Forward Thinking Study visit to Scotland- November 2025
27 participants took part in Holywell’s PeacePlus Forward Thinking Project’s first study visit to Edinburgh and Glasgow in November 2025. This was the first of two study visits to explore the constitutional challenges facing other places, and what learning we can bring to the debate here.
For more information about the project visit: www.holywelltrust.com/forward-thinking
Forward Thinking participants at Glasgow University, 13th November 2025
About Forward Thinking
The Forward Thinking project is supported by PEACE PLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It is funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan, under the theme of Celebrating Cultural Diversity.
Forward Thinking is an adult dialogue project focused around the future of North- South and East-West relationships. It includes exploring constitutional questions and challenges from a diverse range of perspectives, and considers NI in a global context.
Preparing for Scotland
Before embarking on the residential study visit to Scotland, the participants prepared through a series of workshops and meetings. This included sessions with the following contributors:
Lindsay McIntosh: Head of News at the Sunday Times. Lindsay was formerly the Scottish Political Editor of the Times, where she ran the coverage of Scotland’s independence referendum. Lindsay also worked on the London newsdesk of The Times, and edited their Scottish edition.
David Clegg: Editor of The Courier. As Political Editor of the Daily Record he revealed former first minister Alex Salmond was facing allegations of sexual assault. The story won him Journalist of the Year, Political Journalist of the Year and Scoop of the Year at the 2018 Scottish Press Awards. He was also named Political Journalist of the Year for 2014, 2015 and 2017. David is a regular contributor to the Sky News Press Preview and a sought after pundit on Scottish politics. He lives in Dundee with his wife and two children.
Kieran Andrews: Political Editor at ITV Border and was the Scottish Political Editor at The Times. He has worked in Holyrood since 2012, previously for The Dundee Courier — where he spearheaded the successful and award-winning campaign to extend free personal care to all Scots — and The Sunday Post. He has reported on the twists and turns of the Alex Salmond saga, the 2014 independence and 2016 Brexit referendums, as well as 11 national and local elections.
Aileen McHarg: Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at Durham Law School since September 2019. Prior to joining Durham she held a Chair in Public Law at Strathclyde University, and before that posts at Glasgow and Bristol Universities. Her main teaching and research interests lie in UK and Scottish constitutional and administrative law. She publishes widely in these fields, but has particular expertise in devolution and the UK's territorial constitution. Along with Prof Roger Masterman, she is joint general editor of Public Law.
The Scotland Residential
Day One- Edinburgh
IRISH CONSULATE
Our first meeting was at the Irish Consulate with Jerry O’Donovan, the eighth Consul General of Ireland to Scotland. Prior to taking up duty at the Consulate, he was the Chargé d'affaires of the Irish Embassy to Denmark in 2022 and 2023. Jerry has also served abroad in Ireland's Embassies to Norway and Argentina and as the Joint-Head of the British Irish Council Secretariat where he spent three very enjoyable years based in Edinburgh.
We then met with Stuart Nicolson, who was until last year the First Minister of Scotland’s head of communications and senior political spokesperson in the Scottish Government. Working at the heart of government, he engaged daily at a senior level with journalists across broadcast, print and online media in the UK and internationally. His time in the role spanned some of the most era-defining moments in Scottish, UK and international politics, including the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the 2016 Brexit referendum and its aftermath, and the governmental response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT- TOUR & DISCUSSION
The group then visited Holyrood Parliament, and after a tour we had a sit down with SNP MSP Alasdair Allan to discuss the 2014 referendum, the current independence conversation in Scotland, and the SNP’s vision for the future. Alasdair has been an SNP MSP since May 2007 representing the constituency of the Western Isles. Alasdair gained a PhD in Scots Language from Aberdeen University in 1998. Previous to becoming an MSP, Alasdair was senior media relations officer for the Church of Scotland.
The group finished the first day with two sessions at the University of Edinburgh.
The first meeting was with James Mitchell who holds the chair in Public Policy and is Director of the Academy of Government at the University of Edinburgh. He previously held chairs at the University of Strathclyde and Sheffield. James’ research has included studies of political parties and public opinion in Scotland. His most recent work has included studies of the SNP, Scottish elections and the independence referendum. All of his work is informed by an appreciation of the importance of the past in its impact on current concerns.
Dr Alison Elliot is Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at Edinburgh University, having formerly lectured in Psychology at Edinburgh and Lancaster Universities. Alison was previously a Convener of the Scottish Community and Voluntary Organisation (SCVO), and shared how the C&V engaged with the independence debate during the referendum, facilitating space for the conversation in a meaningful way. Alison is also a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Day Two- Glasgow
On day two we began with a meeting at Glasgow University with Eddie Barnes and Jeane Freeman.
Jeane Freeman is currently the Dean of Strategic Engagement and Economic Development at the University of Glasgow. Jeane was formerly a political advisor to the Labour First Minister Jack McConnell from 2001 to 2005. In the run up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Jeane and several other women founded the Women for Independence. Jeane campaigned in support for Scottish independence and in the aftermath of the Yes Scotland campaign's defeat in the referendum, she joined the Scottish National Party were she served as Minister for Social Security, and during the pandemic, as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.
Political strategist Eddie Barnes is the Director of the University of Glasgow’s John Smith Centre. The John Smith Centre was established to inspire and empower new and diverse voices to engage with and enter British politics. Eddie was also director of Our Scottish Future, set up by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to promote devolution and reform of the UK.
Prior to this, Eddie was Head of Strategy and Communications to Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. He was also political editor of the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday titles.
We finished our second day with meeting with Robin McAlpine and Jonathon Shafi.
Jonathon Shafi is a columnist for The National and co-editor of Conter. He writes the Independence Captured newsletter and is co-chair of Stop the War Coalition Scotland. During the referendum he was national organiser of the Radical Independence Campaign. He recently co-founded Scotland Is Not For Sale.
Robin McAlpine has vast experience in journalism, political strategy and lobbying. He is currently the Head of Strategic Development at think-tank Common Weal. He was a very active campaigner in the 2014 independence referendum and has campaigned on many social, environmental and economic issues over the years.
Holywell’s Forward Thinking group in Edinburgh
