Orcadian Column, 25/12/2025

As we approach the end of another year, there is certainly no shortage of reasons to feel apprehensive. Internationally, we see a US President and administration intent on upending global alliances, picking fights with allies and offering succour to dictators and despots. No clearer evidence is there of this than in Ukraine, where Donald Trump appears willing to parrot Vladimir Putin’s talking points while trying to strong arm Ukraine into ceding land in return for a peace that would be short lived.

In Gaza, although the intensity of Israeli bombardment has eased and hostages have been released, there has been no momentum towards a finding a long-term resolution. Benjamin Netenyahu’s government continues to turn the screw on Palestinians, both in Gaza and the West Bank. Meantime, aid to Gaza remains woefully inadequate and no progress has been made towards rebuilding shattered housing, infrastructure and services.

At home, the UK Labour government lurches from one crisis to another, with an ever-present drum beat of rumours about a leadership challenge to the Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer promised to end the unrelenting chaos of the Tory years but appears incapable of delivering that or anything approaching a coherent policy programme.

Meantime, the SNP government in Scotland also continues to struggle with delivery, exemplified by news last week of yet another six-month delay in completing the MV Glen Rosa. The ferry fiasco which has seen hundreds of millions of pounds wasted in building two ferries that were due to be in service years ago is emblematic of a government that too often appears more interested in presentation than the hard graft needed to get things done.

Indeed, it’s notable that the First Minister has recently started talking up independence again, not because he believes there is any real prospect of or increased appetite for breaking away from the rest of the UK. Rather, Mr Swinney knows this motivates the SNP’s activists while providing a convenient distraction from his government’s lacklustre track record.

At the same time, we continue to see a rise in populism both on the right but also the left, offering seductively simple solutions to complex problems. With a sluggish economy, precarious public finances and mounting pressures in health, care, housing and policing, there is no doubt people have a right to be anxious and even angry. Pretending that solutions are easy or attributing blame to those least culpable, however, is a recipe for making matters worse.

This will be the challenging backdrop, though, to the Holyrood elections next May. I will be standing for re-election and last weekend was out with local party supporters in Kirkwall and Stromness delivering the first set of leaflets. This activity will step up after the new year, but it was good to get the ball rolling.

It always feels a little odd being out campaigning for a job I’m already doing. I’m also conscious that the best chance of persuading people to put their trust in me again is to make sure that I am actually doing the day job effectively.

It’s a rather unique type of job interview process, but I do generally enjoy election campaigns, which tend to be different here in Orkney compared to other parts of the country. Some of those you meet do want to discuss politics, manifestos and what the different parties are saying. Most, though, have other things on their mind and as a candidate you invariably find yourself chatting about all manner of issues, wholly unconnected to the election.

That’s as it should be. Voters decide the basis on which to cast their vote and whatever candidates or parties think, it’s voters ultimately who determine the issues on which elections are fought.

That, though, is for another day. Before then, I’m looking forward to having our sons home and parents over for Christmas. I’ll also be in town to cheer on Marty Flett as he throws up the New Year’s Day Men’s Ba, before spending a few hours catching up with folks in what can feel like a exercise in mass ‘first footing’.

However you’re spending the festive period, I hope it’s enjoyable and restful, and here’s been better times in 2026.