The idea that the newly announced price cap is some great munificence is simply absurd. The new rate, although lower, is still going to see fuel prices far higher than when the crisis began. Many will still struggle to meet bills with one charity even suggesting a figure of over six million people across the UK. Nor can it be… Read more »
A Tory minister once had to apologise in parliament for saying that, in pressing on, he wasn’t doing so with “his bow doors open”. It was a crass and insensitive remark, coming days after almost 200 had lost their lives when the Herald of Free Enterprise sank outside Zeebrugge, partly due to having commenced its sailing that way. Now hull 802 isn’t a… Read more »
Ireland with fewer advantages than Scotland possesses has achieved so much more over recent years. It’s economy’s far stronger than ours, its growth’s greater than that of the UKs and poverty’s less harsh for their people than what ours are suffering. Irish companies have moved into Scotland and now they’re showing what can be done with the bounty of offshore renewable energy. We already have… Read more »
Westminster elections are rarely comfortable for the SNP. The 2015 landslide unique, coming in the lea of the referendum and garnering a galvanised Yes vote, as opposed to divided Better Together parties. Normally, it’s much harder to motivate independence supporters for an election to an institution they disdain, and some query why it’s even contested. It’ll be even harder now…. Read more »
The big political issue at Westminster was the arrest of demonstrators at the Coronation Events in London. Now, I literally headed for the hills with my dog as whilst I respected the Queen the time has now come for a Republic. London resembled Ruritania with its flags and buntings. No expense seemed spared, but meanwhile hunger and homelessness increase. Stopping… Read more »
Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MP has today (Tuesday) called for the Scottish Government to establish a judge led inquiry into the role of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) following revelations in the Scottish media that the COPFS may have delayed by up to two weeks the granting of a warrant to carry out a search into the home… Read more »
Scrolling through social media, I came across extraordinary statistics contained in short, even anodyne tweets. Even a momentary reflection on the posts by a journalist from the news outlet ProPublica showed the extent of the gun tragedy continuing to unfold in America. The first relayed that as of May 7 – 125 days into 2023 – 13,900 had been shot to… Read more »
Local election results were disastrous for the Tories and good, but not great, for Labour. It’s resulted in thoughts of taking power for the latter and among the SNP of being kingmakers. But it’s still wishful thinking as Labour look well short of an overall majority and the SNP in Westminster have shown little ability to negotiate their way out of… Read more »
I was sorry to miss the John P Mackintosh lecture, but commitments precluded it. Remembering a great man’s right and a lecture is a fitting tribute. In addition, Gavin Esler ‘s not only a very erudite journalist but a gifted writer and his thoughts I’m sure would have found favour with the late MP. Gavin Esler and I may not… Read more »
Joe Biden’s announcement that he’s running again for US president and the visit, if that’s what it can be called, of former President Trump prelude the start of the race for the White House. My old friend Harry Benson has the distinction of having photographed every president since Eisenhower and along the way he’s gathered some tales and insights. His favourite… Read more »