Dave Watson

I was in Edinburgh this morning speaking at the launch of a New Local Democracy for Scotland. Here I argue that we must put right the forgotten aim of devolution - to disperse power not just from Westminster to Holyrood but onwards to communities. unisondave.blogspot.com/2024/09/new-lo…

Garavelli: Horrendous images are tipping point for outrage over Gaza. It does feel as if the world has woken up to what is happening. In the short-term, we need to build on that momentum; to ensure something is actually done. heraldscotland.com/politics/viewp…

The 'Laffer Curve' is a fancy way of saying that the best way to help the poor is to cut taxes for the rich. That proposition has proven to be flat-out wrong every time a rightwing government has tried it.

Thatcher literally sold off as many public assets she could to pay for tax cuts for the rich. All those assets are now in the hands of foreign owned companies and foreign governments while British taxpayers keep bailing them out.

McFadden statement implies ministers want to avoid legislation to set up the standards commission. The result is that enforcement is not properly addressed or strengthened. The role of independent scrutiny, essential for public confidence, is left hanging. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

An explosion of discontents. In ‘The Dreadful History And Judgement Of God On Thomas Muntzer’, Andrew Drummond tackles the most famous European religious radical of the early Reformation. morningstaronline.co.uk/article/explos…

Two in five arrested for last summer’s UK riots had been reported for domestic abuse. This information provided by police forces indicates overlaps between public violent disorder and domestic violence and abuse. theguardian.com/society/2025/j…

18 months. 12,000 questions. What I learned from reading students’ ChatGPT logs. He thinks that 80% to 90% of his fellow students are using ChatGPT to “help” with their work – and suspects university authorities are unaware how widespread the practice is. theguardian.com/technology/202…

How the riches of its graduates tied Edinburgh University to slavery. Gunning was one of hundreds of Edinburgh graduates who made their fortunes from the transatlantic slave trade, on plantations in the Americas or profiting from the empire. theguardian.com/education/2025…

Trump and golf - striking balls and deals over 18 holes. Rick Reilly, in his 2019 book Commander in Cheat: details what he says is Trump's penchant for cheating, including moving his ball to better spots on the course and taking multiple mulligans. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

The great Tony Benn spoke at the Gala for the first time #OnThisDay in 1962. He fell in love with the day and returned every summer for the rest of his life. He spoke from the platform more times than anyone in the Gala’s 154-year history. (1/2)

OTD in 1892, Keir Hardie was elected as the MP for West Ham South. You can read all about this in a special booklet commissioned by Newham Council. keirhardiesociety.org/uploads/3/9/5/…

The Myanmar junta is one of the worst and cruellest governments in the world, deeply involved in drugs and organised crime, and forcibly conscripting child soldiers. At least this policy change gives us a benchmark for what Trump is OK with.

Number of new homes being built in key sector ‘in decline’. Build to rent is not a ‘key sector’ - our regular reminder that landlordism damages the housing market. heraldscotland.com/news/25342626.…

Why armies are using laser weapons to zap things out of the sky. Lasers also have competition in the form of anti-aircraft guns, which can take on lots of targets. Attack drones are here to stay. The question is whether beams or bullets will blast them. economist.com/interactive/th…

Nationwide building society’s members deserve real votes. Governance needs overhaul after there was no vote on Virgin Money takeover and vote on CEO’s £7m pay was only advisory. theguardian.com/business/nils-…

Starmer suggests UK will play role in Gaza aid air drops. The UK has been involved in previous efforts to airdrop aid into Gaza – a method aid agencies have cautioned is an inefficient way to deliver supplies. UN accuses Israel of distraction. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Trump Turnberry must host the Open – and Swinney must drive it. Really, we should spend £millions on infrastructure around Turnberry, just to please Trump? heraldscotland.com/politics/viewp…

Gaza is starving – how Israel’s allies can go beyond words and take meaningful action. Israel’s allies should look at what was done to isolate South Africa during the apartheid years. theconversation.com/gaza-is-starvi…

Wemyss Bay. Scotland’s finest railway station. An architectural masterpiece.

‘People said it would never be done’: UK and India trade agreement defies expectations. For the UK, the agreement promises a much-needed economic boost and serves as proof that the country can be nimble on the international stage after Brexit. theguardian.com/politics/2025/…