Spring 2023 could mark the start of a new journey for the Scottish people and its democratically elected organisations - the Scottish Parliament and Scottish local authorities. With Humza Yousaf now elected as leader of the SNP and also appointed as Scotland’s sixth First Minister (FM) could we anticipate the possibility of a new form of devolved government, one that … [Read more...] about A fresh start: time to make devo really work
Scottish Parliament
Editorial: More ambition, Scotland!
Wellbeing. Green New Deal. Just Transition. Circular Economy. Sustainable Growth. In just five months the Scottish people will be served this apple-pie policy menu when we elect a new parliament in Holyrood. By early May 2021 the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us after a year of loss and pain. Political parties will be offering us their "vision for the future." … [Read more...] about Editorial: More ambition, Scotland!
Testing times for Scottish Parliament
With much of Scotland in semi-lockdown, there’s no live entertainment for around four million of us. No theatres, no cinemas, no concert halls, no basement gigs. But there is Scottish Parliament TV Not a packed house – Covid requirements leave many chamber seats unfilled, and no-one in the public gallery. But nicely filmed, streamed live to your living room and (perhaps even … [Read more...] about Testing times for Scottish Parliament
Black history and future in Scotland
The Black Lives Matter movement reverberates in every country. How might it affect political life in Scotland now? We are facing arguably the most important election since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Yet in more than 20 years Scotland has produced no Black MSPs and very few representatives from Asian or other ethnic minorities. Local councils are no … [Read more...] about Black history and future in Scotland
“Westminster’s Man at Holyrood” ain’t going to cut it
“Whether it’s by coronation or a competition, it is up to the Scottish Conservative membership to decide,” said Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne of leadership-hopeful, Douglas Ross, on the day of Jackson Carlaw’s resignation. “I want to know what he’s committing to.” And yet five days later, and with little by way of commitments, Douglas Ross was made leader of the Scottish … [Read more...] about “Westminster’s Man at Holyrood” ain’t going to cut it