The Herald

No Expenses Spared Bold New System Will Enhance Political Culture

PUBLISH and be damned. George Reid, Holyrood's presiding officer, did not quite utter these words in a parliamentary answer on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) yesterday. But it is clear from the detail of the response that the parliament is prepared to be bold in releasing detailed information about MSPs' expenses, the vexed matter which caused David McLetchie to resign as leader of the Scottish Conservatives this week and tarnished the parliament with a reputation ...

All of Scotland's a Stage Excellent Programme for New National Theatre

FOR vampire, read blood donor. The idea of a national theatre for Scotland has been mooted for more than 70 years. The biggest reservation was that it would be, orwould become, a centralised institution that would suck the lifeblood from the increasingly impoverished network of Scottish theatres. The programme announced yesterday by the National Theatre of Scotland for its opening season promises exactly the opposite: an injection of creative plasma in the veins of Scotland's theatres and the...

Briefing: The 62-Mile-High Club

ASTRONAUTINESS may not be out of this world. Q: Who says?

The Only Way for Scottish Tories to Become Relevant

"NOWGod be thanked, who has matched us with this hour." While I fully appreciate the formidable achievements of David McLetchie in keeping the Scottish Conservative Party's head above water at Holyrood, the election of a new leader now presents the party with a heaven-sent chance to regroup, reorganise, and turn its policies around to face the future. The easy alternative is to carry on as before, a mere holding operation. This would mean inevitable terminal decline. The writing really is on ...

Effective Leadership Is the Key On Housing

THE REAL issue facing social housing in Glasgow is one of effective leadership. It is now clear that GBP1bn, the political support of Labour councillors, and a successful ballot of tenants are necessary, but insufficient, conditions for renewing housing in Glasgow. There are several long-standing challenges to which GHA's leadership has failed to respond. Had the following six questions been asked and answered by GHA then the current impasse might have been avoided.

Contemptible Vilification of George Best

WHAT a nasty, ungenerous column Melanie Reid has produced (November 1). Her vilification of George Best is contemptible. Any doubts anyone ever had about George Best's worth as a human being and as a friend must have been dispelled by the display of genuine and unaffected grief shown by Denis Law on leaving the hospital wherein his old comrade lay fighting for his life. I, too, had a friend who was an alcoholic who messed me about something awful on more than one occasion. Often I had to run ...

'Britishness' Test

WHEN I read over your report (November 1) about the "Britishness" test questions, I am reminded of recent criticism of multiple- choice arithmetic exam questions. Leaving aside the inanity of examining someone on what to do in the event of spilling a pint, of the seven other questions, four are ambiguous, the two involving the C of E and the Queen are no indicator of anything beyond a command of trivia, and I could answer a half of the one about emergency phone numbers. Apart from the places ...

Nhs Contradiction

THE publication by the health minister, Andy Kerr, of his 10- year plans for the NHS in Scotland amounts to forward to the past. Not just back five years to Susan Deacon's version of the same thing; and not back to July 1948 when the NHS was founded. But back to the ancient Greeks and the time of Hippocrates, afterwhom the Hippocratic oath, which obliges the medical profession to put patients first, was named. Isn't that what doctors have been doing, without much thanks, while politicians thr...

Objections to Nationwide, Official, Secret Register

DENNIS Smith (Letters, October 31) most certainly does not stand alone in harbouring fears about the expansion of the nowmisnamed Visor (Violent and Sex Offenders Register) to include the "thought [by the police] to be possible, but not yet convicted as, violent and sex offenders". Doubtless police forces already work locally and unofficially with such lists in order to help solve violent and sexual crime. That, however, is a quite different matter from the compiling of a nationwide, official...

Ursula Howells Archetypal English Lady with a Fine Line in Horror

URSULA Howells, who played Frances Forsyte in the acclaimed 1967 TV adaptation of The Forsyte Saga and was Patrick Cargill's ex-wife in the popular sitcom Father, Dear Father (1968-73), has died at the age of 83. She specialised in English ladies, in everything from highbrow literary adaptations to sitcoms and even horror films.

From the Herald Archives

25 YEARS AGO AFRENCH fishing trawler attempting to land its cargo at Corpach, near Fort William, against strong opposition by the Scottish Fishermen's Association, was forced to put to sea again because it was said to exceed the maximum draught by three feet.

For Gbp30,000 You, Too, Could Wobble-Gob to Your First Measly Million

Make Me a Million Channel 4, 9.00pm Beyond Boundaries BBC2, 9.00pm

Public to See All Msp Cash Claims On Internet Holyrood Opts for Openness

THE public will soon be able to see regular updates of every detail of Holyrood expenses published online, in an attempt to draw a line under the taxi scandal that brought down David McLetchie as the Tory leader. The Scottish Parliament's ruling body yesterday backed a move to an unprecedented level of openness about expenses, amid fears that the entire institution has been brought into disrepute by a relatively minor series of unexplained taxi journeys.

National Theatre Debut Features Tv Favourite Tutti Frutti Rocks Again On the Stage

THE cult 1987 television series Tutti Frutti is to be recreated for the stage as part of the National Theatre of Scotland's debut programme. John Byrne, who wrote the original script, has been asked to distil the six one-hour episodes into a format to go on the boards when the touring NTS sets off on its maiden voyage next year.

Hearts Investors to Put Romanov On the Spot

TWO of Hearts' leading shareholders yesterday demanded that VladimirRomanov explain the controversial departures of George Foulkes, chairman, and Phil Anderton, chief executive. Leslie Deans, the former Hearts chairman, said: "I am seeking a meeting for myself and my co-shareholder, Robert McGrail, with Vladimir Romanov. I was certainly surprised when I heard what had happened.

'Daddy 'S Not Going to Come Back' Footage Released Showing How Son Was Told of Banker's Murder

IT appears to be a picture of childhood innocence: a young boy playing with toys in the company of his mother. But the reality is crushing.

Students Claim Beauty Is in the Eye of Fertility

IT is not just about a pretty face. If a group of Scottish psychologists are to be believed, attractiveness is not a matter of wit, intelligence, or sense of humour either. No, girls having a pretty face depends on oestrogen, and lots of it.

First No-Frills Air Service From Scotland to Florida

SCOTLAND is to have its first "no frills" airline service to Florida next summer. The low-cost company Flyglobespan announced yesterday it will fly seven days a week from Glasgow to Orlando (Sanford). Prices will start at [GBP]99 one way but taxes, fees and charges of [GBP]54.50 will be added. Flyglobespan said there would also be a new daily service to Faro, in the Algarve.

Why the Battle On Poverty Leaves the Worst Places to Struggle Alone Council Chiefs in Deprived Areas Demand Better Funding

SCOTLAND'S most deprived communities are being left behind in the nationwide fight against poverty, according to council leaders. The leaders of Glasgow City, West Dunbartonshire and Fife councils yesterday demanded radical changes to the way ministers fund initiatives in the country's poorest areas.

Legacy Lost Under Personality Analysis

THE receptive hearing MSPs gave Steven Purcell yesterday was a sign that frosty relations between the leader's office at Glasgow City Council, the parliament and the Scottish Executive are starting to thaw. The hearing also showed that, whatever politicians might say, personality plays a huge part in politics.