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.
A pub conversation
In which I might just have turned a random No voter in an Edinburgh pub into a don’t know…
An #indyref worldview
In which I take on a couple of anti-independence articles, aimed at international audiences, that effectively insult all independent countries around the world.
Skota sendependeco por komencantoj (parto 2)
Ĉi tiu estas la dua parto de enkonduko al skota sendependeco kaj la estonta referendumo, por Esperanto-parolantoj. Parto 1, pri la historio, estas ĉi tie. Parto 2, jene, temas pri la argumentoj de la du flankoj de la debato. Viaj komentoj kaj demandoj estos tre bonvenaj sube. Mi tre interesiĝus en la vidpunktoj de homoj…
Skota sendependeco por komencantoj (parto 1)
Mi ofte skribas pri skota politiko kaj la sendependeco-debato en Google+, kaj kutime en la angla. Mi konscias ke la plej granda parto de mia kontaktuloj en Google+ ne estas skotaj, sciias malmulton pri skota politiko, kaj ofte ne parolas la anglan bone, do mi miras ĉu tiaj afiŝoj estas kompreneble al ili. Antaŭ iutempe,…
Scottish v British – the false choice
In an article I originally wrote for National Collective, I argue that there will be no need to choose between Scottish and British identify after independence – just as there is no need to choose just now.