Beyond Tribal Politics
Independent journalism and commentary on politics, society, culture, climate and Scotland’s future.
Scotland after the election – what new opportunities?
What next in Scotland? After a tired election new hope, new ideas and new policies are needed says Kirsty Hughes
Scunnered Scotland but energised England?
Voter turnout is down in Scotland’s parliamentary elections but up in England local elections. What does that mean?
‘I don’t recognise my country’ – in crisis, but what crisis?
The immediate conclusion many draw is that the present system is not working. Yet there is no widely accepted account of what…
A quiet election for a tired and poorly Scottish parliament
Scottish party manifestos pledge extra spending without addressing huge challenges facing the next Scottish government – likely to be SNP again despite…
And the winner is…The Absent Voters Party
However in all six Scottish Parliamentary elections since 1999 of the roughly 4 million people registered to vote, those actually voting averaged…
What’s ‘good for Scotland’ in 2026 election?
The SNP is in no fit state to fight a referendum. It has not begun to address weaknesses exposed in 2014.
Four poems in defiance of an uneasy spring
In times of war, poetry is a kind of defiance, a resistance. Humanity reclaimed?
Mind the (implementation) gap: Neurodivergence in Scotland
A key theme running throughout the evidence was the stark gap between Scottish Government policy and practice
Inside the Wall of Death, a wealth of human kindness
‘Wall of Death!’ the taxi driver sounds surprised – incredulous might be a better word – but also intrigued and wanting to…
Certain uncertainties of Iran War, inflation and public finances
What to do? Take a targeted approach to support those in most need
When a night club demolition becomes a radical right dog-whistle
Last week, the demolition of the Atik nightclub on West Tollcross attracted substantial media attention. Originally opened as The New Cavendish dance…
