Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have overseen and backed rapid charging of far-right rioters, a violent, vicious mob. And they’ve acknowledged these riots are driven by unacceptable racism. But there are wider questions about the language of politics and media around immigration and race, and the social media and political underpinnings of the far right. And there are questions … [Read more...] about Looking for political dynamism in UK/Scotland
UK politics
Unhelpful clarifications on #indyref2
The Supreme Court judgment on the legality of a Scottish independence referendum can be broken down into three elements. Two are unsurprising but the third is problematic. The first decision was to accept the case at all. The UK Government had argued that the issue was hypothetical and premature and that a judgment should have been made only on a complete Bill. This would have … [Read more...] about Unhelpful clarifications on #indyref2
Statistics in an age of deference: Covid19 strategy fails true grit test
When in 1964 Sir John Brotherston became Chief Medical Officer for Scotland he introduced two startling innovations. First and foremost: he placed information at the heart of health service decision-making. Second, and crucially, he also insisted that interpretation of data must remain the province not of the politicians but of the statisticians and of community … [Read more...] about Statistics in an age of deference: Covid19 strategy fails true grit test
UK finally disunited?
Recent polls have suggested that opinion on independence versus staying in the UK is split almost 50:50. And once Boris Johnson and a possible ‘no deal’ Brexit are added into the mix, support for independence moves into the lead.The political dynamics here are, though, complex. Different Brexit scenarios still loom – no deal, deal or no Brexit (and perhaps another Article … [Read more...] about UK finally disunited?
Happy New Year
we did not know that we werethe happiness we wished each otherwhen the Bells went, did we?Liz LochheadWe are saying goodbye to 2018 with some relief and not a little foreboding at what lies ahead – but also with a sense of gratitude.It has been a year of great uncertainty and gross political mismanagement.And yet, there is a good deal to be thankful for. … [Read more...] about Happy New Year