SNP-Green alliance declares Scotland closed for business

IT IS NOT OFTEN that I feel nostalgic for the presence of the former First Minister Alex Salmond in the Scottish Parliament.  But that was exactly my emotion during this week’s debate on Finance Secretary ...

Don't cry for me Caledonia: Another hammy performance from Bute House

IT IS CONSIDERED cheap to make comparisons between the SNP and the Peronists in Argentina. Cheap but tasty and in the end more satisfying than we'd pretend it to be.

Social justice, ...

Mental health champions at Holyrood are driving Scotland mad

ONE OF THE MYSTERIES of politicians is how they pick winners in healthcare, almost at random. It seems to be that mental health is something we need to do more for, which means giving it ...

Embattled Finance Secretary takes more flack

AS THE PROCESS for scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2017/18 grinds its way through the Parliamentary process, the position of the SNP Government, and in particular that of the Finance Secretary Derek ...

A game theory guide to Theresa May's negotiation strategy

THE PRIME MINISTER'S Brexit speech on January 17th marked the opening move in the negotiation process that will lead to the UK’s departure from European Union. The UK’s best strategy through these negotiations will depend ...

Lucky Derek still in denial over SNP budget

HE MAY NOT like to admit it, but the SNP’s Derek Mackay is the luckiest Finance Minister in the history of devolution. Not only does he have an unprecedented range of choices over tax and ...

Solving the mystery of the Brexit bounce: why the UK economy has confounded its critics

IN THE run-up to the EU referendum on June 23rd, you could hardly move without hearing prophecies of doom by the Great and Good from the terrible consequences should Britain vote to leave.

Why 2016 was the turning point towards better times

CERTAIN PEOPLE I know and certain people I read have been describing the past year as something horrible. You only have to go back one hundred years to see how foolish this assessment is. Imagine ...

Brexit changes everything! Fisheries management is coming home!

THE ANNUAL bun fight that is the EU Fisheries Council wrapped up in Brussels in the wee small hours last week. On the whole it is a good deal for Scotland, with Prawn fishermen the ...

Education: It's time for John Swinney to be decisive

ON THE 13 September this year, Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP launched a governance review of education. Launching the review he stated that the guiding principle for the way schools should be run ...

No Exit from Brexit: Seven thoughts on a PreBrexit IndyRef2

THE LAST TEN DAYS have been quite interesting regarding the prospects of Indy Ref 2. First of all, veteran nationalist (and Leaver) Jim Fairlie was quoted as saying that he would vote "No" if the Indy Ref 2 question presupposed ...

Can John Swinney stop our education falling into decline?

JOHN SWINNEY must dread getting up in the morning these days. I have some sympathy him as I do not believe that he is personally responsible for the current mess in Scottish education. That charge can be ...