Left voices, unfiltered, unedited, Ungagged.
Labour for Independence – A Reply It is an interesting dichotomy within Scottish politics today. While we have a Nationalist leader not only holding back the tide by stalling on any future independence referendum, but also arguing the case for further multinational governance. At the same time the socialist leader of the Labour party has […]
I was devastated, but perhaps not really surprised, to hear of the closure of Dundee’s largest industrial employment base – Michelin – a couple of weeks ago. Last month I wrote about how the 2008 financial crash signalled just how broken our economy is. The Michelin closure is perhaps the most recent example, close to […]
“Ye’ve goat tae be kidding!” So, in case you missed it, there was a bit of a rammy, excuse the pun, when an American tv host and her husband visited a Scottish island to hunt. This might not seem that absurd considering the hundreds of shooting estates covering millions of acres of Scotland’s highlands and […]
The past few weeks have seen a recurrence on social media of conspiracy theories suggesting the independence referendum was rigged. The fact that these continue to circulate four years after the event is worrying. In my view some Yes supporters will risk undermining the next independence referendum if they keep spreading false stories about the […]
Four years ago, today, reality collided into our very beings as we realised that despite all the canvassing, meetings and conversations, most Scottish voters had preferred to stay part of the United Kingdom than for Scotland to become an independent country. Despite the grief felt by many, there was a genuine optimism that a new […]
I’ve hesitated to write much about Brexit: there is so much uncertainty, so much chaos. But we on the left need to get ourselves organised, if we want to prevent this chaotic uncertainty from blighting our future for generations to come. I want us to work together to stop Brexit from happening. Scotland voted remain […]
Day 15 of Edinburgh Fringe and the mood has changed. 76% of performers are hungover and 39% of performers dreams have been crushed forever . Flyer guys and gals have lost interest mostly and nobody that I know has seen a show yet. Everyone just walks around handing out or accepting bits of cardboard. Everyone […]
“Brexit is yet another indication that Scottish self-determination within the British Union is meaningless”
Sam Hamad talks Brexit, Scottish Independence, the EU and ‘Norway style’ deals…
Ungagged asked me to write a piece around the latest row on women’s representation in the Yes movement. The story arose after Rhiannon Spear questioned whether any women would be asked to speak at a demonstration and has re-ignited the debate around “manels” – all male panels – and whether it is damaging to […]