I wonder what you thought when you saw the title above… suspected my of being incredibly inward-looking, perhaps stretching to a comparison with Gordon Brown’s “British jobs for British workers”?  It could be the title of a rather controversial post, I will grant you… and, I guess, is something to ponder.

But – for the moment – its nothing like that.  I’m after a favour.  Or rather, someone else is.

Dr Paul Cairney of the University of Aberdeen is in the midst of drafting a book which is likely to be of interest to readers of this blog.  It is titled “The Scottish Political System Since Devolution: From New Politics to the New Scottish Government”.  So really, all the stuff we talk about here – but probably (definitely!) written in a more comprehensible manner, and certainly better researched than our stuff.

Anyway, the phrase in the title of this post:  “Scottish solutions for Scottish problems”.  Dr Cairney is looking for the origin of it.  Who said it first, and in what context?  Does anyone know?

I couldn’t help, but figured someone here might be able to.  If so, let us know in the comments.  Thanks!