Category Archives: Politics

Council Crunch

Posted on January 31, 2016 by davidsberry

Any regular reader will be know I have been a inveterate supporter of Scottish independence since I first became aware of politics as a teenager. For most of that time (38 years to be exact), I was a member of … Continue reading →

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The Budget as Window Dressing

Posted on December 17, 2015 by davidsberry

John Swinney may be Scotland’s best politician. He displays neither the presence nor the delivery of charismatic leadership but he is, for many, the embodiment of “a safe pair of hands”. He comes across as an old style bank manager, … Continue reading →

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Patrician Politics

Posted on December 4, 2015 by davidsberry

It would seem that, having led his party to multiple unpredicted victories before having the grace to fall on his sword when he failed to clear the final hurdle of the Independence Referendum, the political death of His Eckness has … Continue reading →

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Wha’s Like Us?

Posted on December 3, 2015 by davidsberry

Being in a far-flung corners furth of Scotland for the last week (Glendale AZ; Sonoma CA) the marking and portent of St Andrew’s Day had slipped by me until somebody tweeted a link to Stephen Daisley’s OpEd column for STV … Continue reading →

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It’s the Unity, Stupid!

Posted on October 18, 2015 by davidsberry

This blog was to be all about this weekend’s SNP Conference at the AECC. I had several key points (I thought) all lined up, ready to be expounded: SNP Conferences have become bland as other major parties: little controversial is … Continue reading →

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USA: The Finest Oligarchy Money Can Buy?

Posted on October 3, 2015 by davidsberry

Of the human characteristics, hunger and ambition have a bad rap, considering that we might all still be living in caves without them. However much we aspire to reduce their importance, it is the civilised comfort created by them that … Continue reading →

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Twa Corbyns

Posted on September 13, 2015 by davidsberry

It’s a humble man who makes a speech using the word ‘thank’ 27 times. Such is not the mark of a man of overweening ambition, nor one who aspires to high office. Yet that speech was made as the landslide … Continue reading →

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Changing the Old Guard

Posted on August 30, 2015 by davidsberry

It’s a tough old world in politics. When you’re in political limbo, nobody cares much what you do. However, the scope for character, opinions and even eccentricity is large. On the other hand, when you run a one-party state you … Continue reading →

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Put Power Where People Live

Posted on August 26, 2015 by davidsberry

Starting with its inception, the Scottish Parliament has played double standards, especially since the SNP came to power. Whereas the first eight years marked time with an unambitious Labour-led Scottish Executive sitting on their well paid behinds, the SNP have … Continue reading →

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The Price of Everything and The Value of Nothing

Posted on August 24, 2015 by davidsberry

“The follies of our youth are, in retrospect, glorious compared to the follies of our old age.” (G.K.Chesterton) The real question for the Scottish Labout party is: which of these follies is it presently engaged in? Forget the barking mad … Continue reading →

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