Journalist, author, broadcaster
The day I left Barcelona an open letter appeared hundreds of miles away, in a central European republic, calling on the local government to condemn the Spanish authorities’ violence in Catalonia. The letter – which also demanded the European Union recognise the outcome of Sunday’s vote – appeared in a nation all too familiar with […]
It is inconceivable that a vote for Brexit would not have a negative impact on the (Irish) Border, bringing cost and disruption to trade and to people’s lives. Theresa May, June 2016 Nobody wants to return to the borders of the past. Theresa May, July 2016 Around three hundred roads bisect the circuitous three-hundred-and-ten-mile border […]
INVERNESS, Scotland — Last September, Scotland held a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom. The campaign was lively, colorful and, it seemed, decisive: Scots voted by a 10-point margin to stay a part of Britain. But just seven months later, another nationalist earthquake looks set to hit Scotland, shaking the foundations of British politics […]
“Which way will you be voting in May?” I ask a table laden with lunchtime half pints and nips in the members’ bar at Loanhead Miners Welfare and Social Club in Midlothian, half a dozen miles or so from Edinburgh. “We’re all Labour,” says one man with a broad smile. “Are we fuck!” roars his […]
The historic multi-party debates in the UK have rekindled political diversity [Reuters] Glasgow, UK – Some seven million viewers across Britain tuned into the first, and only, televised multi-party debate ahead of May’s general election. What they saw on April 2 was a stark illustration of how much UK politics has changed in recent years. Conservative […]
Competing “yes” banners and “no thanks” posters were among the most colourful features of the referendum campaign, but as May’s general election hoves into view there will be less political posters than ever on Scotland’s streets. Experts fear that the lack of posters could depress turnout. Just a handful of Scottish councils permit candidates and […]
Councillor Willie Clarke … Photograph: DC Thomson & Co Ltd Willie Clarke has been called the last communist in Britain. That’s not entirely true – the Communist Party of Britain (founded 1988) ran half a dozen candidates in the 2010 general election – but it is not far off. Clarke is the only self-described communist […]
Once a marginal political player, the UK Green Party has growing popularity amid dissatisfaction with the majors. The Green Party is expecting to make gains at the United Kingdom general election in May [Getty Images] As 2005 turned into 2006 in London, journalist Natalie Bennett did what many of us do at New Year’s. She […]
Once a hotbed of left-wing agitation, socialists in Cowdenbeath still mourn the beginning of the end of communism. A November 1989 image shows people celebrating the opening of the border between East and West Germany [EPA] Cowdenbeath, Scotland – Twenty-five years ago the heavy thud of the Berlin Wall falling resonated around the world. The […]
Catalans expected to turn out in droves on Sunday for what is now a ‘symbolic’ independence referendum. Support for independence has risen dramatically in what is seen as an attempt to curb Catalan power [Reuters] Barcelona, Spain – Sleep has been hard to come by in Barcelona this week – but not on account of […]
