“I would describe myself as a socialist. I describe myself as a progressive”. These were Labour leader Keir Starmer’s words in May 2024 shortly after his first speech of the election campaign. Labour’s constitution defines it as a democratic socialist party. So, in theory, Starmer is a socialist. But what is socialism? One concept of socialism characterises it as being about … [Read more...] about Is Starmer a socialist?
Social democracy
Can the SNP win on July 4?
Just days before Rishi Sunak’s bizarrely soggy general election call, the latest YouGov poll gave Labour a lead of 39% to just 29% for the SNP. That would decimate the SNP at Westminster and let Keir Starmer claim to speak for Britain (if not the whole UK). But it’s only one poll. Can the new Swinney/Forbes leadership team, plus Stephen Flynn at Westminster, change the … [Read more...] about Can the SNP win on July 4?
Labour needs a thumping majority at Rutherglen to win big in the UK
More than three years after the COVID law-breaking that cost the SNP’s Margaret Ferrier her job as MP, voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West will be summoned to the polls on October 5 for a byelection to choose her successor. Why is Labour’s Michael Shanks very widely expected to win? And what would a Labour gain here mean? The first thing to say is that this is one … [Read more...] about Labour needs a thumping majority at Rutherglen to win big in the UK
Why Finland is the world’s happiest country
Finland has been the happiest country on earth for the past six years, according to the World Happiness Survey. This survey relies on the Cantril ladder life evaluation question:Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst … [Read more...] about Why Finland is the world’s happiest country
Emerging from the shadows
Scottish Labour has lived in the shadows of Scottish politics since 2007 when it lost out by one seat to the SNP. Labour supporters told themselves the result was an aberration, soon to be reversed. The 2010 Westminster election suggested that natural order of Scottish politics had been restored. But the SNP’s overall majority in Holyrood a year later began a process that … [Read more...] about Emerging from the shadows