The Election campaigns nearly over bar the shouting. Even that’ll be muted given restrictions at the count, where numbers are limited and declarations delayed. But the outcome’ll still have major implications for governance and the independence campaign; and whilst there may be limited alteration to the former if polls are to be believed, the dynamic of the latter’s certainly going… Read more »
Josh Taylor’s fantastic victory was rightly celebrated in the Pans and across the county. He’s done outstandingly well and it’s taken sacrifice and dedication. I’ve followed his career since his first efforts in an East Edinburgh gym, through his Commonwealth Gold success, to this global victory. It was a great pity though that of us most weren’t able to watch… Read more »
Last week brought a physical return to Westminster and in London as in East Lothian life’s slowly regaining normality. The focus in Parliament was on the Queens Speech which sets out the Tory Governments plans. Much doesn’t apply to Scotland but there are omissions that are significant. As indicated previously building social housing’s essential to address homelessness, create work and… Read more »
MACASKILL HITS OUT AT SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT OVER FAILURE TO DEMAND POWER OVER DRUG POLICY AND DRUG CONSUMPTION ROOMS Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MP has hit out at the Scottish Government following confirmation from the Home Office, in a Parliamentary Written Answer to him, that neither the Justice Secretary or the Lord Advocate has sought a review of drug policy or Drug… Read more »
Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MP has today (Tuesday) renewed his calls for a shake up in the powers of the Lord Advocate. In a statement Mr MacAskill, ALBA MP for East Lothian said: “This latest development in the complaint against the SNP just accelerates the need for change in the Lord Advocates powers. “The Chinese walls and recusal by the Lord… Read more »
In a statement ALBA’s Kenny MacAskill MP who recently led the campaign to save the two BBC studios at Atlantic Quay in Glasgow said: “The arrogance of BBC Senior management knows no bounds. These savage cuts in the Scottish budget and the derisory share in network spending, less than our population share and less than in Wales, while London hoovers up over… Read more »
REQUIRED TO DELIVER PROGRESS SAYS ALBA’S MACASKILL AS HE ISSUES CALL FOR YES SUMMIT “It is because we need the full powers of Independence to recover from Covid and safeguard public health and the economy that we need action to secure Independence now. “The Scottish Parliament has a clear mandate for Independence but the FM has put it on ice… Read more »
TV is our window on the world. We are already forced to watch it through someone else’s lens and now even that’s under attack! It’s time BBC Scotland had a Board that stood up for staff and viewers. Full press release: MACASKILL CALLS FOR SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT TO HAVE BROADCASTING POWERS AND TURNS UP THE HEAT ON BBC EXECUTIVES OVER BLATANT… Read more »
In a piece in the Edinburgh Evening News I discuss how the vaccination rollout has rightly prioritised the elderly, and how minds are turning to other groups. “Health and social carers have also been addressed but minds are also correctly turning to other vulnerable groups, whether retail workers, teachers or police. It’s not just for them but for the piece of… Read more »
In my column in the East Lothian Courier I discuss conversations with the Health Secretary and the health board about the vaccine rollout. “The issue of many being asked to travel to Edinburgh is being addressed with the mass vaccination centre at Queen Margaret University opening up, East Lothian Community Hospital also, and improvements in supply to GP practices which… Read more »