Beyond Tribal Politics
Independent journalism and commentary on politics, society, culture, climate and Scotland’s future.
Too big to be local
The new UK government has made a commitment to devolution within England and to resetting the relationship with the devolved administrations in…
Who owns the news?
“We pay a licence fee and in return deserve a fearless and objective public broadcaster. That may at last change the gloomy…
Seven questions on the Council of the Nations and Regions
Keir Starmer is due to chair the inaugural meeting of the UK government’s newly created ‘Council of the Nations and Regions’ in…
How to fix the Scottish cultural funding crisis?
“Budgets across the creative industries have been decimated by the state of the economy. Micro businesses and creative industries freelancers have borne…
Let’s reverse the decline in Scottish journalism
“This not just about how we understand foreign affairs and how we tackle misinformation, but about basic democracy functioning in Scotland. Hopefully MSPs…
Eurosclerosis makes an unwelcome return
“Mario Draghi, former central banker turned technocratic premier, is warning the EU of a “slow agony” if it fails to invest in…
EU climate challenges – and politics
“European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has unveiled her new team for the next five years. But are the climate and…
Ten years on: the story behind a front-page pic
“The British government – whether Conservative or Labour – has decided to veto another independence referendum for Scotland. I think in the…
Ten years after: the enduring case for indy in Europe
“The EU and independence debate have been inevitably intertwined in the last ten years since the independence referendum. The case for independence…
How to garden in a changing climate?
How do we meet the needs of birds, bees and butterflies when storms blow the blossom off our wild fruit trees and…
The SNP must get serious on tax
“So where do things go from here? Blaming Westminster, finger-pointing at Labour and shouting “wiznae us!” will not suffice. Not now, and…
Budgets, ideas and lethargy in the Scottish Government
“Questions like – are free tuition fees a better use of money than directing it towards reducing child poverty? – remain unaddressed.…