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Lonely at the Top: Sturgeon, Leadership and Regrets Bella Caledonia, 15 August 2025 Gerry Hassan Frankly is a major political occasion which has got people talking and taking sides – either defending or defenestrating Nicola Sturgeon as a leader, politician and her legacy. Sturgeon invites strong reactions. There are those who feel loyalty, even affinity, to her and what she represents. Equally there is a significant body of opinion who regard her as divisive, out of touch and having let down people – a view shared even by some in the SNP and pro-independence. There is no doubt that this

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Dreaming of Post-War Scotland: How do we tell the full complex stories of ourselves? Bella Caledonia, 8 August 2025  Gerry Hassan The Invisible Spirit, Surgeon’s Hall, until 9 August; the Space Venue 45, 11, 13-16 August; the Space, Niddry Street, 18-23 August. Make It Happen, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, until 9 August. Alistair Moffat, To See Ourselves: A Personal History of Scotland since 1950, Birlinn £18.99. The widely accepted belief that stories make a nation has become a cliché. It may be true but does not describe the kinds of stories or the storytellers - and who is included and excluded

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Scotland and Independence need a new approach and agenda Sunday National, 27 July 2025 Gerry Hassan John Swinney recently engaged in the latest relaunch of independence. Some people noticed; some even cared and thought it relevant. Mostly his efforts passed unnoticed, without any real impact. Scottish politics, democracy, government and independence are not in good health and failing too many people. Some don’t see things this way. They measure the state of Scotland by saying we are not like the collective disaster of Westminster as if this is an effective measurement. Others say we need independence now such is the

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Notes on a Scottish Republic of Letters Bella Caledonia, 7 July 2025 Gerry Hassan The health and vibrancy of the Scottish cultural landscape was once acclaimed across public life. Not so long ago many folk felt that we had been living through a renaissance of expression and talent, not unlike such periods as the 1930s, and that this had lasting import on how we viewed ourselves and on our political disposition. Today things are a lot less rosy and sure-footed. Instead of the above, there is now a discernible mood of angst, worry and negativity - centred particularly on funding,

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How do we address the Future of the Future? Sunday National, 29 June 2025 Gerry Hassan How we perceive the future is central to how we organise society, government, democracy and power. Thinking about the future has always been part of being human, since we first began organising and living in complex civilisations and cultures. However, there is now a growing feeling that the very idea of the future – how we think, imagine and act upon it – is in deep crisis affecting how we reflect and behave in the present and see our capacity to bring about change.

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After Hamilton, Scottish Politics and the Cause of Independence Bella Caledonia, 6 June 2025 Gerry Hassan Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehall has proven to be a consequential Scottish by-election. Not of the mythical levels of Hamilton 67 or Govan 73, but contests like that are few and far between. Yet in a world where by-election aren’t what they used to be, it has thrown significant light on Scottish politics and the major protagonists. Labour gained a seat from the SNP, against the expectations of the commentators and prevailing wisdom which says much about both. The SNP and Tories suffered major

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Why the Reform Bandwagon is coming to Scotland – and what can be done to stop it? Sunday National, 25 May 2025 Gerry Hassan Nigel Farage and Reform are on the march across England, Wales and Scotland. What was once seen as purely an English (as well as Welsh) phenomenon is now making clear inroads in Scotland. In the past few weeks Reform have risen to 21% in Westminster voting intentions in Scotland and 20% in one Scottish Parliament poll in regional list voting intentions. This would make them the main opposition party to the SNP and dramatically alter

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The Road from 2014 is Over: A New Road Map is needed for Scotland and Independence Sunday National, 27 April 2025 Gerry Hassan Scottish politics has had some climatic moments recently - the UK Supreme Court decision on women’s and trans rights; the SNP and Labour trying to deal with the challenge of Reform; and the brief excitement of an opinion poll with a sensational degree of independence support. Beyond this Scottish politics is characterised by drift and by being in the doldrums with a lack of dynamism, direction and purpose –

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John & Paul: A Love Story in Song, Ian Leslie, Faber & Faber £25 Bella Caledonia, 4 April 2025 Gerry Hassan The Beatles story is one of the most enduring, beguiling and seemingly never-ending of our modern age. What else is there to be said? Ian Leslie thinks he has an answer in exploring the relationship, inner workings and chemistry between John Lennon and Paul McCartney - the central axis of the phenomenon that was the Beatles. This is a riveting, well-written account throwing new light on old stones – the band, John and Paul, songwriting and creativity, and the

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Not doing the Labour thing is what Labour do Scottish National, 30 March 2025 Gerry Hassan This Labour government faces tough choices. Constrained domestically and internationally, they are hampered by the structural weaknesses of the UK economy; the legacy of fourteen Tory years; by Brexit and by Trump, along with the limits of Starmer and Reeves’ agenda. Allowing for all this there is also the inherent conservatism of Labour; its lack of understanding of the British state; and the lack of political touch of this Labour government. Reeves has shown a complete absence of political antenna and sensitivity. Combined with

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