Seems hard to believe that it’s 5 years since Charles’ passing. I don’t just miss his wit & friendship but also his wisdom & reasonableness in our public debates. A good man taken too soon who is still sorely missed.
Douglas Alexander
6,757 posts
Douglas Alexander
@D_G_Alexander
Member of Parliament for the Lothian East Constituency. personal account.
Scottish, British, European.
Joined February 2010
- Decent. Diverse. Standing together. A bit like the Britain most of us want. I yearn for a government that represents the best and not the worst of our country.
- I went to my local comprehensive. My mum worked in the NHS & dad in the Kirk. I’ve since served in Cabinet & as a Senior Fellow at Harvard. The suggestion that the parents of the 93% of us who went to state schools weren’t ‘aspirational’ for us isn’t just wrong. It’s offensive.
- Nine years ago today, putting political calculation ahead of the national interest, David Cameron pledged an in/out EU referendum. Some senior Labour figures urged that we match his pledge but as Shadow Foreign Secretary with others I resisted - a position I have never regretted.
- I attended Cabinet for 5 years & each day I benefited from the values my Comprehensive School gave me. He’s been in Cabinet 5 minutes & just look at this sense of entitlement.The physical embodiment of arrogance, entitlement, disrespect and contempt for our parliament.
- A highlander who saw himself as Scottish, British & European. A politician of reasonableness & good humour who abhorred poverty. I last talked with John on the island of Iona where he now rests. Decades on, I treasure that last conversation & still admire the man & his politics.
- As a Scotland fan no part of my pride in my Scottishness will be diminished if England win tonight. On the contrary, I can see that this England team is - and represents - something really special. Good luck to our English friends & neighbours for tonight's final. 🏴 🏴
- Today I’m thinking not only of the service of British forces but the girls in classrooms in Lashkar Gah, Musa Qala, & Kabul who told me of their hopes for the future: One told me she wanted to be a pilot, another a doctor. They were just like kids anywhere. They deserve better.
- It is a huge privilege to be asked to serve and I’m really looking forward to getting down to work…
- As a young speechwriter I wrote the following line for a Labour Leader’s Conference Speech: “You can delay the people’s choice. You will not change the people’s verdict.” It came to mind when I read this. 👇"My working assumption is that we'll have an election in the second half of this year" PM Rishi Sunak appears to rule out a May general election, adding he's got "lots to get on with" bbc.in/48CyzD9
00:00 - No, Prime Minister. We’re rejoining Horizon two years after a wholly unnecessary departure. During that period our outstanding research universities have been paying the heavy price, like the rest of us, of the Conservative Government’s incompetence & isolationist ideology.DEAL DONE: The UK is joining Horizon Europe. Following negotiations with @EU_Commission, UK scientists will now have access to the world’s largest research and innovation programme on better terms for British taxpayers. It’s another step to grow the economy. Here’s why ⬇️
- James - as a fellow Edinburgh graduate can I suggest respectfully that you check your privilege? (You went to Harrow & sit in the Lords as the 5th Baron Bethell.) Times have changed & lots of able state school kids with grit & perseverance were let down by your Government today.
- With the right to champion Corbynism comes the responsibility to accept its abject failure...."You can be a historical re-enactment society or you can be the government of the UK - you don't get to be both...there should be shame coursing through the veins of the Labour leadership today" Ex-Labour Minister @D_G_Alexander tells @bbcmarkmardell bbc.in/2snPcDT
00:00 - Let’s focus on making a difference not proving we’re different. As a son, grandson & great grandson of Scottish doctors, I think ‘Nightingale Hospital Glasgow’ would surely have better reflected the truth that we’re all in this together.Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirms the temporary hospital being set up at the SEC will be named the NHS Louisa Jordan - in honour of a Glasgow nursing sister who served and died in Serbia in WWI Latest live: bbc.in/2Jt5IaR
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