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Articles tagged with Scotland
Labour in Scotland: a lose-lose situation?
by David Macintyre / 20 Sep 2012 09:05
Dennis Canavan, former Labour MP and chair of the Yes to independence campaign, has suggested that an independent Scotland would lead to a “renaissance” in Labour. Is this a counterintuitive claim, given that Labour stands to lose more than any other party from Scottish independence?
Labour historically has had an uneasy relationship with the independence debate. Scottish Labour – which predates the birth of the national Labour Party by three years –
Green shoots of a red revival in Scotland
by Mark Diffley / 17 Jul 2012 10:08
For 18 months Scottish Labour was in steep decline.
Our polling showed support for the party falling from 41% in November 2010 to 23% in January 2012, the lowest figures we have ever polled for the party.
However, a recently improved polling performance and increased profile of new leader Johann Lamont suggest Labour is on the up.
So, are we seeing the green shoots of a red revival?
Our June
The unionists’ tough choice on the anti-independence campaign
by Caroline Crampton / 28 Feb 2012 14:02
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Anas Sarwar and Tory constitution spokesman David McLetchie have held talks in recent weeks about how the pro-union campaign will work. An independence referendum has been on the cards for months now, but there has been a notable lack of a coherent anti-independence campaign so far. These meetings indicate that efforts to set one up are being made, even if they have yet
Gove: Politicians have 'everything to lose' from fettering the press
by Amber Elliott / 21 Feb 2012 16:19
Michael Gove spoke of his "fear" that Scottish independence could "undermine something precious" about the UK, at a press gallery lunch this afternoon.
The education secretary also said Scottish secretary Michael Moore, chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and others needed to find a lawful solution to the referendum question alongside Alex Salmond.
"We need to – and I am utterly convinced of this – persuade Scotland that its future is
The many personas of Alex Salmond
by David Torrance / 25 Jan 2012 09:18
Crucial to any understanding of Scotland’s First Minister is that there are many different Alex Salmonds. At last night’s Hugo Young Memorial Lecture in London, the Anglophile Alex Salmond was in full flow. Today, when he launches his consultation on an independence referendum back in Edinburgh, the patriotic Alex Salmond will no doubt be on top form.
This chameleon-like instinct also applies ideologically. To an audience of Guardianistas and the cream of London’s
Why Scotland should remain part of the union, by a former sceptic
by Francesca Preece / 13 Jan 2012 09:33
The last few weeks have seen the strength of the union crumbled by rhetoric. A year ago I would have said let Scotland go, but with the reality dawning, my feelings have changed.
Scotland brings more to the UK than just North Sea oil and Karen Gillan. It brings tourism, industry, natural resources, educational excellence and most of all, unity. What would Scotland be without England, and what would England and Wales be
Only time will tell if the union holds
by Nik Darlington / 21 Nov 2011 12:00
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Those words, written by WH Auden in 1936, will forever be remembered for John Hannah’s eulogy in Four Weddings and a Funeral. They captured perfectly the emotions surrounding time and loss. And spoken by a Scot, for a
The north needs to be able to keep up with the Joneses
by Katie Schmuecker / 04 Nov 2011 13:51
Northerners are more pessimistic about their economic future compared to people in London, according to new research being published by IPPR North this weekend.
So why the downbeat attitude? There are many reasons we could point to – not least the fact that the government’s public sector cuts are resulting in the public sector in the north shedding jobs considerably faster than the private sector can create them. The result is the
Can the SNP persuade voters to back an autonomous Scotland?
by Mark Diffley / 20 Oct 2011 12:16
The SNP gathers in Inverness this week in positive mood; the first majority government at Holyrood, large leads in recent polls and their opponents searching to find leaders that can challenge the First Minister and policies to engage voters.
Yet on the issue likely to dominate the conference, the forthcoming independence referendum, the picture is less clear. Our poll in August illustrated that, while around two-thirds of Scots back more power and all
Low taxes could be the making of Scotland
by Nik Darlington / 13 Oct 2011 11:55
Over the next few years, Scotland has an enviable opportunity to switch to a radically low-tax economy. As a result of the changes to the Scottish tax regime that will come from the Scotland Bill, and the likelihood of full fiscal autonomy after a referendum in 2014 or 2015, Scotland could become the next economic miracle. But only if it wants to.
A column in City AM this week highlighted this year’s
Salmond demands humility from Westminster
by Fern Tomlinson / 07 Sep 2011 14:04
Riding high on his landslide victory in May, Alex Salmond’s first annual legislative programme statement today was clear in its intentions – the SNP is focused on Scottish interests, and Scottish interests alone.
Salmond stressed throughout his speech the SNP’s opposition to the spending cuts introduced by the coalition government. Indeed, he emphasised the need to strengthen the Scotland Bill in order to grant further economic powers to Scotland, without which he said
It is time for Scotland to stand on its own two feet
by Francesca Preece / 31 Aug 2011 09:53
This September, students will be packing their pots and pans to live in university digs. But while some will beg, steal or borrow the £9k-a-year fees, others will get it for free - simply because of their place of birth.
Scottish students will be able to attend universities in their home country for free, thanks to the kind donations by taxpayers.
Yet while help is at hand in the Highlands, there is
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