The bottomless prison cell

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 →

“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 →

Notes on Labour’s necronomicon

Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, 16th February 2025. Is that brimstone I can smell? Has someone lit the hand of glory again? Because someone in Westminster must have been practising the dread necromantic arts this week. The political dead are afoot – and they walk abroad amongst us. In the choice of his principal emissary … Continue reading Notes on Labour’s necronomicon →