2025 was the year Nigel Farage’s Reform UK began saying the quiet part out loud. From race-baiting during the Hamilton by-election to the cheerleading of protests against asylum seekers attempting to learn English www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

A clear majority of people support introducing a cap on donations to political parties, polling shared with PolHome has found 57% of people support a cap on donations by individuals and companies, while just 7% are against it, 38 Degrees / Survation research found That includes 2024 Reform voters

Scotland’s political establishment seems entirely unequipped to tackle the populist challenge coming its way, writes @chrismarshll.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

2025: The year hatred went mainstream www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

How Reform UK is using Alex Salmond's image to get ready for the Scottish Parliament election www.holyrood.com/news/view,ho...

Jimmy Kimmel to say 'fascism has had a great year' in Channel 4 Christmas message www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How is Reform UK preparing for the Holyrood election? Leaked materials reveal a party wary of itself, and looking to a perhaps unlikely source for direction www.holyrood.com/news/view,ho...

Prescient, yes, but also one of Ballard's weakest novels imho www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Really enjoyed speaking to Fred MacAulay about stand-up, the Riyadh comedy festival, and his old neighbour Michelle Mone www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme

Justice secretary Angela Constance survives no-confidence vote amid claims she misled parliament over grooming gangs inquiry www.holyrood.com/news/view,an...

All the photography in this week's Economist Britain section is by Martin Parr

A qualified welcome: Are attitudes towards immigration changing in Scotland? www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING SCOTLAND PLAY IN THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH AFTER QUALIFYING FOR THE WORLD CUP, WHICH WAS A FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT BY THE WAY. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE.

As a former child refugee, Tom Stoppard knew the importance of learning a foreign language. We should congratulate those who come to this country and try to learn English - not stigmatise them. www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

As a former child refugee, Tom Stoppard knew the importance of learning a foreign language. We should congratulate those who come to this country and try to learn English - not stigmatise them. www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

Nigel Farage this week said Glasgow's young English learners were symptomatic of the "cultural smashing" of the city. But I think it's something quite the opposite. www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

Well well. FIFA have just trashed their peace prize at the first hurdle

"We should be grateful for those who learn a second language, whether that be Russian or French at university or English in a school or community centre," writes @chrismarshll.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

Nigel Farage this week said Glasgow's young English learners were symptomatic of the "cultural smashing" of the city. But I think it's something quite the opposite. www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

"He’s a disgrace; he’s a toxic, divisive disgrace. All he wants to do is tear communities apart." www.holyrood.com/news/view,ke...

“In Glasgow, the diversity, the compassion, is celebrated. It’s part of not just Glasgow but Scotland." Starmer labels Farage a "toxic, divisive disgrace" over comments about schoolchildren with English as a second language www.holyrood.com/news/view,ke...

Reform receives £9m donation from Thailand-based crypto investor www.holyrood.com/news/view,re...

Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

National prostate cancer screening not expected to be recommended on NHS

The former UK Independence Party (Ukip) leader in Scotland and Brexiteer who now lives in a French chateau www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

They really don't want to share any interior shots but when they do, you just know that unspeakable acts have been committed within... www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

A good, detailed and informative article on where Scotland's men stand with respect to prostate cancer diagnosis and care. I'm surprised to learn that it's almost common in men as breast cancer is in women.

'The prostate cancer support groups are filled with men who tried to get a test and couldn’t' Despite an ambition to catch cancers sooner, many prostate cancer patients are still being given devastating late diagnoses www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

Fox among the tombstones #Edinburgh

Scotland's victory the other night was joyous and all about the fans, in complete contrast to those determined to crush football's soul www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"It’s batshit crazy. The party has turned into a 1970s tribute act that nobody wants to see" Alex Salmond started Alba to advance Scottish independence. A year after his death & with an election ahead, the party is struggling to move on www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

I've written extensively for @holyroodmag.bsky.social about the failures and gaps at Grangemouth, and the wider transition. Much of this also applies to Mossmorran. Latest here & in most recent mag: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

Suede, Stereolab and Pulp among the best albums of 1993, sorry 2025

I hadn't been watching the football and then I turned on the football to watch Denmark be handed a penalty and scored, so I genuinely thought I had cursed the nation. So I turned it back off. What I'm saying is, you're welcome.

The enshittification of local news

Waterstones asked to "reconsider" opening in Leith beside independent bookshop www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...

"It’s batshit crazy. The party has turned into a 1970s tribute act that nobody wants to see." A year after Alex Salmond's death, the Alba Party is struggling to move on www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

In his first major interview since defecting, Graham Simpson told me that while his relationships with most MSPs had not changed, one Tory MSP was “not even looking at me, let alone talking to me”. Russell Findlay was asked about that comment today.

Great to see that the White House and the Daily Mail are as excited by the upcoming publication of my BBC Reith Lectures as I am!

"The SNP’s election pitch seems to be yes, we have a record of failure, but we are the least bad option. And for many voters that might just be enough," writes @chrismarshll.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot falsely claims Trump won the 2020 US presidential election www.holyrood.com/news/view,el...

Great piece by @ruaraidh0.bsky.social on the plan to ban greyhound racing in Scotland www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

A tram lights up the gloom during the biting early winter of 1947. Amazingly, it's only 2.30pm on this November day as the freezing smog takes hold. Glasgow would endure frequent pea-soupers prior to the Clean Air Act of 1956. 📷 Newsquest #Glasgow

Anas Sarwar says ‘deeply unhelpful’ leadership briefings in Westminster must stop www.holyrood.com/news/view,an...

NEW: Anas Sarwar has said he "absolutely" has confidence in Keir Starmer, and describes briefings against him and other ministers as "deeply unhelpful".

The BBC is under political attack. The broadcaster is far from perfect, but in a world of lies and misinformation, we need to protect it from those who seek to do it harm. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey: "President Trump is trying to destroy our BBC. "Will [the Prime Minister] guarantee that President Trump will not get a single penny from British licence fee payers?" #PMQs

The MP whose tweets are the most boosted by the Twitter algorithm (according to this excellent investigation) just used PMQs to call for the return of the death penalty. news.sky.com/story/the-x-...