Dr Stuart MacLennan @sensiblestu Twitter profile

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

2 years

Today is my 20th anniversary in @UKLabour . 🌹🎉 20 long, hard, (sometimes literally) bruising years in which we’ve spent far more time losing than winning. Here are my top 10 tips for surviving two decades in the Labour Party:

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

One thing I’m often asked at Election counts (as one of the lawyers there) is why some English declarations involve returning officers in chains, gowns, and silly hats; but never in Scotland. The answer can be found in the Representation of the People Act 1983…

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

This remains the classiest #GeneralElection announcement of my lifetime.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

SNP last week: “it’s not a race.” SNP this week: “LOOK WE’RE WINNING!”

Humza Yousaf

@HumzaYousaf

4 years

Scotland leading Europe when it comes to doses of the vaccine administered - brilliant! A huge thanks to those involved in this monumental effort.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

FWIW I’ve experienced anti-English racism in Scotland and I’m not even sodding English.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

This evening I made Pizza Napoletana, but rather than using a recipe I used Commission Regulation (EU) No 97/2010 of 4 February 2010 entering a name in the register of traditional specialities guaranteed [Pizza Napoletana (TSG)].

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

It’s amazing how many meetings Nicola Sturgeon had that were simultaneously shocking and also utterly forgettable.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Am I alone in thinking the point at which Peter Murrell should have considered his position was the day Nicola Sturgeon became leader of the SNP?

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

For those of you who are about to fixate upon the word "knowingly" I ask you this: in an issue of such explosive significance, how likely is it that someone with the intellect and political skills of Nicola Sturgeon didn't know what was going on?

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

BrewDog no longer pays the Real Living Wage to new starters. They’re also due to receive £1.25m in @scotgov forestry grants for their new estate in Strathspey, so the Scottish Government doesn’t even enforce its own living wage policy. Hypocrisy much?

Màiri McAllan

@MairiMcAllan

5 months

3,500 employers in Scotland now paying the real living wage but - staggeringly - not the *Labour* leader’s own family business. Incredible hypocrisy. And a reminder why Scotland finally shook off the perpetual disappointment of Labour many years ago. #FairWorkFirst

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

Thus, returning officers are quite often Sheriffs, Mayors, etc in England, which means chains, gowns, and silly hats; but in Scotland they’re always a council officer, which means a charcoal suit and no hats. ENDS.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

If Scotland was a normal country we’d all agree that absolutely none of these people should be anywhere near power for a loooong time.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

“I kind of communicate at a level where I assume a certain level of intelligence on the part of people listening to me because I think that's justified.” 👈 In almost 20 years as a political activist I have never seen such staggering, hubristic, condescending arrogance.

Paul Hutcheon

@paulhutcheon

3 years

One of the most tetchy briefings there has been. If the First Minister meant "offering" vaccines, she should have made this clear in Parliament

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

1 year

I said something nice about Gordon Brown this morning. Spent the rest of the day blocking abusive trolls. Were they Tories? Lib Dems (Clegg famously hated him)? No. Every single one a Scottish nationalist. Any time a Nat tells you their enemy is the Tories they’re lying to you.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

Christ they are so skint. This is like the cheapest form of political communication going.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

1 year

Further evidence, as though it were needed, that Gordon Brown is the most decent person ever to have occupied Number 10.

The Times & The Sunday Times

News and opinion from The Times & The Sunday Times

www.thetimes.com

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

8 months

Note to SNP MPs: howling with anguish together with Tory MPs because your joint enterprise to stick-it to Labour failed really is *not* a great look.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Twelve years ago I was a Holyrood hack and I was asked about Alex Salmond. I’d never even met the man. The idea that no one in the SNP had heard a thing is for the birds. Someone is lying.

euan mccolm

@euanmccolm

4 years

a funny thing about all these snp folk saying they'd never heard a whisper about salmond until a couple of years ago is i've lost count of the number of times i asked snp folk about him more than a decade ago. every holyrood hack was asking the same questions and being shut down.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Last night @BBCScotland broadcast Boris Johnson’s statement to the nation, but not Keir Starmer’s address tonight (but, of course, Nicola Sturgeon’s daily briefings are still carried without any rebuttal or response).

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

I still find it utterly incredible that seemingly no one in the SNP is embarrassed by Ian Blackford.

Paul Hutcheon

@paulhutcheon

4 years

Ooft. Ian Blackford puts the boot in to Kenny MacAskill. Says he has become an “increasing embarrassment” and has urged him to quit as an MP

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

Anyone else remember when your council tax used to pay for this?

John Mason

@JohnMasonMSP

3 years

Very impressed with @glasgowcc Council prompt action on this. I only sent in my application form to be litter picking volunteer yesterday & today they delivered my yellow jacket & litter picker. Many thanks. If any residents want to join me for a community clean up, let me know.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

2 years

**REVEALED** Full list of those to blame for Liz Truss being an utterly catastrophic failure as Prime Minister:

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

Tip/legal advice: it’s not a Pizza Napoletana (TSG) unless the oil is applied in a spiralling motion from a dispenser with a spout.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

s24 ROTPA provides for the appointment of returning officers in England and Wales. There are nine different rules for who is to be the returning officer for a constituency, depending upon where the constituency is located…

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

For example, s24(1)(a) provides that “in the case of a county constituency in England which is coterminous with or wholly contained in a county, the sheriff of the county”…

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

Similarly, s24(1)(d) states “in the case of a constituency which is coterminous with or wholly contained in a London borough, the mayor of the borough” – this means you get lots of chains, gowns, and silly hats…

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

I have little to say on the Scottish Labour Leadership except this; I don’t get why it’s so urgent for us to have a position on a second referendum. If the SNP/Greens win a majority they don’t need us; if they don’t there’s clearly no mandate for a second referendum.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

2 years

Great to have stopped by the home of our first Labour Prime Minister on the campaign trail today. This time next week Lossiemouth may well have its first ever Labour councillor. #labourdoorstep #VoteLabour

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Imagine representing one of the country’s most impoverished communities and spinning this shite. Not even Teddy Taylor would have been this shameless.

Anne McLaughlin NP

@AnneMcLaughlin

4 years

Really pleased to see many fantastic organisations receiving funding from Glasgow City Council. For those who didnt make it, email me & I will sit down with you to find other funding. I will contact you if you dont. As a former fundraiser, I can offer practical help, pls take it.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

Contra, s25 provides that in Scotland, the RO is “in the case of a constituency wholly situated in one local government area, the person […] who is, or who may discharge the functions of, the returning officer at elections of councillors for the local authority for that area”…

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

The vote on 30th is *literally* Deal v No Deal. This is fantastically dishonest.

Alyn Smith 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺

@AlynSmith

4 years

Framing matters. The vote on 30th is not Deal v No-Deal, much as the Tories are desperate to pretend it is. The vote is about Deal v EU membership, and their offer is demonstrably poorer than Scotland has now. Let the Tories own their victory... and what comes next.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

s41 provides that “Every local authority in Scotland shall appoint an officer of the authority to be the returning officer for each election of councillors for the authority” – and it’s usually a senior officer (e.g. chief executive or a deputy)…

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

For Nicola Sturgeon to try to distance herself from the SNP's disaster is arrogant beyond belief. Whenever I met an SNP switcher (and I met a lot of them) literally *every single one* of them mentioned Sturgeon as the major reason for their abandonment of the SNP.

Peter A Smith

@PeterAdamSmith

4 months

Nicola Sturgeon’s first gig as election pundit was the night the SNP collapsed in front of her eyes. Notably, she had some advice for “them” on strategy. A summary of the events. (Note: not in this report but interestingly she also said she would have kept the SNP-Greens deal)

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

“My son can’t be gay. He’s obsessed with women.” The women:

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

@domwithers s28 provides that functions shall be performed by an acting returning officer in certain councils unless the function has been reserved by the returning officer. Basically, acting returning officer is the default everywhere that doesn’t have a county council.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

7 months

I’m old enough to remember a time when the Chancellor, the Foreign Secretary, the Lord Chancellor, the Defence Secretary, the Social Security Secretary, the Transport Secretary were all Scots. A thumping Labour majority almost always means *more* influence for Scotland, not less.

Tom MacDonald

@macdonald_90002

7 months

@TomHCalver @rosscolquhoun @thetimes Prof John Curtice: "The Labour party doesn't need a single extra seat in Scotland to get a very substantial majority. "What happens in Scotland will end up proving to be irrelevant."

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

If a constituency is in more than one Council area, the Secretary of State designates which returning officer it is by order (see The Returning Officers (Parliamentary Constituencies) (Scotland) Order 2023) …

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

. @bbcnickrobinson : “Students are saying that online lectures are all about saving money and making life easier for lecturers…” 👈 The easiest and cheapest way to teach students is to cram 300 of them into the same room for 3 hours a week. I would love nothing more. #r4today

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

8 months

The SNP didn't get their vote last week because the Gov't pulled their amendment. They won't get an SO24 debate this week because the Gov't plans to make a statement. Could it be that the baddy in all this is *not*, in fact, the Speaker, but the Government?

Kate McCann

@KateEMcCann

8 months

🚨Speaker has NOT granted the SNP a debate on a ceasefire because the Government is bringing a statement on this issue tomorrow, which means the issue does not meet the SO24 criteria. SNP are going to be livid hearing this.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

Had our final campaign meeting this afternoon and the mood among our activists was the most positive I’ve ever seen. In 18 years as a @ScottishLabour activist I have *never* encountered anything like the reaction we’re getting to @AnasSarwar . #BothVotesLabour

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

I absolutely despise this “reconvened” nonsense. The Parliament of Scotland was a constitutional disgrace, even at the time, composed of nobles, clergy, and their stooges. I have never understood why so many nationalists want to be associated with such an embarrassing history.

Alison Johnstone

@POScotParl

5 months

Today marks 25 years since @scotparl was reconvened. I want to use this milestone to hear from people across the country about their aspirations for their Parliament. Follow @scotparl for events in the coming months.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

How was everyone else’s bank holiday?

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

The SNP came to power.

The Press and Journal

@pressjournal

5 months

Hourly trains were promised from Inverness and Elgin to Aberdeen 15 years ago: What happened to them?

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

9 months

Pretty desperate to have a dig at Starmer when he has clearly done the right thing, and quite rich coming from someone so well practiced in performative empathy.

Nicola Sturgeon

@NicolaSturgeon

9 months

This was truly terrible from Sunak. But let’s not kid ourselves - had Brianna’s mum not been there today, no-one (including Keir Starmer) would have batted an eyelid. It’s not good enough to stand against transphobia only when the mother of a murdered trans girl might be

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

Two days into the election and we’ve raised more in Moray than we spent on our entire campaign in 2019. I’m genuinely staggered. #ge24

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Probably *not* gonna take advice on what Scottish Labour needs to do next from people who viscerally hate us.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

@georgeeaton Oh Labour’s campaign in 2010 was its best since 1997. Focussed, a clear message, a motivated activist base (thanks to a leader who was genuinely loved by the party), fantastic targeting. Given the prevailing wind Labour would have ended up with c. 150 seats but for that campaign.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

1 year

My WhatsApp is such a pain on my phone because, like most normal people, I have never deleted a single message. Deleting messages daily is *NOT* normal.

Kieran Andrews

@KieranPAndrews

1 year

EXC: Electronic messages sent by Professor Jason Leitch, Scotland’s clinical director, who led the country’s fight against Covid, have been destroyed and cannot be handed to official inquiries

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

8 months

I'm amazed no one in the SNP has stopped to consider how it looks that their allies are Jonathan Gullis, Miriam Cates, Brendan Clarke-Smith, etc...

Harry Cole

@MrHarryCole

8 months

79... SNP add two after rejection of Gaza vote..

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

2 years

John has been flying the flag for @ScottishLabour in Moray for 23 years. If it wasn’t for John it’s very possible that we might have melted away here. Now we’re looking at making gains, and we owe him a huge debt. I’m proud to have been his agent these last few elections. #legend

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

1 year

Brighton and Hove should serve as a cautionary tale for the rest of the country. Every period of Green maladministration results in an absolute electoral thumping at the immediately subsequent election.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

I must confess to being slightly blown-away by the reception we received in Forres today. Loads of people delighted to see us, and our candidate James is well known and well liked. In a four seat ward there’s a real chance of a #labourgain here. #le22

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

2 months

There have been no cuts to departmental budgets. Every saving has been within existing budgets. Therefore, there are no Barnet consequentials. Downright dishonesty from Robison.

Chris McCall

@Dennynews

2 months

Shona Robison makes five references to Labour "austerity" in her statement.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

1 year

I remember Margaret Ferrier spending all day standing outside a polling station in Elgin during a council by-election. That’s a good deal further from Rutherglen than England.

Paul Hutcheon

@paulhutcheon

1 year

NEW: Labour accused of 'desperation' by the SNP over bussing in London staff for by-election

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Out of interest, has anyone queried why it’s essential for the First Minister to travel back and forward between Glasgow and Edinburgh every week? Bute House is *literally* a house.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

1 year

What a team! Proud to have represented @ScottishLabour at the #NPF . CLP reps have agreed to draft and circulate a report to members, so keep an eye on your inbox in the next week.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

Channel 4 is the most outstanding broadcaster in the world: state owned, run on a commercial basis, with a legal obligation to be different. Why any government would want to flog such an asset I will never know.

Sky News

@SkyNews

3 years

More than 70% of Channel 4's presenters for the Paralympics will have a disability, the broadcaster has announced

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

2 years

I was reluctant to put myself forward a national role. For years I’ve been really happy making a modest contribution in Moray and the Highlands. I have been genuinely moved by the old friends who have been in touch in recent weeks tell me they voted for me. Thank you, all. 🥲🌹

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

5 months

Hand on heart, that was genuinely the best canvass session I’ve ever done in Moray. #labourdoorstep

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

She’s a great communicator though...

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

6 months

Humza Yousaf is the SNP’s Liz Truss only in 10x slow motion.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

9 months

@alexgill_ The outrage you are witnessing is not 'faux'. Most of us are absolutely appalled, and genuinely incredulous that you seem to be doubling-down on it.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Out of interest, has anyone conducted any polling recently on whether or not the public wants a referendum on other topics? Say, restoring the death penalty? In my experience if you ask the public if they want a referendum on anything their default answer is almost always yes.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

10 months

@ohohohfelicity @Scott_Wortley Hi Shelley. @Scott_Wortley taught me almost 20 years ago. He’s a brilliant academic who, in my long experience, never offers a view unless he’s on rock-solid ground. To suggest that his comments are based on anything other than expertise couldn’t be further from the mark.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

How many column inches of confected outrage about Tony Blair’s Americanisation of British politics did Boris Johnson produce over the years?

Nathan Lee

@NathanLeeTV

4 years

EXCLUSIVE: @itvnews can reveal the new *£2.6m* Downing Street studio for new White House style press briefings. @PaulBrandITV

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

11 months

Surprised but delighted to have been elected unopposed to the @ScottishLabour Executive Committee. More than anything, I am pleased that the Highlands and Islands will be represented on our party's executive for the first time in five years.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Seeing entryists chopping up their membership cards caused me to double-check my CLP's membership figures. Up 25% on last September. If the recent #labourleadership election taught us anything it's that Twitter ≠ The Labour Party.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

8 months

15 years since my last speech to @ScottishLabour conference! I was proud to speak in support of the Future of Britain report, as well as making the case for supporting arts and culture in Scotland. #ScotLab24

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

I have never *once* experienced anti-Scottishness in England (beyond the usual sporting rivalries, etc). When I was a kid in Elgin anti-Englishness was endemic, however. It got notably better in the years that followed; but it’s noticeably worse again.

The Times and The Sunday Times

@thetimes

4 years

The actor Alan Cumming has hit out at the “insidious and subliminal racism” faced by Scots who work in London, drawing a sharp distinction between the warm reception he received in America with his experiences in the West End.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Estonia has no corporation tax.

Lesley Riddoch

@LesleyRiddoch

4 years

No economist predicted Estonia wd prosper through independence - but in 30 yrs the Baltic Republic's been transformed from a Soviet backwater into Europe's digital powerhouse. Lessons for Scotland in Estonia, the Baltic Tiger - . Pls ask friends to watch

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

6 months

Certain @scottishgreens MSPs normally tweet their every fleeting thought, yet Scottish climate policy is at the top of today's news agenda and we haven't heard so much as a chirp from any of them.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

6 months

“How long have you been a @ScottishLabour activist?” This long:

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

1 month

Redemption is possible.

Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

2 years

5. If you f**k up, fess up. Don’t double down. Be contrite. There’s only one route back, and it’s not through vociferously defending your mistakes. Keep your head down, and keep working hard – people will recognise that.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 months

Pleasantly surprised to be the candidate to have received the most CLP nominations to represent Scotland for another term on the @UKLabour National Policy Forum. Thank you so much to the twelve CLPs that nominated me!

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

The Deal you also scuppered, aye?

Neil Coyle

@coyleneil

4 years

Amusing to see former PM May point out that the Deal she offered and was scuppered by Johnson is better than the one he is putting before the Commons today...

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

11 months

Having received nominations from Na h-Eileanan an Iar and Inverness & Nairn CLPs, I am pleased to confirm that I will be a candidate for the @ScottishLabour SEC. 🌹 🗳️

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 years

Almost as incredible as Nicola Sturgeon’s claim to be the only person in Scottish politics never to have heard so much as a whisper about Salmond’s conduct prior to 2017.

David Leask

@LeaskyHT

4 years

Ex-Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger claims ignorance of Roy Greenslade’s IRA support

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

3 years

@PaulJSweeney It’s not every day you get an email from a Pict though.

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Dr Stuart MacLennan

@sensiblestu

4 months

With apologies to the rest of you in @scottishlabour , but we totes have the best team here in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey. 💪🏻🌹 #labourdoorstep #win24

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