Nov 30: Greens call Holyrood out on strike
"Pick a side," urged the Green members of the Scottish Parliament, Patrick Harvie and Alison Johnstone, as they voted against parliament's regular business motion. The motion, put forward this afternoon…
Privatisation and the SNP
While Alex Salmond received a hero's welcome at the SNP conference in Inverness last weekend, controversy has been brewing back in Edinburgh. On Thursday, the City of Edinburgh Council –…
Food Revolt
Interest in local food has been booming in recent years, even through recession (while sales of organic and fair trade food can take a hit). That maybe tells us that…
The Scottish referendum – don’t write off a yes vote
There are three golden rules: It's not over till it's over; never get involved in a land war in Asia, and never, ever, write off Alex Salmond. At some point…
Would a new Scottish Tory party succeed? Not under Murdo Fraser
Murdo Fraser, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, has made headlines by proposing that his party split from the Tories in England. Like Bavaria's CSU, they would support the Tory…
Edinburgh University announces UK’s highest fees
"The advancement and dissemination of knowledge". This is why the University of Edinburgh exists. That is its mission statement. The university at which I studied has a proud history of…
Free Hetherington occupation ends: final statement
The Glasgow University Free Hetherington occupation was lifted as of midday today - 31st August 2011. Yesterday was its 212th, and final, day of enforcement. It was the longest running…
The Beaver – A Political Animal (Why you should give a dam.)
by Louise and Paul Ramsay In 1992 the Habitats’ Directive of the European Union recommended that member countries should consider the reintroduction of native species that had been extirpated from…
Save Our Services: East Edinburgh Edition
Sometimes, something happens that restores your faith in activism, and humanity in general. This week, I had one of those moments at a public meeting for Save Our Services East…
Assessing the Evidence on the ‘Community Right to Buy’
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act, passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2003, provoked both controversy and enthusiasm. Best known for creating Scotland’s ‘Right to Roam’, - the right to responsible…