Archive
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Politicians should be expected to handle difficult questioning
I DISAGREE with the attack on BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty as reported in The National regarding her questioning of SNP Commons leader Ian Blackford (“BBC presenter slammed for her ‘Tory rhetoric’”, July 24). Such questioning is no disservice
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Take lessons learned from the Iron Lady on the path to indyref2
I FOUND myself wondering last week, as I reflected on the Prime Minister’s seemingly innumerable inadequacies, whether I had felt the same way about Mrs Thatcher. Sir Tom Devine’s line that “there’s a degree of contempt for Johnson in a way that there
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WATCH: Labour frontbencher Ashworth says the party will never back indyref2
LABOUR frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth says his party won't ever support indyref2. Appearing on the Sky News show Sophy Ridge on Sunday, the shadow health secretary was asked if his party would support the right of Scottish people to undertake a
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WATCH: Tony Blair says Boris Johnson is 'not the person to save the Union'
FORMER prime minister Tony Blair said Scottish independence is "a possibility" and Boris Johnson is "not going to be the person who is going to save the Union". Appearing on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Blair said it is not in Scotland's interests to
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George Galloway says he will work with Tories to 'get the SNP out'
GEORGE Galloway has said he is prepared to work with the Tories at the 2021 Holyrood elections to stop the SNP receiving a mandate for independence. The former Labour MP believes his new Alliance for Unity can return several MSPs in 2021 as voters
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Ruth Davidson says No camp should have 'stuck the boot in' after indyref result
UNIONISTS should have "stuck the boot in" in after winning the 2014 referendum, Ruth Davidson says. In an interview in the Sunday Times, the former Scottish Tory leader says the No side made a "huge strategic error" by trying to prove they were
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Bizarre Unionist theory claims indyref2 is about 'trashing British brand'
THE prospect of a No-Deal Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic are thought to be the reasons behind a consistent rise in support for independence in polls. But Unionists have come up with a bizarre theory that Yes supporters' reason for leaving
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WATCH: LibDem leadership candidate Layla Moran says party 'survival' at stake
THE LibDem leadership race is a battle for the party's survival, candidate Layla Moran has claimed. Moran is one of two candidates seeking to succeed Jo Swinson, who stepped down after the party's general election disaster. Swinson, who lost
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WATCH: Dominic Raab says Boris Johnson's 'optimistic fizz' will save the Union
SUPPORT for Scottish independence is on the rise, much to the dismay of the Tory Government. They’ve tried everything – from ignoring the Scottish people to condescending the Scottish people – but nothing seems to be stopping the rot.
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No new coronavirus deaths in Scotland for tenth day in a row
SCOTLAND has recorded four new confirmed cases of coronavirus in a day, according to the latest Scottish Government figures. A total of 18,551 Scots have now tested positive for the virus. No deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19
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Come the Revolution, all of Scotland's conquest names will be revised
HAMISH MacPherson’s Sunday National article on statues and street names mentioned Cumberland Street in Edinburgh. Dublin, the former English garrison, surprisingly, still has a street named after the Butcher. Many Dublin buildings were also due to
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A new spin on an old favourite is a fresh take on drama of young love
Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan Published by GP Putnam’s Sons I WAS first drawn to this book because of the desire for a light and fluffy romance novel and though it, in some aspects of its story, fulfilled that, the darker themes explored
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Seven good ideas: Pinkston Watersports and Gaelic Storm Virtually Live
1 Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow: And where better to implement social distancing than on the water? Master open water swimming, although we would suggest bringing a wetsuit to keep out the cold. If you want to learn white-water rafting or how to kayak
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BLM isn’t going away ... but we must not lose sight of the bigger picture
I APPRECIATED and enjoyed David J Black’s piece on the petition regarding Edinburgh University’s David Hume Tower being renamed in the light of statements the philosopher had made regarding race (Was this great philosopher a racist? The National, July
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It’s easy to see interference focus is being deflected on to indyref
WHEN you consider that the report into Russian interference in UK politics highlights how assiduously the government avoided any investigation into manipulation of the Brexit referendum, it’s easy to understand why they might want to deflect attention
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'Pathetic' Unionists attack BBC for broadcasting FM's Covid briefings
UNIONIST politicians have been branded “absolutely pathetic” after attacking the BBC for broadcasting the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefings. The press conferences, which have been temporarily scaled back to three times per week, are used
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Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity provides important lessons for Scotland
"HERE you can see where the bodies fell,” said my host, indicating the white outlines sprayed on the ground. “Here,” she pointed to a row of makeshift shrines, with little candles in pots set before low-quality printed photographs, “are their memorials
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Bella Caledonia: The Tories are sinking in the soup of failure
SEEING Boris Johnson, our titular Prime Minister, landing in Orkney then zipping over to Moray for a flurry of soundbites and media moments was a highlight of an admittedly low-key summer. We have been, collectively, facing large-scale death, so these
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Police accused of failure to act on rogue landlords despite Covid-19 protections
ILLEGAL evictions and other unlawful practices by landlords are still taking place despite extra protections in place during Covid-19 and are often left unchallenged by police, according to members of the Scottish Government’s private rented sector
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Ian Blackford caught up in hilarious pet 'mix-up' on Twitter
WESTMINSTER has a track record of failing to understand Scots, but this latest example really takes the biscuit. Ian Blackford has issued a clarification after it seemed he'd inadvertently pulled wool over the eyes of a Westminster Pets account
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Angus Robertson officially launches bid to become Edinburgh Central MSP
ANGUS Robertson has officially launched his campaign to become the SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central. The seat is currently held by former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson with a majority of just 610 votes. Robertson, the ex-SNP Westminster leader
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Five man-made wonders in Scotland for a day-trip with a twist
SCOTLAND is gradually moving to a 'new normal'. After months of uncertainty during the coronavirus lockdown, our country's hotels, pubs, restaurants and other sectors hace reopened - with the virus suppressed to low levels acoss Scotland. To
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Big changes on ScotRail trains from tomorrow — what you need to know
MAJOR changes are coming into force on ScotRail trains as of tomorrow. The railway provider, along with Network Rail, confirmed the new measures following advice from the Scottish Government on July 2. Currently, face coverings are mandatory
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SNP to debate three-year timetable to axe nuclear arms after a Yes vote
SCOTLAND could see the end of nuclear weapons on the Clyde within three years of a Yes vote under radical new plans to be put to the SNP annual conference. A resolution is to be submitted to the event this October setting out the time frame for
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Criticism grows over deployment of Donald Trump's storm troopers in cities
CITIZENS snatched off the streets in random arrests and hauled into unmarked cars. Unidentified heavily armed officers wearing camouflage uniforms and masks on patrol, some using tear gas and batons to break up legal protests. No, it’s not a description
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Scots passenger calls out ‘worrying experience’ with airline
A SCOTTISH holiday-maker has called out Ryanair about his “worrying experience” on board after he became one of the first passengers on the resumed flights to Spain. Kieran Reape travelled from London to Barcelona to see his girlfriend Valentina
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Activists step up bid to protect the NHS from Brexit trade deal
CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to step up their fight to protect the NHS after a legal bid to prevent it being “on the table” in post-Brexit trade deals was voted down by Tory MPs. A series of amendments to the Trade Bill aimed at protecting the NHS from
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Author looks at Conservatives' attitude to Scotland as part of new book
IF the past six years have taught us anything, it is that arguing against Scottish independence is a lot harder than its opponents think it ought to be. Defenders of the Anglo-Scottish Union often start from the position that Scottish nationalism is
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Bon voyage – and happy queuing – if you’re heading abroad...
EASEDOWN week five and there’s something in the air. It’s becoming more noticeable by the day, a steady intermittent drone. What is that strange noise? Ahhh … that’ll be the planes gradually taking to the skies again. Living on a flight path has
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How the EU made history with its landmark coronavirus recovery deal
AT 5.31am last Tuesday, European Council president Charles Michel tweeted one word: “Deal!” After four days and nights, and into the morning of the fifth day, one of the longest summits in EU history came to a successful conclusion. With it, not only
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Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is slowly but surely wearing the press baron cap
WHAT a remarkable week it has been for those exotic creatures we once called media moguls. Jeff Bezos had a lucrative Monday making more money in a single day than many of his predecessors amassed in a lifetime. The billionaire Amazon CEO set a
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Graeme Macpherson: SPFL should take stand by supporting ‘taking a knee’
NOBODY who supports St Mirren and Scotland could ever be accused of being a glory-hunter. But I got lucky with the Boston Red Sox. It was the summer of 2004 and a hot one in Massachusetts. My wife and I were able to tag on a few days in Boston on
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David barnes: Scottish Rugby silence only feeds anxiety and suspicion
THE long path towards a return of some sort of rugby normality will take another significant step forward tomorrow morning when those Glasgow Warriors players who have been brought out of furlough return to their Scotstoun base for the first time in
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Douglas Chapman: Scots deserve to be free from nuclear sub risks
IN a crowded field for shocking headlines this past month, readers may not have noticed news of an alarming near-miss between a Royal Navy nuclear submarine and a ferry on the Belfast-Cairnryan crossing. The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch
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Scottish independence: Listening to those that didn't vote Yes
LAST week All Under One Banner asked on social media: “What do you think is the main obstacle to overcome in order to restore Scottish independence?” This brought forth comments about the state of the mainstream media, BBC, Westminster parties and
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Holyrood to provide £10m investment into Scottish live events sector
THE Scottish Government has announced a £10 million investment to support the live events sector as a restart date remains unknown. Earlier this month, the UK Government announced a package for the arts sector which would see £97m given to Scotland
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Outrage over House of Lords splashing out on wigs, robes and stockings
OVERSTRETCHED taxpayers have been forced to shell out more than £9400 in three years on wigs, stockings, robes and belts and buckles for unelected peers in the House of Lords. The cost of the ceremonial uniform for Black Rod, who oversees the House
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Classic first Scottish chapters: A Voyage to Arcturus
CHAPTER 1: THE SÉANCE ON a March evening, at eight o’clock, Backhouse, the medium—a fast-rising star in the psychic world—was ushered into the study at Prolands, the Hampstead residence of Montague Faull. The room was illuminated only by the light
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‘Plot’ to take down Alex Salmond to be revealed next month
A “POLITICAL conspiracy” which Alex Salmond allies believe was drawn up by Scottish Government figures to undermine the former First Minister are to come to light in the coming weeks as a major parliamentary inquiry enters its next phase. Salmond
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SNP MP Gavin Newlands demands action on labour exploitation
CALLS are being made to the UK Government to take action to protect thousands of workers by banning the “exploitative practice” of firms sacking staff and then looking to re-employ them on significantly reduced terms. The demand comes from the
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Bold claims at heart of new book on the birthplace of Scottish nationalism
MODERN Scottish nationalism was born in the pages of the New Left Review (NLR), sometime in the mid-1960s. That’s the bold claim at the heart of Ben Jackson’s excellent new book, which traces the intellectual origins of contemporary nationalist
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How ‘free’ is speech when the loudest voices are the wealthiest?
IF there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we should be free to disagree. As someone fortunate enough to actually get paid for expressing opinions, it’s fair to say my life would be made a lot more difficult if I couldn’t disagree with people
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Alan Campbell: Work never ceased for Spartans boss McCulloch
SPARTANS returned to training on Monday, three months ahead of the new winter Scottish Building Society SWPL1 season which will start in mid-October. The revised schedule will be officially confirmed this week, with the league running through until
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READ: Brother of detained Jagtar Singh Johal's heartbreaking letter
IN November 2017, a Scottish newlywed in India was abducted from the street by unknown men. Though his family feared they were kidnappers, they turned out to be police and Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh blogger and internet marketer, has been in detention
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Michael Russell: Boris Johnson’s ‘sheer might’ is the stuff of fantasy
THE hallmark of the Johnson regime is its self-deluding overblown rhetoric and this week’s example – his ludicrously pompous assertion about “the sheer might” of the Union – is a classic of its type – its type being provably isolationist, arrogant
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Boris Johnson's unpopularity in Scotland is ‘due to incompetence’
BORIS Johnson is unpopular in Scotland as people believe he’s incompetent, according to the former boss of the 2014 Yes campaign. Blair Jenkins made the point after opinion polls gave the Prime Minister low approval ratings over his handling of
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Scots await all-clear for quarantine-free return to the Algarve
TRAVEL agents have expressed their disappointment that one of Scotland’s favourite holiday destinations, Portugal, continues to be left off the list of exempt countries for holidaymakers. Five more countries were added to the list of those where
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Fresh push for independence vote is under way ... in California
WITH hopes pinned on an independence referendum taking place in 2024, campaign hires are taking place and policies being drawn up. However, it’s not in Scotland but California that this fresh push for a Yes vote is underway. The movement for
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Check your head ... the Tories think it’s buttoned up the back
YOU may need the assistance of a bathroom mirror or a sympathetic relative, but every six months or so, I strongly recommend that you check the back of your skull for signs of a zip, clasp or fastener holding your cranium together – because significant
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Looking back on the biting wit of the outspoken Margot Asquith
THIS week will see the 75th anniversary of the death of Margot Asquith, the Scottish woman who came to be a dominant figure in London society and political circles as the wife of Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. It would be wrong to dismiss her
