Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
THE 40,000 delegates to Cop26 left Glasgow having enjoyed the benefit of a free integrated public transport system during their stay.
They each had an Oyster-style travelcard allowing them to travel for free, hopping on and off the subway, trains and a fleet of electric buses brought in to run every five minutes to the conference venue. It was a service the citizens of Glasgow can only dream of.
The reality is that Scotland’s public transport system is a national disgrace. The powers for change which came with the Scottish Parliament have been squandered.
The HS2 debacle exposes what happens when public infrastructure is handed to private contractors – especially when set against China’s state-led high-speed rail success, says CARLOS MARTINEZ
Years of underfunding are eroding Scotland’s local services and deepening inequality in communities, says VINCE MILLS
Susan Galloway talks to ASH REGAN MSP about her “Unbuyable” Bill, seeking to tackle the commercial sexual exploitation of women in Scotland


