Val McDermid
@valmcdermid
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Crime writer, broadcaster, Scottish, mother, bidie-in, lesbian, feminist, McDermid Ladies fan, singer with Fun Lovin' Crime Writers, loves the sea & ellipses...
Joined March 2009
I have this morning ended my lifelong support of @RaithRovers over their signing of the rapist David Goodwillie. I have cancelled next season’s shirt sponsorship over this disgusting and despicable move. This shatters any claim to be a community or family club. 1/2.
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Nobody wants to go into lockdown; but @NicolaSturgeon lays out the case for so necessary a step with clarity and courage. A leader is someone whose first priority is what's best for their people, rather than running scared of the bad news because people might not like it.
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Some things never change. tweet one positive thing about @NicolaSturgeon and my Twitter feed fills to the brim with the bile and misogyny of the bots and the bigots. Every single time.
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2/2 Goodwillie has never expressed a shred of remorse for the rape he committed. His presence at Starks Park is a stain on the club. I’ll be tearing up my season ticket too. This is a heartbreaker for me and many other fans, I know.
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“As First Minister, I refused to follow the age-old pattern of allowing a powerful man to use his status and connections to get what he wants”.
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Though I’m republican by instinct, I felt great respect for the Queen. Duty, dignity and devotion her watchwords. But what I took away from meeting her was a genuine lively interest in the world around her. That, and a healthy sense of humour. RIP, now.
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It took you all day to come up with this? Fine PR strategy indeed.
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Just when you thought people couldn’t stoop lower… rich tourists doing the North West 500 route have been helping themselves to the Lochinver Community Larder (a sort of food bank) Don’t you just love the benefits tourism brings to the Highlands?.
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The thought of the rapist David Goodwillie running out on the pitch at Starks Park in a @RaithRovers shirt with my name on it makes me feel physically sick.
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I used to respect you @bbclaurak. Insulting a politician for doing their job, however, reduces that respect to shreds. #LostCredibility.
Right on cue!.
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How refreshing to hear a Tory politician tell the truth about how they view Scotland.
This abomination makes me want independence . …and I’m not even Scottish .
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A very Happy New Year from our doorstep to yours. I hope 2021 is kinder to all of us and that we can be kinder to each other.
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I get it, I really do, and you deserve to live without harassment or insult, but I’m so sad to see you leave Parliament. Thanks for your courage and commitment; hope we see you in front line politics again before too long.
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Given how the Labour Party has rewarded Diane Abbott's 37+ years of loyalty, I don't hold out much hope for how they're going to treat Scotland after the General Election. .
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Happy St Andrew’s Day! Even if you’re not fortunate enough to be Scottish, you can still celebrate with us! 🎉🥃🏴.
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Angela Lansbury RIP. Thanks for making Cabot Cove the detection capital of the world.
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That's me vaccinated then, thanks to the friendly and efficient NHS and Army medics. Pfizer in my arm -- seems appropriate; when I was UK Trainee Journalist of the Year, Pfizer awarded me a travel bursary of £600. (Back then, you could go to the moon and back for £600. ).
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That's that, then. Novel Number 34 in the bag. Gonnae have a fish supper and a few cans of @brewdog Elvis Juice tonight.
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Think hard before Thursday. If you don’t want a serial liar as your PM, it’s not enough just to not vote Tory. You have to make a positive alternative choice. It might not be a party you entirely support. But this time, for all our sakes, bite the bullet.
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I will never enter a Wetherspoons again. Except to use their toilet in time of need.
Mr Brexit again demonstrating how you can run a pub chain despite being colossally stupid.
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Fun fact for a rainy day - the 99 ice cream cone with a flake was invented in 1922 in an Italian ice-cream shop in Portobello High Street.
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I'll be on @BBCWomansHour around 9.45 talking about the shameful events @RaithRovers and how we circle the wagons round the women and girls who play their football in Kirkaldy.
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Brexit makes me sad, anxious, regretful and angry. But it can’t stop me being European to my core. Like my fellow Scots, I refuse to succumb to isolationism. #LeaveALightOnForScotland.
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It's #LesbianVisibilityWeek, so here's a couple of lesbians to keep you on trend. @ProfJoSharp
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And now for the good news -- 1979 is now officially my best-selling hardback to date. Thanks to all you lovely readers who made it happen. The paperback is out on Thursday, the perfect Valentine's Day gift. (well, there's a wee bit of romance there.).
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Every single time an individual contracts COVID it creates the conditions for a new variant. Every single time. Some of those variants will work in our favour. Some will not. That’s all, folks.
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CLUB STATEMENT | Raith Rovers have released the following statement regarding David Goodwillie, to confirm that the player will not represent the club. Discussions are underway with the player regarding his contractual position:.
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I see the Prime Minister has demonstrated his respect for the arts by appointing Nadine Dorries Culture Secretary.
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For about 50 of the 100 years since #EdwinMorgan's birth, he's been one of my favourite poets. This is one of the reasons why:
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Afghan women arrive in Edinburgh to finish medical degrees denied under Taliban
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WHY THE ACTUAL FUCK DOES TWITTER THINK I SHOULD BE FOLLOWING RICHARD BRANSON???.
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A cheeky wee grappa by the Firth of Forth at the end of an excellent birthday. Lucky me.
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Celebrate misogyny! Celebrate hate! Celebrate violence against women! Buy the Sun!.
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32 novels, actually. .
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I’ve just been the wrong answer on University Challenge, to which the correct answer was Muriel Spark… hard not to feel flattered!.
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LOCKDOWN? What fkn lockdown? Royal train tour? WTAF???.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Scotland as part of a royal train tour.
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Hello, hello, hello! I’ve been quiet on here lately because I’ve had my nose to the grindstone finishing Karen Pirie 7. Happy to say I’ve completed my first draft and I will be spending the rest of this week glueing my brain back together. Anything happened while I’ve been away?.
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On this strangest of Christmas mornings, I hope you all find nuggets of hope and happiness to lift your spirits. Take care of yourselves and each other.
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Thank goodness you're no longer being forced to open your closed mind a tiny crack.
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Esther McVey's sacking means we'll be on to our 10th Housing Minister since 2010. No wonder we're in the depths of a housing crisis in the UK. Nobody stays in the job long enough to understand the details of the problems and come up with fresh approaches to solving them.
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And shame on you for telling Scots to vote for them.
Finding £1bn down the back of the couch for DUP deal proves once and for all: Austerity is a choice not a necessity. Shame on the Tories.
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So, I needed to replace a credit card and opted to apply for @marksandspencer's card. Filled in the forms, then got an email asking me to call them. One question - 'We can see your income and your age; are you thinking of retiring soon?'Am I the only one who finds that insulting?.
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The new doctrine — MAS (Mutually Assured Salvation), as developed by the Prime Minister and the Met Commissioner. You save my arse, I’ll save yours.
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Happy publication day to me! Certainly the loveliest book jacket I’ve ever had, thanks to @ANGELACHARDING
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And here it is! Draft finished on Friday, revised over the weekend and off to my editor. And this is what it will look like in August.
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Thanks for your support - we’re lucky in Scotland to have a leader who understands the value of reading fiction. 👍🏻👍🏻.
📚 Time for a mid-year book review - my top ten novels of 2022 so far 📚
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The last thing we want or need in modern Scotland is the rise of blood nationalism. The people who should have a say in this country’s future are those who live here. End of.
as i've said elsewhere, i've lived, worked and paid taxes here for more than 20 years, yet it's suggested that someone born here but, hypothetically, moved to london aged one and currently lives in france but retains a uk vote could choose scotland's future. f*** that.
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I see Boris says it would be 'reckless and irresponsible' to hold a referendum now. Given his track record, I'm expecting one any day now. .
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Waking up in @univofstandrews to the exciting prospect of receiving an honorary degree from the oldest of Scotland’s 4 ancient universities. Never imagined such a thing!.
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I do not understand how anyone can vote for this man.
Tried to show @BorisJohnson the picture of Jack Williment-Barr. The 4-year-old with suspected pneumonia forced to lie on a pile of coats on the floor of a Leeds hospital. The PM grabbed my phone and put it in his pocket: . @itvcalendar | #GE19
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Magic Moments: walking down Union Street, Aberdeen, with @funlovinwriters post-gig - a guy pissing in a doorway pauses mid-stream and starts singing, ‘one Val McDermid, there’s only one Val McDermid. ’ probably my most unusual moment of recognition.
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It’s not the Daily Record, it’s not the 1980s and it’s not a Daily Record picture credit. But apart from that it’s lovely to see it. .
Crime writer Val McDermid working at the Daily Record in the 1980s. (Pic: Daily Record)
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Independent Scotland would base citizenship on current Irish model (And just a wee reminder that there's no such thing as Scottish Labour; just a branch office).
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Happy St Andrews Day. Let’s all take a wee minute to think about the kind of country we want to live in and how to make it happen.
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Just had a leaflet through my door from a local MSP. Four pages of telling me how wonderful he is. Nowhere does it mention that he's a Tory. Now even their elected officials are afraid to be associated with Boris.
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A pod of about 20 dolphins just went past my office window. .
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Last night I was awarded the Glass Dagger, made at the Glass School in Rheinbach. Their glass industry was founded post-WWII by Bohemian refugees whose craft created a lasting boost to the town’s economy. I’ve asked for post-Brexit refugee status.
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In keeping with current UK government policy, I’m happy to announce I’ve been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. And Chemistry too. #integrity.
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Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. This year, I have been a published novelist for half of my life!.
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I'm baffled by the stooshie over #QueensferryCrossing closure due to adverse weather. Because I remember the UKIP councillor who blamed the extreme weather & flooding down south on gay marriage. Obvs this problem is not because of the SNP but because there are too many gays here.
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I wish you all the very best for this festive season. And for 2020, good health, good companionship, laughter and love, food on the table and a secure roof over your head. Plus good books to read and music to make your heart sing.
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Thank you so much to everyone who has sent their birthday wishes. It's hard to feel socially distanced when I'm surrounded by so much love! Stay safe, and stay well till we can all be together again.
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Today's insult at the despatch box from our civilised and sophisticated PM does raise a question I've often pondered. Is it 'big girl's blouse,' or 'big girls' blouse"? Ie, is it the girl or the blouse that's big? Academic, I suppose, but that's the joy of pedantry.
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So, the manuscript is delivered, the thumbs are up; notes next week. I have my life back and the inside of my head has grown quieter. Normal service resumed. Sort of. .
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Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sue Grafton. She was amazingly generous to me when I was starting out and remained a good and supportive pal. And Kinsey Millhone was one of the pioneering female PIs who showed the rest of us the way.
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Starting tonight, based on a original idea of mine, scripted by the inimitable Amelia Bullmore:
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Wishing you all a happy, healthy and haptic New Year from me, striding into 2022 along a Fife beach!
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To her skills as a Professor of Geography and videographer. @ProfJoSharp can now add hair stylist (trainee). Feel like myself again! @HIMGrooming
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Thanks for all the warm wishes and crossed fingers. I miss you all so much, but hope you have a criminally great time. #theakstonscrime @HarrogateFest
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Finished my rewrites, and this is how the finished book will look on the shelves in August!
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You know that thing where you get an absolutely smashing piece of exciting news but you're sworn to secrecy?.That.
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Fair to say, that’s them telt.
“It’s almost as if my opponents have concluded they can’t beat me or remove me from office themselves. “So they’re crossing their fingers and hoping I’ll remove myself from office, but they’re going to be really disappointed.”.
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Yes, I know technically they’re dead, but they’re still strangely beautifully
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Second Pfizer jag duly delivered by very efficient and friendly NHS nurse who just happens to be reading STILL LIFE. 'Don't tell me what happens!!!'.
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Staggering statistic I heard today: there are now more food banks in the UK than there are branches of McDonalds. And I think we all know how common a sight those golden arches are.
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So much for a 'union of equals'.
NEW: UK Supreme Court rules unanimously that the Scottish Parliament “does *not* have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence.” Or at least it cannot do so lawfully without Westminster’s approval.
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So that's 1989 away to my editor. Now to sleep for a week. .
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She's paid to report, not to deride. If she were even-handed in her 'commentary' I would have no complaint. Don't you dare accuse me of blind worship, @ArtyBagger. You should know better than that.
@valmcdermid @bbclaurak Mocking politicians of all and every party instead of beatifying them used to be the norm in Scotland. We were rather good at it. The bedrock of Scots humour. Not sure I even recognise this ‘worship the great leader or else’ thing. It’s so not . Scottish.
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‘First Minister may have shaved her legs - World Exclusive!’.And to think the Daily Record used to be a newspaper…
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It would have transformed my life. I'd have discovered there were such creatures as lesbians in my bewildered teens. It's so exhilarating to know it will change other lives -- not just for LGBTQ people but also for those whose hate comes from ignorance.
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Happy Birthday to the force of nature that I’m proud to call my wee pal @JaneyGodley. Enjoy your bus pass, doll. ❤️.
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Good to see a footballer schooling the politicians in morality.
"I once had to go through that same system".In a TV exclusive with #BBCBreakfast @MarcusRashford explains why he's calling for a u-turn over the decision to end free school meal vouchers in England over summer. More here:
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A very Happy New Year to a’bdy. Hope it brings you all you need.
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