Andy Maciver

Andy Maciver is the co-founder of Message Matters, a lobbying and PR consultancy. He is a political analyst and strategist, and a commentator both on these pages and on TV and radio. He is not a member of, or regular voter for, any political party, and is a federalist who believes the Scottish Parliament will only thrive in a post-constitutional environment with a new set of political parties. Before founding Message Matters, he worked in the charitable and private sectors, and serves as a voluntary adviser to mental health charity Place2Be.

Andy Maciver is the co-founder of Message Matters, a lobbying and PR consultancy. He is a political analyst and strategist, and a commentator both on these pages and on TV and radio. He is not a member of, or regular voter for, any political party, and is a federalist who believes the Scottish Parliament will only thrive in a post-constitutional environment with a new set of political parties. Before founding Message Matters, he worked in the charitable and private sectors, and serves as a voluntary adviser to mental health charity Place2Be.

Latest articles from Andy Maciver

Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar

Opinion Andy Maciver: Hear me out, what Scotland needs now is a SNP-Labour alliance

Andy Maciver: The ‘healing coalition’ Scotland now needs When applied to Scotland’s constitutional debate, time is not the great healer which the old aphorism suggests it should be. This week we marked nine years since the independence referendum. To some, it was a joyous expression of democracy; to others the cause of bitter societal splits.

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It is almost exactly 10 years since David McLetchie died

Opinion Andy Maciver: In today's bitter times, what would David McLetchie do?

Much has been written and spoken, over the ten days which have passed since First Minister Humza Yousaf delivered his Programme for Government, including on these pages of The Herald. I must say, though, that of all the words uttered by Mr Yousaf last Tuesday, there were two which made me sit up in my chair and take note: “David McLetchie”.

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Anas Sarwar must now find the centre ground of constitutional policy

Opinion Andy Maciver: This is the time for Sarwar to hit the accelerator

In May 2019, just over four years ago, Scottish Labour came fifth in a national election.

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'The freeze, and then cap, on the cost of property rental is another very good example of procedure being everything and outcome being nothing'

Opinion Andy Maciver: We need to accept that it's OK for governments to change their mind
The American economist Thomas Sowell said that you can never understand bureaucracies until you understand that for bureaucrats, procedure is everything and outcomes are nothing.

Opinion Andy Maciver: Sorry, Sir Tom, but Scotland is nothing like Ireland

According to the old Irish proverb, you should never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don’t want to press your luck.

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Opinion Andy Maciver: Let’s all hear it for Humzavision

Yousafism or Humzavision. I tried to tempt the First Minister with these labels on Tuesday night, when he appeared on the Holyrood Sources podcast, of which I comprise one-third, at Edinburgh’s Johnnie Walker Experience. Mr Yousaf wasn’t biting, but he did appear to acknowledge the basic premise that he had, so far, been unable to convince the public that he possesses a unique stamp to place on the office of the First Minister, far less that he is using it.

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Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth ‘may turn out to be the best thing that has happened to Scottish schooling for some time’

Opinion Andy Maciver: The big question for our schools is whether average is good enough

It’s schools week in Scotland. This is the week of the year, more than any other, when we talk about schooling, because it is the week in which our children have received their exam results.

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Central belt visitors love the amenities of rural areas, but that do the locals get in return?

Opinion Andy Maciver: Rural Scotland needs a new social contract

People who do live in remote Scotland appear to harbour an increasing resentment towards those of us who dwell in the urban central belt,

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The Government could take action to make it more attractive for people to run electric vehicles

Opinion Andy Maciver: Net zero must mean a net gain in your pocket

Around 18 months ago, I purchased an electric vehicle. It was rather accidental, actually. I have four children and therefore need a large car, and I had a default presumption in my mind that electrification would not yet have reached a vehicle of that size, or at least not one which contains a battery with sufficient range to make it worthwhile.

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The SNP has this week been aiming its guns at the two-child benefits cap

Opinion Andy Maciver: This week has been quite the advert for fiscal autonomy

There must be an election in the offing.

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