Issue 64
May - Jun 2011
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With extended election analysis. Plus articles on transparency in local government, the People's Charter, 'left unity', who owns the Scottish economy, the Scotland Bill, housing and the Irish United Left Alliance.
Just days after a watershed election many observers are struggling to understand what happened. Perhaps they need to learn about Scottish politics. Well, that certainly caught the attention... Nobody who watches UK politics is in any doubt that something just happened. But what?
The ‘selectorate’ – the great-and-good appointed to oversee public functions on our behalf – needs reform. Paul Coleshill puts forward some suggestions to improve transparency.
Roz Foyer argues that the People’s Charter offers a way forward for the labour movement in Scotland and offers a policy agenda that can unite people from across political parties
Responding to Gordon Morgan’s article in the last issue, Bill Bonnar looks at the potential for realignment of Scotland’s left parties and dismisses it as a distraction from building a left movement.
Sandy Baird, John Foster and Richard Leonard show that Scotland’s economy has seen a remarkably rapid shift towards external ownership over the past decade. What are the implications?
In response to the article by Jim and Margaret Cuthbert in the last issue, Jim Gallacher argues that Scotland should be looking at the Scotland Bill in terms of its major powers, not its minor flaws.
An illustrated essay by Sarah Glynn originally for the Derby Street Multis Residents’ Association to help people learn what has happened to ‘oor hoosis’ and to similar houses almost everywhere.
The Irish election returned five TDs for the United Left Alliance, with 2.8 per cent of the first preference votes. But this victory for the Left is only part of a bigger picture of political change, writes Brendan Young.
'The Globalization of Addiction, A Study in Poverty of the Spirit' and 'River of Fire: The Clydebank Blitz'.
I think that there was a context in this election where you had two parties, Labour and the SNP, fighting essentially against the Tory Government in London...
Global events during the run-up to polling day, made for less press coverage of the Scottish Election. However, you have to hand it to Barrack Obama. As an opening gambit in a re-election campaign, taking out bin Laden certainly trumps Alex Salmond’s pledge to freeze council tax.