Mike Small
@bellacaledonia.bsky.social
Imagining a Scottish Democracy since 2007.
Bylines at the Guardian, Open Democracy, Herald, DeSmog, Bella Caledonia, Sunday National.
Bylines at the Guardian, Open Democracy, Herald, DeSmog, Bella Caledonia, Sunday National.
Pinned
The legal case in favour of Palestine Action is a historic landmark. But what comes next, for the movement, and for the British government is more important than anything bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/15/h...
Check out my Substack, 56 Degrees North here: fiftysixdegreesnorth.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Check out my Substack, 56 Degrees North here: fiftysixdegreesnorth.substack.com
We live in a country with a one-dimensional media class that all says the same thing and all agrees about everything | Sarwar's Nothingburger open.substack.com/pub/fiftysix...
Sarwar's Nothingburger
Much debate has raged about Anas Sarwar’s tactic of demanding the resignation of his colleague and leader, Keir Starmer, a week ago.
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 4:31 PM
We live in a country with a one-dimensional media class that all says the same thing and all agrees about everything | Sarwar's Nothingburger open.substack.com/pub/fiftysix...
Reposted by Mike Small
Phillips "This is not a country where people get thrown in jail for things they say"
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
February 15, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Phillips "This is not a country where people get thrown in jail for things they say"
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
The legal case in favour of Palestine Action is a historic landmark. But what comes next, for the movement, and for the British government is more important than anything bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/15/h...
February 15, 2026 at 12:27 PM
The legal case in favour of Palestine Action is a historic landmark. But what comes next, for the movement, and for the British government is more important than anything bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/15/h...
The Ratcliffe Controversy and the Online Right bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/14/t...
February 14, 2026 at 11:24 AM
The Ratcliffe Controversy and the Online Right bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/14/t...
Daniel Gear on the UK Government’s ‘Local Power Plan’, finds that it neither empowers communities nor tackles the obstacles that prevent communities from claiming a meaningful stake in the transition @scottishbeacon.bsky.social #PowerShift www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/02/11/l...
Local communities excluded from gaining a meaningful stake in the clean energy transition
In this slightly longer piece, energy consultant Daniel Gear unpicks the UK Government’s ‘Local Power Plan’, published on Monday, and finds that it...
www.shetnews.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Daniel Gear on the UK Government’s ‘Local Power Plan’, finds that it neither empowers communities nor tackles the obstacles that prevent communities from claiming a meaningful stake in the transition @scottishbeacon.bsky.social #PowerShift www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/02/11/l...
lower case highlights events, new releases, & publishes short reviews. Our focus is on micro press, radical publishers, and events from independent bookshops. Readers & bookshop events suggestions welcome.
February 12, 2026 at 12:14 PM
lower case highlights events, new releases, & publishes short reviews. Our focus is on micro press, radical publishers, and events from independent bookshops. Readers & bookshop events suggestions welcome.
A checklist of some dystopian moments from the ‘commodification of everything’ to Ring's Search Party feature to Mrinank Sharma's departure from Anthropic to Detained Children open.substack.com/pub/fiftysix...
February 12, 2026 at 11:53 AM
A checklist of some dystopian moments from the ‘commodification of everything’ to Ring's Search Party feature to Mrinank Sharma's departure from Anthropic to Detained Children open.substack.com/pub/fiftysix...
'Actually, this is brilliant'
In their response to the Anas Sarwar's failed coup d'état the Unionist press have created a new absurdist sub-genre of journalism ...
bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/11/a...
In their response to the Anas Sarwar's failed coup d'état the Unionist press have created a new absurdist sub-genre of journalism ...
bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/11/a...
February 11, 2026 at 4:02 PM
'Actually, this is brilliant'
In their response to the Anas Sarwar's failed coup d'état the Unionist press have created a new absurdist sub-genre of journalism ...
bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/11/a...
In their response to the Anas Sarwar's failed coup d'état the Unionist press have created a new absurdist sub-genre of journalism ...
bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/11/a...
More Pootch than Putsch | On Sarwar's disastrous coup attempt and the fantasy propaganda that has followed it ... bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/10/t...
February 10, 2026 at 3:24 PM
More Pootch than Putsch | On Sarwar's disastrous coup attempt and the fantasy propaganda that has followed it ... bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/10/t...
"Brett Christophers argues, the problem is rooted in the absurdist nature of capitalist priorities: saving the planet on which our lives depend is not sufficiently profitable" - read William Thomson here bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/03/12/t...
February 10, 2026 at 1:09 PM
"Brett Christophers argues, the problem is rooted in the absurdist nature of capitalist priorities: saving the planet on which our lives depend is not sufficiently profitable" - read William Thomson here bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/03/12/t...
Sarwar’s Gamble | Unless something dramatic changes in the next few days, it seems that Anas Sarwar has gambled everything in the most astonishing act of political misjudgment possible. It may be that it is he and not Keir Starmer who will have to resign. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/s...
February 9, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Sarwar’s Gamble | Unless something dramatic changes in the next few days, it seems that Anas Sarwar has gambled everything in the most astonishing act of political misjudgment possible. It may be that it is he and not Keir Starmer who will have to resign. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/s...
On Sarwar's empty hot dog roll, the Dark Shit around Josh Simons and The Times Coup that Never Happens bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/m...
February 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM
On Sarwar's empty hot dog roll, the Dark Shit around Josh Simons and The Times Coup that Never Happens bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/m...
On why McSweeney's departure won't stem the flow and why Anas Sarwar's campaign has become an empty hot-dog roll bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/m...
February 9, 2026 at 1:19 PM
On why McSweeney's departure won't stem the flow and why Anas Sarwar's campaign has become an empty hot-dog roll bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/m...
The Filton 6 Verdict and what it means for Palestine solidarity @DefendOurJuries @PoetsGaza @EyeonPalestine #filton6 bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/07/t...
February 7, 2026 at 6:33 PM
The Filton 6 Verdict and what it means for Palestine solidarity @DefendOurJuries @PoetsGaza @EyeonPalestine #filton6 bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/07/t...
Your Party Scotland launches in Dundee bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/06/y...
February 6, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Your Party Scotland launches in Dundee bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/06/y...
Bella Exclusive: on 'Scotland for Nuclear Energy' the Tory front group launching a campaign for new nuclear power in Glasgow tonight bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/05/a...
February 5, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Bella Exclusive: on 'Scotland for Nuclear Energy' the Tory front group launching a campaign for new nuclear power in Glasgow tonight bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/05/a...
The media's reaction to Mandelson is reminiscent of Omar El Akkad: “One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it’s too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this.” bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/m...
February 4, 2026 at 10:13 PM
The media's reaction to Mandelson is reminiscent of Omar El Akkad: “One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it’s too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this.” bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/m...
Scotland’s Economics Festival is coming to Leith, check out our preview here bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/s...
February 4, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Scotland’s Economics Festival is coming to Leith, check out our preview here bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/s...
Mandelson and the Media bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/m...
February 4, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Mandelson and the Media bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/m...
A Scandal Meets Its Moment bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/03/a...
February 3, 2026 at 9:49 PM
A Scandal Meets Its Moment bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/03/a...
Reposted by Mike Small
Cathy Newman, "While we've been on air its been reported that police are to review an allegation"
"That Jeffrey Epstein provided a woman to Andrew Windsor at the Royal Lodge for sexual purposes"
"That Jeffrey Epstein provided a woman to Andrew Windsor at the Royal Lodge for sexual purposes"
February 3, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Cathy Newman, "While we've been on air its been reported that police are to review an allegation"
"That Jeffrey Epstein provided a woman to Andrew Windsor at the Royal Lodge for sexual purposes"
"That Jeffrey Epstein provided a woman to Andrew Windsor at the Royal Lodge for sexual purposes"
Open Letter to every Edinburgh City Councillor ...
Oppose AI Data Centres In Edinburgh
bellacaledonia.org.uk/.../oppose-a...
Oppose AI Data Centres In Edinburgh
bellacaledonia.org.uk/.../oppose-a...
February 3, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Open Letter to every Edinburgh City Councillor ...
Oppose AI Data Centres In Edinburgh
bellacaledonia.org.uk/.../oppose-a...
Oppose AI Data Centres In Edinburgh
bellacaledonia.org.uk/.../oppose-a...
THE ROMA – A TRAVELLING HISTORY (Bodley Head) by Madeline Potter reviewed by Geoff King bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/03/t...
February 3, 2026 at 4:44 PM
THE ROMA – A TRAVELLING HISTORY (Bodley Head) by Madeline Potter reviewed by Geoff King bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/03/t...