View across the Outer Harbour of Stornoway

Saturday 22 October 2011

Saturday 22 October

The day started very wet and very windy, causing a 2 hour delay to the first ferry departure to Ullapool. Gradually, the wind abated, the rain stopped, and by 4pm, the sun came out. We had a glorious sunset - briefly.

Gaddafi appears to have been summarily executed, within an hour of being captured. I hope this does not give an indication of what the new Libyan regime is going to be like. The signs are not good; they are already bickering over where Gaddafi will be buried, as well as over who gets which job in government. Gaddafi was a complete bastard - but it would have reflected better on the NTC if they had applied the laws of war.

The Scottish National Party has proposed alternatives to full independence for Scotland - taking more powers from Westminster, leaving foreign affairs and defence to London. It is probably designed to attract more votes in favour of independence at a future referendum, which the SNP government have pledged to hold before 2016.