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All roads lead home.
‘After my knighthood was announced,
a woman from the BBC came to
Glasgow to interview me. We sat
down in a lovely hotel in a nice part
of town, and she hit me with her first
question: “This must mean a lot to
you, with you coming from nothing?”
I looked at her, and I laughed.
“I did’nae come from nothing,”
I told her. “I come from something.”
I grew up in the tenements of
post-war Glasgow. I am very proud
to be working class, and especially
a working-class Glaswegian who
has worked in the shipyards. I come
from the working class. And, most
of all, I come from Scotland.
Scotland is a unique and wonderful
place. Its national motto says
a lot about it: Nemo me impune
lacessit. A decent translation might
be: ‘By all means punch me
in the nose but prepare yourself
for a kick in the arse.’
I did’nae come from nothing:
I come from Scotland. And this
book is about why I will always be
happy and proud that I do.’
