Scotland’s “squeezed middle earners” may be ready to mount a backlash over tax hikes, a leading tax expert has warned.

A blast of cold air from Russia is set to hit Scotland with the coldest February in five years as the Met Office issues a warning that the country will be hit by snow next week.

It’s never a hardship to be in St Petersburg for whatever reason and, over the years, I have had a few – friendship, trade, tourism and now football. No city in Europe is grander or has more reason to hate war.

Scotland legend Gavin Hastings believes facing England is as tough a prospect this weekend as it was throughout his career, when he managed only two wins in 11 attempts against the auld enemy.

It’s been a decade since the Scots last defeated the Auld Enemy in the Six Nations.

Gavin Hastings has called on City of Edinburgh Council to assist in helping the capital’s professional rugby team finally find an appropriate and permanent home.