“Too wee, too poor, too stupid”. This was the former staple diet of unionist propaganda in the old days, when the independence debate was composed…
Why There Is No Going Back For Creative Scotland
I don’t think anyone believed that when Creative Scotland was established it was going to be an easy ride. Almost tortuous in its creation it…
The day Big Bad Alistair let the music die
I’ve got no idea what possessed Alistair Darling to attempt to scaremonger on the issue of culture but he has ended up quite rightly a…
THE SPEECH THEY FEARED TO HEAR
Can I firstly welcome you to the chair, Mr Deputy Speaker? I’m sure you realised pretty quickly that you had picked the short straw when…
A University of the City of Perth
A few weeks ago I attended the graduation for Perth College UHI and as usual it was a fantastic event. It is always a delight…
Me and Lord Snooty
There are certain things you don’t do in this job and one of them is to swear at a policeman and call him a “pleb”.…
Winter Preparedness in Enchanted Perthshire
It was a great privilege for me to be asked to formally open the 10th Anniversary show of the Enchanted Forest, a Perthshire Big Tree…
Dualling the A9
One of the worst moments in this job is when you get that call from the police to say that there has been a road…
A Real Choice is Emerging
Something very important and significant is happening in the referendum debate. What we are beginning to see are two opposing and diverse propositions emerge that…
Reaching Out to That “Inner Nat” in our Fellow Scots
As we approach the two year countdown to the referendum It’s time to reach out to that patriotic inner Scottish nationalist that resides in practically…