Orcadian Column, 13 March 2025
Orkney has established itself as a “must visit” destination for government ministers, parliamentary committees and politicians of every political stripe.
13 Mar 2025
Orcadian Columns
Orcadian Column, 27 February 2025
This week marks the third anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The quick victory expected by Putin was denied by stoic Ukrainian resistance, but the subsequent three years have seen casualties on both sides climb.
27 Feb 2025
Orcadian Column, 13 February 2025
I’m delighted to confirm that 18 years after first being elected as Orkney’s MSP, I’ve finally delivered my ‘maiden’ speech in the cattle ring at The Mart. There are many more iconic debating chambers, but few as intimidating.
13 Feb 2025
Orcadian Column, 30 January 2025
Last Thursday, as the last rites were read over the Scottish Government’s flagship, National Care Service, few tears were shed. This hapless attempt by the SNP to centralise care services proved singularly unpopular.
30 Jan 2025
Orcadian Column, 16 January 2025
I hope 2025 has started well for you and continues in a similar vein. In political terms, it’s set to be another busy year at Holyrood, where attention will increasingly turn to the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election due in May 2026.
16 Jan 2025
Orcadian Column, 5 December 2024
A measure of an event’s significance is often determined by the extent to which we recall where we were on hearing the news. So it was that when I learned of the momentous House of Commons vote.
5 Dec 2024