by Colin Campbell IN A week when “roadmaps” north and south of the border have been flagging up the future in varying directions, here in Inverness there’s still one glaring omission. There’s no Roadmap for the Riverside. In October, following yet another council postponement of the Gathering Place, we were told work on it would start “in the spring”. Well spring is here now and … Continue reading NO ROADMAP FOR THE RIVERSIDE: After the last postponement, it was said the Gathering Place would be built ‘in the spring’. It’s time to ditch it, blame the virus, and bring long-running farce to an end

by Colin Campbell THE Teflon coating is peeling off Queen Nicola, and before long there may be none of it left. Yet another opinion poll has shown a drop in support for independence, the SNP, and Nicola Sturgeon personally. This marks a clear downward trend. The latest poll for STV highlights a fall in independence backing from 58 to 56 and now to 52 per cent. … Continue reading Teflon is coming off Queen Nicola, and soon there may be none left

by Colin Campbell FOR anyone who has been around quite a long time in the Highlands, much of Tuesday night’s BBC Alba documentary on Charles Kennedy would have been a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The portrayal of the former Ross MP and Liberal Democrat leader was hugely affectionate and, when it turned to the drink problem that finally killed him in 2015, greatly sympathetic. … Continue reading Kennedy documentary a reminder of better days in Scotland, compared with the poisonous atmosphere now

by Colin Campbell AT the height of the pandemic Nicola Sturgeon’s enthusiasm for creating division in an already horribly divided Scotland is unabated. In fact it seems insatiable. Her latest provocative, inflammatory stunt is her instruction that the EU flag should be flown at all times over Government buildings. The Union Jack is only flown once a year, on Remembrance Day. A spokesman for the … Continue reading Sturgeon’s craving to provoke endless division is insatiable

by Colin Campbell WHY are the SNP so keen on pressing the case for postal voting in the May elections? On their website they state: Postal voting is the safest way to vote Apply now and you’ll be able to vote in a way which reduces your risk from the virus People across Scotland will have at least 14 hours to vote and no polling … Continue reading Let’s hope MI5 agents are all tracking spies on polling day

by Colin Campbell MEMBERS of the Highlands and Islands Students Association have voted in favour of “decolonising the curriculum” of the Highland University. It’s not clear how many of the thousands of students who go there to work towards getting a good job and a fulfilling career are in favour of this move. And it’s not clear how many even understand what it means. A … Continue reading Decolonising the curriculum all the way to the burger bar

by Colin Campbell SCOTLAND’S superb rugby victory over England on Saturday has been overshadowed in the minds of some people by the Scots players failure to drop down into a grovelling posture before kick off and “take the knee”. Those condemning the players automatically expert universal support for their criticism. I’ve no doubt however that a large number of sports fans have had enough of … Continue reading Time to end grovelling subservience of taking the knee

by Colin Campbell AN outbreak of squabbling has broken out among Inverness councillors over how £252,000 in town centre funding should be spent on enhancing the city and surrounding areas. The cash from the Scottish Government aims to support construction and employment. However some councillors have different ideas from officials on the best way to utilise the money, and in a bid to sort things … Continue reading Councillors squabble over pounds and pennies, but biggest waste ever is all set to go ahead

by Colin Campbell THE new lockdown is yet more bad news for the Gathering Place gang. This tiny group, led by arts chairwoman Isabelle Mackenzie and Provost Helen Carmichael, and supported by council chief executive Donna Manson, are the only people in the city who want to see this riverside monstrosity built, at a cost of £300,000. Now whatever plans they have for it have … Continue reading Latest lockdown is more bad news for the Gathering Place gang

by Colin Campbell FOR many people any prattle about the need for another independence referendum amid the current worsening coronavirus crisis surely seems irrelevant, to say the least. But the more extreme nationalists never stop. It’s what they live and breathe and is their reason for getting out of bed in the morning. The May elections for the Scottish Parliament will, they insist, be an … Continue reading Fergus Ewing’s campaign junk makes a mockery of ‘indy election’ claim