
Alastair Stewart
Alastair is a public affairs consultant and freelance writer. He regularly writes about politics, history and culture with a particular interest in Winston Churchill's links to Scotland.
Public Affairs, PR & Digital
Providing public affairs, public relations, design and digital support to clients. Sample work below.
Recognition
Digital community consultation | Scottish Government best practice
Press coverage
Orbit digital engagement deemed best practice by Scottish Government (Scottish Housing News)
Edinburgh company’s digital engagement deemed best practice by Scottish Government (Deadline News)
Best practice digital nod for Orbit Communications (Scotland on Sunday)
Alastair Stewart: Adapting to COVID-19 with Orbit Communications (Scottish Housing News)
Switch to digital is boosting community engagement (Consultation Institute)
Switch to digital is boosting community engagement (Edinburgh Evening News)
Insight
Covid-19 could be a digital starting gun (Orbit)
We must be mindful of the isolation time bomb (Orbit)
Alastair Stewart: Adapting to COVID-19 with Orbit Communications (LinkedIn)
How to raise community support for planning proposals (Orbit)
2020 – Looking ahead to another curveball year? (Orbit)
Webinar Series
Engagement and project approval
Green light for Canongate office development
£140 million Grade A office block to go ahead on Argyle Street
Pinkhill flats plans set to be approved despite residents’ privacy fears
Green light for Edinburgh Old Town office development at UNESCO World Heritage Site
Build to rent Skyliner towers get green light for Leith
Digital
Gilston Park – http://gilston-park.scot/
Parkhead Hub – https://parkheadhub.scot/
British Land – Dougalston – https://bldougalston.co.uk/
Buckholm Corner – https://buckholmcorner.com/
Queensberry Properties – https://finance-house.co.uk/
PLATFORM_ – https://platform-edinburgh.co.uk/
Consultation
Former Edinburgh Lloyds Banking call centre to be converted into 170 flats
Public event will discuss plans to demolish Leith buildings such as John Lewis depot for housing
Around 145 student flats planned at old petrol station site on Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh
Podcast
Press & Brand
Envipco among VIBES finalists for environment partnership
Events
Gorgie farm welcomes the Dalry llama
Explore ‘Glesca’ and ‘Embra’ on interactive Scots language map
Campaign
Churchill & Scotland
The Herald
THE TIMES
It’s time for Scotland to reclaim Winston Churchill (PDF)
EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
Churchill’s Scottish connections run deeper than we may think
Great men and women have earned a place in our history
FINEST HOUR
Why have the Scots forsaken Churchill?
INTERNATIONAL CHURCHILL SOCIETY
Why Have the Scots Forsaken Churchill?
THE SCOTSMAN
VE Day: Why Britain is not overly obsessed with the Second World War
Thatcher, Churchill and the Lib Dems: The danger posed by simplistic judgements
Churchill’s roar drowns out Johnson’s huge ego
Dear John McDonnell, if Winston Churchill is a villain, who is a hero?
Scottish independence would strip Churchill of his ‘Britishness’
What Donald Tusk can learn from Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill: Ross Greer is wrong, but so is Piers Morgan
Churchill once defended ‘Scottish nationalism’ at Ibrox stadium
Johnson should take care what conflicts he conjures up (print only)
BBC RADIO SCOTLAND
HISTORY SCOTLAND
Why have the Scots forsaken Churchill?
Remember the man, not the myth series
Part 1: Debunking the cult of Churchill
Using primary sources to explore the statesman’s life and work.
Part 2: Churchill as a military leader
A look at Churchill’s reputation as a boorish war leader with a penchant for expeditions over expediency. Is it justified?
Part 3: Churchill the actor
For all his flaws and quirks, Churchill makes for an infinitely more interesting character study than the heavily redacted, and catastrophically cliched, caricature of a stoic leader with a jutted jaw and cigar.
Part 4: Why the real quotes are better than the memes
Alastair calls for a more significant distinction between the real and apocryphal stories about Churchill.
Part 5: A heavy drinker?
Examining Churchill’s reputation as a heavy drinker.
Part 6: The real price of ale
If Churchill wasn’t an alcoholic, but if he fanned tall drinking tales about himself, then what was he at heart?
Part 7: Churchill was a peacemaker, not just a warrior
Exploring Churchill’s post-war role as a peacemaker.
Part 8: The Dream reveal’s Churchill’s soul
What ‘The Dream’ can tell us about Churchill’s relationship with the father he thought never believed in him.
Part 9: Churchill & Europe – the ultimate myth?
The many Churchills, the many Europes.
Part 10: Churchill on our doorstep
Where are the books dedicated to Churchill and Scotland?
E-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Would Churchill have voted for Brexit?
THE SOL TIMES
When Churchill bribed Franco (print)
THINK SCOTLAND
Coverage
International Churchill Society
I pitched an article that became the basis for a dedicated edition of ‘Finest Hour’ focussing on Churchill’s connections with Scotland.
I wrote the leading feature considering why the Scots have forsaken Churchill. I also coordinated the Scottish PR campaign to raise awareness of the edition including the research appeal.
The edition included a foreward by former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Dedicated landing page: http://winstonchurchill.org/finest-hour-scotland/
Journal: Why have the Scots forsaken Churchill?
Press release: First scholarly research appeal launched into Churchill and Scotland
Press release: Churchill’s Scottish links explored on St. Andrew’s Day
Blog: Return to Plugstreet – The International Churchill Society
BBC RADIO SCOTLAND
News
The Times: Campaign to honour Churchill’s connections north of the border (PDF)
The Times: It’s time for Scotland to reclaim Winston Churchill (PDF)
The Scotsman: Winston Churchill should be a ‘celebrated hero in Scotland
The Scotsman: Churchill’s ties to Scotland falling ‘out of public knowledge’, warns great grandson
Edinburgh Evening News: Churchill’s Scottish connections run deeper than we may think
The Daily Record: History’s greatest Englishman Winston Churchill was really ‘a Scot’
The Herald: Efforts are underway to recognise Churchill’s Scottish connections
Deadline News: Academics appeal for information in bid to make Churchill a “celebrated hero” in Scotland
The Courier: Quest launched to unlock treasure trove of Churchill’s Scottish connections
Third Force News: Churchill’s Scottish links explored
Scottish Field: Bid to uncover Churchill’s untold Scots connections
North Edinburgh News: Churchill and Scotland: First scholarly research appeal launched
North Edinburgh News: Churchill’s close friendship with an SNP founder remembered
Macedonia
Working with the United Macedonian Diaspora to raise awareness about the implications of the Prespa Agreement and Macedonian accession to NATO and the EU.
North Macedonia? Don’t you ‘North Briton’ me! (The Scotsman)
Macedonian village healer changed my life in a way I didn’t expect (The Scotsman)
UMD appoints new communications director (UMD)
Колумна на новинарот Алистер Стујарт: Северна Македонија? Не ме прави Севернобританец (Don’t you North Briton me!) (Kurir)
Шкотски новинар за Преспански договор: Катастрофална пирова победа за Владата на Заев (Express MK)
Колумна на новинарот Алистер Стујарт: Северна Македонија? Не ме прави Севернобританец (The Grid)
Северна Македонија? Don’t you ‘North Briton’ me! (Time.MK)
Аластер Стујарт: Северна Македонија? Don’t you ‘North Briton’ me! (Denesen)
Северна Македонија? Don’t you ‘North Briton’ me! (Off.net.mk)
Идниот македонски зет од Шкотска не сака да биде „Севернобританец (New Macedonia)
Обединетата Македонска Дијаспора (ОМД) назначи нов Директор за Комуникации (Observer, Macedonia)
Brexit
Launched a six-month campaign to introduce MPs for British citizens living in Europe. Central focus was on raising awareness as to the current status quo and putting forward suggested reforms.
Campaign to introduce MPs for British expatriates (Petition)
Scottish teacher launches petition for MPs for expats (Edinburgh Reporter)
Brexit: Brits in Spain react to Theresa May’s speech (The Local)
Scottish expat in Spain campaigns for MPs to represent Brits living abroad (The Olive Press News)
Teacher in Spain launches online petition for MPs for Brits living abroad (EuroWeekly News)
Almeria writer launches petition for MPs for British citizens abroad (The Sol Times)
March for The People’s Vote (Bremain in Spain)
Why Do We Need A People’s Vote? (Bremain in Spain)
Votes for Life must only be the beginning (Bremain in Spain)
Member of the month – Newsletter – Alastair Stewart (Bremain in Spain)