Category: Politics
-
The last blog of Leelah Alcorn
This is the last blog of Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teenager. It is a heartbreaking suicide note, about lack of support from family. After her death, that very same family pretend it wasn’t suicide, call her a boy, deletes the entire blog, and tries to hide it. No wonder, they’re obviously a big part of…
-
SSP Alliance #2 – an update
In one blow, the SNP have skilfully smashed the SSP intervention – while remaining the party of unity. This is very, very clever stuff. Strictly speaking, I’d be in favour of such an intervention, for certain reasons. It presents a pro-independence cabal of outstanding candidates – many of whom did extraordinary work in Yes Scotland?…
-
SSP Alliance?
The Scottish Socialist Party have explicitly endorsed a pro-independence alliance in order to silence the Labour Party in Scotland. It’s not a bad idea. “Red Tories out” is a good message for those being bitten by the Conservative Party, and ignored by HM’s official Opposition. Colin Fox, national co-spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party writes:…
-
Getting pro-independence candidates elected in 2016
We’ve seen some remarkable polling in the past couple of days. As the referendum fallout continues, the British Labour Party’s Scotland branch disintegrates, divides and is (presently) leaderless. As they reunite, it’s clear that there’s an opportunity to deliver as many pro-independence candidates to Holyrood in 2016 as possible. To do so, requires a bit…
-
Common Weal Leith thoughts
The referendum empowered Scotland’s civic debate in a way that has never been seen. Even if you were one of the few who didn’t turn out, it was remarkably difficult to not be at least partially engaged by it.
-
A draft letter to Leithers
People of Leith: be proud. You registered to vote in droves, you engaged, debated, argued the future, faced down scaremongering, fear and already-unravelling lies to return a Yes result across Leith and Leith Walk polling districts. It wasn’t enough. The people of Scotland said No: 55% to 45%. So, let’s take a look at what’s…
-
SSP political activism 101
Firstly, we’ve been inundated with requests to join the Scottish Socialist Party – we have no great big party machine, or the cash to outsource enormous mailshots, it’s just a handful of people stuffing envelopes in a wee office – so we hope you’ll forgive us for any delays in delivering welcome packs. Let us…
-
Letter for enshrining trans equality in marriage law
Dear Mr Chisholm, I wish to thank you very much for your vote in favour of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. This ensures that Scotland continues its progression as a country equal for all its citizens in her laws. Sometimes, absent of party hackery and tribalism, I can be in awe of the…
-
In which Scott thanks the leader of the Tories
Dear Ms Davidson, I wish to thank you, so very much for your proud, passionate contribution to tonight’s equal marriage debate. More than the many other fine contributors to the debate of this progressive bill, in your most personal speech, you spoke for me. You gave voice to enshrining the hope, truth and the forming…
-
Modern politicking
I’m a newcomer to politics. Since jumping off the fence on the independence referendum in mid-April 2011; this year has been the most eventful of my political life. It had to be. Looking at the challenges facing Yes Scotland, and having came to the conclusion that Scotland would be to my mind better off: socially,…