National Focus 298: Stories From Scotland

First Minister to Meet with UK Cabinet Office on War in Iran

Scottish First Minister John Swinney has requested a meeting with the UK Cabinet Office to discuss the entry of US military planes at Prestwick Airport. This request comes amid the recent conflict in Iran, initiated with strikes in the region by the US and Israel on 28 February, 2026. Swinney hopes to discuss the situation at-large and clarify whether US planes are being used for offensive operations in Iran, which BBC Scotland has confirmed from publicly available flight logs. Prior to his request, Swinney faced pressure from Scottish Greens on the issue, challenging him to ban the entry of US planes from Prestwick. Commenting on the issue, Swinney has made his stance on military intervention in Iran clear to media outlets, describing it as “incompatible with the international rules-based system.”

Historic Glasgow Building to be Demolished Following Fire

On Sunday, 8 March, 2026, Forsyth House — a B-listed Victorian building next to Glasgow Central Station — was destroyed in a fire. In response, Glasgow Central Station temporarily closed operations. The fire spread from a nearby vape shop on Union Street, with no casualties reported. Since the incident, Forsyth House’s infrastructure has continued to collapse and deteriorate, prompting calls from Glasgow City Council to demolish the building. “After a full and final assessment of the remaining structure, [we have] decided that demolition must happen in the interests of public safety,” said a City Council representative. Glasgow City Council now has control over the building, though the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service remains at the scene to “take care of any hot spots,” according to local authorities. First Minister John Swinney is in discussion with Glasgow City Council on the issue and plans to investigate vape shop regulation as a preventative measure for future incidents. 

Bank App Glitch Causes Customers to View Other Users’ Transactions

On 12 March, 2026, a glitch occurred on Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland’s banking apps, allowing customers to view the transactions and account information of other users. Some customers have reported witnessing cross-account transactions totalling upwards of £1 million. Others have claimed to be able to view sensitive security details, with a Kirkcaldy resident reporting having viewed National Insurance numbers through Department for Work Pensions payments on the Bank of Scotland app. Following the incident, multiple users have expressed concern over Lloyds Banking Group’s (the owner of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland) ability to protect client details. Lloyds Banking Group has since issued an apology, adding that the issue has been resolved and is currently under investigation.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons