What the Scottish Government should have been doing
As we hurtle towards Brexit, here’s my take on what the Scottish Government should have been doing since the referendum.
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?
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.
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.
The secret bits of the BBC
A reflection on the different perspective you got on the BBC website when you head to a foreign country.
A pub conversation
In which I might just have turned a random No voter in an Edinburgh pub into a don’t know…
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.
Do you fear the future? Well, try the present
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…
Scotland the enemy?
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.
My week on ScotVoices
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…
The nations of the UK: from resentment to respect
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.
A “no” by any other name
An attempt to critique the various early arguments from the No campaign, following their official launch.
Independence and Britishness
In which I argue that, far from being a threat to Britishness, Scottish independence could in fact strengthen and enhance Britishness. This article was later republished by National Collective.
Independence: the impact furth of Scotland
In which I ponder the potential implications beyond Scotland of Scottish independence.