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| Editor's note |
 Filling in the gaps: referendum is too important to wait on the other side's move
Mandy Rhodes
Theres an irony in that it takes a move from Westminster to wake the world up to the fact that Scottish independence is more than just a wee glint in the First Ministers eye.
The SNP has been in power in Scotland since 2007. It won the Scottish parliamentary elections for a second term in 2011 by an overwhelming and supposedly mathematically impossible majority. Its leader, Alex Salmond, has been showered in accolades, with everything from Briton of the Year to UK Politician of the Year. His Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, has taken bold steps to eradicate some of Scotlands worst health inequalities by introducing minimum pricing on alcohol and offering free prescriptions for all. It has taken a principled stand on free higher education for Scottish students and has been globally recognised for its world-breaking targets on climate change. It... |
| Interview |
Focus |
Labour of love: Interview with Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont
Mandy Rhodes - 16 January 2012
Siding with the Tories is not something that comes naturally to Johann Lamont. Indeed in her usual forthright style, she says that her problem with David Cameron is not that he is English but that he is a Tory.
But neither is it her default position to kowtow to Alex Salmond but the rub is that where she now stands on the issue of an independence referendum and who controls it is critically important for the future not just of Scottish Labour but of Scotland.
Lamont was elected leader of Scottish Labour (and for the first time, that means what it says... |
 Youth justice: a look at how Northern Ireland's approach to young offenders
Former youth justice specialist at the Scottish Government, Stella Perrott, compares our system to the one in Northern Ireland, which she recently helped review
Although Northern Ireland has been responsible for...
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| Insight |
People power
- 16 January 2012
How important is it for people to engage with their communities?
David Cameron first mooted his Big Society plans in the Conservative election manifesto in 2010. Taking power away from decision makers and putting it into the hands of the people...
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| Portfolios |
| Local Government |
Past, present and future
16 January 2012
Scotlands leading conservation charity faces a huge task maintaining Scotlands historic buildings and landscapes for future generations
Without proper care and maintenance, Scotlands historic buildings are at risk of becoming derelict,... |
For the people
16 January 2012
East Renfrewshire Council leader Jim Fletcher is focusing on boosting the economy as he takes the helm of the Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership (CVCPP)
CVCPP represents eight councils and is... |
| Education |
Youth work
Angela Constance is pragmatic faced with the task of turning around Scotlands youth unemployment crisis
Given the scale of the problem that she is charged with addressing, Angela Constance is remarkably... |
Making the business case
Universities and colleges need to work more closely with business to combat youth unemployment but some are moving more quickly than others
Ben Macdonald holds two HND qualifi cations from... |
| Health |
One of a kind
Katie Mackintosh
Outgoing Care Inspectorate interim Chief Executive Jacquie Roberts on the uniqueness of individuals
Jacquie Roberts career in the social work and social care sector has spanned over 40 years during which... |
Catching up
Katie Mackintosh
Taking steps to reduce the risk of measles in Scotland
As outbreaks of measles continue to rage across Europe, the World Health Organisation has called on countries to step up their... |
| Justice |
Legal challenge
Ross Reid 14 January 2012
What impact will changes to the ancient law of double jeopardy have in Scotland?
The Stephen Lawrence case has for several reasons proved to be a watershed moment in the UK... |
Long way to go
Ross Reid 16 January 2012
Public awareness is crucial to campaign against domestic abuse
Scotlands perennial problem with domestic abuse is rarely away from the media spotlight and politicians have continued to label it a leading... |
| Environment |
Optimistic outlook
16 January 2012
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change insists budgetary concerns can be mitigated
Stewart Stevenson, the oldest minister in the Scottish Government, likes to joke that at 65 he is only... |
The business of green
16 January 2012
The City could rehabilitate itself and help combat climate change by focusing on clean finance, but the market will need new instruments and new skills
The environmental movement and big finance... |
| Business |
Build quality
Will Peakin 16 January 2012
Chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust reflects on 1,000 days in post
When Barry White was appointed to head the Scottish Governments arms-length public infrastructure company in 2009, a big... |
Unwrapping enterprise
Will Peakin 16 January 2012
Government wants to cut red tape for business but critics remain
Amid the grim news from Britains high street last week with more well-known companies on the brink the... |
| Columnists |
Also in this issue |
Henry McLeish
 Having the vision
The auld year was hardly oot before the Tories and the right-wing media were urging us to suspend the awful reality of a soulless coalition government, deny the worst attack... |
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Letter of the week - Independence debates contradictions
Judging from the vitriolic rhetoric surrounding the independence referendum, it bodes ill as the constitutional debate proceeds.
Whatever the outcome, the parties will all have to work together, but the fences... |
John Curtice
 Exerting influence
Well, I guess we should not have been surprised that eventually the UK Government would seek to influence how the independence referendum is conducted. After all, the unionist chorus demanding... |
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Letters - Genuine consultation required
At last, we appear to be getting closer to the sorely-needed reform and integration of health and social care services in Scotland.
For too long now, different masters, separate budgets, and... |
Jim Sillars
 Name calling
Nick Clegg is, what we called in Ayrshire, an educated eejit, who claims those who want independence are extremists. John Swinney? A carbon copy of the old-fashioned bank manager, watching... |
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Diary - Issue 268
16 January 2012
Splitting hairs
Last Thursdays Holyrood debate on the rules governing a Scottish independence referendum may have been amongst the more heated in the chambers history, but it was not without moments... |
Rab McNeil
 Fighting talk
I offer the following for your consideration (with the original spellings, grammar and punctuation): i wish they would just sod off! let them have their independence, and see them suffer... |
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VAT increases result in job cuts for building trade
16 January 2012
More than one in five small building firms in the UK have been forced to cut jobs as a direct result of last years VAT increase to 20 per cent.
In... |
