Always enjoyed browsing in his bookshop, not far from where I worked. Picked up a few great out of print works. Books in shop seemed to reflect his ethos.

NHS Scotland remains financially unsustainable. Despite more money and staff, it hasn’t improved in line with @scotgov commitments. Reform plans must be delivered. @AuditorGenScot’s NHS overview: https://t.co/q3UlSEbFi1 1/4

This time round @scotgov must deliver on its NHS reform plans. Despite having more staff and money, the health service remains financially unsustainable. And a lot of government ambitions are longstanding and yet to be delivered. My NHS overview: https://t.co/kuOSyuhhjc

Hot on the heels of @AntonMuscatelli’s report comes @ProfJimG rigorous research into Scotland’s failing governance. Essential reading. Some will dismiss as partisan attack on SNP govt but that would be a grave mistake says @ProfJMitchell https://t.co/7qAeLWbpsP

Perhaps most damning for supporters of Scottish Parliament… ‘The institution which is absent in this analysis is the Scottish Parliament. With good reason: it is largely irrelevant.’

Wake up call from Our Scottish Future. https://t.co/Uxf2QTnoLr

Scotland’s renewed interest in regional devolution - dormant for too long - is positive. But building real regional power is about democracy as well as collaboration. The case is made in cities and regions across Europe every day. We can do it here too. https://t.co/jsVBquf4L6

@ProfJMitchell 👏👏 Usual first response to any question on public service performance is how much money has been spent. Follow up Q should be "well obviously that's not working so what next?!" When we had money there were still huge failings in performance, maybe the answer isn't money 🤔

Tweet sums up problem. Focus on amount spent, ignores whether spent wisely, ignores impact and outcomes. Larger sums available through formula for spending is not an achievement of Scottish Govt. Until and unless this is recognised this is consequence: https://t.co/GXRsEPxhl1

That ‘unnamed source’… fair chance it was one of the army of SPADs - shocking if a professional civil servant. SNP obsession with being different to England is reaching peak ridiculousness https://t.co/g9gLme0HrC

John Maxton was one of the core group of Scottish Labour home rulers who kept issue very much alive in the doldrum years.

Likely a much more robust Thatcherite Scottish Office, unlikely Scottish Development Agency would have survived… and how would opposition have reacted?

Cathcart was only Scottish Tory seat to fall to Labour in 1979. Teddy Taylor would have been Margaret Thatcher’s Scottish Secretary and likely Iain Sproat as junior Minister (at least according to Sproat when I interviewed him a long time ago). Intriguing ‘What if…’

Tories and others can’t be complacent but given turnout (34%) and massive effort from Reform this is hardly the result, following all the hype and help, that a party on the verge of a major breakthrough should be getting.

If one swallow doesn’t make a Summer, then no swallows, despite many promised sightings, we can conclude that Reform is a busted flush. Once more, despite claims and injecting considerable resources Reform fails. Let’s now focus on serious business of public policy.

Few can explain fiscal policy as acutely, accurately and with such wit as @BenZaranko

Prof Mitchell correctly recalls a rare text/WhatsApp exchange that hadn’t been deleted. Liz Lloyd (chief of staff): “Think I just want a good old fashioned rammy so can think about something other than sick people.” Nicola Sturgeon: “Yeah I get it. And it might be worth doing.”

Tom offers his usual incisive analysis to the state of Scottish politics that marked his work over many decades. 'SNP went astray after Alex Salmond's departure and Sturgeon followed a false trail' https://t.co/XGUJ7pqDx8

https://t.co/qpmnEf0vJJ Her ‘thought partner’ ie chief spin doctor wanted a ‘good old fashioned rammy’ with London. Why would that be desirable during the pandemic? This brazenness, more than refusal to acknowledge the evidence and apologise, is appalling but all too typical.

John Major, "Populism is no longer a fringe problem of a few outlandish politicians, it's now mainstream and professional" "We should recognise the threat it poses to democracy" "If we do not, and it gains power, it will not tolerate its opponents" "It's not easy defeating