Across the planet we are going through a shared experience like no other. But, for some people it’s been very different and for those where the economy wasn’t working for them before have suffered even more. Women, ethnic minorities, precarious workers. Inequality causes deaths, Covid-19 has made this worse. Poor housing, cold, damp and overcrowded. […]
Category: political
Scottish Government Programme for Government
The Scottish Government recently announced their Programme of Government for the coming year. Its decision to focus on green jobs was welcome, given the pressing need to tackle the twin economic and climate crises. The employment and economic impact from coronavirus is worsening every day so we must see concrete steps in the coming months […]
Deposit Return Scheme
Scotland is due to start a deposit return scheme in the next few years for all glass bottles and soft drinks cans. The idea is that you will pay an extra 20p for a soft drink at your local newsagent, corner shop, take away, supermarket etc. When you’ve finished you take it back to the […]
‘Normal’ has failed vulnerable people
For the world’s most vulnerable people the last thing they need is to get back to normal. The current pandemic has exposed the fragility of farming and food systems around the world. Farming wasn’t working before now, millions of smallholder farmers are struggling to survive. For some of the farmers they actually go hungry everyday […]
Change and Transition
It’s time to move beyond economic growth when assessing economic progress. It has outlived its usefulness. We need to re-balance social, ecological and economic values. We need to promote broad welfare and inclusion instead. We are in a deep recession right now, our health systems have been tested and our governments are having huge control […]
Much ado about nothing
What’s getting my goat today is all those stupid politician’s in Westminster complaining that the UK Parliament is going to be suspended for a month then there will be a Queen’s Speech when they get back. They state this is undemocratic. What they are forgetting in their false ire is that Parliament is normally suspended […]
A Citizen’s Assembly
The Scottish Government have recently announced (https://www.citizensassembly.scot/) they will arrange to conduct a “citizen’s assembly” to discuss the future of Scotland. Scottish Liberal Democrats party leader has indicated he will not participate in this exercise as they believe it is just a “whitewash” with the results being ignored if it says in it’s not in […]
UK and the EU
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is due to leave the European Union at 11pm on 29th March 2019. That’s what the law says. So why do those people advocating extending Article 50 or revoking it, not mention that to do so means changing the law!
Our Rights are Under Threat
The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union but, our rights are under threat. They said “take back control” but the government is using this to strengthen the powers of the state not, you and I. One the UK leaves the government will suddenly gain vast new powers to change the laws that protect our […]
What is all the fuss about?
This is a series of tweets from BBC’s Katya Adler within the last 2 hours today that explain some of the things currently being ignored in the UK. I post without comment. 1) Again and again I’m struck by the chasm in thinking between leading MP’s on #Brexit and the viewpoint of EU leaders – […]