The Possible Scotlands of the Future
The Possible Scotlands of the Future Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, January 13th 2012 The Scottish independence story has become one of the UK’s hottest stories, forcing Westminster and London politicians and correspondents to gen up quickly about Scotland and Scottish politics as they try to make sense of what is going on. Scottish independence and self-government are not about an old-fashioned nationalist movement drawing from reactionary ideas, but a profoundly modern, pro-European, centre-left politics. The debate of independence versus the union has already seen battlelines drawn, David Cameron and Alex Salmond engage in the first of what will
Rising Now and Being Four Nations Again!
Rising Now and Being Four Nations Again! Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment is Free, June 24th 2011 The Olympics are coming to London and apparently it has been decreed by the high-heiduns of the British Olympic Association (BOA) that there will be a ‘Team GB’ taking to the football field. They insist this has absolutely nothing to do with their 1.7 million unsold tickets which went on sale this morning, mostly for football, or the losses they think they can cover with ‘Team GB’ replica strips. The Olympics aren’t really about football, so you could say does
Scotland International
Scotland International Gerry Hassan The Guardian, May 20th 2011 The Scottish vision of self-government is alive, vibrant and real. To most Nationalists many things come to the forefront of their minds when they picture an independent Scotland. One is a proud, self-governing nation taking its own decisions. Another is an ethical nation in international affairs not engaging in ‘illegal wars’. A further strand is a society which better cares for its people, and addresses inequality and injustice in a way contemporary Scotland conspicuously fails. Scottish independence has always been a kind of ultimate political fantasy: a blank canvas which
Alex Salmond’s Big Leap Forward or Not: Rethinking the Case for Independence
Salmond’s Big Leap Forward or Not: Rethinking the Case for Independence Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, June 30th 2010 Alex Salmond has dominated the last few years of Scottish politics, and become the leading figure of the first decade of devolution. Labour figures have come and gone, but it is Salmond who has transformed the SNP into a disciplined force, made what was called ‘the Scottish Executive’ into ‘the Scottish Government’, and the office of the First Minister into the undisputed leader of the Scottish nation. He has fundamentally altered the character and nature of Scottish politics, yet while he
Continue Reading Alex Salmond’s Big Leap Forward or Not: Rethinking the Case for Independence
The ‘Anyone But England’ Phenomenon and the Scottish Psyche
The ‘Anyone But England’ Phenomenon and the Scottish Psyche Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, June 23rd 2010 The Scotland-England relationship has been historically one of the defining features of Scottish life. In recent years Scottish football fans have begun more and more to identify with whoever England is playing whether it be the World Cup, European Championships or a mere friendly. All of this has now reached epic proportions. There has been the ‘Anyone But England’ (ABE) phenomenon which has spawned a website, campaign and numerous commercial ventures. Kilt makers Slanj have got into trouble for making ABE t-shirts and
Continue Reading The ‘Anyone But England’ Phenomenon and the Scottish Psyche
Why Labour Needs to Ditch Both Fabianism and New Labour Centralism
Why Labour Needs to Ditch Both Fabianism and New Labour Centralism Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, June 3rd 2010 The Labour leadership campaign is one of the first indications of the state of the party. If the six contributions from the current candidates are anything to go by in yesterday’s Guardian (June 1st), the party is going to have a long time before it gets it act together. Platitudes and generalities were aplenty; the party has to ’renew’, rediscover its ‘idealism’ and ‘moral purpose’. Underneath all the warm words one area was revealingly ignored: any understanding of the character and
Continue Reading Why Labour Needs to Ditch Both Fabianism and New Labour Centralism
The Taxing Issues of Tartan Taxes
The Taxing Issues of Tartan Taxes Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, May 26th 2010 The Queen’s Speech has shown that the intention of the Con-Lib Dem coalition is to be as considerate and thoughtful as possible to Scotland and Wales. To David Cameron this gives him the opportunity to show his reasonable manner towards the two hostile territories. The Scots have been promised implementation of the Calman Commission and the Welsh a referendum on more powers for the National Assembly. At the same time, the decade of growth of the Scottish Government budget which doubled over the period is clearly
Scotland, the Return of ‘the Tories’ and the Politics of ‘No Mandate’
Scotland, the Return of ‘the Tories’ and the Politics of ‘No Mandate’ Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, May 19th 2010 The British political landscape has been dramatically altered by the arrival of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. All around Westminster, politicians, media and observers, are continuing to pinch themselves to check that what they are seeing in front of their eyes is actually happening and not some strange dream or illusion. One part of the UK stands apart from this: Scotland. The prevalent tones of Scottish political debate – marked by David Cameron’s visit north to the Scottish Parliament last Friday
Continue Reading Scotland, the Return of ‘the Tories’ and the Politics of ‘No Mandate’
Scottish Politics: The Same But Very Different!
Scottish Politics: The Same But Very Different! Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, May 9th 2010 The state of Scottish politics now stands at a great moment of uncertainty and confusion. The Scottish election results themselves throw up numerous questions and dilemmas for all the parties, which they are just beginning to digest, and now have to frame in the context of the post-election negotiations between the UK main parties. Scottish Labour had a triumphant holding of the line. Scotland was the only nation or region of the UK to witness an increase in the Labour vote (2.5%), and a swing
Continue Reading Scottish Politics: The Same But Very Different!
The Forgotten Scotland
The Forgotten Scotland Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, May 4th 2010 Scotland prides itself on its difference, radicalism and egalitarian traditions. This is a nation which tells itself that it has never voted for the Tories since the 1950s, saw off the poll tax, and is more collectivist and less individualist than the rest of the UK. There is much in Scotland’s political and social traditions to be proud of, but much folklore, myth and self-congratulation. Moreover, while the Scottish Parliament has done many beneficial things, there is a general air of complacency and smugness at the heart of Scotland’s
