Some call this the ‘silly season’ I think when it comes to Politics every season is silly!

By the end of August, we see the colours change as nature begins to slow down, but in the world of Politics, things are just hotting up again. August is also the start of the shooting season when Scotland becomes the playground for the rich and famous. Next month the proverbial bullets will fly around Westminster hoping for a kill.

It is after all the start of a year that will conclude with a General Election. Now these GE years tend to be a wee bit different, pledges are more generous, not that they will all be kept!! Some will however because the Budget will come before the Election.

Manifestos will pop through our letter boxes, most will end up in the bin unless they catch our eye. Good graphics are always important, they are the headline. Some of these Manifestos will be brave enough to include future Policies, but they won’t give much detail, so beware of what you think is coming down the track!

At the last Holyrood Election a brief reference was made to updating the GRA Bill and look at the disaster that unfolded there!

So how do we dig behind the headlines?

HUSTINGS! I love going to these, they provide the opportunity to put Politicians and would-be Politicians on the rack!!! Ask the awkward questions, and dig behind the headlines.

I wonder for instance how many will know about the Claim of Right, let alone understand it. We have about 9 months to make sure we know all the facts because there is nothing more embarrassing than asking a question that is meant to put someone on the spot if you haven’t got the answer to hand yourself.

Now is the time to start changing the conversation.