Columnist

AT times it feels like it’s Groundhog Day in Westminster. Yesterday’s statement in the House

THE local election results last week brought a

I CAN’T not write this week about tomorrow’s elections, our next chance to register our thoughts on where Scotland is and who is best placed

IN amongst the bleakness of UK politics, and Westminster in particular, there’s two things that keep me going – that the shambolic repellence of this rotten UK Government will win more Scots to Yes, and that the real world chaos of Brexit will boost our case, independence in Europe. Last week I had a boost myself, finally getting back to Brussels after the long Covid absence.

IT is difficult to see the wood for the trees in politics these days, but one poll really leapt out at me this week which I think goes a long way to explaining where politics is in these islands.

IN his daily address on Monday, President Zelenskyy announced his concern – one previously voiced by the United Kingdom and United States – that the Russian occupying forces could use chemical weapons against the Ukrainian defenders in Mariupol.

IN a world that is seeing ever-increasing levels of conflict it is crucial that civilians and the most vulnerable are not forgotten. We must do what we can to help those who are unwillingly caught up in the middle of war.

THE ongoing energy crisis has reinforced the importance of energy independence, moving away from fossil fuels and living more sustainably. Last Friday, I visited Stirling University alongside the Scottish Greens co-leader and Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, Patrick Harvie, where they were keen to show us how they are doing just that and what more they can achieve with more support.

THE SNP have been warning about the cost-of-living storm caused by a dangerous cocktail of inflation, Tory taxes and Brexit. Now, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is threatening to make this storm a hurricane with devastating implications for our society’s energy needs and food security. Putin’s unprovoked attack is going to result in effects that will shape our world for years, if not decades to come.

IN news that will surprise nobody, the French interior minister decried the UK’s approach to Ukrainian refugees as “inhumane” on Sunday. The compassionate Priti Patel, of course, denied the accusations – don’t the French know that the UK has let in 300 Ukrainians on visas since this crisis began?