The Scottish National Party has appointed former MP and council leader Callum McCaig as its new chief executive, marking the third leadership change in the role within three years. McCaig takes over immediately from Carol Beattie, who stepped down due to personal health reasons following a meeting of the party's National Executive Committee on Sunday. The swift transition comes as the SNP prepares for the 2026 Holyrood election campaign.

McCaig brings significant political experience to the position, having served as leader of Aberdeen City Council, MP for Aberdeen South, and special adviser to two SNP first ministers. His background includes work in the private sector specializing in public affairs and campaigns. In his appointment statement, McCaig described the role as a "great privilege" and paid tribute to his predecessor's work while emphasizing the party's readiness for upcoming electoral challenges.

Beattie had been appointed permanently as chief executive in March, after serving in an interim capacity since October 2024 following the resignation of former Daily Record editor Murray Foote. During her tenure, she oversaw what she described as a transformation of party headquarters ahead of the 2026 election. Beattie expressed gratitude to her colleagues and reaffirmed her commitment to continuing her involvement in the independence campaign despite stepping down from the executive role.

The position has seen considerable turnover since Peter Murrell's departure in March 2023 after nearly 25 years as chief executive. SNP business convener Angela Constance welcomed McCaig's appointment, highlighting his public and private sector experience and expressing confidence in his ability to steer the organization toward electoral success. Both outgoing and incoming executives emphasized their focus on securing victory in 2026 and advancing Scotland's journey toward independence.

King Charles has joined forces with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett in a previously unpublicized podcast recording focused on global conservation efforts. The 22-minute episode, titled "Unearthed: The Need For Seeds," was recorded in the private gardens of Windsor Castle in July and features the monarch alongside Blanchett and Kew seed scientist Dr. Elinor Breman. This marks only the second podcast recording in the King's public life, demonstrating his continued commitment to environmental causes that have defined much of his royal work.

The conversation centered on the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, West Sussex, which King Charles originally opened in 2000 and has maintained an active interest in since. The facility represents one of the world's most ambitious conservation projects, having collected, cleaned, dried and stored nearly 2.5 billion seeds from more than 40,000 plant species in walk-in freezers maintained at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Both the King and Blanchett, who became Wakehurst's first ambassador last year, emphasized the critical importance of this work in preserving global biodiversity.

During the discussion, Blanchett expressed concern about the rapid loss of natural habitats, noting that "97 percent of wildflower meadows have been decimated" in recent decades. She highlighted the disconnect between perceived natural beauty and actual ecological fragility, stating that "there is an urgency to the work that the seed bank does." The King echoed this sentiment, reflecting on his long-standing awareness of environmental degradation, particularly the damage to flower-rich meadows since the postwar period.

The podcast also touched on broader conservation challenges, including the need for increased funding and public awareness. Blanchett pointed to the frustration of seeing "so many extraordinary initiatives right there ready to be scaled up" but lacking financial support and direction. King Charles acknowledged both the progress made and the need to accelerate conservation efforts, stating that while the seed bank's work is "wonderful," the process must speed up to address escalating environmental threats facing plant species worldwide.