• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contribute
  • Contact

Sceptical Scot

Asking Questions. Seeking Answers.

You are here: Home / Archives for European Union

European Union

UK-wide constitutional reform is an unavoidable must

May 25, 2023 by Glyndwr Cennydd Jones Leave a Comment

“Intergovernmental relations across the UK should be redefined on a stronger, formal footing and codified in a new constitutional framework which enhances arrangements for self-government and secures mechanisms for effective isles-wide collaboration.”

Why Finland is the world’s happiest country

April 8, 2023 by Danny Dorling Leave a Comment

Memo to @scotgov: “So what can the people of a country do if they want to be happier? The most important thing is to elect governments that will ensure the country becomes more equal by income. After that, ensuring your social services – school, housing and healthcare – are efficient and equitable matters most.”

Scotland needs a new politics – and fresh policy options

March 17, 2023 by David Gow 2 Comments

As the SNP leadership campaign crawls to the finish post, time for a Big Debate on the political and socio-economic future in Scotland and the UK

SNP leadership election: what about indy in Europe?

March 8, 2023 by Dr Kirsty Hughes 3 Comments

“there is still time for the three candidates to set out a serious, substantive case on their perspective on independence, as well as on being First Minister…This substantive independence case should include an in-depth and sustained focus on what independence in the EU offers and how to get there. It’s time the SNP got serious on independence in the EU.”

Scotland’s currency options under independence

February 25, 2023 by Iain Hardie Leave a Comment

“The transition to full use of a S£ would take time, with high use of the UK£ within Scotland even once the S£ is established, whether at independence or soon after. In my view, it should start on day 1 of independence.”

Can Scotland enjoy a ‘velvet divorce’ from UK?

January 11, 2023 by Kieran Williams 3 Comments

Looking back on the Czech/Slovak divorce 30 years ago, a US political scientist sees no precedent: “The SNP might interpret a general election result as a mandate to leave, but unionist parties might see it otherwise and refuse to come to the table. Any push towards independence in the face of opposition from the U.K. government could lead to an impasse akin to that between Catalonia and the Spanish government.”

The SNP’s new fundamentalism

December 6, 2022 by James Mitchell 4 Comments

“The SNP has dug itself into a fundamentalist hole and will need a dramatic pragmatic turn to hope to take advantage of the changing political context.  Its best hope under its current fundamentalist leadership remains that the Tories win the next general election, opinion remains polarised and might finally shift decisively in favour of independence.”

A voluntary union with no exit?

November 25, 2022 by Dr Kirsty Hughes 11 Comments

“Scotland, the Supreme Court says, cannot have a referendum without Westminster’s approval. But what the SNP, and others, put in their election manifestos is up to them. We’re on a path to a quasi-referendum. And Scotland will have its say.” Kirsty Hughes on the political aftermath of THAT ruling. Where do we go from here?

The left must abandon high tax policies

October 25, 2022 by Guy Standing Leave a Comment

“The left should opt for an eco-fiscal policy, designed to dismantle rentier capitalism. It should accept that high progressive income tax is out of date. It should make clear that income and consumption taxes are mainly for public services and infrastructure, including transport, defence, housing, schools and other social needs. Beyond that, the aim should be to restructure fiscal policy as a means of common justice.”

Fantasy economics: alive and well on both sides of the border

October 8, 2022 by John McLaren 1 Comment

“Where Scotland differs (from the UK) the most is in its lack of engagement on economic issues. If this continues then the £1.5 billion (fiscal) shortfall will continue to grow and taxes will continue to rise to compensate. Surely no-one wants this but then why does no one take it seriously?” asks John McLaren in his latest acute commentary on the state of the Scottish economy.

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

About Sceptical Scot

Welcome to Sceptical Scot, Scotland’s premier non-tribal forum for passionate, informed debate. Sceptical Scot is for all who care about Scotland’s future, regardless of how they vote: for party, independence or union, EU or Brexit. We aim to provide an arena that is both broader and deeper than current online/print offers with a rich diet of well-researched, polemical, thought-provoking writing. Read more » about About Sceptical Scot

What’s new on Sceptical Scot

  • A fresh start: time to make devo really work May 28, 2023
  • UK-wide constitutional reform is an unavoidable must May 25, 2023
  • Scotland’s centres of power need reform: Part 2 (Holyrood) May 15, 2023
  • Scotland’s centres of power need reform: Part 1 (Westminster) May 14, 2023
  • Rewilding the Highlands: Glen Affric and Dundreggan point the way May 13, 2023
  • Plotting Scotland’s unsettled future May 11, 2023
  • Forget the tough talk and flag waving, Labour May 11, 2023
  • Will Scotland switch to Labour in a big way? May 9, 2023
  • The desire for change May 7, 2023
  • What’s going on at the SNP? April 22, 2023

The Sceptical Newsletter

The Sceptical Scot cartoon

Categories

  • Articles (669)
  • Blog (550)
  • Books & Poetry (26)
  • Brexit (210)
  • climate crisis (6)
  • climate crisis (29)
  • Covid19 (65)
  • Criminal justice (17)
  • Culture (307)
  • Devo20 (1)
  • Economics (191)
  • Economy (113)
  • Education (75)
  • Elections (189)
  • Energy (1)
  • Environment (68)
  • European Union (261)
  • Featured (42)
  • Federalism (20)
  • federalism (14)
  • Health (65)
  • History (72)
  • Housing (24)
  • Humour (11)
  • identity (16)
  • Independence (281)
  • Inequality (78)
  • International (37)
  • Ireland (8)
  • Ireland (6)
  • Local government (84)
  • Longer reads (74)
  • Media (11)
  • Podcast (3)
  • Poetry (72)
  • Policy (225)
  • Politics (352)
  • Polls and quizzes (1)
  • Reviews (24)
  • Social democracy (85)
  • Trump (10)
  • UK (352)
  • Uncategorized (6)

Sceptical Scot elsewhere

Facebook
Twitter

Footer

About Sceptical Scot

Since 2014 Sceptical Scot has offered a non-tribal forum for passionate, informed debate for all who care about Scotland’s future

Recommended

  • Bella Caledonia
  • Centre on Constitutional Change
  • The UK in a Changing Europe
  • Common Space
  • Gerry Hassan
  • Scottish Review
  • Social Europe
  • Think Scotland

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in