Latest News & Articles
Media Watch - BBC Scotland 24-hour news blackout on Scottish Labour rift over two-child clause
Viewers of BBC Scotland’s news coverage on TV, radio and their website early this week heard nothing about a major rift in the Scottish Labour ranks for more than 24 hours. There was a bizarre radio silence on the issue from them – while other stations and media outlets reported the story.
A raft of prominent figures in the Scottish Labour movement, the STUC and Holyrood one by one stepped forward to denounce Keir Starmer’s decision to maintain the controversial two-child benefit cap, despite previously promising to abolish it.
Believe in Scotland 2020/21 - Annual Independence Campaign Review
We talk to the undecided and to soft No voters – here are just a few of the highlights of Believe in Scotland’s campaigning activities in 2020.
How can independence benefit young people in Scotland?
Too often in the debates on Scottish independence, the voice of one group is overlooked. The 16 and 17 year olds who voted in the 2014 referendum almost 10 years ago are now in their mid-20s. Many of them, like myself, will remember the referendum as the first point in their life in which they were politically active. Can we still say in Scotland that the current political situation both here and in Westminster has anything to offer young people today?
The NHS is celebrating its 75th anniversary…but it is in danger
Today is the 75th anniversary of the creation of the National Health Service. On the 5th of July 1948, the Scottish NHS was launched, along with the then-unified NHS England and Wales. It is regarded as one of the crowning achievements of post-war Britain, providing healthcare for all – free of charge. Seventy-five years later, it is in a perilous position, squeezed by Tory cuts and vulnerable to both health and economic crisis.
Labour's U Turn on the Lords signals end of Union with Scotland
Labour has changed its mind on the policy that was central to its plan for maintaining the Union with Scotland. Now the policy of replacing the House of Lords with a Senate of the Nations and Regions is in the dustbin and with it any coherent strategy for reforming the UK and answering Scotland’s legitimate concerns about lack of democracy.
March and Rally for an Independent Scotland in the EU
Believe in Scotland announces plans for first-ever march and rally.
The march and rally for an independent Scotland in the EU is a partnership event with Yes for EU and will take place on Saturday, 2nd September in Edinburgh.
Media watch - Scotland does not have a problem with ‘raw sewage’ being ‘dumped’ in rivers
Recent scaremongering headlines in newspapers claim - misleadingly - that Scotland has an issue with “raw sewage being dumped in rivers”. There is only one problem - it is not ‘raw sewage’ and it is not being ‘dumped’ - it is almost entirely rainwater that is deliberately led back into the rivers to avoid flooding.
Three Ways Westminster Has Weakened the Scottish Parliament’s Powers
The last few years have seen a sustained attack on the powers of the Scottish Parliament from Westminster. In a paper called “Devolution Since the Brexit Referendum”, Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson looks in detail at what has taken place. Here are three key takeaways from the paper.
5 things you need to know about today’s independence paper announcement
Today the Scottish Government released its fourth paper in the ‘Building a New Scotland’ series. This paper covered the constitutional future of an independent Scotland. Following independence, Scotland would move away from the UK constitutional system by adopting a written, codified constitution, enshrining the rights of all citizens and describing the powers and limitations of the branches of government (such as parliament, government and the courts of law).
Here are five things you need to know from the announcement of today’s independence policy paper:
Mediawatch – Media ignores new report that proves Scotland’s A&E wait times are MUCH better than England’s
Scotland and England were releasing different figures until now
Scotland and England have been measuring wait times in A&E differently – Scotland’s figures are from “time of arrival” but England’s NHS only started the clock from the time of “decision to admit” – that is not what most people mean when they talk about their A&E wait time and it made England’s figures look better than Scotland’s.
After a long campaign, NHS England has started to produce comparable figures to Scotland’s – and they show a really significant difference, with Scotland performing a lot better.
Johnson's Dishonours List makes titles a badge of shame
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack is just one of around 50 people who are expected to receive the sham title of ‘Lord’ in Boris Johnson’s so-called resignation ‘honours’ list.
The House of Lords is already an undemocratic sham but this new list which includes lacklustre MPs like Nadine Dorries, rewarded for her fawning loyalty and Paul Dacre, the former Daily Mail editor whose paper notoriously branded judges “enemies of the people” when they prevented Johnson from illegally shutting down Parliament, will make the title “Lord” into a badge of shame.
How to stop Voter ID rules undermining Scotland’s democracy
Local elections in England last week were marred by voters getting turned away from the polls – or deciding to stay at home because of the new voter ID requirements. This has suppressed voter turnout – as Believe in Scotland predicted.
Finally even Farage admits Brexit has failed – with Scotland now tied to failing UK
“We have not delivered on Brexit… the Tories have let us down very, very badly”. Arch Brexiteer Nigel Farage’s words on Newsnight this week have caused tremors across the UK’s political landscape.
Farage and his party UKIP were hugely prominent and influential in selling Brexit to voters. Scotland didn’t fall for it – but it was forced to leave the EU and now Brexit’s failures are forcing particular hardship on families and businesses north of the Border. If the country was independent, men like Farage would have no role in shaping policy for Scotland.
Who do you want to represent Scotland internationally - so-called "lords" or democratic representatives?
Who do you want to represent Scotland internationally - unelected peers or democratic representatives? Who has the right to represent Scotland’s interests abroad? Is it elected representatives such as Angus Robertson - or unelected Conservative donors such as ‘lord’ Malcolm Offord? Many will ask - what possible right does Malcolm Offord have to represent Scotland internationally? And yet he does. ...
Media Watch - Unionists announce attack on Scotland’s Parliament
Those who have been warning that the UK government is planning to undermine and attack the powers of the Scottish Parliament got further confirmation this week from “lord” David Frost in a column in the Daily Telegraph. Frost is an unelected member of the Westminster Parliament who has held several ministerial posts including that of Brexit Minister. Writing...