WHEN the Scottish Government decided to back a proposal from the Greens to remove the defence of “justified assault” in cases of parents accused of beating their children it was to be expected that the Christian Right would be quick off the mark with its counter-offensive. And thus, on that very day they released the … Continue reading This poll smacks of desperation →

AT THE 1992 General Election I recall casting a tactical vote for the first time, putting a cross against Donald Gorrie of the LibDems’ in Edinburgh West. However, another decent man, Lord James Douglas-Hamilton clung on for the Tories. I’ve never written about my voting record before for the same reason I eschewed carrying any … Continue reading Beware what you wish for when casting...

I RECALL conversations with Labour friends during 2014 who were critical of the Yes side playing the NHS card during the independence debate. They argued that it was dishonest because health was already fully devolved and therefore irrelevant to the Yes/No question. I disagreed, arguing that as NHS funding was squeezed South of the Border … Continue reading NHS Improvement, an oxymoron...

WELL, that was an extraordinary few days of bizarre triumphalism from the Scots Tories, full of threats, boasts and hubris. From the warning by the Prime Minister that she was planning to rein in the powers of Holyrood and the odd couple wearing Union Flag coats, to Ruth Davidson railing against the SNP’s obsession with … Continue reading Prepare for Ridley →

IN THE dog days of my time as a daily newspaper political journalist I was dispatched on the final Sunday of independence referendum campaigning to report back from the streets of my home city, with which I have a love-hate relationship. My wander around the streets of Edinburgh concluded in my home patch and I … Continue reading The rise of Ruthie Tank Commander →

LAST night a sixth successive sell-out audience in Glasgow applauded a play rooted in events in Dublin a century ago but containing a very modern take on how rebellious instincts would be channeled in the 21st Century. I’ve not blogged in a wee while as I have worked on a book contribution, but I broke … Continue reading Rebellion and the evolution of revolution →

IN 42 years in print journalism I have never come across a worse failure of a newspaper to back a writer than that of The Herald and Graham Spiers. I left The Herald four months ago on good terms and the paper had my loyalty for 28 years. Should a reporter get something wrong there … Continue reading Who’s next in line for the bully boys? →

RECENTLY I got involved in a Twitter debate, one of the joys of social media. Kevin Williamson, doyen of Leith socialists, asked, not unreasonably in my view: “What do SNP loyalists have to say about ScotGovt decision to allow foreign tax dodgers & shadowy offshore corporations to own Scottish land?” I tweeted agreement with his … Continue reading Negotiating the corridors...

I’m breaking my self-imposed word limit today for reasons that should be obvious. This is the full version of the tribute I made to my friend Ian Bell at his funeral in Edinburgh today. It was just one part of a flow of warm words in his memory. A little of it appeared in the … Continue reading A farewell tribute to Ian Bell →

I RETURNED from my regular morning walk with an added spring in my step today, thanks to the recently departed Willie McIllvanney. He was a regular visitor to The Scotsman features department when I worked there in the eighties and always the most fantastic company. He was generous, broad-minded, full of anecdotes that didn’t centre … Continue reading A successful search for...

WHEN the Scottish Government decided to back a proposal from the Greens to remove the defence of “justified assault” in cases of parents accused of beating their children it was to be expected that the Christian Right would be quick off the mark with its counter-offensive. And thus, on that very day they released the … Continue reading This poll smacks of desperation →

AT THE 1992 General Election I recall casting a tactical vote for the first time, putting a cross against Donald Gorrie of the LibDems’ in Edinburgh West. However, another decent man, Lord James Douglas-Hamilton clung on for the Tories. I’ve never written about my voting record before for the same reason I eschewed carrying any … Continue reading Beware what you wish for when casting...