Labour Party, Politics, Scottish Politics, Uncategorized

Wealth Tax 2: Revenge of the Blog…

…or why context is everything.

So, my recent blog post on Richard Leonard’s plans for a Wealth Tax had an audience, which is nice. I mention this, not to brag about #numbers, but because at least one of the members of the audience was a senior partner at Thompsons Solicitors, Patrick Maguire. He disagrees with my view, so decided to produce a rebuttal blogpost on Unison’s Dave Watson’s website (albeit without linking to or describing the post he was rebutting). Continue reading “Wealth Tax 2: Revenge of the Blog…”

Paul CruikshankNovember 12, 2017December 30, 2017Leave a comment

Constitutional Law, Human Rights, Labour Party, Law, Politics, Scots Law

On Taxes and Turmoil…

…or why reading the interpretation section is always important.

I haven’t blogged (yet) about the Scottish Labour Leadership Race. I probably won’t (until it’s over anyway) – though I did go on a short twitter rant last week about how dreadful the race had been up to that point. It ended with a call for both candidates to improve themselves and their campaigns, and noted that Anas Sarwar had, just that day, released his tax plan, which is the substance that the campaign had long been lacking. Continue reading “On Taxes and Turmoil…”

Paul CruikshankNovember 3, 2017December 30, 20172 Comments

Labour Party, Politics, Scottish Politics, Uncategorized

Thanks Kez

…and how quickly things can change.

This will not be the first Scottish Leadership Election I have written about. When I looked back on Johann Lamont’s leadership I said that there were two things that the Scottish Labour Party had to face up to and change if we were to improve and succeed with going forward: We must be Scottish Labour and we must be Scottish Labour. Under Kez Dugdale, we have done both. Continue reading “Thanks Kez”

Paul CruikshankAugust 30, 2017December 30, 2017Leave a comment

Labour Party, Politics, Scottish Politics, UK Politics, Uncategorized

Back to Blogging…

…a summary exhortation on the Summer elections.

I’ve been off the blog for a while for two very different, but equally important reasons:

I changed phones in March and I forgot to change my phone number on WordPress, so my two-factor Authentication wouldn’t let me in and I needed to hunt on old laptops for the back-up codes.
Elections got in the way.

Continue reading “Back to Blogging…”

Paul CruikshankJune 25, 2017December 30, 2017Leave a comment

Politics

Immediate Thoughts on #IndyRef2

Shortly after The EU Referendum I was with a few like minded Labour friends discussing where we go from here. We had all been part of the No campaigns in the #IndyRef in 2014 and all bore the scars of that 18 month long campaign. We remembered the long days,the abuse we faced, the lack of sleep, the 20+ hour polling day – but also the celebrations afterwards.

In spite of this, we all agreed that, if there was another independence referendum was called, after the 2015 Election; after the Scottish Elections just past; after Brexit; after Theresa May…we’d vote Yes. Continue reading “Immediate Thoughts on #IndyRef2”

Paul CruikshankMarch 14, 2017December 30, 20171 Comment

Labour Party, Politics, UK Politics

Head in the Game…

…or Heart on the sleeve. “Tony Blair (and Gordon Brown) were the most important left-wing politicians in the UK since the 70’s. Discuss”. Over my lifetime, I have experienced, in a very real sense two different kinds of UK government. Both have affected real social change across the country, but only one has done it in a way I like. But for some, this wasn’t enough. This … Continue reading Head in the Game…

Paul CruikshankAugust 3, 2015March 14, 2016Leave a comment

Politics, UK Politics

Why I’m Labour

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I am voting Labour in this General Election. But I want to talk about why. I’m voting Labour because I believe, fundamentally, that the Labour Party is a force for good. Every government of change in this country has been a Labour government; and every Labour government has fundamentally changed this country for the better. In the … Continue reading Why I’m Labour

Paul CruikshankMay 6, 2015May 6, 20151 Comment

Politics, UK Politics

Elections, Prime Ministers and their Causes – Part 3

The 2015 General Election is one of uncertainties. Who will be the largest Party? Who will work with whom? Who will be Prime Minister? Will anyone be able to get enough support to pass that magic number of 326 (half the seat in the House of Commons +1) and form a Government? What does it mean if they can’t? With all this uncertainty, the possibility … Continue reading Elections, Prime Ministers and their Causes – Part 3

Paul CruikshankApril 24, 2015April 24, 2015Leave a comment