Alienation: Jimmy Reid
Today, on the first anniversary of his death, we are pleased to re-print the address made by the great Scottish trade unionist and journalist Jimmy Reid on his election as…
Plaid’s new independence report
Plaid Cymru have today launched what they are reporting as ‘proof’ that Wales would not flounder under independence, but would soar. My sympathies for an independent Wales are a bit…
A Thousand Questions but Just One Issue
There is a single issue at the heart of the News Corp. scandal from which all others emanate, and that is the influence that the corporate world and the very,…
Citoyens, vouliez-vous une révolution sans révolution?
There were two 'Reigns of Terror', if we could but remember and consider it; the one wrought murder in hot passions, the other in heartless cold blood; the one lasted…
They’ve privatised our dreams
There is no such thing as apathy. To be apathetic is to refuse to care about yourself, your family and your community. People are not apathetic. They are alienated. They…
Some (Constructively) Critical Reflections on STUC Youth Conference
Last weekend I attended the STUC Youth Conference as a delegate from UCU. I'm told there hasn't been a delegate from my union in a while, in a sense that's…
A tribute to Brian Haw 1949-2011
Brian Haw, who has died aged 62, had the distinction of being one of the few people with a law dedicated to stopping his activities. His protest in Parliament Square…
A dog’s dinner?
In publishing his proposals for Lords Reform, our Deputy PM invited constructive criticism of the proposals. He didn’t get it. Rather, he got a chorus of abuse from both the…
Political Policing, or Business as Usual?
They persecute us. Yes, of course they do. We’re a threat to the system they represent. If we don’t want them to harass us, then we should just submit to…
Portobello and Leith team up to harness wind power
The recession that followed the banking collapse of 2008 has demonstrated the fragility of the funding that community groups have relied on to deliver services. Two groups - one in…