Holyrood 473 / 4 October 2021

The Appliance of Science. Leading the flock - how Dolly's legacy lives on 25 years since her birth. Exclusive Interview: Ivan McKee, enterprise minister. Plus Professor Anne Glover on following the science

3 Editor’s note
Keir Starmer’s conference speech positioned him as a serious man, but will he lead Labour into No 10?

5 Roundup
Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks

6 Talking Point
Defence solicitors go in search of justice secretary Keith Brown

8 In Context
Diverting drug users away from prosecution

9 Political Spotlight: Winter storms
Pressure mounts on the UK government as households face a tough few months

11 Overview: The appliance of science
Twenty-five years on from Dolly the sheep, Scotland needs its scientists now more than ever

14 Minister: Ivan McKee
The cabinet secretary opens up about life away from politics

20 Special Feature: A little help from AI
What if artificial intelligence could diagnose skin cancer in just 25 minutes?

22 Interview: Dame Anne Glover
The former chief scientific adviser discusses innovation, career advancement and why science matters

26 Feature: A problem with alcohol
Hands were wrung over Scotland’s abysmal drug-death figures, so why not its alcohol-death statistics too?

29 One to watch: Michael Marra
The Labour MSP on how his party can recover following the toxicity of the Jeremy Corbyn era

32 Getting to Know You
Tory MSP Sharon Dowey on her dream dinner date

34 Comment
Dani Garavelli on why the Tories’ position on drugs ignores all the evidence

35 Politicians’ pets
Councillor Kevin Montgomery and his dog Rohan

36 Diary
Mike Russell pens a book review and members of the Alba Party channel Father Ted

37 Life Stories
Murdo Fraser on his early love of comics and why life is too short for Moby Dick

38 Last Word
Sketch: Is the Scottish government moving to nationalise you?

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