…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
The following was first published as a Guest Column in the West Highland Free Press on 3 August 2012. The subject matter is one of a large number of vital topics that should be addressed by the Scottish Government’s Land
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Today, the Scottish Government announced the establishment of a “Land Reform Review Group” that will oversee a “wide ranging review of land reform in Scotland”. If this happens it will be very worthwhile. However, the remit and membership of this
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Communications and public relations are a necessary part of modern political life. Indeed, getting your message over often absorbs more time and effort than the content of the message itself. So, when the First Minister, Alex Salmond, was invited to
Continue readingFor the record (and bearing in mind this is written by a spin doctor), here is the opening from Scottish Land & Estate’s e-newsletter of 1 June 2012. “This has been a very busy week indeed, it started with our
Continue readingIn 1999, I wrote a short book called Scotland: Land & Power. The Agenda for Land Reform. I still have 500 or so copies sitting in boxes beside me which I am slowly getting rid of by leaving copies on
Continue readingWell, Alex Salmond duly gave his speech to the AGM of Scottish Land and Estates on Tuesday 29 May. (1) Unfortunately, he chose not to take up the many suggestions made in response to my earlier blog and, instead, gave
Continue readingAs someone engaged in asking questions about land and its ownership, I have always been aware of the paucity of academic study of land tenure and ownership. That striking absence has, in part, motivated my ongoing investigations. So it
Continue readingUPDATE 0900 18 May 2012 A spokesperson for Mr Salmond told the West Highland Free Press that “it is too early to give any details of what the First Minister might say.” I’m delighted to report that Alex Salmond has
Continue readingDuke Richard, the 10th Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, KBE BBC Scotland’s Business and Economy Editor, Douglas Fraser, conducted a fascinating interview with John Glen, Chief Executive of the Buccleuch Group yesterday (online report here & audio file here). There
Continue readingA number of people in the SNP have been trying to persuade me that the Scottish Government is serious about getting land reform back on track. I am prepared to accept this once I see the evidence. Meanwhile events suggest
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