David Torrance

blog on the move

2009-02-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

My blog has now moved to www.davidtorrance.com

Jim Murphy

2008-12-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

Interesting profile of Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy in yesterday's Herald, with lots of the usual stuff about being Scotland's man in the Cabinet, not the other way round, and so on.

Christmas books

2008-11-30T08:08:00.000-08:00

My biography of the late George Younger, A Life Well Lived, has been included on two Christmas political books lists: one in the monthly magazine Total Politics and another in Saturday's Telegraph.

Teddy Taylor's memoirs

2008-11-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

The former Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor (or Edward M. Taylor as he styles himself formally) will later this week publish his memoirs 'Teddy Boy Blue'. The Scottish Conservative MP for Glasgow Cathcart until losing his seat at the 1979 general election, Sir Teddy later served as the MP for Southend in Essex. Often referred to as a 'nearly man' of Scottish politics, he would probably have been appointed Secretary of State for Scotland had he not been defeated in 1979, having been Shadow Scottish Secretary since 1976.

You can read more about the book at the publisher's website, Kennedy and Boyd.

Scotland on Sunday review

2008-11-18T09:00:00.001-08:00

There's another review of my recent book, George Younger: A Life Well Lived, in last weekend's Scotland on Sunday by the historian Michael Fry. It's all downhill after a very flattering opening paragraph...

Book Talk

2008-11-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

I was on BBC Parliament's Book Talk this weekend talking about my biography of George Younger with the wonderfully-named presenter Mark D'Arcy.

Interview with Jim Murphy

2008-11-04T06:40:00.000-08:00

There's an in-depth interview with the new Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy in the latest edition of Holyrood Magazine.

Scotsman review

2008-11-02T15:31:00.001-08:00

The first newspaper review of my George Younger biography appeared in the Scotsman on Saturday. Written by Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Younger's successor as Scottish Secretary, it includes some interesting personal insights into his career.

George Younger launch (in London)

2008-10-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

The London launch of my George Younger biography on Tuesday evening was a great success with two former Prime Ministers (pictured left) and three former Scottish Secretaries (Sir Malcolm Rifkind and the Lords Lang and Forsyth) among the guests.

You can see more photographs from the event - which was held at Dover House - by clicking here.

George Younger review

2008-10-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

A brief (but positive) review of my George Younger biography was posted on the Conservative Party website today by my fellow historian Alistair B. Cooke.

George Younger's secret archive

2008-10-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

Some interesting papers from the archive of the late George Younger have just gone online at the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website. Particularly interesting are some entries from his 1970s diary and also documents relating to Thatcher's first leadership election in 1989. The website also contains multimedia, including a Conservative PPB featuring Younger from February 1987.

George Younger book launch

2008-10-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday marked the launch of my new book, an authorised biography of the former Scottish Secretary George Younger. The picture is of me with Lady Diana Younger, George's widow, and copies of the book.

Last weekend's Sunday Herald carried a piece by me about what George would have made of the current crisis in Scottish banking, and the launch also made it in to the most recent Sunday Herald's business diary.

You can order the book by visiting the publisher's website, Birlinn, or from http://www.amazon.co.uk/.

George Younger

2008-10-05T06:11:00.000-07:00

I have an article in today's Sunday Herald on the role played by the former Scottish Secretary and Chairman of RBS George Younger played in protecting Scottish banking in the 1980s and '90s. Obviously very pertinent now, and a good plug for my authorised biography of Younger which is published this week by Birlinn.

Jim Murphy

2008-10-05T06:04:00.000-07:00

Lots of profiles of the new Scottish Secretary, Jim Murphy, in this weekend's papers, including the Guardian and Daily Telegraph, and also some news coverage about how he'll tackle the SNP in Scotland on Sunday and Sunday Herald.

The Scottish edition of The Politics Show also led with a lengthy interview with Murphy about how he'll tackle the role. I think he equipped himself well, making it clear he asked to do the job full time and adopting a concilliatory tone when asked about Alex Salmond, etc.

Jim Murphy is new Scottish Secretary

2008-10-03T05:42:00.001-07:00

Jim Murphy, the Labour MP for Eastwood, has just been appointed the new Secretary of State for Scotland - seemingly without another department as has been convention since 2003.

The outgoing Scottish (and Defence) Secretary Des Browne was reportedly offered another job but turned it down. Instead he leaves the Government. You can read coverage of his exit at BBC Online.

So far, only the super, soaraway Sun is carrying the news of Murphy's appointment with any authority!

The Tories and the Scottish Secretary

2008-10-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

An interesting blog on the Conservatives and the post of Scottish Secretary by the BBC's Brian Taylor.

Scottish Secretary post to be retained

2008-09-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yet another story based on 'senior Whitehall sources' in today's Scotland on Sunday. This time the post of Secretary of State for Scotland is to be retained in Gordon Brown's imminent reshuffle. So not scrapped, amalgamated with the Northern Irish and Welsh counterparts, or restored to full standalone status - all as reported on the basis of 'senior Whitehall sources' over the past few weeks - but retained, probably in conjunction with another Government department. So the same as it is now.

I give up. Watch this space.

Ann McKechin

2008-09-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

A belated post to mark the appointment of Ann McKechin MP, only recently elected chair of the Scottish Labour group of MPs, to the Scotland Office in place of David Cairns, who resigned last week over Gordon Brown's leadership of the Labour Party and the Government. Eagle-eyed politicos will have noticed that while Cairns was a Minister of State, his successor is a more humble under-secretary of state.

David Cairns resigns

2008-09-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

The Daily Telegraph is sticking to its story that David Cairns, Minister of State at the Scotland Office, is poised to resign from the Government in protest at Gordon Brown's troubled premiership and leadership of the Labour Party. The BBC has also picked up on the story, but Downing Street says it has no knowledge of his intentions. Watch this space.

UPDATE: Cairns' resignation has been confirmed by Downing Street. You can read coverage of his statement on BBC Online. No news as yet on who will succeed him as Minister of State at the Scotland Office.

The Flag in the Wind

2008-09-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

That excellent Scottish publisher Birlinn has just re-published an updated version of John MacCormick's book, The Flag in the Wind. It tells the story of the National Movement in Scotland, the birth of the SNP, and also MacCormick's campaign to become Rector of Glasgow University. This edition has an introduction by John's son, Professor Sir Neil MacCormick, and a foreword by Ian Hamilton, whose own book, Stone of Destiny, was also recently republished by Birlinn (to tie in with the film of the same name).

The book is to be launched next week by the First Minister Alex Salmond. You can buy it by visiting the Birlinn website.

Alistair Darling Profile

2008-09-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

BBC Radio 4's Profile looked at the Chancellor and former Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling this weekend. It includes interviews with one of his former teachers at Loretto, and also his friend and former Scottish Office minister Brian Wilson.

Council Tax Abolition Bill

2008-09-06T02:58:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or is the SNP's planned 'Council Tax Abolition (Scotland) Bill' strangely reminiscent of the Conservatives' 'Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc (Scotland) Bill' of more than twenty years ago?

Both focused attention on the system of local taxation being abolished rather than what was replacing it. In 1986/87 it was the Community Charge or Poll Tax (presumably the 'Etc' in the title), while in 2008 it is the Local Income Tax.

Tom Johnston

2008-09-06T02:06:00.000-07:00

BBC Radio Scotland's NewsWeek carried a short item on the wartime Scottish Secretary Thomas Johnston this morning, about whom I was interviewed by the presenter Derek Bateman.

Scottish Secretary RIP?

2008-09-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today's Scotsman reports that the the post of Scottish Secretary is set to be scrapped at Westminster as a consequence of the IRA being declared redundant as a paramilitary organisation, which would make Des Browne (left) the last holder of the historic Cabinet position.

Personally, the story has been trailed so many times before - and always by 'senior' Government or Whitehall sources - that I'm a bit cynical. However, watch this space!

Jim Murphy to be SoS?

2008-09-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

Holyrood Magazine was reporting earlier this summer that Jim Murphy, the Labour MP for Eastwood and current Minister for Europe, is being 'strongly' tipped to take over from the embattled Des Browne if the Prime Minister decides on a late recess reshuffle. The same 'senior Whitehall sources' also told the Herald that his appointment was being considered in order to have a Cabinet minister focus more attention on Scotland.

Speculation that Gordon Brown will scrap the post of Scottish Secretary altogether, and indeed the Scotland Office, (as is the desire of the Scottish Government), also resurfaces occasionally.

Alistair Darling's 'pissed off'

2008-09-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

An interesting, and rare, profile of the Chancellor and former Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling in Saturday's Guardian, which is now better known as the interview in which he committed his so-called 'gaffe' by saying the UK economy was at its worst in 60 years (he also said the former Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander was 'not likeable at all', but has apparently since apologised). Given that several ministers have made similar remarks over the past few months, it's difficult to see what all the fuss is about...

The new age of Hydro

2008-09-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Interesting to see Alex Salmond on Newsnight Scotland last night praising the wartime Scottish Secretary Thomas Johnston as 'perhaps the only truly great Secretary of State' (or words to that effect), as he heralded a new era of hydro-electric power on opening Scottish and Southern's Glendoe project. David Ross in yesterday's Herald duly gave Johnston credit for the major hydro projects in the 1940s and '50s.

Des Browne's dual role

2008-06-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

A report in yesterday's Daily Telegraph about the Conservative Party's Forsyth (as in Frederick, the writer) Commission on the Military Covenant. It includes a number of recommendations, including the following:

"Defence Secretary will not hold any other government posts"

Obviously a subtle dig at Des Browne, whose dual role as both Defence and Scottish Secretary has come in for a lot of stick. The pledge obviously doesn't prevent a future Conservative government combining the role of Scottish Secretary with another Cabinet post...

Maggie wields her axe

2008-06-17T02:05:00.000-07:00

A fascinating story in the Herald last week about an attempt by the Treasury to cut the baseline Scottish Office budget by a seventh in the mid-1980s. The papers emerged as the result of an FoI request from an SNP researcher, but took several years to be published because the Scotland Office tried to block it. It reveals that the then Scottish Secretary, George Younger, threatened to resign if the cuts were implemented, although to be fair - and as Alan Cochrane points out in his Daily Telegraph column - Younger used to threaten to resign all the time.

North Sea oil fund

2008-06-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

An interesting story that came out of BBC Scotland's recent documentary on North Sea oil, another memo (although this time not actually produced or quoted) by the former Scottish Office economist Gavin McCrone. In this one, McCrone urged the UK government (then Labour) to establish a North Sea oil fund, a la Norway, to take full advantage of revenue from the new industry. Written in 1976 and despite it being Conservative policy, neither James Callaghan's government, or Margaret Thatcher's new administration in 1979, did anything about it.

Declaration of Perth 40th anniversary

2008-05-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

This week sees 40 years since the then Conservative Leader Ted Heath made his so-called 'Declaration of Perth', committing his party to the creation of a devolved Scottish Assembly.

Four decades on and that Assembly, or Parliament, is a reality and the Scottish Tory Party (which lost its old 'Unionist' name just before Heath was elected leader) meets for its annual conference in Ayr this weekend; reconstructed as a party of devolution and, indeed, supporters of greater powers under the guidance of the Calman Commission.

You can read my article on Heath's speech, and its ramifications, in today's Scotsman.

George Kynoch wins Scottish Tory election

2008-05-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

George Kynoch, the former Scottish Conservative MP and Scottish Office minister, has been elected as Deputy Chairman of the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party. He succeeds Bill Walker in the post, also a former Scottish Tory MP. It was a decisive win, with Kynoch securing 1,902 votes to Walker's 1,258.

Sermon on the Mound # 2

2008-05-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

I have a slightly different take on the 20th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's Sermon on the Mound in today's Scotsman, while you can read a transcript of Gordon Brown's own Sermon delivered at today's General Assembly meeting by visiting the 10 Downing Street website.

The Scottish edition of the BBC's Politics Show also did a nice compare-and-contrast report on the two prime minister's speeches to the General Assembly.

And, continuing the media obsession with the Sermon on the Mound (the anniversary hasn't actually been yet, it's on Wednesday 21 May), stv has put the whole speech on the Politics Then section of its website, while Lord Steel (another son of the manse) looked back on the speech on Saturday's edition of the Today Programme (at about 8.50 a.m.).

Maggie Maggie Maggie

2008-05-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of recent comment pieces on Margaret Thatcher's often fraught relations with Scotland. The historian Richard Finlay examined why she didn't get on with the Scots in a piece for Tuesday's Herald, while in Thursday's Edinburgh Evening News Ian Swanson looked back on her infamous 'Sermon on the Mound' to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Straight Talk with Lord Forsyth

2008-05-11T05:54:00.000-07:00

The BBC's Straight Talk has an interesting interview with the former Scottish Secretary, Lord Forsyth, covering everything from Wendy Alexander's U-turn on a Scottish independence referendum (he supports her) to what a future Conservative government should do in terms of taxation reform (he chaired the party's Tax Commission).

Des Browne under fire

2008-05-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Today's Herald reports that the Conservatives and SNP at Westminster have, not unreasonably, been trying to embroil the Scottish Secretary Des Browne in the ongoing Labour row about Wendy Alexander's call for an early referendum on Scottish independence. Des has so far been silent on the subject, although Wendy has some unexpected support in her call for Alex Salmond to 'bring it on' from the former Conservative Scottish Secretary, Lord Forsyth.

Sir John Gilmour library

2008-05-10T11:18:00.001-07:00

Lyon & Turnbull, the Edinburgh auctioneers, are selling some volumes from the library of the late Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet of Montrave and Secretary of State for Scotland from 1924-29. His son, also Sir John and a Tory MP, died last year.

The 'Books, Maps and Manuscript' sale is on 16 May and includes a copy of Winston Churchill's The World Crisis dedicated to Jack, as he was known, by the author. You can see more of the Gilmour library lots by clicking here.

Sermon on the Mound

2008-05-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

An interesting item on Sunday's Westminster Hour by Iain Macwhirter on the 20th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's famous - or infamous - speech to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, thereafter dubbed the 'Sermon on the Mound'.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who was Scottish Secretary when the former Prime Minister made the speech, believes it was actually quite well received in the Assembly Hall on the Mound, and that 'myth making' by the Scottish media turned it into the notorious attempt to marry Conservative principles with Christian doctrine that everyone remembers two decades on.

You can listen to the fifteen-minute programme by going to the Westminster Hour website, Alan Cochrane's more in-depth BBC Radio Scotland documentary, The Sermon on the Mound, by listening to it on BBC's iPlayer, or read a transcription of Mrs Thatcher's speech by visiting the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website.

The Unfinished Business of Devolution

2008-05-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

A belated post on Sir Malcolm Rifkind's speech to the Centre for Policy Studies in London on 23 April: "The Unfinished Business of Devolution: answering the West Lothian Question"

Basically a fleshing out (not to mention a defence) of the former Scottish Secretary's so-called "East Lothian Answer" to Tam Dalyell's "West Lothian Question", you can listen to a rather tinny audio streaming of the speech by visiting the CPS website.

The speech was covered by the Scotsman the same day.

Comeback for George Kynoch?

2008-04-29T08:58:00.002-07:00

An interesting story in today's Telegraph, unfortunately not online, about the Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell attempting to micromanage (shurely shome mishtake?) the election of a new deputy chairman for the Scottish Conservative Party.

According to the report he is lobbying in favour of George Kynoch, who was a junior minister at the Scottish Office in the mid-1990s and hasn't been seen or heard since. He's up against the incumbent kilt-wearing Bill Walker.

Thatcher and devolution

2008-04-28T03:53:00.000-07:00

I have a story in today's Scotsman gleaned from an interesting release of Mrs Thatcher's Scottish files from her papers as Leader of the Opposition from 1975-79. It concerns a proposal from the Tory peer John Boyd-Carpenter to extend the vote in the 1979 referendum on a Scottish Assembly to England and Wales.

There's also a second story about an approach from the SNP to forge a 'working arrangement' with the Conservatives in late 1976. What it doesn't mention (cut from my original article) is that the SNP MP in question, Hamish Watt, is the father of Maureen Watt, currently an MSP and the Minister for Schools and Skills.

You can see the full release of papers by visiting the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website.

Kidnapped! Sir Alec Douglas-Home

2008-04-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

A fascinating story in today's Telegraph regarding a foiled attempt by some Aberdeen University students to 'kidnap' Sir Alec Douglas-Home during a visit to Aberdeen in April 1964, just months before the general election of that year. Sir Alec, who was a former Scottish Office minister, was staying at Potterton, the home of Lord and Lady Tweedsmuir. Priscilla Tweedsmuir was then an under-secretary at the Scottish Office and was later Lord Home's (as he again became) deputy at the Foreign Office from 1972-74.

The story has come to light in Lord Hailsham's diaries, which have been put online at the excellent Margaret Thatcher Foundation website. You can here Chris Collins of the Foundation talking about the kidnap attempt on this morning's Today Programme by clicking here and following the link in the top right-hand corner.

Lord Barnett

2008-04-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

There's an interesting interview/profile of Lord Barnett in this week's edition of Holyrood magazine, in which he repeats his call for his eponymous formula to be scrapped. Bruce Millan, Scottish Secretary when the 'formula' was calculated, always seems to get overlooked in accounts of how it was forged in 1978 (Lord Barnett switches between remembering it as being in 1977 or '78), but he was at least as important as Barnett himself. The article also quotes the Barnett-scrapper Lord Forsyth.

Des Browne for the chop?

2008-04-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

Some wishful thinking in today's Mail on Sunday along the lines that Des Browne's dual Cabinet role (as both Defence Secretary and Secretary of State for Scotland) will be separated and the Scotland Office responsibility transferred to a new Ministry of the Nations and Regions. This has been tipped so many times that I've lost count, and to me seems unlikely. Why would Gordon Brown give the impression that he's caving in to demands from crusty old defence chiefs?

Dick Mabon dies

2008-04-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

Some sad news just announced today that Dick Mabon (otherwise known as Dr Jesse Dickson Mabon) has died aged 82. Dick was a Scottish Office minister under Willie Ross in the late 1960s but later defected to the SDP. From 1955 until 1983 he was the Labour MP for Greenock, although he sat from 1981-83 as an SDP Member. My obituary appeared in today's Herald, although there's an error in the last line (my mistake, not the Herald's) - Jessica and Katie were Mabon's grand-daughters, not his daughters.

There's a wonderfully detailed obituary by Tam Dalyell in Monday's Independent, and also one in the Telegraph. Tuesday's Guardian has an amusing obit by Julia Langdon, while the Scotsman also has a slightly belated one.

Des Browne hits out

2008-04-06T15:41:00.001-07:00

Today's Scotland on Sunday carries news of the Scottish Secretary's 'savage' attack on First Minister Alex Salmond and the first year (almost) of a minority SNP Scottish Government.

In truth, Des Browne's attack is typically unimaginative - and tactically counterproductive - Labour rhetoric when it comes to the SNP. I suspect the text could almost have been lifted from the papers of the late Willie Ross...

You can read Browne's SoS article, 'A year of governing dangerously', by clicking here.

Hugh Brown

2008-03-12T04:01:00.001-07:00

Hugh Brown, the former Scottish Office minister, has died aged 88. Tam Dalyell has a typically personal obituary in the Independent. There's also one by me in the Herald, another in the Daily Telegraph, and a belated couple in the Scotsman and the Guardian by Brian Wilson.

He served as Member of Parliament for Glasgow Provan from 1964 until he retired in 1987, and during the 1974-1979 Labour government he was one of several Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for Scotland.

With the MP for Grimsby, Tony Crosland, he was a British negotiator with Iceland during the Cod War.

I interviewed Hugh in 2006 for a book on The Scottish Secretaries. He was charming and unassuming, and clearly enjoyed having been an MP and minister, but for all the right reasons.

Francis Pym dies

2008-03-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

Lord Francis Pym, the former Northern Ireland, Defence and Foreign Secretary, died yesterday aged 86. Although his Cabinet career was not directly concerned with Scottish affairs, as Shadow Leader of the House from January 1976, Pym was also the Conservatives' devolution spokesman as the Scottish Assembly legislation made its way through the House of Commons.

As the Daily Telegraph obituary says: 'Pym stoutly led Tory opposition to the principle of devolution, claiming that the Bill was no more than “an attempt by the Labour Party to save seats they fear they would lose”.'

There are also obituaries in The Times, the Herald, the Guardian, the Independent and, belatedly, the Scotsman.

Barnett Formula review?

2008-03-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

Interesting story in today's Daily Telegraph which implies that the UK Government is reviewing the controversial Barnett Formula, but then again might not be. You can read Alan Cochrane's analysis by clicking here.

Alistair Carmichael resigns

2008-03-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

BBC Online carries the news that the Lib Dems' Shadow Scottish Secretary, Alistair Carmichael, today quit his party's front bench in order to defy his whip and vote for a referendum on the EU Treaty. You can see him explain why by clicking here.

STOP PRESS: Michael Moore, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, has been appointed Scottish spokesman in place of Carmichael.

Scotland Office has 'next to no' policy responsibilities

2008-02-27T01:34:00.000-08:00

BBC News Online is carrying a story about Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's appearance before yesterday's meeting of the House of Commons Justice Committee, which was continuing its inquiry into devolution during an evidence session in Edinburgh.

Sturgeon said the Scotland Office belonged to a past era, and had 'next to no' policy responsibilties, while the department's minister of state, David Cairns, attacked her 'continuing obsession' with fostering bad relations between the UK and Scottish Governments. But Sir John Elvidge, the Scottish Government permanent under-secretary, remained neutral when he said the office's role had moved into 'different territory'.

New Scottish Tory Chairman

2008-02-26T12:05:00.000-08:00

I can exclusively reveal, for anyone who checks this blog regularly, that Prof Andrew Fulton has this evening been confirmed as the new chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. A former MI6 diplomat, he's certainly an interesting choice. The Daily Telegraph did a speculative news story on him a few weeks ago.

Clarke rejects the 'East Lothian Answer'

2008-02-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

A belated post on the thoughts of the former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, as heard by Members of the House of Commons Justice Committee last week. The Committee is currently looking at devolution ten years on.

As the Herald reported, Clarke dismissed Sir Malcolm Rifkind's so-called 'East Lothian Answer' to the 'West Lothian Question', saying it was 'a minefield' and that it would be difficult to designate legislation as 'totally English'. Clarke, of course, is chairing the Conservatives' Democracy Taskforce which is supposed to be sorting out such things for a future Tory government.

And as the Scotsman reported, Clarke also insisted that the Scottish Tories were to blame for the implementation of the Poll Tax north of the border. To be fair, this is certainly truer than the usual 'guinea pig' argument.

Des Browne, the Secretary of State for Scotland, also gave evidence to the Justice Committee on 29 January. You can read an uncorrected transcript by clicking here.

Harold Wilson interview

2008-02-18T07:05:00.001-08:00

Another amusing old interview has been streamed on the Politics Then section of the stv website, this time a Grampian TV fireside chat with the then Leader of the Opposition, Harold Wilson, in the run up to the 1964 general election.

Wilson speaks about his perception of Scotland and how Scottish (and UK) industry can be revived.

Forsyth attacks Tory MSPs

2008-02-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

A belated post on a Scotland on Sunday story from last week regarding Lord Forsyth's comments on Scottish Conservative Leader Annabel Goldie's support for the SNP's budget. He also got stuck into Tory MSPs in general, one of whom retorted that Forsyth - the Conservatives' last Scottish Secretary - was "a dinosaur".

Politics Then # 2

2008-02-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Another fascinating old interview has just gone up on the 'Politics Then' section of the stv website. It features Colin Mackay's February 1975 interview with the then new Leader of the Opposition, Margaret Thatcher. She talks about an enthusiastic reception on her first visit to Scotland as Conservative leader, and reiterates her party's support for a Scottish Assembly, a block grant for the Scottish Office and an oil development fund.

Two mad people in the attic

2008-01-29T08:57:00.000-08:00

The most recent edition of Holyrood magazine carries a very lucid look at the West Lothian Question and Barnett Formula by Professor Iain McLean of Nuffield College, Oxford. He likens the two issues to "two mad people in the attic: everyone can hear their creaks and groans but nobody wants to talk about them".

Politics Then

2008-01-28T14:41:00.001-08:00

A wonderful old interview from 1977 on the stv 'Politics Then' website. Colin Mackay, who now works on BBC Radio Scotland, interviews the then prime minister James Callaghan.

They discuss pay policy, the grim economic climate and, of course, the forthcoming Scotland Bill, which was supposed to establish a devolved Scottish Assembly. Sunny Jim is clearly remembering a devolution brief in responding to the last question and, remarkably, does not guarantee the Bill will pass. 'Remember,' he tells Mackay, 'we are a minority Government.'

Scottish Constitutional Commission # 2

2008-01-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

Today's Sunday Times quotes former Scottish Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind calling the Scottish Constitutional Commission "naïve and simplistic". It seems Sir Malcolm believes there is a risk that moving towards greater powers for the Scottish Parliament risks the Union.

Scotland Office aide

2008-01-21T07:07:00.000-08:00

Lots of stuff in the Sunday papers, followed up in today's Mornings, about an email written by John McTernan (now a special adviser to Scottish Secretary Des Browne) when he was working at the Scottish Arts Council in 2002.

In the email, McTernan wrote to Karen Gillon MSP: 'If you've not been to Sweden before I think you'll really like it - it's the country Scotland would be if it was not narrow, Presbyterian, racist, etc etc. Social democracy in action.'

Des Browne has quite rightly dismissed this email, curiously released under FoI, as having no bearing on McTernan's current position.

It brings to mind Tom Nairn's quip, adjusting the words of Diderot, that Scotland would be reborn only when "the last Kirk minister has been strangled with the last copy of the Sunday Post".

Scottish Constitutional Commission

2008-01-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

A belated post on the three Holyrood opposition leaders' (Wendy Alexander, Annabel Goldie and Nicol Stephen) southern sojourn to meet with their Westminster counterparts, the Scottish Secretary Des Browne, Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell and the Lib Dems' Scottish spokesman Alistair Carmichael - retained despite Nick Clegg's reshuffle.

They apparently discussed additional powers for the Scottish Parliament, as well as the proposed cross-party Scottish Constitutional Commission. This, I fear, amounts to very little beyond posturing and flannel, and the anodyne statements (all identical) issued by each party after the meeting simply confirms this.

It brings to mind another Scottish Secretary, George Younger, and his all-party talks on Scottish governance held in the early 1980s. The SNP refused to take part, and the outcome was another fudge: a revival of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee and Scottish meetings for the Scottish Grand Committee.

Alan Cochrane of the Telegraph has an interesting piece on the meeting here.

Ian Smith

2008-01-09T03:09:00.000-08:00

Interesting obituary in today's Scotsman on Ian Smith, who was a former head of the Scottish Office agriculture department.

National Archives

2008-01-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

Lots of interesting stuff on Scottish devolution from the annual declassification of government files under the 30-year rule. Paul Hutcheon has made the most of it in today's Sunday Herald, which includes then-and-now quotes from the former Scottish Secretary Bruce Millan. Eddie Barnes' column in today's Scotland on Sunday also draws on similar material, while the documents themselves can be viewed in pdf form by visiting the National Archives website.

Hamish Henderson and Walter Elliot

2007-12-27T17:30:00.001-08:00

I'm currently reading the first volume of an excellent new biography of the late Hamish Henderson by Timothy Neat. It recounts Hamish's visit to Paris to see Picasso's Guernica, the centrepiece at the Spanish Pavilion at the World Exhibition in 1937. At the British Pavilion, says Neat, he met a man with whom he was to strike up an important short-term relationship:

'This man was Sir Walter Elliot, Secretary of State for Scotland. Sir Walter was in Paris to get ideas for the British Empire Exhibition being planned for Glasgow the following year, and for which he was responsible. Hamish got himself invited to lunch, and the conversation soon turned from smoked salmon to Scottish literature, the politics of MacDiarmid and Yeats, to fascism, communism - and 'next year, in Glasgow!'. Before they parted, Hamish tried to persuade Elliot to view Picasso's masterpiece in the Spanish Pavilion but the Minister declined. All the same, Hamish had been greatly impressed by the old Tory's courtesy and was never to forget his insistence that 'whatever is done in Scotland's name should be done well'.

The following year Hamish visited the British Empire Exhibition in Glasgow. A small quibble, Elliot was never knighted so was never 'Sir Walter'. Nevertheless, an interesting account of a previously unknown encounter between two great Scots.

Volume I of Timothy Neat's biography, The Making of the Poet (1919-1953), is available from the Birlinn website.

Lord Pentland archive

2007-12-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

Ebay throws up some unexpected treasures, including this small archive of letters, photographs, watercolour sketches and ephemera from Lord and Lady Pentland's time at Government House in Madras (now Chennai).

Lord Pentland, formerly John Sinclair, was Secretary for Scotland under the Liberal governments of Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith, but was sacked by the latter (who thought his Scottish Secretary had the ‘the brain of a rabbit...and the temper of a pig’) and banished to India as governor of the Madras presidency.

Lord Pentland's son, Henry John Sinclair, settled in the US and had a daughter, who seems to have been selling off parts of the family effects. Earlier this year I bought his top hat.

Ian MacArthur

2007-12-19T15:07:00.000-08:00

The former Conservative MP for Perth and East Perthshire, Ian MacArthur, has died at the age of 82. A former advertising executive, MacArthur challanged the former Scottish Secretary Hector McNeil in Greenock at the 1955 general election (and the same seat in December 1955 after McNeil died), and finally entered Parliament in 1959. He was a government whip towards the end of the Macmillan/Douglas-Home government, and again in opposition before joining Michael Noble's shadow Scottish front bench when Ted Heath became leader in 1965. He lost his seat to the SNP in the October 1974 general election. The Times carried a short obituary recently, as did the Scotsman, while today's Herald has one by me. Untypically belatedly, today's Telegraph also carries a well-researched piece.

Arthur J Balfour

2007-12-11T03:31:00.001-08:00

R. J. Q. Adams, whose first book was an excellent biography of Andrew Bonar Law, has just published a biography of another Scot who became prime minister. Balfour: The Last Grandee looks like a fine book and is the first biography of AJB since Max Egremont's in 1980. Adams' tome, of course, includes a substantial account of Balfour's year as Secretary for Scotland from 1886-87.

There's a good review of Balfour: The Last Grandee by (Sir) David Gilmour in The Times, and another by George Rosie in the most recent Sunday Herald. Last week's Spectator also has a review by Philip Ziegler.

Des Browne's dual role

2007-12-10T16:19:00.000-08:00

Last night's Today in Parliament included coverage of an entertaining House of Lords debate on Des Browne's dual status as Secretary of State for Defence and Scotland. Lord Tebbit was particularly sarcastic, while one Labour peer suggested (accurately, I suspect) that most of those serving in the Armed Forces do not give a stuff who the defence secretary is.

David Cameron

2007-12-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

The Conservative Leader David Cameron made an interesting speech on the Union at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth this afternoon. His phrase about the "ugly stain of separtism" is sure to upset the SNP but I think it signalled a shift in Conservative tactics in terms of handling the minority SNP Scottish Government, especially if Cameron ends up as PM. He also trotted out all the usual lines to demonstrate the Conservatives' commitment to Scotland. He said:

"Consider all our Party’s history, not just the recent past. It was a Conservative Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, who set up the Scottish Office. It was a Conservative Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, who elevated the Scottish Secretary to full Cabinet rank. And it was the Conservative Party after the war that stood up for Scotland’s identity, and the life of Scottish businesses, against the attempts at nationalisation and centralisation by Labour."

All true, although Lord Salisbury was simply seeing through a Liberal measure (the 1885 Secretary for Scotland Bill) and Baldwin, interestingly, elevated the Secretary for Scotland to Secretary of State status at a point in the 1920s when the Scottish Nationalists were beginning to attract greater support.

Cameron's speech also tied in with an interview which appears in today's Daily Telegraph and the launch of that paper's 'Call Yourself British' campaign. The pro-Union stance is a little ironic considering the Telegraph's vehement, and often innacurate, attacks on the West Lothian Question and Barnett Formula over the last few months.

Wendy Alexander

2007-11-30T15:50:00.000-08:00

Although Wendy Alexander has other things on her mind at the moment, she found time to make an unexciting but thoughtful speech today at Edinburgh University to mark St Andrew's Day. The main 'news line' was her intention to establish a Scottish constitutional commission via a bill at Holyrood, but there was also lots of stuff about the historical development of the UK/Scottish constitution, including mentions of the (Labour) Scottish secretaries Tom Johnston, Bruce Millan and Donald Dewar. Alexander, of course, worked for Dewar as a special adviser.

40th anniversary of Aden departure

2007-11-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

This week marks forty years since British troops withdrew from the former UK colony of Aden. The Scottish regiment, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was a prominent presence in the region, led with panache by Colin 'Mad Mitch' Mitchell. He became famous in July 1967 when he led the Argylls in the British reoccupation of the Crater district of Aden, which had briefly been taken over by nationalist insurgents

Mitchell was later wooed by the Conservatives to stand for Parliament and was elected to represent Aberdeenshire West at the 1970 general election. Although he served for a year as PPS to the Scottish Secretary, Gordon Campbell, Mitchell did not take to Parliamentary life and stood down at the February 1974 election.

Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Conservative MSP and deputy leader, has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament to mark the anniversary.

Des Browne's dual role

2007-11-26T09:28:00.000-08:00

Interesting story in yesterday's Scotland on Sunday in which the First Minister Alex Salmond called for the Scotland Office to be scrapped and have Westminster deal directly with the Scottish Parliament (and, presumably, the Scottish Government). It seems to me rather like kicking a man while he's down, following as it did unprecedented criticism from five former defence chiefs of staff who called on the Defence and Scottish Secretary Des Browne to ditch his Scotland Office duties. Scotland on Sunday claimed that an analysis of his official engagements over the past few months contradicted Browne's claim that his Scottish brief did not interfere with his day job at the MoD.

John Reid new Celtic chairman

2007-11-19T05:57:00.000-08:00

The former Scottish, Northern Ireland and Home Secretary John Reid has been confirmed as Celtic's new chairman. The Scotsman carries details of the AGM, at which a vocal minority condemned his appointment. BBC Sport Online has more about the objectors.

West Lothian Question # 2

2007-11-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

Following the 30th anniversary of the West Lothian Question (or at least the term, not the question itself) last week, today's Scotsman has gone big on the issue once more, this time quoting several not-very-senior Scottish Labour MPs who are telling the PM that something must be done, and that reviving English regional devolution might be that something.

There's also a column written by Tam Dalyell, although I think he's mis-remembering the date on which Enoch Powell coined the phrase 'West Lothian Question'. It was in November 1977, not 1978.

West Lothian Question is 30

2007-11-13T14:45:00.000-08:00

Today (Wednesday) is the 30th birthday of Tam Dalyell's long-standing constitutional query, the so-called West Lothian Question, called as such by the late Enoch Powell on 14 November 1977 during a debate on the Scotland Bill.

In that debate, Dalyell asked: "For how long will English constituencies and English Honourable members tolerate... at least 119 Honourable Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on British politics while they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?"

He illustrated his point by pointing out the paradox of a Member of Parliament for West Lothian being able to vote on matters affecting West Bromwich but not his own constituency of West Lothian. But it was Enoch Powell, by then an Ulster Unionist MP, who said: "We have finally grasped what the Honourable Member for West Lothian is getting at, let us call it the West Lothian Question."

I interviewed Tam for stv's Politics Now a few weeks ago and mentioned that his question was nearing its 30th anniversary; he remembered Powell's contribution to the debate clearly. My cameraman joked that if there were royalties for questions, Tam would be a very rich man. He was very tickled by that.

By coincidence, I managed to locate a second-hand copy of Dalyell's polemic, Devolution: The End of Britain?, a few days ago. It was published in 1977, but before the term 'West Lothian Question' had been used by Powell.

Interestingly, Prof Robert Hazell of UCL's Constitution Unit chose the anniversary to make an original, if a little peculiar, proposal. He said Lord Ashcroft's famous fund for financing marginal seats should be focused on Scotland and Wales and renamed the 'West Lothian Fund', his argument being that a revival of Conservatives in those parts of the UK would help solve the so-called West Lothian Question. BBC Online has the story in full.

The East Lothian Answer # 2

2007-11-08T15:56:00.001-08:00

This week's Spectator has an interesting editorial on Sir Malcolm Rifkind's so-called East Lothian Answer to Tam Dalyell's (or Enoch Powell's) West Lothian Question. The Conservative-leaning 'newspaper' (as the Spectator likes to call itself) backs Rifkind's proposal as the only way post-devolution to save the Union.

I was interested to see David Cameron flagging up 'English votes for English laws' in his contribution to the debate on the Loyal Address this week. Given that he reportedly favours Rifkind's scheme, the tone and language jarred ever so slightly. All will be revealed when Ken Clarke's Democracy Taskforce reports by the end of this year.

Silicon Glen

2007-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Interesting feature in today's Scotsman about the demise of the so-called Silicon Glen, which reached its height in the 1980s under - believe it or not - Margaret Thatcher's governments, otherwise known for shutting everything down (or selling it off).

It isn't online, but a picture caption in the newspaper is incorrect. Ian Lang, of course, was not Scottish Secretary in 1986 (it was Malcolm Rifkind), but the under-secretary for industry in the Scottish Office at the time.

Scottish Questions move

2007-11-05T14:58:00.001-08:00

BBC Online also carries the news that Scottish Questions will now take place every five weeks instead of once every month, and at 11.30am on a Wednesday (before PMQs) as opposed to a Tuesday afternoon.

The change comes as part of a wider Commons' timetable shake-up and is, I think, the first change since the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999.

Scottish Unionists Take Refuge...and Stock

2007-11-05T14:49:00.000-08:00

BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor has written a good blog on the latest meeting of the three Holyrood opposition parties to discuss greater powers for the Scottish Parliament. Interestingly, not only was the meeting held at the Scotland Office in Edinburgh, but Westminster representatives joined the meeting for the first time: David Mundell for the Conservatives, Des Browne (the Scottish Secretary) for the Government/Labour and Alistair Carmichael for the Lib Dems. BBC Online is also carrying a story about the 'devolution review group' agreed by the three parties at today's talks.

I share Taylor's cynicism about these opposition/Unionist party meetings. Nothing substantial ever seems to come out of them; instead it's just agreed to agree and meet again to agree some more!

Vernon Bogdanor

2007-11-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

A thoroughly sensible piece of commentary from the thoroughly sensible Vernon Bogdanor in today's Observer, David Cameron's former tutor and one of the only English academics who actually understands the UK constitution. He assesses former Scottish Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind's East Lothian Answer to the West Lothian Question. Ignore the barking comments following the main article.

David Cairns on independence

2007-11-03T18:01:00.000-07:00

An interesting story running on BBC Online about a subtle shift in tone from the Scottish Labour Party. Scotland Office minister of state David Cairns now concedes that Scotland would not wither and die if it became independent, quite a different sentiment to that articulated during May's election campaign.

The East Lothian Answer

2007-10-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today's Observer has a non-story (which R4 news bulletins later led with, for some reason) on the long-running saga of how the Conservatives should answer the West Lothian Question. It's a non-story because it was in the Herald on 1 October, and has been floating around for about a year before that. It was in the Edinburgh Evening News in early 2006. Today's Sunday Times has a slightly more sensible take on it.

Anyway, beyond being old news, the Observer report also fundamentally misunderstands what Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Scottish Secretary who's come up with the scheme, is actually proposing. In a nutshell, Riffers proposes that an English Grand Commitee (composed of all English Members) should consider purely English legislation (whatever that is) at the Second Reading and Committee stages, while every MP gets a vote on the final reading with the convention that nothing passed by a majority of English MPs should be overturned by the full floor of the house. The Observer report omits that last detail, which is odd, as it's the only point which separates Rifkind's 'East Lothian Answer' (he has a house in Inveresk) from the daft old English Votes for English Laws plan.

The Observer's crack political team also appear under the impression that the voting rights of Scottish MPs is somehow linked to the Barnett Formula. The architect of the formula that isn't really a formula, Lord (Joel) Barnett, was on R4 this evening saying that (the Observer version of) the Tory plan would lead to the end of the Union.

Apparently, and the Herald also had this line earlier this month, Cameron is looking favourably on the proposal, which has been submitted by Riffers to Ken Clarke's Democracy Taskforce. It is, in my humble and irrelevant opinion, eminently sensible and a more elegant solution to an inelegant problem.

Douglas Alexander apology

2007-10-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

BBC Online's Scottish Politics page carries news of former Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander's apology following publication yesterday of the Gould Report into May's elections fiasco. Interesting that Tory Leader David Cameron also chose to lead on this at Prime Minister's Questions today, following an impressive performance by Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell in the Commons yesterday.

Also taking some flak is Sam Younger of the Electoral Commission. Younger - a cousin of the late former Scottish Secretary George Younger - has promised to 'learn the lessons' of Gould's findings. Today's Scotsman has a full account of the fall-out from yesterday's events.

Scottish Office - the India connection

2007-10-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Apologies, this niche blog has been neglected of late. In my defence, I was on holiday in India for a couple of weeks so could not readily update it. It was most enjoyable, and in between fending off beggars and overly-keen rickshaw drivers, I was able to track down a few Scottish political connections.

Two Scottish Secretaries were exiled to India post-Scottish Office: the first was John Sinclair, latterly Lord Pentland, who went to the Madras Presidency in 1912. He left his mark - not only is there a memorial in the splendid St Andrew's Church, but also a badly-restored painting in the 'contemporary' section of the Pantheon museum complex (both pictured). Lord Pentland is buried in Edinburgh's Dean Cemetery.

The second was Sir John Colville, latterly Lord Clydesmuir, who became governor of Bombay during the Second World War, banished by Churchill for bad behaviour. There didn't seem to be any memorials in Mumbai's more modest St Andrew's Kirk, although I did see Lord Clydesmuir's old official residence on Malabar Hill.

The East Lothian Answer

2007-10-02T03:31:00.000-07:00

The former Scottish Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind has resurrected his articulate case for what he calls an 'East Lothian Answer' (he lives in Inveresk) to the long-standing West Lothian Question, chiefly an English Grand Committee. Alan Cochrane has an account of Sir Malcolm's fringe speech in today's Daily Telegraph.

Sir Malcolm first raised this solution more than a year ago when he circulated it as a paper to Tory MPs. I remember then that both the Conservative leader, David Cameron, and the Shadow Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, were minded to accept it over the cruder and divisive English Votes for English Laws solution.

Bill Hughes

2007-09-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

There was an amusing gaffe in the Scottish Parliament yesterday when First Minister Alex Salmond referred to the industrialist Bill Hughes as if he'd left us some time ago. The Herald has a full account of the exchanges.

Bill Hughes didn't quite draw up the structure of Scottish Enterprise on the back of a cigarette packet; he was chairman of Grampian Holdings and a leader of the CBI in Scotland when he bypassed the Scottish Secretary (Malcolm Rifkind) and presented Margaret Thatcher with his scheme to solve Scottish unemployment by reforming the SDA.

Mike Elrick

2007-09-27T11:18:00.001-07:00

A belated post about the return of former Government special adviser Mike Elrick to the Labour fold, this time as an adviser to Wendy Alexander as the new leader of Labour in Scotland. Many moons ago Mike was special adviser to John Reid when he was the first post-devolution Scottish Secretary. He then fell out with the Labour Party and I remember reading a particularly negative parting shot in the Scotsman.

Henry McLeish

2007-09-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

Interesting story in today's Scotland on Sunday about a new book written by the former Scottish Office minister and First Minister Henry McLeish (and his journalist pal Tom Brown) called The Road Divides, which is being launched tomorrow to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the devolution referendum. In it, McLeish argues that the Scottish Secretary Des Browne and his 'London Labour' colleagues are endangering the Union by refusing to consider additional powers for the Scottish Parliament (although what these actually are no one seems to be articulating).

The book is being launched with a press conference on Monday morning (11am) at the Hub in Edinburgh.

Duke of Buccleuch

2007-09-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

It was announced earlier today (Tuesday) that the Duke of Buccleuch had died aged 83. He was the MP for North Edinburgh from 1960-73, and served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to both Jack Maclay and Michael Noble as Secretaries of State for Scotland from 1962-64. The Daily Telegraph, as usual, has a lengthy obituary, as does The Times, while I did one for today's Scotsman; today's Independent also has a typically personal account by Tam Dalyell.

Michael Ancram

2007-09-04T02:34:00.001-07:00

The Daily Telegraph today carries a story about the former Scottish Office minister and chairman of the Scottish Conservatives Michael Ancram, who has warned David Cameron to 'stop trashing Thatcher legacy' of the Conservatives. He's outlined his views in an alternative manifesto (or less sexily a policy document) called Still a Conservative.

Chris Harvie

2007-09-04T01:26:00.000-07:00

The political academic Christopher Harvie, now (perhaps) better known as an MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, has an interesting article on Guardian Unlimited's Comment is Free, calling for the Scotland Office to become a 'House of Scotland' to promote Scotland in London.

Des Browne

2007-08-27T02:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Scotland on Sunday had an interesting article on the Scottish Secretary Des Browne and his attempts to re-energise the Scotland Office following the SNP's election win in May.

John McTernan

2007-08-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

Interesting news in today's Scotsman that John McTernan, previously Tony Blair's politicial secretary at Downing Street, has been appointed special adviser to Des Browne, the Scottish Secretary, so there is in fact life after Blair. McTernan is a bright and decent chap who also used to do a thoughtful column for Scotland on Sunday; this blog wishes him well, particularly as he has to help reconcile his new boss's line on extra powers for the Scottish Parliament with Wendy Alexander's, which the Scotsman seems to think are in conflict.

Update: 23 August 2007
Not so, reports the Scotsman today. On a visit to Edinburgh yesterday, the Scottish Secretary insisted that he meant the SNP's referendum white paper was a 'Trojan Horse' for independence, not greater powers for Holyrood.

Lord Forsyth and the independence referendum

2007-08-13T04:12:00.000-07:00

Today's newspapers have followed up an interesting story in yesterday's Sunday Times which reported that Lord Forsyth, the former Scottish Secretary, had urged Annabel Goldie, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, to back the SNP's desired referendum on independence. His argument is that it would almost certainly be defeated at the hands of the electorate and therefore scupper the cause of separatism for a generation.

You can read the Herald's account of the story, or Alan Cochrane's amusing (and, I think, correct) reaction in the Telegraph.

Whither the Scotland Office

2007-08-06T02:55:00.000-07:00

Yet another attack on the Scotland Office from the Liberal Democrat's in Friday's Scotsman, this time from the party's new Shadow Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael, while it has also been branded a 'pointless relic' by a chap from the Taxpayers' Alliance.

The Scotsman also devoted an editorial to the subject, which you can read some of by clicking here, while Alan Cochrane launched a spirited defence of the former Scottish Office in his Telegraph column the following day, not least the departments entertainment allowance.

David Mundell is interim Scottish Tory Chairman

2007-07-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

It was announced today that Peter Duncan had stood down as chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party to be replaced, on an interim basis, by David Mundell, the Shadow Scottish Secretary and the party's only Scottish MP.

Although Duncan - since May a councillor in Dumfries and Galloway - had been expected to stand down for some time now, it seems to me a little odd for him to be doing so before a permanent replacement has been identified.

Names being mentioned in Abbey House include the former MSPs Murray Tosh and Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, the latter of whom is now active in the House of Lords.

You can read more on this story at BBC Online.

Scottish Questions

2007-07-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

Today was Des Browne's first Scottish Questions as the new Secretary of State. You can read the Hansard report of the exchanges but having watched it I think he did pretty well, including a skillful recovery from a verbal slip in which he said he looked forward to working for his new Lib Dem shadow as opposed to with him.

Campbell's Diaries

2007-07-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

An interesting excerpt from Alistair Campbell's Diaries, as picked up on by today's Herald:

DUNBLANE: Back me or sack me' Forsyth told Major HE reveals how Michael Forsyth, then Scottish Secretary, and George Robertson, his shadow, told John Major he should take Tony Blair, then leader of the opposition, with him when he visited Dunblane in the wake of the tragic shooting in the town.

"They told Major that the entire community would appreciate it if they both went. He said he had said to Major If my judgment is proved wrong you can sack me' to which Major pointed at George and said yes, but can't sack him'. TB was fretting that they would brief the press that he had barged his way in when in fact he just wanted to do what everyone else thought was right.

"Major and Norma were chilly with TB, and as for me, I might not have existed. At Glasgow we split off and headed to Dunblane and George's place. Forsyth was very kind. George introduced me to Forsyth's wife, who said she hadn't realised that I was tall and handsome as well as famous! I saw a different side to Forsyth. Later TB told George about his plans on devolution and I could see George getting more and more nervous."

Lord Sewel

2007-07-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

Lord Sewel, a Scottish Office minister from 1997-99, has become the latest politician to call for the so-called Barnett Formula to be scrapped. You can read a full account of his thoughts in today's Herald, or read his contribution to the Smith Institute publication, Towards a New Constitutional Settlement, by clicking on this pdf link.

David Torrance

blog on the move

Jim Murphy

Christmas books

Teddy Taylor's memoirs

Scotland on Sunday review

Book Talk

Interview with Jim Murphy

Scotsman review

George Younger launch (in London)

George Younger review

George Younger's secret archive

George Younger book launch

George Younger

Jim Murphy

Jim Murphy is new Scottish Secretary

The Tories and the Scottish Secretary

Scottish Secretary post to be retained

Ann McKechin

David Cairns resigns

The Flag in the Wind

Alistair Darling Profile

Council Tax Abolition Bill

Tom Johnston

Scottish Secretary RIP?

Jim Murphy to be SoS?

Alistair Darling's 'pissed off'

The new age of Hydro

Des Browne's dual role

Maggie wields her axe

North Sea oil fund

Declaration of Perth 40th anniversary

George Kynoch wins Scottish Tory election

Sermon on the Mound # 2

Maggie Maggie Maggie

Straight Talk with Lord Forsyth

Des Browne under fire

Sir John Gilmour library

Sermon on the Mound

The Unfinished Business of Devolution

Comeback for George Kynoch?

Thatcher and devolution

Kidnapped! Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Lord Barnett

Des Browne for the chop?

Dick Mabon dies

Des Browne hits out

Hugh Brown

Francis Pym dies

Barnett Formula review?

Alistair Carmichael resigns

Scotland Office has 'next to no' policy responsibilities

New Scottish Tory Chairman

Clarke rejects the 'East Lothian Answer'

Harold Wilson interview

Forsyth attacks Tory MSPs

Politics Then # 2

Two mad people in the attic

Politics Then

Scottish Constitutional Commission # 2

Scotland Office aide

Scottish Constitutional Commission

Ian Smith

National Archives

Hamish Henderson and Walter Elliot

Lord Pentland archive

Ian MacArthur

Arthur J Balfour

Des Browne's dual role

David Cameron

Wendy Alexander

40th anniversary of Aden departure

Des Browne's dual role

More West Lothian Question

John Reid new Celtic chairman

West Lothian Question # 2

West Lothian Question is 30

The East Lothian Answer # 2

Silicon Glen

Scottish Questions move