• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • blog
  • About
  • Book Publications
  • Other Reading
  • Social Wall
  • Back Pages
  • Contact Me

Sunday National

Isn’t it time the People’s Game cared about and listened to fans?

March 1, 2021
Isn’t it time the People’s Game cared about and listened to fans? Gerry Hassan Sunday National, February 28th 2021 This weekend sees one of the showcase moments of Scottish football - the Scottish League Cup final between Livingston and St. Johnstone. Yet, the game which so many people care about and love is at a massive crossroads facing questions which will define its long-term future. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant the game has gone nearly an entire year with no crowds in attendance, hence a huge reduction in income for the game and clubs. What, you may ask, is special

Continue Reading Isn’t it time the People’s Game cared about and listened to fans?

A Different Class: Choose Your Side

February 21, 2021
A Different Class: Choose Your Side Gerry Hassan Sunday National, February 21st 2021 Class is one of the defining concepts of life, Scotland and capitalism – but barely receives much informed analysis on our TV screens. Instead, we are offered unstated but loaded assumptions in news, TV documentaries and countless other programmes, with a distinct bias on how success, aspiration and failure are seen and judged. In today’s environment Darren McGarvey’s Class Wars – a new four-part series on BBC Scotland - is a breath of fresh air; the first two of which have been aired. This is in

Continue Reading A Different Class: Choose Your Side

Who will speak for a democratic England in the break-up of Britain?

February 15, 2021
Who will speak for a democratic England in the break-up of Britain? Gerry Hassan Sunday National, February 14th 2021 The UK is in major flux. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are increasingly in a different political space and marching to their own beats. Westminster day by day underlines its incompetence and unfitness, which leaves us with the huge topic of England - and its place and role in the future. As UK politics increasingly come to resemble ‘four nation politics’ the question of how England is governed, thinks of itself and collectively sees its future, has become one of the

Continue Reading Who will speak for a democratic England in the break-up of Britain?

How to win the argument, case and vote for independence

February 9, 2021
How to win the argument, case and vote for independence Gerry Hassan Sunday National, February 7th 2021 The SNP are high in the polls, Nicola Sturgeon’s popularity is hugely positive and massively outperforms Boris Johnson, and independence has now been in the majority for 20 polls in a row over the past twelve months. Boris Johnson has not had a good COVID, Brexit or Premiership. He has little political touch, is too opportunist, and looks exhausted. Even Scottish Tories say he is ‘toxic’ here, and only this week Luke Graham was sacked as head of the No 10 Union Unit;

Continue Reading How to win the argument, case and vote for independence

The state of the union and independence after Johnson’s jaunt

February 1, 2021
The state of the union and independence after Johnson’s Jaunt Gerry Hassan Sunday National, January 31st 2021 Boris Johnson came to Scotland last week: much trailed and talked about but certain to have no lasting effect. This was the week where a once-revered Scottish institution announced it had fallen on hard times. Once popular with Edinburgh ladies of a certain age and the middle classes who believed that they had a refined taste and lifestyle; the similarities between Jenners department store on Princes Street, Edinburgh and the Scottish Tories, are many. This illustrates the long-term collapse of the institutions of

Continue Reading The state of the union and independence after Johnson’s jaunt

Leadership in a Cold Climate: COVID-19 and the Emerging New World

January 27, 2021
Leadership in a Cold Climate: COVID-19 and the Emerging New World Gerry Hassan Sunday National, January 24th 2021 The inauguration of Joe Biden as US President is part ritual, part celebration. At its heart is a reaffirmation of the power of democracy and the belief that even in divided, difficult times leadership can make a difference. This raises questions about the role and expectations of political leadership – not just in the US, but in the UK and here in Scotland. We live in an age where traditional models of leadership and the attitudes around them are discredited, but

Continue Reading Leadership in a Cold Climate: COVID-19 and the Emerging New World

Scottish Labour is the problem, not the leader. And the solution is a genuine Scottish Labour Party

January 18, 2021
Scottish Labour is the problem, not the leader. And the solution is a genuine Scottish Labour Party Gerry Hassan Sunday National, January 17th 2020 The Scottish Labour Party has contributed so much over the past 20 years; not in terms of substantive politics in government or opposition but in the realm of scandal, drama and soap opera. Richard Leonard’s resignation is the latest episode in this long running saga which has increasingly been playing to diminishing audiences and reviews. He has been the ninth Labour leader in two decades; the sixth leader in opposition, and the fifth since the 2014

Continue Reading Scottish Labour is the problem, not the leader. And the solution is a genuine Scottish Labour Party

The Attack on Democracy and Breaking Out of the Empire State in the US and UK

January 12, 2021
The Attack on Democracy and Breaking Out of the Empire State in the US and UK Gerry Hassan Sunday National, January 10th 2021 Democracy is under attack. It is being challenged by the likes of Trump and his fascist supporters and by authoritarians the world over – testing its strength and legitimacy. And it is not in great shape in the UK, with academic David Runciman saying that “American democracy is stuck and British democracy is stuck.” The events of 6th January 20201 and the storming of Congress by Trump’s far right supporters has appalled most of the world. Much

Continue Reading The Attack on Democracy and Breaking Out of the Empire State in the US and UK

Making our own collective future in Scotland

January 5, 2021
Making our own collective future in Scotland Gerry Hassan Sunday National, January 3rd 2021        Until it arrived, 2020 was seen by many as a symbol of the future. It was a benchmark and distant date with destiny – aided by phrases like ‘2020 vision’. But 2020 didn’t feel like the future that had been predicted - or like any other year. This is a salutary lesson. Much of the future is always surprising, unimagined and unpredictable - while other parts are predictable or ‘inevitable surprises’. To think, dream and conceive of the future is part of what

Continue Reading Making our own collective future in Scotland

More than ever we need to come together and celebrate collective joy

December 28, 2020
More than ever we need to come together and celebrate collective joy Gerry Hassan Sunday National, December 27th 2020 These are not exactly the happiest of times the world over - with crises, worry and anxiety all around us. In such circumstances never more have we needed to find light and hope, optimism and joy. As important in an age of loneliness and isolation is reaching out to others, recognising that we are more than mere individuals and are part of something bigger than ourselves – whether it be different communities and places. Over a decade ago the American writer

Continue Reading More than ever we need to come together and celebrate collective joy

< Older Entries

Primary Sidebar

categories

  • Blog
  • Events
  • Futures Thinking
  • International Conversations
  • Longer Essays
  • Short Essays
  • What Gerry's groovin' to
  • What Gerry's reading
FacebookTwitter

featured publication

Scotland after the Virus

Click here to buy Gerry’s latest book containing fiction, poetry and non-fiction from over 40 contributors

what Gerry’s groovin’ to

My Favourite Music of 2020

December 20, 2020

what Gerry’s reading

My Favourite Books of 2020

December 19, 2020

tags

Scottish politics | Scottish Independence | Scottish Review | British politics | The Scotsman | Scottish Nationalists | Open Democracy | Scottish Nationalism | Scottish Labour Party | Nicola Sturgeon | Scottish society | The British State | Sunday Mail | Brexit | Sunday National | Social Democracy | Conservative Party | Boris Johnson | British Labour Party | Jeremy Corbyn | Alex Salmond | David Cameron | Popular Culture | Scottish National Party | Scottish Media | British Nationalism | The Future of the Left | Social Justice | Scottish Men | Bella Caledonia | Scottish Parliament | Scottish Unionism | Scottish Culture | British Society | CoronaVirus | 2016 Scottish Parliament Elections | Football | Labour Party | Scottish Independence Referendum | The Guardian

Categories

Footer

about Gerry

Gerry Hassan is a writer, commentator and thinker about Scotland, the UK, politics and ideas.

More >

recent

  • The Power of Words and Language in Scotland
  • Isn’t it time the People’s Game cared about and listened to fans?
  • What has gone wrong with Scottish politics and democracy?

search

FacebookTwitter

Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
Copyright © Gerry Hassan - writing, research, policy and ideas. All Rights Reserved.
Illustration and website design by Infinite Eye