I went to Strathclyde University in 1968 when I was 17. My mother worked in a bar and my dad was an engine driver. I grew up in a council house and I was the first in my extended family to go to university. I spent the first couple of years at uni never speaking in tutorials and was taken aback when I got a good mark for my first politics assignment. I never failed an essay or … [Read more...] about Being a woman writer/leader in Scotland – the imposter syndrome
Coronavirus, conspiracies and corrosion
I have never been interested in conspiracy theories but nowadays they are almost impossible to ignore. And not only on the internet. A neighbour recently brought up ‘the plandemic’ as we had a socially distant chat. The notion that Covid-19 is the result of dark forces intent on world domination is increasingly commonplace. In Germany, some senior Catholic clergy have issued a … [Read more...] about Coronavirus, conspiracies and corrosion
Boris Johnson: Covid-19 and the dark side of optimism
Since the prime minister was discharged from intensive care after his treatment for Covid-19, British newspapers, notably The Sunday Times, have carried critical articles arguing that the UK Government was too slow to deal with the pandemic. Instead of taking prompt action to ensure social distancing, outlaw mass events, or implement appropriate testing, the government wasted … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson: Covid-19 and the dark side of optimism
Caution: 5G ahead
Last week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made a big, bold announcement on 5G, the next generation of mobile internet (fifth generation cellular network technology).She committed Scotland to becoming a ‘5G leader,’ claiming that the country would benefit enormously from the ‘vast potential growth’ that 5G could unlock. An accompanying Scottish Government document ‘Forging … [Read more...] about Caution: 5G ahead
Scottish grassroots resistance gives reasons to be cheerful
Newspapers are notoriously dispiriting and today there are plenty of stories to provoke anxiety. A ‘no deal’ Brexit, climate change, Donald Trump…However, as a result of my own experience and what I’m reading in newspapers and social media I see heartening developments within Scotland. Not all of them are cheerful subjects in themselves, but they contain the seed of … [Read more...] about Scottish grassroots resistance gives reasons to be cheerful