Michael Russell

Chair @ScottishLandCom. Hon Professor @UofGlasgow, former @ScotParl MSP & @ScotGov Minister. Lives in rural Argyll

[Iain Dale 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧 ⚒️ @IainDale]

COMING ON 18 SEPTEMBER

British By-Elections 1789-2025 - The 88 By-Election Campaigns That Shaped Our Politics

Preorder a signed copy
https://t.co/fKj4wSF686

Full list of by-elections and essay authors below.

Parliamentary by-election happens when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections, whether the sitting MP dies, resigns, goes bankrupt, is convicted of a crime or is subject to a recall petition. Whatever the circumstances, by-elections have long provided some the most dramatic moments in British parliamentary history.

In this latest volume of political essays, Iain Dale picks the most consequential by-elections of the modern era and presents a series of thoroughly researched, and absorbing essays by some of the finest political writers working today.

Middlesex 1769 Robin Eagles
Co Clare 1828 Richard Gaunt
Preston 1830 Gordon Pentland
Manchester Withington 1867 Peter Kellner
Colchester 1870 Luke Blaxill
Northampton 1884 Simon Barrow
Mid Lanark 1888 Baroness Pauiine Bryan
Oldham 1899 Alex Puffette
Barnard Castle 1903 David Laws
Norwich 1904 Duncan Brack
Colne Valley 1907 Gerard Hetherington
Manchester NW 1908 Pippa Caterall
North East Derbyshire 1914 Gordon Marsden
Merthyr Tydfil 1915 Sir Vernon Bogdanor
Clare East 1917 Richard Grayson
Spen Valley 1919 Roger Gough
Paisley 1920 Hugh Gault
Woolwich East 1921 Nan Sloane
Cardiganshire 1921 Russell Deacon
Newport 1922 Stephen Williams
Mitcham 1923 Lewis Baston
Westminster Abbey 1924 Lord Lexden
Smethwick 1926 James Bird
Westminster St George's 1931 Sir Robert Buckland
Fulham East 1933 T G Otte
Oxford 1938 Simon Heffer
Kinross & West Perthshire 1938 Amy Gray
Bridgwater 1938 Alun Evans
Maldon 1942 Will Timmins
West Derbyshire James Heale
Motherwell & Wishaw 1945 Richard Finlay
Bournemouth 1945 David Hencke
Carmarthen 1957 Roger Awan-Scully
Torrington 1958 Michael McManus
Orpington 1962 Lord Norton
Bristol Souh East 1963 Lee Evans
Kinross & West Perthshire 1963 Andrew Holt
Stratford upon Avon 1963 Scarlett Maguire
Roxburgh, Selkirk & Peebles 1965 Sir Peter Riddell
Leyton 1965 Richard Johnson
Carmarthen 1966 Sam Blaxland
Kingston upon Hull North 1966 Nick Thomas-Symonds
Hamilton 1967 Mike Russell
Sutton & Cheam 1972 Connor Hand
Rochdale 1972 Alistair Burt
Lincoln 1973 Julia Langdon
Govan 1973 Gerry Hassan
Woolwich West 1975 Amber Whapshott
Walsall N 1976 John Barnes
Workington 1976 Michael Mullaney
Ashfield` 1977 Robert Waller
Grimsby 1977 John Bowers
Garscadden 1978 Mark Peel
Liverpiool Edge Hill 1979 Lord Chris Rennard
Fermanagh & South Tyrone x2 1981 Toby Harnden
Crosby 1981 Matthew Cole
Warrington 1981 Paul Linford
Glasgow Hillhead 1982 Andrew Marr
Bermondsey 1983 Sir John Curtice
Darlington 1983 Francis Beckett
Chesterfield 1984 Greg Rosen
Greenwich 1986 Nigel Fletcher
Govan 1988 Gerry Hassan
Eastbourne 1990 Tim Bale
Eastleigh 1993 Mark Garnett
Christchurch 1993 Michael Crick
Newbury 1993 Elinor Goodman
Dudley W 1994 Lucia Henwood
Winchester 1997 Jack Brown
South Antrim 2000 Richard Bullick
Brent East 2003 Joe Pike
Haltemprice & Howden 2008 Robert Evans
Glasgow East 2008 Lesley Orr
Crewe & Nantwich 2008 Lord Stephen Parkinson
Clacton 2014 Tim Shipman
Richmond Park 2016 Aggie Chambre
Batley & Spen 2016 Mathew Hulbert
Copeland 2017 Chris Whiteside
Hartlepool 2021 Alia Middleton
Batley & Spen 2021 Emma Burnell
Chesham & Amersham 2021 Rosie Campbell
North Shropshire 2021 Corey Froggatt
Southend West 2022 Iain Dale
Mid Bedfordshire 2023 Henry Riley
Selby & Ainsty 2023 Edward Young
Rutherglen 2023 Mark McGeoghegan
Rochdale 2024 Sunder Katwala
Runcorn - 2025 - Harry Horton

[Michael Russell @Feorlean]

I have always wanted to do that crossing - alas can’t be there in the 24th!

[Lorne MacLeod @LorneOban]

The regular ferry service across Loch Etive between Bonawe & Taynuilt ended in 1968. The good news is that a ferry will be running between these historically linked communities again on 24th August. Details in the community owned Ardchattan Centre website:
https://t.co/nb5U5CuzwK

[Woodland Crofts @WoodlandCrofts]

This has already been done on a number of woodland crofts projects.

The interesting new dimension could be the provision of a croft house as part of the tenancy (as landlord's fixed equipment)

The challenge is there is no funding yet to support the construction of such a house.

[Lorne MacLeod @LorneOban]

'Major breakthrough for Bays of Harris community buyout as estate owners agree in-principle sale.' More details in the link below:
https://t.co/JFHW0j6Mbo
#CommunityLandOwnership

[Michael Russell @Feorlean]

Good to see that ⁦@ScottishLandCom⁩ has started to publish responses to the #ScotlandFutures initiative. There is still time to have your say…... Four voices, one question: Part 1 - News - News & Events - Scottish Land Commission. https://t.co/wp2Ktfn8qT

[Michael Russell @Feorlean]

Sorry to hear this. Jamie was a true original. Although he was my opponent in the 2011 election we had enjoyed a good relationship from the start of @ScotParl in 1999. He was very active in his own locality & on his own special interests like agriculture & fresh water fisheries

[Andrew Bowie MP @AndrewBowie_MP]

Very sad to hear of the death of Jamie McGrigor, a lifelong servant to Scotland and the @ScotTories.

One of the class of 1999, an MSP through to 2017, and then councillor for Oban until 2022, he was one of the best. Respected on all sides. He will be greatly missed.

[Scottish Land Commission @ScottishLandCom]

🚨 We’re hiring: Head of Practice and Advice

Lead our Good Practice team and help shape how land is owned and used across Scotland.

💼 Permanent | £56,382–£69,018
📍 Inverness (hybrid) | 35hrs, flexible/part-time options
📅 Apply by 5pm, Fri 1 Aug
🗓 Interviews: 13–14 Aug, Inverness

🔗 https://t.co/A8J8sBreGu

[Michael Russell @Feorlean]

Sorry to hear this. A dynamic but also endlessly charming force for the language and culture who knew how to get the best from those who had the power to deliver. A great friend to @CelticMediaFest in its early days.

[The National @ScotNational]

NEW: Pioneering Gaelic TV producer Neil Fraser has passed away at the age of 86 https://t.co/JR3EH0qntK

[Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt @FranceskAlbs]

I shiver as I commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. I shiver as I see that the lessons of the past are not learnt to prevent the genocide of today, nor yo heal any wounds, past and present.

Honoured to be, today and tomorrow, at the @warmfestival in Sarajevo. 🇧🇦

[Scottish Land Commission @ScottishLandCom]

📢 We’re hiring a Head of Practice and Advice!

Shape land reform in Scotland, lead our Good Practice Programme, and support responsible land ownership.

📍 Inverness (hybrid)
💼 Permanent, 35h (flex/part-time considered)
💷 £56,382 - £69,018

Apply by 1 Aug.
Interviews 13/14 Aug.

🔗 https://t.co/RPrlfddIYx

[Andrew Thin @andrew_thin]

Crofting Act section 1 - "In exercising their functions the Commission must have regard to the desirability of supporting population retention in the crofting counties". Hard to do that if some crofters undermine local communities by declining to live locally. No longer......

[Holyrood @HolyroodDaily]

Trustees say their hands have been forced to sell clan lands on Skye by a drop in funding. MSPs say it proves the need for change. https://t.co/voXW7998I8

[Michael Russell @Feorlean]

@TriciaMarwick Determined as ever ! Take care but keep that determination ….!!!!!

[Western Ferries @Western_Ferries]

On Sunday 3rd June 1973 at 9.12am the Sound of Shuna left Hunter’s Quay for McInroy’s Point on the first ever Western Ferries’ (Clyde) sailing. We’re proud to have served our #Argyll and #Inverclyde communities for 52 years.

[Lorne MacLeod @LorneOban]

A hugely inspiring Community Land Scotland conference at @SabhalMorOstaig in Skye. Great contributions from a wide range of speakers. Enthusiasm and drive to deliver more #LandReform in Scotland.

[Scottish Land & Estates @ScotLandEstates]

@TimEagleHI @Galbraith_Group @NatureScot @AgriEleanor @katharine_hay @TheScotsman @_KateForbes @scotgov Our final panel of #SLEConf25 sees SLE’s CEO @SJLaing in discussion with @GMacandrew’s Robert Scott-Dempster and @ScottishLandCom Chairman @Feorlean.

A robust debate on the question: How important is it who owns land in Scotland?

[Lorne MacLeod @LorneOban]

I'll be joining the panel discussion at the Community Land Scotland conference in Skye this week along with Roseanna Cunningham and Peter Peacock. A great opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved through community land ownership & a look ahead to future opportunities.

[Hamish Trench @HamishTrench]

Crofting is an important part of Scotland's land system, one that can deliver on many opportunities for rural Scotland. @CroftingScot are now recruiting two new board members👇

[Andrew Thin @andrew_thin]

Interested? Online Q&A this Thursday at 7pm if you are. Link in application pack. Hope to see you there.

https://t.co/ESS607pW7z

[Andrew Thin @andrew_thin]

Scotland has one of the most concentrated land ownership patterns in Europe. We also invented one of the most effective small scale regulated land tenure systems in the world. Time now to modernise and make more of that system. Can you help?
https://t.co/ESS607pW7z