The Guardian (November 23)
“A crisis is brewing” in Scotland. “Ms Sturgeon intends to demonstrate such demand for separation that a Westminster government using its constitutional power of obstruction would appear to be in egregious violation of democratic principle. If unionists do not want to be caught in that position, they need something more than a legal veto over a referendum. They need the political arguments that can win one.”
Tags: Brewing, Constitutional power, Crisis, Demand, Democratic principle, Egregious, Obstruction, Referendum, Scotland, Separation, Sturgeon, Unionists, Veto, Violation
The Guardian (December 28)
The UK has seen another record rise of daily Covid cases, with 138,831 reported in England, Scotland and Wales alone.” Still, there may be cause for hope. “Although hospital admissions had increased in recent weeks as Omicron spreads through the population, fewer patients were needing high-flow oxygen and the average length of stay was down to three days.”
Tags: Admissions, Cases, Covid, England, Hospital, Omicron, Oxygen, Patients, Record, Rise, Scotland, UK, Wales
The Economist (February 15)
“Scottish independence has grabbed headlines since Brexit, but it is time to recognise the chances of a different secession from the United Kingdom. Sinn Fein’s success at the election is just the latest reason to think that a united Ireland within a decade or so is a real—and growing—possibility.”
Washington Post (October 21)
“Brexit has consistently proved to be unpredictable. After more than three years, there does appear to be one certainty, however: Whatever happens, Brexit won’t just be ‘done,’ as Johnson is suggesting.” The potential departure of Northern Ireland or Scotland from the UK and other “concerns that have been on Britons’ minds in recent years” will “remain a risk.”
Tags: Brexit, Certainty, Concerns, Johnson, Northern Ireland, Scotland, UK, Unpredictable
Inc (May Issue)
“Images of sea creatures ensnared by plastic six-pack rings are a common source of environmental anguish. They also provided inspiration for the Mexico City-based startup E6PR,” which stands for eco six-pack ring and is made with natural fibers. “Those natural fibers not only make it compostable, but sea animals can eat it as well without suffering any ill effects. And, unlike plastic six-pack rings, which last for decades, E6PR’s naturally disintegrate.” The revolutionary product is already getting take up from “leading Mexican brewer Corona” and “craft breweries in the U.S., Australia, Poland, Scotland, and South Africa.”
Tags: Australia, Compostable, Corona, E6PR, Ensnared, Mexico, Natural fibers, Plastic, Poland, Scotland, Sea creatures, Six-pack rings, South Africa, U.S.
BBC (March 29)
“It is certainly the case that not all of our MPs, still less our citizens, would have been reaching eagerly for the bell ropes, had this been Brexit day, as scheduled. Particularly in Scotland.” Instead, “on this non-Brexit day, we might consider the more fundamental issues which have brought us to this impasse,” especially the UK Government’s miscalculation that “the EU would back down at the last moment, as is customarily the case.” Though “the EU has capitulated in the past to dissenting member states, “the UK is on the way out” and “its clout, consequently, is reduced.”
Tags: Capitulated, Citizens, EU, Government, Impasse, Miscalculation, MPs, Non-Brexit day, Scotland, UK
The Economist (March 18)
“Westminster is unlikely to refuse the request” for another Scottish referendum. Refusal “would add to the already-damaging perception of an English-dominated government that ignores Scotland. Once again a Conservative prime minister faces the prospect of presiding over the break-up of the union. And this time it is against the backdrop of perhaps the most complex international negotiations Britain has ever undertaken, as it leaves the European Union.”
Tags: Break-up, Conservative, EU, Government, Perception, Referendum, Scotland, Westminster
The Economist (July 2)
“It is now a week since voters narrowly opted for Brexit, and the country has seldom looked so wildly off the rails. The prime minister has handed in his notice. The leader of the opposition is struggling to survive a coup. The pound hit a 31-year low against the dollar and banks lost a third of their value, before stabilising. Meanwhile there is talk in Scotland and Northern Ireland of secession.”
Tags: Banks, Brexit, Dollar, Northern Ireland, Opposition, Pound, Prime minister, Scotland, Secession, UK, Voters
The Economist (September 27)
With the Scottish issue solved, the UK now turns to the sticky English question which gives Scottish representatives votes on English issues, without any reciprocity. “It is simply not fair to disadvantage English voters in this way. The system must be changed, ideally in a way that enhances democracy, buttresses the union and does not increase bureaucracy. Sadly, these aims clash.”
Tags: Bureaucracy, Democracy, Disadvantage, England, Reciprocity, Scotland, UK, Union, Voters
The Scotsman (September 18)
“The people of Scotland will go to the polls in record numbers today.” They will decide “the future of Scotland and that of the 307-year-old United Kingdom.” This will be “the most important vote in the country’s history.”
