Scotland
Give the people what they think they want
I have a mean streak. Perhaps my cruellest urge is to give people what they claim to want. When political…
My enduring love for Ewan McGregor
In the New York Times, the celebrated journalist Maureen Dowd describes Crieff as ‘a sleepy town in Scotland’. Well. There…
Scotland is open – and desperate for English tourists
Scotland is open – and desperate for English tourists
Are 'controversial stickers' really a matter for the police?
Has Police Scotland misunderstood the purpose of policing? A recent crackdown on ‘controversial stickers’ appears to suggest as much. ‘On Monday…
Scotland's next constitutional fight won't be over a referendum
Get ready for a constitutional rammy during the first half of this, the sixth session of the Scottish parliament. Just…
Letters: The beauty of brick
The Union in peril Sir: Fraser Nelson (‘The great pretender’, 15 May) writes that it has never been easier to…
Portrait of the week: Scotland votes, Queen speaks and Israel-Palestine crisis escalates
Home A new complexion of British politics was revealed by the capture of Hartlepool by Jill Mortimer for the Conservatives…
The 'mandate wars' won't be resolved anytime soon
So what does it all mean? The first thing to bear in mind is that more than one thing may…
Can Anas Sarwar woo voters back to Scottish Labour?
Can Anas Sarwar woo Scottish voters back?
What’s next for the Union?
The Union faces two simultaneous challenges in Northern Ireland and Scotland that both look set to worsen in the coming…
Your guide to the 2021 election results
This week will see the biggest set of polls in UK history outside of a general election. Contests are under…
Las Vegas resident urges Scots to vote SNP
Sunday’s anti-climactic finale looked set to be the biggest Line of Duty let-down for fans of the hit BBC series.…
What’s so great about ‘super’?
‘Wizard,’ said William. ‘Super,’ said Ginger, in William and the Moon Rocket (1954). More recently we have had Alex Salmond,…
Letters: There’s nothing libertarian about vaccine passports
Taking liberties Sir: I feel that Matthew Parris is absolutely wrong about liberty (‘The libertarian case for vaccine passports’, 10…
Letters: The inconsistencies of Mormonism
A leap of faith Sir: I live not far from the ‘London Temple’ of the Church of Jesus Christ of…
Portrait of the week: Vaccine passports, Northern Ireland riots and a cocaine-smuggling kayaker
Home The government sketched a scheme for a coronavirus passport, or ‘Covid status certification’, to be tried out at the…
Drowning the sorrows of Scotland’s virulent nationalism
There is a more depressing subject than the lockdown. The evening began with a bottle of 18-year-old Glenmorangie. It was…
Could Holyrood ever be abolished?
Although Alex Salmond and his Alba party have understandably been getting most of the attention, the separatists aren’t the only…
How Alex Salmond can game the loophole in Scotland's voting system
Two decades after devolution, the Scottish Parliament’s election system still confuses ordinary voters and seasoned political observers alike. Politicians on…
Where did Alex Salmond’s ‘Alba’ party get its name from?
‘What, old monkey-face!’ said my husband with unnecessary lack of gallantry. He was referring to the 18th Duchess of Alba,…
Community music-making is the jewel in the British crown
Community music-making is the unifying jewel in the British crown, says James MacMillan
Letters: Britain should hang on to its vaccines
Ticket to freedom Sir: While I sympathise immensely with the spirit of last week’s lead article (‘Friends in need’, 27…
Portrait of the week: Alex Salmond’s party, China’s H&M ban and protests in Bristol and Batley
Home More than 30 million had received their first dose vaccination. The government remained confident of supplying second doses and…
The economic case for the Union isn't enough
There is a certain kind of critic of independence who hears the news that public funding for Scotland is 30…
Boris has a trump card in denying Sturgeon an 'illegal' referendum
Amidst all the dry economic arguments, one of the more emotive fronts on which the 2016 referendum was fought was…