Orcadian Column, 18 September 2025
During the Festival of Politics at Holyrood last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing veteran BBC News anchor and foreign correspondent, Clive Myrie.
During the Festival of Politics at Holyrood last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing veteran BBC News anchor and foreign correspondent, Clive Myrie.
The Scottish Parliament is not as we left it back at the start of summer recess. As June faded into July, MSPs headed for the exits with a spring in our step while Orkney readied itself to host The Best International Island Games Ever ©.
George Reid, who died last week, was an internationalist to his core. His political achievements included forming part of the SNP’s electoral breakthrough at Westminster in 1974, while as Holyrood’s Presiding Officer from 2003 to 2007...
During the Island Games, as the sun beat down and we slapped on the Factor 50, there seemed a cheery acceptance a price would need to be paid. It felt inevitable the weather gods would demand their pound of flesh during show week.
The Scottish Parliament went into recess last week ahead of what is set to be a busy summer. The period leading up to summer recess can often feel quite frantic, not least as the government scrambles to keep its legislative programme on track.
It has been one of those weeks when turning on the news or logging into social media is best avoided as the Middle East risks going up in flames following Israel’s pre-emptive attack on Iran.