Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 9th November 2025. If the pollsters are to be believed, Scottish Labour finds itself in a difficult spot. The next Holyrood election is rapidly approaching. After almost 20 years of SNP government, the 2026 election is looking increasingly tricky for Anas Sarwar’s party. Instead of the healthy lead you might … Continue reading The bottomless prison cell
Author: Andrew Tickell
“These censures are deemed necessary…”
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 2nd November 2025. The phrase “these censures are deemed necessary” gives the game away. Notice the emphasis on necessity. In the third palace press release since 2019 to announce that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor would be stripped of his magic names, Charles and Camilla confirmed on Thursday that a “formal process” … Continue reading “These censures are deemed necessary…”
To the Malmsey butt
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 19th October 2025. I thought exile, the Tower, or the Malmsey butt were more traditional ways for English kings to dispose of unwanted royal brothers – but this week we’ve seen a new innovation. If you worry the foundations of your royal house are shaking, that public mistrust is growing, … Continue reading To the Malmsey butt
“I just snapped when I found out they cheated on me”
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 28th September 2025. In January 1941, Alexander Hill received a letter from his wife Alice. Hill was corporal in the military police, stationed in England. Alice lived at home in Springburn with at least one infant child. Her letter gave him cause to believe Alice had struck up a relationship … Continue reading “I just snapped when I found out they cheated on me”
“It’s nice isn’t it. The quiet.”
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 14th September 2025. It’s now moderately notorious tweet. During the first couple of weeks of the new Labour administration, as new-minted Labour ministers were opening their red boxes and contemplating all the promise of their new responsibilities, one commentator sighed “it’s nice isn’t it. The quiet.” To say this sentiment … Continue reading “It’s nice isn’t it. The quiet.”
Slow news
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 31st August 2025. One thing people get wrong about the “24-hour news cycle” is the idea that every story is now just an evanescent thing – here today, gone tomorrow. Even before the advent of social media, today’s headlines were classically tomorrow’s fish and chip paper. Today, the news churn … Continue reading Slow news
The Citizens (2025 -)
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 24th August 2025. This weekend, the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow is reopening its doors after an astonishing seven years out of action. It wasn’t meant to take this long. It was back in June 2018 when the theatre first shut its doors for the £20 million redevelopment of the Gorbals … Continue reading The Citizens (2025 -)
Antisocial models of disability
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 9th March 2025. "We're the Labour Party. The clue is in the title." From time to time, elected representatives of the People's Party will dip into their party playbook searching for a witty slogan to justify their latest round of benefit cuts. They almost always end up here - singing … Continue reading Antisocial models of disability
Should we anonymise child homicide victims?
Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 2nd March 2025. The atmosphere in the room was palpable. The video feed had just cut out. A woman, her face blurred, had just finished speaking about the loss of her child. A hard topic on any day - but this loss wasn't down to accident, illness, or misadventure, but … Continue reading Should we anonymise child homicide victims?
Private prosecutions
The Times, February 24th 2025. It was one of the most high-profile cases of the 1980s. “Carol X”, as she came to be known in the public consciousness, was subjected to a brutal sexual attack by a group of men in the shadow of Celtic Park. The authorities had a strong case. Carol X identified … Continue reading Private prosecutions
Andrew Tickell 