Scotland’s voice in the world
In which I point out that the UK and Canada’s joint embassy plans rather undermine the argument that Scotland couldn’t sustain its own diplomatic network – and indeed rather point a way for Scotland to achieve it.
Bravely selling Scotland
In which I argue that the Scottish Government is backing the wrong kind of horse when it uses films like the animated fantasy Brave to promote Scotland and Scottish tourism.
Inversnecky
For a little over four years, I led a secret double life. I ran, unknown to anyone, the local news satire site “Inversnecky“. Basically something like The Onion or The Daily Mash but for Inverness, it was a satirical look at local news, giving more than the occasional ribbing to those responsible for the city…
Nearing the facts on the West Link
If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you’ll be aware of a couple of posts I wrote a while back on the issue of the completion of the Inverness west link. I’ll not bore you with the full details here (the posts themselves should be an adequate backstory), but just want to quickly summarise…
A “no” by any other name
An attempt to critique the various early arguments from the No campaign, following their official launch.
Scotland’s council elections
I voted today in the local council elections. Being something of a politics and electoral systems geek, I always enjoy voting. Especially when it is the Single Transferable Vote, introduced for Scottish councils in 2007. STV is by far my favourite electoral system, because it is roughly proportional, it gives you multiple representatives (a good…
A plea to save marriage from interfering politicians
In which I reflect on the absurd appeal to stop politicians “interfering” in marriage, and imagine what would happen if they really did…
Ormond Castle
In another piece of local history I knew nothing about until I visited its site, here are some photos from Ormond Castle, which I walked around the other weekend. It’s not really a castle any more – in fact, not even “not really”, more “not at all”. It’s just a hill, flat at the top,…
Update on the West Link
I blogged nearly a month ago about the terrible decision being put to Highland Council to drive the final part of the western end of Inverness’s bypass through a lovely park. As you’ll read in that post, I’d written to my four local councillors, the city’s provost and my MSP about some of the issues…
Taking the biscuit
In which I tear into some bigoted, ignorant and frankly downright illogical arguments from former cardinal Keith O’Brien against gay marriage. This was before his fall from grace, which rather explains a lot…
The scandal of the Inverness West Link
If you’re interested in the controversy over the Inverness West Link, since writing this post I have worked with others to set up the Save Canal Park campaign website. There’s plenty up to date information there. While there is much good about Inverness, there are also many things that need sorting out. Part of the…
The Syrians of Slovenia
The first time I met him, it was barely minutes after arriving in the Slovenian coastal resort of Koper. It was September 2001. We were fresh off the bus, from Ljubljana if I recall correctly. While Niall watched the bags I was despatched into town to suss out our intended accommodation options. I must have…
The right not to pray
In which I wade into the argument about local councils’ prayers at the beginning of formal business. I suggest that the wedge of which this is a supposed thin end actually represents some important constitutional questions for us all.
The Iron Lady
Such was the long shadow cast over the 1980s in the UK by the government of the time, that when I was growing up as a boy I thought the purpose of General Elections was to decide who would form the Conservative Party. Their impact on the country was embodied and dominated by the Prime…
Independence and Britishness
In which I argue that, far from being a threat to Britishness, Scottish independence could in fact strengthen and enhance Britishness. This article was later republished by National Collective.
The Killing, without the killing
It’s a sad symptom of our age that we are cynical about our politicians. Regardless of the fact that there are genuinely “good eggs” across most parties, such rarities are ignored amongst the wave of hostility we have towards our political class. They are all, we think, self-serving liars, detached from the needs of ordinary…
Independence: the impact furth of Scotland
In which I ponder the potential implications beyond Scotland of Scottish independence.
Christianity and the festive season
In which I reflect upon a couple of instances of the church assuming a position of importance over the festive period – including an overtly Christian Queen’s Speech – and argue that it is damaging not just to society at large but to the church itself to do this.
Going off the rails?
You may have read a wee while back about the Scottish Government’s consultation on rail services in Scotland beyond 2014. When launched, it made a few headlines because of eye-catching questions like whether alcohol should be banned from trains or whether the sleeper service and daytime cross-border journeys between the north of Scotland and England…
A not very dynamic argument
The independence referendum is scheduled, according to the Scottish Government, for the second half of the current parliamentary term. This will mean it will probably be in 2014 or 2015. It sounds like a long way away, but we can expect its influence to beat regularly throughout politics between now and then, and I daresay…