The new first minister must address the concerns of workers
The 500 refinery jobs under threat at Grangemouth and underfunding in further education should be at the top of a new Scottish leader’s to-do list, argues RICHARD LEONARD MSP
The welcome news that Cuba has finally been removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list is tempered by the fact that Donald Trump, the man who put it there, is returning to the White House, warns NATASHA HICKMAN
Thanks to impressive progress in Britain with wind and solar generation, clean electricity now costs a fraction of the price of gas — yet the current system keeps bills artificially high to protect fossil fuels, writes TOM HARDY
By spreading race-based conspiracy theories, the billionaire tycoon turned right-wing provocateur has been seriously undermining the case against those who really did let victims of the grooming gangs down, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
Many Western countries are grappling with deep political instability. What are the causes of this, and what could be a possible way forward? asks MARC VANDEPITTE
KEITH BENNETT explains why, despite its present meagre economic outcomes, an honest and fruitful partnership with China is worth pursuing
Nick Wright talks to photographer and author JANINA STRUK
IN THE coming days — it may even be as soon as today — John Swinney will become the seventh first minister of Scotland.
I first met him almost four decades ago in the years immediately following the miners’ strike. He was working with the then Labour councillor and socialist economist, George Kerevan, who years later would become an SNP MP.
Back then, together with Dr Richard Saville and Debra Percival, they were researching and writing a report commissioned by the British Labour Group of MEPs on an alternative to the European Commission’s Plan For Coal.
More from this author
The super-rich falsely claim inheritance tax changes will devastate small farmers, while millionaire landowners continue enjoying numerous tax advantages — why is the SNP supporting this nonsense, asks RICHARD LEONARD
RICHARD LEONARD MSP looks at the life and ideals of the famous miners' leader and all-round champion of working-class politics
The abolition of lay panels to decide on child hearings and the ‘lawyer-isation’ of the service will not serve vulnerable youngsters' interests, warns RICHARD LEONARD
With Jeremy Hunt’s latest Budget dusting off ideas about using nuclear energy to meet our environmental commitments, RICHARD LEONARD MSP warns that atomic ‘solutions’ aren’t all they’re cracked up to be
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DEREK THOMSON salutes Unite’s string of inflation-busting victories from bakeries to airports, but slams Labour and the SNP’s inaction over the Grangemouth refinery closure and badly fumbling the Just Transition process
Years of underfunding and hollow promises have pushed college staff to breaking point — the Scottish government must recognise further education as a vital public good deserving proper support, writes KATY CLARK MSP
One of the biggest tests for politicians and parties ahead of approaching elections is their commitment to support the 500 highly skilled jobs at Grangemouth, warns DEREK THOMSON