Valiant attempts were made last week in Parliament to restore what had been a Tory manifesto commitment to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on foreign aid. Those doing the orchestrating were dome dissident Tories, but I was happy to support them as I believe what they were seeking to do was right. Sadly, the amendment to a Bill which… Read more »
The SNP’s no longer my party though internal democracy was a factor leading to my departure. Political parties governance is also largely for the membership, as with any such organisation. But the SNP’s no ordinary party as its the party of Government in Scotland and its influence is extensive across the land. Hence factors that would routinely not apply with… Read more »
Independence in the UK” has yet again been bandied about in political circles. My good friend Henry McLeish has long advocated it and now it’s the former long serving MEP David Martin who’s articulating it. Many mock or deride it on both sides of the constitutional divide and it’s not without difficulties, either in delivery or even definition. Aside… Read more »
I’ve no doubt that the UK Government Minister would have enjoyed his visit to Glenkinchie last week. The new visitor centre’s a remarkable venue and it’s a tragedy that it’s been unable to be fully utilised due to restrictions. That’ll change soon but what won’t alter are the risks East Lothian and Scotland face from trade deals such as the… Read more »
I’ve always been more a football or rugby man, than boxing. But I’ve respected boxing’s fitness levels and the discipline’s incredible, and I’m proud to call Alex Arthur a friend. Sporting success has been limited in Scotland over recent years despite recent valiant efforts by the national football and rugby teams, and some individual successes. So you’d think a Scottish… Read more »
For all the campaign rhetoric it didn’t take the SNP long to kick Indy Ref2 down the road. Despite pledging that every vote would ensure the referendum, reality has arrived. SNP sources now talk about the latter part of the parliamentary term. At best that’s late 2023 and beyond. In reality they’ve sold the pass and the likelihood of a… Read more »
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has been a largely anonymous organisation since inception. Press coverage restricted to budgetary issues, appointment of a Chief Constable or even removal of one with the ignominious departure of Phil Gormley from that post. Yet it’s a vital body and one where it was always anticipated it would have more than just a role in… Read more »
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 »