There have been penalties for those who looked the other way when Epstein was convicted of child sex offences and decided to maintain relationships with the financier — but not for the British ambassador to Washington, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES

SCOTTISH Labour cannot ignore or wish away constitutional realities a second longer. The issues of democracy, accountability, independence, devolution and regional and national identity are the issues that dominate the Scottish and, increasingly, the British political landscape.
If we look at governance across the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their parliaments or assemblies.
There is the Greater London Authority, metro mayors, county councils, district councils, unitary authorities, metropolitan districts, London boroughs, town and parish councils.
Not to mention the Houses of Commons, the Lords and previously the European Parliament.
This myriad of different levels of government, each with different powers and responsibilities governed by politicians elected under different voting systems, is a dog’s breakfast.

From Grangemouth’s closure to Europe’s highest drug deaths, 23 per cent of children in poverty and ferries seven years late, all parties who’ve governed in the last 20 years lack vision or inspiration — we need a new way forward, writes NEIL FINDLAY


