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It was a Thursday when I decided that I liked Johann Lamont. April 2002, to be precise. I remember because I was 16 and “The Hindu Times” was on the radio and I had stopped staring at Vicki Watson and turned my eye to Chris Mahoney. But my first love was politics. I was aContinueContinue reading “Labour doesn’t just need a new leader. It needs a new mission.”

“We don’t need another referendum. We need a fucking revolution. We’re on our way to one.” I was standing on the fringes of George Square, renamed “Freedom Square” for the day, eavesdropping on a conversation between two student-looking sorts who, like thousands of others, had come for the Hope over Fear rally. Hosted by formerContinueContinue reading “Hope Over Fear rally: What I saw on the way to the revolution”

For a man getting to spend billions of pounds of other people’s money, John Swinney sounded less than enthusiastic. The Scottish Government’s finance secretary is a serious man, the grit to Alex Salmond’s flash, but his draft budget statement on Thursday was a more sober affair than usual. True, it was his first major appearanceContinueContinue reading “A deficit of fiscal powers is to blame for boring budget”

In case you missed it, the No campaign won the independence referendum. This might come as a surprise, with celebrations of the result ranging all the way from low-key to non-existent. (Save for a few troglodytes in George Square whose ability to drag their knuckles without possession of opposable thumbs was quite a feat.) TalesContinueContinue reading “A victory with no victors and losers who refuse to lose”

Long a fringe phenomenon, Scottish independence might become a reality this Friday • How did this happen? • Was it because of Scottish nationalism or economics? • What will independence mean for Britain and the West? • And what are the ramifications for Israel? • Stephen Daisley, referendum reporter for Scotland’s leading commercial broadcaster, explains. CloseContinueContinue reading “Why the Scottish Independence Referendum Matters”

STV’s Tuesday night town hall debate came down to a tie — a multicoloured disco-sticks number sported by moderator Bernard Ponsonby. The broadcaster is respected for his inscrutable neutrality and the distinctive neckwear was the one bold expression he allowed himself. Of course a tie is just a tie — though it’s good to seeContinueContinue reading “A referendum debate that showed us at our best”

Another week, another debate. What these people still have left to disagree about is beyond me. Alistair Darling has conceded that an independent Scotland could use the pound without a currency union. And the Scottish Government agrees with its UK counterpart so much that it wants to share the currency, central bank, monarchy, welfare systemContinueContinue reading “The final ever TV debate drinking game. We promise. Maybe.”

We join this movie at its climax. Our hero and his nemesis — we leave you to decide which is which — have just duked it out in a fast-paced, stylishly edited fight scene and return, bloody-faced and scraped-knuckled, to their respective lairs. A power-pop montage with 80s synthesisers as they pound steps, leap overContinueContinue reading “Salmond bested Darling but faces race against time to win voters”

Pitfalls of media groupthink, example no. 486. Going into STV’s live referendum debate, most journalists and commentators – this observer included – expected a clear victory for Alex Salmond. If Alistair Darling could hope for anything, it would be a close fight or a draw. Mr Salmond was a warm, engaging populist who never letContinueContinue reading “Against complacency and despondency after referendum debate”