My post-SNP conference analysis for The The Spectator: It was only one conference, but I have a sense of hesitant optimism that John Swinney and Kate Forbes MSP can build a new and better concord between my party and the electorate #SNP24 __ spectator.co.uk/article/can-th…

Watching the Scottish Tory leadership debate and I can feel myself unlearning things.

'Renewal whilst still in government is a task of immense difficulty. The Conservative party has faced similar struggles, and it didn’t manage to rebuild trust while still in power – the process is no doubt an uphill battle.' ✍️ Stewart McDonald

My #SNP24 conference review for The @Spectator: We may be down, but we’re by no means out.

The post-election honeymoon is over, with Keir Starmer's favourability ratings falling to their lowest levels since he became prime minister, recording his worst net favourability score since February Favourable: 35% (-3, vs 13-14 August) Unfavourable: 56% (+4) Net

How on earth has this been allowed to happen?! — Sanctioned oligarchs take stake in largest UK oil firm - BBC News bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Restrictions on Ukraine hitting Russian military facilities responsible for this slaughter must be lifted. There’s nothing moral, and certainly nothing strategic, in insisting Ukrainians cannot take out the very Russian capability that murders them day in, day out.

Banter

oh joy...

Do my eyes deceive me? Are we finally seeing some Scottish realism on China? thenational.scot/news/24562375.…

🧵Our Programme for the Economy: practical, pragmatic and focused. This is what we’ll do to unlock economic prosperity in the next year.

Writing my Saturday column on why US imposed restrictions on Ukraine are strategically and morally wrong, and it’s hard to comprehend that - as Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 puts it - the policy does more to protect Russian bombers than Ukrainian civilians. This isn’t what the UN Charter is for

Worth listening to this. Ponsonby’s analysis on a pro-Indy party convention is pretty much spot on and underlines my own scepticism of the idea. In fact the more I think about, the more I’m convinced it would risk taking us backwards.

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Yes, China targets sub-state government in countries right around the world - including here in the UK. Yet so many just shove their fingers in their ears… bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

#BREAK 13 United Nations Special Procedures raise serious concerns about the construction of Kamtok hydroelectric dam in Tibet. 💥IPAC STATEMENT💥 The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China expresses strong support for the communication undersigned by 13 UN Special Procedures,

Thought I’d see what all the fuss was about…