Equality & Inclusion Fascism Feminism Human Rights LGBTQIAP+ Politics of Hate Scottish Independence Trans Rights Ungagged Writing

The Real Lie by Ungagged Guest

Any cis person who is still convinced that a Gender Recognition certificate would enable abusers, exploit children, fill women’s prisons with rapists, allow trans women to take all the sports medals and other ‘legit concerns’ should scroll on. Nothing will change your mind now. Let’s face it, you tuned out when you read ‘cis’ There […]

Brexit Conspiracy Theories Coronavirus Disability Rights Equality & Inclusion Health Mental Health NHS Poverty Scottish Independence Trans Rights Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

A Hill to Die On by Val Waldron

“The political and media exploitation of an under-resourced NHS and the scapegoating of our Health Secretary for political gain undermines the real need for cross party work towards progress. Let’s hope that the newly formed Long-Covid Inquiry group is well intentioned. We cannot afford to take our eye off the ball when it concerns the […]

Corruption Disarmament Poetry Privilege Tory Party Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

The War in Black and White by Val Waldron

I thought that wars were fought in black and white. That soldiers, sailors, airmen soared into victorious flight or landed on beaches handsome, intact and survived to marry a virgin sweetheart   Who knew how many lived and died waist high in blood, shit and mud, snatched moments of battle-weary sleep beside friends, sometimes just […]

Campaigns Disability Rights Equality & Inclusion Health Human Rights Left Politics Stephanie Melnick Ungagged Writing

Disability and the Left By Stephanie Melnick

To win disabled people over, the left needs to change the rhetoric. We cannot mirror the Right’s idea of “useless eaters”. If we truly want to create a better future, we need to find a way to make a world where everyone can live happily – including those who cannot work. A few weeks ago, […]

Brexit Campaigns Climate & Environment Democracy Elections Fascism Immigration Politics of Hate Scotland Scottish Independence Tory Party Trade Unions Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

As Close to Federalism As The Moon

If the federalism shills couldn’t see this coming, they really weren’t looking. This move essentially leaves Labour without even the pretence of argument for the reformable UK that we’ve been promised since 2014. We’re as close to federalism as we are to the moon, and thus concludes the centre ground arguments against independence.  Take time […]

Brexit Climate & Environment Conspiracy Theories Equality & Inclusion Fascism Human Rights Immigration Media Politics of Hate Scottish Independence Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

Bad Hair and Bad Faith by Val Waldron

Populism is all pervasive. It’s amusing…has bad hair and tin-foil hats. It has the Flat Earth Society, Covid Deniers and Chemtrails. It also radicalises people to think that transphobia is about women’s rights, that the pandemic is over, that vicious deportation policies are about targeting people smugglers, that the French and other foreigners are responsible […]

Brexit Conspiracy Theories Corruption Crime Democracy Equality & Inclusion Fascism Feminism Human Rights Immigration International LGBTQIAP+ Local Elections Media Politics of Hate Scotland Scottish Independence Trans Rights Ungagged Writing

Escape Routes by Val Waldron

We are finally getting to grips with the solid fact of the matter: 2014 cannot be repeated. We need to find another way, or ways to move forward towards independence. On the day of the full release of the Sue Gray report and of Nicola Sturgeon’s marking point as longest serving FM I’ve never been […]

Health Mental Health NHS Poverty Val Waldron

‘Take A Drink’ A review of Darren Loki McGarvey’s Addiction series. part 1 Alcohol by Val Waldron

A review of Darren Loki McGarvey’s Addiction series Part 1 Alcohol ‘Take A Drink’ ‘Take A Drink’ the encapsulation in three familiar words our shared history that runs through Scotland’s relationship with alcohol. We’re hooked immediately by the series introduction, which promises a broad spectrum look at addiction; food, drugs, gambling and alcohol. Somewhere along […]

Brexit Climate & Environment Conspiracy Theories Coronavirus Corruption Democracy Equality & Inclusion Fascism Feminism Holyrood Election 2021 Human Rights Immigration Left Politics Media Politics of Hate Poverty Privilege Racism Scotland Scottish Independence Tory Party Trans Rights Val Waldron

A Snapshot of 2021 by Val Waldron

‘Alexa give me a snapshot of 2021 without mentioning Covid’  Can I help? All of the events below were of course shot through with Covid, antivaxxers, restrictions, opposition and media undermining of the Scottish Government health message, oh, and big shouty businesses. It didn’t stop the world from turning though! In Search of Q We […]

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Supporting Survivors by Jo Edwards

CONTENT WARNING/TRIGGER WARNING – This piece discusses sexual assault and rape, MeToo, Sarah Everard, Harvey Weinstein and transphobia So, here we all are again, another round around the Earth, with only 12 days to the big day, most of us are preparing for another Covid Christmas and all that entails; making the best of it, […]