Facing economic turmoil, Jim Callaghan’s government rejected Tony Benn’s alternative economic strategy in favour of cuts that paved the way for Thatcherism — and the cuts-loving Labour of the present era, writes KEITH FLETT
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Ferry chaos is a national scandal
Locals have been let down by procrastination over the upgrade to Ardrossan Harbour, says KATY CLARK MSP
The economic value of disability benefits far outweighs their cost, argues Dr DYLAN MURPHY
As tensions rise in the Middle East, the role of Iran in the region’s political balance becomes ever more significant. STEVE BISHOP assesses the current situation
While slashing welfare and public services, Labour’s spring statement delivers a bonanza for death-dealing bomb merchants. We now see the true and terrible face of austerity 2.0, writes MICHAEL BURKE
Detailing the deluge of delusion and dishonesty pushed by the pro-war camp, IAN SINCLAIR identifies four key tactics corporate journalists use to confuse audiences and suppress opposition to the proxy war in the east
From ‘moral duty’ to ‘military Keynesianism,’ Labour manipulates language to justify slashing welfare but pouring billions into warfare, condemning communities like Glasgow South West to deeper poverty, writes MATT KERR
With politicians dismissing constituents’ fears of global war, the peace movement must look beyond Parliament to prevent catastrophe, writes TOM MORRISON
THE Ardrossan to Brodick sea crossing has been the main route from the Scottish mainland to the island of Arran for 190 years.
However since last month, no ferries have run from the Ardrossan port, due to the failure of the Scottish government to ensure upgrading work was carried out to enable the new Glen Sannox ferry to dock. This is despite this new ferry being five years late.
The new Glenn Sannox ferry has instead been using Troon harbour for the Brodick service. And the upgrading which was only necessary because of the design chosen for the two new ferries which were commissioned by Scottish government-owned CMAL and built at the publicly owned Ferguson Marine Shipyard, being agreed more than seven years ago has still not started, there has been no tendering process and the plan is still to be published.
More from this author
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
We need genuine freedom of information legislation in Scotland to hold our government and all public bodies accountable, writes KATY CLARK MSP, introducing a new campaign
It is not the public ownership model that is failing Scotland’s ferry services, it is the government’s poor management – and privatisation would be far worse, writes KATY CLARK MSP
KATY CLARK MSP salutes the groundbreaking legislation that allows us to scrutinise those that govern us — but argues it is now outdated, and introduces her new Bill which aims to bring the system up to date
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Mismanagement, privatisation and EU rules have strangled vital ferry services, leaving Scotland’s island communities stranded and the once-bustling ports of my youth in what feels like terminal decline, laments MATT KERR
