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Alan Ferrier

@alanferrier.bsky.social
2.3K followers 205 following 979 posts

I live in Glasgow and my hobbies include arranging my CDs in alphabetical order, discovering new and exotic whiskies, sheep-spotting and flying my kite.

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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Portugal decriminalised drugs in 2001 and subsequently treated drug abuse as a public health issue. Between 1999 and 2016 deaths from overdose fell by 92%. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
After the gates were installed at the end of Downing Street in the Thatcher era, one of the cops on duty outside was interviewed. Classic line: "Yeah, they've put up these gates, but she still gets out."
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
And nothing of value was lost. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Reform MSPs walk out of parliament in protest against independence debate
The party's leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, describes the debate as an insult and a waste of time.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
My own small contribution to the Ed Sheeran controversy. This, from 2022:
BBC: Ed Sheeran Cardiff concert causes major delays on M4
Me: In which direction?
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
An oil-producing nation with no refinery. An exporting nation with no shipping routes. An electricity producer forced to pay to upload to the “national” grid. Welcome to our blessed "union of equals".
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
There are *44* trade routes between the Republic of Ireland and the EU, bypassing the UK. Of course, Ireland can count on the cooperation and support of its EU partners. Scotland had only Westminster to call on for support which, naturally, was limited. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Plans for Scottish ferry to mainland Europe scrapped
Forth Ports said it had doubts over the 'long-term viability' of the route between Rosyth and Dunkirk.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
But for the broad shoulders of the Union, Scotland would be as poor as Norway.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
BREAKING: The United Kingdom.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Top news stories on the BBC Wales and BBC Scotland websites at the moment:
Westminster's time is coming to an end, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish leaders sayFather and son jailed for dragging 'terrified' police officer along road
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Britain: the best democracy money can buy. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Reform receives second £36m donation in two days as crypto investor matches record
Cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne says he has matched a donation from Ben Delo announced late on Friday.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
As an antidote to the poison being thrown at the RNLI, I give you Bill Bryson:
“I had never really stopped to consider what an extraordinary
thing the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is. Think about
it. A troubled ship calls for help, and eight people — teachers,
plumbers, the guy who runs the pub — drop everything and put
to sea, whatever the weather, asking no questions, imperilling
their own lives, to try to help strangers. Is there anything more
brave and noble than that?”

—Bill Bryson
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The silence of British trade unions in the face of a Labour Prime Minister proudly supplying a billion pound corporation with free labour is damning.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Unionism: the belief that two small, pretty similar countries might be better off together, unless those countries are both part of Ireland. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
irishtimes.com
British PM Andy Burnham says border poll on united Ireland ‘off the table’
Burnham claims referendums ‘can really take you backwards’ and cause rifts ‘that take a long, long time to heal’
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
#BetterTogether www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
scotsman.com
Grangemouth misses out on £200m UK Government fund for sustainable aviation fuel
SNP-commissioned House of Commons Library analysis shows 29 separate awards were made from the Advanced Fuel Funds - with just one given to Scotland.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
A reminder that we used to prosecute people for war crimes and genocide. www.reuters.com/world/bosnia...
reuters.com
Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic, convicted of genocide, has died, Serbian TV reports
Bosnian ​Serb general ‌Ratko Mladic, who ​was serving ​a life sentence ⁠for ​genocide in ​the bloody 1992-95 war ​in ​Bosnia, has died ‌in ⁠the United Nations detention centre ​in ​The ⁠Hague, Belgrad...
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I had a mate who visited Moscow before the wall came down. He met a guy in a bar and managed to buy his military cap for the price of a few beers. He was cutting around Glasgow for months wearing it until someone told him the Cyrillic writing on the front meant "Bus Conductor".
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Members of the Royal Family spent at least £445,000 on visits to Scotland last year. The King's brief meeting with Prince Harry for tea at Clarence House cost taxpayers £44,209 as Charles flew from Aberdeen to RAF Northolt and then back again.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Just a thought, BBC Scotland - but perhaps continually and relentlessly telling Scottish folk that they and the country in which they live are shite isn't a particularly effective marketing strategy. Hope this helps. dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2023/07/bbc-...
dailybusinessgroup.co.uk
BBC Scotland suffers plunge in viewing figures – Daily Business
BBC Scotland is facing new questions over the quality of its content as new data shows viewing figures have fallen sharply.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
The near-Dickensian "barred" list from the Half Moon pub in Herne Hill, south London.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
A thought-provoking article from Robin McAlpine: www.thenational.scot/politics/264... However, where are the "credible, agreed, detailed plans," and the "communication with the public about benefits," that won us 74% support for our restored parliament? 2014 was 12 years ago and I see few signs.
thenational.scot
Robin McAlpine: Scotland will be independent but not through electoral tricks
IN the last article I wrote for the Sunday National, I rejected a de facto referendum as a route to independence.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I can barely contain my indifference. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Tattie scone tacos? Genius! Scottish fusion cuisine to rival the Macaroni Pie @ The Islay Inn, Glasgow.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Awkward. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Labour would scrap House of Lords, says Scottish party leader
Anas Sarwar calls instead for creation of ‘senate of nations and regions’ and rules out pact with SNP
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Ok, Baldrick.
Andy Burnham says 'I have a plan' as he is confirmed new Labour leader
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
John F. Kennedy with Count Binface: "Ich bin ein bin liner"
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Last month, Andrew "Lord Brillo" Neil feared a "return to the bad old days of Tartan Army football hooliganism" and had a "nagging feeling in the back of my head... something could trigger it all going badly wrong". Let's see what Boston's Channel 10 has to say about that:
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Well, over a century ago the Norwegian Parliament declared the union between Norway and its larger neighbour Sweden dissolved. Norway then went on to become one of the wealthiest nations in the world and a country that absolutely prioritises the well-being of its citizens. So I'd say - hell, yes.
BBC: "Can Scotland learn from history-making Norway?"
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Number 10 North, eh?
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
I think it's fair to say that it's unlikely aliens will travel 100 billion light years to Earth and decide that the first thing they want to do is watch Scotland play football. bsky.app/profile/glub...
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Ten years ago today, England voted to remove Scotland from the EU. 96% of Scotland's MPs had requested that all UK nations should agree before #Brexit was carried. The Tories, with 1 Scottish MP, overruled this request. Brexit was a UK vote because England decided it would be.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
So that'll be seven UK Prime Ministers in ten years. What happened to the "strong and stable government" we were all promised? I suppose promising us a decade of continual bin fires wouldn't have had the same ring to it. Time to go, Scotland.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Anyone who's even just visited London for a weekend must know that this is the most unutterable bollocks.
@alexmassie
Scotland is the most privileged part of the United Kingdom. This is disagreeable because it removes all grounds for reasonable grievance and whining. Nevertheless, the truth is that the Union is organised to serve Scotland first. And best.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Good lads, those Croatians. #JustSaying
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Andrew Neil has a 'nagging feeling in the back of my head... something could trigger it all going badly wrong' What an utter tit that man is. Just can't bear to think of Scotland and Scottish folk doing well.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Joan Baez crashes the Rolling Stones’ Glasgow party. Odeon Theatre, Renfield Street, 6th October 1965.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Clean energy projects in Scotland are set to pay £1 billion to use the UK’s electricity network while projects south of the border will be paid to connect. First they fuck us over then they charge us a billion quid for the privilege. www.thenational.scot/news/2617285...
Data obtained under Freedom of Information by The Scotsman from industry body the National Energy System Operator (Neso) shows that forecast generation charges in 2030/31 for projects in the north of Scotland will hit £669 million while developments in central and southern Scotland will also be hit by a £291m bill.

Meanwhile, projects in England and Wales are forecast to receive a net payment of £436m that same year.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
The reason why a bunch of Scottish football fans have had their US travel visas cancelled becomes clear.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Clearly, Scotland is being fucked. I mean that word in the vulgar sense of "misused to give satisfaction or advantage to another." The area covered by this development will be 51 times the size of Iona. A mock-up of the view from Iona should it go ahead: www.scottishbeacon.com/news/opinion...
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
"Scottish" Labour campaign: "We need independence from London. They're making disastrous decisions, don't pay any attention to our requirements and their values don't align with those of the Scottish electorate." Scotland: "You fucking what?" www.thenational.scot/news/2617440...
thenational.scot
Election loss sparks campaign to split Scottish Labour from UK bosses
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to split Scottish Labour from the Westminster party after the party slumped further in the polls, continuing a trend of…
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
What was the case in South Africa is also the case in today's Scotland: there can be no reconciliation without truth.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Paging H.P. Lovecraft... www.earth.com/news/ran-rob...
earth.com
Robot submarine finds unknown structures beneath Antarctica, then loses contact and disappears
An autonomous submarine named Ran discovers strange structures under the Dotson Ice Shelf in Antarctica, before mysteriously disappearing.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
People are living in cardboard boxes, but at least the King's hat has its own coach, escorted by six household cavalry officers, like something out of a second-rate children's fantasy novel. This is supposed to be the 21st century. The UK is beyond parody. www.dailymotion.com/video/xa9l5og
dailymotion.com
Imperial State Crown leaves Palace for King’s Speech
Dailymotion video by Royal Family Channel
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Indeed.
@flying_rodent:
"I voted No in the independence referendum because I thought it was a dumb distraction from the urgent need to drastically reform and improve Westminster, in everyone’s best interest. I then got an incredibly brutal 12-year demonstration of how stupid I was to have believed that."
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
I see they've brought Gordon Brown out of retirement to dance on a ball like an old, abused circus bear. Again.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
We already know Westminster will refuse any direct Section 30 request despite yesterday's results, so here's a modest proposal: The SNP should hold a referendum with the question being: "Should the Scottish Parliament have the legal right to hold an independence referendum?"
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
What's clear from today's election results is that three of the four constituent nations of the so-called United Kingdom have now elected political parties whose primary raison d'être is to bring an end to the United Kingdom. Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.
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Alan Ferrier @alanferrier.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
I see the "Scottish" Daily Express is taking the election results well.
"Scottish Parliament elections 2026 live: Follow every result across the country as first SNP FILTH is elected into Holyrood"
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