Politics
Scottish democracy: role of citizens’ assembly?
Citizens’ Assemblies are fundamentally an innovative structure for engaging with the public that are characterised by two key features that differentiate them from our more well-established ways of involving the public in the work of…
We are not amused
‘The Queen will have been used to make a Conservative party political broadcast….” Why a Queen’s Speech now is an unnecessary sham.
Johnson’s toxic illegality
“We call on Mr Johnson urgently to set an example by ending his, and his colleagues’, populist and inappropriate rhetoric and to act from now on to defend, not undermine, our democratic institutions.”
Would you hand proroguing power to Labour’s hard left?
The recent procedural manoeuvres against Tom Watson should cause those who applauded the abnormal proroguing of parliament to pause for thought, argues: Rob Sharp
Looking back five years on….
‘In both camps, there are those who are closer to those in the other camp than the binary choice would suggest. The challenge five years on is to allow the richness of the debate that…
Beware Brits bringing gifts
Stuart ‘Wings over Scotland’ Campbell’s floated and controversial idea of setting up a pro-indy party for Holyrood 2021 is dissected here by a pro-Yes blogger – and by a political scientist…Tks to @jayceebrownbook for pointing…
Cheaper and more democratic than the Fringe
“Essentially, this is a democratisation of the arts that is most welcome.” Gordon Munro’s pick of exciting new work in Edinburgh Festival – at prices cheaper than Fringe shows.
The Union’s last premier?
‘Should Johnson stumble in any one of these minefields he will quickly find that his upbeat tone and soundbites about the ‘awesome foursome’ are far from enough to keep the union together’.
What are Citizens’ Assemblies good for?
‘…as good as citizens’ assemblies are, they are not a ‘silver bullet’ and politicians should consider carefully whether one is actually beneficial before committing to such a process in relation to a particular issue.’
Brexit: worst crisis for devo
The fact that a cross-party group of MPs has been able to coalesce around the reforms in our report … (underlines) the broad consensus that the time has come for the UK Government to take…
‘Children of the Devolution’: really?
‘What is missing is any dynamic between insider and outsider Scotland, or an understanding that politics is about power, contested ideas and different social constituencies.’
What now for Holyrood?
‘…whereas a Scottish Parliament within the UK can and has responded to Scottish priorities by forging its own path in many policy areas, from tuition fees to public health to land reform, there is little…