Readers of The National

I’VE been watching in disbelief and horror what has been happening on US college campuses over the last few days. As a graduate of Columbia’s SIPA (School of International and Public Affairs), I’m both proud of the students and appalled and disgusted by the university administration’s brutal suppression of their right to protest against Israel’s genocide and the US government’s political and

THIS is an open letter to leaders in the SNP, Alba, Greens and every other independence organisation. THE CAUSE OF INDEPENDENCE MUST COME ABOVE ANY OTHER BELIEFS!

THE last week in Scottish politics has again highlighted the toxicity of the Unionist press in Scotland. My relatives in England now think we are a basket case. However, when I listen to what they are facing it is obvious Scotland is in a much healthier and better position. You wouldn’t know that if you listened, watched and read the available media platforms.

HERE we go again, barely one year has passed since the SNP establishment lined up for various “hostage” videos – telling us all to support Humza as he was the way forward. Clearly not.

HERE is my take on the Green/SNP spat. This all started with the release of the Cass report, an independent report by a senior clinical advisor for child health. The SNP-led government followed the advice given and that, along with the roll-back of the 2030 climate targets, caused the Scottish Green Party to arrange a meeting for its members to decide whether to stay in coalition with the SNP or not.

WITH the dust settling on the demise of Humza Yousaf’s leadership of the party and government, the SNP need to move on. With an SNP minority government, the political landscape of Holyrood has fundamentally changed. The SNP cannot simply say “we did it successfully before, we can do it again.”

LAST week’s decision to ditch the Greens in such a brutal manner before they potentially made the decision themselves to end the Bute House Agreement was probably the wrong decision. Humza and his “advisors” failed to consider the badly bruised ego’s thirst for revenge, and at best it was a decision made through political naivety. However, every crisis provides an opportunity.

YOU report that Kate Forbes “breaks silence”. Well, her silence didn’t last long. She claims she is thinking about what is best for “the party, the country, and my family”. Neither the party nor the country needs a “social conservative” (I find her conservative in her values and beliefs and, like all too many politicians, dishonest with it).

ON Monday I heard Richard Tice of Reform UK pontificate on the Daily Politics show by repeating the mantra that those crossing the Channel in small boats should all be returned to France, as it is a safe country. I am rapidly reaching the limits of frustration and anger with this argument that they should stay in the first safe country the come to, before I resort to throwing something at the TV!

WHILE the BBC enjoyed a feeding frenzy on Humza Yousaf’s demise as First Minister – with journalists from across its UK network descending on Scotland to join local reporters for the feast – honest, objective, professional reporting was another significant casualty.