We said No
My final blog post on the 2014 independence referendum, in which I’m reduced to quoting science fiction.
Comment and observation on the world of politics, or any local, national or world news.
My final blog post on the 2014 independence referendum, in which I’m reduced to quoting science fiction.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In which I might just have turned a random No voter in an Edinburgh pub into a don’t know…
In which I take on a couple of anti-independence articles, aimed at international audiences, that effectively insult all independent countries around the world.
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…
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,…
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.
In which I argue that the fears being expressed about independence – from welfare to defence capacity to the national debt – are already being manifested right now within the United Kingdom. Yet nobody seems to be arguing that the UK is unsustainable as an independent country…
In which I suggest that UK Government pronouncements on security and defence matters in an independent Scotland demonstrates a hostility that would be shameful if shown to any other UK neighbour or ally. I instead suggest four precedents that indicate that there will in fact be excellent cooperation in this area between Scotland and the rUK.
As I mentioned on my blog a few weeks ago, I did a recent spell as the tweeter on the ScotVoices account. That is, of course, one of many “national” Twitter accounts where someone from the country tweets about their life, their country, and indeed anything (within reason) they fancy. I’ve now had a couple…
In which I briefly summarise series 2 of Danish political drama Borgen – where it’s rather astonishing what a little independent country can get up to…
If you’re interested in the controversy over the Inverness West Link, since writing this post I have worked with others to set up the Save Canal Park campaign website. There’s plenty up to date information there. You may remember I wrote a few posts earlier last year on the topic of the Inverness West Link…
It’s a sometimes curious feeling, living in a city that doesn’t exist. You may think Inverness is a real place. There are “Welcome to Inverness” road signs on the main roads as you approach it. You can walk its streets, see its sights, feel the fresh breeze and be deafened by the squawk of seagulls.…
In which I try (in vain) to think of a single aspect of British identity besides the passport that would die upon Scottish independence.
In which I offer a few examples that show that Scotland’s place within the UK – and the debate around it – is actually harming the interests of the other nations of the UK and fuelling political resentment. We therefore need to move from a resentful relationship to a respectful one.
In which I reflect on some surprisingly insular and xenophobic language from supposed socialists, and wonder why some left-wing Unionists appear to have such a problem with foreigners.