Events during the referendum reminded us, if we needed to be reminded, of the merits of genuine parliamentary democracy and the dangers of plebiscites.An overall narrow majority to leave the EU was achieved on the basis of widespread lies and fantasies and a distribution of the vote that could only exacerbate existing divisions within the UK. As is well known, both … [Read more...] about Will Brexit destroy the UK?
GE2017
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Brexit
The two remain-voting areas of the UK face being hard-hit by Brexit.Brexit fears are different in several respects in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Most obviously, the peace process, the operation of the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, and the future of the Irish border are existential issues for Northern Ireland; there is no equivalent set of concerns in … [Read more...] about Scotland, Northern Ireland and Brexit
Scotland’s 16-17 year-olds enjoy democracy
In November 2017 the House of Commons debated a private members’ bill on reducing the UK voting age to 16.The quality of the debate, however, was disappointing and failed to engage with the range of research conducted recently on the topic. Many proponents brought normative points forward about young people’s engagement and the responsibilities they otherwise have. While … [Read more...] about Scotland’s 16-17 year-olds enjoy democracy
Scottish Labour and grassroots democracy
Voting has begun in the ninth ballot to elect a Scottish Labour Party leader since devolution in 1999 – and/or the sixth in a decade. The post is destined to be a permanent poisoned chalice, it would appear, yet both the 2017 candidates, Richard Leonard and Anwas Sarwar, insist they are offering a change of…leadership.Leadership – if I hear either candidate utter “I believe … [Read more...] about Scottish Labour and grassroots democracy
How Yes can remain relevant in the face of political exhaustion
Scotland frequently struggles to remind itself of certain basic facts about its politics. Such is the lot of a half-country: with its lack of a coherent public sphere and its truncated democratic life.Today, the all too readily forgotten truth about Scotland in 2017, now defining the current shape of political events, is democratic fatigue.Since the SNP won its shock … [Read more...] about How Yes can remain relevant in the face of political exhaustion