Scotland
Salmond blinks while bluff called
Posted by Craig Harrow at Wed, 02/12/2009 - 2:59pm in Political commentary
Alex Salmond was once a star turn with the late Wendy Richards, Nicolas Parsons and Sandi Toksvig on the game show Call My Bluff. But, it seems his well-honed skills of brinkmanship deserted him this week.
Scotland's First Minister had his bluff called and lost his Education Minister as a result.
Children of the Devolution
Posted by Craig Harrow at Wed, 01/07/2009 - 3:06pm in
Today marks a decade since the SNP matriarch Winnie Ewing, as the oldest MSP, began proceedings in Edinburgh with the famous declaration that "The Scottish Parliament, adjourned on the 25th day of March in the year 1707, is hereby reconvened'.
So much has happened in ten years: we have had four First Ministers; "father of the nation" Donald Dewar died in office; his successor Henry McLeish was forced to resign over an office expenses scandal, then his replacement Jack McConnell was beaten by Alex Salmond.
Sun shines for Mandate Scotland launch
Posted by Craig Harrow at Thu, 14/05/2009 - 3:41pm in
Craig Harrow is Managing Director of Mandate Scotland
The glorious Spring evening was a perfect backdrop to our Scottish launch – with a view from the venue of the National Galleries, The Mound and the spires of Edinburgh; the capital was looking at its best for London colleagues to savour just what the city can offer when blessed with sunshine.
Scotland round-up
Posted by andrewscoones at Fri, 12/12/2008 - 1:07pm in
This month's Scotland round-up by Scotland consultant Andrew Scoones:
Gordon Brown might have ‘saved the world’ but the Scottish Government has saved the Fringe. A series of box-office failures had brought the Festival Fringe to the brink of collapse but the Scottish Government and Scottish Arts Council have now bailed it out with a £250,000 one-off grant. Student Amateur Dramatics Societies across the country can breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Otherwise, it’s been bridges dominating the news in Scotland.
Labour win casts doubt on pollsters
Posted by Nichola OConnor at Fri, 07/11/2008 - 8:17am in
Against all expectations, Labour have not only won the Glenrothes by-election but retained the seat with a majority of more than 6,000 votes.
Scotland report
Posted by andrewscoones at Thu, 06/11/2008 - 1:58pm in
Mandate Communications follows political developments across the UK, here Andrew Scoones author of Mandate's Scottish Report, flags up what's hot north of the border:
