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This is where you can find my take on what's happening in the world of Scottish politics
21 hours ago
There was poetry, song and sentiment. Hollywood stars. But the razzmatazz at today's independence launch was consciously contained.
No punching the air, not a hint of Braveheart bombast. Why? Because Scots prefer to be heard, not hectored.
15:06 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2012
When it comes to movies, Alex Salmond would probably prefer A Day at the Races to A Night at the Opera - although he occasionally displays the mischievous grin of an Otis B. Driftwood, replete with two hard-boiled eggs.
Mr Salmond's cinematic choice arose at Holyrood because, as Labour's Johann Lamont noted, he is set for a "big day out at the pictures" tomorrow.
12:40 UK time, Tuesday, 22 May 2012
At least the Kingdom survives.
Fife is spared from enforced merger in the proposed new map of Scottish local government drawn up by the think tank Reform Scotland.
14:40 UK time, Monday, 21 May 2012
It is difficult in truth, even for a detached observer, to remain dispassionate with regard to the long prolonged aftermath of the Lockerbie tragedy.
Consider the context. Contemplate the range of reactions to the death of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, the man convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103.
14:38 UK time, Thursday, 17 May 2012
It is perhaps a factor of maturity (a description much to be preferred, don't you agree, to the toxically caustic "age") that one is inclined to view events through the prism of semi-recollected anecdotes.
Such was my experience on observing Holyrood as the first minister dealt with the latest round of questions from his Labour opponent, Johann Lamont.
12:57 UK time, Monday, 14 May 2012
Not sure if you caught the rather splendid discussion on the "Call Kaye" programme this morning anent Scottish Government plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol, to be set at 50p per unit.
There were the customary deterrent arguments in support of the proposal. No less potent, I should stress, for being now rather familiar given that the plan was thwarted during the SNP's days of minority rule.
15:46 UK time, Thursday, 10 May 2012
How to decide who has won an election? The customary method is to count the ballot papers - and to award victory to the one with the most votes.
Now the Single Transferable Vote in multi-member constituencies adds a degree of sophistication to that. But, still, the spoils tend to go to those with evident popular support.
13:32 UK time, Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Varying degrees of flummery on display in and around parliaments (plural) today. I observed one in person and one on the telly.
The personal experience was the military march past outside Holyrood (Parliament) - and into Holyrood (Palace) - with the Duke of Rothesay taking the salute and the First Minister observing.
11:55 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2012
And so Labour and the SNP are to share power in the capital.
As an onlooker and occasional resident, I would simply wish them loadsaluck, especially with the trams.
15:20 UK time, Friday, 4 May 2012
So, where are we with a raft of Scottish results in? Good day for the SNP, good day for Labour, poor day for the Tories, simply miserable for the Liberal Democrats.
The final political verdict on the day may rest with two key facts. Who has the most councillors (it's currently the SNP)? Who has the biggest share of the vote in local government? (It's currently Labour.)
17:54 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Brian added analysis to:
As was to be expected, opposition leaders at Holyrood are demanding a statement from the first minister anent the Westminster finding that Rupert Murdoch is "not a fit person" to run a major international conglomerate.
The finding itself has provoked considerable contention at Westminster, not least because it was opposed by Tory MPs on the culture committee which had conducted an investigation.
17:09 UK time, Tuesday, 1 May 2012
As was to be expected, opposition leaders at Holyrood are demanding a statement from the first minister anent the Westminster finding that Rupert Murdoch is "not a fit person" to run a major international conglomerate.
The finding itself has provoked considerable contention at Westminster, not least because it was opposed by Tory MPs on the culture committee which had conducted an investigation. They regard the report, consequently, as flawed.
15:07 UK time, Thursday, 26 April 2012
I have never been a particular fan of science fiction.
Indeed, I once chaired the estimable Iain Banks at the Edinburgh Book Festival only to discover to my dismay that the event featured his sci-fi alter-ego Iain M. Banks, whose work deals with matters inter-galactic.
19:15 UK time, Wednesday, 25 April 2012
A tale of two cities, two tycoons - and one first minister.
At Holyrood, Donald Trump expresses his considerable disquiet at proposals to site an offshore wind development in a proximity to his golf course which he regards as uncomfortably close.
19:13 UK time, Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Brian added analysis to:
A tale of two cities, two tycoons - and one first minister.
At Holyrood, Donald Trump expresses his considerable disquiet at proposals to site an offshore wind development in a proximity to his golf course which he regards as uncomfortably close.
07:27 UK time, Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Brian added analysis to:
There has been repeated criticism of Alex Salmond over claims that his links with Rupert Murdoch were over-close.
He has faced criticism in the Scottish Parliament and at various other points from his opponents in Scotland.
18:00 UK time, Monday, 23 April 2012
It is to be hoped that there will be minimal confusion caused by the guidance note issued by a local authority which provided an inaccurate illustration of how voters cast their choice in the council elections.
North Lanarkshire Council's pack for postal voters included a sample illustration with an X marking the spot - instead of the 1,2,3 required for the Single Transferable Vote used in local authority elections.
14:36 UK time, Thursday, 19 April 2012
At Holyrood today, Opposition leaders were much exercised by "institutional secrecy". Willie Rennie of the Liberal Democrats felt the epithet should be attached to a health board which sidestepped pressure to release clinical information.
But Labour's Johann Lamont appeared to feel that the accusation might well land a little closer to Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister.
18:19 UK time, Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Brian added analysis to:
It was all remorselessly genteel. Ineffably polite.
Like duellists anticipating a deferred contest, the main participants, mostly, indulged in nothing more hurtful than a little light word-play.
17:24 UK time, Wednesday, 18 April 2012
It was all remorselessly genteel. Ineffably polite. Like duellists anticipating a deferred contest, the main participants, mostly, indulged in nothing more hurtful than a little light word-play.
I refer to the debate at Holyrood this afternoon in which MSPs endorsed the concept of enhanced powers for the Scottish Parliament - with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Brian has been a journalist for ever, well, since 1977.
He covers politics in all of its guises - UK, European but mostly Scottish.
Before joining the BBC he spent six years as a lobby correspondent at Westminster.
He has lectured on politics and identity across Europe and the USA and has written two books - and co-written a handful of others.
At St Andrews University, he studied literature.
He is a proud, patriotic Dundonian and fanatical supporter of Dundee United Football Club, losing no opportunity to trumpet their many glories.
He is married with two sons.
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