Missing the point on Brexit
Do you think that Brexit is a cautionary tale for trying to make Scottish independence? Not surprisingly, I disagree. Here’s why.
Brexit like it’s 1999
One of the big strands of my political geekery is a fondness for obscure party political broadcasts (PPBs). We’re lucky in this country that – unlike the USA – you can’t buy television airtime if you’re a political party. All parties get is the occasional PPB allocated to them, with quite a few more during…
My United Kingdom
In the final post in a trilogy on Scottish politics, I imagine what the UK would have to look like for me to vote to remain in it.
Make The Best Of It
In the second of a three-part blog post series, I imagine a “blue skies thinking” political game called “Make The Best of It”. Fancy trying it out?
The Awful-Brilliant Game
In the first in a trio of posts on Scottish politics, I imagine playing a game called The Awful-Brilliant Game with Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader. You can play too.
Nationalism
A reflection on nationalism, and the dangers for Scottish politics of lumping all types of nationalism under the one definition.
Pressing concerns
A reflection, in the light of press behaviour following the Manchester bombing, on “death knocking”, standards in our press and what we can do to make our newspapers better.
Brexit, the EU and Scottish independence
A look at some of the myths around Scotland and the EU, in the light of the forthcoming second independence referendum.
Here we go again
With Scottish independence rearing its head once more, it’s time to wearily address the question that won’t go away – is the movement for independence racist?
A proportional response
In which I argue that the Single Transferable Vote for elections to the House of Commons is both the one thing that could transform the UK and, through its political impossibility, the one thing that renders the UK unreformable.
What can I do?
A reflection on what I, as an ordinary individual, can do when so many politically horrible things are happening. Warning: this is a long read.
Why (almost) everything is the Labour Party’s fault, and (almost) certainly not Jeremy Corbyn’s
A post on why I feel that the Labour Party is missing the point – and harming the country – in falling out over Jeremy Corbyn. Its problems are, I believe, much, much bigger.
I hate the EU
In which I share my rambling and angry thoughts on the EU referendum.
My 2016 vote
In which I declare my hand for the Scottish Parliament elections next month (spoiler: constituency vote SNP, list vote Green. There, I’ve saved you the effort of reading the whole post).
We said No
My final blog post on the 2014 independence referendum, in which I’m reduced to quoting science fiction.
It’s not about you… but it could be
In which I write an open letter to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and tell them that the independence referendum isn’t about them… but it could be.
A horrible time to be in Scotland
In which a seemingly innocuous tweet suddenly helps me understand what the No campaign in the independence referendum has been about all this time. Sorry, I’ve probably been a bit slow.
Foreigners 2
In which I go on another rant about foreigners. Well, not a rant about foreigners, but a rant about indyref No campaigners making xenophobic remarks.
A second referendum
The Scottish Government and Yes Scotland have made great efforts during the independence referendum debate to stress that this referendum is a “once in a generation” opportunity. They’re wrong: if we vote No there’ll be another within a decade. Here’s why.
Definitely, not maybe
In which I attempt to identify those reasons for independence that are not just highly likely and probable because of policy priorities, but utterly unarguable merely by virtue of independence happening. Add your own ideas.