Beyond Tribal Politics
Independent journalism and commentary on politics, society, culture, climate and Scotland’s future.
Why BAME politicians are pushing harsh immigration policies
“The illegal migration bill comes just a year after Patel led the passage of the Nationality and Borders Act. Both policies are…
What’s the Orange Order’s future?
“I was at a talk the other week by the Orange Order Historian Dr David Hume. It is a measure of how…
Declaration of Arbroath: no political cherry-picking!
“…the declaration’s authors had little desire to see an Anglo-Scottish union centuries later, nor had a high opinion of popular sovereignty. Democracy…
Gulliver’s foot and art’s redemptive power
“One by one aspects of what the CFS did were closed down or were taken back under the aegis of the council.…
The rise and rise (?) of the SNP
“Labour took up the anti-centralising rhetoric originally coined by Unionists and turned it against the Thatcher government in the 1980s, portraying its…
Could we soon see a united Ireland?
“For the last few years, the British state has at least been able to pretend that a Labour government might come over…
Bracken: a Highland wedge issue
“The bracken is part of an ecosystem. There are shrews and voles and moles in there as well as millions of spiders…
Nanterre and the suburbs: the lid comes off
“Successive governments have used policing to control the population to prevent political turmoil, eroding the legitimacy of law enforcement along the way.…
Humza Yousaf’s cakeism on indy
The SNP leadership’s power-hoarding, lack of accountability and secrecy does not augur well for the kind of independent state they wanted to…
Time up for Scotland’s hereditary landowners?
“There are some areas where communities have been helped to buy the land they live on. But Scotland still has the most…
Conspiracy theories: no panic!
“What we see here is that rates of agreement haven’t fundamentally changed over time, apart for when it comes to climate change,…
Sturgeon arrested – and SNP ratings stay strong
“Voters still do not appear willing to desert an SNP that is mired in scandal, has lost its figurehead, and looks in…