Mark Smith

We’re starting to get our first impressions of Russell Findlay, the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives, but one of the first things I said to him when I met him the other day was that he’s going to have to overcome the deep-down problem for his party that isn’t easy to fix. He knows it, others have tried and failed, and to be honest it looks like it might be about to get worse before it gets better.

We need to tackle the organised crime gangs and their money men in all the accountancy firms and law firms in Glasgow that support the drug dealers, says Scots Tory leader Russell Findlay

The new Scottish Tory leader says mainstream society in Scotland is being “contaminated” by drugs money and official policy on drugs and addiction has to change to tackle it.

The first thing I did was check whether the windows were real because you’ll remember that when Glen Sannox was “launched” in 2017, the windows were painted on; they were fake. But this time the news is good: the windows are real, the ferry is finished, and we’re ready to go. It’s finally here: the ferry nobody wanted.

If you want me, I’ll be in Magpie’s Nest, and if you ask nicely I’ll take you across the road to the Pearce Institute for a plate of chips as big as ships before we take a wander along to the new bridge. Look at that view across to the museum; you’ve got to love it. And you’ve got to admit: there’s a bit of a transformative feeling going on in Govan right now that could be good for all of us.

Enable celebrates 70 years as a charity and it all started in a living room

Ask me what I hate. Lots of things. I hate that the Scots pay higher taxes than the English. I hate that so many people still eat animals and abuse and kill them. I hate that the health minister went to football matches and thinks we’ll believe him when he says it was work. I hate that I’m not the same weight I was when I was 17. There are lots of things I hate. How long have you got?

The Scottish Government, now largely free of the influence of the Greens we think and hope, has ditched some of its plans on wood-burning stoves. The policy has gone up in smoke. They’ve changed course. They’ve done a U-turn. Although is U-turn the right phrase I wonder?

I don’t want to imagine what it’s like to go and visit the grave of a friend or relative and discover the cooncil has slapped a gummy, gaudy information notice on it headed “Warning! this memorial has failed to meet safety standards.” People have called it disrespectful and I think that’s exactly the right word. It is. What were they thinking?

The council in Glasgow is asking residents to help clear leaves off the streets and the way people have reacted to the idea is revealing. Call it the Leaf Test: how much should councils do for residents and how much should residents do for themselves? The answer matters because it reveals how much we – as people, as communities, as society – may have changed, and not for the better.