Malcolm Combe
@malcolmcombe.bsky.social
Scots academic lawyer based at the University of Strathclyde. Interested in access to: a) land; and b) justice. Don (in the fitba sense). Blogs a bit. Demi-Gael.
It's Boxing Day, so of course I've published a blog post about the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 and the Renters' Rights Act 2025. basedrones.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/s...
Scottish residential tenancy reform – the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025
2025 brought much in the way of statutory intervention for Scotland’s residential landlords and tenants. The majority of these reforms can be found in the Scottish Parliament’s Housing …
basedrones.wordpress.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:40 PM
It's Boxing Day, so of course I've published a blog post about the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 and the Renters' Rights Act 2025. basedrones.wordpress.com/2025/12/26/s...
Interesting to see this issue which is often framed as a Scottish issue getting UK-wide coverage. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why Britain has a deer problem
Deer numbers have rocketed over the last 40 years and particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Interesting to see this issue which is often framed as a Scottish issue getting UK-wide coverage. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Merry Christmas | Nollaig Chridheil
December 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Merry Christmas | Nollaig Chridheil
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
Happy new(est) Land Reform (Scotland) Act day - I see from the Scottish Parliament that what was the Bill became an Act today. www.parliament.scot/bills-and-la...
Land Reform Scotland Bill
www.parliament.scot
December 16, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Happy new(est) Land Reform (Scotland) Act day - I see from the Scottish Parliament that what was the Bill became an Act today. www.parliament.scot/bills-and-la...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
Great event. Catch me also at the end of the pod, chatting about what this all means for England and Wales.
The consensus from Scotland: default rights of responsible access work. Now it's about making sure the other components: infrastructure, culture & education make the most of that foundation.
The consensus from Scotland: default rights of responsible access work. Now it's about making sure the other components: infrastructure, culture & education make the most of that foundation.
I recently spoke at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network annual conference. Mark Stephen (who chaired the event) and Rachel Stewart have captured a flavour of the day for a BBC podcast. You can hear me talking about land access disputes from around the 19 minute mark. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Scotland Outdoors - Twenty Years of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code - BBC Sounds
Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network conference.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Great event. Catch me also at the end of the pod, chatting about what this all means for England and Wales.
The consensus from Scotland: default rights of responsible access work. Now it's about making sure the other components: infrastructure, culture & education make the most of that foundation.
The consensus from Scotland: default rights of responsible access work. Now it's about making sure the other components: infrastructure, culture & education make the most of that foundation.
I recently spoke at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network annual conference. Mark Stephen (who chaired the event) and Rachel Stewart have captured a flavour of the day for a BBC podcast. You can hear me talking about land access disputes from around the 19 minute mark. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Scotland Outdoors - Twenty Years of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code - BBC Sounds
Mark and Rachel speak to delegates at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network conference.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I recently spoke at the Scottish Outdoor Access Network annual conference. Mark Stephen (who chaired the event) and Rachel Stewart have captured a flavour of the day for a BBC podcast. You can hear me talking about land access disputes from around the 19 minute mark. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Lots of people sharing this clip because it's funny and cathartic but I also genuinely believe it's important.
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
We have to win the narrative battle between "I live in a corrupt society and that's just how it is" and "I live in a corrupt society and we are going to defeat and humiliate these ghouls."
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
From today, Gaelic and Scots are recognised as official languages.
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Gaelic and Scots now recognised as official languages
The milestone is one of a number of new measures taking effect on St Andrew's Day from the Scottish Languages Act.
www.bbc.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
From today, Gaelic and Scots are recognised as official languages.
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A significant moment on St Andrew’s Day. 🏴
www.bbc.com/news/article...
It was great to attend this event for John. A lovely man, and a terrific scholar.
Today (and tomorrow morning) at @UniStrathclyde, the Law School is hosting the event "Praeceptor Noster: Seminar in Honour of Professor John Blackie", to celebrate the career and contribution of John (formerly of this parish) with the great and the good of Scots law.
November 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
It was great to attend this event for John. A lovely man, and a terrific scholar.
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
BLOG - You were never meant to know about the £25 million estate sale. How prices being paid for large-scale landholdings are being concealed from public view and what needs to change. andywightman.scot/2025/11/you-...
You were never meant to know about the £25 million estate sale - Land Matters
In my previous blog highlighting the £25.2 million sale of Scatwell Estate to Strathconon Estates Ltd, I mentioned a third interesting feature of the sale. You were never meant to know about it. I hav...
andywightman.scot
November 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
BLOG - You were never meant to know about the £25 million estate sale. How prices being paid for large-scale landholdings are being concealed from public view and what needs to change. andywightman.scot/2025/11/you-...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
I am pleased to publish this thoughtful essay by April Cumming on her recent homecoming to Lochaber from Australia. andywightman.scot/2025/11/duth...
Dùthchas and the Road Home - Land Matters
Guest Blog by April Cumming April is currently based in Melbourne and works for the Australasian Housing Institute supporting workers in the community and social housing sector. She worked for Malcolm...
andywightman.scot
November 4, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I am pleased to publish this thoughtful essay by April Cumming on her recent homecoming to Lochaber from Australia. andywightman.scot/2025/11/duth...
A public access to land sign for Halloween.
October 31, 2025 at 11:19 PM
A public access to land sign for Halloween.
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
Fully aware this is Reeves’ own responsibility, but: unless for some inexplicable reason you are using a letting agent that does not operate locally how on earth does the agent not tell you something as basic as this? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Chancellor Rachel Reeves admits breaking housing rules by renting out home
Rachel Reeves refers herself to the PM's ethics adviser after
www.bbc.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Fully aware this is Reeves’ own responsibility, but: unless for some inexplicable reason you are using a letting agent that does not operate locally how on earth does the agent not tell you something as basic as this? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
This promises to be a great event with @justfairuk.bsky.social and @bonavero.bsky.social , discussing matters such as the right to housing, food, fuel and social security, centring around a book that was completed at Strathclyde Law School and funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org.
📉 When people can’t afford food, fuel or housing, it’s not just hardship, it’s a failure of justice.
Join us and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights on 9 December for our online event - 'The future of human rights and justice in the UK'
🎟️ Tickets here events.teams.microsoft.com/event/046a23...
Join us and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights on 9 December for our online event - 'The future of human rights and justice in the UK'
🎟️ Tickets here events.teams.microsoft.com/event/046a23...
October 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
This promises to be a great event with @justfairuk.bsky.social and @bonavero.bsky.social , discussing matters such as the right to housing, food, fuel and social security, centring around a book that was completed at Strathclyde Law School and funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org.
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
Join us for our inaugural CLEO hangout on 30 October 2025 at 1pm, to discuss AI in Law Clinics. More details and registration online. events.teams.microsoft.com/event/47570a...
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
events.teams.microsoft.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Join us for our inaugural CLEO hangout on 30 October 2025 at 1pm, to discuss AI in Law Clinics. More details and registration online. events.teams.microsoft.com/event/47570a...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
In what is perhaps a slightly unusual alliance, Don MacLeod (Head of Property at Turcan Connell) & myself have written to the Cabinet Secretary urging further scrutiny of key provisions in Land Reform (Scotland) Bil due to be debated 28-29 Oct & 4 Nov. andywightman.scot/wp-content/u...
andywightman.scot
October 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
In what is perhaps a slightly unusual alliance, Don MacLeod (Head of Property at Turcan Connell) & myself have written to the Cabinet Secretary urging further scrutiny of key provisions in Land Reform (Scotland) Bil due to be debated 28-29 Oct & 4 Nov. andywightman.scot/wp-content/u...
STV News coverage for a recent survey about land reform in Scotland, in anticipation of the vote on the new bill later the month. With commentary from various perspectives.
news.stv.tv/scotland/sco...
news.stv.tv/scotland/sco...
Scottish public support bigger changes on land reform, say charities
MSPs will vote on stage three of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill later this month.
news.stv.tv
October 12, 2025 at 9:16 AM
STV News coverage for a recent survey about land reform in Scotland, in anticipation of the vote on the new bill later the month. With commentary from various perspectives.
news.stv.tv/scotland/sco...
news.stv.tv/scotland/sco...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
The newest episode of our podcast - where our host Sharan chats to Tapas Kanti Baul about clinical legal education in South Asia (and beyond) - is now available on Spotify. open.spotify.com/episode/1Vdd...
CLE Across Borders: Legal Learning in South Asia with Tapas Kanti Baul
open.spotify.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The newest episode of our podcast - where our host Sharan chats to Tapas Kanti Baul about clinical legal education in South Asia (and beyond) - is now available on Spotify. open.spotify.com/episode/1Vdd...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
Scottish Government delays start of muirburn licences for the second time after aggressive lobbying by grouse shooting industry.
Climate emergency, anyone?
Seems Scot Gov more interested in appeasing the lairds than protecting the environment.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/09/s...
Climate emergency, anyone?
Seems Scot Gov more interested in appeasing the lairds than protecting the environment.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/09/s...
Scottish Government delays start of muirburn licences (for the second time) after aggressive lobbying by grouse shooting industry
The Scottish Government has, for the second time, delayed the implementation of muirburn licensing after caving in to pressure from aggressive lobbying by the grouse shooting industry. A quick re-c…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
October 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Scottish Government delays start of muirburn licences for the second time after aggressive lobbying by grouse shooting industry.
Climate emergency, anyone?
Seems Scot Gov more interested in appeasing the lairds than protecting the environment.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/09/s...
Climate emergency, anyone?
Seems Scot Gov more interested in appeasing the lairds than protecting the environment.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/09/s...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
And so it begins... Client telling me that my (and counsel's) advice is wrong and that I need to consider various cited cases that support their view. Which cases don't exist. Client admits used an LLM AI, but comes back to me with further detailed argument, citing other cases which.. don't exist.
October 8, 2025 at 8:28 PM
And so it begins... Client telling me that my (and counsel's) advice is wrong and that I need to consider various cited cases that support their view. Which cases don't exist. Client admits used an LLM AI, but comes back to me with further detailed argument, citing other cases which.. don't exist.
If you weren't up at 7am this fine Saturday, which is totally fair enough by the way, you would have missed me chatting about all things public access to land on BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors. My bit starts 52 minutes 20 seconds into the programme www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Out of Doors - Snorkelling Artists, Access Rights and a Historic Sailing Ship - BBC Sounds
Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 7:31 AM
If you weren't up at 7am this fine Saturday, which is totally fair enough by the way, you would have missed me chatting about all things public access to land on BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors. My bit starts 52 minutes 20 seconds into the programme www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
NEW
Why the government was right to take PPE Medpro to court
The state should enforce its contractual rights against suppliers more often
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Why the government was right to take PPE Medpro to court
The state should enforce its contractual rights against suppliers more often
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
![Mone was neither a director nor shareholder of that company but she was, from this judgment, its champion lobbyist. At a critical stage, according to the judgment, the PPE Medro negotiator “engaged his ‘big gun’ – contacting Baroness Mone who then took up the fight on behalf of Medpro direct with […] the Cabinet Office threatening further escalation.”
Mone sent an email to the Cabinet Office (which indicates the input of lawyers) insisting a contract had already somehow been entered into. She wrote “the committee sign off, the finance sign off, the verbal conversations on the urgency of goods and the signed returned contract, all constitutes a contract, with a legal and moral obligation on [the Department of Health and Social Care]”.
But this was not correct of law or fact. The matter was still entirely subject to contract. The supplier may well have been incurring costs in anticipation of a contract, but at this stage this was at their own risk. In that email, however, a parliamentarian was falsely stating to the government that a high-value contract was already in place and that the government was thereby obliged to purchase the goods. In fact, the final price had not even been determined. There had not even been a best or final offer.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nx2kxyxako6sobj4g4pdkl6s/bafkreidiodntpksjpxz6j2a7uy7v6xrxx2pjijvczgy75n3lfmu427jh4m@jpeg)
October 3, 2025 at 11:45 AM
NEW
Why the government was right to take PPE Medpro to court
The state should enforce its contractual rights against suppliers more often
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Why the government was right to take PPE Medpro to court
The state should enforce its contractual rights against suppliers more often
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Reposted by Malcolm Combe
The Radical Road by Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh has been closed for far too long. Today’s site visit went through the plans for phase 1 reopening from the top end as far as Hutton’s Rock in the south quarry. Due by Spring 2026.
October 3, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The Radical Road by Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh has been closed for far too long. Today’s site visit went through the plans for phase 1 reopening from the top end as far as Hutton’s Rock in the south quarry. Due by Spring 2026.