What has NATO helped achieved since WWII? Oh, idk, just the collapse of the Soviet Union and the most unprecedented level and length of peace in the history of the world

The Times view on foreign hackers: China Syndrome.

thetimes.co.uk/article/87faea…

Scottish Labour folks 👀

The reappointment of Neil Gray MSP as Health Secretary is not only welcome but necessary in providing continuity at a time when NHS Scotland is in deep crisis
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🟡 New: First Minister John Swinney spoke with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this afternoon

Told PM that ScotGov is 'ready to work constructively with the UK Government in a good-faith effort to deliver for the people of Scotland and reduce polarisation in politics'

By making Kate Forbes his deputy, John Swinney has slapped a big sign on the SNP that says 'under new centrist management'. Good newstatesman.com/politics/scotl…

Well done Kirsten Oswald MP for continuing to push the UK Government to take action against vaping companies marketing to young people. Why won’t the government stop sports/football teams, with young fans who look up to players, advertising vaping products?

Delighted to see Kate Forbes MSP given the Deputy First Minister role in the Cabinet. Now it's time for The SNP to focus on the peoples' priorities: delivering world class education, improving the health service, tacking climate change, delivering growth & reducing poverty.

Not too many.

When you're in the left lane of a three lane motorway, and you veer right, you arrive in the centre, along with most other people.

The same Kate Forbes who introduced and increased Scottish child payment and progressive tax. in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, policies which the greens claim credit for.

Their insatiable desire to sit on a high horse and moan shows why it was right to remove them from gov.

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Kate Forbes is the first to arrive at Bute House as John Swinney appoints his cabinet. Shona Robison has also gone in.

Whoever ends up in the White House in 2025, the French president is adamant that Europe must shake off its decades-­long military de­pendence on America, and with it the reluctance to take hard power seriously econ.st/4dqDVED 👇

Many congratulations to John Swinney. I wish him all the best in his endeavours & also look forward to constructive relations between UK and Scottish Governments.

(And especially welcome his tribute to Elizabeth, whose sterling work for those with MS in Scotland is legendary).

John Swinney vows to ditch partisan politics as first minister

thetimes.co.uk/article/81ff4e…

John Swinney has vowed to end the 'intensely polarised' nature of Holyrood by working with opponents as Scotland's seventh first minister.
He has pledged to focus on the economy, public services (particularly the NHS) and tackling child poverty.
scotsman.com/news/politics/…

John Swinney arrives at Bute House with his wife Elizabeth. He’s become Scotland’s seventh First Minister after being voted in by MSPs at Holyrood. He’ll be officially sworn in tomorrow before a cabinet reshuffle takes place. Channel 5 News

📣 @johnswinney: “To the people of Scotland I would simply say this. I offer myself to be the First Minister for everyone in Scotland. I am here to serve you. I will give everything I have to build the best future for our Country.”

👇 Read more

snp.org/john-swinneys-…

At some point, UK Conservatives have to engage with the fact the available market for healthcare professionals is 'the whole of the English-speaking world' and engage with quality of the offer from elsewhere in it: mcnz.org.nz/registration/g…

With some caveats, John Swinney's accession is the best scenario the SNP could have hoped for (and the worst for the opposition parties). My latest piece for the The Guardian theguardian.com/commentisfree/…