Monthly Archives: September 2014
Scotland votes while Catalunya simmers without one
Whatever the outcome of the Scottish referendum, the campaign can be rightly held up by the British to the rest of the world as an example, showing that when it comes to democratic process, no one does it better in this stage of history. Of course colonial Britain did not cover itself in glory in the 20th century when dealing with independence movements from Ghandi to Kenyatta, but much as Alec Salmond might bark about the alleged bias of the BBC, he knows he has been incredibly privileged in …
Por qué este Burns votaría ‘no’
Articulo publicado hoy en El Mundo En la semana en que Escocia vota a favor o en contra de la independencia, escribo en mi condición de hijo de escocés y española que pasa la mayor parte del año entre sus casas de Londres y Sitges (Catalunya). He trabajado y disfrutado de amistades duraderas a lo largo de más de treinta años de mi vida como autor y periodista tanto en el Reino Unido como en España. Como no soy ciudadano británico residente en Escocia, no tengo derecho a votar en el …
Why this Burns would vote ‘No’
This article appeared today in Spanish in El Mundo I write, in the week Scotland votes for or against independence, as the son of a Scotsman and a Spanish mother who spends most of the year between his homes in London and Sitges (Catalunya) . I have worked and enjoyed enduring friendships over thirty years of life as an author and journalist throughout the UK and Spain. Because I am not a British citizen resident in Scotland , I am not entitled to vote in the Scottish referendum but the …
On the death of Ian Paisley
I remember Ian Paisley personally and professionally. I covered his politics as a journalist during some of the worst and some of the better days in Northern Irland. I reported on the public man before having the chance to meet the private man.It was in the early 1990’s that I encountered the private and the public man for the first time. During a flight from London to Belfast we sat next to each other. It was still a difficult time in Northern Ireland. The IRA were engaged in a new …
The day before La Diada
I write these lines , looking out at the Mediterranean from my hillside home. I am in Sitges, Catalunya, Spain. I chose a house here because of the town, the region, and the country. Sitges is a hugely cultural and tolerant town, just a short train trip south of Barcelona, and a slightly longer train trip from Madrid. France is about an hour away . The Basque country a little further away as is Cantabria and Galicia. But I can embrace it all,including Aragon-in a day. Spain’s beauty lies …
