Brexit Democracy Equality & Inclusion Feminism Human Rights Media Politics of Hate Poverty Privilege Racism Scotland Scottish Greens Tory Party Trans Rights Val Waldron

Raging Not Hating by Val Waldron

No-one deserves or asks for violent death because someone else thinks you don’t deserve to live. If that were the case there would be a death penalty for women who walk home alone at night or for daring to pack up your family and meagre belongings and set out across the channel in a dinghy […]

Crime Equality & Inclusion Feminism Privilege Trans Rights Ungagged Writing Val Waldron

When Will It End by Val Waldron

“It’s toxic masculinity. Male entitlement. Men and boys in a sweetie shop, helping themselves, and yet they’re ragin’.  If you’re still thinking “Not All Men!” you are part of the problem.” I needed a news blackout. Waking in the mornings and searching for that elusive cause to my existential angst, the images of a medieval-style […]

Brexit Coronavirus Corruption Education European Union Human Rights International Media Privilege

The Politicization of The Vaccine

“We can only hope for the success of outreach global projects, against the backdrop of increasingly isolationist countries, like the UK. Anything other than full global vaccination, along with other and ongoing measures to suppress the virus is pointless.” We approached December 2020 with UK wide trepidation, already sea-sick from the swell of tiers and […]

Black Lives Matter Brexit Campaigns Conspiracy Theories Corruption Crime Democracy Fascism Human Rights International Left Politics Politics of Hate Privilege Scottish Independence

The One With the Nazis

There are strong hints from the events that we’ve just witnessed, that those among us who are loose lipped about Unilateral Declaration of Independence, and rigged referendums should sit back and consider democracy for a bit, or if not, have a look at the ultimate might of the state. For the Yes movement, the conclusion […]

Campaigns Coronavirus Corruption Democracy Equality & Inclusion Industry Left Politics Privilege Scotland Scottish Independence Trade Unions

Reinstate Richie Venton

I just woke up this morning to this article.  My friend Richie Venton, a superb union representative for the union USDAW, and IKEA worker, has been sacked. During lockdown, I phoned Richie about an issue a family member was going through in her work. He didn’t have to give me advice – Richie was representing […]

Black Lives Matter Brexit Campaigns Democracy Education Fascism Feminism Poverty Privilege Scottish Independence Ungagged Writing

What is Happening to the The 45G%?

I think it is a dangerous sign of our times that conspiracy theory is becoming increasingly prevalent on our Scottish social media, than actual, solid material fact. Ungagged asked me for my opinion on the state of Scottish politics. I am really not that qualified to do so. I am old, I suppose and I […]

Coronavirus Equality & Inclusion Feminism Health Left Politics LGBTQIAP+ Privilege Scotland Social Media

It is not feminism as we know or understand it. Yet it is obviously something, it exists.

During the Scottish Government Coronavirus press conference on Tuesday 31st March, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced an additional £1.5 million in funding to Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland to enable them to deal with the reported increase in domestic abuse and sexual violence that is an additional concern during the Covid 19 social distancing […]