Beyond Tribal Politics
Independent journalism and commentary on politics, society, culture, climate and Scotland’s future.
Elected mayors in Scotland – benefit or distraction?
Andy Burnham’s commitment to devolve powers based on “a new set of principles and rules for running the British state” promises more…
Farage versus Binface: what that tells us about Britain’s mood
“when voters are shouting at you, it’s bad. When they’re laughing at you, it’s over”. Count Binface received 9,455 votes – one…
GERS: your annual starter for an open-minded discussion?
GERS is a reasonable starting point for understanding the fiscal issues an independent Scotland would likely face on day 1 João Sousa
When Scotland had respect for a freer press
The 1970s produced some fine Scottish journalism. And journalists. Ray Perman’s piece on data centre mania has stirred other memories worth sharing…
Data centre mania: Scotland should learn from the past
How to control the new gold rush in Scotland? Ray Perman takes the long view of disruptive technology – history can point…
Can social care be fixed? Five experts react to the latest promise
Social care presents an even greater challenge than the NHS. It is more fragmented, operates with fewer resources, and levels of digital…
Burnham and the limiting politics of growth
While Andy Burnham sets out to cut the cost of living, John McLaren confronts reality: how political priorities obstruct meaningful growth. Not…
In Gaza football is more than the beautiful game
For these kids, it is so much more than the beautiful game – it’s connection, it’s joy, it’s release, and it’s just…
Why Norway plays more freely than Scotland
Norway didn’t win but getting to the quarter finals was a huge achievement for a country of just over 5 million people.…
Warnings are not enough. We are what we feel
The gap between knowing and doing is not a gap in our technical capability. It is a gap in human imagination.
A new government of bold reform. Or more psychodrama?
“He has an ambitious agenda and vastly more tools of government but he will need support from across the UK” James Mitchell
‘A great William Wallace risen in this man’
One commenter calls the attacker “a GodDamn hero.” Charlie Ellis analyses local online responses to the Edinburgh incident that made national news…