It’s tempting to ignore the Scottish Labour leadership election. Here will be two career politicians with milquetoast opinions fighting for the soul of a party that long ceased to matter in Scotland’s real power stakes.
independence movement
There is a rumbling debate about the timing of a proposed Scottish independence referendum, highlighted by remarks from Labour’s Keir Starmer and the SNP’s John Swinney.
Source Direct: One More Time
“Contrary to received wisdom, in many ways Sturgeon needs independence more than the independence movement needs her.”
The meaning of Freeman’s gaffe
No deus ex machina is coming to rescue the independence movement. We’re on our own. Thankfully, our movement represents an entire cast of actors waiting backstage for their cue. Perhaps now it may finally come.
Robin McAlpine: The divide over independence strategy is artificial – here’s how to get rid of it
“By putting energy into fighting in unison, this deeply unequal Union might yet die a peaceful death that enables each nation to rise from the ashes strengthened, able to shake off the soot of medieval power-hoarding and class conflict in favour of progressive, local democracy.”
The Pressure series: Forward – not in unity, but in solidarity
“There is no fundamental reason why the SNP can’t be the party it should be. There is no fundamental reason why the party democracy can’t still save the party.”
Robin McAlpine: This weekend, please turn up and save the SNP
“These calls for unity are easily tested for verity and unmask themselves in their refusal to engage in earnest with the substance of those issues causing the perceived disunity.”
Ellen Höfer: Calls for unity will not convince the independence movement unless they are accompanied by integrity
Two things are clear from the news this morning: a) there’s an election coming, and b) there’s an SNP annual conference soon. A flurry of indyref chatter always precedes these events, and this time is no different. Those of us who have seen this act play out time and time again can be forgiven for […]
The Brown and Blackford double act
“The means to bring about change and speed up progress here at home in Scotland are already available to each and everyone of us. It’s high time to remind ourselves what they are.”
The Pressure series: Applying pressure in Scotland
“This is not a game of who blinks first; it’s the reality of losing the moral high ground in any dispute in which you have to resort to shouting instead of well-reasoned arguments.”