News & Analysis – Page 8

Exam results fiasco exposes capitalism’s ‘drive for failure’

Exam grading debacles in Scotland and today’s A-level results have provoked a backlash amongst students, teachers and parents. The current system is failing young people, depriving them of their future. We need to fight for change.
by Chris Herriot, De Montfort University UCU

ScotGov Forced into U-Turn on SQA Results

After a backlash from school students and opposition politicians, Education Secretary John Swinney has announced that thousands will have their grades increased.
by Shaun Morris

NHS workers say “Enough is Enough!”

Approximately 500 nurses, healthcare workers and trade unionists gathered by the McLennan arch in Glasgow Green for the #NursesSayNo demonstration this Saturday (8th August).

SQA results scandal: Capitalism means inequality

The “moderation” of exam grades allocated by the SQA leads to anger as schools in poorer areas have their results disproportionately downgraded.
by Finlay Stevenson

Pandemic, Prejudice and Poverty: A Marxist Solution

Six months ago when we entered this new decade, nobody could have predicted that we’d be being propelled into the second half of 2020 by a worldwide mass #blacklivesmatter movement under the restrictions of the most global and paralysing lockdown in history. It would be foolish to attempt any accurate predictions of exactly what the rest of the year has in store for us, but what we can say for certain is that this period of instability has only just begun.

SNP Side with Tories to Block Support for Tenants

By Phil Martin, IMT Edinburgh

MSPs belonging to the Scottish National Party teamed up with the Tories in the Scottish Parliament at the end of May in order to vote against measures designed to protect tenants during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Members of the parliamentary COVID-19 committee were considering amendments to emergency legislation that were put forward by Scottish Labour and the Scottish Green Party.

Pandemic shows the Growth Commission is Dead. Fight for a Scottish Workers’ Republic

Almost six years have passed since the Scottish independence referendum, and over this time, the UK has been ruled by a perpetual Tory government. This stasis has led to a resurgence of the independence campaign. It is important to analyse what such an independent Scotland would look like in our current crisis.

Lockdown in The Eye of The Storm: Time to Prepare!

A trade unionist in Edinburgh recently commented on the new challenges of union organising, saying that in COVID times a few days are like several months. This is very apt. Whilst out in the streets things are eerily quiet, inside, in the houses and the key workplaces we’re going through a huge and irreversible change in consciousness.

Royal Mail Putting Profit before Health: Posties Fight Back

There is growing anger among postal workers regarding the lack of safety and infection control provisions within Royal Mail. In some places, postal workers have already staged walkouts, showing the bosses that they won’t be sacrificed for profit.

Highland “Isolation Holidays” for the rich shows the need for Land Nationalisation

While workers across the world are facing uncertain incomes or being forced into work by bosses with little regard to safety, workers in the Scottish Highlands are also facing another threat to their safety. There has been a huge influx of people into their remote communities, many paying for luxury ‘isolation holidays’ or returning to their second homes, putting what little services exist in these areas under enormous strain. This reflects a broader pattern of the ruling class viewing the Highlands as their playground, leaving locals with a lack of housing, poor economic opportunities and a severe lack of vital services.