We have reached a watershed for UK politics: Time for independence to catch the wave of change
We have reached a watershed for UK politics: Time for independence to catch the wave of change Gerry Hassan Bella Caledonia, June 20th 2017 These are bewildering and often disorientating times to live in. In recent weeks and months it has felt at times difficult to keep up with the speed of events – as history has been seemingly made and remade every few days. Such periods call for being honest, respectful in debate, and reflection and self-awareness in everything any of us say or do in public. Look around at the events in the UK and world and they
A new era of Scottish politics has begun: The Forward March of the SNP Halted?
A new era of Scottish politics has begun: The Forward March of the SNP Halted? Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, June 14th 2017 There was a UK election last week. We have the semblance of a UK Government, but underneath all this there remains little that could be called British politics. This was a four nations UK election. Each gave a different party a conditional victory. The SNP were the most popular party in Scotland with 36.9% of the vote. The Tories were the biggest force in England with 45.6%. Labour were by far the strongest party in Wales with
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Build It and They Will Come: Scotland and Independence after the election
Build It and They Will Come: Scotland and Independence after the election Gerry Hassan Bella Caledonia, June 13th 2017 The 2017 election marks the end of an era of Scottish politics. The immediate shadow of the 2014 indyref dominating everything is over. As is the age of the Big Tent, omnipotent SNP carrying all before it. The re-emergence of the Scottish Tories and the stalling of the retreat of Scottish Labour has confounded many Nationalists. Not only is the post-2014 indyref environment over, so too is politics defined by the constant invoking of Thatcher and Blair. No matter the depths
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The SNP and Tories have swapped places in Scotland: The former is the party of government. The later the party of protest
The SNP and Tories have swapped places in Scotland: The former is the party of government. The latter the party of protest Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, May 31st 2017 It is a topsy-turvy time in Scottish politics. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon now regularly challenges Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson for going on about nothing else but independence. Tories in Scotland have become a party of protest. Today Tory protestors stood outside the SNP manifesto launch earlier in Perth with anti-independence placards. The SNP have become a party of government. The two have literally swapped roles. The SNP
Time for the SNP and Labour to break with the failed policies of divided Britain
Time for the SNP and Labour to break with the failed policies of divided Britain Gerry Hassan Sunday Herald, May 28th 2017 Until last week this election was one in which nothing seemed to be happening. All of that changed with the horrors of Manchester. Such atrocities test the fabric of our democracy and civic culture and sadly find some – though thankfully few – wanting. Theresa May came out saying some of the right words. But we have nearly 1,000 armed troops now on our streets:; a reflection of the huge police cuts she made in her six-year
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The Winner Doesn’t Take It All: Phoney War or the Beginning of a New Era?
The Winner Doesn’t Take It All: Phoney War or the Beginning of a New Era? Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, May 10th 2017 Scotland’s permanent political campaign continued last week with the local elections. These were important for who runs Scotland’s 32 councils, local services and what passes for the remnants of local government, after decades of centralisation under Labour, Tories and SNP. But the stakes were higher than usual with the impending UK general election. Everybody could claim some spoils. The SNP ‘won’ - finishing with most votes and seats. The Tories made significant gains in votes and seats. Labour
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‘When I hear the word Scotland I want to say: ‘Shut the Fuck Up”
‘When I hear the word Scotland I want to say: ‘Shut the Fuck Up’’ Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, May 3rd 2017 ‘When I hear the word Scotland, I want to say: ‘Shut the Fuck Up.’’ These were the emotive words someone said at a public event in Newcastle I spoke at exactly one year to the day after the 2014 indyref. They undoubtedly voiced the views of a part of the country - by that I mean a part of England. But at the same time their anger and loss of patience taps into something that is clearly going on
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The Continuing Battle for Scotland: Goodbye to British politics and Goodbye to Britain?
The Continuing Battle for Scotland: Goodbye to British politics and Goodbye to Britain? Gerry Hassan Bella Caledonia, April 19th 2017 The age of perma-campaigning and elections continues in Scotland. Theresa May’s snap election, supposedly to give her a mandate for Brexit which she already had, will be Scotland’s seventh visit to the polls in the last three years. For some of us, a select few, this is nirvana. For many more it is an unwanted intrusion. But while mainstream media vox pops show us the now legendary Brenda from Bristol say how disgusted she is at having to vote again,
Stay Calm: The Country formerly known as the UK is Breaking Up
Stay Calm: The Country formerly known as the UK is Breaking Up Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, April 5th 2017 Sometimes years go by without domestic and international crises. Then like buses, a whole series of them come along at the same time to the extent that hardly anyone can keep up. It is exhausting to keep up for citizens, the media and the participants directly involved. In the last week, the Scottish Parliament voted 69-59 to hold a second independence referendum, Theresa May finally triggered Article 50 for the UK to leave the EU, and the UK got involved in
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Imagine a Parallel Universe Scotland without the SNP
Imagine a Parallel Universe Scotland without the SNP Gerry Hassan Scottish Review, March 29th 2017 Nearly every adult in Scotland has an opinion and view on the SNP: the good, the bad, the positive, the negative and the indifferent. The SNP have been a constant presence in public life at least since Winnie Ewing’s famous and oft-cited Hamilton by-election victory: a result which did much to bring into being the modern SNP and the contemporary Scotland we live in. Yet, the SNP are now such a powerful force that it is hard to imagine that only two generations ago it
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