SNP
Devolution doesn't work in a crisis
One of the worst features of devolution is the tendency of devocrats to insist on doing their own thing in…
The SNP-Green alliance is a victory for the cranks
The SNP’s nationalist outriders, the Scottish Green party, are reported to be within touching distance of agreeing the terms of…
Don’t pick a fight with the SNP
Since the Holyrood elections in May, the campaign for Scottish independence has been noticeably quiet. But that is about to…
No, Boris didn't 'snub' Sturgeon
One of the reasons the SNP has dominated Scottish politics for so long is that it is extremely adept at…
Can Cole-Hamilton prevent the death of the Scottish Lib Dems?
As expected, Alex Cole-Hamilton has put himself forward to lead the Scottish Lib Dems, announcing his candidacy with an obligatory…
Why the SNP fraud allegations matter
A common refrain from opponents of the Scottish National party is that ‘the SNP is not Scotland’. But it often…
Sturgeon’s economic council is a fig-leaf for independence
This month’s announcementof a new economic advisory council formed by the Scottish government came with the usual flow of superlatives.…
Revealed: The SNP strategy for a second independence vote
A new leaflet from the SNP says another referendum on independence is ‘an issue of basic democracy’ and that Boris…
Who can make the Scottish Lib Dems great again?
Willie Rennie’s resignation — announced, as only he could, via a self-shot video while climbing Benarty Hill in western Fife…
Nicola Sturgeon isn't serious about IndyRef2
The announcement reeked of desperation. Nicola Sturgeon is‘delighted’ that the SNP National Executive Committee has approved her nomination of retired…
Does this SNP politician think buses are racist?
One of the benefits of devolution has been giving Scots their own parliament in which the great issues of the…
The SNP's latest separation blueprint is pure project fantasy
‘A SNP MSP has claimed an independent Scotland could guarantee a couple with children a minimum income of more than…
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…
In praise of Kate Forbes's Christian faith
Politics tends to attract people who consider themselves and their every mundane word and deed an example of great bravery.…
The problem with 'Devo-max'
A common failing of pro-Union politicians down the years has been the stubborn belief that there exists somewhere a tidy…
Nine lessons from the elections
Here are the big things I learned from Thursday’s elections and their aftermath. 1. The Scottish parliament will vote to…
Westminster must avoid the Sturgeon trap
The challenge for the UK government in the coming months is to make Nicola Sturgeon look like a constitutional obsessive.…
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?
Salmond could spark a nationalist war over Europe
There was a Scooby Doo moment in Alex Salmond’s campaign launch on Tuesday. Something that made me think: ‘Ruh-roh’. The…
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…
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…
Salmond's comeback is a pitiful sight
When Alex Salmond lost his seat at the 2017 general election, he finished his concession speech with a quotation from…
Sturgeon's rush for a referendum could backfire
The Holyrood election campaign kicks off with Nicola Sturgeon buoyed by James Hamilton’s report concluding that she did not break…
