The Herald

A Marriage of Brilliance; Festival Opera

It's mid-July, a sultry, hot day in Leeds and we are on the brink of hell. Which, for the purposes of rehearsals, is in a studio space tucked deep inside Leeds Grand Theatre. Orfeo is in search of his dead love, Euridice . . . Click. Another intriguing piece of the ongoing mosaic that is Emio Greco/PC Scholten falls into place. Images of searching, images of being lost - abandoned, by one's muse even - spring to mind. Images and themes that entered into the choreography of Rimasto Orfano, the...

The Diary

It's all in a name FORMER Starsky and Hutch star David Soul was in Scotland to record the BBC panel show Public Opinion where celebrities are confronted with what the public think about them. David cheerfully revealed he had a middle name. He didn't want to say what it was, merely that it started with the letter R.

The Silence of the Kirk Is a Disgrace

One story - quite rightly - dominated this newspaper yesterday. The coverage comprised the front-page lead, a lucid inside analysis by the Scottish political editor and a thoughtful editorial comment. The story had been initiated the day before by the leader of Scotland's Catholics. Cardinal Keith O'Brien indicated his dismay at the Scottish Executive's intention to offer sex education to primary school pupils and contraceptives to secondary pupils, with- out their parents' knowledge. A day l...

Where Is a Mother's Place? I Have a Confession to Make

The confession that follows is by its very nature embarrassing. It is a volte face of such severity, a U-turn of the kind normally only performed by shameless politicians, that I feel slightly queasy. But here it is. If I had my time again, I would choose to be a stay-at-home mother. I am, in saying so, declaring myself a 24- carat, five-star, grade-one hypocrite. I am contradicting years of my own bluster; am betraying countless hard-won battles by women seeking the right to work full-time w...

Don't Blame the Elderly for Nhs Problems

I NOTE from Tom Gordon's report (Why A&E is casualty of demographic time-bomb, August 27) that the "elderly" are once again being blamed for the problems of the NHS. Why do we all suddenly become frail when we reach 65? We are continually being told how much more healthy we are (hence the increase in life expectancy), consequently the age of frailty moves to a later age. After all, the Westminster government recognises this when contemplating raising the pensionable age to 70. So you would th...

Briefing: Shoddy Goods

Campbell Martin MSP probably didn't realise it, but he brought to mind one of the worst instances of the disintegration of garments when complaining about the new Scottish Parliament building yesterday. Q: How?

Comprehensive Choice?; Reform of Secondary Schooling Requires Flexibility

We have grown accustomed to politicians dusting down long- forgotten initiatives and repackaging them as exciting new programmes to capture the public's attention (and support at the polls). Is there more to the education reforms outlined by Jack McConnell yesterday than the pulling together of earlier, disparate announcements in a programme presented as coherent and capable of exciting parents? Or was it merely a cynical ploy to convince people that Labour has the answers to raising standard...

Problems of Dealing with Loch Lomond Crime

IT IS entirely correct that you should comment on the way that crime figures are reported and interpreted, and that illustrations are helpful (August 26). But it is surprising that the only references provided related to criminal activities on Loch Lomond's shores. It was neither helpful nor reasonable to quote events from that area only. Were there not many other sources of more extreme anti-social behaviour? The Loch Lomond Association (LLA) deplores all forms of antisocial and criminal beh...

Greenbelt Housing

THE quotes attributed to me in your report (Glasgow council releases greenbelt land for housing projects, August 27) about a new housing development at Parkhouse were not in fact from me. Glasgow has the best record of any UK city in recycling brownfield sites with some 90% of these sites re-used. Funded plans are in place for thousands of new social rented homes in Glasgow over the next eight years and private flatted developments in the city continue to burgeon.

The Mental Abuse of Minors

Although I tend to agree with the views of Catholic and Muslim church leaders in respect of the Scottish Executive's alleged proposals for sex education for schools the argument being put forward by the Catholics and Muslims that it will "amount to the state-sponsored sexual abuse of minors" is somewhat bizarre since both these churches in particular want an extension of their rights to mentally abuse minors by increasing the number of state- supported or church-supported faith schools. For m...

How About Enjoying Our New Parliament?

I WRITE as a young Scot (age 23) who is very much looking forward to the opening of the new Scottish Parliament building. Although the Queen's presence excites me not a jot, I do think that October 9 could be a special day for all the people of Scotland. It would be so lovely to give ourselves a pat on the back and accept this incredible new landmark. The negativity surrounding it is so tiresome. It's here now - how about we enjoy it? Sitting on the train on Monday morning I spotted a tabloid...

Scottish Battalions

THE MoD's proposal to station battalions in permanent bases, so that families can enjoy stability and integrate with their communities, is welcome. Clive Fairweather's suggestion that Glencorse depot near Penicuik be reopened for recruit training and TA training would enable three, rather than two, Scottish battalions to have home bases. The prospect of Scottish battalions being permanently stationed in Preston or Northern Ireland is unlikely to win the approval of families and relatives. Ret...

Scotland's Sectarian Shame Public Should Be Educated About Anti- Bigotry Laws

Scotland's shame is not so secret now. For the first time, police have provided a figure for the number of arrests at an Old Firm football match which gives details of how many were related to race or sectarianism. Of the 52 people arrested in or around Celtic Park on Sunday, 22 were for offences linked to sectarianism, which has been described by Jack McConnell, the first minister, as Scotland's shame. That more than 40% of the arrests had a sectarian element is worrying as well as a stain o...

Impeachment Is a Complete Non-Starter

THE proposal by Plaid Cymru and the SNP to impeach the prime minister is a complete non-starter. Apart altogether from the elaborate process and the detailed proof required, it would need the House of Commons to vote in favour of an impeachment motion and there is absolutely no chance of that with a Labour majority of 160. Although there must be at least 100 Labour MPs who are privately convinced that Tony Blair lied to parliament and the British people, very few of them would have the courag...

Portrait of a Lonely, Promiscuous, Thuggish, yet Consummate Artist

What's Inside Frank Sinatra's Coffin? Channel 4, 9.00pm Mastermind Junior Special BBC1, 7.00pm You can take one matter as read when you produce a documentary on the life and turbulent times of Francis Albert Sinatra: the soundtrack is going to be sensational. If you can also work in at least one Dean Martin joke, you are almost home and dry.

Report From Iron Mountain

Finnish Paper Firm Cuts Mill Jobs

Caplay Director Sought to Buy Off Murray Warrants

THE saga of Caplay, the former Murray Financial Corporation, has taken a fresh twist after company director Tony Fabrizi admitted he had visited Scotland to try and buy controversial "exploding warrants" held by the firm's founder, Ken Murray. Confirmation of the attempt to relieve Murray of his subscription rights in the company comes just weeks after Caplay threatened to prevent its former chief executive from exercising the options.

Mbo to Boost Academy Roll-Out

PRIVATE equity house Royal London has completed a (pounds) 33.5m management buy-out of McKenzie Group, which owns Glasgow's live music and club venue the Carling Academy along with other sites in the UK. The investment boosts MKG's financial strength to help pursue its strategy of rolling out the Academy brand. The group already owns the flagship Brixton Academy in London along with venues in several other cities south of the border.

Kpmg Appoints Senior Partner