It has been an explosive couple of weeks at Holyrood, as Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond testify before a special parliamentary inquiry, pitting current and former SNP First Ministers against one another. Representing rival factions of the party’s upper echelons, the personal break between Sturgeon and Salmond over the latter’s inappropriate conduct has had deep political implications.
Continue reading Salmond vs Sturgeon: SNP crisis envelopes HolyroodTag: Scottish Government
Lockerbie 32 Years On: Imperialism, Framings and Cover-ups
Just before Christmas, outgoing US Attorney General Bill Barr announced additional charges relating to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988. This announcement is clearly politically motivated, and is symbolic of how the entire investigation has been focused on imperialist interests, rather than a genuine desire to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Continue reading Lockerbie 32 Years On: Imperialism, Framings and Cover-upsDundee City Council Backs Rotten Freeport Bid
Since September, discussions between Forth Ports, owner of the Port of Dundee, and Dundee City Council have progressed plans to establish a ‘freeport’ in the City.
Continue reading Dundee City Council Backs Rotten Freeport Bid
Rising Poverty Shames Capitalism
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published its annual Poverty in Scotland report on the current state of poverty levels in Scotland, and its findings make for dire reading. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, around a million people in Scotland were in poverty, “living precarious and insecure lives”. That breaks down as 230,000 children, 640,000 working age adults, and 150,000 pensioners.
Continue reading Rising Poverty Shames Capitalism
Social housing crisis is failure of pro-market policies
In any country that claims to care about the basic needs of its citizens, and where homelessness and precarious housing is on the rise, providing homes for people ought to be a priority of the Government. This is as true for the Scottish Government as it would be for any other, yet it consistently falls short on its promises.
Continue reading Social housing crisis is failure of pro-market policies
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
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
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.
Continue reading SNP Side with Tories to Block Support for Tenants
EIS-FELA Lecturers Win Pay Deal
A deal has been reached in the Scottish further education lecturers’ campaign for pay rises, after months of negotiations and several days of strike action. The EIS Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) recommended for its members to accept the latest offer from Colleges Scotland, the organisation representing Scottish colleges in the dispute. Results from the ballot show that 88% of members accepted the offer.
Strike Threats Pressure Holyrood Budget
By Marios Kalomenopoulos, IMT Edinburgh
The political situation in Scotland has been rather quiet, recently, however this superficial stability hides important changes that are developing below the surface. The unions response to the proposed budget from the SNP government is one such expression.
