Newspapers have recently revealed that the Catholic Church in Scotland is opposed to the Scottish government’s proposed ban on smacking. The church doesn’t believe it right for the state ‘to…
The importance of nature for our health has been well established. It’s one motivation behind a recent trend for urban rewilding. Research by Andrea Mechelli (professor of early intervention in…
When I was a pupil in Dingwall Academy, one of my class asked the maths teacher what was the point of doing geometry when we were very unlikely to need…
This is definitely Bah Humbug time. So far, I have been asked to some nine productions of A Christmas Carol and the prospect appals. Admittedly, one is being held in…
Scotland and England are both currently conducting inquiries into child abuse. There is one extremely important difference. The English inquiry focuses on sexual abuse carried out in any setting involving…
In my previous reflections on the Edinburgh Fringe 2022, I looked at the trepidation felt by many about the Fringe and then at stand-up comedy. In this piece, I look…
It has not been the best of days. It started with the government U-turn scrapping the cuts to top-earners. I mean talk about removing the incentive for us workers to…
For me, the last few weeks have been full of Burns (or more likely Jean Armour) suppers. As a speaker, Iâm invariably sober. Even when not driving, Iâm aware that…
While many Edinburgh folk are thoroughly relieved when the Festival ends, many are left bereft. I felt a palpable sense of ennui walking along the Cowgate on Monday afternoon. In…
Prime Minister Liz Truss walked on-stage to M People’s Moving On Up at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham last week. In response, M People founder and Moving On Up…