Campaigns Climate & Environment Corruption Culture Wars Democracy Fascism History Labour Left Politics Ungagged Writing USA Val Waldron

We Are Many, You Are Few by Val Waldron

 Starmer is either in denial, or too desperate to realise that the US could be his enemy, even while Trump gladly clutches his hastily thrown State Visit voucher, as an ape would a placatory banana. At least Macron is embracing the possibility of life without the US as an ally, while Starmer’s invisible friend, the […]

Brexit Campaigns Culture Wars Left Politics Scottish Independence SNP Val Waldron

What Do We Want, How Do We Want It?

 Opinion polls ask the wrong question, in an attempt to grade importance of issues, vying austerity, foreign affairs etc against independence. This approach fails to illustrate that a progressive independent Scotland, with all of our (suddenly recognised and exploited) resources could go some way towards addressing these issues. It’s hard to forego a little nostalgia […]

Campaigns Climate & Environment Corruption Culture Wars Democracy Equality & Inclusion International Labour Left Politics LGBTQIAP+ Political Parties Privilege Scottish Greens Scottish Independence SNP Social Media Tory Party Val Waldron

Entitlement

When will the penny drop that No-one is entitled to our votes, that we need politicians with an ear to the ground, not the right wing. When I think of the years 2013/14 I think of one of those Penny Pusher machines from amusement arcades, representative of voters and members tumbling like freed coins from […]

Culture Wars Human Rights Politics of Hate Trans Rights Ungagged Writing

A Charter for Transphobes by Damien Donnelly

What we know for sure is, with soaring hate crime rates, especially transphobic ones, across the western world fuelled by relentlessly negative press and a government in thrall to a vocal minority of ‘gender criticals,’ the real danger is not from treating trans people the way they wish to be treated. The conclusion of the […]

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 […]