A final EU-UK agreement was meant to happen this month to allow 27 EU governments as well as the European Parliament to approve or reject the deal. However, the chances of the 15 October EU Council meeting having anything much to discuss and decide on Brexit are now small to non-existent. Johnson of course is a deadline merchant. In his years of daily and weekly journalism he … [Read more...] about Why are we waiting?
No way to save the Union
In 2015, David Cameron set up a Commission headed by a Tory Scottish banker-businessman, Lord Smith of Kelvin, now Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, and a very grand Scot indeed, to advise on how Scotland should be handled in the aftermath of the No vote in #Indyref1 in 2014. Smith made clear: "Nothing in this report prevents Scotland becoming an independent country … [Read more...] about No way to save the Union
Salmond, the SNP and Brexit
The acquittal of Alex Salmond after two years, during which he faced accusations of serious sexual assault, is the most important court judgement affecting contemporary British politics in decades. Normally when prosecutors in England or Scotland put a high profile politician on trial, they are confident of securing a verdict that relies as much on a generalised public and … [Read more...] about Salmond, the SNP and Brexit
Corbyn’s pick’n’mix approach to eating cake
In his speech to the Scottish Labour Party conference, Jeremy Corbyn helpfully set out where he is on the EU and Brexit.It is worth going through Corbyn’s speech in detail to see what makes sense to anyone sitting in an EU27 capital or the EU Commission. In a little over a year's time there will be no more British MEPs, Ministers or officials able to take these arguments to … [Read more...] about Corbyn’s pick’n’mix approach to eating cake
Sturgeon’s fantasy plan for Brexit
It is Christmas so it is not unreasonable for everyone to send their wish-list to Santa’s grotto and wait for the stocking to be stuffed full of goodies on 25 December.Nicola Sturgeon wants Scotland to stay in the Single Market, maintain open borders for European citizens and generally keep Scotland going as an EU nation after Brexit.This is sheer fantasy. No nation … [Read more...] about Sturgeon’s fantasy plan for Brexit