Are you one of those people who still can’t quite get your head around the Holyrood election result? There’s no shame in it; many others are in the same position. The Conservatives are now the second party of Scotland. Labour lags behind in third place. How did this happen? The Tories were “toxic” north ofContinueContinue reading “Davidson puts Sturgeon on notice in first outing as opposition leader”
Monthly Archives: May 2016
If it comes to it, Sturgeon should refuse to hand over the Brain family
I’d have to check to be sure but I don’t believe I’ve ever used the STV News website to recommend law-breaking. I am the epitome of Very British Problems: You can only push me so far before I snap and mutter something peevish under my breath. Otherwise, I greet the injustices of the world withContinueContinue reading “If it comes to it, Sturgeon should refuse to hand over the Brain family”
Ruth Davidson and the strange rebirth of Tory Scotland
Sometime in the early hours of Friday morning, a thought darted suddenly into my caffeinated semi-consciousness: ‘What about the textbooks?’ They would all have to be pulped. Paul Cairney no more. Neil McGarvey no more. Michael Keating and Peter Lynch no more. I might stick my half shelf of James Mitchells on eBay as collectorContinueContinue reading “Ruth Davidson and the strange rebirth of Tory Scotland”
Sturgeon has no majority but she has a mandate to change Scotland
‘Humility.’ The word leapt out from Nicola Sturgeon’s speech on the steps outside Bute House. She had just led her party to victory in the Scottish Parliament elections. “Historic” is an overused word but last night’s results truly were landmark. The Scottish National Party, targeted for elimination by Labour with the devolution settlement, humiliated theirContinueContinue reading “Sturgeon has no majority but she has a mandate to change Scotland”
Tommy Sheridan hopes Yes voters will return him to Holyrood
Left-wing campaigner Tommy Sheridan hopes Thursday will mark his return to the Scottish Parliament. He is running on a robustly pro-independence ticket, pledging a re-run of the referendum in 2018 and urging Yes voters to beware caution and complacency. When we sit down to speak about his chances on Thursday, I ask him if pushingContinueContinue reading “Tommy Sheridan hopes Yes voters will return him to Holyrood”
Tommy Sheridan on Rupert Murdoch, sun beds and overthrowing capitalism
I interviewed Tommy Sheridan, leader of Solidarity, on his campaign to return to Holyrood. The radical figure is placing independence front and centre in his efforts and he spoke to me about the importance of indyref 2 in an interview which will appear in full later this morning. In the meantime, I present you hisContinueContinue reading “Tommy Sheridan on Rupert Murdoch, sun beds and overthrowing capitalism”
Mr Nice Guy of the Scottish Left on the Rise again
As militant Trotskyists committed to the overthrow of capitalism go, Colin Fox is a lovely bloke. The 56-year-old is a mainstay of the Left in Scotland but, unlike too many of his comrades, he is gifted with a sense of humour. I have yet to encounter anyone in my profession who has a bad wordContinueContinue reading “Mr Nice Guy of the Scottish Left on the Rise again”
Liberalism in a cold climate as nationalism surges
If I told you one party leader in particular was having a gas of a campaign, you’d probably assume I was talking about Nicola Sturgeon. Hurling around on zip wires, diving down soft play slides, challenging journalists to go-karting contests — only someone comfortably in the lead and without a care in the world couldContinueContinue reading “Liberalism in a cold climate as nationalism surges”
The woman on a mission to stop Scotland becoming a ‘one-party state’
Ruth Davidson is applying for a job that doesn’t exist. She wants to be leader of the opposition but there’s no such thing in Scotland. Not because we have reached peak one party statehood and all dissent has been outlawed — that’s pencilled in for 2017 — but because when the devolved legislature was beingContinueContinue reading “The woman on a mission to stop Scotland becoming a ‘one-party state’”
Who is Ruth Davidson’s secret crush? (Hint: It’s not Murdo Fraser.)
My latest party leader interview is with Ruth Davidson, head of the Scottish Conservatives. She talked to me about her campaign to offer strong opposition to the Nationalists at Holyrood. That interview is published here. First up, her answers to my quick-fire round. Stephen Daisley (SD): Hillary or Bernie? Ruth Davidson (RD): Hillary. SD: TrumpContinueContinue reading “Who is Ruth Davidson’s secret crush? (Hint: It’s not Murdo Fraser.)”
Stephen Daisley 