Boris Johnson is repeating Swinson's error and it will end the Union
The Liberal Democrats had the opportunity of a lifetime to do well and maybe even hold the balance of power in GE 2019. Their stars were aligned but they threw it all away by committing the biggest and most basic error in politics. They adopted an idea that had majority support (stopping Brexit) but they turned it into an undemocratic policy.
The UK versus an independent Scotland - which would be better governed?
Scotland will soon be considering independence again, and how well an independent Scotland would be governed is a topical issue for undecided voters. It is important to note that the governance of a nation is not about specific political parties or politicians, it is about the structure and systems of government that deliver for the people and the trust that those people have in their Government in all its forms.
A tale of two governments: 7 key performance comparisons between the Scottish and Westminster Governments
With a general election on the way, focusing on Brexit and independence, there will be a blizzard of claims about government records. Therefore, we have compared and contrasted the two governments, the UK Conservatives and SNP in Scotland, in a number of significant areas.
Scotland’s NHS outperforms the rest of the UK - here’s why
The past seven years of Conservative government has been one in which “the health service has endured the longest period of austerity in its 70-year history”. The most recent data from 2017 shows that Conservative governments since 2010 have introduced more severe austerity on health spending than any of their predecessors. In fact, health spending has seen its lowest increases since records began. The rate of increase in the number of doctors per 1,000 people has slowed dramatically and the number of nurses per 1,000 people has actually fallen since 2010.
US trade deal would rip NHS Scotland from Holyrood's control
Donald Trump on his state visit to the UK confirmed that the NHS should be “on the table” as part of a post-Brexit UK/USA trade deal. The backlash against that statement has now led him to backtrack but the whole point of the UK Government taking the Scottish Government to the Supreme Court to intercept powers over procurement was purely to allow post-Brexit trade deals to happen.
UK state pension worst in developed world and has the highest retirement age
The Claim - Pensions are at risk with independence
The Truth - Pensioners are worse off in the UK, and an independent Scotland can do better by respecting our pensioners in a way the UK does not.
BBC deliberately misreported Scottish local council election result
The BBC as the state broadcaster should set the standard in impartial and factual reporting of election results, but in the case of the Scottish Local Council elections it has failed on both counts.
Scotland's almost £100bn of exports provide the foundation for a wealthy independent country
Today the Scottish Government published a new report detailing Scotland’s export statistics in 2015.
The question to ask every unionist about GERS
THE mainstream press are falling over themselves to point out the size of the financial deficit that Scotland has as part of the United Kingdom. From this, unionists conclude that Scotland cannot afford to be an independent nation and that it shows how much we need the UK to subsidise us. Putting aside that remarkable lack of respect and ambition for Scotland there is, however, a question the press are not asking.
Brexit damage to Scotland's economy will drive up Yes vote
The latest poll by YouGov shows increased support for independence, up from 46% pre Brexit to 47% but that is a little disappointing, (even they excluded 16 & 17 years olds who are majority previous Yes voters). However, that poll doesn't surprise me, as the SNP have emphasised the wrong message on Brexit. It is not simply the fact that Scotland is being dragged out of the EU that will change the polls, it is the economic damage that Brexit will do to Scotland that will increase support for independence. That damage will take time to materialise but it must be highlighted by the SNP, something they are so far failing to do.