Monthly Archives: April 2021

NO ANSWERS: Nicola Sturgeon lacks basic details about independence. This is the text of my Scottish Daily Mail column for Monday, April 26, 2021. ***** To understand the central dynamic of Scottish politics, you needed to do only two things yesterday. One was watch Nicola Sturgeon’s rambling performance on Andrew Marr, in which she admitted both thatContinueContinue reading “Nicola Sturgeon’s Disney nationalism”

LET’S TRY AGAIN: Alex Salmond unveils his new party’s first manifesto. Alex Salmond spoke at the manifesto launch for his new Alba Party on April 21, 2021. This is the text of my Scottish Daily Mail sketch of the speech.  ***** Alba, a party which has had a reception only slightly warmer than the European Super League,ContinueContinue reading “New Nats on the Block”

TEFLON: Criticism never seems to stick to the First Minister. This is the text of my Scottish Daily Mail column for Monday, April 19, 2021. ***** The problem with ‘lines’ taken by politicians and parties is that they are all written by political strategists. These characters live, breathe, eat and sleep politics. Their idea of relaxation isContinueContinue reading “How to hold Nicola Sturgeon accountable”

LAUNCH: Salmond set out his party’s stall from Aberdeenshire. Alex Salmond spoke at the campaign launch for his new Alba Party on April 6, 2021. This is the text of my Scottish Daily Mail sketch of the speech.  ***** Alex Salmond is modest to a fault and so what better way to launch his Alba party’s electionContinueContinue reading “The Declaration of Eck”

FAILURE: First Minister’s record leaves a lot to be desired. This is the text of my Scottish Daily Mail column for Monday, April 5, 2021. ***** There are no moral victories at the ballot box and no consolation prizes. The losing side sometimes tells itself otherwise to cushion the blow of another rejection. Neil Kinnock is saidContinueContinue reading “Nicola Sturgeon deserves to lose”

Alex Salmond addressed his new Alba Party’s first conference on April 3, 2021. This is the text of my Scottish Mail on Sunday sketch of the speech.  ***** Alex Salmond’s conference speech lasted exactly five minutes and 20 seconds and although it was free I would still like my money back. This was meant to be hisContinueContinue reading “For as long as 186 of us remain online”