Angus Robertson

EDINBURGH Central, where I am standing as the SNP candidate, is the most marginal Tory-held constituency in Scotland. At the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, nobody looked more surprised at the Conservative gain from the SNP than their candidate Ruth Davidson.

THE weather forecast for this weekend is good for the whole of Scotland, with sunny intervals and a moderate breeze. Temperatures will reach between 12-14C and there is only a small chance of rain.

SCOTLAND’S independence trailblazer Winnie Ewing famously said: “Stop the World – Scotland wants to get on”. With Scottish independence closer than ever, the world is now increasingly watching and foreign diplomats and international media are closely following developments. Many Scottish (inter)nationalists became involved in the independence campaign because we want Scotland to be outward-looking, re-join the family of nations and be a force for good.

THE death of the Duke of Edinburgh marks not only the passing of a long-life well-lived but also a link to a past which is fast receding into history. HRH Prince Philip has not only been the longest-serving consort but began his role at the side of Queen Elizabeth at a time when world leaders in office included Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, Joseph Stalin and Konrad Adenauer.

NOT only is the forthcoming Holyrood election the most important since the beginning of devolution, for the first time there is a real chance of electing a more representative Parliament. Not only are there more women standing than ever before but the range of candidates with an international background is unprecedented.

A LOT is riding on the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election, especially when it comes to securing a Yes majority of MSPs and the referendum to deliver Scottish independence.

SCOTLAND is big international news again. Not because of the opposition witch-hunt against Nicola Sturgeon, but the fast-approaching Scottish Parliament elections. Media outlets from De Volkskrant in the Netherlands and German ARD public television have been in touch this week to prepare their coverage for the Holyrood elections, with the expectation that the SNP will win the elections and there will be a referendum on Scottish independence. The media interest is also shared by mainstream politi

THE irony should be lost on no-one. On the day it was confirmed that UK exports to the European Union had dropped through the floor because of Brexit, the grand Unionist strategy to resist Scottish independence was trailed in The Daily Telegraph.

A HUGE warm welcome to the more than 10,000 new SNP members who signed up this week. The boost to Scotland’s governing party comes only nine weeks ahead of Scottish Parliament elections and just as Covid-safe campaigning activities are given the green light to candidates and activists. By way of comparison the 10,000 new SNP members are equivalent to 61% of the entire membership of the Scottish Labour Party, 91% of the Scottish Tory membership and 245% of the Scottish LibDems.