Scottish party manifestos pledge extra spending without addressing huge challenges facing the next Scottish government – likely to be SNP again despite almost 20 years of underachievement in power. John McLaren sets out four lessons to learn from the state we are in.The upcoming Scottish election takes place at a time of great uncertainty and change, not that you’d know it … [Read more...] about A quiet election for a tired and poorly Scottish parliament
What’s ‘good for Scotland’ in 2026 election?
Why is John Swinney talking about a second referendum? Professor James Mitchell takes a long view of the incumbent party's election campaign.The Scottish Sun’s Chris Musson suggested that this election could see a ‘loveless landslide’ for the SNP. This lovelessness might have been explained by the mounting challenges that will face the incoming Scottish Government except … [Read more...] about What’s ‘good for Scotland’ in 2026 election?
Four poems in defiance of an uneasy spring
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
‘I don’t recognise my country’ – in crisis, but what crisis?
Charlie Ellis surveys the 2026 election landscape and finds, as in football, a strangely unpredictable shifting pitch'I Don't Recognise My Country'That was former footballer turned pundit Pat Nevin after St Mirren's late equaliser in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic. His words captured the mood of a Scottish football season that has been, as Richard Gordon … [Read more...] about ‘I don’t recognise my country’ – in crisis, but what crisis?
And the winner is…The Absent Voters Party
"Since 1999 of the roughly 4 million people registered to vote, those actually voting averaged out at around 2.2million. That’s a difference of 1.8 million – meet the Absent Voters." George Thorley makes the case for an active, participating democracy (on behalf of of The Mercat Group* of former Council CEOs/Parliamentary Returning Officers)* Register to vote by 20 April. … [Read more...] about And the winner is…The Absent Voters Party