Society
GERS and what it tells us about the de-prioritisation of health spending in Scotland
“At face value, this does seem like another area where the Scottish Government is not being adequately held to account for its decisions. Doing so might throw up some difficult questions but at least there…
Should the Scottish Government fund public interest journalism?
“Don’t get me wrong – the journalists employed by these papers still work hard and do a pretty good job. I would still recommend reading a newspaper over not reading one. But we need to…
Balgy Gap and the missing loop in the grid
The privatisation of Scotland’s power has proved a failure, argues Jackie Kemp, citing the 60-year failure to provide power to a part of the Highlands
Snobbery at Edinburgh Uni: what a surprise!
“Scottish students at Scottish universities pay no tuition fees! It’s great! The Scottish Government pays them! Except of course, the Scottish Government DOESN’T pay anything like the real amount per head, leaving universities like Edinburgh…
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 and ministers understand that though journalists can be a pain in the arse…
The paradox of Scotland’s ‘Gold Coast’
“Saving the Highland’s rural schools, and with them the traditions and future of the communities they serve, will take joined-up thinking and a strong and determined approach to regulation of the housing market.”
Lies, damn lies and education stats
“For the Scottish government to claim that this supersedes PISA – as they do in their statement today – is either disingenuous or evidence of dismaying statistical ignorance.” (Prof Lindsay Paterson)
Lost opportunities to last a lifetime 1
“We can sum all this up by concluding that current Scottish policy is not working, whereas current policy in England – whatever its faults – seems to have had some positive effects on attainment when…
Lost opportunities in Scottish education 2: lack of leadership
“Bringing forward new proposals to improve literacy and numeracy, in response to the PISA results, may produce some improvement, but there are deeper, systemic problems that require to be addressed. Are politicians, administrators and senior…
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. And yet, the police are extremely hostile to reform…” – and riddled with…
Sunshine on Rachel House
Fund-raising is a constant fact of life for a charity providing high quality, multi-disciplinary “life and death affirming” care for a growing number of children and families facing the reality of life with life-shortening conditions. …
