All the evidence shows voters want Labour to shift to the left — but initial signs from Andy Burnham are worrying on that front, cautions DIANE ABBOTT
WRITING in mid noughties Professor David Miller made the point that “Scotland is governed not simply via the institutions of formal governance… Scotland is also run by political and economic decision-makers, only some of whom are based in Scotland.
“Other centres of decision making are obviously London and Brussels, the Headquarters of the World Trade Organisation, IMF and World Bank and the boardrooms of the transnational corporations, including those which have no interest or base in Scotland (even a negative decision not to site a factory or not to launch a product in Scotland is consequential).”
Arguably a Scottish election of the sort we have just had might have provided an opportunity to explore who owns and runs Scotland and what that ownership means for Scottish society and its industry and services and more importantly still, its democracy.
The HS2 debacle exposes what happens when public infrastructure is handed to private contractors – especially when set against China’s state-led high-speed rail success, says CARLOS MARTINEZ
Years of underfunding are eroding Scotland’s local services and deepening inequality in communities, says VINCE MILLS
From summit to summit, imperialist companies and governments cut, delay or water down their commitments, warn the Communist Parties of Britain, France, Portugal and Spain and the Workers Party of Belgium in a joint statement on Cop30
Deep disillusionment with the Westminster cross-party consensus means rupture with the status quo is on the cards – bringing not only opportunities but also dangers, says NICK WRIGHT


