Thinkpolitics

Robert Durward

The need for change will not be satisfied by our political parties

AS MORE PEOPLE become turned off by tribal politics, fewer are prepared to vote for establishment parties or even participate in the electoral process. The Conservative Party is in government with only 24 per cent ...

Stuart Crawford

What do the party manifestoes say about Trident?

OF ALL THE ISSUES that form part of the current General Election debate, few can be as important as the UK’s nuclear deterrent. If you accept that protection of its people is the state’s most ...

Murdo Fraser

Insurgent Tories challenge the SNP establishment

IF EVER you needed an illustration of the current condition of Scottish politics, it was on view at Perth Concert Hall on Tuesday morning. The SNP high command had gathered for the launch of their manifesto, ...

Jonathan Stanley

The Govan Widow Tax could come to haunt Scotland

After a moment or introspection and assessment of electoral chances by the Conservatives, the concept of a cap on social care costs in England is again backed by the party, and rightly so. It was ...

Tony Trewavas

Why I Yam convinced GM food is safe

THE SWEET POTATO (commonly called a Yam) is a familiar root vegetable on our supermarket shelves. The swollen root is highly nutritious, low in fat but high in vitamins A, C and fibre. It is ...

Jack Ponton

When will the sun go down on Scottish wind turbines?

ALEX SALMOND seems to have had an obsession with renewable energy. He set the SNP's 'target' of producing the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's electricity from renewable sources without explaining or justifying the figure. Despite, ...

Roger White

Thoughts on Labour's suspension of its Aberdeen councillors

IT WON'T TAKE YOU LONG rooting around my blog to discover I have more than a passing interest in the city of Aberdeen (I live there) and in local government (I worked in ...

Jonathan Stanley

It's official! According to the EU, Scots don't think that much of it

MANY NATIONALISTS were hit by the bombshell study back in march by NatCen that showed, surprisingly, that Scotland doesn't want a differentiated deal with the EU post Brexit. That does not mean regional differences cannot ...

Andrew Brown

Finding a real voice that counts for Scotland

IT’S A LITTLE OVER three weeks to go until polling day when Scotland and the rest of the UK will cast their votes in the General Election. Not only is this election an opportunity to ...

Tony Trewavas

Drop the irrational fear and embrace nuclear power

IN 2007, Alex Salmond rejected any new nuclear Scottish power stations. Policies based on fear, rather than facts, may feel good, but they increase the overall risk by not educating the public. Successful democracy requires ...

Grant Simpson

Stronger for Scotland – or a chance to rejoin political reality?

NICOLA STURGEON’S many straplines in the coming four weeks will be all about Scotland’s voice being heard at Westminster. She’ll tell us that only with an SNP vote and the largest number of SNP MPs ...

Jill Stephenson

Breaking up is NOT hard to do

AFTER THE EU REFERENDUM, Nicola Sturgeon demanded that Scotland be allowed to remain in the EU because the vote in Scotland in favour of doing so was 62:38 – although it was a UK-wide referendum. ...