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 […]

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Anonymity and Tragedy: why telling stories of the asylum seeker is so important by Mhairi Hunter

We knew their names, their faces, their stories. That made us feel connected to them. And that’s a key difference with coverage of refugees, who usually remain a nameless and faceless mass to us.   There has been much commentary in the past few days about the difference in media/public perception of the Titan tragedy […]

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 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 […]