Author Archives: Editor

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 theContinueContinue 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 theContinueContinue 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.ContinueContinue 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 hopeContinueContinue 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 channelsContinueContinue 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 andContinueContinue 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 justContinueContinue 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 leaderContinueContinue 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 unforgivingContinueContinue reading “‘I’m sorry, Mr Murrell, I find it hard to believe you’”