| Good morning, Welcome your daily newsletter from The Scotsman. How is everyone's head this morning after Burns Night? Did you join us for our live Burns event last night? If not, don't worry you can rewatch the whole thing here. We're still offering 20% of all Scotsman subscriptions for anyone using the promo code BURNSNIGHT20 but only until tomorrow. Get unlimited access to award winning Scottish news, interactive puzzles and 70% fewer ads from just £2.40 a month (with discount). Subscribe to us today. Could Scotland stage an independence referendum without UK approval? Can Scotland force a referendum on independence against the wishes of the Downing Street? It's a big question in Scottish politics right now. Westminster asserts that under the Scotland Act, the UK government would need to make a so-called section 30 order to permit a referendum. The Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, counters that a section 30 order cannot be reasonably refused. To get your head around the question, and understand what the law says, read our explainer here. 100 days to go During the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 101 elections have been held across the world, and the way they have been held may provide a guide as to how Scotland will hold its own. It is now just 100 days until the scheduled Scottish Parliamentary elections take place on May 6, with the decision to go ahead with the poll still under intense political scrutiny. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously said she sees “no reason” why the vote could not go ahead as planned, but has come under pressure from opposition parties to delay the poll. How to hold a pandemic election - 100 days before Scotland's own Four uncomfortable truths about Robert Burns We bow to no one in our love of Burns Night and the work of the National Bard. Robert Burns is rightly celebrated the world over as a poet who could distil all of humanity in a just a few lines of verse. But what of the character of the man who wrote some of the most enduring rhymes ever written? Much has been written about the Bard’s morality and the impact his actions had on the those around him as he is judged by modern-day standards. Judge the man for yourself as we layout four uncomfortable truths about Robert Burns Thanks for reading, more stories are below, Sam Shedden | 
