. The day was off to a good start.

Our route took us from the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor to the breathtaking landscapes of Gelncoe , followed by the massive fault line of Great Glen. The van weaved through the mountainous Highlands, glassy lakes, and frosty hillsides. As I leaned against the window, I took in the sight of snow-dusted hills, many of which had turned from their summery emerald green to a rusty orange. The sun tried its best to peek through, although the weather remained a signature gray.

After spending the morning traversing through hillsides, we made it to the quaint town of Fort Augustus, home to just 650 people (as well as beautiful boat-bobbing views along the Caledonian Canal). Our group disembarked and hopped on an hour-long boat cruise on Loch Ness. At this point, we were just over halfway through the day—and more than 140 miles from Glasgow. From gazing upon the famed Three Sisters of Glencoe to snaking our way back home through the Grampian Mountains, our knowledge of Scotland’s geography and history was growing with each stop.

Mark Ellwood

Tom Vanderbilt

Shana Clarke

For me, the best part of the Highlands day tour was simply the act of slowing down from our packed city itinerary and surrendering to the natural beauty around us—something not nearly as achievable, if even possible, in the bustle of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The simple act of looking out a window and letting go offered tranquility I hadn’t experienced in longer than I could remember.

I also genuinely appreciated all the down time provided by our tour guide. This offered mental reprieve from all of the new information we were learning—but also enabled the socializing. We were given solo opportunities to explore most of the destinations at our own pace. For my partner and I, this meant eating fish and chips for lunch at a traditional pub, as well as tasting some local whiskies at a cozy hotel bar by ourselves.

By the end of the tour, we’d traversed well over 250 miles through the heart of Scotland. I thought about my initial hesitation about giving into such the activity; my preconceived notions of day tours had been proven completely wrong. In fact, it's quite cool to place your trust in the hands of a knowledgeable guide, and pretty adventurous to surrender to a group of strangers—embarking on a journey into the unknown together. Sure, some of the stops were a bit kitschy, and a few selfie sticks will almost certainly always be present on group trips these days, but the long-lasting memories of journeying into the vastness of a place offer far bigger payoff.

In addition to the unforgettable views we saw, the relief of not agonizing over every last planning detail was a vacation in itself. It was official: I was unexpectedly converted by the merits of an organized day tour.

The following day, we left Glasgow behind and set off to Edinburgh—and the first thing we booked was a Big Bus tour. I boarded it excited and expectant, with eyes wide open and my curious, exploratory spirit intact.

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The SNP juggernaut has veered off course

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Euan McColm

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

The writer is a Scottish political commentator

Little more than a year ago, the Scottish National party was a seemingly unstoppable political force. Today, the SNP is in the deepest crisis of its 90-year history. Public support is sliding and the sudden resignation of leader Humza Yousaf has exposed bitter divisions among nationalist ranks. John Swinney, deputy to Nicola Sturgeon during her nine years as first minister, is the sole candidate to replace Yousaf. But for all his experience, he may struggle to revive a party which has slumped from dizzying heights.

After becoming the largest party in the Holyrood parliament in 2007, the nationalists swiftly supplanted Labour as the dominant political power in Scotland. Over the years that followed, Alex Salmond and then Nicola Sturgeon cemented the party’s position as the preference of almost half of voters. Poll after poll suggested their grip on power in Scotland was unshakeable.

But the SNP’s own narrative — that it’s a uniquely moral and progressive party for a uniquely moral and progressive country — has now been shattered by events. After the chaos of the past 10 days, senior party figures are unanimous in their support for Swinney though his spell as leader between 2000-2004 was a disaster. The situation does not suggest a party overflowing with  talent or ideas.

Yousaf is responsible for his own downfall. His decision to end the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens, which deprived him of a governing majority, blew up in his face. Attempts over last weekend to build bridges were entirely unsuccessful and Yousaf fell on his sword.

But the crisis in Scottish nationalism began under Sturgeon, who replaced Salmond as SNP leader and first minister after defeat in the 2014 independence vote.

Salmond increased support by recognising the power — and responding to the desires — of small-c conservative Scotland. Policies such as free university tuition and prescriptions appealed to the suburban middle classes. With Sturgeon as his deputy and Swinney as a sober finance secretary, Salmond built a fortress on the middle ground.

When Sturgeon took over, she promised to respect the referendum result — 55-45 in favour of the staying in the UK — and govern for all Scots, regardless of their position on the constitutional question.

This pledge lasted longer than a Liz Truss premiership but only just. While leader, Sturgeon repeatedly promised a second referendum that she had no power to deliver. Meanwhile, she moved her party to the left, basing her arguments on the myth of a radical Scotland, wildly different in its views and instincts to England. The policy agenda, including a failed attempt to reform the Gender Recognition Act , set her at odds with many of the voters who put the nationalists in power.

Swinney has already made clear he intends to set a course back towards the electorate, declaring that he stands with “the majority” in the “moderate, centre-left of politics”. He warned there was work to do persuading more Scots to back independence.

Repeated election victories may — understandably — have given the impression that Sturgeon had her finger on Scotland’s pulse. But the reality was that, post-referendum, Scots divided behind the parties which represented their views on the constitution. This allowed Sturgeon to demand she be judged on her record on education, safe in the knowledge that almost half the voters wouldn’t look too hard and would continue to back the nationalists regardless of policy failures.

And so Sturgeon travelled the world, an admired ambassador for a successful, progressive Scotland that existed only in imagination. And, all the while, the nationalists — fearful that difficult reforms might backfire and stall independence plans — neglected the NHS, education and economy.

When she resigned last February, Yousaf was the continuity candidate but foolishly he then tried to govern as a continuity national leader. He pressed on with her agenda, promising independence was one last heave away (it wasn’t) and pursuing controversial policies on gender and hate speech when voters’ priorities were the cost of living, education and health.

In a bizarre development, Police Scotland raided SNP headquarters and the Glasgow home Sturgeon shares with her husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, investigating allegations of financial impropriety. Murrell has now been charged with embezzlement.

Swinney will inherit a party divided both on how to achieve independence and on the so-called culture war, with Scottish Labour resurgent. He may be able to slow the SNP’s decline but there is very little chance of him being the leader to take Scotland out of the UK.  Senior figures now accept the independence argument is dead for a generation. Privately, they admit they’ve nobody but themselves to blame.

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