Spend to invest in our future
With the Scottish government’s Budget day coming up in early December, BRENDA AITCHISON presses for public services to be properly funded at last after years of neglect and austerity
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
IT IS THIS time of the year again when every shop has gone early for Black Friday. You can’t go anywhere without seeing Christmas lights, markets and the hearing the usual Christmas tunes. Every retailer is urging us to spend, spend, spend but this year the John Lewis advert is urging us to spend wisely and invest in something that will stand the test of time.
On December 4 the Scottish government will present its Budget for the forthcoming year, and 32 local authorities setting their budgets in the new year. Surely this is the time to spend wisely to invest in the future of Scotland?
The importance of getting public services properly funded is absolutely key if we are to thrive across Scotland.
More from this author
This year is the Unison Year of LGBT+ Workers, and this means all of us in the trade union movement must acknowledge the deepening challenges that are emerging in Britain and around the world, writes BRENDA AITCHISON
Unison local government committee member BRENDA AITCHISON explains why huge numbers of local government workers in schools will be taking strike action next week across Scotland
As we watch the cost-of-living crisis deepen and see full-time workers relying on foodbanks and charities, we are also witnessing the rapid growth of class consciousness and trade union action against poverty, writes BRENDA AITCHISON
Scotland is looking at a groundbreaking extension of social provision — or is it? Unless this project is publicly funded and run, with the private equity firms and hedge funds kept out, it will be a step sideways at best, argues BRENDA AITCHISON
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We utterly reject the Scottish government’s pretence that wage claims in public services are the reason for savage spending cuts — raise taxes to pay workers better for better services, writes COLETTE HUNTER, of Unison Scotland
This year is the Unison Year of LGBT+ Workers, and this means all of us in the trade union movement must acknowledge the deepening challenges that are emerging in Britain and around the world, writes BRENDA AITCHISON
Properly funded public services are good for the economy as a whole, says KATE RAMSDEN