Monthly Archives: April 2012

Target Practice

Posted on April 30, 2012 by

In cutting my teeth on active politics twenty years ago, my unwitting mentor was John Macnair, a crusty, iconic businessman-cum-farmer, whom I had known for a long time because I had gone to school with his two sons. John stepped down … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

Gathering Nuts in May

Posted on April 28, 2012 by

So, it’s the final stretch. I have avoided blogging about the upcoming local election partly because I have an interest in it and partly because the great majority of normal people don’t. It doesn’t matter that they should; it doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Salmond hunting.

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

Reblogged from Auld Acquaintance: I commented yesterday about the lack of any evidence of Alex Salmond behaving inappropriately or corresponding improperly with Murdoch. Assumption and allegation of impropriety based on nothing but speculation are worthless, particularly when there is concrete … Continue reading →

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Lions Led by Donkeys

Posted on April 26, 2012 by

Now that the Scotland Bill has passed its final hurdle today and will become law within a matter of weeks, we Scots can expect to be enjoined by a kaleidoscope of unionists to appreciate the multifarious benefits of that union. … Continue reading →

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Camlachie Lassie

Posted on April 25, 2012 by

As a politician of 13 years experience in both parliaments and having demonstrated in that time that she is no numpty, the current Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Margaret Curran MP should be able to hold her own. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments

Recycled Rubbish

Posted on April 23, 2012 by

Sad case that I am, while on-line yesterday entering canvass results, the TV that shares my desk was tuned—like a junkie who can’t get enough—to Scottish Questions on BBC Parliament. This one was from April 18th, but I had to … Continue reading →

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I’m All Right, Jock

Posted on April 20, 2012 by

Peter Sellers fans—and readers already carrying a bus pass—may recall his merciless portrayal of “bruvvah” Fred Kite and his heroic antics at preventing upper-class twit Ian Carmichael from inadvertently causing efficiency among the work force of a munitions factory in … Continue reading →

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The Innumerati

Posted on April 17, 2012 by

This week, it appears that Ed Milliband has finally succeeded in doing what he has clearly been desperate to do for months—seize the political agenda. He did this by proposing something daring and radical and which must therefore run against … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | 2 Comments

Operation SOS Puffin

Posted on April 16, 2012 by

Even in as delightful a place to live as East Lothian, people get into the usual habits of life. As we zip from home to work to shop and then off to evening class or golf course or pub, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | 2 Comments

Economic with the Argument

Posted on April 15, 2012 by

Some of my more volatile colleagues have come close to seizure with this weekend’s issue of The Economist, whose cover carries a waspish map of ‘Skintland’ and whose densely packed articles include a record three that discuss Scotland. Having been … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | 2 Comments