UK Treasury in choppy waters

Friday, 24 May 2013 06:56

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By George Kerevan

THIS week both sides on the independence debate were firing off economic broadsides at close quarters. There was a lot of shouting and the sound of wood splintering, but when the smoke clears will anyone have scored a decisive hit on the opposition’s main mast?

First shot came from the UK Treasury with a 113-page analysis purporting to prove that "the exceptionally large and highly-concentrated financial sector of an independent Scotland would be likely to increase the risks, to markets, firms and consumers, of financial services firms operating in an independent Scotland."

What lies behind the Farage media storm?

Wednesday, 22 May 2013 21:44

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By Alan Bisset

Last Thursday myself and the SSP’s Colin Fox were in Cupar at a Yes Scotland event, setting out our case for an independent socialist state. At the same time, the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) were on the High Street of Edinburgh, picketing a press conference by UKIP’s Nigel Farage. One of these events made national headlines.

Let’s ask why.

What Kind of European and British Union is Emerging?

Monday, 20 May 2013 21:39

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By Gerry Hassan, The Scotsman, May 18th 2013

Prague Spring. Two words which evoke a certain feeling, the hopes of a generation, European idealism and the past.

Today Europe could not be in a more different place and frame of mind, the brief optimism of 1968 and 1989 long gone.

All across the continent, European political, elite and civic conversations are underway about ‘whither Europe?’ and ‘what future for the eurozone?’

Farage-ism yet another nail in 'Better Together' coffin

Monday, 20 May 2013 20:33

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By Mark McNaught

It is the night of the long knives for David Cameron, after 114 backbenchers revolted and voted in the Commons to express ‘regret’ that an in/out EU referendum bill was not included in the Queen’s Speech.

It is clear that Nigel Farage and UKIP have put the fear of God into the Tories, and Faragisme (pronounced with a French accent, because UKIP has a thing for foreigners) will be a dominant force in Westminster for years to come.

Edinburgh welcomes UKIP

Sunday, 19 May 2013 16:37

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By Max Crema - reproduced courtesy of ScotsPolitics.com

In the tightly controlled and pre-tested world of politics it’s not often that an event occurs which doesn’t fit into a narrative. A company will go bust and left-leaning papers will decry deregulation while their counterparts demand more. A speech will occur, a bill will be passed, a by-election will be won and you can easily predict the media packaging and allegiance for each event.

However, sometimes the narrative doesn’t fit.