Dr Nick McKerrell

The House of Lords - in current focus because of the questionable system of patronage given to Prime Ministers disgraced or otherwise - yesterday debated the possibility of the UK state sanctioning the Scottish Government for acting outwith the current devolution settlement.

“OUR current drug laws do not stop people from using drugs,” so said Scottish Government Drugs Minister Elena Whitham when launching the policy document promoting the decriminalisation of all personal possession of drugs.

EVEN under the current UK Government's standards, the Home Office public consultation due to close this week - with the title Legislation to Counter State Threats (Hostile State Activity) - seems fairly anodyne and has fallen under most people’s radar. Yet a closer look shows the department headed by Priti Patel has not steered too far from the controversy she appears to relish.

IF there is a legal battle between Holyrood and Westminster on the second independence referendum we already have a general map if not a specific blueprint on what would happen.

ANOTHER day, another court ruling against the UK Government.