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
‘Epic Fury’ suffering continues even if Trump invents an end to his illegal war
Protect the Red Cross emblem. Enable Red Cross teams to save lives under international humanitarian law as US-Israel 'Epic Fury' recklessness spreads across the Middle East, and beyond. Sceptical Scot is sharing this urgent message from Gabriel Karlsson, British Red Cross Middle East Country Cluster manager, speaking from Beirut. The message repeated as Karlsson tracks the … [Read more...] about ‘Epic Fury’ suffering continues even if Trump invents an end to his illegal war
Public pay settlements: a crisis waiting for the next Scottish government
The Scottish government has long practised the exercise of kicking problematic cans down the road. Perhaps wider world crises will keep eyes off Scotland's immediate pay problems but in yet another hard hitting assessment, Fraser of Allander's deputy director Dr João Sousa predicts "...whoever is in power after May will have to seriously grapple with implausible settlements in … [Read more...] about Public pay settlements: a crisis waiting for the next Scottish government
‘A shambles and a disgrace’ – saving Scotland’s High Streets will take more than the market (Part 2)
The decline of Princes Street and Sauchiehall Street is no isolated Scottish tragedy; it's a pattern replicated across the UK and beyond. Why? In Part Two Charlie Ellis seeks answers beyond the market. Structural Explanations for High Street Decline Andrew Neil’s market-focused prescription [in Part One] is widely contested. Many commentators and academics point to deeper … [Read more...] about ‘A shambles and a disgrace’ – saving Scotland’s High Streets will take more than the market (Part 2)
‘A shambles and a disgrace’ – why have Scotland’s high streets declined? (Part 1)
Andrew Neil blames a "national scandal" of local government failure and incompetence, others argue the rot goes much deeper. In a two-part series for Sceptical Scot, Charlie Ellis explores a complicated landscape: “not just a story of bad councils, it's a collision between old-school market beliefs in a modern world of hollowed-out authorities and changing global shopping … [Read more...] about ‘A shambles and a disgrace’ – why have Scotland’s high streets declined? (Part 1)
Global food insecurity: another dividend from Trump’s war of choice
Oil powers cars. Nitrogen powers crops. If the strait of Hormuz closes, the most consequential price may not be Brent crude but the cost of feeding the world." In The Conversation authors Nima Shokri and Salome M. S. Shokri-Kuehni highlight yet another unintended consequence of the chaos spiralling from US and Israeli attack on Iran: fertiliser shock. '"Tehran is moving … [Read more...] about Global food insecurity: another dividend from Trump’s war of choice