@petermacmahon

Commentator on politics and public policy. Writer. Consultant. Events chair. Hitter of nails on the head. Hibs season ticket holder.

 Edinburgh
Joined May 2011
  • Tweets36.3K
  • Following5.3K
  • Followers10K
New. Why @andyburnham's current version of 'Manchesterism' and his apparent lack of understanding of devolution - incl calls for self-government in Scotland, and Wales + demands for a united Ireland - have been a fillip to nationalism. Me for @thetimes thetimes.com/uk/scotland/art…

Andy Burnham’s ‘Manchesterism’ gives nationalists the upper hand

A prime minister’s words have consequences. Careless talk on Ireland and Scotland has potential to invoke something stronger than his ‘people and place’ politics

thetimes.com
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here's the answer. a swift reply, it should be said. is 10am to 4pm really good enough for non-emergency council phone lines?
The City of Edinburgh Council@Edinburgh_CC3h
Replying to @petermacmahon
Good evening, thanks for getting in touch. Most of our phone lines operate 10-4, we have an emergency line for anything outside these hours 0131 200 2000. Thanks, Ebony.
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Had to call @Edinburgh_CC today, nothing urgent, but needed to speak to someone. Called at about 4.45pm, and got a message saying offices were closed. Before 5pm? Is this normal? Would have expected at least 9 to 5?
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‘Ghost workers’ scandal reveals a failure of moral purpose thetimes.com/article/7a24826…

‘Ghost workers’ scandal reveals a failure of moral purpose

The Scottish government’s approach to public sector redundancies may keep the trade unions happy but is a dereliction of its duty to taxpayers

thetimes.com
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Half of GB Energy’s leaders decline to move to Scotland thetimes.com/article/dd95dfc…

Half of GB Energy’s leaders decline to move to Scotland

Bosses and board members will be working from other parts of the UK rather than relocating to be near the company’s headquarters in Aberdeen

thetimes.com
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@petermacmahon retweeted
Georgia Edkins@Georgia_EdkinsOct 24
Major investigation from The Sunday Times - the Scottish state is paying a minimum of £27m a year to around 800 public sector workers, in the NHS, councils, police etc who do not have a job, but they cannot be made redundant owing to SNP policy thetimes.com/uk/scotland/art…

Revealed: Scottish state pays staff £27m for jobs that don’t exist

An SNP ban on compulsory redundancy means 800 public-sector ‘ghost workers’ are on full pay even though their roles are gone

thetimes.com
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Languishing, is the word. Languishing. @HibernianFC #Hibs
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Ungood
Hibernian Football Club
@HibernianFCOct 17
Full-time at Easter Road.
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@petermacmahon retweeted
Alistair Grant@alistairkgrantOct 16
SNP councillors revolt over local government reform plans One of the most interesting fringe events I've attended in recent years - quite rare to see this kind of open criticism of the government: scotsman.com/news/politics/s…

SNP councillors revolt over local government reform plans

Ivan McKee was repeatedly challenged over the Scottish government’s ‘disruptive’ proposals

scotsman.com
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‘Them and us’ attitude is harmful to all of our schools thetimes.com/article/aa09fbd…
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Kate Forbes: SNP can no longer afford to duck the defence debate thetimes.com/article/571cc1e…
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Seonag MacKinnon@SeonagMSep 29
Replying to @Ryanair
@Ryanair My flight suddenly delayed 5hours 55 mins to 23.50. Can you reroute me on the earliest available flight to Dublin, including another carrier if necessary?”
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An opinion from someone who’s looked long and hard at the issue of public service reform
James Mitchell@ProfJMitchellSep 29
Ad hoc education authorities - old discredited idea from the distant past. Runs completely contrary to need for links across public services and need for multi-purpose directly elected local authorities. Institutional silos create problems.
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An official report which calls for radical reform. Not sure new education “authorities” are answer but worth knowing more detail. Certainly many problems in Scottish school education identified Councils could lose control of schools under SNP shake-up thetimes.com/article/9b93f61…
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bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm62…

Too much of Sturgeon's care 'Promise' remains on paper, report says

The Promise - a plan championed by former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - is "running out of time" to effect change.

bbc.co.uk
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Scottish Labour leader open to talks with Michael Gove on education thetimes.com/article/caddb0c…
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bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqe8…

Media outlets banned by Trump resume White House coverage after judge's order

US TV news coverage of the White House returns to normal after a judge lifted Trump's ban of three news outlets.

bbc.co.uk
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Glasgow City Council to sack all non teaching staff after equal pay talks collapse heraldscotland.com/news/2657…

Glasgow City Council to sack all non teaching staff after equal pay talks collapse

Glasgow City Council will issue dismissal notices to up to 25,000 non-teaching staff next week after Unison withdrew from an equal pay deal that GMB and Unite had accepted, collapsing a £110 million...

heraldscotland.com
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bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqm2…

Judge temporarily overturns Trump's White House media ban

A court has ordered the US government to reinstate access to the building for CNN, Politico and MS NOW.

bbc.co.uk
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@petermacmahon retweeted
Fraser Nelson
@FraserNelsonSep 23
New: Scotland drugs deaths vs English regions
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@petermacmahon retweeted
Kieran Andrews@KieranPAndrewsSep 22
John Swinney believes the Irish President made a "seismic" intervention on Scottish independence. But are his dreams of a "Celtic Alliance" a flight of fancy ahead of SNP conference? Analysis for @ITVBorderRB @ITVborder @ITVNewsPolitics itv.com/news/border/2026-09-…

Why John Swinney believes a 'Celtic Alliance' will deliver Scottish independence | ITV News

Kieran Andrews argues that John Swinney thinks a “Celtic Alliance” can mount a successful twin push for both Scotland leaving the UK and for Irish unification. | ITV News Border

itv.com
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