With the dust settled on another GERS bun fight, what next? For the uninitiated, GERS is the annual ‘Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland’ publication by the Scottish Government. This year it has figures up to 2024-25. In effect, it tells us what Scotland’s fiscal balance - government revenues less public expenditure - is under current constitutional conditions. And at … [Read more...] about Independence, GERS and how not to have a debate
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Ten years on: the story behind a front-page pic
Last week was the tenth anniversary of the referendum on Scottish independence and I noticed some people sharing the front page of the Herald from the day of the vote, September 18, 2014, on social media. It featured a photo of a man on a mountain - which my husband Rob took. We have a framed copy on the wall and often tell the story of how it came to be there. We are very … [Read more...] about Ten years on: the story behind a front-page pic
Ten years after: the enduring case for indy in Europe
Ten years after the 2014 referendum and Scotland is outside the EU alongside the rest of the UK. The threats in 2014 that an independent Scotland would find it difficult or impossible to rejoin the EU after independence, never valid, are now ironic indeed and have been so since the 2016 Brexit vote. Arguments over an independent Scotland joining the EU as a member state have … [Read more...] about Ten years after: the enduring case for indy in Europe
Bias, politics and the need for serious debate on independence
Things are looking up for independence when the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, says: ‘The government will always give full and equal respect to constitutional nationalism and the desire for an independent Scotland, pursued through peaceful and democratic means.’ Except, of course, he didn’t – he was talking about a united Ireland. Meanwhile, in Scotland, we learn, apparently … [Read more...] about Bias, politics and the need for serious debate on independence
Labour needs a thumping majority at Rutherglen to win big in the UK
More than three years after the COVID law-breaking that cost the SNP’s Margaret Ferrier her job as MP, voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West will be summoned to the polls on October 5 for a byelection to choose her successor. Why is Labour’s Michael Shanks very widely expected to win? And what would a Labour gain here mean? The first thing to say is that this is one … [Read more...] about Labour needs a thumping majority at Rutherglen to win big in the UK