Nearly two decades after leaving office, the former PM is still trumpeting the same futile militarism and failed free market dogmas. The question naturally arises: why does anyone still listen to him, says ANDREW MURRAY
REPORTS of the death of the Scottish government’s National Care Service Bill are, as Mark Twain might have put it, an exaggeration.
The Scottish government announced on Thursday that it is pausing but not abandoning its Bill. It is the latest episode in what has become Holyrood’s longest-running farce.
The Bill is currently at stage two of its parliamentary progress. This involves consideration of the Bill by a parliamentary committee (in this case, the health, social care and sport committee).
The new Scottish Parliament looks set to continue a cycle of managerial tinkering while public services face the axe, writes STEPHEN LOW
Evidence to peers from medical leaders, patient safety officials and the children’s commissioner has intensified fears that the Bill’s safeguards are inadequate, writes ADAM JAMES POLLOCK


