Climate & Environment Culture Wars Democracy Disability Rights Elections Human Rights Immigration Industry Israel-Gaza Labour Poverty Privilege Scotland Scottish Independence Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

Dreaming in Green by Val Waldron

Not a week goes by in Scottish politics when the decision to vote No in 2014 does not rear its ugly head. November 2023, the Scottish Broadcasting Company reports growing unrest south of the border. Massive crowds are gathering daily outside Westminster, demanding an end to Tory rule, following emergency legislation allowing the  General Election […]

The SNP team at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West count
Campaigns Local Elections Mhairi Hunter Scottish Independence Ungagged Writing

Independence and the Cost of Westminster Crisis

This Sunday SNP delegates will gather in Aberdeen to decide our strategy for the next Westminster election. We meet after a disastrous result at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, and I expect there will be some lively conversations! Social media has been awash with speculation about why the SNP lost so badly, but I […]

Campaigns Democracy Elections Left Politics Scottish Independence SNP Ungagged Writing

Indyref Anniversary

Only a referendum is going to fairly represent the people in terms of votes. Humza Yousaf has previously indicated his preference for building the movement until it’s impossible to ignore us. We don’t hold all the cards there though and nothing is guaranteed, so if a majority of seats at the next election is enough […]

Brian Finlay Holyrude Left Politics Neil Anderson Political Philosophy Scotland Scottish Independence Ungagged Podcasts Val Waldron

Holyrude Ungagged – Season 6 – Ep4

Neil Anderson @BikerNeil hosts with Val Waldron @scribblingval and Brian Finlay @WeeSociologist. This week’s topic starters; 1) Indy Ref 9th Anniversary & SNP conf motion, 2) Highest Scottish population ‘ever’! And Scots views on immigration, 3) Fergus Ewing MSP & SNP/SGP BHA – acronym heaven 🙂 4) Helix Park – Falkirk 10th Anniversary – Kelpies […]

Brexit Conspiracy Theories Culture Wars Democracy Elections Equality & Inclusion Fascism Left Politics Politics of Hate Scottish Independence SNP Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

Autoimmunity Within the Independence Movement

The obstacles to our independence are not all about media-led rabid unionism, or floating voters. We have a problem within the movement, something really toxic. It resembles a kind of auto-immune disease, a drive to eat away at the host and make barren the soil it depends on; the movement itself.  The dreaded anniversary of […]

Sam Hamad Scottish Independence SNP Ungagged Writing

I support the SNP, but it’s time for them to step up – Sam Hamad

Part of me hates this phoney populist bollocks, (see this https://www.thenational.scot/news/23727982.snp-members-urged-shape-strategy-pre-conference-meeting/)  not least because a significant section of the membership base of almost all political parties are moonhowlers. Go to a meeting if you don’t believe me. However, I think it’s a really simple issue. The starting point should be the truth. The SNP should […]