Roz Foyer

The Scottish Parliament still retains a majority for a second referendum and the STUC recognises this as a democratic mandate to hold one. Moreover, the public appetite for future constitutional change is not sated and could easily grow dependent on the next government’s attitude towards Scotland.

OVER the past week, there has been an escalation in events in the Middle East. The world cannot look away, nor should it bury its head

As we kick off STUC Congress, we do so in the knowledge that the UK Government and a host of political institutions, abhor our very existence. This dislike has increased rapidly over the past two years which has seen a period of fairly relentless industrial action in which we have seen ordinary working people taking matters into their own hands to agitate for a better future.

According to their website, the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport will “maximise the local benefits from a pipeline of renewable energy projects which will create business opportunities and employment, attract inward investment, research and development, and position the Highlands at the heart of the country’s commitment to becoming a net-zero economy”. Sounds marvellous, doesn’t it? Well, it would be if it was true.

Labour peer Lord Mandelson has urged his party not to ‘rush’ reforms to employment and trade union law for fear it may upset business.

“We were robbed of a livelihood. We were robbed of a future. Our communities were robbed of a future. It has been devastating. Would I do the same thing again? I would do the same things today and fight for people’s futures and support each other; that’s surely what life’s all about.”

THE other week, First Minister’s Questions was interrupted nine times. For those keeping score, that’s a new record (the previous was six). If this was football, there would almost certainly be a crowd ban in place and matches played behind closed doors.

Calling for lower taxes and suggesting that this will automatically lead to greater economic growth is not our politics and is a mantra that needs to be avoided. Evidence suggests that strong public services, good education, and investment in infrastructure are prime drivers of sustainable economic growth, as are decent wages.

‘I’M so scared, please come. Please call someone to come and take me.” Hind Rajab was six years old when she was killed. Her uncle, his wife and their four children were also killed as they came under Israeli fire in their car. Those were some of her last words as she, somehow, managed to phone for help as her family lay dying around her.

There was much not to like about the Scottish Budget, which had its Stage 1 debate last week. Addressing a highly difficult financial predicament, much of which is not of its own doing, the Scottish Government had already fashioned a noose for itself by announcing a council tax freeze at a time when public services are in crisis.