ICYMI: last week, we sent a letter to John Swinney signed by over 120 civil society orgs and human rights defenders. Together, we demand the First Minister keep Scottish Government's promise to introduce a flagship Human Rights Bill.
Read our letter: buff.ly/3QDIzp9

I have worked closely with John Swinney for more than 30 years. He was by my side throughout my time as FM - as deputy, friend and confidante.
He is one of the kindest and most decent people I know - and without doubt the right person to be FM in this moment, for both party and

👏👏👏

What an amazing night last night was at a packed Portobello Town Hall, with 600 people turning up to hear Val McDermid talk about her fantastic new book, Queen Macbeth, in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon. 📚 Thank you to everyone who came along! ❤️

📸 by Greg Macvean

Delighted that The Portobello Bookshop chose to host the launch of Queen Macbeth with us here in the Town Hall by the sea.

Full House listening to the wonderful conversation between Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon

I know how big a privilege being First Minister is, but also the toll it can take. I also know what a wrench it is to step aside, even when sure it is the right thing to do.
Humza has conducted himself with grace, dignity and integrity - both as FM and in the manner of his

Enjoyed reading - and reviewing for ⁦The New Statesman⁩ - Salman Rushdie’s extraordinary memoir, Knife newstatesman.com/the-weekend-es…

“In the process of writing this profoundly life-affirming memoir, it is clear that Rushdie has found his own peace. For the rest of us, it should have the opposite effect. It should shake us from our complacencies.”
Nicola Sturgeon on Salman Rushdie
newstatesman.com/the-weekend-es…

“Sunak, who has also faced questions about the short length of his trousers, said he is “intrigued and amused by the amount of focus on what I’m wearing”. ”

Welcome to the everyday world of a woman in politics 😂

A helpful explanatory thread.

'The culture wars are colliding with the constitutional crisis and in the growing competition for populist insurgency' ... The grotesque coalition that is forming is a threat to devolution ...bellacaledonia.org.uk/2024/04/03/sup…

This is staggering. Beyond words. It's actually very hard to read so please be warned. theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…

I am a huge admirer of Brian’s culture coverage so this is not intended as any kind of jibe, but given the importance of these issues I thought I’d respond briefly.
I totally agree that governments need to prioritise culture more, that it is too often an ‘easy’ casualty when

Really bad news. I know money is tight but very much hope that a way is found to get Aye Write back on track. Books, culture generally, are so vital to our wellbeing - and never more so than in the troubled times we live in today. Book festivals are opportunities to celebrate the

The world is warming faster than scientists expected via Financial Times
on.ft.com/3VwI7MP

Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan review – the Dickens of our post-Brexit pandemic age theguardian.com/books/2024/mar…

Women who were forced to give their babies up for adoption have made an urgent plea for help finding out what happened to their children. buff.ly/497J94L