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Natalie McGarry ran a particularly unpleasant campaign to be elected in 2015. When her heavies followed Margaret Curran screaming abuse, McGarry responded sweetly that her opponent was “a fair target for community justice”.

Normally leaders who presided over such an awful result as Labour in the EU election would quit, writes Brian Wilson.

This week marked the 20th anniversary of Kenny Macintyre’s death and prompted musings about how different Scottish politics might be if he had lived – itself a rare tribute to a mere broadcaster.

What is the most important dividing line in politics? Brexit or no-Brexit? Independence or unity? I don’t think so.

The intransigence of raving right-wing No Dealers and the People's Vote lobby means the chance of a compromise Brexit deal that most of us could have lived appears to have gone, writes Brian Wilson.

Much of Northern Ireland’s trade to mainland Britain goes through Dublin, writes Brian Wilson.

Vested interests decried Labour’s plan to nationalise the National Grid but there are good reasons to do so, writes Brian Wilson.

The SNP’s U-turn over Air Passenger Duty or ‘Air Departure Tax’ was not the result of any supposed environmental virtue, writes Brian Wilson.

It has been a thrilling week of football with the result that both big European finals will be contested by teams from the English Premiership, writes Brian Wilson.

Migrants are hugely welcome in Scotland, but they shouldn’t be seen as a panacea for all Scotland’s ills, writes Brian Wilson.

Following the Euro referendum, Labour had two options. Either accept the result and make the best of it – my own preferred starting point – or else reject the result and set up shop as the party of the second referendum.

The Tory MSP, Murdo Fraser, produced a proposal this week for the replacement of the House of Lords by an upper house which would be mainly or wholly elected and structured to represent the nations and regions of the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon should park her rhetoric about independence until a showdown at the next Holyrood election, writes Brian Wilson.

The killing of 29-year-old Lyra McKee demonstrates why Brexit must not result in a hard border within Ireland, writes Brian Wilson.

“We never heard about that in school” is the most damning comment on how history is taught, writes Brian Wilson.

I was rooting for President Macron this week. If MPs cannot sort out Brexit in six weeks, they are no more likely to do so in six months so why prolong the agony for ourselves or for the EU?

Wikileaks co-founder’s arrest could see him face prosecution in the US, but don’t assume he wouldn’t get fair trial, writes Brian Wilson.

The Sultan of Brunei has introduced laws that could see gay people stoned to death. Western governments and universities like Aberdeen need to examine their consciences about dealing with such world leaders, writes Brian Wilson.

‘Stressed out’ MPs need to realise the health benefits of genuine compromise for the UK as a whole and back Theresa May’s deal over a no-deal, writes Brian Wilson,