Anger as summit delegate unable to travel due to delay in receiving UK visa
First published in the Sunday National, November 7 – (update, Mathias receive his visa on Monday and arrives tomorrow Tuesday Nov 9 for the last days of COP26) A senior…
Is Glasgow Getting a Bad Rap in the Run-up to Cop 26? Letter from Scotland October 23
It was interesting to see on the front page of the FT last week visitors to COP26 complaining that the nearest accommodation to the conference was in Edinburgh, 45 miles…
The German elections provide a contrast to the US and UK First Past the Post System – letter from Scotland October 5
The political landscape of Germany and the UK and the US offers quite a contrast at the moment. The result of the German election means that there may be a…
Staff shortages in the health and care sector are pushing the NHS to breaking point – and they are in part the result of a “reckless” and “cynical” decision by the UK Government to push through a hard Brexit in the midst of a pandemic
First published in the Sunday National, September 26 Around one in five beds in Scotland’s major hospitals are occupied by elderly people who could be discharged – except there is…
Edinburgh’s Abbeyhill Colonies held its annual ‘Artists’Colony’ house exhibition and gala – letter from Scotland September 21
Artists in Edinburgh’s Abbeyhill Colonies opened their houses, studios or gardens to show their work in an annual garden party gala at the weekend. I know one of them, Fraser…
Does the Scottish Government face the most hostile domestic media in the world? – letter from Scotland September 15
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave her keynote speech to the Scottish National Party’s annual conference yesterday, saying there would be a referendum on Scottish independence by the end of 2023. “Trust…
In Berlin, an exhibition examines the post-war career of the Nazis’ favourite artists – letter from Scotland, September 11
IN BERLIN last week, I got an email from my uncle with a link to a Guardian article about an exhibition at the German History Museum on Nazi-era artists “Divinely Gifted: National…
The ‘modernised’ House of Lords is the PM’s toy – now as rotten as any 19th century rotten borough – letter from Scotland August 28
Since I wrote this, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ennobled another 54 of his choices, one third Tory party donors. One donor – Malcolm Offord – failed to…
Brexit damage to the economy may lend weight to the idea Scotland is too poor for independence- letter from Scotland August 23
The annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures on Scotland’s economy came out this week – and they were seized on as a political tool to defend the Unionist…
Adding another round to the Brexit “goat rodeo” “threatens UK supply chains” – letter from Scotland August 15
The Food and Drinks Federation CEO Ian Wright wrote to Brexit minister David Frost and environment minister George Eustice this week to warn that without more clarity over the next…
Scottish soft fruit left to rot on bushes amid Brexit cost crisis
First published in the Sunday National, August 8 Scottish soft fruit is being left to rot on bushes and growers are being forced by supermarkets to absorb Brexit-related costs –…
The long struggle against slavery; Scotland’s involvement in the US Civil War.
Edinburgh, August 8, Letter from Scotland number 9 – you can find links to sources and sign up here On an urban wander this week, I came across this statue…
Who gets to decide on what support Scotland’s food and farming sector will receive post CAP post Brexit?
Edinburgh, August 7 Letter from Scotland 8 – sign up to receive them here How much of what food costs to produce should the consumer pay? The European Union’s Common Agricultural…
Scotland’s “disease of despair” and the “rat park” experiment
Edinburgh August 6, 2021 Number 7 in my newsletters on Scottish current affairs – sign up to receive them by email here Scotland’s drug death numbers for 2020 were shocking – much…
Is the UK Government strategically incompetent – thus undermining the notion of rational governance?
Edinburgh August 4 This is the number 6 of my newsletters on Scottish current affairs – sign up to receive them by email here I took part in a You…
Letter from Scotland #5 – movie ‘Limbo’ tells a poignant story of refugees on a Scottish island
Went to the cinema to see the movie ‘Limbo’ tonight – it’s about a refugee who has been put on a mythic Scottish island to await the result of his…
Letter from Scotland #4 Who handles the complaints about the complaints secretary?
There is a Latin saying “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” – but who will guard the guards? The same could be asked about the complaints about the SNP’s new complaints secretary….
Letter from Scotland #3 – ten ways Brexit is affecting Scotland’s food supply
A hard Brexit combined with a global pandemic is affecting the food supply in Scotland. There are obvious issues with the range and quality of produce available in many shops. …
Brexit-related food crisis deepens as shelves empty and price increases loom
First published in the Sunday National, August 1 2021 Supermarket staff are being told to “overface” – move sparse goods to the front of shelves, some customers are becoming upset…
A letter from Scotland#2 – Craig Murray Goes to Jail
This is the second of my newsletters on Scottish current affairs – sign up to receive them by email here Edinburgh, Saturday, July 31 The big story in Scotland today…