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The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon book compared to Barack Obama memoir. Really?
We are now T-minus 23 days away from the publication of Frankly, Nicola Sturgeon's memoirs, and things are already becoming too silly for words. The [[pub]]lishers have been sending out advance copies to 'friendly' reviewers in the hope of getting some nice words for the cover. I'm not sure Andrew O'Hagan has done himself, or the former First Minister, any favours with his contribution. 'A triumph,' says the author of Mayflies and Caledonian Road. 'Frankly is the most insightful and stylishly open memoir by a politician since Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father.' Sturgeon the new Obama? If only. And what does 'stylishly open' mean? That it's got more holes in it than Rab C Nesbitt's vest? JK Rowling has added to the excitement by offering to review the book for free, as long as newspaper editors don't edit out the swear words. The book's [[pub]]lication was always going to be a three-ring circus (insert tent jokes here). But you might have thought with the Sandie Peggie tribunal going on that some restraint, sensitivity even, was called for. Alas, no. What we got instead was a spectacularly clumsy intervention from former SNP MP and Sturgeon pal Hannah Bardell. Read more The occasion was the newspaper review on BBC Radio Scotland's The Sunday Show, presented by Graham Stewart. What follows is an account of what happened, edited for brevity and my sanity. You know, there were an awful lot of you knows, you know? In the papers was Brian Leishman MP, recently stripped of the Labour whip for serially rebelling, or what one party wag called 'persistent knobheadery'. Bardell said she had 'a lot of respect for Brian' and his principled stands. As an [[SNP]] MP she had been in the fortunate position of agreeing with most of what the party stood for. 'But if you're in the situation where you believe in certain values that your party should hold … and you see it veering off to the right, I think fair play, stay and fight. I know it's a thorn in Keir Starmer's side, but that's the kind of people we need in politics.' Asked if that had worked for Joanna Cherry, Bardell replied: 'Joanna caused a huge amount of upset and distress to a huge number of people, particularly in the trans community. Our party should have been stronger on that… because there are people, vulnerable communities, particularly the trans community, that are facing widespread ostracisation in the media, from very senior people, and Joanna has been one of those. I find that heartbreaking.' This 'stuff', continued Bardell, was having a 'profound impact' on society. 'I think it's the last post of bigotry as well. We would not now discriminate against people because of their race, or their religion, or their sexuality. We used to, but we don't any more. In 15 to 20 years, hopefully sooner, we will look back and say what a shameful thing to have done. Where did we lose our humanity?' Stewart, still taking shots at an open goal, said Nicola Sturgeon had upset a lot of people on the other side of the debate by linking them with 'right-wing bigots'. Was that necessarily helpful language? Bardell: 'I think unfortunately it's true. I don't think it's the case that everybody who is anti-trans is necessarily recognised as a bigot, nor should they be, because there's a lot of misinformation and disinformation out there. But we're in the situation that people are being radicalised. People have become obsessed with folks' genitalia, what's in their pants. Where have we got to? Scotland has been the world over a nation that believed in humanity. We're all Jack (sic) Jock Tamson's bairns according to Robert Burns. We need to get back to those fundamentals.' Dear Lord, where do you even start? Radicalised? Saying people are too stupid to know misinformation and disinformation when they encounter them? A nation obsessed with what's in people's pants? To think Bardell describes herself on LinkedIn as 'a problem solver with excellent negotiation, leadership and communication skills'. Yes, you and Mr Blobby, mate. Ordinarily, Joanna Cherry KC might have been all over Bardell's comments like the pattern on an Orla Kiely bag, but she chose to rise above them, saying on X: 'If I sued everyone who defamed me for standing up for the rights of women & lesbians I wouldn't have time to get on with my life which has improved immeasurably away from the poisonous atmosphere Sturgeon fostered within the SNP". Now there's an example we might all follow as this 'debate' rumbles on, possibly to the Holyrood elections and beyond given the speed at which John Swinney is not moving. That's a long haul and then some. Even then, as with the independence referendum, we will never be completely done with it. Resentments are festering, not healing. In the meantime, the rest of us will keep stumbling on, trying to do the right thing, sometimes getting it wrong like the flawed humans we are, and all the time fearful of being called out by one side or the other. Who wants to live like that? Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall be heading back to 2014, that more innocent time when the most terrifying words you might hear were 'Hello, I'm Jim Murphy.' If that doesn't work I'll be joining the lad from Essex in the 1940s. Rest assured: we'll meet again soon.
The Herald Scotland
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon book compared to Barack Obama memoir: really?
We are now T-minus 23 days away from the publication of Frankly, Nicola Sturgeon's memoirs, and things are already becoming too silly for words. The [[pub]]lishers have been sending out advance copies to 'friendly' reviewers in the hope of getting some nice words for the cover. I'm not sure Andrew O'Hagan has done himself, or the former First Minister, any favours with his contribution. 'A triumph,' says the author of Mayflies and Caledonian Road. 'Frankly is the most insightful and stylishly open memoir by a politician since Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father.' Sturgeon the new Obama? If only. And what does 'stylishly open' mean? That it's got more holes in it than Rab C Nesbitt's vest? JK Rowling has added to the excitement by offering to review the book for free, as long as newspaper editors don't edit out the swear words. The book's [[pub]]lication was always going to be a three-ring circus (insert tent jokes here). But you might have thought with the Sandie Peggie tribunal going on that some restraint, sensitivity even, was called for. Alas, no. What we got instead was a spectacularly clumsy intervention from former SNP MP and Sturgeon pal Hannah Bardell. Read more The occasion was the newspaper review on BBC Radio Scotland's The Sunday Show, presented by Graham Stewart. What follows is an account of what happened, edited for brevity and my sanity. You know, there were an awful lot of you knows, you know? In the papers was Brian Leishman MP, recently stripped of the Labour whip for serially rebelling, or what one party wag called 'persistent knobheadery'. Bardell said she had 'a lot of respect for Brian' and his principled stands. As an [[SNP]] MP she had been in the fortunate position of agreeing with most of what the party stood for. 'But if you're in the situation where you believe in certain values that your party should hold … and you see it veering off to the right, I think fair play, stay and fight. I know it's a thorn in Keir Starmer's side, but that's the kind of people we need in politics.' Asked if that had worked for Joanna Cherry, Bardell replied: 'Joanna caused a huge amount of upset and distress to a huge number of people, particularly in the trans community. Our party should have been stronger on that… because there are people, vulnerable communities, particularly the trans community, that are facing widespread ostracisation in the media, from very senior people, and Joanna has been one of those. I find that heartbreaking.' This 'stuff', continued Bardell, was having a 'profound impact' on society. 'I think it's the last post of bigotry as well. We would not now discriminate against people because of their race, or their religion, or their sexuality. We used to, but we don't any more. In 15 to 20 years, hopefully sooner, we will look back and say what a shameful thing to have done. Where did we lose our humanity?' Stewart, still taking shots at an open goal, said Nicola Sturgeon had upset a lot of people on the other side of the debate by linking them with 'right-wing bigots'. Was that necessarily helpful language? Bardell: 'I think unfortunately it's true. I don't think it's the case that everybody who is anti-trans is necessarily recognised as a bigot, nor should they be, because there's a lot of misinformation and disinformation out there. But we're in the situation that people are being radicalised. People have become obsessed with folks' genitalia, what's in their pants. Where have we got to? Scotland has been the world over a nation that believed in humanity. We're all Jack (sic) Jock Tamson's bairns according to Robert Burns. We need to get back to those fundamentals.' Dear Lord, where do you even start? Radicalised? Saying people are too stupid to know misinformation and disinformation when they encounter them? A nation obsessed with what's in people's pants? To think Bardell describes herself on LinkedIn as 'a problem solver with excellent negotiation, leadership and communication skills'. Yes, you and Mr Blobby, mate. Ordinarily, Joanna Cherry KC might have been all over Bardell's comments like the pattern on an Orla Kiely bag, but she chose to rise above them, saying on X: 'If I sued everyone who defamed me for standing up for the rights of women & lesbians I wouldn't have time to get on with my life which has improved immeasurably away from the poisonous atmosphere Sturgeon fostered within the SNP". Now there's an example we might all follow as this 'debate' rumbles on, possibly to the Holyrood elections and beyond given the speed at which John Swinney is not moving. That's a long haul and then some. Even then, as with the independence referendum, we will never be completely done with it. Resentments are festering, not healing. In the meantime, the rest of us will keep stumbling on, trying to do the right thing, sometimes getting it wrong like the flawed humans we are, and all the time fearful of being called out by one side or the other. Who wants to live like that? Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall be heading back to 2014, that more innocent time when the most terrifying words you might hear were 'Hello, I'm Jim Murphy.' If that doesn't work I'll be joining the lad from Essex in the 1940s. Rest assured: we'll meet again soon.
Daily Record
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
'SNP will throw everything at beating me - including the campervan', says Fergus Ewing
Ewing announced on Friday that he will stand as an independent against the SNP in the Inverness and Nairn constituency next year. The SNP will "throw everything" including "the kitchen sink and the campervan" into beating Fergus Ewing, the veteran MSP has said. Ewing announced on Friday that he will stand as an independent against the SNP in the Inverness and Nairn constituency next year. A £100,000 campervan was seized by police from Nicola Sturgeon's former mother-in-law's house as part of the investigation into the SNP's finances. Ewing told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "I'm sure the party will throw everything into it, every effort, the kitchen sink and perhaps even the campervan". The 67-year-old is standing against SNP candidate Emma Roddick, who is currently a Highlands and Islands list MSP. He denied that he could be helping other parties by splitting the vote. He said: "I don't think that will happen. I'm fighting to win. I have a large majority, a fairly large personal vote. I take nothing for granted. "I am doing this because I think it's the right thing to do for my constituents, for democracy in Scotland, in the sense that I want to... not to bring anybody down but to raise the standard for parliament and to speak out. "It was Edwin Morgan, the great national bard, who said about the Scottish Parliament, what people don't want is 'a nest of fearties'. "That doesn't serve anyone's interests, MSPs selected by party leaders on a list. Instead there should be an open list where people can pick whoever they wish from that list. So I believe it's the right decision." Ewing said he had not spoken to SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney about him standing. He said: "Well, no, I haven't. But I have given clear, fair warning. Not least in March when I said, 'I'm minded to stand as an independent. I cannot stand for the SNP and defend the indefensible'." Ewing has been the MSP for Inverness and Nairn since the Scottish Parliament returned in 1999 and was a minister for 14 years under Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. He has been a vocal critic of the Scottish Government and was particularly damning about the coalition agreement with the Greens. He spoke out against the deposit return scheme, gender reform, marine protected areas and what he said was a lack of support for the oil and gas industry. He defied the party whip to back a vote of no confidence in then-Green minister Lorna Slater in 2023. This resulted in him being temporarily suspended from the SNP Holyrood group. Ewing had confirmed in March that he would not stand for the SNP - blaming the Scottish Government's failure to dual the A9 and A96 roads. Party insiders told the Record on Saturday that Ewing would have won the Inverness and Nairn candidate selection if he had put himself forward.
STV News
15-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Minister ‘hopeful' for ‘positive' announcement on Grangemouth soon
The UK's energy minister has said he is 'hopeful' that an announcement on investment in Grangemouth will come soon. Michael Shanks said more than 80 potential investors had come forward since the UK Government pledged £200m for the site. The UK Government is looking for another £600m from private investment in the area, following the closure of Scotland's last oil refinery there. Mr Shanks said the investment, announced by the Prime Minister at the Scottish Labour conference earlier this year, will help provide a 'long-term, sustainable future' for the site. More than 400 jobs were lost at the oil refinery as owners Petroineos transitioned it to a fuel import terminal. The company said the facility was losing large amounts of money every day. PA Media More than 400 jobs have been lost at the Grangemouth site. Speaking on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, the energy minister said his Government was engaging with businesses on new projects for the area. 'We've had some really positive meetings around potential investors,' he said. 'In fact, there's more than 80 potential investors come forward. 'Scottish Enterprise is driving forward due diligence on that. 'There's a number of really credible projects that we're developing at the moment. 'We hope we'll have some really positive announcements to say soon.' Mr Shanks said the 'unprecedented' £200 million investment from the National Wealth Fund would help 'create the jobs of the future' while providing the security of long-term investment. He added: 'I'm hopeful we will have announcements soon. 'I'm not involved in the due diligence, as you wouldn't expect, but there are some really exciting, viable projects coming forward that will deliver jobs in Grangemouth long into the future.' Following the announcement by Petroineos to close the plant, the Scottish and UK governments funded Project Willow, a report which laid out the potential future of the site in areas such as sustainable aviation fuel. Earlier this week, Jan Robertson, Grangemouth director for Scottish Enterprise, said he had received a 'mixture of inquiries' from businesses, including those interested in the site as well as some which 'have a good opportunity to become projects in the relatively near-term'. PA Media Scotland's Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said the 'door's not closed' on Grangemouth. 'What I mean by that is the next three to four years,' she told Holyrood's Economy and Fair Work Committee. 'Our approach very much at the moment is working with those and working as closely and quickly as we can to make the progress that we want to see in Grangemouth.' Scotland's Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said at the committee that the 'door's not closed' to companies and inquiries could still be made about working at Grangemouth, adding that Petroineos had also received approaches. Ms Martin said she was hopeful for the future of Grangemouth. 'We could look back five years and start pointing fingers, but the most important thing is that in the last year – actually the last six months – Project Willow and the task force have moved things along in a way that's been swift, agile, focused,' she said. 'I am feeling so much more confident than I did this time last year in the prospects for that site.' Ms Martin added that she hoped, with approval from the cabinet, a just transition plan for Grangemouth would be published next week. 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
The National
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Anas Sarwar's joy quickly sours as reality of UK Labour's record bites
Claiming as Anas Sarwar tried in the immediate aftermath that the result was 'the first stone on the path to a Labour government next year' is less of a stretch and more heroic projection. But given what the story would have been if his party had failed, after a torrid few months you can hardly blame him for trying to put as much hot air in his balloon as he could manage. By Sunday, though, Sarwar's mood had clearly soured. His outing on The Sunday Show was little more than an angry rant, spending much of his airtime not so much failing to answer questions as failing to even allow them to be asked, talking over the presenter with a stream of vitriol about everyone from the SNP in general and John Swinney in particular, to the media itself. READ MORE: Controversial Loch Lomond Flamingo Land plans recalled by Scottish ministers Ironically, he seemed to have far more to say about the SNP warning about the dangers of Reform than he did about the dangers of the Reform party itself. For someone who wants and indeed needs the country to believe that he might still be in with a shout of being our next first minister, let's just say it wasn't very, well, first ministerial. The cause of all this anger? It was hard to tell. But you'd have to say Sarwar really doesn't like being asked to defend his party's dismal record in the UK Government. And he really, really didn't like having it pointed out to him that despite narrowly emerging with the most votes last Thursday, his party has seen a dramatic drop-off in support since last year's Westminster election. Now the smoke has cleared, the reality is this – as disappointing as it was from an SNP perspective not to win, the result was, give or take, in line with national Scotland-wide polling. (Image: Andrew Milligan/ PA Wire) While the SNP were well down on a high point of Holyrood 2021, Labour were also down on what was their 2021 low point. And when compared with the Westminster results last year, it's clear Labour support is down massively while the SNP are posting a modest revival. So, while Labour are not out of it yet, they are still well off the pace. For the SNP, it's a reminder if any were needed that while it was necessary for the party to 'steady the ship', this is insufficient in and of itself to bring the electoral success necessary to advance independence politically. For the Greens, it shows that even though they have no chance of winning first-past-the-post seats, if enough independence supporters favour them in an electoral contest they can take enough support to let a Unionist party slip through to victory. And as for the LibDems, it's clear that vast areas of Scotland are still complete no-go areas for them. In all the noise about Reform, however, one story seems to be being largely missed and that is how they are eating the Scottish Tories alive, to the point where if it continues, the Tories could end up duking it out for fourth, fifth or even sixth place in Holyrood next year between the Greens and the LibDems. It would be quite the fall from grace for the party that managed to take official opposition status at Holyrood under Ruth Davidson's brand. But as the brand tarnished in the slipstream of Boris Johnson, the aftermath of Brexit and the general vacuity of her eponymous project, so the politics and the rhetoric became ever more extreme. There's a distinction to be drawn between Reform the party and people voting Reform. The party seems to be attracting a motley mix of cranks, obsessives and opportunists as candidates, all of whom just about manage to agree with each other on who and what they dislike, and that, for now at least, 'in Nigel we trust'. But no matter what you can say about their public representatives and the hash they are making of the responsibilities they have been given, it's worth reflecting that not all of those who chose to favour them with their votes right now are necessarily signed up to the full-fat Reform agenda, scant on detail as that is. It's quite obvious large numbers of voters are scunnered right now. The cost of living crisis might be spoken of less but is no less present. If you have a frustration about the political system and the outcomes it has delivered; are disinclined to vote for independence as a route to something better; if you see a party which seems to be annoying all the right people as you see it; and if you feel the stakes are low enough, then 'why not?', you might feel. But back to the SNP. It should be clear by now there is no shortcut back to previous levels of popularity, and even if there is an 'independence button' out there to be pushed, it will only be to provide a temporary dopamine hit for the already convinced. If the SNP want to win back independence supporters – and crucially, those who are not yet independence supporters but who could be persuaded – the only route to that is through good government in the present; a clear vision for the future; and putting front and centre our arguments about why those who live in Scotland should be deciding what happens in Scotland.
