The Labour MP and No campaigner Jim Murphy is back on his soap box or rather Irn-Bru crates and continuing his tour of 100 Scottish towns in 100 days. He was due to make appearances in Edinburgh and Musselburgh yesterday and hoping to receive a more cordial welcome than that given to him in Courier country last week.
As we enter the final four weeks of the referendum campaign, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in my quiet neighbourhood. There has been a proliferation of Yes posters appearing in the windows of local people, some of whom I know or thought I did.
The referendum may be over in a month but the Scottish Nationalists are here to stay for at least another year and a half. So, even if their vision for independence is defeated on September 18, as looks likely, they will still be wielding power over us all of us.
There was possibly one politician who was more annoyed than Alex Salmond by Alistair Darling’s triumph in last week’s television debate. Gordon Brown, while cheering his side’s victory, must surely have been piqued that it was his former Chancellor who was being credited with saving the union and not himself.
The publication of Scottish Higher results is greeted each year with much back slapping by ministers, and yesterday was no exception. “Record” pass rates have become a regular feature of the exam system and so have politicians congratulating themselves on a job well done.
A couple of people I know put their homes up for sale towards the end of last year and have been living in rented accommodation for the past few months. They were, no doubt, aware of the imminent change to stamp duty and decided to wait before plunging back into the market.
Today was to have seen the first of the great sparring matches between the two leaders fighting for Scotland’s future. July 16 was the date proposed by STV for Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling to go head to head in front of a live television audience and an expectant nation.
The Hull to Zeebrugge ferry carries all sorts on board families from the Midlands, cyclists from Humberside, local school parties and Hell’s Angels chapters from the north of England and Wales.
It is not known exactly how many members of the armed forces are eligible to vote in September’s referendum or whether their numbers could affect the overall result, but they have become the latest battleground between the Yes and No camps, a key constituency whose support moral if not numerical is highly valued by both sides.
Andy Murray has made it through to the second round at Wimbledon, despite hiring a female coach.