The Scottish Parliament

Housekeeping reminder

Holyrood Chronicles (Free subscription) | yesterday

This blog is not a comments free-for-all. Where I consider a comment to be gratuitously offensive, it will be deleted. No appeals. If you don't like it, tough.

More showbiz

Holyrood Chronicles (Free subscription) | yesterday

More than two years after the BBC dropped her – sparking accusations of ageism – veteran newsreader Moira Stuart is being lined up for a return to the airwaves on Chris Evans's BBC Radio 2 breakfast show. (here)Good - but it would have been better to bring back Fran Godfrey, the sexiest voice on radio.

What is the point of ...

Holyrood Chronicles (Free subscription) | yesterday

... the Royal Variety Performance? This year, the show stars Lady Gaga, Bette Midler, Michael Buble, Miley Cyrus, Whoopi Goldberg, Dance Troupe and Diversity; it will be hosted by Peter Kay.Is it fair or reasonable to expect an old lady (Brenda is now in her eighties) to sit through two hours of this desperate assemblage of wannabees and has-beens? Surely this royal function should be passed on

Campaigners share tips at Parliament

Edinburgh Evening News (Free subscription) | yesterday

COMMUNITY groups from across Scotland were attending a one-day conference at the Scottish Parliament today to learn about effective campaigning.

Campaigners share tips at Parliament

News Scotsman (Free subscription) | yesterday

COMMUNITY groups from across Scotland were attending a one-day conference at the Scottish Parliament today to learn about effective campaigning.

Edinburgh Trams Increase Scotland's Water Charges

SUBROSA (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

Artist's impression For those of you who don't know about the Edinburgh tram saga , here is a brief history. In 2004 the Scottish Parliament passed a Bill for two tram lines, one to Edinburgh airport, through Edinburgh. The SNP were always against this proposal as they felt the money could be better spent on other projects throughout Scotland and when they became the government in 2007 they offered...

MSP calls on Scottish Government to Ban Hot Branding in Scotland

SCOTLAND NEWS INFORMATION BLOG. (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

MSP calls on Scottish Government to ban hot branding in Scotland. Friday, 13 November 2009 Dr Bill Wilson, an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, today asked the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, to investigate the practice of hot branding for Scottish Exmoor Ponies. Replying to Dr Wilson’s questions in the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and the...

SNP MSP Supports Herbalists.

SCOTLAND NEWS INFORMATION BLOG. (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

MSP supports herbalists: profession should be regulated Thursday, 12 November 2009 MSP supports herbalists: profession should be regulated to ensure continued access to safe herbal remedies for people of Renfrewshire Dr Bill Wilson, an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, this week met representatives of the “Save our Herbs” campaign, a group of qualified herbalists calling for the profession...

Holyrood's Maintenance Costs Rise by 40%

SUBROSA (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

Some say the Scottish Parliament is a handsome building and others quite the opposite. The building is 5 years old, yet £94,000 has been spent on repairing leaky roofs, £8,000 has gone on rewiring lights in the MSPs' accommodation block and £20,000 spent on treating wooden slats. It opened in 2004, 10 times over budget and three years behind schedule. About 900 construction faults...

The next chapter in devolution | Gerry Hassan

The Guardian (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

The UK's constitutional jigsaw still needs to be completed, and politics looks set to become increasingly territorial It has probably escaped the attention of all but the most assiduous Guardian reader, but this week marked an explosion of activity on constitutional reform, which is going to continue for the next few weeks. The Queen's speech saw the UK government announce it would "take forward"...

The chatterers do not hold the key to electoral success

Labourlist (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

By Tom Harris MP / @TomHarrisMP Can Labour win under the current electoral system? Well, given that we have won three times in the past 12 years, I would hazard a guess at “yes”. If some of Labour’s parliamentary candidates reckon we can’t win unless we promise a referendum on the alternative vote on the same day as the general election, maybe they should be examining their...

• The chatterers do not hold the key to electoral success - And another thing...

When?

Amanwy (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

Posted on This is My Truth on 20 November Huw Irranca Davies makes this case in the Western Mail this morning for delaying the referendum beyond 2011. I’ve heard very serious people outside the Labour Party say the same thing. I am concerned about the game of chicken that seems to be going on within the Cardiff Bay bubble, with enthusiasts for a referendum goading each other to race across the...

If you want Home Rule...

Yapping Yousuf (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

Within the next few days Jim Murphy, (Scotland's man in the cabinet in case you forgot!) will publish a white paper implementing the proposals for the Calman Commission, probably to be enacted after the next General Election. The big one is on taxation. If the Telegraph is to be believed the proposals for income tax will be implemented. This means that income tax set in the Budget at Westminster will...

The pronunciation problem

Holyrood Chronicles (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009

Last night, the BBC World Service was sticking with Van Rompoy (to rhyme with toy), whereas this morning BBC2 favoured Van Rompow (to rhyme with cow).I rather think I would be inclined to Van Rompwee but it's awfully difficult to tell with Flemish names.What do you mean, does it matter?

Paging the IMF

Freedom and Whisky (Free subscription) | 19/11/2009

At first sight, here's some good news:Scottish Parliament bosses have put forward plans for a cut in their overall budget for the coming yearBut let's have a look at this:The expenses bill for MSPs increased last year by more than 8% to £10.9m, the Scottish Parliament has said. Holyrood bosses put the £876,587 rise in 2008-09 partly down to an increase in members' staff salaries.I'd be...