“As the necessity of extending the eviction ban grows ever more obvious, we must remember: Your landlord is not your friend. They are not your genial host. They sustain themselves by leeching from you all they can get, in exchange for which they occasionally send someone round to fix the boiler.”
Patrick Harvie
“A mooted SNP-Green pact has inspired some profoundly weird reactions, and it’s worth asking what they are supposed to achieve.”
Sean Bell: Who’s afraid of the Scottish Greens?
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.
Source Direct: Coalition? The Dog That Didn’t Bark – Then Did
“Kenmure Street was a stunningly successful example of solidarity and nonviolent resistance. We should not be surprised if the authorities’ next moves attempt to make both of these untenable.”
Sean Bell: The aftermath of Kenmure Street leaves challenges for us all
Sturgeon remains intent on governing as before, appeasing the Left with low-cost cultural liberalism, appeasing the right with low taxes and by perpetuating wealth and privilege intact.
Source Direct: Non-Coalition of Chaos
“Independence supporters face the prospect of explaining and reaffirming the expanded mandate for they have won. Many will not look forward to beating their head against this particular brick wall once again, as the unionist counter-argument will only become more shrill, obstinate and unconcerned with democracy the more they are put on the defensive.”
Sean Bell: After the election, what comes next?
“Tomorrow’s Holyrood election – for which more than 4.2 million people have registered to vote, the highest number yet recorded – has arguably frustrated Scotland’s politicians at least as much as the public on whom their futures depend.”
Sean Bell: What kind of election campaign has it been?
With Alba likely to be a sideshow at best, the Greens could move front and centre. If that means coalition, the question will be, have they really thought it through?
Source Direct Election Profile: the Scottish Greens
“If university authorities and other landlords are so complacent as to think that they can get away with it, we can only conclude it is because the Scottish Government has given them no reason to think otherwise.”
Sean Bell: The rent crisis facing students shows that society owes them more
“To give up on libraries in Govanhill, Langside, Pollokshields or anywhere else would sacrifice not just access to books and services, but the idea that their communities deserve them at all.”