Robert Pyper

Emeritus Prof Govt & Public Policy. Music (Newman to Wagner via Bush), literature (Powell to Bulgakov via Spark), theatre, politics, sport.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

With Oscar the Springer, rewarded with fine views as the mist cleared on this morning's climb up Arran's Goat Fell. Keeps things in proper perspective ... #Arran #SpringerSpaniels

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@LucyHunterB @ProfJMitchell Not to forget @mbmpolicy who produce much more signicant policy analysis than the 'Centres' swimming in Scottish Government grants ...

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@alexmassie @coplandrear4 The convergence of ruling party and state, across organs of government, public administration, and civil society has created this problem though.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@UnrepentantYoon @markthehibby McCabe, Boyle and the rest are just court jesters to the Scottish establishment.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@clarechalmers5 @TheParty1sOver To be credible, any future inquiry into the Murrell/Sturgeon affair should closely examine the conduct of the Crown Office at every stage of the process.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@LucyHunterB @clarechalmers5 The party is a purely activist and campaigning organ, with demonstrably chaotic internal governance, and an aggressive, intolerant approach to dissent. This has been the character of Scotland's government since 2007.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@adamson_ma88843 I think the police did their job well enough in the Sturgeon/Murrell affair, but the real problem seems to lie with the judicial authorities.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

The Scottish devolution experiment has not only entrenched dysfunctional bodies such as the Holyrood Parliament, it has undermined local government and contaminated/corrupted established institutions including the civil service and the Crown Office.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@Annemarieward Annemarie's deconstruction of 'Holyrood'/'the Holy Rood' brings to the surface some of the core principles for sound standards of conduct in public life, which are too often notable by their absence in the conduct of our 'leaders'.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

It's not difficult to see why disgraced, narcissistic politicians (Mandelson, Sturgeon) gravitate towards Laura Kuenssberg's show, where they can apparently rely on soft-focus, lightweight questioning. No fear of a forensic examination of the murky details in that environment.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

If the Scottish devolution project was an organisation, there would be a strong case for it being placed in 'special measures'.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@DrNikLaw @paulhutcheon It might be argued that there are standards of conduct in public life issues in this case. Whether these would best be investigated by one or more parliamentary committees, one of the ethics/standards bodies, or by a bespoke commission of inquiry, is open to question.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@snapperup Says something about the entire, incestuous, Scottish policy village (political, official, academic and societal elites) ...

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@DalgetySusan The speed at which the 'further statement' has been produced suggests utter panic at the (rather obvious) public conclusions being drawn about such items. Fears (probably unfounded, given the nature of the folk involved) that the book festival and cultural elites might drop her?

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@LucyHunterB Indeed. The judicial system was also manipulated to keep the day of reckoning clear of the election. Nonetheless, the weaknesses and failures of opposition to a corrupt and incompetent establishment in the devolved statelet are exposed by the outcome of that election.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@ScottishFA It's indicative of the appalling state of Scottish football that its 'leaders' can construct such a 'statement' and believe that it addresses key issues satisfactorily. The SFA is an incompetent shambles of an organisation, and, rightly, an international laughing stock.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@PSOSGreaterGlas This makes the utterances of the SPFL, the feebleness of the Scottish Government and the silence of the SFA even more disgraceful (if not surprising, given their linkages and compromised positions).

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@spfl Distorted sense of priorities in this statement, given the violence directed towards police officers and others. SPFL and SFA not fit for purpose.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

Given the scenes in Glasgow over the past few hours, the silence tonight from a Scottish political and sporting establishment (with all of its personnel overlaps), which is normally eager to rush into comment, is very, very telling ...

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

@LucyHunterB The logical end-point, given the trends of recent years. Now well beyond redemption.

[Robert Pyper @BPyper]

Addressing the scandal in Scottish football: 1. Demote Walsh, Clancy, Beaton, Robertson and the others to the lower leagues; 2. Bring in professional officials from countries with referees at World Cup Finals level; 3. Replace Collum with an outside appointee; 4. Bin VAR.