Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White, and Blue 16

My latest ConservativeHome column looks at the risk of Scottish political independence to Scottish economic independence, the MI5 spying operation on Plaid Cymru, the resurrection of the Red Flag at Labour conferences, and takes the opportunity afforded by Saint George's Day to explain to grumbling Anglo-Nat commenters that the reason my column doesn't mention England much is because it is about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White, and Blue 15

My latest column for Conservative Home looks at the differing approaches to Lady Thatcher taken by the Scottish and Welsh devolved chambers, a couple of possible Tory prospects in North-Eastern Scotland, the Sinn Fein party conference and Lady T's notion of repartitioning Ireland, and the odd news item that England would apparently bomb post-independence Scottish airports. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White, and Blue 14

My latest ConHome column looks at the response to the passing of Lady Thatcher in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Topics include her impact on the Troubles, whether she was a recruiting sergeant for devolution, the lost legacy of the 'One Nation' Tory party, the notorious death parties, and whether or not she was as universally hated in Wales and Scotland as modern collective memory believes. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White, and Blue 12

My latest ConHome column takes a look at the SNP's new anti-smoking crackdown, and the looming downsides. I also look at the Scottish executive's reaction to the news that Scottish universities are the worst in the UK for attracting the poor, despite the much-vaunted abolition of tuition fees. Also covered are bomb scares in County Fermanagh, Sinn Fein's stand against the Red Arrows, and the joyous but controversial appearance of the Union Jack in the new Star Trek trailer. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White, and Blue 09

My latest ConHome column looks at the prospects of Basil McCrea's new party and the waning fortunes of the DUP, and how the NI Conservatives seem to be struggling to negotiate Northern Ireland's political landscape. It also looks at the latest bout of me-too more-powers-ism to have erupted from the Welsh devolutionary establishment. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 08

My latest Conservative Home column examines the failure of the NI Conservatives to attract John McCallister and Basil McCrea to defect, why this might have happened, and what it means for the party in Northern Ireland. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 07

In my latest column for Conservative Home, I look at how two different groups of arch-devolutionaries, in Wales and Scotland, are attempting to force unionism in a position of "federalism-by-default". Read it here.

Edit: In an unexpected twist, the article has re-appeared on Labour Hame, courtesy of Tom Harris MP! See here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 05

My latest Conservative Home column examines again the Fraserite suggestion that the Scottish Conservatives should go their own way. I explain why I came down against Fraser's proposals at the time, and why a recent column by a senior member of his campaign staff vindicated - and exceeded - my suspicions. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 04

In my latest ConHome column, I examine the fallout from the Electoral Commission's report on the Scottish referendum question, and the break between the English and Welsh examination systems that looms as the Welsh administration reject Michael Gove's reforms. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 03

In my third article for ConservativeHome, I condemn the Labour Party's decision to maintain its ban on candidates standing for election in Northern Ireland, and attempt to provide some explanations for such a lamentable policy. Read it here.

Dilettante on ConHome: Red, White and Blue 01

I've joined Conservative Home! My 'Red, White and Blue' column will focus on the political goings on of the three smaller home nations, in particular constitutional issues. Please read the first one here.