Monthly Archives: January 2021

Hollywood had Fred and Ginger; Holyrood, Kate and Murdo. Politically, they are polar opposites but when the Finance Secretary and the Tory finance spokesman meet on the debating chamber floor, they waltz off with the whole show. Once Forbes had outlined her budget proposals, Fraser began his reply on a non-political note: ‘Can I takeContinue reading “The Kate and Murdo Show”

The SNP says it has a ‘roadmap to a referendum’. Over the weekend, constitution secretary Mike Russell published an 11-point plan for a plebiscite on independence ‘that is beyond legal challenge’ and would be held after May’s Holyrood election. The wheeze is that, unless the UK Government accedes, the SNP-controlled Edinburgh parliament would simply passContinue reading “Sturgeon’s independence roadmap is a dead end”

Watching Holyrood these days requires Olympian stamina and a boundless supply of optimism. The longer the First Minister’s statements get, the more depressing they become. Nicola Sturgeon’s message to MSPs yesterday can be summed up in four words: Nothing’s changed. Any questions? Actually, that’s not quite true. The reopening of schools and nurseries is changingContinue reading “Sturgeon objects to ‘spin’; irony in critical condition”

If you want to understand why Richard Leonard had to resign as Scottish Labour leader, there’s a recent poll that will assist you. ComRes interrogated voters earlier this month on their opinion of the Central Scotland MSP. They found 31 per cent neither favourable nor unfavourable and a further 28 per cent not sure enoughContinue reading “Scotland needs Labour and Labour needs Sarwar”

We should consider doing away with podiums. Every time Nicola Sturgeon gets behind one, we lose another freedom. The First Minister pounced from her Holyrood perch again yesterday, gobbling up what remains of our liberties like Hungry Hungry Hippos with statutory powers. Before First Minister’s Questions kicked off, she previewed a ‘further tightening of theContinue reading “The Hungry Hungry Hippos approach to government”

Alex Salmond’s seven-year reign as first minister of Scotland was a regal affair. Chauffeur-driven cars ferried him to and from his preferred restaurants. Wine and champagne flowed during interviews and social meetings with journalists. Then, one morning in November 2014, it all vanished and power passed abruptly to his heir, Nicola Sturgeon. Uneasy lies theContinue reading “The high stakes of Salmond vs. Sturgeon”

MSPs were back from recess yesterday, albeit temporarily, to hear a statement from Nicola Sturgeon. As was evident from the glum countenances that hung like strung-up haddocks across Holyrood’s benches, this was not going to be good news. Covid-19 was out of control again. The virus was not only running wild, it had gone professional.Continue reading “Jogging towards a jab”

This is a grand time of year for traditions. The cards, carols and bauble-festooned trees of Christmas. The New Year triptych of over-indulgence, regret and resolutions. In the world of Scottish politics, there is a more recent tradition but one with every chance for a long life. Each year around this time, half in hopeContinue reading “Bumps ahead on Sturgeon’s road to victory”