4
Fail at every level
Sparkling crowning glory
IN THE GRAND tapestry of life, birth and
death are the only fixed stitches. Yet, death
remains a topic often shrouded in
discomfort and avoidance. Planning for
the inevitable, however, is an act of
wisdom and compassion, to support those
we leave behind. With a few simple steps,
we can eliminate a lot of future stress for
our loved ones, whilst making
considerable savings.MAINTAIN AN UP-TO-DATE WILL
Having a well-drafted Will is essential as it
serves as a roadmap for the distribution of
assets. Clearly outlining your wishes and
communicating them effectively can avoid
stress for your family, amd mitigate any
potential fallouts or disagreements about
personal possessions and money.
And, if you have more than £36,000 and
die without a will, it will almost certainly
add stress and cost to the after-death
process as additional steps are required.GET TO GRIPS WITH PROBATE
‘Probate’ is the general term used to
describe the process of closing down
someone’s financial, legal and tax affairs
after they die. In Scotland we also use the
word ‘Confirmation’. The process involves
notifying various organisations of the
death, creating an inventory of assets,
paying debts and taxes, and distributing
inheritance.APPOINT AN ‘EXECUTOR’ AND MAKE A LIST
Appointing an executor in a Will is a
pivotal decision. This individual oversees
the process, ensuring your wishes are
carried out. It is best to select someone
reliable and organised. You can select a
solicitor, but they may charge a lot.
Another helpful step is to make a list of all
the companies you have a financial
relationship with, which will reduce the
investigation work after you’re gone.THINK BEYOND FINANCES
Confirming all funeral arrangements such
as music and flower choices, and
additional wishes such as organ donation
can spare loved ones from making
decisions at a difficult time. By taking some
time to confront our own mortality, we can
help our families face the inevitable with
clarity and grace. It is an act of love to leave
behind a well-organised plan, ensuring our
departure causes as little burden as
possible for those we care for most.
Mike Davis, founder and Managing
Director of My Probate PartnerPlanning ahead
for the inevitable
Unelected bosom buddies are an affront to democracy says SNP MP
By OWEN THOMPSON MPWESTMINSTER IS a joke. An unelected
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was foisted on us
all by the Tory party membership.
He has now given us a foreign secretary in
the form of former PM David Cameron who is
also unelected.
Cameron, the architect of the Brexit disaster,
will not be questioned by MPs as he is now a
baron and sits in the House of Lords – a hastily
made deal by Sunak.
We face two of the biggest international
crises in years in the form of wars in Gaza
and Ukraine.
Yet we cannot question and scrutinise the
foreign secretary – one of the highest positions
in the land – on these life-or-death issues.
Where is the democracy?
The House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay
Hoyle has already raised his fears.
The Speaker said it is “especially important”
the House of Commons is able to scrutinise the
work of the Foreign Office.
He said: “This is not the first time in recent
years that a Cabinet minister has been
appointed in the House of Lords but given the
gravity of the current international situation, it
is especially important that this House is able
to scrutinise the work of the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office
effectively.”
The House of Lords is already an affront to
democracy even before the new Lord Cameron
walks in there.
Scotland’s peers in the House of Lords
“fail at every level” to represent the needs of
the country.
A report produced by my colleague
Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard makes
the case for the abolition of the UKParliament’s second chamber.
Peers scrutinise government policy but
membership is not selected by the public
through election.
The report, titled Their Scottish Lordships,
identified 78 members who could be regarded
as Scotland’s peers, either those who have spent
most of their active life in Scotland or who
have been given a Scottish title.
Mr Sheppard showed the system does
not represent the majority of Scotland as
most Scottish peers are “privately educatedmen over the age of 65”.
They are also opposed to Scottish
independence.
So we stagger on with unelected Sunak
bringing in equally unelected David Cameron.
And we call this a free country?
A new Scotland can do it better with a
modern constitution which inspires and
represents our citizens.
Scots can be grateful that independence gives
us a way out of this anti-democratic,
authoritarian, elitist morass.By OLIVIA THOMASSCOTLAND’S CROWN Jewels have
been put back on display after a
spruce up.
A team of experts from Historic
Environment Scotland (HES) have
carried out conservation work on
the Honours of Scotland - the
Crown, Sceptre and Sword of State,
and visitors to Edinburgh Castle
can see them in all their glory
once more.
First used during the coronation
of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543,
these are the oldest crown jewels
in Britain and among the oldest
in Europe.
The Crown and Sceptre were
presented to King Charles III at the
National Service of Thanksgiving at
St Giles’ Cathedral.Reed Hudson, Senior Metals
Conservator at HES, said it is
essential that the Honours look
their best but it is still rare to have
focussed on one project in this way.
Reed said: “It has allowed me to
really enjoy small details that I
might have missed otherwise, like
the figures of the saints engraved
on the blade of the sword, or the
beautiful floral motifs incorporated
into the designs of the sceptre
and scabbard.
“We are continually developing
our methods of analysis and care to
ensure that we are safeguarding our
national treasures in the best
possible way. This project has
allowed us to learn more about the
Honours and their history, and we
hope to share our findings in the
new year.”Reece MunroOld pal’s act: Rishi Sunak
and David CameronOPINION AND NEWS