Week-in-Review: Gender reforms will focus Sturgeon’s independence push
On Thursday, the Scottish parliament approved the controversial gender recognition reform bill, which will make it easier for people to change their legal gender and lowers the minimum age for doing so from 18 to 16. Proponents say the bill will make a lengthy and humiliating process of changing gender much more humane. Critics argue […]
Controversial Scottish gender reforms passed by Holyrood after heated debate
Scotland has become the first part of the UK to approve a self-identification system for people who want to change their legal gender. The Scottish Parliament backed the controversial proposals by 86 to 39 in the final vote. The main opposition to the bill was provided by the Scottish Conservative party, but a number of […]
Ian Blackford standing down as SNP leader at Westminster
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has announced that he is standing down from his position. He has confirmed he will formally stand down at the party’s annual general meeting next week. In a statement, Blackford said he would continue in his role as the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber and had also accepted a […]
Sturgeon doubles down after Supreme Court snubbing
It is one of the more curious aspects of nationalism, Scottish and otherwise, that setbacks are never accepted at face value. Faced with those who deny their nation, the nationalist’s instinct is to retreat inward, in search of themselves and “the nation” once more. For a true nationalist knows not of defeat – only of […]
Scottish government cannot call indy vote without UK government consent, Supreme Court rules
The Scottish government cannot hold an independence referendum without UK government’s consent, the Supreme Court has ruled. Lord Reed, who is the president of the Supreme Court, announced the unanimous ruling on Wednesday at 10.00am. He told the court that “the Scotland Act gives the Scottish Parliament limited powers”. The Scottish Government had argued that Holyrood […]
SNP want independence but lack independence of thought, says Alister Jack
Sturgeon vows to break the independence deadlock, but the Union-state is a stubborn beast
As the debate over Scottish independence spilled from the SNP’s conference hall on Monday into the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Scotland and its place in the union returned again to the centre of the national conversation. This was a remarkably scotocentric few days by the standards of British politics. On Monday, the first minister wrapped […]
‘The problem is Westminster’ says Nicola Sturgeon
In her speech at the SNP’s annual conference which has taken place in Aberdeen, the Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said “the problem is not just which party is in power in Westminster – the problem is Westminster”. She said that despite her disapproval of the Conservatives, Labour are no better for Scotland as they […]
Sturgeon reiterates that a general election may be the only alternative to a referendum
Speaking ahead of the SNP conference in Aberdeen, the party’s leader, Nicola Sturgeon has reiterated her previous suggestion, that if the Scottish government loses its impending case at the Supreme Court, then the SNP will fight the next general election as if it is a de-facto referendum on independence. Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 […]
Deputy First Minister accuses Truss of a contempt for Scotland
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has accused Liz Truss of a contempt for Scotland. Ms Truss, speaking at a hustings event in Exeter on Monday, referenced growing up in Paisley, Scotland, before saying: “I feel like I’m a child of the union, I really believe we’re a family and we’re better together and I think […]
