Orcadian column, 12/11/2026

Lame Duck a l’Orange. Of all the headlines spawned by last week’s spectacular defeat of Donald Trump’s Republican Party in the midterm elections, this description of the President was perhaps my favourite.

Yet while the Democrats controlling both chambers of Congress will be desperate to clip the President’s wings, recent history suggests that making predictions about what the current occupant of the White House may do over the final two years of his presidency would be as foolish as putting your mortgage into Trump’s cryptocurrency.

The President’s initial acceptance of the result and offer to work with Democrats, including on issues like immigration, caught many by surprise. How long this will last is anyone’s guess, but the appointment of hardline, MAGA fanatic, Stephen Miller as Trump’s new Chief of Staff feels ominous.

The move is also a tone-deaf response to an election in which voters made clear their anger at the rampant corruption, rising costs and spiralling chaos of Trump’s administration. If the intention is to ‘double down’ and allow ‘Trump to be more Trump’ then last week’s electoral thumping for the Republicans will pale in comparison to the extinction-level event to follow when the presidency is up for grabs in 2028. Before then, who knows what further divisions, disasters and destruction this president and his courtiers might manufacture.

This thought seems depressingly ironic having just spent much of the weekend attending dignified and respectful events commemorating those whose sacrifices safeguarded the freedoms we now enjoy. For all their rhetoric about patriotism and wrapping themselves in the flag, it appears some are hell-bent on learning all the wrong lessons from history.

Take Trump’s fawning indulgence of Vladimir Putin. Not only does this pose a threat to Europe, it also undermines a key global alliance from which the US has benefitted over the past 80 years, both economically as well as in security terms.

As Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine grinds towards its fifth anniversary, I highlighted a less heralded consequence at First Minister’s Questions last week. It followed an approach earlier this year from my constituents, Mattias and Kateryna, the latter who owns a flat in Kyiv. As a result, their attempt to purchase a property here in Scotland triggered a demand for an Additional Dwelling Supplement of £9000.

When I wrote to the Finance Secretary in the summer, she claimed that nothing could be done. Thankfully, the First Minister was more sympathetic, accepting it was not the intent of the legislation and agreeing to see if a more sensible resolution could be reached with Revenue Scotland.

I had hoped that something similar could be achieved in my discussions this week with Samaritans, following news that they are closing their Orkney branch as part of a wider restructuring. The charity argues that it needs to consolidate its operations in fewer centres where it can recruit more volunteers to ensure a more reliable service 24 hours-a-day, particularly overnight.

Whatever the rationale, the decision to close branches before pathways that might allow volunteers to be retained, albeit in different roles, seems wholly disrespectful, a point I made during Monday’s meeting. It risks the charity losing skills and experience and is a shoddy way to treat those who deserve much better.

Over the years, I’ve been a staunch supporter of Samaritans, which does such vital work, so I’m saddened at the damage done to its reputation. It’s important to stress, however, that people in Orkney can still access that support through the national helpline on 116 123.

More encouragingly, I also visited the Blide this week, where local Manager, Nick Lovack told me about the ways in which the charity is supporting those in Orkney affected by poor mental health. We discussed how the Blide has expanded what it offers, how its visibility within the community has increased and in turn how this has helped reduce at least some of the stigma surrounding mental health.

I’ve seen the difference the Blide can make to people’s lives and the welcome it provides to anyone who comes through the door. It also runs a great café and while lame duck a l’orange is not on the menu, but they do a mighty fine Orkney Roastery coffee.