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Sceptical Scot

Asking Questions. Seeking Answers.

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Longer reads

What are Scotland’s real choices?

February 27, 2022 by Andrew Cumbers Sheila Dow and Robert McMaster Leave a Comment

‘Clearly the political and institutional landscape has changed dramatically since 2014. One inescapable fact about any future debate on the economic case for Scottish independence is that the terrain – by which we mean the political, economic, social and cultural context – has shifted significantly.’

How the first African American doctor fought for women’s rights in Glasgow

October 12, 2021 by Matthew Daniel Eddy 1 Comment

“McCune Smith’s activism showed aspiring African Americans that becoming a professional black physician could be more than simply treating patients. For him, being an expert in medical science also included using his training to fight injustice and inequality.”

An unsustainable paradox

June 13, 2021 by Ciaran Martin 1 Comment

‘So, whilst the rhetoric may have softened, the constitutional paradox remains. Scotland can leave if it has a lawful vote to do so, but there is no way of having a lawful vote. For now, anyway. And there is no plan to have a plan.’

Letter to indy Scotland’s first finance minister

April 11, 2021 by David Bell 2 Comments

“And even though, with Scotland as an independent country, your policy options would be much greater, you have to be constantly aware of the trade-offs involved and the limitations on your power to influence the choices made by workers and by companies. You can at least take comfort from the fact that less prosperous nations with less well-developed institutions than Scotland manage these issues without the roof falling in.”

Is the BBC helping British democracy?

December 6, 2020 by Tony O'Donnell 5 Comments

The BBC was once among the UK’s most respected institutions but no more – and it faces fresh competition from new upstarts like Andrew Neil’s GB News and Murdoch’s UK News. Break-up or renewal ahead?

Time tae think again

November 28, 2020 by Laurie Macfarlane 2 Comments

‘Many in the Yes movement support independence because they believe it offers a path towards a more progressive future. But the vision outlined in the Growth Commission delivers the opposite: it is difficult to conceive of an economic settlement better designed to ensure that government policy serves the interests of international finance rather than its own citizens.’

GERS, COVID and Scottish independence

August 29, 2020 by John McLaren 2 Comments

“This lack of economic engagement by senior SNP Ministers remains a weakness for the independence message on the economy. Such a policy vacuum in a key area of the independence debate may be manageable when minds are focussed elsewhere but if a Second Referendum were to become a reality then it would soon turn into a significant weak point in the pro-independence argument.”

Binary choice and multi-party politics

August 16, 2020 by James Mitchell Leave a Comment

‘.Like the Bourbons, the Conservatives have learned nothing, and forgotten nothing.  But Labour are in danger of the same.  Time is running out for a reasonably well developed alternative option that might be included in a future referendum.  Not only would this enrich a stale debate but would allow Labour to escape the potentially lethal embrace of working with the Tories again.’

Scotland’s borders and independence

August 16, 2020 by Kirsty Hughes 9 Comments

‘The potential shorter and longer-term economic transition and structural change Scotland faces as an independent state within the EU, while rUK is outside post-Brexit, needs careful economic analysis and an understanding of likely costs and benefits. What it does not need is a studied looking away from the challenging economics of a Scotland-rUK border.’

The Ministry of Truth

June 14, 2020 by James Urquhart Leave a Comment

In his latest piece, senior statistician James Urquhart, investigates how the UK Government uses UK data to buttress policy decisions for England and asks: manipulation or malfeasance…

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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

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