Our poetry editor follows humbly in the footsteps of Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy and Blur among many others and pays tribute to the enduring resonance of the shipping forecast as it enjoys its tenth (almost uninterrupted) decade on the BBC.
Archives for November 2015
Osbo’s traps for Sturgeon and Swinney
The Chancellor’s humiliating u-turn over tax credits and his shadow’s gaffe over Mao grabbed the headlines but the autumn statement had plenty of stings in the tail for the Scottish Government, report two prominent Stirling Uni economists.
London Overgrown: the ‘rewilding’ of a city
A new collection by electronica pioneer John Foxx imagining the rewilding of London offers a sonic tour through a new green city including ‘The Glades of Soho’ and ‘The Hanging Gardens of Shoreditch’.
George Osborne’s anti-industrial strategy
The Chancellor claimed in his recent autumn statement to be wholly committed to continuing the previous coalition government’s industrial strategy. But on at least three counts he’s plainly misleading the public.
Heart and soul: Scotland and Sturgeon
Scotland’s First Minister loves Cilla, Kate Bush and Simon Le Bon. But, while a year after replacing Alex Salmond her high standing is unassailed, what has her government really achieved – and what does she want to do with her power?
HBOS: too little, too late
It cost £7m – a million for each of the years since Scotland’s (once) most-revered bank went bust. But, after all the billions spent, the thousands of jobs slashed, lessons still have to be learned – and the perpetrators are still plying their trade.
An unprecedented state security apparatus
David Cameron has found more money to employ 1900 extra security and intelligence staff. But does this really help defeat the multi-faceted threat posed by Dash and other extremist groups? These unprecedented powers must be shown to be effective.
1707: what really happened?
There were plots and counter-plots but on the day in 1707 that the Scottish Parliament dissolved no riots or celebrations. A panel at the History Festival in Edinburgh discusses what really happened in that momentous period.
Tax credit cuts and ‘defensive devolution’
The SNP/Scottish Government and Labour now agree powers exist to restore, at least partially, tax credit cuts. But how can this be done without the administrative machinery in place? Full devolution of welfare powers would be a much better solution.
Student debt: class matters
The Scottish Government refuses to acknowledge the way student debt hits young working class people hardest. Even the NUS Scotland virtually ignores the issue. Our leading expert cries shame.