Beyond Tribal Politics
Independent journalism and commentary on politics, society, culture, climate and Scotland’s future.
At £167bn Trident is useless – and could destroy hundreds of frigate jobs
Scottish Labour will debate and, most likely, denounce Trident at its “crunch” annual conference in Perth this weekend. Costs have soared to…
Missed chance to break up big banks
The Competition Commission has missed a trick with its refusal to countenance a break-up of big banks despite powerful evidence of the…
Brussels and the Left’s delusionary Brexit strategy
Parts of the British Left are openly flirting with campaigning to quit the EU. The SNP is planning its own “upbeat” campaign…
Has tide turned for women’s representation in Scotland?
Women lead the three biggest political parties in Scotland and the first minister is a woman presiding over a gender-balanced cabinet. But…
Bringing Britain together: time to re-address shared interests
Cross-border urban policy, transport, health and industry are just four areas where Scotland the UK should work together in a new “post-unionist”…
Angus Deaton: ‘brilliant’ Scots Nobel-winning economist
Edinburgh-born economist Angus Deaton has won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Economics for his work on consumption, poverty and welfare: a fellow…
Holyrood misses boat on democratic renewal
As the ruling SNP uses its parliamentary majority to limit scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s activities, Holyrood’s presiding officer is stepping down…
When public is personal
Light shines through the banner so that you have to stand back and take time to read the words printed in white.…
Taking a share in Scotland’s solar future
Solar firms are under severe pressure with two solar panel firms going out of business in as many days with hundreds of…
Don’t shoot the messenger: violence and language
“If you want peace then you have to be prepared to step into the line of fire and fight for it”: Loki…
That £350m Anglian Water contract: what lies behind it
The Scottish Government has finally (see Lucy Hunter Blackburn here) decided to award a £350m contract to run aspects of the provision…
