Fixing Broken Government, a latest report by Professor Jim Gallagher of Our Scottish Future will no doubt be dismissed by some as a partisan attack on the SNP Government. That would be a grave mistake. If the SNP hopes to govern Scotland after next May then this report will be essential reading. There are some senior SNP figures who will recognise the accuracy … [Read more...] about Enough campaigning. Is the next Scottish government prepared to govern?
SNP ‘Company Man’ can’t save the party he loves
John Swinney can be credited for stepping into the breach at challenging times for the SNP. He joined the SNP and became active aged 15 just after traumatic defeats for the SNP in 1979. The turmoil following the 1979 devolution referendum led to a general election in which the SNP lost nine of its eleven seats and its vote fell from 30% to 17%. His first election campaign … [Read more...] about SNP ‘Company Man’ can’t save the party he loves
Blind men and the elephant
‘A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point.’ These are the opening words to When Prophecy Fails, a classic social psychology study, first published in 1956. The authors infiltrated a movement that was led to believe that … [Read more...] about Blind men and the elephant
Starmer can’t afford to be cautious
Two fears should haunt Labour this coming year and how it responds will determine the size of its majority and its ability to govern effectively. Labour fears another defeat and this inclines it to be ultra-cautious. It should also fear having to govern an economy and society in need of bold action. Managing the competing demands of caution and boldness will be a major theme … [Read more...] about Starmer can’t afford to be cautious
Where are Orkney and Shetland?
Do Orcadians really want to become part of Norway? No, but Orkney Islands’ Council knows how to grab media attention by raising, provocatively, its ancient Nordic connections. The problem is that the Council’s leverage in dealings with Edinburgh and London is at its highest when Scotland’s constitutional status is top of the political news agenda. With the prospect of … [Read more...] about Where are Orkney and Shetland?