'We could have saved them £75k if they’d bothered to meet with us, but the only way they’d meet was in court' 👉 www.heraldscotland.com/news...

Common good land belongs 2 the community. They should have the legal right to take back title which they lost in May 1975. Councillors in Lochgilphead shouldn’t be making decisions about land in Helensburgh. Credit to @GabyMcKay for covering this important story. heraldscotland.com/news/26230779.…

Two weeks ago I wrote to members of the Scottish Parliamentary Bureau to ask them why they had proposed a motion on Committee Convenors that gave both Convenor and Deputy Convenor places to SNP members on 3 important committees. 1/2

The decision to corral the media in Scot Parliament appears from reports to have been made by the Parliament Bureau but it has no jurisdiction in the matter. But if this is true then how can Scottish Greens claim not to have been involved when @lornaslater.bsky.social is a member of the Bureau?

The Holyrood 'press pen' isn't likely to hold. It has infuriated ScotPol journalists today. The lack of Parliament bosses being willing to confidently come out and defend the press pen decision doesn't augur well for it staying or lobby journos staying in it. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2620781...

Castles, sporting estates and prime city-centre property worth tens of millions of pounds are among the assets missing from Scotland’s land control register. Find out more: https://www.theferret.scot/offshore-landowners-scotland-land-control-register/

Following recent posts about my attempts to secure prosecutions for those failing to register the controlling interest in land, I am pleased to see that the Ferret has published an important analysis of the Register of Controlled Persons in Land. 1/7

A large Speyside estate has quietly changed hands. The 6300 hectare Knockando Estate sits to the north of the river Spey just upstream from Aberlour. Historical owned by the Clan Grant, the estate was acquired by a member of the Wills tobacco family, Major Sir David Wills in 1962. 1/5

A large Speyside estate has quietly changed hands. The 6300 hectare Knockando Estate sits to the north of the river Spey just upstream from Aberlour. Historical owned by the Clan Grant, the estate was acquired by a member of the Wills tobacco family, Major Sir David Wills in 1962. 1/5

Fresh concerns over governance in John Muir Trust as respected founding trustee is ousted after being elected by members to sort out previous problems. I was a Trustee of JMT 30 years ago & worked with Denis. I have huge respect for his passion and committment to JMT. 1/2

I remain concerned that Parliamentary procedures enable the election of Convenors & Deputy Convenors from the same party. I have written to all members of the Parliamentary Bureau seeking answers as to how they came to agree this proposal. I will publish responses here.

Tomorrow (Thursday 4 June 2026), Parliament is being invited to vote on a motion to establish committees with both the Convenor and Deputy Convenor of the *FINANCE* Committee to be from the SNP ........

BLOG - Scotland’s landownership transparency laws require disclosure of beneficial interests of offshore entities. They are however effectively voluntary since Police & Crown Office decline to take any action to enforce the criminal sanctions for non-compliance. andywightman.scot/2026/06/no-p...

John Swinney John Swinney claimed today after court narration that “The systems were robust but they were circumvented” But in court this morning it was agreed that they were not robust otherwise how could PM sign off his own expenses? It was that process that enabled the false expense claims.

I have never encountered a CEO working in public or third secotor who can draw up to £30,000 directly for their own expenses without any checks or authorisation. Maybe such a situation exists but threshold is usually much, much lower.

The MAY 2026 UPDATE of Who Owns Scotland is now published with a total of 5000 landholdings (76.95% rural Scotland). All records are updated plus 19 new ones including an interesting estate sale that I will highlight in a blog. New subscriptions welcome - they start at £6. whoownsscotland.org.uk

Neither Environemnt nor Land Reform feature in the titles of any of the new Scottish Government Ministers and Junior Ministers. One or more will be responsible for them of course but neither are important enough to merit inclusion in any of the titles. www.gov.scot/about/who-ru...

It's an honour and a privilege to be elected Presiding Officer at The Scottish Parliament Congratulations to my two new Deputy Presiding Officers Clare Adamson MSP and Katy Clark MSP. We will work together on behalf of all Members at Holyrood.

Pity to see Jackson Carlaw won’t be in Scottish Parliament. Party politics aside, he was a very good Parliamentarian. We need quality.

If you fancy an hour of stompingly good trad music based on a 300 yr old composition, there are still tickets left for this @islaratcliff.bsky.social gig Saturday 3pm at Traverse Edinburgh. www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/eve...

In a final video on the other place, John Swinney says 'tomorrow you will decide who will be your government and who will be your first minister" This is false. Tomorrow we will vote for our MSPs. It is they alone who decide the government and first minister. We have no say over the matter

APRIL 2026 UPDATE Who Owns Scotland now published with total of 4981 landholdings (76.9% rural Scotland). All records updated plus 21 new ones. New subscriptions welcome - they start at £6. www.whoownsscotland.org.uk

Never have 4 people more wished they were still in the deepest, darkest recesses of outer space.

At hustings for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch constituency. Big topics are housing, energy generation, local democracy and local health services. #holyrood2026

My thoughts exactly. If Robbins never saw this document or knew its contents how could he have been expected to inform the PM (which he was not allowed to anyway?) From @tompeck.bsky.social I the Times. Seems very unfair dismissal

Why? Reform of Council tax like any other legislative reform simply requires a parliamentary majority. MSPs don’t all “work together” to agree other policy measures. Why is this one so special? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Why is council tax reform the one policy that SNP insists needs consensus. A parliamentary majority is all that is required to pass new legislation on any topic. Every party will never agree a common position so it this effectively saying its not going to happen? If not, then why not? #snpmanifesto

BLOG - I have reported further offences to Police Scotland under the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land. andywightman.scot/2026/04/furt...

This is an excellent example from @hutton.ac.uk of how one can undertake useful data analysis and visualisation with the right tools and data. storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2845...

1/ How to demonstrate that John Swinney is not telling the truth about Scotland’s “low-cost” renewables.🧵 First, go to the Ofgem website and download this spreadsheet: www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-regul...

Good to see that house prices are falling making them more affordable but I guess it won't be sustained month on month. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It is well known that the rock in Cuillin (gabbro) is very tough on the hands. But just discovered that as a consequence fingerprint ID on computer keyboard does not work. Hope prints grow back as originally configured!

MARCH 2026 UPDATE Who Owns Scotland now published with total of 4960 landholdings (76.9% rural Scotland). All records updated plus 18 new ones. New subscriptions welcome - they start at £6. www.whoownsscotland.org.uk

Inverness residents invited to provide views on future of part of their common land. bsky.app/profile/high...

The first-ever Land Use Framework for England has been published. I think it is the most far-sighted plan for England's land since the Second World War. Here's my thoughts on what it does (& doesn't) do: 1/ www.gov.uk/government/p...

BLOG - following Alan Brown's guest blog on Craiganour Estate, I investigate what we know about who really controls the ownership of North Glenbuchat Estate. The answer is not forthcoming from our so-called transparency registers. andywightman.scot/2026/03/who-...

A post by me on @andywightman.scot's website for anyone interested in Craiganour estate, plutocracy, #LandReform, #Scotland and indeed Grace Jones and Beyoncé. Will landownership in our country ever be fully transparent? andywightman.scot/2026/03/who-...

BLOG - I am pleased to publish this Guest Blog. Are our transparency registers are worth anything at all? The revelation that a Jersey company is controlled by BVI companies is not particularly helpful. Meanwhile the key player appears to remain hidden. andywightman.scot/2026/03/who-...

So many questions. Is it normal for someone to be released on bail with conditions (surrender passport) but to be free to go before actually having handed in said passport? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For the 2nd time in 2 days, the BBC World at One #wato reports that there are upcoming elections to the “Scottish Government”. This is not true. There are upcoming elections to Scottish Parliament. Government is then elected by MSPs. This is elementary stuff to get right

BLOG - I am pleased to report that Police Scotland has submitted a report to COPFS relating to an offence to register in Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land. Apologies to blog subscribers as automated email failed to send (am investigating) andywightman.scot/2026/03/poli...

BLOG - I am pleased to report that Police Scotland has submitted a report to COPFS relating to an offence to register in Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land. Apologies to blog subscribers as automated email failed to send (am investigating) andywightman.scot/2026/03/poli...

The reconsideration stage of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill has been passed unanimously by MSPs. You can find out more about the Bill at https://ow.ly/pyW050YoIVY

FEBRUARY 2026 UPDATE Who Owns Scotland now published with total of 4942 landholdings (76.8% rural Scotland). Only one new record as expansion is running far ahead of subscription income - the sole source of income. New subscriptions welcome - they start at £6. whoownsscotland.org.uk

BLOG - Tulchan Estate is not for sale for offers over £67 million. Instead the shareholding of the company that owns it (in turn owned in Guernsey) is for sale. This has implications for tax receipts & the tenant farmers whose right to buy is once again blocked. andywightman.scot/2026/02/tulc...

Today I publish Who Owns Scotland 2025, an annual analysis of landownership across rural Scotland. The most significant finding is the continuing trend over past 15 years of fewer and fewer owners owning more and more of rural Scotland. andywightman.scot/2026/02/who-...

Today I publish Who Owns Scotland 2025, an annual analysis of landownership across rural Scotland. The most significant finding is the continuing trend over past 15 years of fewer and fewer owners owning more and more of rural Scotland. andywightman.scot/2026/02/who-...

Programme for @edinburghtradfest.com out now. @islaratcliff.bsky.social with a re-imagination of Vivaldi's Four Seasons on 3pm Sat 9 May at Traverse Theatre. edinburghtradfest.com/schedule/202...

Today's inauguration of the Canadian consulate in Greenland is the culmination of diplomacy as the answer to the bullying of the shameless American president and his yes-sayer government. It's an inspiration to everyone to stand up to injustice and stand for the rule of international law.

BLOG - Today I publish my annual Rural Land Market report examining land sales in 2024. For the first time, I reveal the prices paid for 21 properties which were concealed from public view. Do have a read - only 9 pages (the blog is worth your time too) andywightman.scot/2026/02/rura...