Hamish Morrison
Hamish Morrison covers Westminster politics for The National with a focus on how decisions at the UK level reshape Scotland’s constitutional future. He works as the masthead’s Westminster correspondent and political reporter, combining detailed coverage of devolution, independence and the relationships between governments in London, Edinburgh and the devolved nations. His body of work blends on-the-ground reporting, explanatory pieces and regular newsletter and podcast slots that track the power struggles defining current UK and Scottish politics.
Westminster politics through a Scottish lens
Morrison’s core brief is to follow Westminster politics and explain what it means for Scotland’s institutions and political landscape.
His reporting on Labour figures and constitutional reform focuses on how pledges to extend “full fat” devolution in England sit alongside demands for greater powers for Scotland, highlighting the asymmetries built into the UK’s constitutional settlement. He regularly scrutinises proposals coming from Westminster that could strip or reshape the Scottish Parliament’s authority, unpacking moves by peers and ministers to change the balance of powers within the union.
The “Worst of Westminster” newsletter he writes each week distils these developments into a running chronicle of decisions, missteps and conflicts at the UK Parliament, tailored to a readership that needs clear, factual detail on how Westminster affects Scotland.
Independence movement and Celtic Alliance
A second strand of his work tracks the independence movement and emerging cooperation between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, often framed as a “Celtic Alliance.”
He has reported from Belfast and Cardiff, meeting leaders from Sinn Féin and Plaid Cymru, including Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Welsh Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams, to show how devolved governments use their powers on the ground. In his interview with Sioned Williams, he explores how coordinated pressure from devolved administrations can create a “golden opportunity” to force the UK Government to listen to voices calling for self-determination, translating political rhetoric into concrete implications for policy and leverage.
He also contributes to coverage marking key independence milestones, such as reflections on the 2014 referendum, linking past campaigns with present strategy without turning the pieces into personal op-eds.
Party dynamics, polling and constitutional change
Morrison’s reporting pays close attention to party dynamics across the UK, using polling and internal disputes to chart shifts that matter for Scotland’s future. His politics coverage includes figures such as Zack Polanski and examines emerging divides between Greens, Labour and the SNP, framing these tensions as strategic choices about how to position pro-independence and progressive agendas within a changing UK party system. He follows new polling on independence and related questions, including surveys where support for a unilateral declaration of independence rises, and uses these findings to show when once-fringe demands are moving into the mainstream of the constitutional debate. On podcast episodes and in print, he breaks down post‑election polling, leadership pressures and intra‑party rows to explain how these factors may influence the prospects for further devolution or another referendum.
On-the-ground reporting, podcast and newsletter work
Beyond straight news articles, Morrison is a regular presence on The National’s podcast and in longer-form features that bring additional context to his beat. Podcast episodes see him discuss independence marches, the fallout of Scottish elections and Labour bids to strip Scotland of powers, allowing him to test arguments and unpack complex developments in conversation with colleagues and guests.
His interview-led pieces, such as those with leaders in Cardiff and Belfast, show a preference for speaking directly to decision-makers and using detailed quotes to illustrate how policy and strategy are evolving across the devolved nations. Public professional profiles and industry databases also underline his experience, noting that he has produced thousands of articles on politics and related topics, which reinforces the picture of a reporter who works at pace across news, analysis, audio and newsletter formats while staying tightly focused on UK and Scottish power relations.
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