What can poetry give us in this sorry mess of Spring 2026? Waiting for Dave (another daft name for a storm) while Donald beats his war chest, I was searching for answers. Here we are, between Donald and Dave, two man-made malevolencies blowing in from the west ‘and there’s naethin ye can dae, said the old boys’ as a canny Kathleen Jamie notes in her poem, Springs, written in … [Read more...] about Four poems in defiance of an uneasy spring
Mind the (implementation) gap: Neurodivergence in Scotland
The term neurodivergence covers a multitude of human experiences. What does it mean? In March 2026, within weeks of the May election, the Scottish Government produced a report which suggests a possible umbrella definition as it works towards a “learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill” [LDAN]For example, learning disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, attention deficit … [Read more...] about Mind the (implementation) gap: Neurodivergence in Scotland
Inside the Wall of Death, a wealth of human kindness
Flashback. Five days before the Iran war, I’m on my way to chair a round table discussion about the gaps in Glasgow’s social narrative, the human stories missing from the city’s self-knowledge. I’m a little apprehensive, aware we might stray into sensitivities expressed during my preparatory conversations. Instead, the event revealed something altogether different. As the … [Read more...] about Inside the Wall of Death, a wealth of human kindness
Certain uncertainties of Iran War, inflation and public finances
With the cost of both energy and debt repayments rising, what can the UK government do? Take a targeted approach to support those in most need, writes João Sousa, Fraser of Allander deputy director. War broke out in Iran and the broader Middle East just days before the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) presented its latest forecasts. At the time, we noted that … [Read more...] about Certain uncertainties of Iran War, inflation and public finances
When a night club demolition becomes a radical right dog-whistle
In this commentary piece, Charlie Ellis examines what the online reaction to the demolition of a well-known Edinburgh nightclub reveals about the current state of public discourse in Scotland. Taking Facebook commentary on the demolition of the Atik on West Tollcross as his starting point, he traces the journey from personal nostalgia to nativist grievance, arguing that … [Read more...] about When a night club demolition becomes a radical right dog-whistle