And second, we need to shift the window of debate back to a place where we waste much less time on 'talking points' that are based on myths and lies, and are therefore incapable of producing solutions to any real-world problems. 2/2 www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...?

Yesterday's The Scotsman column, with two main takeaways. First, those who oppose the hysteria about migrants and asylum seekers that now pervades UK political debate need to become much sharper, smarter and more resolute about resisting it. 1/2 www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

Dear GOD if you want to save money in the asylum system 1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK 2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc 3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today

Reviews at Scotsman Arts of the thrilling and much-debated Aaron Sorkin version of To Kill A Mockingbird - at the King's Theatre, Glasgow from tomorrow - and Kenny Boyle's Righ Iasgair: The Fisher King, at A Play, A Pie and A Pint and the Traverse Theatre. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

A woman is killed by a man every 3 days in the UK... 78% are murdered by a partner/ex Yet not once have I heard Reform talk about this Not once have I heard them back measures to protect women’s safety In fact, they voted against them...

anti-fascist today. tomorrow. always.

I brought you light from Kyiv – a city russians want to drown in darkness. No way.

Review at Scotsman Arts of new artistic director James Brining's opening production at the Lyceum Edinburgh, a & strong, lyrical & absorbing version of Chekhov's The Seagull; last week's engaging A Play, A Pie and A Pint drama Flick & Pie Go Fishing, by Laila Noble. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

As this year's Take Me Somewhere festival in Glasgow roars into its final weekend, here's my Monday review of its first few days, including a fabulous Last Supper from Brazil.... www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

A great many of the (wonderful) stories about Ireland's (wonderful) UBI plan for artists tend to bury if not duck completely the hard cold fact that it was funded largely by Google's billion-euro settlement of tax-evasion charges. TAX BILLIONAIRES RUN THEM DOWN LOOT THEM IT WORKS

62 years after it was founded as a New Town community initiative, Cumbernauld Theatre faces closure, after Creative Scotland rejected its multi-year funding application. But why is such a successful and much-loved theatre having to fight for its life? www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...?

Another day under a Labour government. Higher education must remain open to everyone, not just those who can afford it. Tuition fees saddle young people with decades of debt that many will never pay off. Scottish Greens will always oppose their introduction in Scotland.

"Farage is as guilty as fellow Leaver Boris Johnson for the latest travel red tape and all the other costs, burdens and inconveniences of quitting the European Union that have been put upon us, without meaningful gains." www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Theatre reviews at Scotsman Arts. The Citizens Theatre Young Company open the theatre's beautiful new Studio with a celebration of the legendary Close Theatre, on the same spot, 1965-73. And A Play, A Pie and A Pint offers another showbiz story, with less success... www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Friday's Scotsman column, on Margaret Thatcher's 100th anniversary. The sad recent history of the UK shows her to have been wrong about almost everything. But in an age of failing politics, we now need leaders who can do as she did, in one crucial way.... www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

Scotsman reviews of the new Dundee Rep production of The Glass Menagerie, also heading for the Citizens Theatre and the Lyceum this autumn; & Katy Nixon's Play Pie Pint two-hander Cheapo, at the Traverse Theatre from tomorrow, and the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, next week. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

NUJ welcomes introduction of journalist safety officers in every police force www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...

Reviews at Scotsman Arts of Mull Theatre's new touring show Night Waking; Tenterhooks's jolly family show Hercules The Bear also on tour; & the tap-dancing joy of Top Hat at Edinburgh Playhouse, just 90 yrs on from the opening of the Ginger Rogers-Fred Astaire film. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...?

The Times newspaper. Now reduced to arguing in its editorial that is "unacceptable" that people who came here legally & have been living & working here should be allowed to stay. What a sad decline of a once impressive paper into racism, xenophobia & fear. archive.ph/TFZY9

Horrified and heartbroken by the attack on a synagogue in Manchester, on Yom Kippur, the holiest time in the Jewish calendar. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all Jewish communities. Antisemitism is an evil we must confront and stand resolutely against.

My Scotsman reviews of Jen McGregor and Tom Cooper's brilliantly witty new @playpiepint.bsky.social musical The Glasgow Poisoner, about the notorious Madeleine Smith case. Plus WonderFools intense 2024 Fringe hit Oran, now on a 19 date tour across Scotland. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

My Scotsman review of Len Pennie's controversial new Canongate poetry collection Poems Annaw. Not guilty as charged on plagiarism, and unfashionably fond of cantering rhythms and rhyme, but with plenty to entertain and challenge, too. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Reviews at Scotsman Arts of Uma Nada-Rajah's fine new play Black Hole Sign, set in a crumbling NHS A&E dept - Tron Theatre until 4 October, then at the Traverse Theatre; and of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Story, seen at the Festival Theatre last week. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Preview at Scotsman Arts of Dundee Rep's new production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, at the Rep until 18 October, and then at the Citizens Theatre, and the Lyceum, Edinburgh. I talk to director Andrew Panton, and to Amy Conachan, who plays Laura... www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Now call it what it is - a genocide - and sanction Israel according with international humanitarian obligations

Fascism. What else would you call this? And make no mistake, the same people calling to ‘defund the BBC’ want exactly the same here: the silencing of dissident voices, the end of a national conversation, the total destruction of a free press so only one story reigns.

Friday's The Scotsman column. With both long-dominant Westminster parties in deep trouble, and UK politics apparently lurching to the right, independence supporters in Scotland should recognise a moment when history is playing into their hands. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

My Scotsman review of Small Acts Of Love, the wonderful Citizens Theatre's beautiful, affirmative reopening show. Plus The Invaders' Fear Of Memories, a powerful monologue about Israel, Palestine, & the 1948 Naqba, @ Scottish Storytelling Centre over the weekend. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

My Scotsman review of Small Acts Of Love, the wonderful Citizens Theatre's beautiful, affirmative reopening show. Plus The Invaders' Fear Of Memories, a powerful monologue about Israel, Palestine, & the 1948 Naqba, @ Scottish Storytelling Centre over the weekend. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Friday's The Scotsman column. With both long-dominant Westminster parties in deep trouble, and UK politics apparently lurching to the right, independence supporters in Scotland should recognise a moment when history is playing into their hands. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

Tinkering won’t fix a broken system. We need tax justice, public ownership and a real say for people over their lives and communities. Clive Lewis MP calls for systemic change to deliver prosperity @eastangliabylines.co.uk @labourlewis.bsky.social

If Angela Rayner lived in a cardboard box, the Telegraph would claim she nicked it.

Fuck off, you intolerable cunts

Just a man watering a chestnut tree in Kyiv today. You might think: And what? I might answer: Life.

My The Scotsman obituary of the great Giles Havergal, who died last weekend. May his spirit stay with us, as we travel on. www.scotsman.com/news/people/...

Hollywood actor Richard Gere : “ Netanyahu should be in Jail” Free Palestine 🇵🇸

In a sane, normal country, Lucy Connolly would be treated as a contemptible extremist. Not in Britain. But then this is no longer a sane, normal country. Britain has lost its moral bearings My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

Wonderful Giles Havergal who I first met in London in 1994 when I was an assistant-director to Sue Lefton, & who 31yrs later emailed with details of Citz’ staged translations for my archive of Scotland’s 🎭 #translators. Brilliant elegant inspirational man👏👏👏👏👏✨ www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/a...

My dear girl, Ukraine, may your independence shine through the centuries! On this Independence Day, let us thank those who protect you. ⸻ 🇺🇦 Vladyslav Shereshevskyi, After the Battle, 2023

So am at a petrol station, minus handbag and bank card trying to settle up via BACS on my phone. Having problems. When an Asian gentleman who clocked all this paid for my fuel!! And left before I could thank him properly. Sir, you are a star whoever you are!

Heading on to BBC Radio Scotland’s Sunday Morning later to talk about this year’s Edinburgh International Festival theatre shows - an interesting bunch! Catch us between 1045 and 1100….

If we had a prime minister of integrity, moral courage and honesty, he’d stand up in parliament and denounce what England’s rightwing media is doing. Instead, he colludes in it and encourages it

Brilliantly deserved Fringe First, @markthomasinfo.bsky.social #OrdinaryDecentCriminal Hurray for you & Ed! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

My Scotsman review of Cutting The Tightrope, a furious & controversial anthology of 11 short political plays by angry young playwrights now shaking up Edinburgh International Festival audiences at Church Hill Theatre. On until Sunday! www.scotsman.com/arts-a www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

My Scotsman review of Cutting The Tightrope, a furious & controversial anthology of 11 short political plays by angry young playwrights now shaking up Edinburgh International Festival audiences at Church Hill Theatre. On until Sunday! www.scotsman.com/arts-a www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

My 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Scotsman review of Karine Polwart's beautiful show Windblown, at the Queen's Hall until Wednesday. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Preview at Scotsman Arts of Niall Moorjani's new Pleasance Fringe show Kanpur: 1857. With music by Scottish tabla artist Sodhi, the show explores the powerful contemporary resonances of the events known to UK colonial history as the Indian Mutiny. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...