Yesterday’s Ashcroft Poll for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk showed Mike Moore to be in a very tough three way fight with both the Tories and the SNP. It should be pointed out that the poll did not mention his name. If it had, the likelihood is that it would have boosted Mike’s rating significantly. However, Willie Rennie has changed his plans for today and headed for Galashiels to give Mike some additional support

The thought of a House of Commons without Mike Moore in it upsets me greatly. This is the guy who negotiated the Edinburgh Agreement with Nicola Sturgeon making sure that the referendum happened fairly. He then played a massively important role in the Smith Commission to bring people together and produce a credible package of reforms. It was his piloting of the Scotland Act through Parliament in 2012 that shows that statesmanship to the full. At the end of 2011, the Bill was under threat from Labour peers playing games in the Lords and from the Scottish Government who referred to it as a “dog’s breakfast.” Mike managed to turn that around and ensured that from next year, Holyrood, for example, can set its own income tax rate. It’s a really significant reform that has been forgotten about in the referendum and its aftermath.

It’s worth remembering how, in 2012, John Rentoul compared him to James Bond and said that he was as “skilful at judging politics of Whitehall as he is the mood of Scotland.

Mike has admirers across the political spectrum for the way he has conducted himself and the things he has done. Willie said of him:

Michael Moore is one of Scotland’s towering and unifying political figures.  It is essential we keep him for the good of Scottish and UK politics which is why I have abandoned my campaign schedule to join him in Galashiels today.

In a volatile political environment he has the talent to reach out to Conservatives, Socialists and Nationalists alike to unite and show the way ahead.

With great maturity Michael reached agreement with the Scottish Government on the powers for the Scottish Parliament and the legislation for the referendum. Many said an agreement would not be possible but Mike reached out to make it happen.

He led the case in Parliament against the Iraq War, was a leading figure in the Smith Commission and piloted legislation on international aid through parliament that received praise from across the political spectrum.  But first and foremost he has always stuck up for the Borders.

His ability to reach across the political divide to make progress is what marks him out from so many others.He is just the kind of person who gives politics a good name.  Michael Moore is too good to lose.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social