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 […]

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 […]

Campaigns Conspiracy Theories Corruption Democracy Elections Equality & Inclusion LGBTQIAP+ Politics of Hate Scottish Independence SNP Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

A Stiff Kicking into the Long Grass by Val Waldron

Voters for Forbes or Regan were aware that GRR would be kicked into the long grass, serving as precedent for a power grab at any piece of legislation deemed unpopular    I never found it particularly difficult to understand why the Red Wall had fallen to the Tories in 2019. We’ve been living under the […]

Conspiracy Theories Fascism Feminism Holyrood Election 2021 Human Rights Left Politics Media Political Parties Scottish Independence Trans Rights Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

The Grass was Greener by Val Waldron

As for the grass roots, we pull out the tough old weeds and start again. Pick up our movement from where it left off. It’s already happening along the lines of single issues when it comes to protest against buffer zones, GRR threat, climate change, visiting fascists, immigration raids. No need to carry a saltire […]

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 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 […]