Alex Massie

Scotland

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Columnist for The Times & The Sunday Times. Substack Newsletter: https://t.co/kuwqRaci4c Co-host of the Ponsonby & Massie podcast: @ponsonbymassie

Articles

Out with Reform as it dares to dream of Scottish by-election shock

6 days ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie |Daniel Sanderson |John Boothman

“When the campaign started, we thought we’d beat the Tories into third and put a bit of pressure on them,” says Ross Lambie, the architect who now dares imagine he might become Reform UK’s first member of the Scottish parliament when voters in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency cast their ballots in the most keenly watched Holyrood by-election in years. “But after we started canvassing, we realised how super-angry the Labour voters were. They feel betrayed.
Swinney left chasing rainbows in his pursuit of net zero

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie

There are always losers at first minister's questions but only rarely are there obvious winners. So this week's edition of the weekly parliamentary pantomime was unusual in having a clear victor. Step forward Douglas Ross. The former leader of the Scottish Tories has announced that he will not contest next year's election and is clearly in a demob-happy frame of mind as a result. For weeks Ross has been enjoying himself, barracking John Swinney at every available opportunity.
Mainstream parties responsible for culture in which extremists thrive

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie
Labour accused of car-crash campaign in Hamilton by-election

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Daniel Sanderson |John Boothman |Alex Massie
If biological truth is transphobic, then we've lost our minds

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie
Something fishy going on at first minister's questions

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie
We'd be richer if Scotland was a little less Scottish

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie
Gerry Adams tries yet again to rewrite history

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie
SNP policy is to impoverish us. Luckily no one takes them seriously

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie

Earlier this year, Shona Robison informed the Scottish affairs select committee in the House of Commons that, rather to most people's surprise, the SNP believes that, in the absence of independence, the Scottish government should impoverish Scotland within the United Kingdom. This is not, admittedly, how Robison phrased it, but it is the only sensible conclusion to be drawn from the SNP's recommitment to the notion of "full fiscal autonomy".
Swinney sails into trouble over ferries fiasco

3 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Alex Massie

In the circumstances, it was brave of John Swinney to mount a robust defence of the SNP's record on ferries for the Clyde and Hebridean service at first minister's questions this week. Brave and, indeed, bold. Brave because this week the state-owned shipyard Ferguson Marine confirmed there would be a further delay in delivering the MV Glen Rosa to the state-owned ferry company on behalf of the state-owned commissioning agency.