Douglas MacQueen's blog

The Scottish village of Dundrennan (Gaelic: Dun Droighnein) is a village in Dumfries and Galloway (Scottish Gaelic. Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh). Close to the village there is an annual festival called the Wickerman Festival which has often been called "Scotland's Alternative Music festival". With a widely eclectic mix of music it is a family friendly event. The name Wickerman is linked to the classic British horror film The Wicker Man (1973) starring Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward. The surrounding area was the setting for various locations used within the film.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has called for an end to explosives being detonated in the sea around Scotland. This follows The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) report into the deaths of 19 whales in 2011.

Jim Murphy has stood down as Scottish Labour leader. Labour lost 40 of its 41 Scottish constituencies to the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the UK General Election, including Mr Murphy's East Renfrewshire seat. After this disaster for Labour Jim Murphy said he would draw up plans for reforms which he hoped would lead to the party's recovery in Scotland. Speaking at a media conference in Glasgow on Saturday afternoon he announced a set of proposals which he said had been agreed in principle by the party's executive council. 

The HebCelt Festival will be held on 15 to 18 July 2015 and celebrates its 20th anniversary. It takes place in the town of Stornoway (Scottish Gaelic: Steòrnabhagh) in the Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles (Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Siar). The location provides what must be one of the most spectacular backdrops of any festival in the world. 

David Mundell who is the current Scottish Secretary gave a very evasive 'answer' about any involvement he might have had in the smear campaign against SNP Leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Prior to the General Election the Scottish National Party were riding high in the opinion polls. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister and Scottish National Party leader was becoming increasingly popular. It was clear the British establishment and their friends in the media were panicked. There then began a smear campaign against Scotland's First Minister. 

Deceitful and scheming Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael is the Member of Parliament for the Scottish UK Parliamentary constituency of Orkney and Shetland. He is the former Scottish Secretary in the British Government. When the Scottish National Party swept to an overwhelming victory in Scotland in the UK General Election on 7th May 2015 they won 56 of the nation's 59 seats. The biggest losers were the Labour Party which was left with just one Member of Parliament, losing 40 seats. The other big loser was the Liberal Democrats who lost 10 of the 11 seats it held in Scotland.

When the Scottish National Party (SNP) rode to such a decisive victory in Scotland in the May 7th 2015 UK General Election political and media supporters of the Union (keeping Scotland within the United Kingdom) got a bloody nose. The SNP has completely altered the political landscape in Scotland. They won 56 of the nation's 59 seats. The biggest losers were the Labour Party which was left with just one Member of Parliament, losing 40 seats. Punished heavily for years of contempt, where they took for granted the Scottish voters loyalty without delivering on their promises. 

The acclaimed Scottish Gaelic play ‘Sequamur’ portrays the grief and guilt of a headmaster who encouraged pupils to fight in World War I. Written by Isle of Lewis writer Donald S. Murray, it tells the poignant story of William J. Gibson, the headmaster of the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway (Scottish Gaelic: Steòrnabhagh) between 1894 and 1925. He struggled with his conscience and endured personal turmoil following the death of 148 of his own pupils. In 1932 William J.

It is a remarkable example of how low the Labour Party will stoop in it's campaign of lies against the Scottish National Party. Now Labour has been caught out and scored an amazing own goal in joining with the British establishment run media in a false smear campaign against the leader of the SNP and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.  The smear campaign has to be one of the crudest and obviously false ones in recent years - and given the very anti-Scottish London controlled media that really is saying something.