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 […]
Author: 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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
‘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 […]
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 […]
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, […]