New Policy Podcast!

This week, I talk to Andy Wightman about his updated report on land ownership in Scotland and the Scottish Government's new Land Reform Bill.

commonweal.scot/podcast/the-co…

Gove found guilty of non-declaration of free football tickets for him and his son. Says it was an oversight. But it happened three times so it was three oversights.
Try three 'oversights' with the DWP as a welfare recipient and see where it gets you.

Huge news! History is made as Scottish Government passes the new Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill.

Scotland has now banned snares, licenced grouse moors and muirburn, and placed restrictions on wildlife traps.

A fantastic result and well done to all those involved!

⚡️ 66% of the public want energy in public ownership, but the Scottish Government thinks they know better.

It’s time to change that.

Help us make it happen, donate to Common Weal: commonweal.scot/discover/

Looking across that landscape I can't even see krummholz, where are the trees?

📢BREAKING NEWS: An historic day as Scottish Parliament votes through grouse moor licensing!

We did it! Bloody well done, everyone! 👏👏👏

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2024/03/21/an-…

ScotGov rolled over on Freeports again...

This put a smile on my face as I was sorting archive materials for @wistonlodge today. Great to have music around the place.
Michael Biggins at Tinto Summer School 2022 youtu.be/MMT8ej7SoGs?si… via YouTube

An alert for Scotland and reminder that the Land Reform Bill as scheduled seems to be keen to fill the pockets of big landowners.

Fascinating programme today on how Vietnam or President Nixon's re-election campaign affected the diet and health of America.
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

I have a lot of empathy for small businesses who are struggling on multiple fronts. We have to have better support mechanisms to help them compete.

Amanda Burgauer Both politically and through my journalism I've long highlighted how the forestry grants scheme, combined with the net zero mantra, handed a blank cheque to faceless investors furth of Scotland and the already rich within it. The question is: why was this not foreseen?

Amanda Burgauer Terrible policy which encouraged tax-efficient, grant-aided corporate investment in swathes of productive hill and in-bye land to the detriment of the people who lived and worked there. Endless non-native commercial mono-culture which returns zero for locals or the environment

Amanda Burgauer

Definitely worth looking at the list of people/companies who have received funding for tree planting so far.

This is simply because of the £40 bn in voluntary interest out of public funds that we are paying them on their BoE current accounts. That is on the £800bn of QE money we gave the banks. Anyone else getting 5.25% on a current account?

It will always make me giggle when you get a unionist saying 'nationalist' or SNP about me - when all I follow is the original Labour manifesto, which after 100 years they have not only forgotten but also betrayed the Working Class Scot over in every Labour Govt since the 70s.

We're gonna need a better plan

Over the last few days we have had disgraceful insults directed at Scotland and her people.

Here is another quintessential example of how out of touch and how much contempt those in their London bubble hold for Scots, and our country. 😡

Looking forward to hearing Lesley Riddoch, Amanda Burgauer and DΛVID HӨӨD talk about framing Scotland at our festival. #economics