“As Humza Yousaf’s future as First Minister hangs in the balance, the more important question is what happens to the push for vital climate and biodiversity policies after the collapse of the Bute House Agreement.”
Can the EU rise to the democratic moment?
The European Parliament’s last plenary session, before the 6-9 June elections, is next week. Is the EU rising to the democratic moment in the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis, and given all the other challenges of our times? For now, the picture looks bleak, a short-sighted shift to the right in an attempt to minimise far-right gains. But replacing climate with security and far-right concerns will help no-one.
SNP, Labour and the general election
“Labour’s fiscal caution and policy U-turns, not least with Starmer dumping his £28bn green investment plan, have left the door wide open for a strong, broadly social-democratic challenge from the SNP to Labour’s policies at the general election…so why is the SNP being so cautious and over-focusing on the Tories?”
Options and challenges for Wales’s constitutional future
In her latest European Conversations podcast the author talks to a member of the independent commission on the constitutional future of Wales about its findings – and their relevance for Scotland
Gaza and the Westminster debacle
The debacle over the Gaza vote last week was shameful. But it also tells us a lot about the state of UK politics, the differences across the Tories, Labour and SNP, and the simplistic views of many London-based commentators both on foreign policy, on Gaza, and on the SNP. What it hasn’t done is help Gaza in any way or add to pressures for a ceasefire and for the UK government to change its position.
Green backlash: EU, farmers and the Far Right
“Farmers across much of the EU (and further afield) are protesting and demonstrating, including blocking roads and parts of cities. Many political leaders have rushed to appease them including, in the case of the European Commission, dropping or delaying key climate and biodiversity laws.”
Bias, politics and the need for serious debate on independence
“As Rishi Sunak says he respects constitutional nationalism in Northern Ireland, the same, of course, is not true for Scotland where the debate has sunk to silly levels in recent days. Are Scottish government officials biased towards independence? Did Nicola Sturgeon ever think about independence during the Covid pandemic? Our politics will be better, the more serious our level of debate is.”
Gaza: No words
No words can capture the scale of destruction, pain and misery in Gaza but the late Palestinian poet, Refaat Alareer, prompts Kirsty Hughes to reflect on our collective responses…
Paradiplomacy and independence in the EU: Quo Vadis Scotia?
“…can the SNP walk and chew gum at the same time? Surely, it makes most sense to focus on priority issues at home, whether in Holyrood or arguing the case at Westminster, and on the case for independence too (the substance not the process).”
Rewilding the Highlands: Glen Affric and Dundreggan point the way
Kirsty Hughes illustrates in text and images the challenges and hopes associated with rewilding the Highlands: “The rewilding journey is a long and vital one. With places like Dundreggan and Glen Affric showing the way, it can – and must – be a successful one.”