Archive for Scotland
Labour and the SNP’s judgement in Megrahi case completely wrong – Campbell
Lib Dem MP and member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Ming Campbell has been commenting on the revelations about the Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi case: The Labour government completely failed to take into account the horrific nature of the crime, the consequences and the sentence imposed when it took the view that it could assist [...]
Government presses ahead with devolving more powers to Scotland
The coalition agreement’s commitment to devolve more powers from Westminster to Scotland was one aspect that helped it win strong support from Scottish Liberal Democrats as further devolution has been a long-running Lib Dem demand. Now the Scotland Bill is moving through Parliament to turn those commitments into action. The BBC reports: Scottish Secretary Michael [...]
Calls to end alphabetic ordering of candidates on Scottish local election ballot papers
At the last Scottish local elections there were 247 cases where candidates who appeared higher on the ballot paper got more votes than a candidate from the same party further down the list, and only 53 cases where the lower-placed candidate got more votes. This has prompted calls for changes in the way names are listed on ballot papers.
Changes coming to Scottish Parliament election rules
The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2010 has been tabled in Parliament this week bringing about changes in the law for the Scottish Parliament election
Two Scottish Labour councillors charged by the police
Andrew Reeves has got details of John Holden, charged over alleged benefit fraud, and Gilbert Davidson, accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.
Jamie Stone to stand down as an MSP
Andrew Reeves has the news:
Jamie Stone, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, has announced that he will step down from the Scottish Parliament at the next Scottish election. Mr Stone is stepping down 25 years of public service to pursue new avenues.
Jamie is the second Highland Liberal Democrats MSP to announce he [...]
Conservative Party candidate quits over “nest of vipers”
Andrew Reeves has the story:
Only the day after David Cameron admitted he does not expect the Conservatives to do well in Scotland, one of his leading candidates has quit the Conservative Party.
In today’s Sunday Herald Heather MacLeod, who has resigned after a “bitter and bloody” feud with fellow Conservatives, said she felt “complete and utter disgust” with [...]
Carmichael moves to end MP-MSP dual mandates
Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary, has tabled amendments to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill aimed at bringing an end to MSPs and MPs holding both jobs at the same time.
Good news for Katy Gordon as SNP councillor switches
The switch of Councillor Alex Dingwall from the SNP to the Liberal Democrats is a great boost for Katy Gordon’s campaign in Glasgow North (Labour majority: 3,338).
Explaining his reasons for leaving the SNP after 31 years as a member, Cllr Dingwall said:
I believe that Glasgow needs a change in how our city is run and [...]
Controversial Scottish blogger arrested
From the BBC:
The former aide to [SNP] Education Secretary Mike Russell, who left his post after a row over an internet blog, has been charged with breach of the peace.
Mark MacLachlan, 47, quit his role after it emerged he had used the blog to smear political rivals…
It is understood police took the action in response [...]
