Crime Education Equality & Inclusion Health Human Rights NHS Scotland

Scottish Drug Deaths – An Analysis

This week it was announced that 1,187 drug-related deaths were registered in Scotland in 2018, the largest number ever recorded. This caused a shockwave to run through Scottish politics, though it wasn’t such a shock to those on the front line who knew the figures would be terrible. But seeing anecdotal evidence of a spiralling […]

Brexit Left Politics Scotland Scottish Independence Westminster

Is UK Democracy about false promises… or promises fulfilled?

The argument for multiple referenda; “Democracy is not just an election, it is our daily life.” Tsai Ing-wen The political landscape has never been vaguer or indeed more frightening on this island. Watch the latest edition of Question Time to hear the audience boo comments suggesting that a mild mannered, pro equality gardener with a […]

Climate & Environment Democracy Elections Equality & Inclusion Human Rights International Left Politics Northern Ireland Scotland Scottish Independence

The Scottish Socialist Party 1999-2007: One Big Activist University…

Twenty years ago, the Scottish Parliament reconvened after 300 years. That election for me, was an election that showed that radical politics COULD make a difference as the Greens and the new Scottish Socialist Party made, what were at the time, surprising and ground shaking breakthroughs.   One idea, one seed of change germinated and broke […]

Climate & Environment Debra Torrance Fascism Human Rights Immigration Left Politics Privilege Racism Scotland Ungagged Podcasts

The Politicians are behaving like children – Pt1

https://ungagged.podbean.com/mf/play/8ahs9m/June_pod_pt1_Mixdown2.mp3 Available FREE  on iTunes and Podbean We have 5 pieces for you: From Liz Olson who talks about immigration in the UK and is titled “Goodbye you bigoted woman – The tears of Theresa May’s victims should get far more attention that her’s did”. Mhairi Hunter muses on Trump’s State Visit to the UK, Philip Hammond’s seeming […]

Campaigns Elections Scotland Westminster

What is a Section 30 order and why will we never get one again for a referendum?

The right to hold a referendum on Scottish independence is a reserved power under the Scotland Act 1998 so the Scottish Parliament has no power to put in place legislation to hold one. That power is reserved to the Westminster Parliament. Under the Edinburgh Agreement of the 15th of October 2012 the Westminster Parliament agreed […]