Alyn Smith

Columnist

Alyn Smith is the Member of the Westminster Parliament for Stirling, elected in December 2019 with 51% of the vote. Born in Glasgow in 1973, Alyn grew up in Scotland and Saudi Arabia, returning to Scotland in 1986. With a background in commercial law and European studies, he was a Member of the European Parliament for Scotland from 2004-2019. Alyn has a keen interest in European politics, rural affairs, energy policy and animals - currently serving as the honorary vice-president of the Scottish SPCA.

Alyn Smith is the Member of the Westminster Parliament for Stirling, elected in December 2019 with 51% of the vote. Born in Glasgow in 1973, Alyn grew up in Scotland and Saudi Arabia, returning to Scotland in 1986. With a background in commercial law and European studies, he was a Member of the European Parliament for Scotland from 2004-2019. Alyn has a keen interest in European politics, rural affairs, energy policy and animals - currently serving as the honorary vice-president of the Scottish SPCA.

Latest articles from Alyn Smith

Conference participants attend day six at the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan

comment Alyn Smith: COP highlights Scotland's need for greater interconnectivity
I BELIEVE in countries working together, I believe in mutually agreed rules and targets to

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a session of the Bundestag in which new Finance Minister Joerg Kukies was sworn in the day after Scholz fired previous Finance Minister Christian Lindner

comment Alyn Smith: Following Trump’s victory, fractures in Germany are bad news for Europe

THE US election has had so much coverage and comment that I don’t see the need to add to it in this column which is after all about the EU and Europe. Perhaps I’ll turn to it once we see the reality of what it means, for the US and us and I don’t think that’s clear yet ...

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A demonstrator holds an EU and a Georgian national flags attending an opposition protest against the results of the parliamentary election in Tbilisi, Georgia

comment Alyn Smith: Europe must find its collective voice to help save Georgia

I PROMISED in last week’s column to give some proper thought to the situation in Georgia this week in light of their elections last weekend. I’m not the only one who has been looking in detail at the country.

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In Moldova last week, we saw a truly historic vote

COMMENT Alyn Smith: Moldova’s narrow Yes victory highlights tensions

AS the Prime Minister and

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Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban presents the programme for Hungary's six-month Council Presidency as part of a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on October 9, 2024. (Photo by FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP) (Photo by

comment Alyn Smith: European Parliament bares its teeth as Viktor Orbán is given a going over

‘This debate’s rubbish telly, you’re all just sat there in a room talking about stuff!”

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen

COMMENT Keir Starmer’s EU visit does nothing but confirm timidity of UK Government

IN watching the UK Government over the last few months, I’ve been struck that this is a mandate without a project.

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For all Labour's deeply silly talk of black holes in the UK finances, the one they should get onto is getting us back into the customs union and single market

COMMENT Alyn Smith: Time for Keir Starmer to accept the EU’s gift for our young people

THE UK Prime Minister announced last week that he is off to Brussels this week, finally, to meet with EU Commission president Ursula von den Leyen ...

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President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, center, onboard a train in Poland

comment Alyn Smith: New EU boss will see overlapping portfolios and UK relations downgraded

IF the last few years have taught us anything, surely it is that who is in the hot seat when a decision has to be made matters, and indeed how they got there. So Tuesday’s presentation in Strasbourg by Commission President Ursula von

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The new iPhone 16 is displayed during an announcement of new products at Apple headquarters

COMMENT 'Where is our Apple?': EU competitiveness report has lessons for Scotland
‘THE future of European competitiveness – A competitiveness strategy for Europe” would not normally sound like a declaration of war, but this certainly was.