@gdrfergusson.bsky.social
With both right of centre parties now opposed to ECHR, losing it becomes more likely. The Conservatives' arguments are worth looking at - but are riddled with inconsistencies. Article in (Glasgow) Herald. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
'Britain needs the ECHR more than other European countries'
There would be a serious downside to withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, argues former diplomat George Fergusson
www.heraldscotland.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
With both right of centre parties now opposed to ECHR, losing it becomes more likely. The Conservatives' arguments are worth looking at - but are riddled with inconsistencies. Article in (Glasgow) Herald. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
I sympathise with the Home Secretary's wish to deal with protestors who do damage or worse. But prosecute them for what they do: proscribing brings other complications. Article in (Glasgow) Herald. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Don’t proscribe organisations: prosecute criminal actions
Labelling organisations as terrorist which take direct action but don’t deliberately seek to kill people looks like using the law to make a…
www.heraldscotland.com
June 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I sympathise with the Home Secretary's wish to deal with protestors who do damage or worse. But prosecute them for what they do: proscribing brings other complications. Article in (Glasgow) Herald. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Hamilton bye-election showed how future UK elections may be a lottery,if 3-4 parties get 20%+ of the vote.First past post may offer clear results: they may soon be random.Now,when the winners and losers from a new system are unclear,is the time to change. Herald article. @electoralreform.bsky.social
June 18, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Hamilton bye-election showed how future UK elections may be a lottery,if 3-4 parties get 20%+ of the vote.First past post may offer clear results: they may soon be random.Now,when the winners and losers from a new system are unclear,is the time to change. Herald article. @electoralreform.bsky.social
My mother's diary for 5 May, 1940, about an officer evacuated from #Dunkirk, falling asleep, hearing bombs and bangs when the ship stopped and thinking Dover was under heavy attack - before finding he had slept all the way to England, and back to Dunkirk.
June 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
My mother's diary for 5 May, 1940, about an officer evacuated from #Dunkirk, falling asleep, hearing bombs and bangs when the ship stopped and thinking Dover was under heavy attack - before finding he had slept all the way to England, and back to Dunkirk.
The Gaza blockade is intolerable.Very sad it seems so rare to see condemnation of Israeli Govt combined with condemnation of Hamas - and vice versa: Herald article. Pleased that former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert spoke on BBC #r4today this morning on similar lines. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com
May 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
The Gaza blockade is intolerable.Very sad it seems so rare to see condemnation of Israeli Govt combined with condemnation of Hamas - and vice versa: Herald article. Pleased that former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert spoke on BBC #r4today this morning on similar lines. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Amidst the impressive solemnity of this morning's #VE Day Parade, there was a moving,very respectful ripple of applause as this Ukrainian contingent, from the team training in the UK, marched past
May 5, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Amidst the impressive solemnity of this morning's #VE Day Parade, there was a moving,very respectful ripple of applause as this Ukrainian contingent, from the team training in the UK, marched past
The extraordinary White House celebration on St Patrick's Day of Conor McPherson highlights growing tolerance of low standards.Meanwhile, international standards only recently agreed are collapsing.We need to cherish some of them, particularly for war crimes. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Why we must strive to retain international rules-based systems
Ireland is reeling from President Trump’s choice of Irish representative to visit the White House on St Patrick’s Day: the mixed martial artist…
www.heraldscotland.com
March 22, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The extraordinary White House celebration on St Patrick's Day of Conor McPherson highlights growing tolerance of low standards.Meanwhile, international standards only recently agreed are collapsing.We need to cherish some of them, particularly for war crimes. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Along with the sadder and more serious reflections on the last 24 hours, I keep wondering what Winston Churchill would have said if one of the press people in this 1942 picture had asked why he was dressed so disrespectfully at the White House.
March 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Along with the sadder and more serious reflections on the last 24 hours, I keep wondering what Winston Churchill would have said if one of the press people in this 1942 picture had asked why he was dressed so disrespectfully at the White House.
Hard path for our politicians between public outrage at Trump remarks and need for keeping open lInks to the US. Meanwhile, time for cross party agreement on defence funding?
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
UK should introduce new income tax band to pay for defence, says former diplomat
Former British diplomat George Fergusson argues that the UK needs to take immediate action to shore up national defence
www.heraldscotland.com
February 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Hard path for our politicians between public outrage at Trump remarks and need for keeping open lInks to the US. Meanwhile, time for cross party agreement on defence funding?
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Intrigued how retailers play the Britishness card to customers:M&S & Morrisons emphasise how much they source from Britain.Nick Wheeler,owner of Charles Tyrwhitt (shirts),announces he will no longer invest in Britain.I find the former a bit jingoistic & irritating.Not sure what to make of the latter
January 31, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Intrigued how retailers play the Britishness card to customers:M&S & Morrisons emphasise how much they source from Britain.Nick Wheeler,owner of Charles Tyrwhitt (shirts),announces he will no longer invest in Britain.I find the former a bit jingoistic & irritating.Not sure what to make of the latter
Reposted
🚨New Pivotal report published today
Our new tracker report looks at the Northern Ireland Executive’s actions since its return a year ago, and suggests priorities for 2025
Read the report here pivotalppf.org/cmsfiles/Pub...
Our new tracker report looks at the Northern Ireland Executive’s actions since its return a year ago, and suggests priorities for 2025
Read the report here pivotalppf.org/cmsfiles/Pub...
January 27, 2025 at 7:21 AM
🚨New Pivotal report published today
Our new tracker report looks at the Northern Ireland Executive’s actions since its return a year ago, and suggests priorities for 2025
Read the report here pivotalppf.org/cmsfiles/Pub...
Our new tracker report looks at the Northern Ireland Executive’s actions since its return a year ago, and suggests priorities for 2025
Read the report here pivotalppf.org/cmsfiles/Pub...
Welcome news that Royal Navy to call final Astute Class sub HMS Achilles - iconic name after historic shared NZ/RN WW2 cruiser & highlights shared UK/NZ heritage. Brings back memorIes of 'doing' Battle of River Plate in history at school in NZ ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-r...
Royal Navy renames final Astute-class submarine
In a surprising announcement on Sunday evening, the Royal Navy revealed that the seventh and final Astute-class nuclear-powered submarine, previously named HMS Agincourt, will now be called HMS Achill...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
January 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Welcome news that Royal Navy to call final Astute Class sub HMS Achilles - iconic name after historic shared NZ/RN WW2 cruiser & highlights shared UK/NZ heritage. Brings back memorIes of 'doing' Battle of River Plate in history at school in NZ ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-r...
Published 2 weeks after writing. But the main points have not dated: we should treat the new Syrian regime cautiously; but not (as some Israeli policies risk doing)force it into hostility. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
If we back the new Syrian regime now, it could become a monster later
The US, EU and Britain have relatively altruistic interests: to see a benign, stable government established in Syria.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 4, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Published 2 weeks after writing. But the main points have not dated: we should treat the new Syrian regime cautiously; but not (as some Israeli policies risk doing)force it into hostility. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Having career diplomats as Ambassadors is a good system. But the court-like structure emerging in D.C. may well be an occasion where the classical diplomatic model of sending a personal envoy to the Prince is right. And #PeterMandelson is well qualified. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com
December 23, 2024 at 9:54 PM
Having career diplomats as Ambassadors is a good system. But the court-like structure emerging in D.C. may well be an occasion where the classical diplomatic model of sending a personal envoy to the Prince is right. And #PeterMandelson is well qualified. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Tremendous re-opening ceremony for Notre Dame (feed randomly courtesy of the Hindustan Times). Rare to see French state and city reps in ecclesiastical context, when UK monarch there so often. Odd images: Mr Trump walking in like Don Corleone; M.Macron standing behind A/bishop like Wyatt Earp.
December 7, 2024 at 8:29 PM
Tremendous re-opening ceremony for Notre Dame (feed randomly courtesy of the Hindustan Times). Rare to see French state and city reps in ecclesiastical context, when UK monarch there so often. Odd images: Mr Trump walking in like Don Corleone; M.Macron standing behind A/bishop like Wyatt Earp.
The death of Sir Bom Gillies,last of the WW2 Māori Bn, is a tine to reflect on an amazing formation,inspirers of legends. www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-dail.... A veteran once told me that in Italy they had wondered at first why, when greeted with a cheery Kia ora,people had looked at their watches!
'We saw him as a hero': Last remaining member of Māori Battalion dies, aged 99
Sir Robert (Bom) Gillies was the last surviving member of the 28th Māori Battalion.
www.nzherald.co.nz
December 4, 2024 at 10:34 PM
The death of Sir Bom Gillies,last of the WW2 Māori Bn, is a tine to reflect on an amazing formation,inspirers of legends. www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-dail.... A veteran once told me that in Italy they had wondered at first why, when greeted with a cheery Kia ora,people had looked at their watches!