2025.4 – Reflections on #ScotLab25
My reflections on Scottish Labour Conference 2025; the question being asked of us ahead of 2026, and whether we are offering a clear enough answer. Continue reading 2025.4 – Reflections on #ScotLab25
Tag: Politics
2025.3 – A New Norm-al
We have rely on conventions and unwritten rules every day and a variety of situations.
But our over-reliance on them in the Legal and Political space has left us weak when facing-off against those whose whole drive is to ignore and upend them.
We must be bolder in protecting our liberal democracies from those who threaten them. Continue reading 2025.3 – A New Norm-al
2025.2 – “This is not a Day for Soundbites…”
One of my favourite plays (and films) is Alan Bennett’s “The History Boys”, possibly because I loathe one of the characters. He is a tutor brought in to coach the titular boys through their Oxbridge applications.His advice to them was to be contrarian – not necessarily because you believe it – but because it is interesting. You must find a ‘gobbet’ (a quote or phrase … Continue reading 2025.2 – “This is not a Day for Soundbites…”
You need a Pain in the Arse…
My name is Paul Cruikshank and I am a Rules Lawyering, question asking, “Umm Actually”ing, Pain in the Arse…
…but I think you’ll find that’s a good thing, actually. Continue reading You need a Pain in the Arse…
Who’s like her – damn few…
Nicola Sturgeon resigning as First Minister was surprising for many; but also presents some real problems for the SNP going forward – but they have echos of what brought Sturgeon to power in the first place. Continue reading Who’s like her – damn few…
There’s been a lot of Politics, huh? (Part 1)
The Scottish Political landscape at the end of this week is, in some ways, unpredictably different from the start of it. In others – in perhaps the most predictable of ways – it is not. And, for once, it seems to have touched the 4 main parties in Scotland – while Willie Rennie has had, I’m sure, a lovely time. The Greens You may have … Continue reading There’s been a lot of Politics, huh? (Part 1)
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”
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.
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…
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 Cruikshank 