“Some things irk me possibly more than they should. This is one of those things. “
Some Thoughts on the Booker Prize
Unguarded Moments
“The people of Scotland hold the keys to how they are governed, and no-one else, and every single statement from our leaders must reflect this. The rhetoric should shift away from that of supplication to one of confidence and trust in the people who put them there.”
For The People
“Whatever transpires, events in America can only further reinforce our belief that Scotland can only flourish by doing what our stateside friends did two hundred and forty-four years ago. And make our own Declaration of Independence. “
The Hunger
“when there’s twelve billion pounds available for Serco but the food cupboard is bare – then we must conclude that we are asking the wrong questions of the wrong people.”
No Great Mischief
“No great mischief should they fall”, wrote Wolfe, dismissively, of the Highland soldiers at Quebec. Little changes. We are expendable. For Scotland it was ever thus. As a historian you will know this.
Letter to Annette
“I think what people sometimes don’t appreciate is that the UK that joined the EEC in ‘75 was a wholly different beast to the one leaving the EU in 2020, because we now have a devolution settlement that is inconveniently getting in the way of the hard Brexit that has been the objective of these disaster capitalists from the start.”
‘Life is not a Game of Perfect’
“We genuinely just want to be granted the opportunity to be ordinary and imperfect, just like everybody else.”
Who speaks for Scotland?
“This is about living in democracy that cares about rules. This is about not living in a corporatist state. And if you care about that then you should call for a normal independent Scottish nation. Not in May, but tomorrow.”
Follow The Money
“Yesterday we discovered that, far from being abandoned, no-deal wasn’t just the preferred option but the sole aim of the whole process.”
Looking Forward to Listening to Lesley Riddoch
“I am very much looking forward to listening to Lesley Riddoch’s talk tonight, Tuesday 1st September 2020”
