The former Liberal Democrat MP (and also the party’s former Scottish leader, and until just a few weeks ago its UK deputy leader) Sir Malcolm Bruce gave an extraordinary interview to Radio 4’s Today programme this morning about Alistair Carmichael.
The whole thing can be heard here, but the short passage below stood out even in the context of a breathless, furious, scattergun performance that sounded like a man on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
We’re sure readers will be greatly comforted by the fact that it’s okay for the Secretary of State for Scotland to tell a “brazen lie”, on the grounds that everyone else in the Houses Of Parliament is a liar too, and by the notion that a government minister who’s caught lying to the nation in order to undermine the democratically-elected leader of Scotland is an offence for which the culprit can simply decide their own punishment.
The former Scottish Secretary’s excuse for lying on air is a feeble, Hothersall-esque semantic dodge, and his excuse for not resigning is that his years of service as a constituency MP ought to outweigh the fact that a UK government minister abused his office and lied to the public in order to undermine the democratically-elected leader of Scotland and cling on to his own job.
Having now heard the case for the defence, readers can reach their own verdicts.
I was driving along under a lovely London sky yesterday and heard Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s interview on BBC Radio 4’s PM (package starts at 33.26).
As it progressed, it became clear that Sturgeon was turning in one of the best political performances on a radio programme ever. I say that as a Labour supporter, albeit one who’s belatedly grasping just how good she and her party folk are.
It’s for you, and then the pundits, to reflect on her words and style. But what I heard moved me across a line of argument in a way I can’t remember being moved by anyone on the radio or telly before.
This is a non-trivial matter. The (at the time) Secretary of State for Scotland seems to have just admitted deliberately and knowingly undermining the democratically-elected First Minister. The report may have been sneakily published on the eve of a Bank Holiday weekend, but we suspect this one won’t have gone away by Tuesday.
Sorry for the wait, readers, but having fancy custom stuff made simply takes time.
However, we’re delighted to report that all of the donor perks for our 2015 fundraiser are now in our possession, and will be winging their way out to generous contributors over the next few days.
Captain Caveman on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Heh! Well, 8:30am is just a *tad* early, even for me. Mind you, there’s always a Bloody Mary, with plenty…” Jun 28, 09:01
Bilbo on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “You really do need to be keeping off the drink CC.” Jun 28, 08:43
sam on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Is this what you mean? https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2026/06/10/penicuik-dcnn-1644-why-should-i-make-the-data-available-to-you-when-your-aim-is-to-try-to-find-something-wrong-with-it/#more-85669” Jun 28, 08:31
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “I’ve always seen climate change, in the UK at least, as being nature’s way of preparing the country to better…” Jun 28, 08:30
Captain Caveman on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““Climate change hysteria” you say? “Net zero”…? Well, that’s lefties for you. The sentiments behind your post are akin to…” Jun 28, 08:19
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “But not those who write about it on a public forum accessed by millions? That seems to be the gamble…” Jun 28, 08:17
Hatey McHateface on The Promise: “@ Lorncal says: 27 June, 2026 at 12:17 pm “there is no cut-and-dried answer” Precisely. The forced juxtaposition of Highlands…” Jun 28, 08:04
Bilbo on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “I see that we’re getting some good weather for a change and the climate based hysteria has started up again…” Jun 28, 07:56
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Loving your use of hyphens there, Northy. You could never have equaled that writing in Scots. Plus, of course, nae…” Jun 28, 07:43
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Man, Northy, but your recent trip to Alpha Centauri hasn’t improved your mood any. Any word on what punishment is…” Jun 28, 07:38
Graham Fordyce on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “I wonder if a Complaint to the Law Society of Scotland might move matters forward: Rule B1.2: You must be…” Jun 28, 07:37
Young Lochinvar on The Promise: “HMcH So your logic is that it’s only the good ol’ UK that’s is keeping Scotland from fragmenting into parts.…” Jun 28, 06:06
Willie on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Could not concur more with your comments Achnababan. The British state insidiously controls the police, Crown Office,major quango and civil…” Jun 28, 05:43
Achnababan on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “One thing should be clear from this situation and others (Alex Salmond) is that the British State is controlling Scotland…” Jun 28, 04:14
Young Lochinvar on The Guilty Party: “Alf The projects you cite highlight slightly different issues but the same underlying problem: client driven contractual risk transfer. It…” Jun 28, 03:51
Young Lochinvar on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “C Very true. However I don’t think even Swinney went on the election campaign trail with family in tow saying…” Jun 28, 03:07
Cynicus on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Scotland’s team manager,Steve Clarke, has just resigned. It takes an honourable man to act honourably. So, don’t expect the resignation…” Jun 28, 01:07
Angus on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““But we promise you this, readers: the questions are never going to stop. And unlike the SNP, we keep our…” Jun 28, 00:14
Red on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Stuart, I don’t mean to embarrass you or be a sook but I’ve been a reader of yours since the…” Jun 27, 22:25
Confused on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “unredacted – from : Dot Bain to : Swinney cc : NEC, the gang, the girls, girlboss#1 Look John -…” Jun 27, 22:12
Bob Johnston on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Is there a precedent for a Privy Councillor being jailed for fraud? Could be the establishment isn’t too keen on…” Jun 27, 20:43
Northcode on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““…some kind of martyrdom.” Now we see the deployment of the: “I’m Going to Use Three Big Words So You…” Jun 27, 19:59
Young Lochinvar on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Claire I wish to heck I could put my hand on the quotation in print but my (admittedly not always…” Jun 27, 19:52
Northcode on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““…your petulant foot stamping…” Having now examined the specimen in its natural habitat (a social-media thread), we can confidently classify…” Jun 27, 19:50
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: ““A lot more involved” Sure. £660k wisely invested for several years might be double that now. Might be ten times…” Jun 27, 19:44
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “Your good friend, perhaps. No friend of the tunnel skulking scum whose misogyny, barbarism, hatred, theft and contempt for the…” Jun 27, 19:39
Hatey McHateface on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “You been criminalised yet, Northy? Seems to me you’re as free as I am to post whatsoever you like. Like…” Jun 27, 19:30
holymacmoses on Ping-Pong-Fiddle-Aye-No: “I’m simply assuming that the Police and the Crown Prosecution Office knew they would have to prosecute someone – so…” Jun 27, 19:20
