Whenever a London bookmaker made odds on Scottish politics, my former colleagues at The Scotsman used to make easy money*. The world of Holyrood, where yours truly served a one year tour of duty, has its own political weather system that it’s hard to understand from a distance – so likelihoods are given very high odds. But today Ladbrokes gives odds that I think are pretty fair: 20-1 o...

The BBC News website takes a look at some of the political words and phrases that made the headlines in 2008.

Steve Rhodes, in reviewing Goldeneye, mentioned that: Xenia Onatopp, the femme fatale, is played with tremendous zeal by Famke Janssen, and flies brilliantly in the face of political correctness. Those last nine words are a credit to a modern day writer. It’s difficult to effectively analyse the essential problem with political correctness and many words have been written on the topic but ma...

Political Betting appears to have a rival in the Political betting game, that's Odd Politics. Following the Glenrothes odds closely and betting on a Labour victory as the odds on that shorten. Alex Salmond's expert market shorting activity is still keeping the "Tory equivalents" as Odd Politics calls them to the fore. The Lib Dems are nowhere. Though it must be said their Willie Rennie, ...

When words like unacceptable, intolerable and unpardonable are overused by government leaders during shooting wars and political crises, the words no longer warn of serious consequences.

English nationalism refers to a nationalist outlook or political stance applied to England. In a general sense, it promotes England, as a focus for patriotic sentiment and national identity. In addition to this, it denotes a political movement that seeks self-government for England. Regarding the United Kingdom, English nationalists have advocated a devolved English Parliament within the UK. Other...

Channel Four's 2009 Political Awards include a section for the Political Book of the Year, and this year it's a truly fascinating crop. The programme makers want your ratings, good or bad - up to 300 words - and may...

Heading into today's Florida Primary, the picture below depicts President Obama reflecting on his potential opponents in the 2012 presidential election! And, for all of you political scientists out there, this is a perfect although not very timely lesson in what two flawed candidates should not be doing! In what can only be described as a disgusting display of me-first politics, Mitt Romney a...

It's a standard theme in gambling, particularly in International Football, that the away team tends to have more favourable odds at local betting shops. This tends to be due to an optimistic home support stumping up to bet on their team, allowing the odds for the Dutch or the Italians (or Belarus come to think of it) to lengthen. When it comes to the sport of politics in Scotland, you don...

Ayo Gorkhali to zeal, political words in the news in 2009