Britain is broken – which is both an opportunity and challenge to Scottish radicals Gerry Hassan Sunday National, April 4th 2021 Politics has been highly charged and combative across the UK for many years now. The British political system, its rules and codes, and how politics and power is enacted have been in decline for some time. While many in Scotland view this as proof that independence is needed as soon as possible, it is also true that Scottish politics has some soul searching to do. Recent times have seen our own controversies about party, government and power which have

Continue Reading Britain is broken – which is both an opportunity and challenge to Scottish radicals

The return of Alex Salmond, Alba and whether it helps independence Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, March 31st 2021 That was a week that was. From the Hamilton inquiry clearing the First Minister to a vote of no confidence; to Alex Salmond taking the Scottish Government to court, topped off just before the weekend by Salmond launching his very own personal political force - the Alba Party. The official version spun by Salmond about Alba - or ‘the Ecksit party’ as some wit dubbed it – is that it is all about independence and achieving a ‘supermajority’ in the Scottish

Continue Reading The return of Alex Salmond, Alba and whether it helps independence

Where are the ideas and vision that will shape the future of Scotland? Gerry Hassan Sunday National, March 28th 2021 It has been an intense few weeks in Scottish politics. But as the dust settles on the political exchanges of the Salmond-Sturgeon controversy, the Scottish Parliament rises - and political parties and politicians prepare to fight the Scottish elections and await the voters’ verdict. The sixth Scottish Parliament elections come with many expectations, pressures and demands. Can the SNP retain their popularity after many years in office and recent difficulties? Will it be the Tories or Labour - both

Continue Reading Where are the ideas and vision that will shape the future of Scotland?

Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and Lessons for Politics and Public Life Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, March 24th 2021 Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon’s political relationship has defined Scotland over the past two decades. They oversaw the rise of the SNP and its transformation into a party of power. They achieved and nearly won an indyref - followed by the slow, painful unravelling of their relationship in public; the turbulence of the past three years, and the bitter end of their partnership. We have seen nothing like it in Scottish or UK politics in living memory. No previous political

Continue Reading Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and Lessons for Politics and Public Life

We need to talk about men and masculinities Gerry Hassan Sunday National, March 21st 2021 In the aftermath of the Sarah Everard murder and vigil there has been widespread debate about male violence against women. Some has focused on immediate political issues - such as the Police Bill for England and Wales, and the UK Government’s focus on more severe penalties for attacking statues compared to violence against women. Over the week English and Welsh statistics bandied about showed a shameful level of rape convictions versus reported cases (2.6%), but it is not that

Continue Reading We need to talk about men and masculinities

The cancel culture of the anti-woke brigade Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, March 17th 2021 Everywhere you look in the media the word ‘woke’ is used as an insult. It has become a trigger word used by the right, reactionaries, populists - and those uncomfortable with identity politics and what they see as the onward march of political correctness. Instead, they pose the word ‘woke’ to sow division; to label and dismiss people who stand for things like social justice, racial equality and against homophobia, and to close down debate and demands for change in society. The origins of the word

Continue Reading The cancel culture of the anti-woke brigade

Scotland on the international stage Gerry Hassan Sunday National, March 14th 2021 These are turbulent times domestically and internationally. The UK Government, state and wider reputation of the UK has taken a hit of late through Brexit, the UK threatening to break international law, its record on COVID-19 as ‘the sick man of Europe’, and the latest Royal Family scandal bringing a reality check to how the House of Windsor is seen globally. Scotland needs to think about its image and how it places itself on the international stage in relation to independence. This has not been addressed enough

Continue Reading Scotland on the international stage

The latest Royal Family controversy is much more than a side show Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, March 10th 2021 The royal family soap opera continues – fascinating for many, a diversion for some, and a repugnant non-story for others. Meghan and Harry’s long trailed Oprah interview might be part of celebrity culture and rich privileged royals cashing in on the lucrative American market, but it is about much more and cannot be so easily dismissed. It has brought to a head issues of racism amongst the Windsors; how the institution understands its occupational health role and supports those struggling; how

Continue Reading The latest Royal Family controversy is much more than a side show

Scotland already is quasi-independence. It is time to own that and act like that Gerry Hassan Sunday National, March 7th 2021 We’ve had a week of huge drama and court politics - from ongoing UK Royal Family splits to the SNP stand-off between Sturgeon and Salmond and their respective camps. The two may compete as theatre, psychodrama and power politics whilst throwing light on gender politics, and the nature and limits of democracy. But there are important differences – with Scotland’s controversy also posing big questions of the SNP, Scottish Government, public institutions, and future of independence. Putting

Continue Reading Scotland already is quasi-independence. It is time to own that and act like that

The Power of Words and Language in Scotland Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, March 3rd 2021 Words matter. How we construct and share sentences conveys how we see and interpret the world. Language today seems more loaded, layered and open to misunderstanding or challenge than ever before. It does seem the case that more people are making over the top comments; being antagonistic, aggressive and abusive, and deliberately seeking to offend and hurt others - in large parts of politics, public discourse, and on social media. All of this is true in relation to Scotland. The past week has been one

Continue Reading The Power of Words and Language in Scotland