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This is where you can find my take on what's happening in the world of Scottish politics
16 hours ago
The sources of innocent merriment, the furrows of fun generally so plentifully ploughed by our elected tribunes, have just shrunk by a single edict.
No more will the ringing baritone of the first minister battle for control of the chamber with Johann Lamont's determined alto.
16:30 UK time, Wednesday, 8 February 2012
An intriguing set of responses from opposition parties in the Holyrood chamber this afternoon to John Swinney's final budget proposals - intriguing not because of their similarity but because of their mutual differences.
Mr Swinney is adamant that he has done the best with limited resources, emphasising capital expenditure, providing extra money to limit the cuts in housing and reversing to some degree the extent of the cuts faced by colleges.
13:39 UK time, Monday, 6 February 2012
From Scotland come widespread congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen on the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
Most obviously, a 21-gun salute from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. Less volubly, messages of support from Scotland's politicians and people.
16:12 UK time, Thursday, 2 February 2012
She was there, she said, "to discuss an RBS banker who enjoyed huge success but whose arrogance drove him to over-reach himself and lead Scotland to disaster".
Cue wry grin from Johann Lamont. Her intention, she clarified, was not to focus upon the former Royal Bank economist before her (Salmond, A., FM) but rather the former boss of the bank (Goodwin, F., ex knight.)
17:55 UK time, Wednesday, 1 February 2012
These are different times, are they not? Dundee United are still the finest team on the planet but, otherwise, things are not as they were.
En passant, forgive me but writing that opening phrase has suddenly recalled for me a lyric by Lou Reed. From Sweet Jane, I think? An instant memory of university days - distinctly different times.
16:42 UK time, Monday, 30 January 2012
An interesting speech from Ed Miliband in Glasgow today - and one in which he attempts to engage with the fundamental core of the constitutional debate in Scotland.
He could have talked about the currency. He could have talked about defence. These topics have formed the core of the Unionist campaign against independence over the past couple of weeks - and, it seems likely, will feature predominantly up to the autumn of 2014.
15:10 UK time, Thursday, 26 January 2012
We do not yet have the rules and regulations which will govern the independence referendum, but it would appear that we have a pretty fair indication of the shape of the campaign.
Indeed, both sides were rehearsing their arguments at Holyrood today.
21:28 UK time, Wednesday, 25 January 2012
A remarkable day. Do forgive me for being a mite tardy with the blog. Things to do, people to see - including the First Minister, both at Holyrood and later at Edinburgh Castle.
So where are we now? We have Alex Salmond's proposed question - "do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?"
16:02 UK time, Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Is there a market for Scottish independence in England?
Alex Salmond will test that proposition in a speech in London tonight when he delivers the Guardian lecture in memory of Hugo Young.
15:05 UK time, Monday, 23 January 2012
Down the decades, there have been sundry attempts to define "Britishness". Many foundered from being too imprecise, too inchoate.
For example, they were based upon common concepts such as "justice" and "fair play" as if these were, in some way, uniquely British and not to be found in, say, France or New Zealand.
14:28 UK time, Thursday, 19 January 2012
In football, it would be known as playing the man, not the ball. Away from the beautiful game, it might be considered to be an "ad hominem" approach.
Either way, it was plainly Johann Lamont's tactic at Holyrood today to sustain a personal attack against First Minister Alex Salmond.
17:49 UK time, Thursday, 12 January 2012
A disparate display of tone in the Holyrood debate on the independence referendum: both conciliatory and crushing at one and the same time.
The conciliation came in repeated emphasis from the first minister that he would involve other parties - and, of course, the people of Scotland - in his consultation document, due to be unleashed within a fortnight.
14:52 UK time, Wednesday, 11 January 2012
One way or another, the issue must be resolved. The issue of Scottish independence, that is.
As a necessary prelude, the rules for a referendum must be established in order that the outcome is accepted, either way.
22:00 UK time, Tuesday, 10 January 2012
To every thing its season - and tonight the First Minister has named the season for his planned independence referendum.
Alex Salmond wants the ballot to take place in the autumn of 2014. (This news, incidentally, was first broadcast on BBC Scotland. Thought you should know.)
15:14 UK time, Tuesday, 10 January 2012
As billed on this blog yesterday, there would appear to be at least a degree of internal tension sussurating below the surface of the UK coalition with regard to the proposed independence referendum.
Equally, as billed yesterday, I would not seek to over-emphasise this.
14:04 UK time, Monday, 9 January 2012
So where were we? On the verge of an independence referendum in Scotland? And has that verge narrowed or widened as a result of developments over the weekend and today?
For any sake, where are my manners? A guid New Year to all regular and new readers of this blog. May 2012 bring prosperity, good times and a Dundee United cup victory.
14:59 UK time, Thursday, 22 December 2011
So how did she do? Johann Lamont, that is.
Rather well, as it happens: confident, direct and salient.
15:26 UK time, Saturday, 17 December 2011
All new leaders promise change. There would be little point in holding internal party elections otherwise.
But Johann Lamont seems decidedly determined - and stressed the point repeatedly for emphasis.
14:51 UK time, Thursday, 15 December 2011
Political discourse is frequently elevated but, on occasion, it can descend towards the nether regions.
Both were on display at Holyrood today.
11:51 UK time, Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Bigotry, of course, is appalling, egregious, a hissing and a byword to all right-thinking people. It can also be mind-numbingly dull.
It is an angry countenance, a vile word, an outstretched arm, a missile, a conflict.
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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