Author Archives: Editor

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”

The antidote to support for independence is five minutes spent watching the proceedings of the Scottish parliament. Holyrood was summoned back from its holidays yesterday so the First Minister could harrumph about the Brexit deal. Most folk would prefer to be in their jammies nursing half-empty tins of Quality Street while flicking through 300 channelsContinue reading “Rhetoric: Nigel Farage, Volume: Foghorn Leghorn”

Just when it seemed 2020 had done its worst, our annus miserabilis delivers one more wretched surprise. Christmas is cancelled. Nicola Sturgeon has cut our five-day festive grace period down to one and barely will we have our sprouts digested than all of mainland Scotland will be placed on level-four lockdown. No indoor gatherings, pubs andContinue reading “Clinging on to hope in a Covid Christmas”

It was the faintest crease, there and gone again. As SNP chief executive Peter Murrell gave evidence to the Alex Salmond inquiry, a hairline fracture of contempt cleaved across his mouth. Some committee members found his statements inconsistent, others incredible, and they said so, but Murrell was cool, unfazed, in control. Nicola Sturgeon was justContinue reading “Scotland’s untouchable ruling class”

The stench grows thicker around the SNP hierarchy. A distinct odour of something-isn’t-right-here. Peter Murrell, party chief executive and spouse of Nicola Sturgeon, appeared before Holyrood’s Alex Salmond inquiry on Tuesday. His evidence had more holes than Turnberry and there are already calls for him to be hauled back. But when the Scottish Tory leaderContinue reading “‘I am the First Minister, not the office gossip’”

Committee Room 1 is a squat oval on the ground floor of the Scottish parliament. It is an unremarkable room but governments like this one end up in rooms like this – one way or another. After the glory, after the vanity, comes the banal indignity of cheap carpets and glaring lights. Under their unforgivingContinue reading “‘I’m sorry, Mr Murrell, I find it hard to believe you’”

The £500 NHS bonus is dubious policy but great politics, so when Richard Leonard tried to question the former he fell victim to the latter. The Scottish Labour leader isn’t against the payment; he just wondered why other frontline workers weren’t getting a tidy sum in their Christmas stocking. He told Nicola Sturgeon: ‘£500 isContinue reading “Queen Nicola”

It’s not very often I find myself in agreement with Joanna Cherry. The occasion was an interview she gave to a newspaper in which she spoke candidly about how thoroughly the leadership has come to dominate the SNP, a party with a tradition of independent-mindedness. As Cherry put it, the SNP ‘shouldn’t be about theContinue reading “What if Nicola doesn’t know best?”