Honest, competent, transparent, safe… these are just some of the words I would never use to describe John Swinney. Although first minister by default, he is a failure. The loyal consigliere – his role now seems to be a reprise his last stint as SNP leader and take the fall for the next electoral defeat.Continue reading “Honest John?”
Tag Archives: Scottish independence
Send In The Clowns
“Scotland: the only country in the world where the artists conspire with the government against the people.” Stephen Daisley Who took the satire out of the Saltire? The following article will delve into the Scottish Comedy scene and its relationship with politics. Looking back to comedy in Scotland before the Nationalists came to power: whenContinue reading “Send In The Clowns”
Creative Writing
The debate surrounding the economic future of an independent Scotland is complex and fraught with uncertainty. Nationalists propose a path that is both difficult and unprecedented, suggesting that Scotland could either use Sterling unofficially or separate its integrated modern economy from mechanisms such as quantitative easing and control of monetary policy. Critics, such as JohnContinue reading “Creative Writing”
Putting the Con in Constitution
A Constitution for an Independent Scotland: A Populist’s Dream or a Misuse of Public Funds? While the idea of a written constitution for an independent Scotland may seem appealing, the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) proposal is fraught with potential pitfalls, oversimplifications, and a lack of detail that raises serious questions about its feasibility and theContinue reading “Putting the Con in Constitution”
The Lady Doth Protest Too Much
The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2 In politics, the phrase “the lady doth protest too much, methinks” from Hamlet often rings true. This line, uttered by Queen Gertrude, suggests that an overabundance of denial or protestation can inadvertently reveal the truth. Politicians, in their quest to maintainContinue reading “The Lady Doth Protest Too Much”
Empire State
Scotland: Colony or Coloniser? “The primary aim of propaganda is, of course, to influence contemporary opinion, but those who rewrite history do probably believe with part of their minds that they are actually thrusting facts into the past.” Notes on Nationalism – George Orwell It’s sadly become a nationalist trope to claim Scotland is aContinue reading “Empire State”
The Wrong Good Friday
The Good Friday Agreement is not Justification for the SNP’s Unilateral De Facto Referendum demands The pub in the film the long good Friday is called “The ‘Lion and Unicorn’ – representing the standards of England and Scotland as united on the banner of James VI of Scotland when he became James I of EnglandContinue reading “The Wrong Good Friday”
The Politics of Parchment
The Scottish and American reactions to school shootings have been worlds apart. The Dunblane Massacre shocked, shamed and scared Scotland: on 13th March 1996, Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 pupils and one teacher and injured 15 others before killing himself. The almost immediate reaction by the Government in Westminster was a UK-wide tightening of gunContinue reading “The Politics of Parchment”
The Populist's Playbook 