Regardless of whether the lab leak thesis is remotely plausible, the liberal moral panic about Trump clearly had a chilling effect not just on public debate, but also on research agendas.
Analysis
It’s endlessly frustrating when constitutional division works to reproduce the status quo. All the more galling when the benefits accrue to such a dubious bunch. Clearly, we need some mechanism to break the vicious cycle.
Source Direct: Is Scottish Home Rule the Answer?
“Intense religious nationalism, chauvinistic violence, and law-bounded racial particularism have completely destroyed the carefully cultivated image of a secular, progressive Israel.”
Analysis: The rise of the Israeli far right poses new problems for western allies
Since we don’t live in an ideal world, foreign aid must suffice as compensation for the UK’s larceny overseas. Yet even these meagre reimbursements have been cut to the bone
Source Direct: Banned Aid
The ultimate problem is an irrational economic system that refuses to harness itself to any ends but profit. But a significant secondary factor is deficient political leadership.
Source Direct: A Planet Drowning in Greenwash
“Enforcing higher employment standards is yet another area where the Scottish Government has more freedom than it cares to admit.”
Analysis: Failures of ‘fair work’ expose the limits of government pleading with business
There is a thread linking criticisms about financial transparency with Biagi’s resignation. Both centre on claims that the SNP is not making preparations for a referendum this term.
Source Direct: Something Rotten?
“The substantive issues about the way older people were discharged from hospital last year are not about legal processes at all – they are about whether appropriate measures were taken to protect vulnerable older peoples’ lives in the face of the unfolding pandemic.”
Nick Kempe: Lessons from the hospital discharge to care homes scandal?
In the best Twitter tradition, Spear’s sentiments were unnuanced, unhelpful and uninformed. But, just for one second, let’s lighten up and admit what we all know: the UK is annoying.
Source Direct: Spear Fishing
From the SNP’s perspective, there are clear advantages. This buys Sturgeon (a politician broadly in the centrist tradition) oodles of left cover at low cost. Questions thus centre on the Greens.