As war wages in the Ukraine, as in every conflict, atrocities are taking place with demands for Putin to be brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and condemnation of apparent Russian use of cluster bombs. Now I’m sympathetic to action on both counts but there’s hypocrisy from many, especially in the USA, in those albeit legitimate calls. After all… Read more »
Parliament was dominated by events in the Ukraine. The Russian invasion rightly stands universally condemned and severe sanctions must follow. Current financial actions are inadequate and need escalated. Ukraine’s sovereignty must be defended but in a manner that avoids an escalation of the conflict. Diplomacy not war must be the solution. References to the Crimean War are absurd, as that… Read more »
Putin has underestimated many things, not just the military capability or courage of the Ukrainian people. In particular he’s learning a salutary lesson that Ukraine’s not Russia. For sure the two Nations are closely entwinned and share many aspects of history since Kievan Rus evolved into Russia. But the same folk they are not and being Ukrainian’s not just being… Read more »
Home working has always been with us. In generations past it was of course different. Washing or other outsourced domestic chores have always been done, as has child care, along with other occupations whether through choice or necessity. It’s after all how weaving started out before industrialisation took over although it continued with Harris Tweed. But developments in IT opened… Read more »
Fuel costs are mounting and fears increasing as further hikes near. It’s becoming the number one issue for many and not just the poor. Ukraine, Covid and even Partygate all fade into the background, as concerns about just how high they’ll be and more importantly just how they can be paid. The actions so far, whether from the Chancellor or… Read more »
The invasion of Ukraine’s appalling; rightly condemned and sanctions long overdue against Russian oligarchs. But there ultimately requires to be a political not military solution to avoid global catastrophe and a major part of discussions will be NATO expansion. At the heart of that’s whether Russia or the former Soviet Union were given assurances by the west that they wouldn’t… Read more »
Bouyed by new found British exceptionalism and driven by past tales of glory, Ministers have sought to display the nations new found mettle on the international stage. Deftly forgetting the ignominious failures on trade deals for the New Global Trading Empire, they’ve embarked on major international diplomacy. What a joke? The latest gaffe’s the Defence Secretary making comparisons on Ukraine… Read more »
GREEN FREEPORTS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A SCOTTISH MARITIME STRATEGY SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT MUST ADDRESS OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OF SCOTS PORTS Launching a paper yesterday (Wednesday) at Rocksalt Café, 46 Constitution Street, Leith showing how the principal ports on the Forth and Clyde are owned by interests out with Scotland and where the operators busiest harbours are on the Thames and Mersey, Kenny MacAskill… Read more »
Many constituents have been in touch regarding the Prime Minister with all demanding that he should resign. I share their repugnance with his actions and agree that he should go. However, he’s proving as shameless in his denial of responsibility, as he was shameful in his behaviour during lockdown. Getting him out though isn’t straightforward though I sense he’s on… Read more »
I was glancing at the book, The Morning After. A political ‘what if’, it asks key players what might have happened had the second Quebec referendum, held in 1995, endorsed sovereignty, rather than falling short by just 60,000 votes. As Scotland awaits Nicola Sturgeon’s mythical “gold-plated” second referendum bill, it’s relevant when she’s reduced to saying she’ll do everything she… Read more »