RT HON HENRY McLEISH began his political career in local government in 1974, and was leader of Fife Regional Council for five years. He was elected as an MP in 1987 and became Minister for Devolution and Home Affairs from 1997 to 1999. In the first Scottish Parliament he was Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning from 1999, and in 2000 he became First Minister of Scotland until 2001. Resigning from politics in 2003, he is now an adviser and lectures internationally on a variety of topics. He frequently appears on TV and radio, and is interviewed for various newspapers and magazines.TOM BROWN is one of Scotland’s most respected and experienced political commentators. A former Fleet Street journalist, he was political editor of the Daily Record. He now writes a weekly column for Scotland on Sunday, contributes to a number of newspapers and broadcasts regularly. He has also written books on political biographyand football.

SCOTLAND: THE ROAD DIVIDES: As a response to the ‘national conversation’ initiated by Salmond this is an important book, and coming from a former Labour heavyweight it is, in its way, remarkable. It virtually concedes that the party that has dominated Scottish politics for the past 30 years, has lost its way, and that the old ideologies no longer count. - THE TIMES[McLeish] has emerged as an advocate of a much bolder approach to devolution than many in his party seem ready for. - EDINBURGH EVENING NEWSThey are particularly scathing of Westminster’s response to the debate… The authors note that the initial response was to point out that Westminster could take back powers from Holyrood. - THE HERALD