Beyond Tribal Politics
Independent journalism and commentary on politics, society, culture, climate and Scotland’s future.
Politics, poetry, imagination: a life of Shelley
In an age ever more obsessed with the importance of crafting effective political ‘stories’ and ‘narratives’, Jacqueline Mulhallen’s Percy Bysshe Shelley: Poet…
Head for the hills
By email, a breath of fresh air. Gordon Peters writes to say he has been climbing mountains, chumming a friend attempting his…
Could private discussions kill the Scotland Act?
The Secretary of State for Scotland wrote to me this week telling me about progress on the Scotland Bill. I don’t know…
Depression, delusion and disorder
One in four adults suffers from mental health problems in any given year; politicos talk of raising awareness and funding. In this…
Scunnered of Leith on new passport design
The new UK passport design is full of English images but not a single Scot is represented. A No voter is more…
Luddism in the age of Uber
The term Luddism is thrown around as a form of abuse against vested interests resistant to economic/technological change. But the real lesson…
Five amazing (unheard of?) women scientists
Women scientists, like women composers and those in other walks of life, tend to be ignored, forgotten, passed over…But many have reached…
The triumph of EVEL: an historic watershed
The Commons vote to approve EVEL is likely to be followed by other constitutional innovations in the UK and its constituent nations…
Constitutional generosity is only way forward
A year on from the referendum Scotland remains a deeply divided nation. A revised and expanded Scotland Bill giving the Scottish Government…
Power and identity in island communities
The Scottish Government is planning legislation to enshrine a “national islands plan” to empower island communities. But (some) Shetlanders say this doesn’t…
Scotland could save Cameron’s EU bacon
If England says No to the EU and Scotland votes Yes to Europe, so it goes, then #indyref2 and a revitalised “independence…
Why the BBC must reflect devolved Britain
The BBC has repeatedly missed the boat on devolution and remains far too London-centric. Its new and current affairs structures and output…