“Loch Long is a 20-mile-long seawater loch that flows into the Firth of Clyde. People fish there; they swim and paddleboard. They had a right to know about the leak – and we all had a right to know about sloppy work practices at the (Coulport) base…”
Should the Scottish Government fund public interest journalism?
“Don’t get me wrong – the journalists employed by these papers still work hard and do a pretty good job. I would still recommend reading a newspaper over not reading one. But we need to find a way to halt this slow collapse of the media landscape.’
Are Scotland’s ferries too cheap?
Subsidising tourists to ship their vehicles to the isles is not a good use of public funds
Trans in fiction – and in court
The UK Supreme Court said that their ruling on biological sex as a distinct category in equality provision should not be interpreted as a defeat for trans people. Trans people have the right to live in dignity, free from harassment and discrimination, they ruled. Most of those who welcomed the judgement also made a point […]
The UK needs a reformed second chamber
Nicola Sturgeon announced her decision not to run in the next Holyrood election, echoing sentiments from other longstanding MSPs. The House of Lords lacks Scottish independence supporters and fails to represent Scotland’s interests. A reformed second chamber is needed for Scotland’s concerns in UK policy, especially regarding taxes, infrastructure, and energy poverty, which disproportionately affect the nation.
Energy privatisation is a disaster for Scotland
Energy poverty in Scotland affects 31% of the population, which is significantly higher than in England and the EU. Despite abundant energy resources, especially renewable, local costs remain exorbitant due to ineffective regulations and privatization. High energy bills drive families away, worsen health issues, and threaten economic growth, with profits benefiting external shareholders.
The gift nobody wants to open
Spare a thought this Christmas/New Year for the person at the Fiscals’ office on whose desk the file marked ‘Operation Branch Form’, the investigation into the SNP’s finances, is resting.
A failure of leadership over Glasgow’s “Mack”
“A full restoration of the Mack can and must be done – and within years not decades. It will take political will. If leadership is there, the money can be found. Restoring the Mack is a chance to put money and commitment behind a project involving skilled work and training opportunities for the people of greater Glasgow and beyond.”
Balgy Gap and the missing loop in the grid
The privatisation of Scotland’s power has proved a failure, argues Jackie Kemp, citing the 60-year failure to provide power to a part of the Highlands
Ten years on: the story behind a front-page pic
“The British government – whether Conservative or Labour – has decided to veto another independence referendum for Scotland. I think in the end that strategy may prove counterproductive for the Unionist cause. Whether Scotland’s future is as an independent country or within the UK is a matter that the people who live here should be able to decide, hearkening, of course, to the voices of their consciences.”