For Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, politically and constitutionally, this is potentially important all round. Are we going to see much better, serious cooperation between the devolved governments and the UK/England’s prime minister? How will the mayors of England’s combined authorities fit in? Or is the mayors’ presence, politically, a clear downgrading of the three … [Read more...] about Seven questions on the Council of the Nations and Regions
EU climate challenges – and politics
How will the EU tackle the climate and biodiversity crises in the coming crucial years? Europe is the fastest-warming continent, globally, and its nature and biodiversity is in a state of serious decline. Yet, leading climate experts are warning the EU is likely to miss its own 55% target for emissions reductions by 2030 unless it rapidly steps up – possibly not even hitting … [Read more...] about EU climate challenges – and politics
Ten years after: the enduring case for indy in Europe
Ten years after the 2014 referendum and Scotland is outside the EU alongside the rest of the UK. The threats in 2014 that an independent Scotland would find it difficult or impossible to rejoin the EU after independence, never valid, are now ironic indeed and have been so since the 2016 Brexit vote. Arguments over an independent Scotland joining the EU as a member state have … [Read more...] about Ten years after: the enduring case for indy in Europe
Looking for political dynamism in UK/Scotland
Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have overseen and backed rapid charging of far-right rioters, a violent, vicious mob. And they’ve acknowledged these riots are driven by unacceptable racism. But there are wider questions about the language of politics and media around immigration and race, and the social media and political underpinnings of the far right. And there are questions … [Read more...] about Looking for political dynamism in UK/Scotland
The change election: UK and Scotland
On Friday, world leaders including Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen queued up to offer congratulations to Keir Starmer on his landslide Labour victory. But Hungary’s Viktor Orbán was, outrageously and provocatively, in Moscow meeting Vladimir Putin. His pretence at representing the EU was swiftly rejected by the actual president of the European Council, … [Read more...] about The change election: UK and Scotland