…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
I have today submitted written evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee on the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill. It focusses on the impact the Bill will have on common good land. Those following this matter may also be interested in
Continue readingThe Scottish Government consultation on land registration closed on 30 November 2010. Apart from the professional classes in property and law, it received little publicity or attention from civil society in Scotland. This reflects a long tradition of legal reforms
Continue readingCountry Life have published a piece on who owns Britain and appear to be surprised that things have changed quite a bit since 1872! They should get out more often. The piece was puffed up in the Telegraph [link broken
Continue readingBrian Pack has today published his final report on the future of farming support in Scotland. Among a number of recommendations, he argues that there should be no cap on individual payments of public subsidies for farming (page 69 of
Continue readingI don’t want to be a pedant but it is symptomatic of much political debate about land reform that the wrong things are said about some important matters which, if not corrected, serve only to confuse. In Iain Gray’s speech
Continue readingHarry Reid’s review of my new book in the Herald today (30 October 2010) makes exhilarating reading. I am particularly impressed by the presentation they gave it against the stunning background of a Colin Mearns photograph of South Uist (I
Continue readingI am not one who usually goes in for some of the wailing and hand wringing about the evils of the landlords or how we wus robbed in the past. Scotland is already full of plenty people for whom this
Continue readingThese were the final words uttered by Richard Lochhead in his speech to the SNP conference in Perth today. Looks like the SNP and the Liberal Democrats are now in agreement. I look forward to seeing the results but am
Continue readingToday’s Herald [broke link May 2024] carries the first extract from my new book, The Poor Had No Lawyers and relates the tale of the Hill of Alyth common. For those interested in further background to my argument, I have
Continue readingI know two of the men pictured above and have nothing but respect for them as legal scholars. They have even been invited to the launch of my new book, The Poor had No Lawyers. But I do question the
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