Former presiding officer and journalist Sir George Reid dies aged 86
His death followed a diagnosis of metastatic kidney cancer at the end of June. He died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 12, at Strathcarron Hospice in Denny.
Sir George's family said the former SNP politician had been working with students at Stirling University up until the last few weeks of his life.
Last week, after a hospital appointment, he drove through Clackmannanshire, where he was born and raised and served as MP in the 1970s and MSP from 1999 to 2007.
Sir George was presiding officer from 2003 to 2007 and concluded the final stages of the Holyrood building project.
He worked for several newspapers and in television for the BBC, Granada Television and STV.
Sir George was known for being a champion of non-tribal progressive politics.
In 2012, he was knighted for services to Scottish politics and public life.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Daphne, his daughter Morag, his son-in-law and five grandchildren.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
21 minutes ago
- Leader Live
JK Rowling compares Nicola Sturgeon to Donald Trump in scathing book review
The Harry Potter author accused Ms Sturgeon of being 'flat out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and hard facts' on issues relating to trans and women's rights. The writer is a long-time critic of the former SNP leader and her views on gender self-ID. The Twilight of Nicola SturgeonMy review of Franklyhttps:// — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 14, 2025 In her near-3000-word review, published on her own website, she accuses Ms Sturgeon, who passed gender reform legislation at Holyrood, of holding 'luxury beliefs' that have caused 'real, lasting harm' to women. Rowling published her review on X alongside what appears to be an AI-generated image of Ms Sturgeon in the woods in front of a wolf and a vampire. She said of the politician's memoir, Frankly: 'She remains stubbornly wedded to her belief that it is possible to let some men into women's spaces on the men's say so, without letting any man who fancies it come inside. 'She denies there are any risks to a policy of gender self-identification. 'She can't imagine any male predator capitalising on such policies, in spite of the fact that it has, demonstrably, happened many times. 'She is flat out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and facts.' Rowling, who lives in Edinburgh, said the Glasgow Southside MSP had not been 'remotely humbled' by the Supreme Court ruling that sex in the UK Equality Act referred to biological sex. The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Act, which was passed by MSPs, was ultimately scrapped by Westminster, with the then Tory government saying it contravened equalities law. In her book, Ms Sturgeon said she had never received as much abuse than when Rowling posted a picture of herself on social media with a T-shirt saying 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights'. The former first minister said the post made her feel 'more at risk of possible physical harm'. Rowling defended the decision, writing in her review her intention was to encourage journalists to question Ms Sturgeon on the impacts her gender reforms may have. She compares the MSP to Twilight character Bella Swan, saying both were 'monomaniacs', with Mr Sturgeon being 'consumed' by independence. She says of them: 'Both shy, insecure teenagers have dates with destiny. 'Nicola Sturgeon will one day become first minister of Scotland. Bella Swan will join the ranks of the undead.' The author said Sturgeon made significant omissions in her memoir, including WhatsApp messages from the Covid pandemic, education standards and the row over delayed and over-budget ferries. 'Perhaps the most disgraceful omission — and I'll admit to a personal interest here, because I'm married to a doctor who used to run a methadone clinic, so saw the national scandal up close — is the fact that Scotland continues to lead the whole of Europe in drug deaths,' she said. Ms Sturgeon has said she stands by the principle of gender self-ID but has expressed regret at not pausing her gender reforms in order to find common ground with opponents. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said the debate was 'toxic on both sides'. She accepted that 'in all of the tone and tenor of this I am not saying I was blameless at all', saying she 'desperately' wished she had been able to 'find a more collegiate way forward' on the controversial issue. Ms Sturgeon has been approached for comment.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
No ceasefire, no deal. What summit means for Trump, Putin and Ukraine
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have left Alaska without reaching an agreement for a ceasefire in an almost three-hour meeting, the leaders delivered a joint statement to the media before leaving without taking BBC correspondents who are in Anchorage for the summit assess what it means for the US and Russian leaders as well as what happens next in the war in Ukraine. Meeting dents Trump's reputation as a dealmaker By North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher"There's no deal until there's a deal," Donald Trump said early in his post-summit remarks here in was a roundabout way of conceding that after several hours of talks, there's no deal. No ceasefire. Nothing tangible to president said that he and Vladimir Putin made "some great progress", but with little details about what that might be, it's left to the world's imagination."We didn't get there," he later said, before exiting the room without taking any questions from the hundreds of gathered travelled a long way to only produce such vagaries, even if America's European allies and Ukrainian officials may be relieved he did not offer unilateral concessions or agreements that could have undermined future the man who likes to tout himself as a peacemaker and a dealmaker, it appears that Trump will leave Alaska with neither. There are also no indications that future a future summit that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is forthcoming, Putin's "next time in Moscow" quip about their next meeting Trump had less at stake during these negotiations than Ukraine or Russia, it still will put a dent in his domestic and international prestige after earlier promises that this meeting had only a 25% chance of more, the president had to suffer the apparent indignity of standing silent as Putin started off the press-conference-that-wasn't with extensive opening remarks. It was a marked difference than the normal routine in the Oval Office, when the US president typically holds court while his foreign counterpart looks on without Alaska is American territory, Putin seemed more at home in what his officials like to note was once "Russian America" before its 19th Century sale to the US. That may eat at the American president over the comings days, as will press coverage that will present this summit as a flop. The big question now - one reporters were unable to ask on Friday - is whether Trump will decide to impose his much-threatened new sanctions on Russia as punishment or if he will find a reason to once again push the deadlines farther down the road. Putin gets his moment in the global spotlight By Steve Rosenberg, Russia editorWhen is a "press conference" not a press conference?When there are no was palpable surprise in the hall when Presidents Putin and Trump left the podium as soon as they'd delivered their statements – without taking any of the Russian delegation, too, left the room swiftly without answering any of the questions journalists were shouting at signs that when it comes to the war in Ukraine Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump still have a major difference of Trump has been pushing for a Russian ceasefire. Vladimir Putin didn't give it to was a very different vibe earlier in the day. President Trump had rolled out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin, treating the Kremlin leader as an honoured the Russian president got his moment in the geo-political limelight, sharing the stage with the leader of the world's most powerful how will Trump react to what happened? He still hasn't managed to persuade Putin to end Russia's war in he'd threatened a tougher approach to Russia, with ultimatums, deadlines and warnings of more sanctions if Moscow ignored calls for a hasn't followed he? A sigh of relief from Ukraine - but fear for what's next By Vitaliy Shevchenko, Russia Editor BBC MonitoringWhat just happened in Anchorage may feel anti-climactic for many, but in Kyiv there will be sighs of relief that no "deal" has been announced that would cost Ukraine of Ukraine will also know that all of their key deals with Russia have ended up broken, so even if one had been announced here in Anchorage, they would have been will be alarmed, however, that at the joint appearance in front of the media Vladimir Putin yet again spoke of the "root causes" of the conflict and said only their removal would lead to lasting peace. Translated from Kremlin-speak, this means he is still determined to pursue the original objective of his "special military operation" - which is to dismantle Ukraine as an independent state. Three-and-a-half years of Western efforts have failed to make him change his mind, and that now includes the Alaska uncertainty that persists after the meeting is also worrying. What happens next? Will Russia's attacks continue unabated?The past few months have seen a succession of Western deadlines that came and went without consequences, and threats that were never carried out. Ukrainians see this as an invitation for Putin to continue his attacks. They may see the apparent lack of progress achieved Anchorage in the same light. WATCH: Smiles, handshakes and a shared limo: The greeting unpackedVISUALS: The war-ravaged Ukrainian territories in mapsVERIFY: Russian attacks on Ukraine double since Trump inaugurationGROUND REPORT: Left out of Alaska talks, Ukrainians fear an unjust peace
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
JK Rowling compares Nicola Sturgeon to Donald Trump in scathing book review
JK Rowling has compared Nicola Sturgeon to US president Donald Trump and the Twilight character Bella Swan in a scathing review of the former Scottish first minister's memoir. The Harry Potter author accused Ms Sturgeon of being 'flat out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and hard facts' on issues relating to trans and women's rights. Advertisement The writer is a long-time critic of the former SNP leader and her views on gender self-ID. The Twilight of Nicola Sturgeon My review of Frankly — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 14, 2025 In her near-3000-word review, published on her own website, she accuses Ms Sturgeon, who passed gender reform legislation at Holyrood, of holding 'luxury beliefs' that have caused 'real, lasting harm' to women. Rowling published her review on X alongside what appears to be an AI-generated image of Ms Sturgeon in the woods in front of a wolf and a vampire. She said of the politician's memoir, Frankly: 'She remains stubbornly wedded to her belief that it is possible to let some men into women's spaces on the men's say so, without letting any man who fancies it come inside. Advertisement 'She denies there are any risks to a policy of gender self-identification. 'She can't imagine any male predator capitalising on such policies, in spite of the fact that it has, demonstrably, happened many times. 'She is flat out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and facts.' Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon at the launch of her memoir 'Frankly', at Edinburgh International Book Festival (Jane Barlow/PA) Rowling, who lives in Edinburgh, said the Glasgow Southside MSP had not been 'remotely humbled' by the Supreme Court ruling that sex in the UK Equality Act referred to biological sex. Advertisement The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Act, which was passed by MSPs, was ultimately scrapped by Westminster, with the then Tory government saying it contravened equalities law. In her book, Ms Sturgeon said she had never received as much abuse than when Rowling posted a picture of herself on social media with a T-shirt saying 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights'. The former first minister said the post made her feel 'more at risk of possible physical harm'. Rowling defended the decision, writing in her review her intention was to encourage journalists to question Ms Sturgeon on the impacts her gender reforms may have. Advertisement She compares the MSP to Twilight character Bella Swan, saying both were 'monomaniacs', with Mr Sturgeon being 'consumed' by independence. Nicola Sturgeon was compared to Donald Trump in a book review by author JK Rowling (Jane Barlow/PA) She says of them: 'Both shy, insecure teenagers have dates with destiny. 'Nicola Sturgeon will one day become first minister of Scotland. Bella Swan will join the ranks of the undead.' The author said Sturgeon made significant omissions in her memoir, including WhatsApp messages from the Covid pandemic, education standards and the row over delayed and over-budget ferries. Advertisement 'Perhaps the most disgraceful omission — and I'll admit to a personal interest here, because I'm married to a doctor who used to run a methadone clinic, so saw the national scandal up close — is the fact that Scotland continues to lead the whole of Europe in drug deaths,' she said. Ms Sturgeon has said she stands by the principle of gender self-ID but has expressed regret at not pausing her gender reforms in order to find common ground with opponents. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said the debate was 'toxic on both sides'. She accepted that 'in all of the tone and tenor of this I am not saying I was blameless at all', saying she 'desperately' wished she had been able to 'find a more collegiate way forward' on the controversial issue. Ms Sturgeon has been approached for comment.
