💥 Speculation tonight of a possible coup to try to oust Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Starmer amid fears he is vulnerable to a leadership challenge, espec. in wake of the budget and May elections www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

We are recruiting five Postdoctoral Research Fellows and one Research Partnership Manager for the University of Stirling FORTH2O project paulcairney.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/w...

I'm not sure whether Henry McLeish and James Mitchell have made a compelling point/case for change? Scottish Spads are subject to a special version of Civil Service Code, Lobbying register, declarations of interest, hospitality, FOI requests. They are not highly paid relative to how hard they work.

The Scottish Parliament pre-election campaign recess period starts on 26th March (i.e., 4 months 2 weeks' time). Do forgive me if I doubt whether Your Party Scotland have enough time to decide their structures and approach to #Holyrood2026 election campaign 'through all member conferences' by then.

UPDATE on below – via @paulhutcheon.bsky.social – 'Scottish Labour’s governing body has rejected plans to strip party members of their right to select Holyrood List candidates. I understand the SEC backed a short campaign, with members picking. Only constituency candidates can be on the Lists.'

This is a dreadful idea. The UK Government is plumbing new depths. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Scottish Labour may be picking a fight with its own? 👀 Scottish Labour is considering blocking party members from selecting Holyrood candidates. Party bosses could instead appoint candidates for Lists based on how many voters they contacted during campaigning. www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...

UK Public Appointments: Climate Change Committee Members (x3 vacancies). A remunerated (£) post for a five year term. #Climate #ClimateEmergency #Environment #vacancy apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8964?p...

In latest Scottish Affairs journal, not one but two MSPs with the surname Kerr have published articles. This article by Liam Kerr MSP considers the Lord Advocate's dual role as head of the prosecution service and chief legal adviser to Scottish Government. #Law www.euppublishing.com/doi/10.3366/...

Pretty extraordinary story here www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....

I keep seeing/hearing versions of the claim that immigration is now in the top three issues for Scots (that specifically from The Scotsman's politics podcast). The most recent Scottish issue polling was done in the summer, by Ipsos, and immigration wasn't in the top ten. Where is this coming from?

The President of Latvia must veto Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention to protect women and girls from gender-based and domestic violence.

A perceptive and powerful piece by my University of Stirling colleague, Nuzhat Uthmani 👏 Lecturer and anti-racist educator @nuthmani.bsky.social offers insight and direction for how white privilege can be used to combat racism. www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2555...

The camera on my phone can't do justice to the magic in tonight's sky #Shetland #aurora

Sacrilege!

Below is a showcase of photos generated through comparative research for a 'Community Supervision: Seen and Supervised' exhibition. Wonderful work by Dr Fern Gillon & Prof @bethweaver.bsky.social bringing this all together for #ESRCFestival. #Probation comparingpenalsupervision.com/project-medi...

JOB: Lecturer in Criminal Justice (LTS) / Associate Director of the new Independent Legal Advice (ILA) Pilot for victim/survivors of sexual violence in Scotland. Full-time, fixed-term post at the University of Glasgow School of Law. #Law #Criminology #Victims www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/lecturer...

New poll suggests Reform will overtake Scottish Labour to become second biggest party in Holyrood election. Scot Tories would fall from 31 to 12, while Labour would drop from 22 to 19. Greens would rise from 8 to 10. Lib Dems from 4 to 11. Reform would get 22. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557131...

Tuned in to Dublin Castle live for the speeches – and President-elect Catherine Connolly's first speech. Laughing and energy in the room. "A voice for peace. A voice that recognises the existential threat of climate change." Democracy, diversity, migrants, Irish language each get a mention, too.

Sure, the New York mayoral elections are interesting but I have not really succeeded in building up a network of people to follow in Europe in the way that I did on old Twitter. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Live podcast recording of the Ponsonby & Massie podcast on #Holyrood2026 election 🗳 Hosted by the Stevenson Trust for Citizenship at the University of Glasgow. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it is free. #ScotPol www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/election-2...

JOB #Vacancy: Chairperson of the Parole Board for Scotland. 'The #Parole Board... plays a vital role in the criminal justice system by determining which prisoners can serve the remainder of their sentence in the community, on licence and under supervision.' www.scottishlegal.com/jobs/chairpe...

It was my privilege to be one of the external examiners for ✨️ DR John Sturgeon, who passed his viva and PhD by prior publication today at UWS 👏🎉 John is an experienced Justice Social Worker, published academic author and researcher, who did his PhD on #Probation in France and Scotland during COVID.

Interesting report modelling the costs of prolific, low-level offending by a 'revolving door' cohort in England & Wales. Crimes like shoplifting. The themes and findings seem apt. * Interested to hear thoughts on its quants & AI methods from #Criminology folk? www.russellwebster.com/the-hidden-c...

Last light at Loch Clair #Scotland #Torridon #Kinlochewe #WesterRoss www.damianshields.com

JOB: Fixed-term Lecturer in Criminology at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Full-time two year contract, at Grade 7 or Grade 8 salary scale. #Criminology #Academia www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPA689/f...

'Compassion is stronger than division’: A story about Springburn and Glasgow’s battle over the saltire www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

It will never cease to amaze/disappoint me (although let's face it, I ought to be used to it) how some men who cast themselves as champions of women are willing to ignore the behaviour of their idols and trash anyone who does otherwise.

This issue, and its often deep-seated roots, is frustrating. It needs to be directly addressed within universities, but not in ways which just fall to individuals affected. www.heraldscotland.com/news/educati...

The cast list for Celebrity Traitors is ridiculously impressive. I never know who the fuck anyone is on celebrity things, but I know almost all these people. It's making me feel quite young.

Jamie Buchan, Sarah Anderson, and Katrina Morrison have published a 'Criminal Justice in Scotland' textbook 📚🍷📖👏 I had the joy of chairing their well attended book launch today. It has gone straight onto #Criminology Uni reading lists. 🔗 www.routledge.com/Criminal-Jus... @kmmorrison.bsky.social

Freedom is just another name for “a gap in the law”.

Please join me in congratulating Woman on her appointment

Violently attacking a place of worship is reprehensible – whether it's a synagogue, mosque, church, temple. Doing it on one of the holiest days of Jewish year would be very upsetting. Thinking of those affected by this awful situation in Manchester. news.sky.com/story/synago...

Public Opinion and the Language of Sentencing - @sentencingacademy.bsky.social research assesses public understanding of some key sentencing terms. www.russellwebster.com/public-opini...

I hope that the Scottish press pack get to ask questions after Starmer's speech that he's calling 'the patriotic case for national renewal' 🫣 www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury suspended after sexual harassment claim by female staffer at Holyrood

"There have likely been 10,000 or more university redundancies in the academic year 2024-25..."

📍 Library of Mistakes, Edinburgh. Funny to see whose books feature 👀 📚 😅 #BookSky

NEW Scottish Prison Service, Police Scotland and Crown accept they breached Allan Marshall’s right to life and apologise to his family 10 years after his death in custody www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

🟥 New report published by @prtuk.bsky.social 'The Pains of Progression: the pathway through a very long sentence in a Scottish #prison' A deficit in trust and lengthy delays in sentence progression are leaving long-term prisoners in Scotland without hope. prisonreformtrust.org.uk/a-deficit-in...

On the #BritCard, First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neil tweets: "The British Prime Minister’s proposal for a mandatory digital ID card is ludicrous and ill-thought out. This proposal is an attack on the Good Friday Agreement and on the rights of Irish citizens in the North of Ireland"

'A killing field': Australian doctors describe 'horrific' operations in Gaza

In Holyrood, it looks like a 'one in, one out' swap for SNP members on the Criminal Justice Committee: Ben Macpherson has left to become a Government Minister today, and Jamie Hepburn takes his place on the committee tomorrow, questioning two Ministers. www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...

📢✨️ Call for research participants about Scottish #IndyRef Dr Coree Brown Swan & Dr @maydinger.bsky.social, University of Stirling, are creating a digital map of #IndyRef places, traces, and memories. You can participate anonymously or opt to be interviewed. 🔗📄 Form forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Very happy to see @benmacpherson.bsky.social appointed as Minister for Higher and Further Education and return to Scottish Government. He is intelligent, critical analytical, pragmatic – all of which are needed given the pressures facing Scottish universities and colleges.

The SNP has a new Chief Executive – former MP and Special Adviser Callum McCaig – without the usual job ad and recruitment process. #ScotPol www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

These are sensible proposals set out by Louise Wilson and those calling for them. There are technical considerations on how such mechanisms would work, but Holyrood does need more ways to hold MSPs to account. Safety and standards in public life matter. www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

Young men aged 18–44 years old from deprived areas having unmet needs and dying much earlier is an issue that folk would recognise across Scottish justice, health, and housing sectors. New report out today by @scothealtheq.bsky.social at Strathclyde University. www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/policy-...

Anyway, if you’d like to know why abolishing not proven is the right thing to do, see here: www.uofgschooloflaw.co.uk/blog/2021/12...