Ryan Houghton

@Scottories Deputy Group Leader & Councillor in Aberdeen| Law| Former RAF| Dad | Bad at chess & Italian.

[Lord Hanson of Flint Labour Peer & Minister @RTHondavehanson]

In a corner of parliament at the far end of the Royal gallery a box lies permantly open containing sand from all five Normandy beaches -a reminder to both houses of the sacrifice & the cause of freedom fought for by brave service people on DDay June 6 th 1944. #DDay

[Andrew Bowie MP @AndrewBowie_MP]

This is excellent news for Scotch Whisky, the @ScotchWhiskySWA and all those who have campaigned so hard for the tariffs to be removed!

A King who loves Scotch and Scotland has its benefits! God Save His Majesty. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃

[The Herald @heraldscotland]

'You’ve not fought our corner. You’ve flip-flopped and now you’re this wishy-washy, half-in-half-out' 👇

[UK Supreme Court @UKSupremeCourt]

It is with sadness that we learnt today of the death of our colleague, Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony. Lord Clarke was a Justice of the UKSC from its opening in 2009 until 2017. He was an excellent colleague & the kindest of men. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

[Scott Wortley @Scott_Wortley]

Someone should ask the universities in scotland how successful curriculum for excellence has been in preparing students for what lies beyond school.

[Faculty of Advocates @FacultyScot]

Start your journey to the Scottish Bar today #legal https://t.co/CGKJZU7IdD

[Cllr Kusznir @Kusznir_M]

To be fair to Allard and Yuill, they did manage a photo op in the Town House car park with AFC’s high heidyins. Says plenty!

Meanwhile, @RickyJBrooks is pushing a serious discussion on AFC’s future site and the potential to integrate Council facilities.

https://t.co/04cbn3VzSD

[Sam Taylor @staylorish]

1/ Totally unserious. But journalists should take it seriously and ask Swinney this: if Scotland had to bear the full costs of Scottish assets - which is what this would mean - how could that possibly cut bills in Scotland?

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

Bob Mueller was one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI, transforming the bureau after 9/11 and saving countless lives. But it was his relentless commitment to the rule of law and his unwavering belief in our bedrock values that made him one of the most respected public servants of our time. Michelle and I send our condolences to Bob’s family, and everyone who knew and admired him.

[Julian Jessop @julianHjessop]

Great letter in today's FT on the ICJ's Chagos "ruling", by a proper lawyer... 👇

[Collins🦋 @collinstimbela_]

Make the Microsoft CEO search for an email on Outlook live on camera

[Yuan Yi Zhu @yuanyi_z]

Desperate spin: the draft agreement with Mauritius is not ratified and unless it's ratified it has no legal status. Which court would has jurisdiction anyway?

[SCOTUSblog @SCOTUSblog]

NEW: The Supreme Court has held that IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs.

https://t.co/BKgNq0lxKW

[David Banks @DBanksy]

If you’re thinking of weighing in about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, bear in mind that now he has been arrested, and now released under investigation, proceedings are ‘active’ and that means contempt of court laws apply…

[Ryan Houghton @Ryan_Aberdeen]

@chesscom 112

[Met Office @metoffice]

Wondering where the sunshine has gone?

Spare a thought for northeast Scotland; Aberdeen Dyce hasn't recorded any sunshine since 21 January! This is provisionally the longest sunless period here since records began in 1957 ☁️

[Ryan Houghton @Ryan_Aberdeen]

Great appointment.

[Judges Scotland @JudgesScotland]

His Majesty the King, on the recommendation of the First Minister, has appointed Sheriff Andrew Miller as Sheriff Principal of Grampian, Highland and Islands. Sheriff Miller will take up the appointment as Sheriff Principal on 1 March 2026.
https://t.co/OhCa4fbHH3

[Molly Ploofkins @Mollyploofkins]

British soldiers home from Afghanistan after doing nothing to help the USA

[Yuan Yi Zhu @yuanyi_z]

That's not true. The treaty hasn't been ratified. Unless and until it is ratified it is null and without effect.

[Richard Fontaine @RHFontaine]

Most foreign policy issues are difficult and complicated. Greenland isn’t one of them. Let’s have a look at seven points:

1. The U.S. needs Greenland for its own defense - Golden Dome, radars, basing.

▶️ The United States can do virtually anything it'd like in Greenland, security-wise, without taking possession of it. The 1951 Greenland Defense Agreement, which was renewed in 2004, allows the United States to build bases there, station troops, and more.

2. Greenland is about to fall into the hands of Russia and China, and the U.S. can’t let that happen.

▶️ The U.S. once had 10,000 U.S. troops in Greenland; now there are around 200. If there is an imminent threat of Chinese or Russian takeover (there isn’t), perhaps start by increasing that number?

3. Russian and Chinese ships are swarming Greenland and the Danes can’t fend them off.

▶️ If Russian and Chinese ships are really menacing the island, the U.S. Navy could sail around it right now en masse. It isn’t.

4. The U.S. needs to own Greenland because "you don't defend leases." Even if Denmark allows full access, there’s a difference between owning and renting.

▶️ This is the No One Washes a Rental Car theory of international relations. In reality, the United States is committed to defending many allies whose territory it does not own. Trump himself defended Israel just last year. The whole point of alliances is mutual defense of one another's territory. That doesn't require seizing it. 

5. The Danes are bad allies, so they should hand over Greenland.

▶️ Denmark has been a model ally. Not so long ago, Danes fought for America’s defense rather than the other way around. Among 40-plus allies and partners in Afghanistan, Denmark lost the most soldiers as a percentage of its population. Our allies defended the U.S., which, by the way, none of them owns.

6. This is the new Manifest Destiny. We’re an expansionist, frontier people. Greenland should, one way or the other, join the ever-growing Republic.

▶️ The post-1945 order is predicated a prohibition against conquest. Countries don’t acquire the territory of another without their consent. Iraq doesn’t get Kuwait, Russia can’t have Ukraine, Canada won��t be the 51st state, and the U.S. doesn’t compel Greenland to join. We’ve seen a world before in which conquest abounds. It’s the law of the jungle.

7. This isn’t real, just some fun administration trolling of the ever-nervous Europeans.

▶️ It is at a minimum a major distraction from real issues the transatlantic allies should focus on: Russia, Ukraine, Iran, China. Prodding allies to distrust our word and intentions does not amount to good policy.

Most foreign policy issues are difficult and complicated. Greenland isn’t one of them. The sooner this manufactured crisis fades, the better.